HIMPower Magazine HimPower August 2018 | Page 19

echinacea extracts were compared to the prescription anti-anxiety drug, chlordiaz- epoxide (also known by the brand name Librium®). Only one echinacea preparation demonstrated a robust ability to reduce anxiety in a wide dosage range comparable to the prescription drug—the unique Echi- nacea angustifolia extract. That’s the one I recommend. This special echinacea root extract not only met the drug’s anti-anxiety effects, it exceeded them. It also didn’t cause any drowsiness—a common side effect of prescription drugs for anxiety. Aside from drowsiness and lethargy, the other adverse effects for chlordiazepoxide include confu- sion, edema, nausea, constipation, menstrual abnormalities, jaundice, altered libido, invol- untary movements, and controlled substance dependence/addiction. That’s quite a list. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it. And the potential serious adverse effects for the special echinacea preparation? None. FAST-ACTING, DRAMATIC RESULTS Clinical research shows fast-acting results. In one study, the special extract of Echinacea angustifolia was tested with indi- viduals experiencing increased anxiety and tension. After just one day, the participants noticed a reduction in stress and anxiety, with an even greater reduction in just seven days. And, in another study published in the March 2012 issue of Phytotherapy Research, people recorded noticeably reduced stress and anxiety in just three days! The study included 33 volunteers (22 women and 11 men) with an average age of 41. All experienced anxiety, which was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), a validated method of measuring anxiety levels. Only individuals meeting the threshold for elevated anxiety levels were included in the study. Participants used the echinacea extract for one week, and anxiety was evaluated before, during, and after using the product. The extract decreased STAI scores within three days, an effect that remained stable for the duration of the treatment (seven days) and for the two weeks that followed treat- ment. There were no dropouts and no side effects. Aside from the lack of side effects, a fast-acting, natural approach like this one makes life much better, much sooner. With other herbs, that’s not always the case. It takes eight weeks to achieve significant results with chamomile, three to eight weeks for kava (depending upon whether it is a water or ethanolic extract), and six to ten weeks for lavender.  Terry Lemerond has 45 years of experience in the health food industry as an owner of several health food stores and dietary supplement manu- facturing companies. He has researched and developed over 400 nutritional and botanical formulations and is considered an innovator in the industry. For more information, go to https://www.terrytalksnutrition.com/ www.himpowermagazine.com  19