Herbs for Anxiety

Anxiety is the result of stressful life, peer pressure, work pressure and family issues. Cognitive, somatic, emotional and behavioral components combine to form a psychological and physiological state that is known as anxiety. This unpleasant feeling is often linked with uneasiness, fear or worry. Due to anxiety, people often experience nervousness, panic, constant sadness and depressed mood. Other symptoms of anxiety include heart palpitations, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomachache, and headache. Many anti-stress medicines and therapies have come up to deal with the ill effects of anxiety. However, most of them have certain side effects as well. Given below are some of the best herbs that can help combat anxiety and reduce stress.

Important Anti-anxiety Herbs

Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha reduces stress by acting on the neurotransmitters. It enables the body to maintain homeostasis, minimize imbalances and strengthen the immune system. It also treats stress-related disorders like hypertension, diabetes and arthritis.

Borage Juice
Borage juice is consumed in anxiety disorders, as a general tonic that purifies the blood as well.

Bugleweed
Since bugleweed has tranquilizing effects, it soothes nerves, promotes sleep, and relaxes muscles, which in turn decrease stress and tension. It acts as a sedative, prevents anxious impulse conditions of heart and serves as a tonic for the muscular fibers.

California poppy
Due to its sedative properties, California poppy is used for treating various physical and psychological conditions, like insomnia, anxiety and nervous tension.

Catnip
Catnip produces a sedative effect that stirs the stimulated state of mind in a person. It helps in curbing anxiety, nervousness and sleeplessness, relaxes the muscles, and heals minor tissue injuries.

Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the safest herbs for anxiety. It has soothing effects and relaxes different parts of the brain. It helps in releasing stress and controls insomnia.

Damiana
Damiana is capable of stimulating an exhilarated response, which makes the herb valuable for alleviating stress. It is very useful for individuals who suffer from emotional and physical distress.

Fennel
Anxiety causes gastrointestinal upsets and gastrointestinal problems can cause anxiety in turn. Fennel relaxes the gastrointestinal tract, thus helping get rid of the anxiety as well.

Ginkgo Biloba
Gingko biloba is used as a natural anti-depressant that improves circulation to the brain and elevates mood. It improves circulation of blood within the body, when a person experiences anxiety attacks.

Ginseng
Ginseng relaxes a person�s mind and helps in maintaining the emotional balance. It also reduces tiredness and makes a person active, which in turn reduces stress.

Hops
Hops treat anxiety disorders, restlessness and insomnia and promote a good night�s sleep. It provides a relaxing effect due to the chemical component, dimethylvinyl carbinol.

Kava Kava (Piper Methysticum)
The roots of kava-kava are believed to lift a person�s spirit. It is very fast and effective and starts reducing stress and anxiety within one week of its intake. Since it is not an addictive herb; it can work as an effective tranquilizer.

Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is used as a stress reliever that alleviates depression and brings about a natural state of calm. Topical applications of the herb to the temple help in aiding insomnia and fraught nerves.

Meadow Sweet
Meadow sweet relieves the headaches related to anxiety and stress. You can drink meadow sweet tea or its extract as a convenient dietary supplement. People sensitive to aspirin should avoid meadow sweet.

Motherwort
Motherwort is a good relaxant herb, as it has a sedating effect. It acts as the perfect traditional cure for anxiety attacks accompanied with palpitations, as it calms and soothes jangled nerves.

Mullein
Mullein can soothe a person who experiences anxiety attacks very frequently, especially when the symptoms are very acute.

Oats
Oats helps in the treatment of nervous exhaustion, insomnia and weakness of the nerves. They relax the nervous system when a person is suffering from chronic anxiety attacks. They are also used in the bath, to treat insomnia, stress and anxiety.

Passion Flower
Passion flower is a non-drowsy, natural sedative that helps in relieving intermittent nervousness, anxiety and panic attacks. Instead of giving a hyper, happy or excited feeling, it makes you feel emotionally balanced and restrains your emotions from their range of extremes.

Peppermint
Peppermint helps in curing upset stomach and nerves, conditions that occur due to anxiety attacks.

St. John's Wort
St. John�s Wort has anti-depressant qualities and is used as an anti-stress and anxiety medication herb. It is very effective in treating hysteria and insomnia.

Skullcap
Skullcap soothes and calms jangled nerves, which in turn give relief from anxiety and stress. When combined with Valerian, it helps in treating insomnia.

Valerian
Valerian roots are used as a sedative. They help to fall asleep in less time, lead to prolonged sleep, and promote deep sleep. This makes a person feel relaxed.