Herbs for Anxiety
(Plants with anxiolytic reputations have been shown to bind to Cholecystokinin - CCK receptors and one, gotu kola, has been shown to attenuate startle response in human subjects)
Medicinal herbs may be promising for the treatment of anxiety.
Herbal remedies for anxiety - a systematic review of controlled clinical trials
ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha has proven to have effects on anxiety similar to those of standard benzodiazepines.
Ashwagandha reduced mood fluctuations and anxiety in 51 women with menopausal syndrome [R].
Extracts of ashwagandha may be useful in anxiety disorders for psychiatric practice [R].
Ashwagandha exerted anti-anxiety effects similar to lorazepam [R], acted as a mood stabilizer for anxiety and social isolation-induced behavior [R, R], and treated OCD in animals [R].
Mechanism
Ashwagandha decreased cortisol levels and perceived stress in a 64-person study (DB-RCT) [R], and exerted anti-stress activity[R] and improved stress tolerance in rats [R].
See Withania Complex
Gingko
Ginkgo biloba is a medicinal plant widely used in Chinese medicine to counter cognitive decline [R].
Supplementation of 240 or 480 mg Ginkgo biloba daily for 4 weeks lowered anxiety symptoms compared to placebo in a 107-person study [R].
Ginkgo biloba extract reduced anxiety, depression, and dementia in elderly patients [R].
Ginkgo biloba also showed anti-anxiety properties in rats [R, R].
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a plant found in South Asian wetlands used as a culinary vegetable and medicinal herb.
Compared to placebo, Gotu kola prevented people from being easily startled in a study of 40 adults [R].
Gotu kola and its main component asiatic acid lowered anxiety-like behavior in rats [R, R].
In rat brain, Gotu kola activated glutamic acid carboxylase, an enzyme that increases GABA levels [R].
Bacopa
Bacopa Monnieri Reduces Anxiety
Bacopa monnieri is an herb generally taken in capsule or powder form. It should be taken with a meal because it is fat soluble.
Supplementation with 300 mg bacopa monniera for 12 weeks improved state anxiety compared to placebo in a human study (DB-RCT) [R].
Bacopa supplementation reduced cortisol and stress in 17 healthy humans [R].
Bacopa also reduced mixed anxiety-depressive disorder in mice [R].
Bacopa increased norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in rat brains, and normalized blood corticosterone previously compromised by stress [R].
Black Seed (Nigella)
Black seed (Black Cumin, Nigella sativa) is a flowering plant native to south and southwest Asia.
Black seed stabilized mood, decreased anxiety, and improved cognitive function in 24 adolescent males [R].
Black seed oil improves inflammation, blood pressure, and anxiety without notable side effects, as shown by multiple animal and human studies [R, R, R,R].
GOJI BERRY / WOLFBERRY
Lycium barbarum glycopeptide prevents stress-induced anxiety disorders. Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) glycopeptide prevents stress-induced anxiety disorders by regulating oxidative stress and ferroptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex.
Hops
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are a flavoring and preserving ingredient of beer that have sedative properties.
Non-alcoholic beer containing hops consumed with dinner for 14 days lowered anxiety and improved sleep in studies of 17 and 16 participants [R, R]. In the 16-person study, overnight serotonin levels were also reduced in the treatment group, suggesting a possible role of hops in the serotonin-melatonin pathway vital to circadian rhythm [R].
Adding a small amount of beer to frog egg cells elicited a strong GABAA response, and adding a small amount of hops strengthened GABAA receptor transmission [R]
Kava
Kava improved anxiety, insomnia, depression, sleep quality, cognitive function, tension, and restlessness in studies of 141, 20, and 101 participants. In animals, Kava’s anti-anxiety effects are powerful and comparable to benzodiazepines. A comparison of herbal anti-anxiety remedies shows that Kava is more effective than most herbal supplements in reducing anxiety.
Kava strengthens transmission of the GABA-A receptor and inhibits uptake of norepinephrine.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is traditionally consumed as a tea and is known for its calming properties. It contains many psychoactive chemicals [R], with rosmarinic acid as its most psychoactive compound [R].
Supplementation ranging from 300-1,600 mg of lemon balm extract improved anxiety, stress, insomnia, memory, mood, and mental processing in human studies of 20, 18, 20, and 20 participants [R, R, R, R].
Rosmarinic acid increases GABA by blocking an enzyme that is a common target for anxiety treatment, which converts GABA to L-glutamate [R, R].
Lavender
Lavender (Lavendula) improved anxiety and sleep quality in studies of 221, 77, 47, and 10 participants [R, R, R, R].
In animals, lavender essential oil components (linalool and borneol) slightly increase GABA activity [R, R, R].
Magnolia Bark
Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis) is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Its active compounds include honokiol and magnolol, located in the bark of the tree [R].
Honokiol and magnolol lowered depression and anxiety in animals [R, R, R], which may be due to activation of GABAA receptors [R, R].
Purple Passionflower
Purple passion flower (Passiflora incarnate) is a flowering vine native to the southeast United States.
Purple passion flower reduced anxiety similar to a benzodiazepine in 18 patients with generalized anxiety disorder [R].
Purple passion flower supplementation before surgery lowered anxiety in 30 surgery patients in a study (DB-RCT) [R].
A single 5000-mg dose of purple passion flower reduced heart rate after public speaking, while 500 mg for 6 days lowered blood pressure during the public speaking exercise in a 30-person study (DB-RCT) [R].
Purple passion flower contains high amounts of GABA [R], and influenced hippocampal GABAA and GABAC pathways in mice [R]
Skullcap
Skullcap herbs include American (Scutellaria lateriflora) and Chinese (Scutellaria baicalensis) skullcap herbs. They contain bioactive flavonoids, which act as potent antioxidants with numerous health benefits [R].
American skullcap decreased anxiety in 19 adults compared to placebo [R].
Chinese skullcap supplementation reduced stress-induced anxious behaviors and blood corticosterone in animals [R].
Wogonin, the primary active flavonoid in Chinese skullcap, reduced anxiety-like behavior and enhances GABAA receptor activity in mice [R].
Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a flowering plant, previously used in perfumes, that is usually supplemented as a tea or an extract of the root.
Valerian supplementation of 500 mg twice daily for 60 days reduced anxiety, stress, and depression in a study of 33 individuals [R].
Valerian also lowered anxiety-like behaviors in animal studies [R, R].
The anti-anxiety effects of valerian appear due to its ability to increase the strength of GABAA signaling.
From David Winston's Depression Differentials:
Bacopa fresh herb
(Bacopa monnieri) – is an effective anxiolytic, especially useful for "cloudy thinking", mental confusion with anxiety, and nervous exhaustion with agitation. It can also be used for hypothyroid-induced depression.
Dose: tincture (1:2) 2-4 ml TID
Black Haw bark
(Viburnum prunifolium) - anxiety associated with pregnancy. Use it with Avena and Rescue Remedy.
Dose: fresh tincture (1:2.5) 2-4 ml TID
tea - 1-2 tsp. dried bark, 8 oz. water, decoct 15 minutes, steep 1/2 hour, take 4 oz. QID
Blue Vervain herb
(Verbena hastata) - PMS or menopausal anxiety, anxiety with nervous tics, tremors, or spasms. Use it with Motherwort and Pulsatilla.
Dose: tincture (1:5) 1-2 ml QID
Cactus stem - Cereus
(Selenicereus grandiflorus) – the patient is nervous, sleepless, there is oppression in the chest and dyspnea, he/she fears some important function will cease (heart, breathing, they will die, etc.).
Dose: tea - 10-30 gtt in 4 oz. water, mix. Take 1 tsp. every 2-3 hours.
California Poppy
fresh root & herb
(Eschscholtzia californica) - useful in patients with excess/hyper insomnia, with anxiety, nervous tension, and stress headaches.
Dose: tincture (1:2) - 1.5-3 ml 3-4 times per day
Chinese Polygala root
(Polygala tenuifolia) – is a very effective anxiolytic agent. Use it with Motherwort and Blue Vervain for general anxiety and with Pulsatilla for panic disorder. It is also used for insomnia, anxiety-induced palpitations, and impaired memory.
Dose: tincture (1:5): 1-1.5 ml TID
tea: 1 tsp. honey stir-fried Polygala, 8 oz. water. Decoct 5-10 minutes, steep 1 hour, take 2 oz. TID
Fresh Milky Oat seed
(Avena sativa) – is useful for nervous exhaustion or neurasthenia with anxiety, irritability, labile emotions, and people who are emotionally brittle. Use it with adaptogens.
Dose: fresh seed tincture (1:2) - 4-6 ml QID
Ginkgo leaf
(Ginkgo biloba) – A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found Ginkgo (standardized extract) reduced agitation and anxiety in elderly patients with cognitive decline (Woelh, et al, 2007).
Dose: standardized extract – 80-160 mg TID
(Uncaria rynchophylla) – Gambir spines are used for anxiety with spasms, tics, and tremors. It also is of benefit for stress induced bruxism, headaches, and white coat hypertension. Use it with Blue Verbain, Scullcap, or Gastrodia.
Dose: tea: 1 tsp. dried stem with hooks, 8 oz. water, decoct 10 minutes, steep 10 minutes, take 4 oz. TID
Hawthorn fruit & flower
(Crataegus oxycanthoides, C. monogyna) – Use a mixture of Hawthorn berry, flower, and leaf with Cactus and Motherwort for anxiety induced heart problems, sadness, and grief (with Mimosa bark and Rose petals), and for ADD/ADHD (here use the solid extract).
Dose: tincture (1:5): 3-4 ml TID
tea: 1-2 tsp. dried berries, 10 oz. water, decoct 15 minutes, steep 40 minutes. Take up to 3-4 cups per day
solid extract: 1/4-1/2 tsp. BID
Hops strobile
(Humulus lupulus) - nervous irritability or mild anxiety with wakefulness or gastric upset; use it with Chamomile, Valerian, or Catnip.
Dose: tincture (1:5) - 2-3 ml TID
Kava root
(Piper methysticum) - anxiety with muscle tension, bruxism, restless leg syndrome, and pain. It can be combined with Scullcap, Blue Vervain, and Gambir spines.
Dose: tincture (1:5) 2-3 ml QID
(Nelumbo nucifera) – is used in TCM for disturbed shen symptoms including anxiety, excessive or disturbing dreams, and insomnia. It is usually combined with Gou Teng, Zizyphyus seed, or Polygala. It is contraindicated for people with dry constipation.
Dose: tea: 1-2 tsp. dried seed, 10 oz. water, decoct 15 minutes, steep 45 minutes, take 4 oz. TID
(Albizzia julibrissin) – anxiety or irritability, emotionally brittle patients. Mimosa calms disturbed shen (bad dreams, fears).
Dose: tincture (1:5) – 1-2 ml TID
Withania complex , good for people who are wired but tired, adaptive tonic, has licorice, skullcap, korean ginseng. Contraindicated for: hypertension, congestive heart failure, low potassium levels or water retention due to its licorice content
AROMATIC miss STRESS: Dab a few drops each of oils of basil, camomile, lavender, lemonbalm, on a handkerchief, sniffing lightly when you feel your fur rising.
CHAMELOT: Steep a lot ( a small handful) of chamomile flowers in a two cups of boiling water, with a few leaves each of lavender, lemonbalm, and a couple cones of hops. Keep warm in a thermous. Sip when you feel the stress mounting.
LACKLUSTRE-LICKING-POT-LIKKER: Gently simmer 2 handsfull water cress, and 1 handful spinach, with a dozen or so diced chive leaves, and 2-4 diced asparagus spears and drink the potliiker when stress mounts, enjoying the solids for lunch.
SEEDS OF TRYPTOFANTASY: Nibble on a homemade mix of seeds of evening primrose, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower, all good sources of tryptophan.
Example Liquid Formula
| Valeriana officinalis | 1:2 | 20mL |
|---|---|---|
| Passiflora incarnata | 1:2 | 20mL |
| Ashwagandha | 1:2 | 35mL |
| St. John’s wort | 1:2 | 25mL |
| Total | 100mL | |
Dose 8 mL. with water twice a day