The Backyard Flower That Acts Like Natural Xanax

Article originally published on The Lost Herbs!

Sometimes life gets intense, and sometimes being human, especially in the fast-paced and overstimulating modern climate, is just a lot for your nervous system.

Dealing with anxiety is honestly part of being human, but there are definitely times when it can start to run the show, even make existing feelings feel unbearable, and for some, it can turn into their whole life experience (anxiety disorder)

In these moments, there is no shame in reaching out for help, and often the most readily available, socially acceptable support is medication and an allopathic approach, which includes altering our chemistry and suppressing symptoms.

And don’t get me wrong, altering our chemistry is part of the solution, but we can be more picky or mindful with how we approach this.

Choosing plant medicines combined with other somatic and holistic healing practices can be a game-changer in managing your anxiety.

The plants can help you on a chemical level to rebalance, but they often work on multiple levels, helping us to be with our experiences, supporting in a gentle and steady manner that can allow us to solve and maybe evolve past patterns of chronic anxiety

Xanax is one of the most popular pharmaceuticals generally used to treat anxiety disorders and depression, linked to anxiety and panic attacks. We will get into some details of how it works and possible crazy side effects, including addiction!

We will also explore 2 backyard flowers that act like natural Xanax. These plants can help us manage anxiety naturally and also offer many other benefits that support your holistic healing journey.

In this article, you will also find a full step-by-step recipe for the tastiest anxiety-relieving treat, formulated with all-natural, nourishing ingredients. You can view it here if you are in a hurry:

How Does Xanax Work + Possible Side Effects

As mentioned xanax is typically prescribed for treating anxiety disorders, depression, and panic attacks. Some countries also have a history of dangerous illicit use as a drug and for self-administered treatment for various reasons

Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is a prescription drug and is classed as a benzodiazepine, which is a compound that works on the central nervous system.

Its mechanism of action is boosting GABA (a key neurotransmitter that brings a sense of calm and relaxation ). It essentially helps reduce neural excitement and slow down brain activity, this give a feeling of temporary anxiety relief.

Unfortunately, like many pharmaceuticals, Xanax has a long list of harsh side effects, including the potential for addiction and dependency. Users often experience harsh withdrawal effects when trying to stop this medication

Rather than getting trapped in dependency cycles, you can turn to complete systems that actually work.

They aren’t as powerful in the sense that you take a pill now and in 10 minutes you’re numb. But over time, they save you from all the side effects, the addiction, the withdrawal.

And all you have to do is follow some principles.

I used to think I needed quick fixes. Then I learned there are chapters of holistic practices—things to do morning, noon, and evening—that address anxiety at the root:

Managing stress and negativity (stress triggers and perpetuates anxiety—the brain influences everything)
Finding what foods hurt you (certain foods trigger anxiety flare-ups without you realizing)
Daily practices for nervous system balance (movement, connection, mindfulness)
Natural remedies that support GABA (the calming neurotransmitter that Xanax artificially boosts)

I followed these chapters. It took weeks, not minutes. But I don’t have a dependency. I don’t have withdrawal. I don’t have side effects.

Click here for the complete chapters that help with anxiety without addiction.

The Flowers that Act like Natural Xanax: Brahmi and Passiflora

Luckily, nature has many healing herbs that can help with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. We will focus on two powerful herbs. These backyard flowers grow all over the world in both wild and cultivated settings and have similar benefits as xanax without the dependence and side effects.

Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri)

Brahmi is a beloved ayurvedic herb; it is applied as a nervine and is said to revitalise the brain cells as well as clear toxins and blocks within the nervous system.

It is also an anti-spasmodic herb, which is always helpful within the context of treating anxiety and panic disorders.

It is traditionally prepared with ghee as a rejuvenative, and in our recipe below it pairing with high fat cacao butter can offer similar rejuvenative effects for your nervous system

Passiflora (Passiflora Incarnata)

Passiflora is a popular cooling nervine and sedative herb with strong anxiolytic effects. Utilized in the correct quantities, it can help with looping thoughts, anxiety, restlessness, irrationality, and panic.

Interestingly, the research has also demonstrated that it helps with withdrawal symptoms specifically for those moving away from smoking (cannabis and tobacco)  and drinking.

It is possible that Passiflora has a modulating effect on GABA, and studies on Brahmi has shown that it supports GABA production (Xanax  boosts GABA)

The leaves are generally the main part of the plant required for these effects, but the whole plant can be utilized, so try to include leaves and flowers if possible, but if you can’t source flowers, just the leaves will do.

You can forage passiflora. It grows wild in many areas.

But here’s the problem—at least in my area, I can’t find any far away from roads. When I tried using some I found near a highway, I got home, made passifllora tea, and I could taste gas and fumes from cars.

It was really the last time I did that.

I looked for the best apothecary I knew—one with organic, non-GMO remedies, 100% pure. I got what I needed from there.

The Sleep Blend Tincture contains passiflora plus valerian, hops, and chamomile. All work on GABA, just like Xanax—but without dependency.

I recommend this passiflora-based blend. It does the job fast.

Herbal Formula: Herbal Dark Chocolates

Ingredients

• Dried Passiflora 6g / 0.21oz
• Dried Brahmi 4.50g / 0.16 oz
• Honey 25g /0.88oz
• Cacao Butter 50g / 1.76oz
• Raw Cacao Powder 70g / 47oz
• Water (for boiler)

 

Instructions

1. Weigh Dried Brahmi 4.50g / 0.16 oz
2. Weigh Dried Passiflora 6g / 0.21oz (Or you can add 20 drops of this passiflora tincture instead of dried herb.
3. Add both herbs to your grinder ready to blend into a fine powder
4. Sieve your herbal powder to remove any larger pieces
5. Your herbs are now ready for the next stage 2
6. Weigh out Cacao Butter 50g / 1.76oz
7. Weigh out Raw Cacao Powder 70g /  2.47oz
8. Weigh out Honey 25g /0.88oz
9. Add water to your pot and set it on the lowest heat
10. In a smaller bowl add in your Cacao Butter and place this into your warm pot to create a double boiler
11. Allow the Cacao butter melt very slowly in this double boiler
12. When the Cacao butter is completely melted, now add in honey
13. Now you can add in the Cacao Power
14. Mix well to combine all the ingredients fully
15. When this is mixed properly you can turn off the heat
16. Lastly you can add in your powder herbs
17. Mix well again, it will now start to form into a stiff past
18. Ready your plastic or waxwrap layer

19.Remove the paste from the warm pot and begin scooping immediately ( 1 tsp size balls )

20. The chocolates will begin setting, you can roll each in your palm to smoothen the look if you wish. When you are done with this step you can place the chocolates in the refrigerator to speed up the hardening process
21. Enjoy your Herbal Chocolates!

Dosage and Storage

Each chocolate is +- 11g / 0.39oz total weight  containing -+ 0.6g/ 0.02oz of the active herbs

1 -2 chocolates per dose is sufficient as needed. You can eat it as is or dissolve it in hot milk of your choice to make a very soothing and uplifting drink.

Store these chocolates in a dry jar or container in a cool and dry spot. They last for many months when kept at a stable temperature.

Considerations and Possible Contraindications

We have chatted about the benefits of the active herbs above. This recipe also features Cacao, which can help uplift emotions and energy levels. It can be mildly stimulating, but paired with these herbs, it generally has a more balanced effect of calm anxiety relief without fatigue.

If you find cacao too stimulating, you can endeavour to create white chocolates with just the butter and herbs, but no cacao powder, or perhaps in the form of  herbal pastilles combined with soothing honey instead

As always, when introducing any new herb to your body, you should conduct your own further research, especially if you are on medication or have serious health conditions. If you are on CNS  depressants or stimulants, definitely research to make sure these herbs are compatible for you.

The GABA Booster Without Dependency

Remember how Xanax works? It artificially boosts GABA—the neurotransmitter that calms you down.

Lemon balm does something similar, but naturally. It modulates GABA receptors without the addiction risk. Studies show it reduces anxiety and improves sleep within weeks.

But here’s the roadblock: making your own lemon balm tincture takes 4-6 weeks. You have to harvest fresh leaves, steep them in alcohol, shake daily, strain, bottle. And if you mess up the ratio, it won’t work.

When I need anxiety relief, I don’t have six weeks.

Here’s the quick recipe if you want to make it yourself: Harvest fresh lemon balm leaves, fill a jar halfway, cover with 80-proof vodka, steep 4-6 weeks shaking daily, strain, take 20-30 drops as needed.

Or you can get a Lemon Balm Tincture that’s already properly extracted, organic, wild-harvested.

Click here for the lemon balm that’s ready today—not in six weeks.

A Holistic Note on Anxiety

Herbs support you. But sometimes you need more than just one plant. And you need to know which ones work together—and which ones don’t.

I learned the hard way that mixing the wrong herbs can either cancel out their benefits or make you feel worse. Some herbs are sedative. Some are stimulating. Some increase each other’s effects dangerously.

That’s why I rely on a collection of recipes where someone’s already figured out the synergies:

• Stress-Free Elixir – Combines adaptogens that lower cortisol without making you drowsy
• Herbal Sleeping Pills – All-natural tablets with herbs that work together to help you sleep without morning grogginess
• Natural Brain Booster – Clears brain fog and racing thoughts using herbs that support GABA and neurotransmitter balance
• Memory Elixir – Improves memory by up to 75% (anxiety destroys memory—this repairs it)
• Deep Sleep Banana Tea – Potassium and magnesium from banana peel combined with calming herbs that relax your nervous system

Each recipe comes with:

• Step-by-step instructions with exact measurements (no guessing)
• Full-color photos so you see exactly what it should look like
• Which herbs to avoid mixing (this alone is worth it—knowing what NOT to combine)
• Synergistic blends that work better together than alone

These aren’t one-size-fits-all. They’re remedies for different aspects of anxiety—sleep, brain fog, racing thoughts, stress response.

Click here for the 250 recipes where all the herb combinations have already been figured out for you.