Monday, February 2, 2009

The Best Herbs for Anxiety

By Stephen Jablonski

Are there any so-called "anxiety herbs?" In a word, yes. There are many herbs that have been known to man for 100's of years and several of them have been useful in treating stress and anxiety.

Herbs for anxiety treatment offer an effective alternative to today's drugs. They're usually available without a prescription, they're less expensive, and they're nonaddictive. On the other hand, herbs for anxiety or any other affliction will work much slower than prescription drugs. Their effects are milder so you'll need to exercise more patience when taking them. But this is an acceptable trade-off for the minimal side effects.

That doesn't mean that herbal remedies come with no side effects at all. These anxiety herbs definitely do have side effects, they're just more mild. Still, you should be cautious whenever you start to take any new supplement. Talk to your doctor or your pharmacist before you take anything new.

Valerian

Valerian has a strong reputation as a sleep aid. It can help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep for the whole night. It can also be used during the day as an aid in calming and controlling the effects of stress and anxiety.

Kava

Kava comes from the South Pacific but is now used throughout the world. In Europe it's used often as an anxiety treatment. It's also used effectively to combat insomnia. It's even used to improve concentration and focus.

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort is a medicinal herb that dates back over 2000 years to the days of Hippocrates. He used it to first treat depression but in today's world, it has been found to be an effective treatment against the effects of moderate levels of anxiety. It comes with certain side effects though as it may increase your sensitivity to sunlight and also interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs you may be taking.

Passion Flower

Passion Flower is so named because early pilgrims to the new world thought it resembled the crown of thorns and the nails on the cross of Christ. When it was first cultivated it was found to assist with digestion. Later, its natural sedative effects were discovered. Today, it is an effective calming herb.

A Final Word

All of these herbs are useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders and you can find them in most health food stores. They come in different forms, capsules, liquid extracts, and teas. And while they all produce much the same effects generally, you may find that they each work a little differently on you. Which one works best will probably take a little trial and error.

Capsules are convenient. Extracts are very flexible. And teas are the best tasting and most enjoyable. But in any case, these best herbs for anxiety can become a significant tool for you to use to help manage your anxiety. - 14130

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