Anxiety

Cognitive state of displeasing worry or concern with the feeling that bad events may arise; an impairment to well being, many supplements are anxiolytics (things that reduce anxiety)

FAQ
Human Effect Matrix

The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (excluding animal/petri-dish studies) to tell you what what supplements affect Anxiety

Grade	Level of Evidence
A	Robust research conducted with repeated double blind clinical trials
B	Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
C	Single double blind study or multiple cohort studies
D	Uncontrolled or observational studies only

Level of Evidence	Supplement	Change	Magnitude of Effect Size	Scientific Consensus	Comments
A	Kava		Notable	100% See all 8 studies	Appears to be quite reliable and effective in treating non-psychotic anxiety, with less reliability on the topic of generalized anxiety (which Lavender... show shows some promise for). It is possible that long-term usage of kava may have similar side-effects as long term usage of benzodiazepines (note demonstrated, but wholly logical) and most studies on kava are of a few weeks in duration without any problems.
C	Fish Oil		Minor	100% See 2 studies	A decrease in anxiety has been noted in medical students
C	Caffeine		Minor	100% See study	It is possible for caffeine to be anxiogenic, but requires genetic susceptability to it
C	Yohimbine		Minor	50% See 2 studies	Although unreliable, an increase in anxiety may occur following yohimbine ingestion
C	Black Cohosh			100% See study	The trial to measure anxiety related to menopausal symptoms failed to find a benefit associated with black cohosh
C	Nicotine		Minor	-- See 2 studies	Reduced anxiety symptoms have been noted in persons with cognitive decline, where anxiety was relieved as a symptoms of cognitive decline. In otherwise healthy persons... show prone to anxiety attacks, nicotine may be able to cause them.
C	Melissa officinalis		Minor	100% See 2 studies	A decrease in anxiety has been noted with lemon balm extract, although not to a remarkable degree
C	Vitex Agnus Castus		Minor	100% See study	Can reduce PMS related anxiety, may not have any inherent anxiolytic effects and the potency correlates to the severity of anxiety during a cycle.
C	Bacopa Monnieri		Minor	100% See 2 studies	Appears to prevent rises in anxiety, and does not appear to unilaterally reduce anxiety. May be more of a modulator than anything, but doesn't appear overly potent
C	Yamabushitake		Minor	100% See study	Decreases in anxiety noted, this may be secondary to menopausal symptom reduction
C	Ganoderma Lucidum		Minor	100% See study	Some possible anti-anxiety effects secondary to reducing symptoms of cancer related fatigue
C	Lavender		Notable	100% See all 5 studies	There appears to be a notable decreased in symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and with oral ingestion of lavender supplements; aromatherapy seems effective and implicated... show in reducing state anxiety (acute, situation based, anxiety), but has less robust evidence to support it. One study suggesting oral supplementation was comparable to lorazepam
C	Maca		Minor	50% See 2 studies	An anxiety reducing effect has been noted in postmenopausal women but not otherwise healthy young men
C	Melatonin			100% See study	No significant influence on state anxiety during stress testing
C	Theanine		Minor	100% See study	Possible anxiety reducing effects
D	Holy Basil		Minor	100% See study	A decrease has been noted, but the studies are not overly robust at this moment in time

References

Ritsner MS, et al. L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study. J Clin Psychiatry. (2011)

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