Is There a Natural Treatment for Anxiety?

Anxiety can strike many people from any type of background at any time, but with a few tips and tricks, you can naturally overcome this debilitating ailment easily. The word anxiety in the psychiatric sense of the word is defined as: “a state of psychic tension and apprehension that occurs in some forms of mental disorder.” Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways including mentally, emotionally, and physically with symptoms including sweating, increased heart rate, nausea, restlessness, poor concentration, headaches and more. People with anxiety are also known to be having panic attacks and there are some excellent natural treatments that you can use to combat this problem to avoid taking harsh chemical drugs.

Here are 10 of the best natural treatment options for Anxiety:

1) Calming Physical Exercise and Bodywork

Many exercises can be used to help with stress and anxiety including meditation, yoga, massage therapy, shiatsu, tai chi, self hypnosis, and breathing techniques. These methods will really help to calm you down and reduce the symptom of anxiety. You should aim to do at least one of these methods each day, preferably before you do anything that would normally stress you out. You will soon learn to use these calming techniques all the time and eventually get rid of your anxiety issues once and for all.

2) Passionflower

Passionflower is a herb that has been used for centuries for insomnia and anxiety. Passionflower is fairly potent and the effects have been compared to that of benzodiazepine drugs. Two studies of 198 people showed the positive effects of passionflower on anxiety levels and it was also noted that it makes you less drowsy than medication.

3) Valerian

Valerian is also a herb and its healing properties are more specific to insomnia, but there have been some positive effects with mild anxiety. It should be taken an hour before bedtime and only for about 3 to 4 months at a time. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks to work and it comes in liquid and capsule form, although most people take it in capsule form because it does not have a particularly nice smell.

4) Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral well known for its calming effects and deficiencies have been linked to increased tension and anxiety. It naturally calms the nervous system, and increasing your intake can really help symptoms. You can find magnesium naturally in coconut water, buckwheat, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder and kelp among other things.

5) Aromatherapy

Various aromatherapy essential oils are great for anxiety including geranium, bergamot, rose, cypress, jasmine, melissa, lavender, neroli, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang. You can use them in the bath or burn them to get the benefits.

6) Chamomile

This is perhaps the most obvious natural anti-anxiety product there is. It is well known for de-stressing and chamomile tea is always promoted for its calming effect.

7) Vitamin B Complex and Calcium

Vitamin B complex and calcium are other minerals that can be used for anxiety as they support the production of neuro-transmitters in the brain which will help to relax the muscles and calm the nervous system.

8) St John’s Wort

This is a well known herb used for depression, but there have also been some great effects on those suffering from anxiety.

9) GABA

GABA, or gamma-Aminobutyric acid, is used to relax you and get rid of anxiety. It is usually taken at night to help you sleep as it regulates the nervous system and muscle tone. The GABA receptors in the brain are normally affected by the usual prescription drugs used for anxiety, but taking GABA can do the same thing without the chemicals.

10) Kava

Kava Kava is a Polynesian shrub from the pepper family that has been used for centuries for anxiety, but the FDA has cautioned that it might have some negative effects on the liver. Traditionally the root was chewed, but it was also made into a tea. Nowadays it is found in capsule, tablet, and liquid extract forms. These 10 items are only a few of the many natural treatments out there for anxiety, so to answer the question, “Is there a natural remedy for anxiety?” Yes, there are lots of natural treatments and remedies that can be used and although some are more effective than others, and some are used to treat only certain symptoms, it is possible to get rid of anxiety and stress disorders without resorting to using harmful chemical drugs.