Bet you have never heard of these herbs used for treating anxiety

When it comes to anxiety treatment some people would prefer to stay away from prescription drugs. Herbal remedies have not been proven to work as well as prescription medication, but they can provide great benefits for people who are suffering with anxiety. We will take a look at two of the most popular herbal remedies, kava and valerian

Kava: A Herbal Alternative for Anxiety Relief 

The root of the kava, also known as kava kava, is believed to have properties that can help with anxiety and insomnia. The root can be chewed or blended into a drink if you are going to use the actual root. You can get kava as capsule, tablet, or as a liquid extract.

The exact reason why kava herbs work are unknown at this time. The main reason that kava is linked to helping anxiety is usually component of the kava root is kavalactones. Kavalactones effect the numbers of neurotransmitters in the blood which can cause the body to become calmer

Using kava can cause several side affects. The most common are headache, mouth numbness, drowsiness, and indigestion. Heavy use of kava can cause kidney damage, pulmonary hypertension, loss of muscle control and skin scaling.

The testing of how effective kava is for helping with anxiety is still in the infant stages. A review was done by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded kava “appears to be an effective symptomatic treatment option for anxiety.” Studies have said that the affect was only small.

Anxiety Relief With Valerian Root

The valerian plant is most commonly used as a herbal sleeping aid. The root of the valerian plant is used as a herbal remedy for anxiety. Research on if valerian is actually helps with anxiety disorder is not comprehensive enough to prove that is does help. People who have used it have reported that it helps with calmness and reduce stress and tension.

Valerian supplement come as a tablet, capsule, or liquid extract. When taking valerian you should take your dosage between 30 minutes to two hours before you expect to go to bed. Most people take between two to three grams of dried valerian root or 300 to 600 mg in liquid form. If you are unsure what dosage amount is for you check with a qualified health care professional.

Valerian side effects include headache, dizziness, itchiness, dry mouth, upset stomach, and vivid dreams. People with liver problems or pregnant or nursing women should not use valerian.