Hey friend,

I've been feeling the weight of anxiety lately.

It’s not surprising, really—I've been in two car accidents in the past five months.

Not your average fender benders either.

Both times, the entire front wheel of my truck gave out mid-drive…

No warning, no sign, just a sudden screech, a slam, and the gut-punch sound of metal hitting asphalt.

Toyota Tacomas are notorious for faulty ball joints, I learned that the hard way.

Twice.

Since then, getting back behind the wheel has been a mental battle—heart racing, palms sweaty (mom's spaghetti?), hyper-alert to every tiny sound or shift in the road.

And while I’ve built a strong foundation for managing my nervous system health—tools like breathwork, meditation, somatic awareness, and mindset training that I lean on daily—the last couple of weeks pushed me past that threshold.

I needed more anxiolytic support

Not from benzos or Xanax like I once abused in my younger, numb-it-all days.

Now, I turn to a different kind of medicine—one I cultivated through years of healing and study at the Vital Ways Institute.

Nature’s pharmacy: herbal allies, nervous system tonics, and nootropics that keep me grounded, clear, and strong.

Not to escape—

To stay.

Present.

Resilient.

Rooted.

If you know the feeling of your world collapsing—but refuse to be a pharma slave, stuck playing symptom whack-a-mole with pills like Xanax and their nasty side effects...

This is your guide.

Top 6 Xanax Alternatives

A curated list of the most research-backed herbs and supplements for easing anxiety, without numbing who you are.

1) Kava

Known as the “Drink of Peace” by Pacific Islander cultures, Kava (Piper methysticum) has been used for centuries in ceremonies and social gatherings to calm the mind and open the heart.

Its active compounds—kavalactones—interact with GABA pathways, promoting deep relaxation, calmness, and even mild euphoria. [1]

A meta-analysis found Kava to be as effective as standard anti-anxiety meds, without the side effects. [2]

And the best part? It works fast; most people feel the anxiety melt away within minutes.

I love kava because it relaxes your mind, body, and nervous system without compromising cognitive performance (a downside of benzos). [3]​

2) Passionflower

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a holy plant, named by 16th-century Catholic priests who saw symbols of Christ’s Passion in its petals.

Its calming effects come from apigenin and chrysin—compounds that partially activate the same GABA-A receptors targeted by benzos. [4]

One clinical trial even found Passionflower to be as effective as oxazepam, but with zero negative impact on mental performance—a calm mind and a sharp one, to boot! [5]

And like many herbal allies, Passionflower doesn’t stop at anxiety—it’s also showing promise for insomnia, opiate withdrawal [6], menopause, and more. [7]

This is the kind of intelligence herbal medicines have that lab-made drugs only dream of replicating.

3) Lavender

Natural anxiety relievers are right under our noses.

Lavender essential oil should be under your nose, literally, because of its powerful anxiolytic effects in aromatherapy. [8]

Not only that, a 6-week study found that oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) were as effective as lorazepam in reducing both anxiety, without causing sedation or having abuse potential. [9]​

4) Valerian

It smells… bad.

Like feet. Or maybe ass.

But Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root is one of those herbs you learn to love because its effects are just that good.

Research shows Valerian binds to GABA receptors in the amygdala—your brain’s fear center.

It also boosts GABA levels and slows its breakdown, creating lasting calm. [10,​11]​

No wonder it’s called “Nature’s Valium.” Perfect for quieting anxiety-driven, racing thoughts—especially the kind that hijack your sleep. [12]​

Here's a mountain variety that I found in Mt. Hood Meadows:

5) Picamilon

GABA is your brain’s natural calming chemical, and the same neurotransmitter targeted by Xanax. [13]

In theory, supplementing GABA should help with anxiety.

But there’s a catch: GABA molecules are too large to cross the blood-brain barrier, so GABA supplements don’t work.

Picamilon changes that.

It combines GABA with niacin (vitamin B3), which acts as a delivery system—carrying GABA into the brain, where it can do its job: calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

The most trusted source? → Troscriptions’ Tro Calm.

6) L-Theanine

Ever wonder why green tea sharpens the mind, but doesn’t overstimulate like coffee?

The secret: L-Theanine.

• It boosts alpha brain waves, inducing relaxed alertness—the same brain wave state produced in deep meditation. [14]
• It increases serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, balancing mood while keeping cognition razor-sharp.

The result? A clear mind, calm body, and no dependency.

Xanax can bring short-term relief for anxiety, but it comes at a cost.

Dependence, tolerance, rebound anxiety, cognitive fog, and a loss of your natural resilience.

The good news?

There are powerful, research-backed alternatives that work while supporting long-term mental health and whole-body wellness.

Curious—are you dealing with anxiety right now?

Have you tried any of the natural options I’ve shared?

Hit reply and let me know.

Onjae

P.S. I’ve spent countless hours compiling the most research-backed botanicals and brain-boosting supplements into one master cheat sheet—for mental clarity, focus, mood, and more.

Built it for myself. Sharing it with you.

Want it? Just reply “BRAIN” and I’ll send it your way.