Anxiety, panic attacks.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 20:34:45 -0600
From: texasbluebonnets.comcast.net
To: herb.lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [herb] Something for Anxiety/Panic
Hi everyone,
I am looking for some herb that can help with general calming down. I sort of get panic attacks, and just feelings of anxiety, which (yes I have talked with a doctor but do not want to take antidepressants cause I don't think I am depressed. more along the lines of OCD) anyway, I also have high blood pressure which I DO take medicine for, but my blood pressures been running high lately so they are monitoring that.
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on an herb that I cant ake that will help just calm me a little, nothing heavily sedating. I have tried the wellness teas that have valarian in it, but took one of the capsules once and felt tingly before I passed out. a woman I work with is trying something called holy Basil but I have never heard anything about that, but she says that makes her sleepy. but I also dont need anything that will interfere with my blood pressure meds. so any information ya'll can offer will be greatly greatly appreciated.
Cindy
From: "Phosphor" phosphor.hotkey.net.au
folic acid. help makes the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. these balance nor-epinephrine, which cause anxiety feelings.
take at least 1mg daily.
andrew
From: May Terry mterry.snet.net
>folic acid.
Yeah, but...if you're not deficient in folate to begin with, why would it help in this way?
From: "Phosphor" phosphor.hotkey.net.au
>Yeah, but...if you're not deficient in folate to begin with
it won't. but you might be deficient, depending on your ancestry. somewhere between 25-35% of caucasians of celtic origin exhibit variations in the enzymes relating to the post-digestive transformation of folate. ie they need more.
andrew
From: "jim mcdonald" multiflorum.hotmail.com
The most powerful anti anxiety medicine on the planet is Tobacco... but that's probably not what you need, so please don't start smoking, and if you do, keep trying to quit till you do. (see this thread continued here.)
I'd recommend, hands down without a doubt, chewing on Calamus Root. Its an acquired taste, but works ~incredibly~, in my experience. Only a small amount, say a few pieces of the cut & sifted root to a scant tablespoon, need be chewed, along with some good deep breaths. Very few people know about this use, but whenever anyone does, they agree that it works much better to treat the panic/anxiety atack when it's happening than anything else they've tried. It does, though, need to be used with other herbs, breathing exercises, and figuring out what the panic attacks are about in order to resolve them.
Incidentally, the reason Calamus root is used to help people quit smoking is because of its antianxiety effect
good luck.
From: "jim mcdonald" multiflorum.hotmail.com
>I saw Calamus root in a book on culinary herbs and spices, and it interested me, having seen this herb in medicinal herb references. Calamus (Acorus calamus, family Araceae) is also known as Sweet Flag. I am always looking for things to improve my appetite, since one major factor contributing to asthma problems at night is feeling full prematurely and thereby not eating enough. It's not just the stomach but rather, all the way between throat and stomach, where I can feel tight and possibly nauseated.
Chewing on Calamus root improves appetite, strengthens digestion, normalizes acid levels (increases low acid levels, decreases excess acid levels), and helps to relieve anxiety. I've not used it for asthma at all, but if its aggravated by anxiety it probably wouldn't hurt. I could go on for hours (lines) about it, but if you look in past archives of the mailing list, you can find most of the relevent info I've written there.
But chew the root... avoid teas, tinctures & the like. Chewing the root is the way to go with this herb. There are many varieties of Calamus that are all sold as the same species. I go by the smell. The more bitter roots are (for me) preferable to the more aromatic. The Calamus should smell light & sweet, not heavy & oily (though the heavy, oily kind would be better for gas pains). The root I've been using lately, and the best that I've found, comes whole from South Dakota, and is gathered near the Pine Ridge reservation. I get it through a friend, and as far as I know, its not available through the mail.
From: MLCherbs.aol.com
i have occasional panic attacks - "shakey" uneasy feeling. I find immediate relief with Bach Flower "Rescue Remedy". I put a few drops under my tongue and the a few drops in a "bottled water" for when i am out - there is no adverse effect...just cuts the nervousness.
From: "Bill Jacobson" williamj.nac.net
I started taking Bach's "Rescue Remedy" several years ago when it was given to me by my Vet when I was in terrible grief after putting my dog down. It was the only thing that helped. Since then I have passed the bottle of drops around to friends deserted by lovers and others with lots of grief and now my Coop stocks it and can't keep it in stock. This is really good stuff.
From: Sara Reller sarar.insani-x.com
I used to have minor panic attacks. I refused to take anything. I knew that a major part of it was just stress in my life (proven to me by the fact that I haven't had once since I got a job and a place to live and am now done with college). The thing that worked best for me was mint tea. But since when you are in the middle of a mall a nice cup of mint tea isn't always at the top of the Starbucks menu I carried a small vial with my favorite calming smells (I think it's personal as well as general mine was Jasmine, Lavender, and Dragon's Blood) If I was going into a situation where I knew I'd get an attack, I'd wear it as perfume. But I'd get to the nearest bathroom (if I could) and just sit there and smell it until I felt better then remove myself from the situation.
But that's just me.
From: May Terry mterry.snet.net
Well, I had *major* anxiety/panic attacks, and, believe me, tea doesn't cut it. My pulse would be 150 during an extended attack, I would have nausea and diarrhea, and feel like I could not get enough air (which, of course, made the panic worsen). I put up with large amounts of emotional pain (a terrible marriage) to avoid anxiety (being 'abandoned'). I still consider Xanax to have been a godsend. If kava kava works anywhere near as good, I would say that it's a worthwhile treatment even if long-term use can't be proven not to have serious side effects.
From: Herbgrow30.aol.com
>If kava kava works anywhere near as good,
Yes Kava can work as well...plus there are many flower essences made from herbs that can help a lot...one of them chamomile. When stress is caused by environmental situations we use chaparral natural essence.
Warmly ~
Mary L. Conley, ND
