Any herby wise women to guide me?

[CrotchBurn]

Okay I have issues with stress, quite a few factors outside my control right now that are causing me a LOT of stress, resentment and frustration, which has been triggering rumination and obsessively going over my issues and then panic attacks. My body is reacting against me - hammering heart, light headed, feeling like I'm going to die or go out of control etc - classic panic attacks. I've done blood tests and theres nothing physically wrong with me it's all in my head.

Whilst i wait to tackle the cause I was going to try some herbs for the symptoms.

Been reading up on adaptogenic herbs and have some questioms:
1/ Does anyone with knowledge know of I can take ashwagandha and rhodiola together in the morning?
2/ Is this dangerous long term?
3/ Also, can I have a cup of valerian tea in the evening to replace wine or will this interact badly?
4/ Will this slow me down mentally? I can't take anxiety medication as my job requires me to be really on it.
5/ Do herbs actually work? I've tried rescue remedy and it does fuck all!

Not a herbalist but as a pharmacist I can tell you the herbal market is very loosely regulated and not extensively tested. I doubt you'll find conclusive interaction data because its simply not studied in great depth.

There is limited interaction data between herbal and conventional medicine available on the Sloan Kettering memorial hospital site:

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search

@TrufflyPig
Thank you for your opinion! I don't take any kind of medication. Its true I'm a little sceptical about herbal remedies, but I'm assuming it's worth a shot!

Not herbs but somatic based interventions may help. Your feelings are coming from your nervous system so that's where you need to change the patterns. Simple start is ratio breathing designed to extend the exhalation. Others inc somatic experiencing, feldenkrais or TRE (trauma prevention.com) or look at David Berceli YouTube

I've only had an issue with Ashwagandha, if I take more than half a teaspoon (in smoothie) or late at night it gives me insomnia. Holy Basil is best adaptogen I've found.
Herbal teas like Velarian just aren't strong enough to have any major effects, but they will help.
To be honest thing that has had most effect on this sort of stuff is Magnesium (as a drink and as an oil in Bath).

@Love2cycle
That's really interesting about magnesium, I didn't know it could help with panicky feelings - researching now!

Go yo a licenced homeopath. I turned my life around by doing so.

I second magnesium. There's a footspray too before sleep. Epsom salts in the bath or a supplement. There's magnesium in most seeds too.
You say you had your blood tested. Vitamin D, iron, thyroid? Be aware, that you should check your numbers, as the bar can be set low. You might be told they are OK, but that doesn't mean optimal.

I think herbs help but they're not really a quick fix. If there's really nothing you can do about the external factors, I'd try managing your stress symptoms with exercise, meditation, relaxation while also making an appointment with a herbalist. Or a counsellor? Herbalists that I've known have often been flexible about paying what you can afford, if money is an issue.

I'd start with having a lot of strong camomile tea (buy camomile flowers rather than dusty old teabags, brew 20 mins, have three times a day). Lavender is also good and easy to get - use oil on a tissue to smell when you're panicky, have lavender baths etc.

Go yo a licenced homeopath. I turned my life around by doing so

Who is licensing people to seel sugar pills and plain water? Homeopathy is not herbalism. There are no herbs, or anything else, in homeopathic "remedies".

OP, when herbs actually work, they get turned into actual medicine. Go see a doctor.

Camomile tea a couple of hours before bed (camomile and honey or camomile and spearmint twinnings taste nicer than pure camomile).

Not entirely sure it does anything physiologically but I find it helps me sleep as part of a relaxing winding down before bed routine.

@Love2cycle

I've only had an issue with Ashwagandha, if I take more than half a teaspoon (in smoothie) or late at night it gives me insomnia. Holy Basil is best adaptogen I've found. Herbal teas like Velarian just aren't strong enough to have any major effects, but they will help. To be honest thing that has had most effect on this sort of stuff is Magnesium (as a drink and as an oil in Bath).

I occasionally have a cup of tea with valerian just before bed & find it knocks me pretty quickly

how old are you OP? I had a similar thing with pre menopause

Slightly off piste,but Bach flower rescue remedy helps my teen daughter with anxiety.
Buy it in boots

Id go for a 5htp supplement ( if not on antidepressants) or st johns wort.
Drink chamomile throughout the day. Valerian tea at night if necessary

No experience with herbs but you might find daily yoga helpful. Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is excellent.

I take ashwagandha in the morning and sometimes valerian in the evening. Also magnesium quite often, as it's a muscle relaxant.

It hadn't occurred to me to check for negative interactions.

From the pov of anxiety/rumination/stress, I also strongly recommend a Yoga Nidra practice. I'd try James Reeves at Restful Being.

Fight anxiety. Do at least 30 minutes aerobic exercise. Sweat, raise your heart rate. Get the natural hormones flowing. Eat well. Cut out sugar, alcohol and caffeine. Walk 10,000 steps a day. Get at least 1 hour of fresh air a day. Strive for more though.
Meditate. Sit still, listen to your body.
Do 1 thing a day that you love.
Chat to people. Anyone.
Sleep 8 hours a night.
Drink plenty of water.

Magnesium 100% I have bought some for my mother and she says she has never felt so calm in her whole life. Together health - marine magnesium. They also do a sleep one which I have heard good things about. Hope things improve xx

Get this book by Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Although he is a conventional doctor he is very much in favour of natural solutions to health problems.

Which bit of TrufflyPig's post was "opinion"?

OP, when herbs actually work, they get turned into actual medicine. Go see a doctor.

Yes, this.

There is no such thing as a 'licensed homeopath', it's not a medically recognised qualification.

Any attempt at licensing and regulation is entirely voluntary, noone is legally or professionally accountable if harm comes to a patient (from delayed treatment seeking, I doubt you'd come to any harm from sugar pills).

Please don't go to a homeopath. It's all woo and water.

I think you should talk to a properly qualified doctor first.

I do drink herbal teas because I like the taste and some are very relaxing, but herbs as medicine can be a very dodgy field and should be treated with extreme caution. I certainly wouldn't come to mn for advice on what was safe to use. They could literally be anyone.

if you live in England there's a scheme called books on prescription, which is basically a list of evidence based self help books for common conditions, including anxiety, depression and panic. These are available through public libraries, which are limited in opening at the moment but if you google the list the books will be easily available on Amazon. I second what PPs have said about exercising, especially outside. Good diet, good sleep hygiene.

I think herbal or homeopathic remedies require you to believe in them.
If they really did want you are wanting they would be marketed, patented and available on prescription.

There’s many types of magnesium, some more efficient and effective than others, some pass straight through and are excreted. www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-types#2.-Magnesium-oxide

I buy a triple magnesium complex that contains L. threonate, the only form of magnesium that crosses the blood brain barrier and the one you need for anxiety/cognitive boost. Its more expensive as a result.

Chamomile tea, 2 bags in one cup with honey helps me relax. As does a quality high strength CBD oil. Ashwaganda did nothing for me but a quick google search came up with articles saying mixing with Rhodiola is fine and there are ready made supplements containing both. I think as long as herbs complement each other its fine to mix them as in Ayurvedic medicine. I just wouldn’t mix herbs that work against each other. Kalms work very well and saw me through a very stressful period. I used to take way more than the stated dose though, or the night ones through the day. Anything to stay off synthetic drugs.