Anxiety is something that I had to deal with for a long, long time. There are many reasons why you can feel anxious. Nutritional deficiencies, stress, anaemia, unresolved traumas, thyroid issues, genetic predispositions, or a mixture of all above. In holistic medicine we try to establish the reasons of anxiety and work on the cause of it. This is why lab works are so important.
But sometimes it is so hard to carry on and make the right choices, when you are feeling very overwhelmed and stopped by the anxiety. Herbs work so wonderfully to calm the body down and to restore the feeling of safety. There are many different herbs that are anxiolytic (relieve anxiety). They can be nourishing and strengthening, relaxing and grounding, sleep inducing or mood enhancing. The plants have to match the person and their individual constitution. Herbs are never doing just a one thing, so we match them to an individual depending on all the other symptoms they are presenting with.
Here are some of my favourite herbs for anxiety.
Stachys betonica (Wood Betony)
Beautiful purple flower that is calming and relaxing. Excellent for tension, headaches and inability to relax. It slows down the racing thoughts! It is indicated for fiery people who are very self critical and perfectionist. Traditionally it is used for palpitations, often present during the anxiety episodes.
It relieves nerve pain, period pain and PMS. Perfect for anxiety in perimenopause.
Lavandula officinalis (Lavender)
This herb does not need any introductions. Just wonderful and magical! Lifts the spirit and calms the mind. Absolutely excellent for anxiety and stress related symptoms. When taken in the evening is great for insomnia. It restores energy in tiredness and enhances focus and concentration. Lavender has so many other uses, internal and external, that it should have a special place in every home. It is very aromatic, so I tend to use a little bit of it when mixing a herbal tincture.
Tilia europea (Lime Blossom)
This was my favourite herb when I was a kid. In Poland we have so many linden trees, and in July the air just smells so beautiful- mixture of honey and a sweet cake. I never knew until I studied herbal medicine, that it was such a lovely remedy for stress and anxiety. It is one of the main flowers used to treat high blood pressure (with hawthorn and yarrow), especially if it is associated with nervous tension. I love it in the evening as a tea, it just takes me back to my childhood. Perfect during seasonal infections.
Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower)
Relaxant and sedative for stress related panic attacks. In combination with Ashwagandha, it was my go-to remedy when I suffered from panic attacks. It calms agitation and restlessness- perfect for insomnia. It can help with exam nerves! It is a cooling herb, so we use it to calm anger and irritability. It calms palpitations and hysteria. Helpful during drug and alcohol withdrawal. Passionflower is best mixed with other nervine herbs and served as a tea.
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
Beautiful smelling leaves of lemon balm are best as a fresh herb tea. If you can get them, just gently bruise the leaves and pour boiled water over. It will help you feel less anxious; it will reduce tension and agitation. It is also restorative for nervous exhaustion and is mood elevating. I like to use it for irritability and depression during perimenopause and menopause. Unfortunately, Melissa cannot be used by hypothyroid patients or those taking levothyroxine.