Cause: Often psychological in nature, but sometimes caused by chemical imbalance in the brain.

Useful Supplements: Folic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphatidyl Choline, Vitamin B3.

Useful Herbs: Kava, Passion Flower, St John’s Wort, Valerian.

Further information: There are three main types of anxiety disorders: phobias (fears of specific things), panic attacks (sudden bursts of fear with no reasonable cause), and general anxiety (overall fear and worry). An anxiety disorder can cause many other problems in addition to feelings of fear; eating disorders, insomnia, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, pounding heart, dry mouth, and sweating are among the most common.

The best treatment for anxiety is usually a combination of therapy and medication.¹ Caffeine often intensifies the feelings of anxiety, so should be avoided.²

The following supplements and herbs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders:

Folic Acid deficiency has been shown to cause anxiety³, especially in women. When added back to the diet, often the symptoms of anxiety abate.

Magnesium appears to have a relaxing effect in cases of mild anxiety⁴. A dose of 200 to 300 mg taken twice a day appears to be optimal, as larger doses can cause diarrhea. Magnesium should not be taken by patients with kidney stones without consulting a doctor.

Phosphatidyl Choline taken in amounts of 4 grams twice or three times daily has been shown to help in the case of panic attacks.⁵

Vitamin B3 also is effective in the treatment of anxiety, acting similarly to Valium.⁶ It makes an excellent bridge when stopping Valium treatments, easing the withdrawal symptoms.⁷

Chamomile has long been used for its calming effects and as an aid to insomnia. Laboratory studies have confirmed that it is effective in the treatment of anxiety.⁸

Kava is the most effective and proven herb for use in the treatment of anxiety disorders. 100 mg taken daily appears to have a positive effect.⁹ It has been studied for use in patients for periods as long as six months without negative side effects.¹⁰

Passion Flower, in combination with Valerian, has been shown to alleviate many of the symptoms of anxiety.¹¹

St. John’s Wort, a common treatment for depression, also has been shown effective in the treatment of mild anxiety.¹²

References:

¹Miler JJ, Fletcher K, Kabat-Zinn J, et al. Three-year follow-up and clinical implications of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1995;17:192–200.
²Bruce M et al. Anxiogenic effects of caffeine in patients with anxiety disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992;49:867–69.
³Howard JS III. Folate deficiency in psychiatric practice. Psychosomatics 1975;16:112-5.
⁴Weston PG et al. Magnesium sulfate as a sedative. Am J Med Sci 1923;165:431–33.
⁵Benjamin J, Levine J, Fux M, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1995;152:1084–86.
⁶Mohler H, Polc P, Cumin R, et al. Niacinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature 1979;278:563–65.
⁷Vescovi PP et al. Nicotinic acid effectiveness in the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Curr Ther Res 1987;41:1017.
⁸Yamada K, Miura T, Mimaki Y, Sashida Y. Effect of inhalation of chamomile oil vapour on plasma ACTH level in ovariectomized rats under restriction stress. Biol Pharm Bull 1996;19:1244–46.
⁹Volz HP, Kieser M. Kava-kava exract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders. A randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trial. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997;30:1–5.
¹⁰Volz HP, Kieser M. Kava-kava extract WS 1490 vs. placebo in anxiety disorders—A randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trial. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997;30:1–5.
¹¹Brown D. Valerian root: Non-addictive alternative for insomnia and anxiety. Quart Rev Nat Med 1994;Fall:221–24 [review].
¹²Baureithel KH, Buter KB, Engesser A, et al. Inhibition of benzodiazepine binding in vitro by amentoflavone, a constituent of various species of Hypericum. Pharm Acta Helv 1997;72:153–57.