As the head of the wellness coach team at FindItHealth.com, I aim to provide in-depth research on the different herbs you can use to relieve stress and anxiety.

The long-term use of medication for treating anxiety may have potential side effects like emotional numbness, lack of positive feelings, reduced sex drive, etc. These drawbacks can be overcome by seeking alternative treatments for stress and anxiety.

The research team at FindItHealth.com has found that herbal medicines and remedies such as aromatherapy, meditation, and breathing exercises can effectively lower stress levels and heart rate, thereby regulating symptoms of anxiety.

Herbs For Relaxation

Numerous natural remedies provide health benefits and improve your general well-being. These herbs aid in reducing daily stress and anxiety symptoms, improve mood, and help you relax.

By transitioning toward natural remedies in the treatment of anxiety, we can lower our reliance on prescription medications: anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants

Aromatherapy

One of the most ancient relaxation techniques includes aromatherapy. Aromatherapy involves the use of oils such as lavender essential, clary sage, and grapefruit by diffusing them into the bath or applying them directly to the body.

Chamomile

In addition to aromatherapy, tea has also proven to have medicinal benefits. Chamomile tea in particular helps in dealing with the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. It helps to calm your sensory and motor neurons and promote sleep.  

Helping Stress And Anxiety

Stress 

To understand how we can help alleviate our stress response and regulate our anxiety levels, we first need to understand how the two are triggered.

Any stimulus from the environment that activates the sympathetic nervous system to produce epinephrine (adrenaline) leaves the individual in a heightened state of unease, this is what we know as stress. 

Symptoms of stress include an increased rate of heart palpitations, heart rate, and secretion of stress hormones (e.g. cortisol). Stress can also cause mood swings: people can become extremely erratic due to the effects of stress hormones.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is native to India and is part of Ayurvedic medicine or traditional Indian medicine for the better part of history. Belonging to the group called adaptogens, ashwagandha helps regulate a person’s stress response.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is also an adaptogen like ashwagandha and aside from its use for treating depression, it also has a remarkable impact on reducing mental and stress-induced physical fatigue.

Valerian

Valerian is a form of plant medicine that originates from Europe and Asia. This herbal medicine helps in treating depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Valerian is considered generally safe: however, the use of this medicine is not recommended for pregnant people and people who are nursing.

Anxiety:

Stress goes hand in hand with anxiety. Constant stress often leads to the development of anxiety disorders, which are lined with the following symptoms:

• Panic attacks 
• Repetitive behaviors
• Hot Flashes
• Unwanted intense thoughts or obsessions 
• Excessive social consciousness 
• Stress surrounding daily social situations

Types of Anxiety:

Types of anxiety include chronic anxiety, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety; the latter two being the most common forms. Irrespective of the intensity of the disorder, the symptoms of anxiety can cause extreme discomfort in people, hindering them from pursuing opportunities.  

A person with an anxiety disorder is more likely to miss out on social events out of fear of new people, they are less likely to apply for new job opportunities out of fear of rejection even if they are not happy with their current job. 

Herbs for Anxiety:

To avoid the adverse effects of prescribed medication, herbal remedies may be employed in their stead to treat stress and anxiety. These herbs may be taken in pill form or the form of tea. Herbal supplements or herbs that exhibit efficacy in the treatment of chronic stress, mood disorders, and anxiety-related disorders include:

Lavender

Lavender is extremely beneficial in the short-term treatment of anxiety and calming nerves. It is used as a tea and as an essential oil. 

Galphimia glauca

Hailing from Mexico, this plant species shows promise in its treatment for anxiety. Galphimia glauca is used as a tranquilizer.

Passionflower

Passionflower may be taken in the form of a tablet or tincture to reduce anxiety, nervousness, and restlessness.

Kava kava

Also simply called kava, kava kava reduces feelings of anxiousness and doubt. This shrub is native to the Pacific Ocean.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Primarily involved in building brain cells, these fatty acids have also been observed to have a positive impact on anxiety. This is especially true for people who have been diagnosed with specific disorders. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in seafood and fish oils. 

Lifestyle Change:

In addition to natural anxiety remedies and natural stress relief, adopting a healthier lifestyle can also help you keep your anxiety symptoms from incapacitation. This lifestyle entails

• avoiding drugs and alcohol
• quitting smoking and caffeine 
• regular exercise
• healthy diet and sleep
• deep breathing exercises 
• meditation

Such a lifestyle change has an overwhelmingly positive impact on your physical health as well as your mental health condition. It reduces the chances of developing other medical conditions. 

Herbs For Stress Relief

Stress in minute amounts can be a good motivator as it encourages you to follow your goals through. For instance, stressing about your college attendance helps you get out of bed in the morning despite sluggishness. 

However, stress in large amounts is very harmful, and in some cases, it can even be life-threatening. Luckily, many natural medicinal techniques can effectively reduce the production of cortisol in the blood, causing stress relief. For example, ashwagandha is one such group of herbs that lowers cortisol levels. 

Holy basil 

Locally known as tulsi, holy basil stems from Ayurvedic medicine – traditional Indian medicine- and is thought to have spiritual and emotional healing qualities. Being an adaptogen, it regulates the body’s stress levels. Moreover, it is an antioxidant and immune modulator. However, its use is not recommended during pregnancy. 

Milky Oats

Milky oats are oatmeal before it ripens. When harvested before ripening, the seeds enter a stage in which they release white milky latex. These milky oats rejuvenate the body suffering from adrenal exhaustion and chronic fatigue. 

Brahmi

Brahmi includes herbs that not only relieve anxiety but also help boost memory. They help you counteract irritability and irregular sleep schedules.

Turmeric

Sharing taxonomy with ginger roots, turmeric roots can help with inflammation and digestion. It has now been used in treating anxiety related to a chronically-activated stress response.

Reishi Mushroom

Also an adaptogen by class, these mushrooms help you adapt to stresses rather than being stuck in survival mode as these medicinal mushrooms are very calming and relaxing.

FindItHealth.com: Frequently Asked Questions

Down below we have answered a few questions that people often ask regarding the use of herbs in the treatment of stress and anxiety. 

What is the best herb for stress relief?

Highly recommended by naturopaths, lemon balm effectively eases stomach aches caused by anxiety. The citrus flavor is refreshing and helps calm the nervous system, thus relieving stress and elevating mood. In doing so, they also improve cognitive function. It can also be used as a mild sedative. To add to its various benefits, lemon balm is delicious to drink and can be used as a culinary herb.

What herbs will calm you down?

Passionflower has a distinct earthy fragrance and is one of the best herbs that can help calm you down, especially when your mind is scattered with thoughts jumping everywhere. It increases the level of GABA neurotransmitters in our brains. This allows us to feel more relaxed. 

Which herb is renowned for treating stress and anxiety?

Lavender is especially known for reducing stress and anxiety. Belonging to the mint family, lavender is used as an essential oil in aromatherapy. It is also used in tea. The extract of lavender regulates stress levels and anxiety, helps with sleep and chronic pain, and therefore, is quite popular in herbalism.

What is the strongest anti-anxiety herb?

Chamomile has had a several-thousands-year-long use in reducing anxiety. Studies have also depicted how the long-term use of this tea has impacted and bettered the lives of people living with generalized anxiety disorder. Chamomile can also be used in aromatherapy and as an essential oil diffuser.

Conclusion

The research team at FindItHealth.com has found that natural medicine is one such route that many medical professionals do not cite despite their efficacy that has lasted over centuries. Stress and anxiety statistics are growing across various age groups at an alarming rate. As such, these mental conditions do not have an absolute cure. Rather, different strategies are employed to help regulate their symptoms. It is also important to note that many people lack the privileges of diagnosis and prescription medicine. In that case, such herbal treatments such as moxibustion with a moxa stick gain importance as a self-regulatory method to help you deal with your various mental ailments. These natural remedies procure many benefits that include regulating stress levels, heart rate, and anxiety levels. 

Thus, this approach toward the treatment of anxiety may well be normalized.