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Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Recently I’ve been sharing some things that are close to my heart, such as this kitchen witch’s recipe for joyous cookies, reasons why being a kitchen witch is awesome, a botanical witchipedia and a spell to relieve anxiety. Today I want to share another herbal guide with you, namely, a guide to magickal herbs for anxiety. I’ve mentioned a few times that I suffer from anxiety. While my own anxiety is relatively mild compared to the crippling anxiety other people suffer from, it’s enough to make a day which could have been wonderful into a tumultuous pile of self-doubt, mental replays of perceived failures and a lot of second-guessing every decision I made from the age of 4 to now. Yeah, it’s a really fun time. One of the ways I’ve found to combat my anxiety and keep it from creeping into my daily life is to use the magickal properties of particular herbs and plants. I’ll often diffuse lavender oil at home, use a sage smoke cleansing stick to dispel negativity or make an anti-anxiety sachet with a mixture of some of the herbs mentioned below. Herbs and plants can be a great help in combating anxiety and these 9 herbs have been chosen for their homoeopathic as well as their magickal properties in the treatment of anxiety. If you're interested in checking out some more of my herbal guides, check out these posts on herbs for love spells, herbs for self love, herbs for protection and herbs for luck. Disclaimer: The herbs detailed here are great for the treatment of anxiety, however, no advice given here should be taken over that of a trained medical professional. If you suffer from crippling anxiety I urge you to seek the help of a trained specialist. Don’t ingest any plants or herbs you aren’t 100% sure are safe. If you’re pregnant, always check with your doctor before using any herbs you aren’t familiar with. My Top 9 Herbs for Anxiety Herbs for Anxiety #1 Ashwagandha Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, is a member of the nightshade family and is one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s been used for the treatment of stress for over 3000 years. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, meaning that it affects the bodily systems and hormones which regulate your stress response to situations. Studies have shown that using ashwagandha is an effective way to control stress and improve sleep quality as well as lowering levels of anxiety. It can also help to lower blood pressure, ease muscle aches and relieve coughs. It’s also known for being an aphrodisiac. Magickally speaking, ashwagandha can be used for warding off feelings of anxiety. Carry a small sachet of powdered ashwagandha on your person to keep away feelings of anxiety and stress. Better yet, carry a small piece of the root for more powerful results. Other magickal uses of Ashwagandha include longevity, strength, psychic work, knowledge, passion, happiness and vitality. Herbs for Anxiety #2 Chamomile Chamomile is my go-to tea when I’m feeling super stressed and anxious. It’s been clinically tested as a long-term treatment of anxiety and while it won’t prevent anxiety altogether, it can significantly reduce the effects anxiety will have on you. It also promotes restful sleep and can be used to treat insomnia. Chamomile is also wonderful for indigestion, headaches, period pain and will help to reduce inflammation. Did you know that chamomile was used by the ancient Egyptians? They believed that it was holy to the sun gods and they also used it as part of their embalming process. Magickally, chamomile is associated with masculine energies and is still used in conjunction with the sun gods. Use it to magickally treat your anxiety by brewing a cup of chamomile tea, and taking a moment to reflect on why you might be feeling anxious at that moment. As you stir the tea, imagine that the chamomile is working to take away all your feelings of stress and anxiousness. As you take your first sip, focus on the hot tea as it enters your body and imagine it filling you with a calming warmth and protection. Feel it gently nudging your anxiety out and replacing it with warmth and calm. Other magickal uses for chamomile include protection, luck, abundance, purification and healing. Herbs for Anxiety #3 Green Tea Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for a long time and was thought aid digestion, improve heart health, stop wounds bleeding, regulate the bodies temperature and improve mental wellbeing. Green tea can help to lower cholesterol and as such can help improve your heart health. Drinking green tea regularly can reduce the risk of having a stroke and can help increase your memory. Studies undertaken in Japan have shown that people who drink green tea frequently had reduced mortality rates. It’s also full of antioxidants which help prevent cell damage, so a lot of people believe in its anti-ageing properties. Drink green tea in much the same way you would drink chamomile tea in order to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety. Make a small ritual out of brewing a cup of tea and infuse it with your intentions to dispel the anxiety you’re feeling. Other magickal uses of green tea include longevity, healing, passion, love, purification and luck. Herbs for Anxiety #4 Kava Kava is a shrub that’s native to the Pacific Islands and is usually used in a ceremonial setting. It’s thought to alter your state of consciousness. Its calming effects help to ease anxiety and improve sleep. There is some debate about whether it’s bad for your liver or not, with trials currently being undertaken to test this. The FDA suggests using it with care while the WHO suggests that studies undertaken into the effects of kava on the liver were unclear and that more research is needed. Kava has definite numbing effects, and if you drink enough of it your mouth will go completely numb. It provides relief from muscle aches and prevents restlessness. Carry the root of the kava plant on your person to dispel feelings of anxiety or drink a small amount of powdered kava with water to provide relaxation and stress relief. Some people feel euphoric when they drink kava. Note that if you do drink it, it can make you incredibly sleepy, especially when mixed with alcohol. Don't drink kava and drive under any circumstances. Other magickal uses include psychic work, healing, happiness, love and connection. Herbs for Anxiety #5 Lavender Lavender is one of my absolute favourite plants and I use it often when I can’t sleep or am feeling anxious. I’ve actually written a whole blog post about the uses of lavender, so check it out for more detailed info. Scientific studies have shown it has a calming effect on the brain which makes it perfect for treating anxiety and sleeplessness. Lavender is also antiseptic, it helps relieve burns (I can testify to this, a huge steam burn barely left a mark after I used lavender oil on it) and can be used to soothe aches and pains. To treat your anxiety, add lavender oil to a diffuser or place it under your pillow to ward away negative thought and dreams while helping you to sleep. Other magical uses include longevity, purification, knowledge, clarity, luck, beauty, love and communication with the other side. Herbs for Anxiety #6 Liquorice Root Liquorice root is something that not that many people have come across or use. I actually used to chew on it as a child, my classmates thought I was crazy but clearly 7 year old me knew how to keep my anxiety in check! Chewing the root, or drinking liquorice tea releases relaxing chemicals in the brain and is useful for dealing with all sorts of stress as it helps to calm the nervous system. Liquorice also has antiviral and antimicrobial properties and helps with skin inflammations and infections. It’s also used to treat stomach discomfort and ulcers and will relieve a sore throat. Liquorice root, when chewed, has calming effects and is also super delicious. Drinking it in tea form will help relieve anxiety. Make an anti-anxiety sachet out of liquorice root, kava root and ashwagandha for a powerful anti-anxiety amulet. Other magical properties of liquorice root include healing, love, lust, psychic work and increasing the power of spells. Herbs for Anxiety #7 Sage Sage is a super powerful magickal herb which is most commonly used for smoke cleansing but did you know that it also supports brain health and memory? It’s a powerhouse of a herb which is also full of antioxidants, helps to lower cholesterol and blood sugar and can help with menopause symptoms. I’ve always used it when I have a cold as it’s antiviral and antibacterial. It’s also good for digestive health. Use it to rid yourself of anxiety by making sage into a tea, or else burn it expel all the negativity and anxiety you feel with it while protecting yourself at the same time. Other magickal properties include purification, protection, cleansing, wisdom, strength and healing. Herbs for Anxiety #8 Star Anise Star anise is a wonderful magickal herb which instils a sense of calm and increases your productivity. Medicinally it’s known for boosting appetite and aiding digestion. It contains several bioactive compounds which make it a powerful antioxidant, along with it’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It also contains shikimic acid which is wonderful at helping to fight off the flu. Treat your anxiety by adding it to your cooking, or carry a star anise in your pocket to keep those awful feelings at bay. Other magickal uses include luck, protection and psychic work. Herbs for Anxiety #9 Valerian Valerian is an old healing herb which has been used for centuries to treat sleep and mental health issues. It’s a strong sedative and will cause sleepiness which can also help to provide deep and restful sleep. It’s also said to help with headaches and digestive problems. Please be careful with this herb as it can have some strong side effects. Use it homeopathically to treat anxiety or to calm your nerves. Carry it as part of a protection amulet to keep your anxiety away or place it around your home for the same effect. Other magickal properties include protection, purification, healing, love, harmony and clarity. My Easy Anti-Anxiety Charm Using Anxiety Herbs Here is a simple ritual to make an anti-anxiety sachet. Carry this sachet with you, and if you start feeling anxious, hold it in your hand and focus on the healing powers of these herbs for anxiety. I've used some of the more common herbs for anxiety here because I don't know how easy it is to source kava or ashwagandha where you are! Anti-Anxiety Charm Ingredients Loose leaf green teaChamomile flowersDried lavenderStar aniseCinnamon quill (this is a magickal booster and increases the strength of the magickal properties of the other ingredients)A small blue pouch or piece of cloth (blue provides healing for mental health but you can also use a black cloth or pouch to harness the healing energy of the universe) Anti-Anxiety Charm Method Gather all your ingredients togetherTake 5 deeps breaths to centre and calm yourselfTake each ingredient and place it individually into the pouch. While each ingredient is in your hand, focus on the energy the ingredient is giving off. Let it's calming effects wash over you and think of the ingredient as a protective guardian which keep your anxiety at bay. When all your ingredients are added, close both hands over the pouch and set your intention for the charm. Focus strongly on the feeling that this charm is going to keep you from feeling anxious and stressed. Touch your hands to your heart and say "Anxiety you'll be kept at bay, I ask that you stay away. So mote it be." Keep this charm on your person, and every time you start feeling anxious, activate it by saying the chant (in your head if you're around other people) and rubbing your thumb or fingers over the pouch. You can also use this herb mix to make an anti-anxiety tea, drink it as often as you need (although chamomile makes me sleepy so I tend to drink it in the evenings). So my loves, I hope this gives you the anxiety-relieving herbs that you’re looking for! I'm sending love and light to you, Blessed be, Amaria xx Shop My Favourite Products for Herbs for Anxiety Add a crystal or two to your charm along with your herbs for anxiety. Crystals can increase the power of your spells and a protection crystal will aid in keeping negativity at bay. Click here to check this book of shadows page out in our Etsy Store. If you like crystals and are interested in learning more, check out this crystal witchcraft bundle we've created. It contains 12 hand illustrated pages which you can add to your book of shadows. Click here to check it out.