The Ultimate Guide to Natural Supplements for Anxiety

You’re feeling a little stressed out, and you don’t want the uncertainties and side-effects of Big Pharma’s solutions to add to the problem? Not to worry! We’ve got your comprehensive guide to nature’s anti-anxiety supplements right here.

Chamomile.It’s not just a relaxing tea any more! You can get chamomile extract in capsule form or even aromatherapy oils and candles, and they can all help reduce stress and anxiety.

L-theanine.One of the “active ingredients” in green tea and the fungus Boletus badius, this amino acid can lower blood pressure and heart rate in addition to its direct anxeity-reducing benefits.

Hops.Yep. Regular old hops can reduce anxiety, but don’t bust out the beer just yet. For best results, use aromatherapy or tincture applications of hops to keep your anxiety at bay.

Valerian.The root of the valerian plant has long been used as a sleep aid and an anxiety reducer. It contains (ready?) gamma-aminobutyric acida-aminobutyric acid (whew!) or GABA, a neurotransmitter that can hibit overactive neurons.

Lemon balm.Used as a natural anti-anxiety medicine by the ancient Greeks and for millennia of civilization sense, lemon balm (no relation to the citrus fruit) works as a supplement or in aromatherapy.

Passion flower.Like valerian root, passion flower contains loads of that GABA neurotransmitter and has similar effects on anxiety. Remember it can cause sleepiness, so don’t make this a morning supplement.

Lavender.Blue, green, or somewhere in between, lavender oil and extract can be taken orally or used in aromatherapy to destress and restore your zen. The flowers make for a less stressful look, too!

St. John’s wort.In use for hundreds if not thousands of years, St. John’s wort is one of those herbal supplements that was never fully forgotten in the West. It’s a good thing, too, because it helps folks handle anxiety and provides other health benefits, as well.

Catnip.Don’t let your feline friends fool you! Humans that take catnip calm down instead of getting all riled up, and they might get some relief for the muscle tension and headaches that often accompany anxiety, too.

Skullcap.There are a couple of ways you can take this supplement and all will help you reduce anxiety, but you’ll get the best results when you brew skullcap into a tea (don’t forget to drink it).

Ginko biloba.Another mainstay of the supplement world, ginko biloba has a host of health benefits. In a 2006 study, doctors found that it worked similarly to benzodiazepines as a treatment for anxiety.

California poppy.This is a protected plant in the Golden State, picking it along the California roadside probably isn’t wise if you’re already feeling anxious, but a few drops of California poppy tincture in your tea can help reduce your anxiety and calm your mind.

Hawthorn.Though mildly effective on its own, studies have shown that taking a hawthorn supplement alongside other supplements like poppy and magnesium can magnify the anti-anxiety effect.

Echinacea angustifolia.Other species of echinacea are heralded for their immune boosting effects; Echinacea angustifolia is special for its proven anti-anxiety effects. Make sure you get the right type of supplement to see the effects you want!

Rhodiola.The root of the rhodiola plant is used to treat a variety of mental health issues, from mild anxiety to bipolar disorder, and there’s evidence it can help regulate heartbeat to help relieve stress, too.

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