The Best Herbs for Anxiety & Stress
I haven’t always been interested in health and wellness. In fact, throughout my teens and college years, my diet consisted of mostly junk food. After a stressful time during my young adult years, my lack of nutrition caught up to me and manifested into physical symptoms I didn’t know how to deal with.
Like most people, I turned to medical professionals, none of which knew me, because I had recently moved to a new city. That began a string of medical tests and medications that attempted to calm the symptoms. However, I soon learned these medications came with side effects and didn’t actually address the underlying problem or improve my health. This is how I found myself turning to alternative healthcare and natural remedies in my mid-20s.
Now, at 50, I’m known as someone who has a tincture, tea, or remedy for most things. Know that everything I share here is from my own research, use, or consultation. So if you are someone who is looking for more natural remedies that help mild to moderate anxiety and stress-related symptoms, this is for you.
Safety Precautions when Adding Herbal Remedies
Before you try any of the herbs I will be sharing, please consider also consulting a certified herbalist, naturopath, or your physician, especially if you are taking medications for medical and/or physical reasons. Some herbs can increase the effect or interfere with your medications. So my hope is that this information helps you feel better prepared to do your own research or talk to your physician about adding natural remedies safely.
Best Herbs for Anxiety & Stress
Let’s dive in. Here are some of my favorite herbs for anxiety and stress:
Passionflower: Helps reduce anxiety and improve sleep by helping calm and relax you. I prefer passionflower in an alcohol-free tincture formula.
Lemon Balm: Helps reduce anxiety, settle nervous stomach, improve sleep, and even has anti-viral properties. I love this as a tea or an alcohol-free tincture.
Adaptogens: Help you regulate stress hormones and restore balance in your body during and after stressful times. Adaptogens can be either energizing or calming, depending on what your body needs. One of my favorite formulas, Adrenal Health, contains 5 adaptogens and is available in capsule form. I also love Tulsi (or Holy Basil) in a tea form.
Reishi Mushroom: Another adaptogen to consider is the reishi mushroom. This remedy may take longer for you to notice an effect, but it is packed with benefits from a balanced immune system, improved sleep & energy, to balancing the stress response. I love it in either in a capsule or powder formula.
Lavender: Helps improve sleep, calms anxiety, and smells amazing. I love to buy this from local lavender farms, and then I make hot tea or lavender lemonade.
Best Place to Buy Herbs in Kansas City
If you are new to herbal remedies or teas, you may not know where to buy them. So here are some of my favorite places to shop. (Note: I don’t get any commission for sharing these.)
Health food stores: Sprouts, Whole Foods, & Vitamin Shoppe (Plnt is a Vitamin Shoppe brand and offers alcohol-free tinctures in some of their single herbs.)
Tea Market: A great specialty store with herbal, green, and black tea blends. You can get some tea to go or buy loose-leaf tea in reusable tins. If you are in Kansas City and love tea, it’s a must-see!
Spirit of Health: Health food store that is locally owned in Grandview. They sell bulk single and blends of herbs as well as other nutritional supplements.
Best Place to Buy Herbs Online
For those of you who aren’t local, here are some of my favorite places to buy herbs and/or adaptogens online:
Mountain Rose Herbs - Located in Oregon but shipped to you.
Host Defense - All things mushrooms
Herbs Don’t Replace Therapy
While I love using natural remedies to soothe and nourish myself. I also strongly believe in emotional support being a calming balm too. Herbs and natural remedies can complement your healing journey and be tools in your toolkit. But they don’t replace doing inner healing work that can also deeply calm your nervous system and help you become more adaptable to stress.
Disclaimer -This information is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you.
Marci Payne, MA, LPC
Holistic Therapist in Kansas City, MO
I help adults get out & recover from burnout, people-pleasing & toxic relationships. For more information on holistic therapy with me.