Anxiety Disorder
| Sign/Symptoms |
| Treatments |
| Attributes |
Our Records are Incomplete for Condition Attributes |
Anxiety Disorder
The umbrella term “anxiety disorder” encompasses a number of conditions in which an individual experiences persistent fear or anxiety of a severity in excess of that appropriate to their circumstances. This chronic, irrational fear contrasts with regular panic, which is a normal emotional and physiological response to external threat.
Anxiety disorders can develop during early childhood, or suddenly following a traumatic event. The duration of anxiety is hugely variable; ranging from mere seconds to years. The intensity of the anxiety disorder is also capable of varying significantly. For those with more serious disorders, the condition often interferes so greatly with day-to-day life and is so distressing that depression results.
Among mental health problems, anxiety disorders are among the most common; however, they often go unrecognized by the patient themselves and doctors. As a consequence, many are untreated.
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Valerian (Valerian Tea, Valeriana Officinalis) [1, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Although animal studies have shown that Valerian can have some benefit in treating anxiety, clinical trials have yielded conflicting results. More research is needed. )
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
St John's Wort (Goatweed, tipton weed, Hypericum Perforatum) [1, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that St Johns Wort can help to treat Anxiety.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Peppermint Oil [1, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that peppermint helps to treat anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low of evidence
Mugwort (Artemisa Vulgaris) [1, 25, 26, 27]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It has been proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has been discounted due life-threatening side effects
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mugwart helps to treat symptoms of anxiety. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Cannabis (Marijuana, weed, hemp) [1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Evidence shows that smoking or ingesting cannabis may help in relieving symptoms of anxiety disorder, although some studies have yielded mixed results)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Kava (Piper Methysticum) [1, 12, 13, 14, 15]:
WARNING: In rare cases, kava may lead to liver failure and other life threatening problems. The FDA warns that those who have had liver problems, or are on medicacations which may affect the liver, patients should check with their doctors before taking Kava. Other side effects include headache, upset stomach, drowsiness, weight loss, bloody urine, and muscle weakness.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies indicate that Kava may be helpful in reducint the symptoms of mild anxiety. However, subsequent studies have yielded contradictory results. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Indian Snakeroot (Rauvolfia, Rawolfia Serpentina) [1, 10, 11]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Strongly in favor (Reserpine, a drug which is extracted from indian snakeroot, is known to be an effective treatment for high blood pressure, as well as a tranquilizer.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Glyconutrients [1, 8, 9]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that glyconutrients help to treat anxiety. More studies are needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Ginseng [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that ginseng helps to treat anxiety. More studies are needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Flower Remedies [1, 2, 3]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that flower remedies help to treat anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Therapeutic Touch:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: weakly in favor (one scientific review has shown positive effects of therapeutic touch on anxiety, but more study is needed)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Reiki:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: no recommendation (there have been ambiguous reports about the effect of Reiki on anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Massage:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (studies have demonstrated the positive effects of massage on anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Hydrotherapy:
Recommendation: weakly in favor (it has been often reported that hydrotherapy can help promote a reduction in anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Yoga:
Recommendation: weakly in favor (randomized control trials have shown that yoga may help reduce anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Qigong:
Recommendation: weakly in favor (one study has shown that Qigona can help with a short-term reduction in anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Aromatherapy:
Recommendation: no recommendation (Clinical research is still in its early phases. Currently, there is insufficient evidence supporting Aromatherapy in the treatment of anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Creative Art Therapy (Expressive Therapy)
Recomendation: no recommendation (potential exists for treatment of anxiety with expressive therapy. However, this still needs to be researched)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Biofeedback:
Recommendation: no recommendation (insufficient evidence supporting Biofeedback as a useful treatment for Anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Breathing Exercises (Breathwork):
Recommendation: weakly in favor (there is very little evidence that breathwork can help with anxiety, but these few indications have had positive results)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Hypnosis:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (many reports have demonstrated that hypnotherapy helps reduce anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Image Therapy:
Recommendation: no recommendation (results of studies have had ambiguous results, some showing Image Therapy reducing anxiety, and others showing very little or no signifcant effect at all)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Meditation:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (there have been many clinical trials that have demonstrated the positive effect of meditation on anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Music Therapy:
Recommendation: strongly in favor (Music therapy has been shown to help with anxiety at the beginning of treatment. These effects, however gradually decrease over time)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Shamanism:
Recommendation: no recommendation (available scientific evidence shows no proof that Shamanism helps reduce anxiety)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
2. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/flower-remedies
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12635462
4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginseng.html
5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/ginseng
6. Shin HR, Kim JY, Yun TK, Morgan G, Vainio H (2000). "The cancer-preventive potential of Panax ginseng: a review of human and experimental evidence". Cancer Causes Control 11 (6): 565–576.
7. McElhaney JE et al. (2004). "A placebo-controlled trial of a proprietary extract of North American ginseng (CVT-E002) to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults". J Am Geriatr Soc 52 (1): 13–19
8. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3228488
9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/glyconutrients
10. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/indian-snakeroot
11. http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/seven/000092149.htm
12. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP05005.pdf
13. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kava
14. http://www.kavazen.com/pages/library.htm#KavaZen and Kava Safety
15. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/kava/index.htm
16. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html
17. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2004/
18. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/marijuana
19. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/complementary--alternative-medicine/marijuana/index.aspx
20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957511
21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12965981
22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370
23. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.long
24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/?tool=pmcentrez
25. Anliker MD, Borelli S, Wüthrich B. Occupational protein contact dermatitis from spices in a butcher: a new presentation of the mugwort-spice syndrome. Contact Dermatitis. 2002;46:72-74.
26. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mugwort
27. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
28. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/peppermint
29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159
30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19507027
31. http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/alternat/AT022.html
32. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-peppermint.html
33. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil/index.htm
34. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/st-johns-wort
35. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-stjohnswort.html
36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843608
37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939866
38. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/ataglance.htm
39. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stjohnswort/sjw-and-depression.htm
40. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/how-is-depression-detected-and-treated.shtml
41. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11939872
42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12132963
43. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16423519
44. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/22/2633
45. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-valerian.html
46. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/valerian/index.htm
47. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/valerian
48. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian.asp
49. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12725454
50. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9757514
51. Taibi DM et al. 'A systematic review of valerian as a sleep aid: safe but not effective.' Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11:209-30.
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