Herbal Remedies for Anxiety Relief

Nature has provided us with several herbal remedies for anxiety, which is a growing problem of our times.

Today, we live in a complex world of high stress and high pressure. Everything needs to be fast, and everything must be good. We have a million possessions to take care of, and a hundred passwords and pin numbers to remember and use.

This type of scenario can make people far more prone to experiencing anxiety. There are many herbs that have nervine, or nerve sedative properties, which can be used as part of an herbal treatment for anxiety. Some are better than others, and some are far better than others.

This article will cover the five most powerful and effective nerve sedative herbs for anxiety.

Herbal Remedies for Anxiety

Valerian

The first of the anxiety herbal remedies to be discussed is valerian. Valerian is one of the most powerful nervine herbs there is. You can use it in varying amounts to do anything from calming the nerves, or as a natural sleeping agent. If you have a high quality tincture of valerian, this can be a convenient way to use it. However, for the purpose of a nerve sedative, a tea is usually the most ideal, and most pleasant way to use it.

The part used as an herbal anti anxiety remedy is the roots. For best results, it is recommended that you purchase your own raw herb, and make the tea yourself. Make a standard decoction by soaking the herb in cold water for 1-12 hours, then lightly simmering for 15-30 minutes. Drink 1-2 cups to take the edge off of your nerves after a stressful day, or drink several cups or more if you want a safe, natural sleeping aid or herbal remedy for anxiety.

Passionflower

Passionflower is one of the top nerve sedative herbs in the world, and is one of the best herbal remedies for anxiety. This is the same species that passionfruits come from, although the variety that is used for herbal purposes is slightly different from the variety grown for its fruit.

This is an attractive plant that can be grown in any garden with a mild to tropical summer climate. The Latin name for the medicinal variety is passiflora incarnate. As anti anxiety herbs, the entire flower is used; it can be used to make a tincture, or it can be dried and stored for later use.

Hops

Hops is another one of the top nerve sedative herbs, and thus also one of the best anxiety herbs. This is the same type of hops that is used to make beer. The parts used, however, are slightly different.

The part with the strongest medicinal properties is the flowers – or, more specifically, the resin within the flowers. Because of its resinous nature, a tincture of hops is usually the ideal way to go. If you make a tincture of hops, use a high-proof alcohol.

Lobelia, or Indian Tobacco

The type of lobelia used for medicinal purposes is called lobelia inflate. It is a scrawny plant that looks like a weed. There are varieties of lobelia that are grown as flowers – these are not the medicinal variety. Lobelia is considered dangerous by the FDA, but not by the great natural healers such as Dr. Richard Schulze, Dr. John Christopher, and Pavvo Ariola.

Lobelia is THE most powerful anti-spasmodic herb used by these natural healers. These healers have used lobelia to halt grand mal seizures in its tracks. Unfortunately, most of the lobelia preparations that you can find on the market are weak to the point of being ineffective.

A few drops of a strong lobelia tincture can be used to help calm a person in case of a severe anxiety attack. Lobelia is thus one of the best herbal remedies for anxiety attacks, if not the best.

Wild Yam

The Latin name for wild yam is Dioscorea villosa. It is one of the most powerful anti-spasmodic herbs, second only to lobelia. The part used is the root.

Another beneficial aspect of this herb is its effect on balancing the female hormones, which any married man knows can have an effect on anxiety-like-moods. Natural healers like Dr Schulze use wild yam in great quantities with zero side effects, contrary to what the FDA says about this herb. Wild yam is thus also one of the most useful herbal remedies for anxiety.

It is easy to grow, and can be tinctured, or dried for making teas.

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Plants Aid Recovery from Surgery, Ease Pain

You visit someone who is in the hospital following an operation or a sick friend confined to bed at home and you bring along a gift of colorful flowers or a lovely potted plant. That may sound like simply a thoughtful gesture to spread some cheer. But, it turns out, your gift of greenery may actually have a therapeutic effect that can help people recover physically from illness -- even serious surgery.

That`s the conclusion of a recent study by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson, researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and Forestry at Kansas State University. Using a host of medical and psychological measurements, the scientists found strong evidence that contact with plants is directly beneficial to a hospital patient`s health.

The research, published in the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) journal HortTechnology, was conducted on 90 patients recovering from appendectomies who were randomly assigned to hospital rooms with or without plants during their recovery periods after surgery. The scientists collected data on the length of hospitalization, administration of drugs for postoperative pain control, vital signs, ratings of pain intensity, distress, fatigue and anxiety, and how satisfied patients were with their rooms. The results showed the surgery patients who had plants in their rooms needed significantly less pain medication, had lower blood pressure and heart rate and reported less pain, anxiety, and fatigue. These non-drug ways plants can improve recovery is good news for patients, doctors, and insurers alike because plants are cost effective and provide medical benefits with no side effects.

The patients with plants in their rooms also expressed better overall satisfaction with their recovery rooms than the patients in the control group who had no plants in their rooms. In fact, 93 percent of patients with plants in their rooms reported that the plants were the most positive qualities of their rooms.

The researchers also suggest that potted plants are more beneficial than cut flowers. That`s because the plants last longer and, in addition, nurses reported that as patients recovered, they began to interact with the plants, actively watering, pruning, and moving their plants for a better view or light. There`s another reason plants could boost recovery: several past studies have shown indoor plants can improve indoor air quality by increasing humidity and reducing the quantity of mold spores and airborne germs.
(By: Sherry Baker)

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