Anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by feelings of unease, excessive worry and fear. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For examples, sitting an exam or going for a job interview may make you feel anxious. If you experience worry and anxiety on a daily basis to the extent that it interferes with everyday life, you may have generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety is usually treated with medication or psychological therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Several natural supplements may be used to help manage anxiety. If you are considering using a natural product, consult your doctor before doing so as they may cause side effects and interact with other medicines.
Kava Kava
Kava kava is sometimes used to treat mild-to-moderate anxiety. Research published in the August 2009 issue of "Psychopharmacology" found that an aqueous extract of kava kava produced significant anti-anxiety effects in adults with one month or more of elevated generalized anxiety. Lead author, J. Sarris also notes that kava kava was well tolerated and did not cause any safety concerns. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center website notes that kava kava may be associated with a risk of liver damage. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning over this herb's effect on the liver. Consult your doctor before taking kava kava.
Valerian
Valerian is an herb with sedative properties and is sometimes used to treat anxiety. It is sometimes combined with lemon balm or St. John's wort. MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that valerian may reduce social anxiety; however, the University of Maryland Medical Center website notes that evidence to support its use as an anxiety treatment is limited. Valerian may interact with medicines including antidepressants, narcotics and antihistamines and should not be used alongside alcohol. Do not take valerian if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are about to undergo surgery that requires anesthesia as it may slow the central nervous system.
Passion Flower
According to research published in the October 2001 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics" patients who took 45 drops of passion flower extract once a day for 4 weeks experienced a reduction in anxiety levels that was comparable to patients taking the benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drug, oxazepam. Passion flower may interact with other medicines including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, anticoagulants and sedatives. Do not take passion flower if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
References
- NHS Choices: Anxiety
- PubMed.gov: The Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial Using an Aqueous Extract of Piper Methysticum; J. Sarris et al; August 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Anxiety
- MedlinePlus: Valerian
- PubMed.gov: Passionflower in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety: A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial with Oxazepam; S. Akhondzadeh et al; October 2001
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Passionflower
