Natural Health: Panic Attacks

Q. Are there any natural remedies which can help treat panic attacks? I would prefer to treat mine without medication.

A. There are some wonderful herbs which can be used specifically to treat panic attacks — two of my favourites being rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Rhodiola works by promoting the release of mood-modulating neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, while Ashwagandha can work to calm the mind when a particular situation or individual is the trigger for the panic attack, stress or anxiety.

Both of these herbs are adaptogenic, which means they work by rebalancing the body and mind. When it comes to taking herbal remedies for stress and anxiety, liquid preparations such as tinctures appear to work more directly, particularly if you hold the solution under the tongue before swallowing.