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Anxiety is one of the most common challenges people face today. Racing thoughts, tight shoulders, and sleepless nights are all signs that stress has gone beyond normal limits. Left unaddressed, these feelings can weigh heavily on both mental health and overall well-being.
For anxiety disorders, established care includes psychotherapy, medication, or both, depending on the person and the type and severity of symptoms.1 Some people also explore complementary approaches, including Chinese herbs for anxiety from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, stress is viewed as an imbalance in the body's energy, or qi. Herbal formulas are used with the aim of calming the mind, easing tension, and supporting sleep.
Below, you'll find the herbs and formulas most often used for anxiety, what the research actually shows, how to use them safely, and lifestyle practices that can help.
In traditional Chinese medicine, these herbs and formulas are commonly used for worry, restlessness, and poor sleep:
Research quality varies, and findings apply to specific formulas, not all Chinese herbs. None is a proven anxiety treatment. Check with a licensed practitioner and your doctor before use, especially if you take prescription medication.
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TCM practitioners rarely use a single herb on its own. Most treatment comes from formulas that combine several herbs. Below are four of the most common options for anxiety, with their traditional uses kept separate from what modern research shows.
Traditional use: Xiao Yao San is one of the most widely used TCM formulas for stress, irritability, and low mood. Practitioners link these symptoms to a pattern called liver qi stagnation. The formula combines eight herbs, including bupleurum (Chai Hu), dong quai (Dang Gui), white peony, ginger, and licorice.
What research shows: Xiao Yao San has more anxiety research than any other option on this list. A 2023 review pooled 14 trials with 1,256 patients. Most trials added Xiao Yao San to anti-anxiety medication, and patients improved more than with medication alone. But 8 of the 14 trials had a high risk of bias, none were double-blinded, and all took place in China with no long-term follow-up.2 The results are promising, not proof.
Traditional use: Suan Zao Ren is the seed of the sour jujube fruit. In TCM, it's used to calm the mind and support sleep, especially when worry keeps you awake. It's the main herb in a classic formula called Suan Zao Ren Tang.
What research shows: Most human studies test the full formula, not the seed alone, and most focus on insomnia rather than anxiety. A review of 12 trials with 1,376 adults found the formula often outperformed sleep medication, but every trial scored low on quality, with problems like no blinding and no placebo group.3 There's no strong evidence yet for Suan Zao Ren as an anxiety treatment.
Traditional use: He Huan Pi comes from the bark of the mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin). TCM uses it to calm the spirit and ease grief, irritability, and restless sleep.
What research shows: Most research on mimosa bark comes from lab and animal studies. High-quality human trials for anxiety are lacking, so treat it as a traditional remedy, not a proven one. Ask a provider before using it during pregnancy.
Traditional use: This simple formula has just three ingredients: licorice, wheat, and jujube dates. It comes from a classic Chinese medical text, where it was used for emotional distress with symptoms like a racing heart and shakiness.
What research shows: A 2026 review of 35 trials with 3,187 patients focused mainly on depression. It found improvements in depression and sleep scores, and in anxiety scores when the formula was combined with other treatment. But the trials varied widely, and many lacked proper blinding.4 The evidence is emerging, not established. Because the formula contains wheat, skip it if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy.
A note on licorice: Xiao Yao San, Suan Zao Ren Tang, and Gan Mai Da Zao Tang all contain licorice. In large amounts, licorice can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, which can affect the heart.5 Taking it with diuretics (water pills) can lower potassium even more. If you have high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before using these formulas.
Studies of Chinese herbal products have had mixed results, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.6 For anxiety, the evidence has three big limits:
Most trials are small, took place in China, and weren't blinded.
Many tested herbs alongside anti-anxiety medication, so it's hard to know what the herbs did on their own.
Results apply to specific formulas, not to "Chinese herbs" in general.
Chinese herbs are best viewed as a complementary approach. They don't replace established anxiety care.
Safe use depends on guidance, product quality, and honest expectations. Start with trusted sources, follow proper dosing, and keep your doctor informed.
Working with a licensed herbalist or TCM practitioner is often the best starting point. In clinical practice, patterns such as liver qi stagnation, spleen qi deficiency, or kidney yin deficiency are considered when choosing an herbal formula. A professional can match recommendations to your history, your physical symptoms, and the emotional side of stress. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take.
Many Chinese herbs are sold online and in health shops. Product quality varies. Some Chinese herbal products have been found contaminated with toxic compounds, heavy metals, pesticides, or microorganisms, and some contained the wrong herb by mistake.6 Choosing products from reputable makers that test for identity and contaminants may lower these risks, but testing doesn't show that a product works for anxiety. If you have an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, use herbs only alongside professional care.
There's no single timeline. Results depend on the formula, the dose, your health, and what else you're doing to manage anxiety. In the Xiao Yao San trials, treatment lasted 4 to 12 weeks.2 If you don't notice a difference after several weeks, talk to your practitioner or doctor.
Side effects and interactions can happen, even with traditional herbs. A recent review on TCM for anxiety noted that clinical trials have reported generally favorable efficacy and fewer adverse effects compared with certain conventional treatments, but individual reactions still vary.7 Possible problems include:
Digestive discomfort, such as bloating, nausea, or stomach upset
Allergic reactions, including rash, itching, or sensitivity to specific herbs
Changes in sleep patterns, like drowsiness or restlessness
Interactions with prescription drugs, including SSRIs and other antidepressants, sedatives, blood thinners, blood pressure medicines, and diuretics
Added risks during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and for people with high blood pressure or heart or kidney disease
Because responses vary from person to person, working with a qualified practitioner and your doctor is the best way to lower the risk of problems.
Support Your Calm From the Inside Out
Herbs and healthy habits work best with steady support. Seredyn Complete Calm is made to help ease occasional stress and promote a sense of peace.
Contains valerian and passion flower. Ask a doctor first if you take sedatives, sleep medication, or anti-anxiety medication.
See What's Inside SeredynHerbs often work best as part of a broader daily routine. Pairing them with simple habits that encourage calm and balance can offer a supportive approach to treating symptoms of stress or worry.
Gentle breathing practices and movement such as Tai Chi are often used to ease tension and help the nervous system relax. They're low-risk ways to support overall balance and well-being.
Journaling, meditation, or visualization can help you organize your thoughts and process stress. To get started, try these journal prompts for anxiety or a short meditation for anxiety and sleep.
Acupressure, used in TCM, has been studied for its effects on anxiety. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that acupressure was linked with immediate reductions in pretreatment anxiety among adults.8 Aromatherapy with calming scents is also explored as a supportive practice. Both can complement herbal medicine, but neither replaces medical care.
Daily rhythm makes a difference. Restful sleep, balanced meals, and short breaks during the day all help manage stress. For more ideas, see these natural ways to manage stress.
Chinese herbs for anxiety offer a traditional way to support calm, but the science is still catching up. Xiao Yao San has the most research, and even that evidence is limited. If you want to try Chinese herbal medicine, work with a licensed practitioner, choose tested products, tell your doctor, and keep up the daily habits that support calm. For more options, see our guide to natural anxiety and stress relief.
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Pair your calming practices with support that fits daily life. Seredyn Complete Calm is non-habit forming and made with L-theanine, passion flower, and valerian.
Contains valerian and passion flower. Ask a doctor first if you take sedatives, sleep medication, or anti-anxiety medication.
Find Your Calm With SeredynThe most common options are the formula Xiao Yao San, sour jujube seed (Suan Zao Ren), mimosa bark (He Huan Pi), and Gan Mai Da Zao Tang. Xiao Yao San has the most research for anxiety, but the studies are small and often low quality. None is a proven anxiety treatment.
In the US, many Chinese herbs are sold as supplements without a prescription. Quality varies, and some products have been found contaminated. A licensed practitioner and your doctor can help you choose safely.
It depends on the herb or formula, the dose, how long you take it, product quality, your other medicines, and your health. Formulas with licorice can raise blood pressure over time. Ask a provider before long-term use.
Established care for anxiety includes therapy, medication, or both. Chinese herbal medicine is best seen as a complementary approach. Its evidence varies by formula and is weaker than the evidence for standard treatments.
Some formulas, such as Suan Zao Ren Tang and Gan Mai Da Zao Tang, have been studied in people with sleep problems and anxiety or low mood. Results are promising but come from small, lower-quality trials, and they don't apply to all Chinese herbs.
National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
Wang, Y., Chen, X., Wei, W., Ding, Y., Guo, R., Xing, J., & Wang, J. (2023). Efficacy and safety of the Chinese herbal medicine Xiao Yao San for treating anxiety: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1169292. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1169292
Xie, C.-L., Gu, Y., Wang, W.-W., Lu, L., Fu, D.-L., Liu, A.-J., Li, H.-Q., Li, J.-H., Lin, Y., Tang, W.-J., & Zheng, G.-Q. (2013). Efficacy and safety of Suanzaoren decoction for primary insomnia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 13, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-18
Dong, J., Wang, L., Dong, C., Wang, F., Chang, T., Cui, Y., & Guo, J. (2026). The effects of Ganmai Dazao decoction on depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, 13(2), 150–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcms.2026.03.005
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Licorice root. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/licoriceroot
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Traditional Chinese medicine: What you need to know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know
Wang, Q., Wang, D., Lv, Y., & Li, Q. (2025). Traditional Chinese Medicine in the management of anxiety disorders: A narrative review of theoretical foundations, clinical applications, and modern integrative approaches. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 21, 1215–1233. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S535646
Au, D. W., Tsang, H. W., Ling, P. P., Leung, C. H., Ip, P. K., & Cheung, W. M. (2015). Effects of acupressure on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine, 33(5), 353–359. https://doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2014-010720