Panic attacks are associated with panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder in which you develop feelings of extreme fear for no apparent reason. Panic attacks often cause a set of characteristic symptoms, including chest discomfort, elevated heart rate, breathing problems and dizziness as well as fear and dread. Such attacks usually strike without warning. Certain herbal medicines have historically been used in treating this sometimes debilitating condition. Ask your family doctor if herbs are right for you.
Panic Attack Information
Because panic attacks can occur anywhere, at any time, people with this condition may live in almost constant fear of another attack, causing some to disengage from society and remain in their homes. Panic attacks are more commonly experienced by women than men and often first manifest during the teen years. PubMed Health notes that the cause of this condition is unknown, although genetics are suspected to play an important role in this condition.
Common Herbal Medicines
Commonly prescribed herbal medicines for panic attacks possess the ability to reduce your anxiety. In "Therapeutic Herb Manual," naturalist and expert herbalist Ed Smith notes that many herbs might be helpful in treating this condition, including California poppy, celery, wood betony, valerian, oats, skullcap, damiana, lavender, hops, kava and Jamaican dogwood. Other beneficial herbs include cramp bark, linden and St. John's wort. Not all herbs used for panic attacks have been subjected to rigorous clinical trials to determine their efficacy.
Damiana
Damiana is an herbal remedy often prescribed to treat panic attacks and other anxiety disorders. According to Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician, herbalist and author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," damiana is a nervine, which means that it helps calm your nerves. It has been used to treat anxiety and disability associated with nervous disorders. This remedy is considered both a nerve tonic and a mild sedative. The dried flower and leaf of the damiana plant are used medicinally.
Additional Information
Herbal medicines may be a helpful adjunct therapy in the treatment of panic attacks, although herbs should not be used in place of other treatment strategies recommended by your health care professional. Although herbs may cause unwanted side effects in some people, prescription anti-anxiety medications have also been known to cause problems, too, including dependence on these drugs. Talk with your doctor about the healthiest long-term treatment approaches for countering your panic attacks, including talk therapy and natural treatment methods.
References
- MedlinePlus: Panic Disorder
- PubMed Health: Panic Disorder
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
