Herbal Remedies for Anxiety

Anxiety is not a single type of disorder; it takes two forms – chronic anxiety and panic attacks. The first type is characterized by recurring senses of foreboding and may give rise to mild physical symptoms, whereas panic attacks are sudden and unexpected. The symptoms for the second type are often mistaken as cardiac attacks and may become life threatening, mostly because it affects respiration. However, they also diminish the same way as they show up i.e. all in a sudden.

Anxiety is a direct result of the central nervous system overreacting to stress-related factors, but there are instances of anxiety being the result of certain biochemical reactions. One is an excess of lactic acid (a metabolic derivative; produced when sugar is metabolized in the muscles in absence of enough oxygen) in the blood levels; other one relates directly to the brain and the adrenal glands producing stress hormones in galore. Pharmaceutical treatments for such symptoms are often temporary and the symptoms return within a few days of stopping the medications; however, herbal remedies for anxiety often have a far reaching effect, simply because it doesn’t focus only on the disorder but also takes into account reinforcing the body internal mechanisms responsible to fight such conditions.

Traditional Herbal Remedies

Traditional herbal remedies for anxiety include teas, tinctures and aromatherapy; when used in combinations, they bring forth dramatic changes. While Catnip and Fennel Teas relieves gastrointestinal upsets, Kava tincture and Hops relax the central nervous system overall. Motherwort tincture stabilizes emotional tumults (a potent alternative is Passionflower) while a Skullcap tincture shall help nourish the nervous system and will also induce slumber. If all of the above are unavailable, then St. John’s Wort shall prove equally good; it also eases depression.

For aromatherapy, the following have been found to bring spectacular effects: Bergamot, Geranium, Cedarwood, Lavender, Neroli, Lemon, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Sweet Marjoram.

But then again, certain restrictions apply when it comes to seeking the herbal remedies for anxiety. Say, for Kava; if the dosages are exceeded, it may conflict with the serotonin/melotonin balance and set forth bouts of depression, besides causing substantial damages to the liver. Or Catnip, the tea made for human consumption must not be substituted with veterinary Catnip; else, it may aggravate joint and muscular pains (in extreme cases, arthritis) instead of allaying such agonies. In pregnant women, catnip aggravates headaches and fatigue and if you are receiving medications for sleeping disorders, stay away from it! You may use Rosemary as a suitable alternative.

Rosemary is a herb that hardly delivers any negative side effects; if it does, the most severe form shall give rise to mild allergies. Thus, it is recommended for any person (except those with anemic tendencies) suffering bouts of anxiety time and again.

Lastly, we’ll speak about Passionflower. The herb causes sedative effects and lowers blood pressure besides raising the rate of respiration. Thus, pregnant women must stay away from Passionflower as well, as much as people with a low blood pressure. So consult a herbal therapist before going whole hog over them; you do not want matters to get complicated further.

If you are looking for an effective and full proof way to cure your anxiety and end panic attacks, we recommend you to head on over to the Panic Away site to learn how to break the cycle of stress and anxiety.