| Copyright (c) 2007 Mary Ann Copson | | | | Matricaria recutita) ? an all time favorite ?because |
| If you have ever had a panic attack, you don't | | | | it works. Chamomile tones the nervous system, |
| want another one. The "fight-or flight" response in | | | | relaxes your muscles and calms nervous digestion. |
| your body is involuntarily turned on and your | | | | It has mild sedating properties and is not as |
| nervous system signals your adrenal glands to | | | | strong an herbal sedative as valerian or |
| start pumping out stress hormones to get you | | | | passionflower. However, chamomile is a great |
| ready to either run away or turn and fight. | | | | option for anxiety in children or teens and for |
| Your muscles tense, your heartbeat speeds up, | | | | anxiety associated with mild sleep problems. If |
| and your breathing becomes more rapid. You | | | | you are allergic to ragweed, asters, or |
| might feel like you are smothering, claustrophobic | | | | chrysanthemums you are better off choosing |
| or you may experience an urgency to get away. | | | | another anti-anxiety herb. |
| On top of that, you may get hot flashes, | | | | Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) ?has mild sedative |
| sweating, and/or chills and trembling, plus | | | | properties and is useful in conditions of nervous |
| numbness, tingling sensations, dizziness, and | | | | agitation with sleep problems and digestive |
| nausea. | | | | complaints. Lemon balm is especially useful for |
| You become overwhelmed by an extreme sense | | | | over-anxiety that causes digestive problems such |
| of fear and impending disaster and you lose your | | | | as nausea, bloating, and colic like pains. Traditionally |
| ability to think calmly and clearly while experiencing | | | | lemon balm was used to lift the spirits and |
| a distorted sense of time and a feeling of | | | | encourage longevity. Lemon balm is a relaxing |
| unreality. | | | | tonic for anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and mild |
| In the face of a physical threat, accident, or | | | | depression and its actions will quiet the racing |
| natural disaster, this type of response is normal | | | | heart that often accompanies anxiety. It has mild |
| and can be life-saving. But panic attacks that | | | | anti-thyroid effects and is best avoided by people |
| occur unexpectedly in the presence of normal | | | | with hypothyroid problems. |
| events can be debilitating. They may happen with | | | | Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) ?tonifies and relaxes |
| no forewarning, at any time of the day or night, | | | | the nervous system and is useful for anxiety of |
| and last several seconds or more than half an | | | | all types especially anxiety and irritability that is |
| hour. | | | | hormonally based such as premenstrual syndrome. |
| The triggers for panic attacks are unpredictable. | | | | It is a sedative nervine and has mild |
| Most panic attacks are set off by some minor or | | | | anti-spasmodic and anti-hypertensive effects. |
| major stressor. But panic attacks can also be | | | | Skullcap is a great herb to use when your anxiety |
| triggered by changes in emotions, or as a | | | | is accompanied by a runaway mind that is stuck |
| response to certain drugs, foods, allergies | | | | on worry. It is tolerated well by most people and |
| (including hidden food allergies), hypoglycemia, and | | | | has few side effects. |
| illnesses. | | | | Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) ? one of the most |
| A panic attack is an example of an acute anxiety | | | | well known anti-anxiety herbs, valerian is a potent |
| disorder and can affect teens to middle-agers and | | | | herb whose active ingredients, valepotriates, bind |
| beyond. Women are reported to experience panic | | | | to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (similarly |
| attacks twice as often as men but some believe | | | | to the drug Valium). The use of valerian does not, |
| that is only because men are more reticent to | | | | however, result in dependence or the |
| report panic attacks. | | | | development of tolerance but instead tones the |
| Recent studies point to a complex set of causes | | | | nervous system. |
| and panic attacks are regarded as a treatable | | | | Valerian can be used to improve the sleep quality |
| psychobiological condition (i.e. having both | | | | and relax both the skeletal and smooth muscles. |
| psychological and biological causes). Successful | | | | Valerian should not be used for those with chronic |
| resolution of panic attacks requires an integrated, | | | | exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, and |
| multi-modality approach. | | | | depression as it may increase anxiety, worsen |
| Even though panic attacks are not a simple | | | | present symptoms, and/or result in excessive |
| condition and there are no simple answers for | | | | restlessness in these conditions. |
| their successful resolution, herbal therapy can be | | | | Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) ? a strong |
| useful as part of an integrated, multi-modality | | | | calming, anti-spasmodic herb that is good for |
| approach. | | | | severe daytime anxiety. Passionflower is also a |
| When you experience anxiety, your body | | | | good choice for middle of the night waking |
| releases a set of neurotransmitters called | | | | terrors, nightmares, and the onset of sudden |
| catecholamines, which stimulate your central | | | | anxiety feelings. It acts as a central nervous |
| nervous system and activate your sympathetic | | | | system depressant giving a calming, relaxing and |
| nervous system. Sometimes your sympathetic | | | | anti-anxiety effect and is specific for anxiety |
| nervous system (the high alert part of your | | | | related to insomnia, muscle tension, restlessness, |
| nervous system) can get stuck in the ?on? mode | | | | and nervousness due to worry, overwork, |
| leaving you in an ongoing state of anxiety - a | | | | hysteria, or excessive excitement. If you are |
| fertile ground for panic attacks. | | | | taking an MAO inhibitor, you should avoid taking |
| A class of herbs called nervines helps to turn off | | | | passionflower except under supervision. |
| the sympathetic nervous system by gently | | | | Stress Relief Tea |
| facilitating the functioning of the parasympathetic | | | | Here is a simple herbal tea mixture that I have |
| nervous system ? the part of the nervous | | | | found effective in my private practice working |
| system that prompts relaxation - helping us to | | | | with women having mood and energy problems. |
| wind down and come off ?high alert?. | | | | Mix together equal parts of the following dry |
| It is a good idea to experiment with different | | | | herbs: |
| anti-anxiety herbs before you are in a crisis or | | | | ?Oatstraw |
| panic situation. Try out several herbs in varying | | | | ?Lemon Balm |
| doses. Start with a low dose and increase if | | | | ?Skullcap |
| needed so that you will know how the herb | | | | ?Nettles |
| affects you and how to use it when you need it. | | | | ?Orange |
| Some effective herbal nervines to consider using: | | | | ?Chamomile |
| Oatstraw (Avena sativa) ? the green milky tops | | | | Use 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture and steep |
| of oatstraw provide a wonderful soothing, | | | | covered in 8 oz. of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. |
| nourishing and gentle herb for frayed and | | | | The use of herbal nervines as part of an |
| stressed nervous systems. Oatstraw has a | | | | integrative program can help restore a sense of |
| restorative effect on an exhausted nervous | | | | calm and well being, soothe distress, stabilize a |
| system reliably strengthening the whole nervous | | | | confused and overwhelmed energy system, and |
| system after prolong stress. Oatstraw has both | | | | foster clear thinking. |
| an immediate effect (useful when experiencing | | | | If you are taking anti-anxiety and/or |
| extreme nervousness and anxiety) and a more | | | | anti-depressant medications or other medications, |
| long-term restorative effect. Oatstraw is well | | | | have a diagnosed condition or illness, are pregnant, |
| tolerated by even highly sensitive people and is | | | | breastfeeding, elderly or very young it is |
| used for nervous debility, stress, weak nerve and | | | | important to consult a knowledgeable health care |
| energy force, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and | | | | practitioner before using herbs. Consult a licensed |
| general fatigue. | | | | physician for diagnosis and treatment of any |
| German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/ | | | | medical conditions. |