Nobody really talks about Chamomile for anxiety; usually, if the herb is discussed, it's in the context of being a sleep aid and almost exclusively about Chamomile tea. However, Chamomile is available in capsule form, and that got me wondering how effective it would be for daytime anxiety. I ordered 200 capsules of Chamomile recutita, aka German Chamomile, to give it a try.
I was pleasantly surprised by my results. Measuring from an established baseline, I noted a moderate reduction in anxiety 30 minutes after ingesting 1400mg of Chamomile. Interestingly enough, for a popular sleep aid I did not note any measurable amount of sedation, meaning it is acceptable for daytime use.
Most notable, however, was how the Chamomile just..."calmed me down", to be super-scientific about it. The calming effect hit as hard as a low dose of Xanax without the mandatory, involuntary nap associated with that particular drug. The active effects I would compare to a moderate dose of Lorazepam (Ativan).
Yes, I'll say it again: an herbal medicine that acts just like a benzodiazapine without the sedating effects. Take it from Big Pharma's biggest fan: Chamomile is no joke.
Unfortunately, the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects only seem to last about four hours. I recommend using Chamomile like one would use an as-needed dose of Xanax - or, as I do personally, as a midday pick-me-up-and-calm-me-down.
All in all, I can in all good conscience recommend Chamomile for those who suffer from sporadic or situational anxiety. It is affordable, effective, and the best herbal I have tried thus far.
I was pleasantly surprised by my results. Measuring from an established baseline, I noted a moderate reduction in anxiety 30 minutes after ingesting 1400mg of Chamomile. Interestingly enough, for a popular sleep aid I did not note any measurable amount of sedation, meaning it is acceptable for daytime use.
Most notable, however, was how the Chamomile just..."calmed me down", to be super-scientific about it. The calming effect hit as hard as a low dose of Xanax without the mandatory, involuntary nap associated with that particular drug. The active effects I would compare to a moderate dose of Lorazepam (Ativan).
Yes, I'll say it again: an herbal medicine that acts just like a benzodiazapine without the sedating effects. Take it from Big Pharma's biggest fan: Chamomile is no joke.
Unfortunately, the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects only seem to last about four hours. I recommend using Chamomile like one would use an as-needed dose of Xanax - or, as I do personally, as a midday pick-me-up-and-calm-me-down.
All in all, I can in all good conscience recommend Chamomile for those who suffer from sporadic or situational anxiety. It is affordable, effective, and the best herbal I have tried thus far.
