Stress is a powerful force that can deplete your energy, cause insomnia and chronic pain and even disrupt relationships. Sometimes anxiety makes difficult situations seem impossible for people, or it may hamper positive relationships even with those closest to them. However, there are natural herbs that can be used to help treat anxiety without the side effects of prescription medications.
Stress
According to Reginald Cherry, M.D., "Stress and anxiety are considered the number one health problem in the United States today." Everyone experiences stress from time to time. Sometimes it is situational; other times stress is ongoing or longstanding, as a persistent state of emotional unrest or anxiety ensues. Cherry says there are also physiological effects of stress and anxiety that include increased heart rate and breathing, high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attack. Diabetes and chronic pain may also be provoked by unremitting stress.
Herbal Side Effects
In this day and age, it is not uncommon for people to take daily medication to lower anxiety and calm nervousness. These medications may be available with a physicians' prescription or over-the-counter, though most prescription medications are known to have numerous side effects. On the other hand, herbal or natural preparations such as chamomile, passion flower, gotu kola and even magnesium that are used to treat anxiety purportedly have few, if any, side effects, according to Cherry. More comprehensive studies are needed to test the capacity and safety of herbal medicinals.
Chamomile and Passion Flower
According to the "Christian Post," chamomile has been found so effective over 20 years of medical research, that it is now included in the pharmacopeia and considered a medicinal in 26 countries. Known for its natural, gentle, calming effects and its successful use in the treatment of mild anxiety and insomnia, chamomile shares the herbal spotlight in treating anxiety with the passion flower which increases GABA neurotransmitter in the human brain.
Gotu kola
Gotu kola is also an herbal contender in the natural treatment of anxiety, as it has been used for thousands of years and reportedly contains more B-complex vitamins than other plants, according to the "Christian Post." Vitamin-B complex is well known for its' calming effect on the central nervous system. According to an article in Prevention by Sara Altshul, gotu kola, also known as Centella asiatica, is used to enhance memory, ease pain, and relieve anxiety. In an Ontario study of gotu kola at the Royal Ottawa Hospital, 40 healthy people ages 18 to 45 were given either a 12-gram dose of gotu kola or a placebo. The participants were provided with loud bursts of noise via headphones as their responses were observed. The participants that received the gotu kola exhibited much less agitation than those receiving the placebo.
Expert Insights
According to Douglas Schar, an adviser for Prevention.com, "If you're a person easily rattled by life's daily stresses, gotu kola can take the edge off without the side effects of prescription tranquilizers." As always, it is important to check with a physician before consumption of any herbal preparations. The efficacy of herbal treatments for medical conditions is still inconclusive as more medical research needs to be performed to prove efficacy and safety of herbal compounds.
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