Means for nervous restlessness: Stiftung Warentest tested 28 preparations - only four are suitable with restrictions

If you plan too little relaxation in everyday life, your body can react with restlessness and nervousness.

Over-the-counter remedies promise improvement.

But do they really help?

Constant stress triggers the development of physical problems.

High blood pressure and back pain are possible consequences.

The psyche also suffers, so restlessness, irritability and nervousness are among the typical symptoms of excessive demands or frustration.

When the body, mind and spirit are pushed to the limit of what they can handle, action must be taken.

For many people, even simple relaxation exercises show great benefits.

However, if you are very tense, which can lead to serious sleep disorders or concentration problems, you should consult a doctor.

Drugs for nervous restlessness: Stiftung Warentest tests 28 preparations

Many of those affected try to relieve the symptoms with preparations from drugstores or pharmacies.

Over-the-counter remedies - often with herbal extracts from valerian or St. John's wort - promise help.

The consumer organization Stiftung Warentest tested 28 products.

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Many over-the-counter remedies for nervousness have no effect, according to a result from Stiftung Warentest.

© Nina Janeckova/Imago

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Therapeutic benefit of anti-stress agents mostly not verifiable

From anti-stress tea to drops for a good night's sleep: In pharmacies and drugstores you are confronted with a plethora of products that are supposed to have an effect against restlessness and nervousness.

It is also possible to buy the preparations without a prescription and without advice.

Stiftung Warentest assessors have checked whether the funds are worth their money.

A total of 28 remedies for restlessness and nervousness were tested to see whether they had the effectiveness suggested in the advertisement.

The testers used scientific specialist literature as the basis for their evaluations.

The verdict of the testers: 24 products are "not very suitable for nervousness and restlessness".

The examiners only rated four products as “suitable with restrictions

nervousness and restlessness for self-treatment”.

Why only with restrictions?

The justification is: "The studies available so far for this extract are not yet sufficient to conclusively prove the therapeutic effectiveness".

More information on the Stiftung Warentest of preparations against nervousness and restlessness can be found here.

Products suitable with restrictions for nervous restlessness

• Abbey Valerian forte, coated tablets

• Euvegal Balance 500 mg, film-coated tablets

• Klosterfrau Valerian forte 600 nerve rest, tablets

• Sedonium, coated tablets

The following products, among others, were rated as having little therapeutic effect:

• Sidroga lemon balm leaves, tea filter bags

• Circulin sleep dragees valerian+hops

• Abbey night rest sleep drops

Sustainably reduce stress – with proven relaxation techniques

Sustainably reduce stress – with proven relaxation techniques

Go through life relaxed – by adapting your lifestyle

Stressful phases in work and private life cannot always be avoided.

But tension and relaxation must alternate, otherwise there is a risk of health problems.

It is therefore extremely important for good stress management to include oases of calm in everyday life.

What is perceived as relaxing varies from person to person.

However, methods that allow breathing and mind to calm down have generally proven themselves, for example relaxation techniques such as yoga and progressive muscle relaxation.

But saunas, a massage, soothing music and walks in the forest also have the effect of reducing the stress level for many people and calming the body and mind.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.

List of rubrics: © Nina Janeckova/Imago