Although some people look to alternative medicine and natural supplements as a means to combat anxiety, they should be aware that a few herbs on the market can induce worry as opposed to preventing it. Although the list of these herbs is small and the problem usually occurs in conjunction with another herbal drug, anxiety can be a very real side-effect. In any case, the University of Maryland Medical Center advises that herbs be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider.
St. John’s Wort
Historically known for being a popular herbal remedy for the treatment of anxiety, St. John’s Wort may have the reverse reaction for a handful of users. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this herbal supplement is known to effect the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the human brain. These two hormones and their effect on the human brain can cause an increase of anxiety because of fluctuations in serotonin levels. When taking too high of a dosage of St. John’s Wort, a patient may experience a spike in either hormone, thus causing a chemical imbalance within the brain that can lead to a sense of worry or panic.
Kava Kava
An herbal supplement known for its calming qualities, kava kava has been looked at as a natural relief from anxiety. According to the University of Maryland, however, this herb may do more harm than good, when taken in higher dosages or for an extended period of time. It may interact with prescription drugs, adversely affecting serotonin levels in the brain, causing increased anxiety. Kava kava also has been known to cause damage to the liver in some patients, according to the university’s medical center, which also could generate added anxiety as a side-effect to treatment.
Salvia Divinorum
According to the Center of Substance Abuse Research, a close relative to the traditional cooking herb, sage, can cause a high level of anxiety when taken as an inhalant. Completely legal in the United States and other parts of the world and native to a mountainous region in Mexico, this species of sage (referred to as Salvia divinorum) has high levels of narcotic qualities that can produce dizziness, hallucinations, and extreme paranoia when taken in high dosages. A different, but related herb, Salvia officinalus, is a cooking spice used in many traditional cuisines.
About this Author
Adam Fonseca has been a writer and blogger since 2005. He maintains a number of different blogs on a variety of subjects ranging from health care to golf. Fonseca has a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and degrees in health science and psychology from Bradley University.
