I go the alternative med route for depression and anxiety. I take the herb Scullcap on an as needed basis for the anxiety. It does reduce the anxiety and mind chatter, with no side effects. It gives a light mellow buzz and higher doses can cause a nice relaxed feeling and even a case of the giggles. Even so, theres still some anxiety there. I only buy it from a well known source because the herb has been known to be combined with another herb germander, which causes liver damage.
Alternative medicine is much safer than prescription meds but there are still some safety issues to be aware of.