Chinese Herbs For Anxiety

Many people experience anxiety as a natural reaction to stress. If you are properly focused anxiety can help you concentrate intensely and make quick decisions. But, when unfocused and irrational, anxiety becomes a major mental condition that can include general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder (click here to read more about anxiety disorders). Chinese medicine is based off the view that anxiety is caused by an imbalance in the chi, or life force. Chinese herbs for anxiety can refocus and balance your chi.

Traditional Chinese medicine views anxiety as a problem in the chest, the seat of emotion. Certain stressful events can cause the chest area to tighten, which then constricts the flow of chit to the chest area and eventually restricts blood flow and chi flow to the liver. This constricting then causes liver stagnation and anxiety disorders.

Common Chinese Herbs for Anxiety Include:

• Chai Hu – A Chinese herb prescribed to help blood and chi flow in the chest area. This is normally used together with other herbs including tai zi shen, sheng mu li and huang qin. These are often used for anxiety associated with premenstrual syndrome
• He Huan Pi – Coming from the bark of the mimosa tree, this Chinese herb calms the heart-liver meridian (1 of 12 channels of chi that is associated with the main body organs). Prescribed for anxiety and anxiety disorders because of it’s properties to relieve constrained emotions. Also used for other symptoms including insomnia, depression and to manage poor memory and irritability.
• He Huan Hua – This herb also operates on the heart-liver meridian but comes from the flower of the mimosa tree. It is very similar to the he huan pi herb except that it is stronger. Also used for treating pain and swelling on the skin and abdominal region.
• Fu Shen – Sometimes called poria spirit, this herb works to calm the liver and strengthen the heart-liver chi meridian. This is a mushroom and root usually collected in late summer. Specifically used for the treatment of excessive fearfulness or anxiety.

If Chinese herbs for anxiety sounds like something you might be interested in, it is recommended that you consult a health professional before jumping right in to using herbs to treat your anxiety because they can prescribe the right mix for your ailment.

Other Chinese Herbs & Their Healing Properties:

Herbs that Relieve Wheezing/Coughing:

• Bai Bu (Stemona root)
• Mu Hu Die (Oroxylum reeds)
• Xing Ren (Apricot seed)
• Kuan Dong Hua (Coltsfoot flower)
• Pi Pa Ye (Loquat leaf)
• Zhong Ru Shi (Calcite)
• Ma Dou Ling (Birthwort fruit)
• Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry root bark)
• Zi Su Zi (Perilla seed)
• Meng Shi (Lapis)
• Ting Li Zi (Descuraina seeds)
• Zi Wan (Purple aster root)

Herbs that Clear Heat and Eliminate Toxins:

• Bai Hua She She Cao (Oldenlandia)
• Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia)
• Bai Xian Pi (Cortex of Chinese dittany root)
• Da Qing Ye (Indigo leaf)
• Ban Lan Gen (Woad root)
• Hong Teng (Sargentodoxa vine)
• Lian Qiao (Forsythia fruit)
• Lou Lu (Echinops root)
• Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion)
• Qing Dai (Indigo)
• She Gan (Belamcanda rhizome)
• Shi Shang Bai (Selaginella)
• Ya Dan Zi (Java brucea fruit)
• Zi Hua Di Ding (Viola)
• Ye Ju Hua (Wild chrysanthemum flower)
• Bai Lian (Ampelopsis)
• Ban Zhi Lian (Barbat skullcap)
• Jin Sha Teng (Japanese fern)

Herbs that Stop Bleeding:

• Ai Ye (Mugword leaf)
• Da Ji (Japanese thistle)
• Huai Hua Mi (Pagoda tree flower bud)
• Bai Ji (Bletilla rhizome)
• Di Yu (Burnet bloodwort root)
• Jiang Xiang (Dalbergia Heartwood)
• Pu Huang (catail pollen)
• Xue Yu Tan (Charred human hair)
• Zi Zhu (callicarpa leaf)
• Qian Cao Gen (Madder root)
• San Qi (Notoginseng root)
• Lian Fang (Mature lotus receptacle)
• Xian He Cao (Agrimony)
• Ou Jie (Node of the lotus rhizome)
• Bai Mao Gen (Wooly grass rhizome)
• Fu Long Gan (Ignited yellow earth)
• Ce Bai Ye (Biota leaves)
• Hua Rui Shi (Ophicalcite)

Herbs that Calm the Spirit/Nourish the Heart:

• Bai Zi Ren (Arbor vitae seed)
• Sheng Tie Luo (Iron filings)
• He Huan Hua (Mimosa tree flower)
• Suan Zao Ren (Sour jujube seed)
• He Huan Pi (Mimosa tree bark)
• Ye Jiao Teng (Fleeceflower vine)
• Ling Zhi (Reishi Mushroom)
• Yuan Zhi (Chinese senega root)

Herbs that Expel Parasites:

• Bing Lang (Betel nut)
• Guan Zhong (Dryopteris root)
• Nan Gua Zi (Pumpkin seeds and husk)
• Chang Shan (Dichroa root)
• He Shi (Carpesium fruit)
• Shi Jun Zi (Rangoon creeper fruit with seeds)
• Da Suan (Garlic bulb)
• Ku Lian Gen Pi (China tree root bark)
• Wu Yi (Stinking elm)
• Lei Wan (Fruiting body of omphalia)
• Fei Zi (torreya seeds)

Where To Get Chinese Herbs For Anxiety

A great place I found online to get all kinds of Chinese herbal remedies is called Chinese Herbs Direct. They carry all kinds of teas and formulas for a variety of health conditions. You will find everything I talked about and more. If interested, go straight to Chinese Herbs Direct by clicking here.