Anyone Use Herbs for Anxiety?

Not herbs per se but i know a few people who use k/calms when they have days like that, i havent (I kinda self medicate with red wine which i know is a big no no) but they say they are good but im not sure if they are an english thing or not

I use St John's Wort to help me with anxiety and stressful times!! I swear by it! But be aware it counter-effects birth control!

After I had my DD I didn't feel like I necessarily had enough postpartum depression to need meds for it; but there have been several periods where I just felt so overwhelmed. I've taken it during those and it does help. I used it before having her when I was working too.

One job I had I worked with people with disabilities. I had one woman who had pretty severe bi-polar disorder with a nice side of depression/anxiety. Her doctor had her on it as a compliment to her other medication. She also swore it had a significant effect on her. She was in a panic this one day because the store was out of it and she didn't have her own transportation to go shopping around to find some before she ran out.

Valerian came recommended by my OB last night. We were discussing PMDD and he mentioned that works for anxiety.

I use Rescue Remedy!

I took St. John's Wort when I was my mom's caregiver 24/7 and it helped a lot with stress. I didn't realize how much until I ran out and didn't have a chance to get any more for a few days. I could really tell the difference.

I don't know if it would help if your taking Xanax for panic attacks (like my husband), but if it's just to maintain every day stress it worked for me. I know it does counteract BC pills, but you may want to check and see if it reacts to anything else you're taking as well.

interesting thread. i'm interested to see if there are any more responses...

AW Libby to you sweetie. I have not tried any herbs for anxiety. I have been dealing with panic disorder/phobias for many, many years. In fact was just discussing with Larry about the Zoloft I have taken for over fifteen years and I feel that it is just not working for me anymore. I am dealing so much in my life right now too and also feel that I need some other options to help me through this difficult time. I have not tried Valerian or St. John's Wort yet. I used to take Klonopin (Clonozapam) at night on an as needed basis. It can become addicting so you have to be careful with taking it. Klonopin is used for anxiety too and might be something you could ask your doctor about but I think it is probably pretty similar to Xanax. As for the herbs, I just don't know enough about them, but will be interested in seeing what other's have to say in this thread.

Loads of Sunshine to you, my friend

Mostly I use it for a few weeks at a time. It seems to build up a little. But I've taken it on more of an "as needed" basis too. I'm a terrible druggie. I forget to take my vitamins let alonee remember a medication. When I took BC pills I had an alarm set on my phone to go off every night to remind me!

I use valerian root for occasional anxiety. It works great for me. Replaces the anxiety with a nice calm, world isn't gonna implode today, type of feeling. I just take one, only when I need it.

I've used St. John's Wort as well, for depression, I have used it every day, and it does seem to work.

I've also used Valerian root as a muscle relaxant when I hurt my back pretty bad. (just muscles) THAT helped a LOT, along with aspirin.

I know this doesn't count but I always take out my box of tea and just hold it under my nose while laying on the couch. I LOVE the smell of a lot of teas. I may not like the taste of a lot of teas but the smell really just relaxes me and puts me at ease. Whenever I either don't feel good or if I'm feeling stressed or anxious I always just lay down with my tea for a spell.

Fresh Rosemary and Fresh Basil can also be a mood elevator, when you inhale their fragrance. I believe in Aromatherapy for many parts of my life.

This is a really interesting thread.

Libby,

Please be very careful with St.Johns wort, there can be med interactions, etc.

I have severe panic disorder, and have talked about it many times on here before. I am on meds for it, and will be for the rest of my life type of deal.

But, if you are just talking once in a while, I would try things like calming teas, rescue remedy (yes the same stuff we use on our kitties, I have used it myself) or the like, and see if is enough to help your case before venturing into SJW or valerian.

Do you have a natural store near you? The staff in a store that just sells homeopathic and herbal items can be very educational (just watch for ones pushing the newest fad).

FB me if you want and we can chat, over the years I've picked up quite a bit of knowledge in this aspect (anxiety as well as treatments).

(PS: I would soooooooooooo NOT recommend an antidepressent for you. I despise doctors that push those on people. I am not anti-antidepressents, I am anti- "oh you must be depressed, here take this" without doing any depression questionaires or the like..... which another side note, I can give you a depression questionaire if you want)

There are a few anti-depressants that include an anti anxiety drug in them. However, I think Chris is right-the Depression questions are important. If you don't need them, anti depressants can do more damage than good!

You can actually find the questionaire online!

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_d...ion08Unipolar9

This is just one of the many, but they are essentially the same.

Thank you for this link . I plan on taking it.

Libby, this thread is important to me in so many ways. I am taking NOTES . And BIG to you today from me

I tried St John Wart a decade ago. It has a definate effect. I would describe it as an airy feeling. I am liking this thread. I might try herbal again. I went to a Dr. for anxiety and got anti-depressants. I discontinued. They made me anxious Dr Smartie Pants.

Libby - I always have time for friends Anyway, they turn my life back up-right . Have not taken the questionaire yet, but will try today. Hope you are having a great day today !!!!!!!!

On the subject of antidepressants:

My boyfriend took one from 9th grade until this year (we are 19). Not because he was clinically depressed... but because in the 6th grade, his doctor diagnosed him (wrongly) with ADD instead of bipolar II, and the medication for ADD made him feel so bad sometimes (extreme mood swings) that he contemplated suicide, so the doc just prescribed an antidepressant. No depression questionnaire or testing, just a "here you go, be happy now" pill. And his mom went along with it.

Now how screwed up is THAT? If the medicine you are giving your TEENAGER is making him so depressed that he wants to kill himself, would you just put him on yet another psychoactive drug?? Or would you do the sensible thing and just take him off the meds altogether? Or find a different ADD medicine that doesn't make him depressed? (Note: He didn't "have" the kind of ADD that makes him bounce off the walls. He had the kind that just made it harder to concentrate during school lectures, while doing homework, etc)

Then again, his younger brother and dad are both on ADD meds, and his mom takes antidepressants, so they are a very medicine-happy family.

Fortunately, he finally got the CORRECT diagnosis this year of bipolar II and is now much happier overall. He's on lamotrigine.

And that is my little rant about antidepressants.

Oh boy. I hate when doctors jump on the add/adhd bandwagon without really looking at the patient. My cousin had add and does as an adult. The meds make a world of difference for her. But I see sooo many kids that the doctor wants them all doped up for it after spending 10 minutes with them.

Sorry for the very late response, but here is the one my doc uses....

http://healthnet.umassmed.edu/mhealth/HAMD.pdf

Libby, do you have a good relationship with your pharmacist? Ask them about taking the SJW with your current meds..... I've found over the past 2yrs, more meds have it on their pamphlets if it's unsafe to take STW with it.

Since posting in this thread, I've actually started on an antidepressent again due to all the "stuffs" going on in my life right now. It's been a week, and I'm starting to feel some positive effects from it. Having suffered depression all my life, and panic disorder from 24 onwards, I know myself well enough to know when I need help. My only issue is the withdrawal from the meds. The last one I was on for 7yrs or so, was a 6mos withdrawal, battle through he** and back, with every physical effect you can imagine including psychosis (and no, I'm not bipolar or anything like that, just basic chronic depression) which is what kept me off of one up untill now.

Thankfully a lot has changed from the time I went thru w/d and now with the meds, the manufacturers know a lot more, and the one I'm trying has very little side effects..... I'm sensitive to meds that affect certain brain chemicals, but this one has caused dry mouth (which I get from the chronic pain meds anyways) and drowsiness so I had to switch and take it at night instead of morning. I had a headache for 3 days as well. But in the week I've been on it, I've noticed my overall anxiety level is a couple points lower, and my energy level is creeping back up and the side effects have dissipated. I am supposed to increase my dose, but am choosing not to at this point since I have seen some good effects already.

Anyways, have you tried the SJW yet? I hope you've been able to find something that works for you