Herbal Remedies For Anxiety – 5 Soothing Herbs To Relieve Tension

Lavender has been used for millennia in the treatment of anxiety. It relieves migraines too. Lavender possesses antidepressant and relaxing properties. It calms nervous stomachs which often occur during periods of anxiety.

Small amounts of lavender may be added to herb teas. Just use a little as lavender has a strong flavor.

Carry a bottle of pure lavender essential oil too with you so that you can inhale it whenever you are stressed. It must be pure essential oil. Fragrance oils do not have the same calming effects.

Lavender flowers may be tied into a small cloth and added to the bathwater. A few drops of lavender essential oil may also be added to bathwater as an aid to relaxation.

Passionflower

Passionflower is a great remedy for the relief of anxiety. Because passionflower relieves nervous and muscular tension, it is an excellent remedy for alleviating headaches, including migraines, that are triggered by stress. Passionflower possesses other pain reducing actions too.

Passionflower has sedative actions. It contains compounds known as indoles. The human body contains the “feel good” relaxing biochemicals serotonin and tryptophan which are comprised of indoles. The indoles in passionflower may produce calmness and an elevated mood by a mechanism similar to the body’s own biochemicals. Like lemon balm and lavender, passionflower calms a nervous stomach.

Oats and Oat Straw

Oats contain calming substances including calcium and B vitamins which nourish and calm the nervous system. A simple bowl of oatmeal may help to relieve anxiety. Oat straw is an herb made of a different part of the oat plant. This calcium rich, mild flavored herb is commonly used by herbalists to relieve tension and nourish the nervous system.

Herbs for Anxiety Relief

Herbs provide excellent options for the treatment of anxiety. They are generally well tolerated. Herbs usually produce fewer side effects, if any, when compared to pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed to relieve and prevent anxiety.

All of the listed herbs may be used separately or combined to make a tea following the instructions given for making lemon balm tea. Do not use the essential oil for tea making.

The herbs are commonly available in herb shops and natural food stores locally and online. Check with your health care provider if you have questions about herbs and the treatment of anxiety.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in Oct 2013 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

Pages: 1 2