We live in an increasingly stressful era, where the accelerated pace of innovation and social unrest, comes with an equal pace of increased stress. Now more than ever, it’s good to learn about some of the best herbs for stress reduction and anxiety relief.
Tumultuous social upheavals bring fear and uncertainty. Subsequently, few amongst us are they who have not experienced stress and anxiety. So to serve you in your efforts to find natural remedies, we’re sharing here a list and information of the best herbs for anxiety and stress relief.
Having experienced and successfully remediated stress, anxiety, fear, panic attacks and even depression naturally, I’m passionate about sharing with others the many healthy natural remedies that have worked for me and others.
Pharmaceutical aids can cause unwelcome side effects and dependencies. While herbs are not without potential side effect if used unwisely and unguided, they’re plentiful and readily available, often for less cost and side effects but with equal and greater benefits.
What Are Some of the Best Herbs for Stress Reduction and Anxiety Relief?
These best herbs for stress relief and anxiety relief have been used for centuries and more recently are supported by research and ongoing studies. Most of these also include a wide range of additional beneficial for various maladies. However, for brevity, we’re focusing this list of best herbs for stress relief to just the info and studies related that.
Some of the links in the list below go to other articles on our site. For herbs that we haven’t written about yet, the links take you to that item on Amazon for easy access.
Best Herbs for Stress Reduction and Anxiety Relief – listed alphabetically
- Ashwagandha
- Catnip
- CBD
- Chamomile
- Kava kava root
- Galphimia glauca
- Green tea
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Maca root
- Passion flower
- Turmeric
- Valerian – I use the liquid drops
- Cortisol Ease – a powerful herbal tincture blend that contributed significantly toward stress reduction
Best Herbs for Stress and Anxiety – Expanded, Including Botanical Names
Ashwagandha, (Withania somnifera)
Used for millennia in Ayurvedic medicine; studies indicate a reduction in stress, and primarily available powdered and in capsule form, ashwagandha.[1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25405876/
Catnip, (Nepeta cataria)
Everyone knows that most cats love catnip, but fewer realize that catnip is not just for cats. In fact, growing catnip is a good idea, even if you don’t have cats!
Catnip is for people too, from mosquitoes to stress relief, pest deterrent to pet luxuriant, herbal remedies to culinary seasoning… catnip is a wholesome and powerful little herb.
You can read lots more in our ‘growing catnip‘ article.
CBD, (Cannabis sativa)
Well known and increasingly popular amongst best herbs for stress relief, we use it regularly for ourselves and our pets. You can read more on CBD and hemp vs. marijuana. My husband, Coleman experiences improved sleep from CBD, however for the two times I’ve tried it to date, the first time it seemed to stimulate rather than relax and the second time it had no effect on me.
Chamomile, (Matricaria chamomilla)
Long known to relax and soothe, studies found that while chamomile may not eliminate stress, chamomile can reduce the severity of stress symptoms.[2]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27912875/
Kava kava root, (Piper methysticum)
South Pacific herb in the pepper family, commonly used for relaxation; increasingly popular in the West, and available in tea, tincture, powder, dried root, capsules, drinks and even candy.[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630875/. However, kava has also been linked to liver damage, similar to that of alcohol, so moderation and caution is advised. Best to avoid altogether if you have any known liver concerns or predisposition.[4]https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/kava
Galphimia glauca
A small evergreen shrub used in traditional medicine treatments in Mexico and Central America, Galphimia glauca and is available in supplemental tablet forms.[5]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6278297/
Green tea, (Camellia sinensis sinensis)
Low caffeine green teas were found to reduce stress symptoms and to increase feel good hormones, dopamine and serotonin. Caffeine in green teas varies from between 30 and 50 mg per 8-oz serving. Choose decaf or low caff green teas (LCGT) over standard green teas (SGT), and avoid drinking in the late afternoons onward. [6]