Herbal Anxiety Remedies

Herbal anxiety remedies can be very effective at treating symptoms of anxiety, and are not often associated with the side effects some prescription anxiety medications can have. Herbal remedies generally have more options in how you take them as well, including teas, capsules or extracts. This can be helpful if you have trouble swallowing pills, for example. The following herbal supplements are the most common choices for anxiety treatment.

Kava

While kava is probably the most effective of the herbal anxiety remedies, there are some serious questions about how safe it is. Kava has been banned in some countries because of the likelihood it causes liver damage, and a warning about kava was issued in 2002 by the FDA. It is assumed to be safe for people with no liver problems in short term treatment plans, up to about six months, but other options need to be explored for long term care.

Passionflower

Passionflower has long been used in folk remedies as a treatment for anxiety and recent studies have shown it to be about as effective as the benzodiazepine class of drugs used in anxiety treatments. It can interact with pentobarbital, a treatment supplement for seizures and sleep disorders so mention this drug specifically to your doctor when talking about herbal anxiety remedies.

Valerian

Valerian is widely used as a supplement for insomnia, which is a common side effect of anxiety disorder. This, coupled with its ability to reduce anxiety, makes valerian an ideal herbal anxiety remedy. Valerian and passionflower extracts combined make a powerful treatment.

Theanine

Theanine is a derivative of green tea and is reported to be as effective as many commercial anti-anxiety medications. Theanine is not habit forming or addictive, and can be found in many quality supplements. Because herbal anxiety remedies have a chance of interacting with prescription drugs, it is imperative that you consult with your doctor before taking any of these to be sure they are the right choice for you.