6 Natural Products to Help Alleviate Anxiety

• Best CBD gummies: Cornbread Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Gummies | Skip to Review
• Best essential oil: Eden Botanicals French Lavender Organic Essential Oil | Skip to Review
• Best nighttime drink: FGO Organic Chamomile Tea Bags | Skip to Review
• Best mindfulness activity: Buddha Board Art Set | Skip to Review
• Best guided meditation app: Calm | Skip to Review
• Best eye mask: Manta Sleep Mask SOUND | Skip to Review

Chronic anxiety can have a major impact on your health and well-being. Anxiety, including health anxiety and hospital anxiety, can cause severe mental and physical symptoms if not properly addressed, such as:

• generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• social anxiety
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Despite the challenges, there are many ways to cope with anxiety. People with mild symptoms may be able to manage their anxiety with natural remedies, like:

• cannabidiol (CBD)
• herbal products
• mindfulness activities

Although the following research-backed natural remedies for anxiety are not a replacement for therapy or medication, they may help you find relief for anxious feelings. They can also be especially helpful alongside regular counseling or therapy.

Read on to learn more about our picks for the best natural anti-anxiety products.

To choose the best natural anti-anxiety remedies, we looked at the following:

• Ingredients: For formulated or herbal products, we chose only those with high-quality ingredients and natural formulations.
• Research: We chose products that have been shown to ease anxiety symptoms.
• Customer reviews: We took reviews and ratings into account, factoring in what users said about how these health products helped relieve anxiety.
• Affordability: We chose products from various price points to ensure that everyone would have options, no matter their budget.

Finally, we only recommend companies we stand behind as being credible and ethical. Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards. You can read more about our vetting process here.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $20
• $$ = $20–40
• $$$ = over $40

Best CBD gummies

Cornbread Hemp Full Spectrum CBD Gummies

• Price: $$$
• Why we chose it: emerging research suggests that CBD products may help lower anxiety levels

While researchers do not totally understand the link between CBD and anxiety, current findings are promising. Animal studies suggest that CBD may help counteract stress in rats, while human studies point to CBD’s ability to help with anxiety disorders, such as:

• social anxiety disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• panic disorder

These gummies by Cornbread Hemp are our best overall pick for CBD gummies for anxiety. They contain CBD extracted from hemp flowers only (without the stem, stalk, or leaves), according to the brand.

Each gummy has 50 milligrams (mg) of CBD, as well as up to 2 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis that makes folks feel high. (This means that, depending on your tolerance and sensitivity to THC, you may feel some effects, but you won’t get high.)

Best essential oil

Eden Botanicals French Lavender Organic Essential Oil

• Price: $ for 15 mL
• Why we chose it: lavender may help relieve anxiety

Some evidence suggests that herbal products like lavender essential oil can be calming without sedation. A 2017 literature review found that lavender oil supplements can effectively reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. The review also found that the oil may help improve sleep as well.

Lavender oil is generally safe for most people to use as long as it’s used correctly. Some of the best ways to use it are:

• with an essential oil diffuser
• dropping some into a warm bath
• blending it with an unscented oil or lotion and applying it to your skin

This French lavender essential oil from Eden Botanicals has overwhelmingly positive reviews from customers, with people calling the fragrance “uplifting,” “divine,” and having the “sunny breeziness of a field overflowing with lavender.”

Best nighttime drink

FGO Organic Chamomile Tea Bags

• Price: $
• Why we chose it: chamomile may have anxiety-reducing effects

According to a 2016 study, regularly drinking chamomile tea may reduce symptoms of GAD. While it is of course not a replacement for traditional anti-anxiety medication or therapy, chamomile tea can be a helpful tool in helping manage feelings of anxiety.

Furthermore, drinking a hot cup of tea can serve as a grounding technique by using your five senses to focus on the feel, taste, and smell.

This natural tea by FGO Organic is made with certified organic, non-GMO chamomile that’s processed in a current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) facility. CGMP is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.

The company’s variety of teas has over 116,000 reviews on Amazon with an overall 4.6 out of 5 rating. Reviewers call the chamomile tea specifically “subtle and fresh” with many people saying it’s the best they’ve ever had.

Best mindfulness activity

Buddha Board Art Set

• Price: $$
• Why we chose it: it’s a mess-free, easy-to-set-up activity

Research shows that art therapy can reduce stress and anxiety. While adult coloring books have gained popularity in recent years as an anxiety-relieving activity, they do require some extra materials, like purchasing markers, crayons, or colored pencils (the latter of which need to be continually sharpened).

We picked the Buddha Board mindfulness activity, which allows you to paint with water on a special canvas, because it’s:

• reusable
• has minimal setup
• requires no additional materials

Once the water evaporates, your canvas becomes a clean slate, and you can “paint” another picture. It’s designed to help:

• ease anxiety
• promote relaxation
• can be enjoyed by people of all ages

Reviewers call the Buddha Board “a very calming hobby” and “an absolutely wonderful product to practice mindfulness.”

Best guided meditation app

Calm

• Price: $$$
• Why we chose it: popular app for reducing anxiety with over 100 million downloads

Mindfulness-based therapies, including meditation, may be effective in:

• reducing stress
• anxiety
• depression

This Healthline-approved mindfulness app features hundreds of calming exercises, guided visualizations, and breathing techniques to help reduce anxiety symptoms. It also offers sleep stories for those who have difficulty relaxing at night due to anxiety.

Calm has received over 700,000 5-star reviews over the past 10 years it’s been available. While it does require a $69.99 yearly subscription to use, it offers a 7-day free trial, as well as a lifetime plan and a discount for students who use Amazon Prime.

Even though you may be able to find free meditations on other platforms, the ease of use and ability to find targeted exercises through the app may be more appealing than scrolling through a bunch of options and trying to find something that works for you.

Best eye mask

Manta Sleep Mask SOUND

• Price: $$$
• Why we chose it: relaxation and sleep are important components of managing anxiety

According to research, insomnia may be a trait marker for people who are at risk for developing anxiety disorders. Another study looking at the link between anxiety and sleep found that those with anxiety are more likely to report poor sleep quality. Being able to sleep, and feeling relaxed enough to do so, is critical to alleviating anxiety symptoms.

This sleep mask by Manta is a multifaceted product: It’s designed with c-shaped eye cups which are designed to put no pressure on your eyes and to allow your eyelids to flutter while in REM sleep. The mask is equipped with Bluetooth headphones that pair with your devices so you can listen to:

• calming music
• a meditation
• white noise while you sleep

With a 20-hour battery life, you may only need to charge the mask every few nights, making it more convenient than similar health products.

While it is on the pricier side, you can try the mask risk-free for 60 days. Reviewers note that the mask has great sound quality and is very comfortable to wear, with many even saying it’s the best sleep mask they have ever tried.

In addition to the natural products above, there are many other things you can try to alleviate anxiety symptoms:

• Prescription medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to help you manage your anxiety disorder. This may include:
  • short-term symptom relievers like alprazolam (Xanax)
  • long-term antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • other more recent additions to anti-anxiety medications
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can often help identify the root cause of anxious feelings and assist you in dealing with them.
• Support groups: Feeling anxious is common. Many in-person and online support groups may help you understand and manage your anxiety better.
• Exercise: Movement can play a significant role in reducing anxiety. Regular exercise can also have a positive effect on depressive disorders and generally improve your overall health. Exercises that increase your heart rate can help relieve stress and encourage your brain to release serotonin, a natural mood stabilizer.
• Journaling: Positive affect journaling (PAJ), where you regularly write down positive feelings about yourself, may help reduce feelings of anxiety. A study published in 2018 involving adults with elevated anxiety symptoms found that regular PAJ was associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety after 1 month.
• Limit caffeine: Consuming too much caffeine can induce feelings of anxiety, so limiting your intake may be beneficial.
• Limit alcohol: Drinking alcohol is not an anxiety treatment. Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol may even cause anxiety symptoms.
• Stop smoking: Like alcohol, many people feel that smoking helps them deal with stress and anxiety. However, smoking tobacco can increase feelings of anxiety. Cutting down or quitting entirely may help.

Everyone may experience anxiety from time to time, and some anxiety is part of the human experience. However, if you’re noticing that your anxiety occurs on a regular or daily basis, or that it’s impacting your quality of life, finding relief can sometimes be a challenge.

Chronic anxiety, however, may suggest an anxiety condition. If you get anxious without a specific trigger, or your anxiety continues even after a trigger subsides, you may want to consider seeking out professional help.

You can reach out to a therapist or another mental healthcare professional for support if you’ve felt anxious most days for at least 6 months. If these feelings have started to disrupt your everyday life, your health, or your relationships, this is another sign that you should consider seeking help.

Other symptoms to look out for include:

• feeling like your anxious thoughts are obsessive or on an endless loop
• avoiding certain situations or places because of your anxiety
• ignoring your needs because of your anxiety
• overplanning or trying to control situations
• feeling restless
• experiencing panic or anxiety attacks

What is the best natural cure for anxiety?

The best natural cure for anxiety is the one that works best for you and is accessible for you to use when you need it. You can try out different ways to help alleviate anxiety, like grounding techniques or mindfulness to see what works best for you.

What can I take for instant anxiety relief?

Some prescription anxiety medications, like Xanax, can relieve anxiety within 30 minutes. However, they should be used with caution due to addiction potential.

You can also try belly breathing to activate your vagus nerve or looking at a cherished photo to help set your mind at ease. You can check out these tips for beating anxiety in 1, 5, or 10 minutes for more ideas.

How can I treat my anxiety naturally without medication?

There are many options of remedies you can try, from CBD to essential oils to journaling. But even with the best natural tools at your disposal, you may still need medication or therapy to at least figure out what activates your anxiety and how to help relieve it.

What is the best natural product for anxiety?

The best natural product for alleviating anxiety depends on your unique needs. For example, you may gravitate toward herbal products like lavender essential oils to help with anxiety symptoms. Others may prefer anxiety relief products that they can consume, like CBD.

How can I treat my anxiety naturally?

All of the options above may help naturally alleviate anxiety. If your symptoms interfere with your day-to-day activities, consider seeking help from a mental health professional.

What is the strongest anti-anxiety herb?

Lavender and chamomile are research-backed natural remedies that help promote calm.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety?

This a grounding strategy that can help you cope with your anxiety. How does it work? When you start to feel anxious, look around you and try to name:

1. three things you can see
2. three sounds you can hear
3. three things you can touch

The goal is to help ground you in the present moment and alleviate anxiety symptoms.

Various natural anxiety tools can help you manage overwhelming feelings in the moment and find a sense of calm. Not everyone will find relief with natural therapies, though, and that’s OK. Tools and products designed to help ease feelings of anxiety can’t replace therapy and other medical treatment.

If your anxiety is disrupting your daily life or becomes unmanageable, reach out to a trained mental health professional or doctor who can help you get your symptoms under control.