Anxiety is defined by the University of Maryland Medical Center as a general feeling of being worried, with symptoms including muscle tension, restlessness, sweating and irritability. A chemical imbalance in the brain, genes and life situations may cause anxiety. While some herbal remedies may help treat symptoms, they should only be used under the direction of a physician.
Kava Kava
The root of kava, a plant native to the South Pacific, is used as a medicinal herb. It is commonly used to calm anxiety, stress and restlessness. They state that certain kava extracts can lower anxiety and might work as well as prescription anti-anxiety medications. The journal "Advances in Therapy" published a study in which 42 out of 52 patients rated anxiety treatment with kava as "very good" or "good."
Valerian
The root of the valerian plant has traditionally been used for the treatment of anxiety, states the American Academy of Family Physicians. The academy reports on a study that found reduction in anxiety symptoms with the use of valerian in combination with valium. A second study found that the use of valerian for seven days relieved physiologic measures of stress. It lowered heart rate and blood pressure, and improved stress ratings.
Passion Flower
Passion flower is an herb that comes from approximately 400 species of the genus Passiflora. It has historically been used to treat pain, insomnia and nervous exhaustion. They state that Passiflora exhibits anti-anxiety activity in laboratory animals. A study reported in the "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics" found that passiflora extract is an effective drug for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in humans and has less side effects than a prescription drug.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a daisy-like flower; the active ingredient in German and Hungarian chamomile are used in herbal remedies. The American Cancer Society states that proponents of chamomile claim it calms the mind and eases stress. It is used frequently as a soothing tea. In 2009, the "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" published the first clinical trial results on chamomile for anxiety disorders; they found that this herb may have mild anti-anxiety activity over a placebo.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Anxiety
- MedlinePlus: Kava
- PubMed.gov: Kava-kava Extract in Anxiety Disorders: An Outpatient Observational Study; J Scherer; Jul-Aug 1998
- The American Academy of Family Physicians: Valerian
- PubMed.gov: Trial of Chamomile Therapy; JD Amsterdam et al; Aug 2009
- PubMed.gov: Passionflower in the treatment of anxiet;, S Akhondzadeh et al; Oct 2001
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