A few herbs for anxiety include fennel, lemon balm, and willow bark. There are many more that may help with anxiety, but these are just some to get you started. When we take the time to calm anxiety, it has numerous health benefits. We can lower our heart rate and blood presure. We can elevate our moods. We also can help our body when it is in the fight, flight, or freeze responses and boost our immune system.
Fennel is a flowering plant that belongs to the carrot family. It may have anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties. A constituent found in fennel is anethole. Anethole has an estrogenic effect. A drop in estrogen may increase anxiety and cause other mood symptoms. Fennel may help to keep these things from happening because of the anethole in it.
Low levels of gamma-aminobutyric may cause anxiety. Lemon balm may increase the levels of GABA in the brain and help to combat anxiety. Using lemon balm may improve moods. It also may help with better sleep quality.
Willow bark contains salicin, a constitute that reduces the production of pain-producing chemicals in the nerves. Willow bark also regulates the production of prostaglandins. This plant also increases antioxidant enzymes while decreasing antioxidant stress in the body. These properties may all help with anxiety.
When we are feeling anxious, having a cup of tea of any of these herbs would be helpful. They also are available in tincture and capsule form. As with any new supplement, check with a physician prior to starting.
