18 January 2024
The Benefits of Camomile Tea
Read about the benefits of camomile tea, and how its multiple uses can help calm the mind and body. Learn with Hilde Hemmes today.
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Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common complaints I encounter in conversations with students and readers — and one of the areas where I have seen herbal medicine make the most meaningful difference in people's daily lives. The nervous system herbs we use for anxiety are not sedatives that dull the mind; the best of them calm the anxious response while leaving clarity and function intact. Passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha, lavender — these plants have been used for centuries to quieten the nervous system, reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, and support a more grounded, centred state. The articles collected here draw on both the clinical research and the traditional wisdom behind these remarkable plants.
Anxiety
14 October 2021
Peppermint: The Ancient Healer
Peppermint is an aromatic perennial herb, native to Europe and Asia, that is a cross between spearmint and watermint. Its Latin name is Mentha x piperita which comes from the word “Mintha”, the Greek name of a nymph who was transformed into a mint plant, and “piper” meaning pepper, due to its spicy, pungent flavour. Used for thousands […]
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Anxiety
24 June 2019
Showy Flowers Soothe The Nerves
Passionflower or Passiflora incarnata is a climbing vine that is native to the south-eastern United States. It consists of about 400 different species and many of these are highly prized for their showy, unusual flowers. The above ground parts of the plant are used in herbal medicine, for their antispasmodic, sedative, hypnotic and narcotic properties, […]
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Anxiety
11 June 2019
St John’s Wort – A Wildflower With Hidden Powers
St John’s wort (also known as Hypericum) is a shrubby perennial wildflower which can be found growing in uncultivated dry gravelly soil, woods, hedges, meadows and on roadsides. There are many ancient superstitions regarding this plant and some legends dedicate it to Saint John the Baptist. It’s botanical name Hypericum perforatum is derived from the […]
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Anxiety
23 April 2019
Camomile – A Calming Herb For All Ages
In olden days, camomile was known as the “plant’s physician” and it is stated that nothing contributes as much to a healthy garden as a number of camomile plants. Old herbals tell us that if a plant is drooping or sickly, it will recover if you place a camomile near it. There are two types […]
Read article →25 January 2018
Ease Depression & Anxiety With Hypericum
The Hypericum plant, otherwise known as St John’s wort, is a perennial herb that has been used to treat nervous conditions since the times of ancient Greece. The hypericum plant contains a number of chemical compounds, some of which are known to be helpful in treating the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The hypericum plant […]
Read article →Anxiety exists on a spectrum — from the everyday stress response that sharpens our focus, to debilitating anxiety disorders that significantly impair quality of life. Herbal medicine has something meaningful to offer across much of this spectrum, though severe or clinical anxiety warrants professional support alongside any herbal approach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety and Herbal Medicine
Which herbs have the best clinical evidence for anxiety?
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has been compared to low-dose benzodiazepines in clinical trials for generalised anxiety, with comparable efficacy and significantly fewer side effects. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) in an oral oil preparation (commercially available as Silexan) has been studied for generalised anxiety disorder with strong positive results. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has multiple trials demonstrating reductions in cortisol and anxiety scores. Kava (Piper methysticum) is potent and well-researched but requires careful monitoring for liver safety.
How does ashwagandha help with anxiety?
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen — it works primarily by modulating the HPA axis (the body's stress hormone system), reducing cortisol levels and improving the body's capacity to respond to stress without becoming overwhelmed. Unlike direct anxiolytic herbs, its effects build over weeks of consistent use. This makes it particularly suited to chronic, background anxiety rather than acute panic.
Can I use herbal medicines for anxiety instead of pharmaceutical medication?
For mild to moderate anxiety, herbal medicine can be an effective primary approach. For clinically significant anxiety disorders, herbal medicine is better used as a complement to evidence-based therapies (such as CBT) and, where appropriate, medication. Please do not discontinue prescribed psychiatric medication without your prescribing doctor's guidance.
What is the difference between anxiety and stress, and does it change which herbs to use?
Stress is a response to an external pressure; anxiety is often a more internalised, ongoing state of apprehension that may persist even in the absence of an obvious stressor. In practice, both benefit from nervine and adaptogenic herbs, but the emphasis differs. For acute stress, fast-acting nervines like lemon balm, chamomile, and passionflower are most useful. For chronic anxiety with a significant cortisol/adrenal component, adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola take priority.
Are there herbs that help with panic attacks?
During a panic attack, the acute physical response (racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness) is best managed through breathing techniques and, if needed, medical intervention. Herbal support is more appropriately focused on reducing the overall frequency and intensity of anxiety through consistent daily use of nervines and adaptogens. Kava may be helpful for anticipatory anxiety.
Do herbal anxiolytics cause dependence?
The plants discussed here — passionflower, lemon balm, ashwagandha — do not cause dependence or withdrawal in the way pharmaceutical benzodiazepines do. Kava should be used with care and not consumed in excess or combined with alcohol. This is one of the significant advantages of herbal approaches for long-term anxiety management.
Can children and teenagers use anxiety herbs?
Lemon balm and chamomile are considered safe for children in age-appropriate doses. Passionflower can be used for older children and teenagers under guidance. Ashwagandha and kava are not recommended for children. For any young person experiencing significant anxiety, professional assessment is essential.
What lifestyle practices support herbal anxiety treatment?
Regular physical movement, consistent sleep, reduced caffeine and alcohol, time in nature, and a contemplative practice of some kind (whether meditation, prayer, or gentle creative activity) all profoundly support the nervous system. Herbs work best when these foundations are in place.
Explore Related Topics
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- Lesson 7: Nervous System and Sensory Organs
Study Western Herbal Medicine with ASOHM
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