Herbal supplements for anxiety

Introduction

Anxiety is actually a sudden outbreak of unexplained fear and a very uneasy feeling. It can be triggered by numerous different factors. It may also involve restlessness and a lack of concentration.

Anxiety is a problem that needs to be solved so that the sufferer may carry on with her or his life normally. A good thing is that there are numerous different types of herbal supplements that can be of great help to all those who suffer from anxiety and similar medical conditions such as depression.

Herbal Supplements for Anxiety and Depression

One of the most common and most popular herbal remedies for both depression and anxiety is widely known as St. John’s Wort. The botanical name for this herbal remedy is Hypericum perforatum. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that it is very efficient in treating mild to moderate instances of depression. It can be used for the treatment and prevention of anxiety as well. In some cases, it may be associated with certain types of side effects such as dizziness, sensitivity to sunlight, headaches, and fatigue.

Ginkgo Biloba is another potent herbal remedy that can be of great help to all those who suffer from depression or anxiety. It has been the subject of numerous studies and it can also be used for the treatment of various memory problems and circulatory complications.

Another herbal remedy for all those who suffer from depression and anxiety is passion flower. This plant is botanically referred to as passiflora incarnate and it is very efficient because it contains certain beneficial types of enzymes. It is one of the safest remedies for all those who suffer from anxiety and it is rarely associated with any side effects, such as drowsiness. It is also known for improving the concentration of the sufferer.

Kava Kava is among the most popular herbal remedies for the treatment and prevention of depression and anxiety. Even though it is completely natural as it is derived from the plant botanically referred to as piper methysticum it has an effect similar to alcohol or diazepam. Since it has that certain numbing effect it can be suitable for both depression and anxiety.

Probably the safest herbal remedy for the treatment of anxiety and depression is the one known by the name of valerian root. It is very efficient in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and relieving all painful sensations. It is also very helpful for all those who suffer from panic attacks at night.

Herbal Treatment for Anxiety and Depression Research

Approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. Many also suffer from the spectrum of behavioural and physical side effects that often accompany its treatment. It is not surprising that there is universal interest in finding effective natural anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) treatments with a lower risk of adverse effects or withdrawal.

An electronic and manual search was performed through MEDLINE/PubMed and EBSCO. Articles were not discriminated by date of publication. Available clinical studies published in English that used human participants and examined the anxiolytic potential of dietary and herbal supplements were included. Data were extracted and compiled into tables that included the study design, sample population, intervention, control, length of treatment, outcomes, direction of evidence, and reported adverse events.
A total of 24 studies that investigated five different CAM monotherapies and eight different combination treatments and involved 2619 participants met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.
There were 21 randomized controlled trials and three open-label, uncontrolled observational studies. Most studies involved patients who had been diagnosed with either an anxiety disorder or depression (n = 1786). However, eight studies used healthy volunteers (n = 877) who had normal levels of anxiety, were undergoing surgery, tested at the upper limit of the normal range of a trait anxiety scale, had adverse premenstrual symptoms or were peri-menopausal, reported anxiety and insomnia, or had one month or more of elevated generalized anxiety.
Heterogeneity and the small number of studies for each supplement or combination therapy prevented a formal meta-analysis. Of the randomized controlled trials reviewed, 71% (15 out of 21) showed a positive direction of evidence. Any reported side effects were mild to moderate.

Based on the available evidence, it appears that nutritional and herbal supplementation is an effective method for treating anxiety and anxiety-related conditions without the risk of serious side effects.

There is the possibility that any positive effects seen could be due to a placebo effect, which may have a significant psychological impact on participants with mental disorders. However, based on this systematic review, strong evidence exists for the use of herbal supplements containing extracts of passionflower or kava and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine as treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders.

Magnesium-containing supplements and other herbal combinations may hold promise, but more research is needed before these products can be recommended to patients. St. John's wort monotherapy has insufficient evidence for use as an effective anxiolytic treatment.

✓ Fact confirmed: Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review Shaheen E. Lakhan and Karen F. Vieira; 2010 Oct 7.