Natural Home Remedy for Anxiety

We live in a stressful society, and with so much uncertainty facing nearly everyone, it's no wonder more and more people are feeling anxious. If you are having serious anxiety problems (meaning they interfere with your day to day life) please consult with a medical or mental health professional; don't try to treat your anxiety symptoms with natural remedies.

For mild anxiety, there are several natural remedies that may help, including herbs and supplements. I would like to start by talking about one of the safest, chamomile. (If you have pollen or ragweed allergies, chamomile may set them off.) The National institute of Health reports on a study that was done using a standardized extract of German chamomile to treat anxiety:

"Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has a wide array of psychological and physical symptoms. Although prescription drugs can help, they often have undesirable side effects. Many people experiencing symptoms of anxiety do not seek medical attention, turning instead to alternatives. One traditional remedy in widespread use is the herb chamomile. However, scientific evidence to support the use of chamomile for anxiety has been lacking.

NCCAM-funded researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the effects of chamomile extract in patients diagnosed with mild to moderate GAD...

...Compared with placebo, chamomile was associated with a greater reduction in mean HAM-A (Hamilton Anxiety Rating) scores—the study's primary outcome measure. The difference was clinically meaningful and statistically significant...

...These results suggest that chamomile may have modest benefits for some people with mild to moderate GAD..."

Chamomile has a reputation for being soothing and calming, so it is no surprise that it may help with mild anxiety. While the study used a standardized extract, I have personally used chamomile tea and felt its calming effect. (The study also cautions that other varieties of chamomile may not be as effective as German chamomile.) Chamomile tea is tasty, and relatively inexpensive, so if you want to see if it will help calm your anxiety, I would recommend trying it. If you don't feel like it's working, you can look for a standardized extract. The study used 220mg capsules, standardized to 1.2 percent of the constituent apigenin; so look for that on the label. The study also began with a single capsule, increased to two capsules in week 2, and then incrementally increased the dosage up to 5 capsules, as warranted.

I will write several future posts about other natural home remedies for anxiety; but please, if your symptoms are severe, consult a professional.