Anxiety Disorder Symptoms, Treatments and Natural Remedies

There are a number of different types of anxiety. These include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder & Agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety and specific phobias. Of all of these forms of anxiety, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is by far the most common, affecting many thousands of individuals throughout the world.

The basic characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive uncontrollable worrying about normal everyday matters. This type of anxiety can cause a variety of physical symptoms including:

  • Muscle tension;
  • Sweating;
  • Nausea;
  • Cold, clammy hands;
  • Difficulty swallowing;
  • Jumpiness;
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea;
Anxiety sufferers tend to be rather irritable and can complain about feeling on edge. They also get tired easily and often suffer from insomnia. However, some people who think they are suffering from anxiety may be suffering from one of many other conditions such as depression. It is very important for people who are anxious to seek professional medical assistance in determining a proper treatment. Natural therapy including the use nutritional and herbal supplements is one approach to helping to alleviate mild to moderate anxiety.

Nutritional supplements that may prove useful for people suffering from anxiety

Inositol, also known as phytate, has been used in connection with anxious individuals suffering from panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder. While studies have been inconclusive clinical trials have reported that inositol has been able to help control panic attacks and relieve many of the physical symptoms associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Other studies indicated that supplementing with a good multivitamin-mineral supplement (especially in the case of deficiency) led to a notable decrease in the level of stress of anxiety sufferers. A few other clinical studies have led some experts to believe that Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3) may help with anxiety.

Natural Herbs that may prove useful for people suffering from anxiety

There are a few herbs, often referred to as nerve tonics that have been employed for many years by traditional herbal medicine for anxiety sufferers, with few reported side effects. While scientific evidence is lacking to support the effectiveness of such herbs some studies suggest that when used together two herbs, valerian and passion flower, may reduce the symptoms associated with anxiety. One study even purports that passion flower extract proved more effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety than oxazepam (Serax®), a common medication use to treat people with anxiety.

In addition to valerian and passion flower other herbal nerve tonics include kava kava (very popular for anxiety), hops, skullcap, motherwort, pennyroyal, St. John's wort, and linden.

Chamomile tea may also produce a calming effect that could help those with anxiety.

Note: For a long time kava has been a popular herbal remedy for anxiety, as its effectiveness has been validated by a number of studies. Although side effects are not common certain side effects may appear if kava is combined with benzodiazepines, a common drug used to treat anxiety.

Supporting Literature

Benjamin J, Levine J, Fux M, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1995;152:1084-6.
Fux M, Levine J, Aviv A, Belmaker RH. Inositol treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1996;153:1219-1221.
Carroll D, Ring C, Suter M, Willemsen G. The effects of an oral multivitamin combination with calcium, magnesium, and zinc on psychological well-being in healthy young male volunteers: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2000;150:220-225.
Weston PG et al. Magnesium sulfate as a sedative. Am J Med Sci 1923;165:431-433.
Mohler H, Polc P, Cumin R, et al. Niacinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature 1979;278:563-565.
Brown D. Valerian root: Non-addictive alternative for insomnia and anxiety. Quart Rev Nat Med 1994;Fall:221-224.
Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, et al. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther 2001;26:363-367.
Witte B, Harrer G, Kaptan T, et al. Treatment of depressive symptoms with a high concentration Hypericum preparation. A multicenter placebo-controlled double-blind study. Fortschr Med 1995;113:404-408.
Viola H, de Stein ML, et al. Apigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects. Planta Med 1995;61:213-216.
Pittler MH, Ernst E. Efficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000;20:82-89.
Lehmann EE, Kinzler J, Friedmann J. Efficacy of a special kava extract (Piper methysticum) in patients with states of anxiety, tension and excitement of non-mental origin. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of four weeks treatment. Phytomedicine 1996;3:110-9.
Warnecke G. Psychosomatic dysfunctions in the female climacteric. Clinical effectiveness and tolerance of kava extract WS 1490. Fortscher Med 1991;119-122 .
Volz HP, Kieser M. Kava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders-A randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trial. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997;30:1-5.
Woelk H, Kapoula S, Lehrl S, et al. Treatment of patients suffering from anxiety-double-blind study: Kava special extract versus benzodiazepines. Z Allegemeinmed 1993;69:271-277.
Volz 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.
Almeida JC, Grimsley EW. Coma from the health food store: Interaction between kava and alprazolam. Arch Intern Med 1996;125:940-941.
Miller 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.
Lo CW, Chung QY. The sedative effect of acupuncture. Am J Chin Med 1979;7:253-258.
Lamontagne Y, Annable L. Acupuncture and anxiety. Can J Psych 1979;24:583-585.