Anti-Anxiety Herbs
Numerous medical drugs are available to treat anxiety, such as the benzodiazepine
drug, Valium, but these medications can be costly, and are often accompanied by
undesirable side effects. Long-term safety and the possibility of addiction are additional
concerns. Herbs to combat anxiety are growing in popularity, and several appear to be
superior to their medical counterparts:
- Chamomile has traditionally been used to treat mild sleep disorders in children;
however, its effectiveness as an anti-anxiety treatment has never been scientifically
documented. A recent study investigated the calming effect of several flavonoids found in
the chamomile flower. One, apigenin, was shown to have clear anti-anxiety activity,
without the sedation or muscle relaxing effects found with benzodiazepine drugs.
Chamomile appears to be generally safe, and can be used during pregnancy and
lactation. Allergies attributable to chamomile are uncommon, but persons with a history of
allergies to the daisy family should use caution. There are more than 90 licensed
preparations of chamomile available in Germany, attesting to its popularity in that
country.
- The anti-anxiety effect of kava was tested by German researchers in a double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial of 58 patients with anxiety syndromes not resulting from
psychological disorders. Those receiving 100 milligrams of kava extract three times daily
experienced a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms after only one week of treatment.
No adverse reactions were observed. The researchers concluded that kava is beneficial for
treating anxiety, tension and over-excitement.
- Fragrances can have effects on psychological as well as physical functions. In a
recent study, a citrus fragrance was placed in a hospital room where 20 depressed male
patients spent most of their time. As a result of exposure to the citrus fragrance, the
intake of antidepressant medication was reduced for all the patients, and by the end of
the trial, nine of the twelve patients in the test group no longer needed medication. All
patients in the control group required their usual doses of antidepressants during the
trial.
[Editor: Most herbs are generally safe, effective, inexpensive, and don't require
a medical degree to use. Will the pharmaceutical and medical establishment let us continue
to use them without their getting a cut of the action?] Based on information
in: HerbalGram, #39; Alternative Therapies, May 1997 |
