5. St John’s Wort Anxiety Relief
Surprisingly, St. John’s wort is actually used as a herbal treatment for depression in Germany. In fact, one study found that the herb was equally effective to tricyclic antidepressant drugs in the short-term (1 to 3 months) treatment of mild-to-moderate major depression (14).
The Cochrane Review reviewed trials and found that not only did the herb work as effective as standard anxiety medication, it also had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants.
Additionally, St. John’s wort has been studied in the treatment of other mood disorders, such as severe depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) (15).
However, the herb can interact antidepressants, birth control pills, blood thinners, medicines for HIV, cancer drugs, cyclosporine, or digoxin.
6. Basil
Basil isn’t just an Italian staple, it has true medical benefits and is a key member of the best essential oils for anxiety. In fact, one study found that 500mg of holy basil taken two times a day after meals reduced anxiety, stress, and depression in one 60-day study. Basil can also improve headaches and upset stomach (16).
Another 3-month study proved that a basil solution improved anxiety-related symptoms such as forgetfulness, sexual problems, exhaustion, and sleep problems (17).
7. Geranium
It’s true: this common outdoor plant can combat high blood pressure by smell alone. Inhaling the essential oil of geranium is actually an effective and non-invasive tool mothers can use to ease anxiety during childbirth. In fact, a study on 100 Iranian women found that geranium essential oil was particularly potent during the first stage of labor (18).