Herbal Medicine for Anxiety
Can Herbal Medicine Treat Anxiety?
One question that I get asked quite regularly is if Herbal Medicine can help treat Anxiety. The answer is a little complicated as no two clients presenting with symptoms of Anxiety are the same. What I suggest is that a new client try herbal medicine for a couple of months to allow for both myself and the herbs a chance to rectify the symptoms. Anxiety is a broad term for a collection of symptoms and can be attributed too many underlying conditions. For example, if a client has been diagnosed or is showing symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) I would most likely use one or more of the following herbs:
Passion Flower For Anxiety
Passion flower is a a wonderful herb for Anxiety as it works in similar ways to drugs such as Gabapentin. its often used to also treat symptoms of neuralgia however it has its place among herbal medicine for the treatment of acute symptoms of Anxiety.
“The results suggest that Passiflora extract is an effective drug for the management of generalized anxiety disorder, and the low incidence of impairment of job performance with Passiflora extract compared to oxazepam is an advantage.”1
Wood Betony For Anxiety
Wood Betony is a herb that I could chat about for hours as it has a deep and rich history in it use for Anxiety. For any who are interested I have written a historical monograph on the plant based on a 11th Century manuscript and is available upon request. But what makes this herb so special for the treatment of Anxiety? As a Herbalist I use both Scientific data and I use what is known as energetics. Betony falls into the second category as it docent contain any compounds that specifically work on the mind but it’s the sum of its parts that aid in cognitive function. I describe this herb as “The Librarian” as it helps to put all of the books (your thoughts) back in order and onto the correct shelf. It’s been used as far back as the 9th century as a medicine for mental health and though we do not know what they used it for evidence has shown it to be used by the Romans throughout the earlier empire.
Lemon Balm For Anxiety
Lemon Balm is a plant of the Mint family and like many plants in the family it has a distinctive perfumed smell. It is the natural essential oils within the plant that may aid in the symptoms of Anxiety. Like most herbal medicine we would use this herb in conjunction with other plants, like those already mentioned and many others. Clinical trials have indicated that Lemon Balm may aid some people with symptoms of Anxiety and can be found in the references below.2 Lemon Balm is a personal favourite as it makes both a lovely tea and tinctures quite well. One of my favourite combinations of is Lemon Balm and Lavender for the treatment of Anxiety and mild Depression.
Cannabis For Anxiety
Cannabis has been given much attention over the last few years and there is limited evidence to suggest that cannabis may be effective for some people. However, due to the expense of herbal medicine grade cannabis (around £2000 a month!) I do not stock it. There are many varieties of cannabis own the market at many health shops but many of these contain substandard amounts of cannabis to be of use in a treatment plan. Instead I use herbal medicine that is more cost effective and does the same thing.
Conclusion: Can herbal medicine treat anxiety?
These are just a few of the plants that are used in herbal medicine to treat anxiety. As with most things in life there are no guarantees and we ask that all clients come in with an open mind and together we work to get the right combination of herbal medicine for you. Scientific studies and clinical trails certainly support the claim that herbal medicine can treat anxiety. If you wish to read the studies mentioned in this article please look in the references below. If your academic interest in this goes further I recommend google scholar for searching out more articles on the treatment of Anxiety with Herbal Medicine.
- Akhondzadeh, S., Naghavi, H.R., Vazirian, M., Shayeganpour, A., Rashidi, H. and Khani, M., 2001. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: A pilot double‐blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, 26(5), pp.363-367. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2710.2001.00367.x
- Ghazizadeh, J., Sadigh‐Eteghad, S., Marx, W., Fakhari, A., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M., Taheri‐Tarighi, S., Araj‐khodaei, M. and Mirghafourvand, M., 2021. The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Phytotherapy Research. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.7252
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What herb is best for Anxiety?
A: In short there isn’t a correct answer as everyone is different and responds to herbal medicine in different ways.
Q Can I take herbal medicine for Anxiety when pregnant?
A: There is a lack of evidence to suggest that herbal medicine is safe within pregnancy.
Q. I’ve heard about a herbal medicine called Kava that is used to treat anxiety can I get some from you?
A: Unfortunately, No. The UK government and health care regulators have decided that Kava isn’t safe for use in the UK. This evidence is based on high doses over a long period of time but we still cannot supply it to clients or buy it from our suppliers.
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The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to Cure, Diagnose, or Treat any specific illness and/or condition. Please contact a healthcare professional or our staff if you have any health concerns.
