Once and for all, a study has been conducted to finally end long standing debates on whether natural medications can help treat anxiety whenever a patient wishes to avoid pharmacological and behavioral interventions – or the hefty price tag.

A Saint Louis University doctor investigated on these claims and found no concrete medical evidence that will otherwise relieve anxiety symptoms or end their anxiety woes.

Herbal remedies continue to prowl the internet and particularly famous are kava extract, St. John’s wort, and valerian, which apparently claim to have treated anxiety and their symptoms. Kimberly Zoberi MD of the Saint Lous University School of Medicine notes that these herbal treatments have not established efficacy in treating anxiety, and further raises concerns that these herbal treatments may just be unsafe – given the fact that no long term studies have been conducted to look closely into these herbs.

“Extreme caution has to be exercised when looking at purported medical advice and opinion from the internet. If no evidences of such claims are published in major medical journals, most likely it’s just another hoax. If the patient wishes to avoid drug therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, or both, doctors and physicians are open to suggest other alternatives that are otherwise proven as effective.

Aside from the issue of “natural” treatments, Zoberi says that this may have stemmed from differing reactions to the usual treatments recommended by physicians. Doctors always recommend SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for anxiety relief because it’s safer, more effective, and cheaper than your usual anxiety drug. On the other hand, side effects are just as disturbing especially so the side effect is related to sexual or gastrointestinal which is more annoying.

If SSRI’s won’t work as a first option, doctors often recommend anticolvusant drugs. The quickest and most effective way to relieve anxiety symptoms without the aforementioned side effects, the downside however is the bank-breaking price tag.

Though the study did not elaborate a clear solution that will find a middle ground on prescriptions for anxiety, Zoberi still recommends that it’s only a health care professional who can help even before any anxiety medication starts in.