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

I also suffer from severe anxiety. 

You have a neurotransmitter in your brain called GABA which helps to control the overstimulation of neuronal activity (excitation), when this is 'downregulated' anxiety states occur. You've probably heard of the prescription medication 'Gabapentin' and 'Pregabalin', this is how they work.

I have researched and tried many different 'natural remedies' including combinations of vitamins & minerals.

Out of everything I have tried the most effective has been L-Theanine. This is a compound found in teas, mainly black and green teas.

It is quite 'sedating', slows you down, sleep is better, generally the system is a lot calmer including the brain, that is my no.1 recommendation.

The second is Magnesium Threonate, this is the only form of Magnesium to date which crosses the blood brain barrier - at my last research - this is very good for cognitive calmness and clarity without the more sedating effect of L-Theanine.

Passiflora is the worse herbal supplement I've ever tried, caused bad palpitations and headaches, CBD oil (4 different brands) just made me cry and gave me a bad headache too.

Finally, if you take supplements, check your level of B vitamins as with the exception of B12 they can make anxiety worse, being very stimulating (you'll get more energy from those) and find any supplements without magnesium stearate as this is a common filler/tableting agent which is counter productive to the absorption of nutrients so you would most likely get a lot less from it anyway.

That is very helpful and interesting, thank you.

I have heard of those medications but didn't realise they could be used for anxiety. My elderly mum has been taking Gabapentin for a few years (prescribed for nerve pain) and she does seem to be less anxious. Like me she has suffered from severe lifelong anxiety and I strongly suspect she is undiagnosed autistic.

I've had a quick look on the NHS website and I see that Pregabalin can be prescribed for anxiety, but Gabapentin doesn't seem to be (in the UK at least).

I'm going to give L-Theanine a try next, once I've given the Lions Mane a fair chance.

Funny you should mention that but I seemed to cry a lot while taking the CBD oil too!

I’ve ordered some L-theanine too - a type that’s mixed with lemon balm. Fingers crossed :) 

I would start with a minimum of 200 mg, in my experience only of course.

Me too. I wonder is the trick to some of this to have some things on rotation rather than in continuous use. I think I just start to metabolise stuff when my system is no longer 'caught out' by it, so taking breaks from one thing while substituting another may be the key?

Me too. I wonder is the trick to some of this to have some things on rotation rather than in continuous use. I think I just start to metabolise stuff when my system is no longer 'caught out' by it, so taking breaks from one thing while substituting another may be the key?