Chrysin for anxiety?

July 24, 2006 8:39 AM

Has anyone ever used the herbal supplement Chrysin for anxiety?

How effective is the herbal supplement Chrysin in treating anxiety? I've heard that bodybuilders use this to block the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. But I'm not interested in this application.

What concerns me right now is not getting super-bulked, super-cut. What concerns me is getting a handle on my anxiety. I've heard that chrysin reduces anxiety. Has anyone out there had any experience with using this supplement? Were you able to find a reasonably cheap brand? I'm a big fan of the Jarrow line of supplements, but their Chrysin is very expensive.

If you are male, did you experience any prostate-related side effects, such as BPH?

Thanks very much for your time.

posted by jason's_planet to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

If I remember correctly, chrysin is derived from Passion Flower. I haven't used chrysin myself, but I do occasionally use passion flower tincture to help myself chill out. It works OK.

I'd personally be pretty wary of messing with hormone conversion just to treat anxiety. If you're looking for an herbal supplement, Valerian works really well and is cheap (but stinky). Kava Kava is even better but it can be rough on your liver (as in, it has been implicated in a number of cases of liver failure). Of course none of the herbal stuff works as well as good old benzodiazepines (xanax, valium, etc.). Mmmm, benzos....
posted by nixxon at 11:21 AM on July 24, 2006

I've never used Chrysin however I'd recommend the herbal supplement Valerian for anxiety as something to consider perhaps?
posted by kitschbitch at 11:23 AM on July 24, 2006

Damn! Shoulda seen on preview! oops! Yes, Valerian tastes like old socks, so I'd neck the pills as quickly as possible, and avoid Valerian tincture or Valerian tea like the plague....
posted by kitschbitch at 11:24 AM on July 24, 2006

You might look into ignatia amara. My doctor suggested it after I went off my anxiety meds. It has worked for me so far, though I can't discount the placebo effect.
posted by sugarfish at 11:42 AM on July 24, 2006

Everyone I've spoken to tells me that Chrysin is bunk. There is some research on blocking cortisol to help depression, where they report that imipramine and related drugs work well. There are supplements that work to block cortisol, if you don't want to go the pharm route, that work better than Chrysin, but only marginally so. Your best bet is to work on maximizing anabolic activity, by eating right and training right, to balance out the cortisol activity. That way you're not fighting your own metabolism.

Yoga seems to work, and I imagine other forms of non-aerobic exercise would work similarly, at least in the physical aspect.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 6:25 AM on July 25, 2006

Response by poster:
I think I'll just go running instead. It's a lot cheaper and it'll get me in better shape.

Great responses, everyone!

Thanks for the feedback!
posted by jason's_planet at 8:18 AM on July 25, 2006