Natural/herbal remedies for anxiety - do any of them actually work?

I'm afraid I never had any success with valerian or passiflora or hops or chamomile or any OTC remedies containing mixtures of these, not even when I swallowed down half the jar (in desperation) and washed them down with alcohol (in even greater desperation).  I tried rescue remedy too, but that didn't help at all, nor any other of the flower remedies.  

I have a long history of trying such things, plus also various psychological approaches, although the range on the NHS is very limited.  Plus I've been on a few courses too.  I always thought the answer would be just around the corner and I'd be able to bring my anxiety levels down. 

Meditation, tai chi and yoga have helped to a degree, and especially over the years as my nervous system has seemed to calm down as I've aged.  Not what you're asking about, I know, but those practices helped to restore hope for me.

Unfortunately, the only herb that has helped me is cannabis and then only when it has at least a little THC in it.  I believe the Sapphire Clinic are offering places for subsidised treatment at the moment, but I don't know how many or how affordable this might make it.  The THC oil works well for me and is expensive at £80 a bottle.  However one bottle lasts me 3 months so the cost/day is reasonable. 

To be honest, I wish I could go back and bin many of my other efforts as the costs for those mounted up over the years.  A bit of acceptance of my anxiety-prone self would have helped too, plus more understanding of the many drivers behind it.  

Sorry you are going through this.  I know it's a load to carry each day.  I know I recommended cannabis before and there are many barriers to accessing it, unfortunately.  If you have a local cannabis club they might be able to help.  For me edibles were the way to go and a low dose,  slow and steady approach has enabled me to relax without any negative side effects.  Please pm me if I might be of help on this subject.  Cannabis is one of those subjects where I expect to get deleted, even though I get it on legal prescription these days.  

Hi Jenny - many thanks for this - it’s extremely helpful. Your experience sounds very similar to mine - and it made me laugh to read of you swigging down natural remedies and wine in desperation - I can relate! 
What’s not funny of course is how hard it is to live with long term, persistent anxiety - at its worst it feels genuinely life threatening because it can become unbearable. 

Like you I feel I’ve wasted a lot of money trying things that don’t work - which is frustrating (I ordered more yesterday……). 
I’ve contacted Sapphire Clinic this morning - I remember you mentioning them before - so thank you for sharing your experience. It’s completely legal and I find that very reassuring. 
I’m so glad it’s helped you. It really should be available on the nhs in my opinion - so many of the other drugs the nhs prescribes are much more dangerous than low doses of medicinal cannabis after all! 
 Thanks for your help Jenny - and I hope it keeps working for you. It’s so hard to enjoy life when your anxious - and we deserve to be able to enjoy life - just like anybody else. 

Yes, it absolutely should be available on the NHS and I'm hoping that in time it will be.  My GP and consultants (for my liver and kidney disease) are all aware of my use and get copied into any correspondence from Sapphire.  So, apart from the expense (which I do resent when it's the only things that's helped), I feel covered.  Plus if anyone stops me or the police are involved (unlikely cos I'm not one of their usual suspects, being a grey-haired, older female) I have a handy legal prescription.  

The Sapphire process took a while to set up because they needed all my details plus a care summary from my GP (which you can ask for or printout yourself if you have online access) then to check I'd tried other approaches that either hadn't worked or were unsatisfactory for some reason) but it was well worth it.  And, although the money bothers me, I know I'm getting something that actually works, for a change.  Now it's the time, money and effort I spent over the years (and we're talking decades) on things that didn't work that grieve me.   

Right-o.  I just messaged you.  The NHS summary of care was easily obtainable without charge from my GP but my online patient records contained the same info anyway.  There was, I think, I printable version I could just scan and send to Sapphire and they accepted this.  

I do trust them but initially I did it because I was desperate and felt utterly cornered.  I was seen by one of their consultants and, in order to keep costs as low as possible, I agreed to share my "anonymised data" with them as they are building up a data bank of patient experiences.  All this means is that I have to do a couple of questionnaires once a quarter. 

After the consultant appointment I then need to see a pharmacist once a quarter, which adds to the expense, but I feel reassured by their knowledge and advice and they have been able to adjust my prescription as required (usually upwards!)

The faff and expense do still bother me, don't get me wrong, but it's for something that works!   

Right-o.  I just messaged you.  The NHS summary of care was easily obtainable without charge from my GP but my online patient records contained the same info anyway.  There was, I think, I printable version I could just scan and send to Sapphire and they accepted this.  

I do trust them but initially I did it because I was desperate and felt utterly cornered.  I was seen by one of their consultants and, in order to keep costs as low as possible, I agreed to share my "anonymised data" with them as they are building up a data bank of patient experiences.  All this means is that I have to do a couple of questionnaires once a quarter. 

After the consultant appointment I then need to see a pharmacist once a quarter, which adds to the expense, but I feel reassured by their knowledge and advice and they have been able to adjust my prescription as required (usually upwards!)

The faff and expense do still bother me, don't get me wrong, but it's for something that works!