Question:
I have a close friend who is currently experiencing paralyzing panic
attacks. Has anyone out there had any luck with any particular herb or
combination of herbs, or maybe with homeopathy?
Answer:
I also have a close friend who suffers from Panic Disorder, ME. I
have tried all the prescriptions like Prozac, the trycyclics,
benzodiazapines, and beta blockers. These are all dangerous and
powerful drugs. Now I regularily take herbs such as Kava Kava and
Ginseng for generalized anxiety symptoms and Valerian and Scullcap for
sleep.
If your friend wants to go the herbal way, the greatest amount of
research seems to have been done on hypericum (St. John's Wort.) Go to
http://www.hypericum.com and you can read up on all the medical studies
that have been done on this herb. From what I've read it's used
extensively in Germany (up to 50% of depressive disorders are treated
with it). This page doesn't belong to anyone selling anything plus there
are pages and pages of research results, so you might want to check it
out.
Will, I'm glad that herbs help you. BUT, to make a blanket statement
about the meds: "These are all dangerous and powerful drugs" is a
statement that can only be made by a "medical professional." I've seen no
such credentials, and as one who is quite comfortable with "my" meds,
would never say that they are good for all/most people (although the
medical reports seem to say that they are for treating Panic Disorder).I
hope you're not just another anti-med troll.
If you are a caring individual, just trying to share what works for you,
it would be best to give "your experience" and not condemn the entire
world of medicine. BTW, there is a difference between Panic Disorder and
generalized anxiety symptoms. You state that you suffer from Panic
Disorder, but that the herbs you take are for "generalized anxiety symtoms
and sleep." I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here, and hoping that
you can see that you may be scaring folks who are considering meds on the
advise of a qualified doctor.
I can't agree with your *dangerous* statement, but I
wanted to ask you or anyone else if would contribute
definitions of various herbal remedies for the ASAP
Dictionary. Since herbal topics are often discussed here
they should be adressed in the dictionary, but I know
little about them and need your help.
I did not mean to condem meds at all. I still take a trycyclic and a
beta blocker every day. I forgot to mention my Generalized Anxiety
Disorder too. Sorry if my message misled anybody. I think a good
combination of meds and herbs would be helpful to some sufferers.
Just a note on my experience, Ginseng is terrible for my panic attacks.
Makes me feel like I want to jump out of my skin.
I too have tried herbal remedies and have also found that ginseng does not
have a positive effect. It seems to work for a day or two and then the
cumulative effect in the body triggers off anxiety. I am now trying a
little dong quai to help with sleep. Anyone trying any other herbal
remedies, with success......
