Guide
Supplements for anxiety: what the NHS says first
The NHS does not recommend any supplement for anxiety. Its advice for generalised anxiety disorder is talking therapies first, usually CBT, and medicine if needed, usually an SSRI. If you are 18 or over you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies without seeing a GP. For the supplements people often buy for anxiety, NHS information is mostly about safe amounts and interactions, not benefit. Some low vitamin levels can cause anxiety-like symptoms, so a GP blood test comes before a supplement. This is information, not medical advice.
What the NHS offers for anxiety
The NHS page on generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) lists the main treatments a GP may offer: talking therapies, usually cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); medicines, usually a type of antidepressant called an SSRI; and referral to a community mental health team. A GP will usually suggest talking therapies before medicine. The page does not mention supplements.
You do not have to see a GP first. The NHS says that if you are 18 or over you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression. You need to be registered with a GP, and in some areas the service takes people from 16. If you are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, your midwife, doctor or health visitor can also help you get support.
The same NHS page lists things you can try yourself: talking to someone you trust, self-help courses, breathing exercises, regular exercise, enough sleep, regular meals, and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol.
Check for a medical cause first
Some symptoms that feel like anxiety can come from a low vitamin or iron level. The NHS page on vitamin B12 or folate deficiency lists psychological problems, from mild depression or anxiety to confusion, among its symptoms. The NHS page on iron deficiency anaemia lists tiredness and noticeable heartbeats (palpitations), and palpitations are also on the NHS list of GAD symptoms.
Both are diagnosed with a blood test. If you think either could apply to you, see a GP before buying a supplement, so you treat the cause and not a guess. Our iron guide explains why a test comes first.
What the NHS says about supplements sold for anxiety
This table only uses what NHS pages say. Where the NHS has no page on a supplement, we say so and do not fill the gap from other sources.
| Supplement | What the NHS says | Safety note from the NHS |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium | The NHS page on other vitamins and minerals says magnesium helps turn food into energy and that most people get enough from a varied diet. It does not mention anxiety. | Same NHS page: 400mg or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm. More than 400mg for a short time can cause diarrhoea. |
| B vitamins (including B6 and B12) | The NHS page on B vitamins says most people get enough from a varied diet. It does not recommend B vitamins for anxiety. Low B12 is a reason for a blood test, not a reason to self-treat. | Same NHS page: do not take more than 10mg of vitamin B6 a day from supplements unless a doctor advises it. 200mg or more a day can cause loss of feeling in the arms and legs. |
| St John's wort | The NHS page on depression treatment says there is some evidence it may help less severe depression, but doctors do not recommend it because the strength varies between brands and batches. That page is about depression, not anxiety. | Same NHS page: it can cause serious problems with other medicines, including antidepressants, blood thinners, epilepsy medicines and the contraceptive pill. Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. |
| CBD oil | The NHS page on medical cannabis says CBD sold in health stores comes with no guarantee of quality or health benefit, and usually contains very small amounts, so it is not clear what effect it has. It does not mention anxiety. | Same NHS page: CBD can affect how other medicines work. Many CBD products sold online may contain THC and may be illegal. |
| Ashwagandha, valerian, L-theanine, lavender, chamomile, 5-HTP | We found no NHS page on any of these. A search of nhs.uk for each name returned no results (checked 1 November 2026). | The NHS rules for all herbal medicines apply to the herbal ones (see below). |
If you are thinking about a herbal product
The NHS page on herbal medicines says they are not tested in the same way as standard medicines and are not available on the NHS. It says you should not take herbal medicines if you:
are pregnant or breastfeeding have kidney or liver problems take certain medicines, including antidepressants, statins, blood thinners such as warfarin, medicines for diabetes or blood pressure, and hormonal contraception such as the combined pill
The NHS advice is to check with a pharmacist first if you already take any medicine, including ones you buy without a prescription, to look for a traditional herbal registration (THR) mark on the pack, and not to buy unlicensed herbal medicines online. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.
When to see a GP
The NHS says to see a GP if you think you might have GAD, or if you have been diagnosed and treatments are not helping. If you are in crisis or worried about your safety, get urgent help for your mental health, or call Samaritans free on 116 123.
For anxiety around perimenopause and menopause, see our page on menopause, low mood and anxiety and waking at 4am with anxiety.
Compare brands
We do not compare or recommend any supplement for anxiety, because the NHS does not recommend one. If a GP finds a low vitamin or iron level, follow their advice on what to take and how much.
Sources
NHS: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) (nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder-gad/) NHS: Talking therapies (nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/talking-therapies/) NHS: Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia (nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/) NHS: Iron deficiency anaemia (nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/) NHS: Vitamins and minerals, others (nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/others/) NHS: Vitamins and minerals, B vitamins and folic acid (nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/) NHS: Depression in adults, treatment (nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression-in-adults/treatment/) NHS: Medical cannabis (and cannabis oils) (nhs.uk/medicines/medical-cannabis/) NHS: Herbal medicines and complementary therapies (nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/herbal-medicines-and-complementary-therapies/)
Frequently asked questions
Does the NHS recommend any supplement for anxiety?
No. The NHS page on generalised anxiety disorder lists talking therapies, medicines and referral to a mental health team. It does not mention supplements.
Can I get help for anxiety without seeing a GP?
Yes, from 18 you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies. What the NHS offers for anxiety, above, has the detail.
Can low B12 or iron feel like anxiety?
The NHS lists anxiety among the possible symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, and palpitations among the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia. Both need a blood test, so see a GP rather than guessing with a supplement.
Is magnesium good for anxiety?
The NHS page on magnesium does not mention anxiety. It says most people get enough from a varied diet, and that 400mg or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm.
Is ashwagandha safe for anxiety?
We found no NHS page on ashwagandha, so we cannot give you an NHS view. The general NHS advice on herbal medicines applies: do not take them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney or liver problems or take certain medicines, and check with a pharmacist first.
This is information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. If anxiety is affecting your daily life, speak to your GP or refer yourself to NHS talking therapies. Always check with a pharmacist before taking a supplement alongside any medicine.
Editor, Her Vitals
Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.
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