Most people feel anxious at times, but when you feel that way without reason or in such a way that it disrupts your daily life, it may be a sign you have generalized anxiety disorder. The symptoms of that condition include panicky feelings, insomnia, restlessness, irritability and edginess. There are many prescribed medications to treat anxiety, but there are also a number of natural, non-habit-forming remedies that exist.
Passionflower
Passionflower is a genus of a flowering plant that grows throughout the world and historically was used in South American and, later, Europe, by homeopaths as an herb to calm symptoms of insomnia and anxiety. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, passionflower works by elevating the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain that leads to relaxation. It can be obtained as a tincture, liquid extract, tea or infusion. It's unsafe to use passionflower with pharmaceutical sedatives or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs), which are used to treat depression.
Valerian
This hearty perennial plant with sweet-scented white or pink flowers is native to Europe, South Africa and Asia and now grows in the United States. In pharmacology, valerian refers to the herb or supplement prepared from the macerated roots of the plant. Used as an herbal medicine since ancient Greece and Rome, it has commonly been used as a sedative to treat insomnia and pain. According to The Insight Journal, it also may have anti-convulsant properties and may impact the GABA neurotransmitter receptor system in the brain. Therefore, it's often taken as an alternative to benzodiazepine drugs and is available as a capsule, tablet, tea and liquid extract. It's unsafe to use valerian with pharmaceutical sedatives or antidepressant MAO inhibitors.
Kava
Kava, an ancient plant and member of the pepper family, comes from the western Pacific. It's a tranquilizer with relaxing properties. As an herbal medicine, it's commonly used to combat anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and stress, and it's believed to work because it contains kavalactones, which produce feelings of mental and physical relaxation, according to www.kavaroot.com. It's most often seen as a powder, capsules, liquid extract or tonic beverage. It's important to note, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings linking kava to potential liver damage.
California Poppy
California poppy is native to its namesake state but also can be found growing along the western coast of the United States as well as in Mexico, Australia, France and Chile. The roots, leaves and seeds of the gold-flowered plant are harvested in maturity and used medicinally as a tincture, powder and diffusion to treat anxiety, according to www.altmed.com. It's a chemically complex plant that's considered a sub-opiate; www.herbal-supplement-resource.com notes it may help balance psychological functioning by the impacting neurotransmitters without depressing a person's central nervous system. Common uses for the sedative are treating anxiety, insomnia and nervous tension.
Hops
Insight Journal points out that hops, which contains dimethylvinylcarbinol, are thought to relieve anxiety by sedating the central nervous system. The flowering vine, which is native to North America, Europe and Asia, has been used to promote sleep and ease restlessness for centuries. Hops are most often seen in conjunction with passionflower, valerian root or German chamomile and are available as an herb, tea and supplement.
