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Dietary supplements: What you need to know.Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health.Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Herbs and medications. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. FDA issues consumer advisory for dietary supplements containing kava.There are many causes that may result in chronic. Chronic insomnia: This is characterized by having difficulty falling asleep three or more nights a week, for longer than three months. It often resolves without the need for treatment. Natural medicines in the clinical management of anxiety. Acute insomnia: This is characterized by a brief experience with insomnia, often due to a stressful life event.Accumulation of active metabolites is problematic in elderly patients and in those patients with impaired liver function as it can cause confusion and cognitive dysfunction. Lemon balm is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for short-term use, but can cause nausea and abdominal pain. Long-acting medications are best indicated for people with insomnia as well as concomitant daytime anxiety. Preliminary research shows lemon balm can reduce some symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness and excitability. It can also increase appetite, increase the sedative effect of other medications and supplements, and cause low blood pressure. Oral lavender can cause constipation and headaches. Some evidence suggests that oral lavender or aromatherapy with lavender can reduce anxiety however, evidence is preliminary and limited. Other members of this family are ragweed, marigolds, daisies and chrysanthemums. Use of chamomile can cause allergic reactions in some people who are sensitive to the family of plants that includes chamomile. But chamomile can increase the risk of bleeding when used with blood-thinning drugs. Limited data shows that short-term use of chamomile is generally considered safe and can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety. It can cause some side effects such as headaches, dizziness and drowsiness. Valerian is generally considered safe at recommended doses, but since long-term safety trials are lacking, don't take it for more than a few weeks at a time, unless your doctor approves. In other studies, people reported no benefit. In some studies, people who used valerian reported less anxiety and stress. Passion flower is generally considered safe when taken as directed, but some studies found it can cause drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. In many commercial products, passion flower is combined with other herbs, making it difficult to distinguish the unique qualities of each herb. A few small clinical trials suggest that passion flower might help with anxiety. While these initial reports of liver toxicity have been questioned, use extra caution and involve your doctor in the decision if you're considering using products containing kava. Kava appeared to be a promising treatment for anxiety, but reports of serious liver damage - even with short-term use - caused the Food and Drug Administration to issue warnings about the use of dietary supplements containing kava. Several herbal remedies have been studied as a treatment for anxiety, but more research is needed to understand the risks and benefits.
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