Using Herbs To Relieve Anxiety

The sales of prescription drugs for anxiety is at an all time high. In fact, some estimate that at any given time, as many as one in every five adult Americans is on some sort of anxiety medication.

Some health professionals attribute this trend to two factors. One, there really are more people troubled from anxiety than in the past. Secondly, because of improved methods of diagnosing anxiety, more people are being diagnosed with it. The trend, however, is undeniable. Unfortunately, it seems as though we as a society, are in very real danger of being over medicated. As a result, this has many consumers looking towards other, potentially safer methods, such as herbal remedies, of self-medicating.

But, as many health professionals will be eager to tell you, self medicating oneself, especially for a potentially serious diseases, is usually not a good thing. If you are not an expert in anxiety, you could easily misdiagnose not only your symptoms but your treatment as well. And even if you are an expert, most people find it very difficult to look at themselves objectively, diagnose their illness, and prescribe the correct cure.

That is why it is wise to be a bit careful before diagnosing yourself. If you are suffering from anxiety, before rushing off and stocking your medicine cabinet with herbal cures for anxiety, have a talk with your doctor so he can, at least, monitor your progress as you start your herbal regiment. With that in mind, there are some herbs that have shown to be effective treatments for anxiety

Ginseng - this popular herb has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years for many different ailments. One of these ailments is anxiety. Ginseng is believed to be able to regulate the amount of cortisol that is secreted into the body. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the body.

We all have certain levels of cortisone in our bodies. But, as a rule, when someone is going through severe emotional trauma or stress, his cortisol levels will rise. And, as the cortisol level increases, he finds himself becoming more and more agitated. But, by helping him to control the amount of cortisol that is released into his bloodstream, he will be capable of remaining much calmer when under duress.

St. John's wort - this is another herb that is prescribed for multiple ailments. In Germany, this is very often prescribed for people with mild depressive disorder. It is also often given to people that have high anxiety levels. Unfortunately, finding pure form of this herb can be difficult as it is often mixed with other compounds.

Keep in mind, that it is always important to keep your doctor appraised of the herbs that you are taking for your anxiety. This is especially true for pregnant women who may inadvertently put their fetus in danger by taking unregulated herbs and medicines.

By: Karen Larsen

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