Around 40 million Americans have some type of anxiety disorder, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, affects around 6.8 million Americans in any given year. Symptoms include constant worrying, irritability, trouble concentrating, restlessness, tremors, muscle twitching, trembling or sleep difficulties. Even children can suffer from GAD, but the average age for onset of the disorder is 31. Stress, genetics and environment may all play a part in who develops anxiety. Some herbs may help relieve symptoms.
Chamomile Tea
A study reported in the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" looked at the use of chamomile extract to treat GAD. According to lead author Jay Amsterdam, professor of Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, researchers separated 57 patients with mild to moderate GAD into two groups -- one receiving chamomile extract and the other receiving placebo. After eight weeks, researchers looked for statistically significant differences in the Hamilton Anxiety Score between the two groups. They found significant improvement in the group treated with chamomile.
Kava
Kava is an herb found to decrease anxiety in several studies. In a meta-analysis of three studies reported in the "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology," lead author M. Pitter of the University of Exeter states that kava reduced total scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale better than placebo. However, kava has caused liver damage, including hepatitis and liver failure. People taking kava have also developed abnormal muscle spasms or movements known as dystonia. Kava can also cause drowsiness along with scaly, yellowed skin. Do not take kava without your medical practitioner's approval and supervision.
Passionflower
A study reported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" in 2001 investigated the effects of passionflower on 36 patients with GAD. The study, reported by lead author S. Akhondzadeh, compared passionflower to prescription oxazepam, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety. The study found that after four weeks, the two substances had similar effectiveness and the passionflower group had fewer adverse effects.
Valerian
Studies on the benefits of valerian to treat anxiety have had mixed results. Combining valerian with other herbs such as passionflower may help reduce anxiety. Take 100 to 200mg valerian and 45 to 90mg passion flower three times a day if your medical practitioner approves.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Anxiety
- University of Michigan Health System: Anxiety
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Study Shows Chamomile Capsules Ease Anxiety Symptoms
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine:Kava
- PubMed: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile) Extract Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health:The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
