3 Herbal Remedies People with Anxiety Need to Know About

Do you know there are herbal remedies for anxiety? I have an extremely annoying neighbor. He was up all night laughing last night, which means I didn't get any sleep. This has been going on for weeks. Talking to him hasn't done any good. My anger and annoyance, fueled by sleep deprivation, are rapidly approaching homicidal ideation. Fortunately, there are three herbal remedies I know that help ease the raging anxiety.

Anxiety Herbal Remedy 1: Golden Milk

Golden milk is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy. This herbal remedy for anxiety is good for just about everything, it contains turmeric, an herb which has shown promise as an antidepressant (Curcumin and major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the potential of peripheral biomarkers to predict treatment response and antidepressant mechanisms of change.). Research into turmeric's antidepressant effects are still relatively new, but it appears to work by increasing the production of serotonin and dopamine.

A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders reports:

From baseline to week 4, both curcumin and placebo were associated with improvements . . . From weeks 4 to 8, curcumin was significantly more effective than placebo in improving several mood-related symptoms . . . Greater efficacy from curcumin treatment was identified in a subgroup of individuals with atypical depression.

To make golden milk, first you make turmeric paste. Mix half a cup of boiling water with one-fourth a cup of turmeric. Stir constantly until it makes a thick paste, then add one teaspoon ground black pepper--the fresher the better. Add one teaspoon of turmeric paste to one cup of warm milk, add one-half a teaspoon of sweet almond oil, and enough raw honey to sweeten to taste. Vegan milk may be used in place of cow's milk.

Golden milk should not be used by people with gallstones or bile duct problems. Pregnant women should consult with their doctor before using golden milk.

Golden milk acts relatively quickly; I noticed a difference within half an hour.

Anxiety Herbal Remedy 2: Flaxseed Tea

The good news: anxiety herbal remedy flaxseed has been shown to be as effective as fish oil when it comes to mental health benefits. The bad news: you're definitely going to need to flavor the tea.

Flaxseed contains omega-3s and healthy fatty acids, which help the brain to function more effectively. Flaxseed has been found to alleviate stress, whether chronic, mild stress or chronic, unpredictable stress, in mice. Mice have metabolisms and psychological profiles very similar to humans, so flaxseed tea might work to lower anxiety.

There are many different ways to drink flaxseed tea, depending on whether you have meal or ground seeds. Here are the directions, according to Livestrong:

If you have ground seeds, use 1 teaspoon per cup of water. If you have meal, use two tablespoons per cup of water. You may be fortunate enough to find a flasxeed tea bag, in which case you should follow package directions. Steep 10 to 15 minutes, then drink.

I like to add 1/2 teaspoon ginger, a pinch of cayenne pepper and some raw honey to flavor the drink. Cayenne and ginger may have anti-anxiety effects as well.

Anxiety Herbal Remedy 3: Ginger tea

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

'Ginger contains potent gingerol, which helps cleanse the harmful chemicals that our bodies produce when we’re worried, so ginger can help psychological stress,' Dietician Alice Mackintosh told the Daily Mail.

Ginger extract showed “significant antidepressant activity” in a study that was published in the "International Research Journal of Pharmacy."

My favorite ginger tea recipe is from Extending the Table, a Mennonite cookbook by Joetta Handrich Schlabach. The recipe, from the Dominican Republic, calls for one quart water, one sliced one-inch piece of ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, and about 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Boil the first three ingredients and simmer for half an hour, then add the brown sugar. Serve hot.

One advantage of this anxiety herbal remedy is it also alleviates antidepressant-induced nausea.

These remedies are not meant to be medical advice and you shouldn't use them without consulting with your doctor. I'm just sharing what helps me when my anxiety is through the proverbial roof. What works for you? Have these remedies helped? Leave a message in the comments section.

Sources:

Curcumin and major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the potential of peripheral biomarkers to predict treatment response and antidepressant mechanisms of change. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25523883

Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25046624

Anti-depressive effect of polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acid from pomegranate peel and flax seed in mice exposed to chronic mild stress. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24152226

Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21903025

http://www.livestrong.com/article/519503-cayenne-pepper-and-anxiety/

Identification of serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonists in ginger. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20363635

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