Echinacea Angustifolia (AnxioCalm) in Anxiety

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women 18 years of age (all races and ethnicity)
• Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) any criteria forGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD from 5 to 9)
• mild to moderate symptom severity on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI from 8 to 15)
• Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score from 14 to 17
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) [hospital anxiety and depression scale
• anxiety subscale] - 8-10
• Participants score 45-57 points of above on either the state or trait anxiety subscaleof the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory of Speilberger (STAI)
• Able to understand and provide signed informed consent
• Able to participate in a 5-week study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any diagnosed DSM-IV Axis II disorder
• Current DSM IV Axis I diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder in the 6 month thatprecede the study. [to exclude confounding psychiatric factors]
• Danger of suicidality
• Treatment with Echinacea preparations in the 3 month that precede the study
• Psychotropic medication (especially anxiolytics) in the 3 month that precede the study
• Psychotherapy in the 3 month that precede the study
• Allergic reactions to plants of the Asteraceae family (Echinacea species, etc.)
• Treatment for AIDS or cancer
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Unstable medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism, hypertension, myocardial infarctionwithin 1 month, neoplastic condition)
• Alcohol or drug dependence within 3 months
• Allergy to Echinacea preparation
• Allergy to plants of the Asteraceae family (e.g., ragweed, asters, chrysanthemum)
• Allergy to mugwort, radioallergosorbent test (RAST), or birch tree pollen Concurrenttranquilizer, antidepressant or mood stabilizer therapy;
• Subjects receiving anti-anxiety medication (e.g., benzodiazepine, venlafaxine,buspirone, or SSRI)
• Concurrent use of over-the-counter anti-anxiety and/or antidepressant preparations (e.g., chamomile, St. John's Wort, Kava kava)
• Women of child-bearing potential not willing to employ a medically proven form ofcontraception (e.g., condoms, oral contraceptives, etc)
• Any other condition that precludes participation according to the judgement of theinvestigator