3 Herbal Remedies for Anxiety

Maybe it's an important job interview, a first date, or a public speaking event. There are lots of reasons why anyone might suddenly find themselves with a case of the jitters. A reasonable degree of anxiety and the fidgety, nauseous feelings that come with it are a normal response to a stressful situation. The rapid heartbeat, stomach upset, and headaches that come with anxiety are a result of excess adrenaline being unnecessarily released into the bloodstream in preparation for conflict, which may never occur.

Herbs For Medicine photo from Shutterstock

The following herbal remedies act as a mild sedative and are gentle, inexpensive, and over-the-counter methods of bringing anxious feelings under control. Conveniently, most major chain supermarkets in the U.S. now carry these herbal remedies in tea or pill form (often both). If an upcoming big event has you stressed out and worried, these three herbs offer the temporarily afflicted a dose of needed calm.

All of the prices quoted in this article are accurate as of September 2012.

Chamomile

Perhaps the most commonly used anti-anxiety herb is chamomile. A member of the Asterceae family, this daisy-like flower is prized for its relaxing, sedative qualities. Chamomile tea is the most commonly used form of chamomile, and it should be brewed strongly, with a steeping time of at least 10 minutes.

Price: The cost of chamomile tea ranges from a low of $2 or $3 for straight-ahead chamomile tea bags to $10 for high-quality, loose-leaf chamomile tea. Given that most chamomile tea is marketed as a soothing, nighttime beverage, most are decaffeinated. Still, make sure to double check before buying!

Kava Kava

Kava kava is a member of the Piperaceae family and is another popular herbal anti-anxiety substance. It's also widely available as a tea and is also sold in pill form in health food stores and in some major chain supermarkets. If you choose to take kava kava pills, select a capsule that contains at least 30% kava kava. Cheaper, lower grade products may contain an inordinate amount of filler. Also bear in mind that kava kava is meant to be taken with food. Taken on an empty stomach, kava kava can cause some of the stomach distress you're trying to avoid in the first place.

Price: Kava kava tea ranges in price from a low of $3-$4 for a box of tea bags to between $10 and $15 for high grade, loose-leaf kava kava. 30 capsules of kava kava will run you somewhere between $6 and $15.

Valerian Root

Valerian root is the third herb best known for its soothing properties. The plant from which dried valerian root and valerian root extract come from is a hardy, leafy perennial belonging to the Valerianaceae family. Like kava kava, valerian root is also available in tea or pill form and is used for treating insomnia as well as mild anxiety.

Price: A box of valerian root tea bags may cost anywhere from $4 to $15, though the bulk of your choices will hover around the $5 or $6 mark. A bottle of 100 valerian root capsules generally costs between $4 and $10.

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