One natural supplement that worked and works for me is L-theanine. It is naturally found in green tea and helped to calm me down. I go with products that contain SunTheanine because its a pure, safe product. The first two or three days when I took it I felt super relaxed, and then after that it helped keep me calm but less of a sedated feeling. As with all supplements, please do research on this supplement and talk to a Dr. before taking it. Always start off with a low dose first and then increase it in small amounts if needed.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Do use caution when taking any supplement, and check with your doctor if you are also on any prescription medications. As with most things in life, moderation is a safe path to follow!
I agree with Davit and cannot be sure about St Johns Wart?
On a personal note, I have tried many herbal remedies and none of them worked, until I accidentally came accross a supplement called inositol which I found to be very, very effective. It seemed to greatly reduce my negative/intrusive thoughts which gave me a great deal of control over my anxiety. It also let me sleep like a baby. I use it in conjuction with a strong B-vit complex, which works for me. I only use inositol when needed. I have been using it on and of for several months now and it really helps me.
In the past, I tried whatever I could find in the health food store related to my symptoms, including St. John's Wort - it was very popular at the start of this new century. I spent alot of money (understatement) and nothing worked for me. I like homeopathics. I did find a few that worked for me - not related to anxiety/panic/depression/etc.
As a former nurse, we had lists for some of the remedies which can be dangerous when mixing with meds, as. I recommend if someone wants to try this path, it's important to work under careful supervision with a holistic MD that is highly recommended. Most workers in 'natural' pharmacies and health food stores are not well versed in everything necessary to know about each remedy.
Back in '96 I went to an MD for my depression. She gave me a homeopathic remedy while in her office. Within days I started having svery strong suicidal thoughts - luckily it dawned on me that it was a result of the remedy - too strong! I don't want to imagine someone not remembering how homeopathics work if they had suicidal thoughts.
This is a question with many or no answers. Take placebo effect. In mild cases it can stave off anxiety but not in a full blown panic attack. Yet if a herb is proven to have some (maybe very little) calming effect and a person is sensitive enough then it is not a placebo. In the same sense if you have a strong ability to resist the effects of the herb it will not work, and you are back to placebo effect. Is placebo effect bad? It could be because it becomes a core belief instead of a chemical so withdrawal is a different process.
I'm sensitive to some of the herbs and calcium so for me they work, they even worked during major panic attacks. How much of this was placebo, I don't know. I do know one thing it was consistent. (it always worked) Some of the considered safe chemicals, Gabba, ATP etc. Did not work for me but I know people who say they do.
It is debatable if St Johns Wart and a couple of others are safe. Part of the problem is that they react with other herbs and main stream medications. The other thing is purity and quantity. Herbals can be dangerous in large doses. One thing herbals can do is prevent where they can't cure. A herbal tea might keep a person from panicking where it wouldn't stop it once it happens. Of course we know that once a panic attack happens it is best to journal and ride it out. A cup of camomile tea and some cookies while a person journals the panic down is not going to hurt. But neither would warm milk. And again if the routine is just placebo does it matter if it works? Yes it might if you become dependent on it.
My opinion on herbals: Use them periodically as medicinal or more often if just for the pleasure of a good cup of tea, but do not become dependent on them.
On St Johns Wart. There is to much controversy around this herbal for me to accept it as safe.
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