Anxiety is one of the most common psychosomatic conditions, characterized by the intense stress response, fear and panic, in response to a stimulus. Usually in anxiety the response is out of proportion to the causative factor and at times, there may be no clear cause for the anxiety, not even to the sufferer. Anxiety itself is an emotional state and triggers the release of adrenalin, the main stress hormone, which then has a physiological effect on the body. Adrenalin increases the heart rate, may slightly elevate the pressure, dilates the pupils and mobilizes the body’s glucose stores to provide for increased energy needs.
Most anxiety sufferers are cautious about the long term use of conventional drugs for treating and managing anxiety. These may include anti-depressants, sedatives and anxiolytics and concerns about the side effects is one of the main reasons that anxiety sufferers want to quit these drugs. Other concerns also relate to the way these drugs impair daily functioning, causing symptoms such as drowsiness, reduced concentration or even sleepiness.
Herbs to Treat Anxiety
It is important to only consider a herbal approach to managing your anxiety if your doctor has given his approval. At some point in your therapy, you doctor will attempt to get you off the drugs and it is at these times that herbal remedies for anxiety may be the most useful. Attempting to quit your anxiety drugs without medical supervision can be dangerous and do not mix your drugs with herbs. Quality herbal products have a high concentration of pharmacologically active ingredients that can impair the action of your anxiety drugs or even cause a drug interaction that may be dangerous.
Herbal remedies for anxiety can be divided into three categories.
- Herbs for calming and relaxing once the anxiety attack occurs.
- Herbs to maintain a calm state and reduce the severity and frequency of anxiety attacks.
- Herbs to assist with anxiety and treat related symptoms like depression, insomnia and emotional outbursts.