Showing posts with label anxiety. Show all posts

5 Powerful Crystals That Help Combat Anxiety

Anxiety can be one of the hardest things a person will ever have to deal with in their lifetime. If you have ever known person with tremendous anxiety, or have a loved one who suffers from an anxiety disorder, or even you yourself struggle with managing day-to-day anxiety, then you know just how awful and debilitating it can be. Every person on this planet has fears and worries, it is only natural, but sometimes these fears and worries can overwhelm us and take control of our behaviors and thoughts. There are many factors that can contribute to anxiety including: trauma, drugs, alcohol, chemical sensitivities, and numerous others that I will not list for the sake of brevity.

Relaxation and stress reduction are key to managing an anxiety problem. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common occurring disorders of the mind and body, and are recognized as the pathological counterpart of normal fear. It manifests itself through disturbances of mood, way of thinking, and both behavioral and physiological activities, which as you can imagine have great potential to hurt your overall wellbeing.

These five gems offer the clarity and insight that might help one overcome the clouded mind that is caused by anxiety. Never let your anxious thoughts become a focal point around which the rest of your life revolves.

Apophyllite – Calms apprehension, relieving you of stress, worry, and anxiety by releasing suppressed emotions. It will help with mental blockages and negative thought patterns

Blue Calcite – Helps with depression, can lower blood pressure and dissolve pain. It is a gentle stone that coddles and calms its user, helping to absorb negative energy and negative thought patterns.

Pyrite – This gem helps relieve frustration and anxiety by boosting self-worth and confidence. It helps us recognize who we are by encouraging self-worth. As an extremely positive stone, it helps bring out our potential and rids of us any feelings of inferiority.

Malachite – A gem that promotes growth and both physical and emotional fortitude. It helps draw out deep anxieties, unwanted fears, and psychosomatic issues, helping us to claim responsibility for our own actions and behaviors.

Kunzite – Helps soothe those who suffer from inner turmoil, bringing about the balance between reason and feeling. It is a heart-soothing stone that increase tolerance and helps you to accept the anxiety that may accompany criticism from others. It can help clear emotional debris and is widely used for panic attacks.

(h/t OM Times)

Medical Breakthrough! The One Prescription That Cures Anxiety, Depression & Exhaustion

We see them all around us, every single day: promises of salvation from pills. Digestive issues? Sure, there is a pill for that. Wedding tackle not up to snuff? Sure, we have a pill for that too. No matter what your ailment may be, it seems someone has a pill.

The only problem seems to be the myriad of side effects that are associated with these “miracles” in pill form. Everything from blacking out to “anal seepage” can be found in the side effects of the most common prescription pills. In some cases, the original condition is better than the side effects. Let’s not even mention the prescription pills that kill thousands of people every year.

So what if there was a prescription that someone could take that would alleviate the symptoms of the most perplexing conditions we face as humans, with a list of side effects that are in and of themselves a treatment of sorts? A true medical breakthrough that has been confirmed by countless studies over the last several decades by scores of researchers from dozens of accredited institutions. Sounds way to good to be true, I know. But such a prescription exists and it’s right around the corner from all of us, we just don’t pay attention to it.
Read: Stephen Hawking’s Beautiful Advice For Those Who Suffer From Depression

Right under our collective noses is a drug that can alleviate depression, exhaustion, and anxiety. Check out the following videos that show the miracle cure that is: Nature.

5 Things People With Anxiety Need You To Know

Unfortunately, many people in the U.S. and worldwide suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder. In the U.S. alone, approximately 18.1% of people age 18 and older have anxiety, which equates to about 40 million people. If you have never had anxiety, you may not understand what people who do suffer from it go through on a daily basis. Anxiety can affect every aspect of someone’s life, and treatment doesn’t totally eliminate the symptoms, in some cases.

People with anxiety can often feel very alienated and misunderstood, as the percentage of the population without anxiety often make incorrect assumptions about them.

HERE ARE 5 THINGS PEOPLE WITH ANXIETY NEED YOU TO KNOW:

1. THE SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AFFECT US BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

Anxiety doesn’t just affect our brains and the way we process the world around us – we can actually feel physical symptoms from the disorder. Anxiety occurs due to a combination of genetics, personality, environment, diet, and chemical imbalances in the brain. All of these factors can make anxiety feel like a burden on the physical body, and can induce headaches, cold sweats, flushing of the face, insomnia, stiff muscles, and more.

Mentally, anxiety causes us to obsess over small things, and fixate on certain situations. We try to manage our anxiety as best we can, but many of us suffer silently because we think others won’t understand.

2. WE MIGHT ALSO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about one-half of people with an anxiety disorder also suffer from depression. Having both of these disorders feels like being pulled in two different directions, to explain it simply. Anxiety makes us feel like we want to do everything at once, and depression makes us not want to do anything. Managing both of these disorders can feel completely overwhelming at times, and according to the Mayo Clinic, anxiety often occurs as a symptom of depression.

3. WE AREN’T ANTISOCIAL – WE JUST NEED TIME ALONE SOMETIMES.

Anxiety can make it difficult for us to leave the house some days, so if we cancel plans on you at the last minute sometimes, don’t take it the wrong way. We actually love people, but being around others can actually exacerbate our symptoms and increase the anxiety we already feel. Of course, those who suffer from social anxiety tend to have the hardest time socializing with others, but even those with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder can feel anxious in social situations.

If we do go out with others, we prefer a quiet, intimate environment over a loud, crowded one.

4. ANXIETY DOESN’T MAKE US WEAK OR DECREASE OUR VALUE IN ANY WAY.

Many people label those with mental disorders as somehow less valuable or less of a person, but this stigma surrounding mental illness needs to be addressed and put to rest. People with mental disorders have simply been too strong for too long, and anxiety and depression can occur as a result. Genetics play a part as well, but people often can’t help what situations they grow up with and how experiences shape them. We acknowledge that overcoming anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders begins with us, but overcoming them takes time, and great effort.

Maybe because people can’t actually see our pain and suffering, they dismiss these disorders as psychosomatic and overstated. However, we go about our lives even with our mental imbalances, making us fighters, warriors, and survivors. Trying to overcome our minds and live happy, healthy lives once again makes us even more valuable, in our opinion.

5. WE DON’T SAY WE HAVE ANXIETY JUST TO GET ATTENTION.

People who don’t suffer from mental problems often say that those who do just want attention and people to feel sorry for them. This couldn’t be further from the truth – people with anxiety want love and understanding, not attention. We don’t claim a mental disorder just to put on a show and have people throw us a pity party; we have real symptoms that can often be debilitating. We just want to live normal lives, but struggle to figure out how. It often feels as if our brains are on attack against us, and we have to fight back just to keep up with our everyday lives.

Anxiety feels like an ongoing battle, a constant war zone. We try everything we can to feel balanced and at peace with ourselves, but we may not ever totally get over anxiety – we can just learn to manage it. So, if you know someone with anxiety, give them compassion and a shoulder to cry on if they need it.

Oftentimes, people with anxiety have a higher sensitivity to energies than others, and therefore, have a harder time processing our increasingly chaotic and stressed out world. Everyone struggles with something, so don’t condemn those who happen to have anxiety. They don’t want the disorder, but have to learn how to live with it and overcome it anyway. And this makes them some of the strongest people you will ever come across.

6 Tips For Managing Anxiety Without Drugs

By Frank Lipman

As a holistic psychiatrist practicing in New York City, I see a lot of anxiety. A lot. And I’m disheartened to see so many of my patients on loads of psychiatric medications that are not necessarily helping and may even be causing harm.Meanwhile, these highly medicated folks are still suffering from anxiety! This is because we’re going about it all wrong. Anxiety is not a Xanax-deficiency disorder!There is so much we can do with diet and lifestyle to manage anxiety, and much of it is safer and more effective than medication.Here are 6 tips for managing anxiety naturally:

“It isn’t disrespectful to the complexity of existence to point out that despair is, often, just low blood sugar and exhaustion.” – Alain de Botton
The American diet promotes a blood sugar roller coaster, and every time we’re on the ride down, we can feel anxious.
When our blood sugar crashes, our body responds with a stress response. We secrete stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, which tell our liver to make more blood sugar to keep us alive. The good news: We stay alive. The bad news: This hormonal stress response feels identical to anxiety.
By stabilizing blood sugar, you can avoid this stress response and decrease your anxiety.

Here’s how to maintain stable blood sugar:

Eat more protein and healthy fats (e.g., olive oil, coconut oil, butter and ghee from pasture-raised animals).
Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks daily; don’t skip meals.
Take a spoonful of coconut oil upon waking, in the afternoon and right before bed; this will serve as a blood sugar safety net throughout the day.
Always have a snack handy (e.g., nuts, hard-boiled egg, dark chocolate, Epic™ jerky, Vital Choice wild salmon jerky, almond butter).

Don’t underestimate the relationship between caffeine and anxiety.
Think of it like this: When we’re caffeinated, our nervous system is ready for a fight. Introduce a stressor, and you have an all out anxiety response.
If you suffer from anxiety, you owe it to yourself to do a trial off caffeine.
I know, I know, the idea of going off caffeine is giving you anxiety right now. If you reduce your intake gradually (coffee -> half-caf -> black tea -> green tea -> herbal tea) over the course of a week or two, you’ll avoid withdrawal symptoms. After a few weeks, you may be surprised to see that your anxiety has decreased, your sleep has improved, your energy is stabilized, and you even tolerate stress better.
If you had a successful trial off caffeine, but you want to go back to having that morning ritual, consider making green tea your go-to beverage, rather than a “Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte.”
Here’s how:
- Reduce or eliminate caffeine
- Even if you have no trouble falling asleep, caffeine decreases sleep quality.
- Maintain stable blood sugar
- Blood sugar fluctuations disrupt your sleep, causing middle of the night awakening.
Be strategic about light:
- Let your eyes see bright light in the morning and dim light at night.
- If your room isn’t completely dark when you sleep, wear an eye mask or get blackout curtains.
- Wind down and unplug before bed
- Here’s how to promote healthy gut flora and heal the gut…
  
  Avoid what irritates the gut:
  - Food: Gluten, sugar, industrial vegetable oils, artificial sweeteners, alcohol.
  - Certain medications: Antacids, antibiotics, oral contraceptives (only make changes under close supervision from your doctor).
  Add in what soothes the gut:
  - Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass, miso paste, apple cider vinegar, kombucha, kefir (if you tolerate dairy).
  - Starchy tubers: Sweet potatoes, white potatoes, plantain, taro, yucca.
  - Bone broth:
    - Purchase Wise Choice Market Bone Broth.
    - If you’re in New York City, try Brodo.
    - Make your own bone broth.
  Supplements:
  - Take a probiotic.
  - Consider supplementing with glutamine and collagen.
  Create the conditions for the gut to heal:
  - Squatty Potty can be life-changing.
  - Get enough sleep.
  - Manage stress with yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, unplugging, acupuncture, being in nature.
  - Treat gut infections. If you suspect you may have a chronic gut infection, get evaluated by an integrative or functional medicine practitioner.

Weighted Blankets For Sleep & Anxiety: Why You Probably Want To Try This

A bed cover to ease anxiety and help you feel better? A weighted blanket has been proven to be beneficial for sleepers.

Most of the talk about sleeping centers around what one sleeps on, not under. It turns out the two should be discussed in harmony. To fall asleep on and under the right conditions will make you a dreamy blanket sandwich.

Doctor Tested And Approved

The weight of the blanket acts as deep touch therapy. The bed cover is often filled with plastic poly pellets that are sewn into compartments, distributing the weight properly.

Through the deep pressure touch of a weighted blanket receptors become stimulated similar to swaddling an infant. This helps the body to relax, feel more grounded and safe. Clinical studies suggest that when these pressure points are triggered, the brain releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is known as “the calming chemical.” It also has other handy benefits, such as maintaining memory. Some people buy supplements for serotonin, so the blanket is like a pill bottle and you are the pill, at no additional cost.

An array of conditions can be helped by a weighted blanket such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, bi-polar neurological problems, PTSD, ADHD, cerebral palsy, sleep disorders, autism, menopause and practically any type of anxiety.

The alleviation of anxiety also helps with depression, trauma, paranoia, detoxification and so on. This covers a wide spectrum, which is why the weighted blanket trend is pickup up steam.

Two studies, one published in Occupational Therapy (2008) showed that weighted blankets helped with anxiety. A study published in Australasian Psychiatry (2012) confirmed this.

In 2014 findings appeared in the journal Pediatrics. 63 children – ages 5 to 16 – slept with either a weighted blanket or a non-weighted, look-alike blanket for 12 to 16 weeks. After this first phase, the two groups switched blankets and used the other blanket for approximately two weeks. It showed that sleep did not improve significantly for either group. However most of the children and parents reported preferring the weighted blanket.

HOW TO USE

The weight of the blanket for adults should be around 15 to 30 pounds. Seeking the guidance of a doctor or occupational therapist is a good idea. Those suffering from respiratory, circulatory and other conditions should not use a weighted blanket.

DIY (Do It Yourself)

Here is a great tutorial video. There are others, so search around!

GROUNDING

In regards to sleep and sleep systems, no discussion would be complete without a mention of “grounding” or “earthing” the other natural way to improved sleep and anxiety. Let’s say you decide to use a weighted blanket, well it would make sense to do the weighted blanket on top and then the grounded bed or sheet on bottom. Over a dozen peer-reviewed studies have been conducted on “grounding” or “earthing” over the last ten years. These studies indicate that over time, grounding normalizes cortisol, reduces inflammation, calms left brain activity, improves muscle soreness recovery, and helps protect the body from electromagnetic (EMF) pollution especially in the low Hertz range.

David Wolfe discusses the science behind grounding in the following videos.

AN EXPERIMENT

Learn More About Earthing.

The Hidden Epidemic of Magnesium Deficiency

80% of us aren't getting enough magnesium. What are the symptoms, and what healthy foods are the cure? ‪#‎healthyfood‬

You may know what magnesium is, but do you know how important the mineral can be for your health? Magnesium is involved with over 300 metabolic processes in our bodies, leading to the mineral being called the ‘master mineral’. So what exactly does it mean to have a magnesium deficiency, and what are some magnesium deficiency symptoms?

16 Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

As mentioned, magnesium is a mineral responsible for numerous bodily processes. An anti-inflammatory mineral offering protection against illnesses like arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, magnesium has been used to remedy problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, and much more. But as you may suspect, just as upping magnesium intake can solve problems, a magnesium deficiency could lead to many of those same issues and much more.

Here are 16 signs of a magnesium deficiency.

Calcium deficiency
Poor heart health
Weakness
Muscle cramps
Tremors
Nausea
Anxiety
High blood pressure
Type II diabetes
Respiratory issues
Dizziness
Fatigue
Potassium deficiency
Difficulty swallowing
Poor memory
Confusion

It’s important to note that while these are symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are definitely deficient in magnesium if you experience the above issues.
According to Dr. Otis Woodward, MD you might also experience the following symptoms:

Restless legs syndrome
Weakness
Muscle twitching
Muscle pain and soreness
Shooting pains
Sound sensitivity
Light sensitivity
Irritability
Delayed recovery from exercise

Magnesium deficiency may also be a complicating factor in:

Congestive heart failure
Arrhythmias
Asthma
Migraine
Hypertension
Increased risk of death from heart attack

Dr. Otis Woodward also goes on to state there is a hidden epidemic of magnesium deficiency because:

-There is very little magnesium in food produced by agribusiness. Analysis has shown that organically grown food -has 10 times the magnesium content of agribusiness food.

-Magnesium is difficult to absorb even when taken in adequate quantities.

-Overstress causes increased loss of magnesium through the kidneys while at the same time interfering with absorption from the gut.

-Another hidden epidemic, gluten sensitivity, causes gut damage that further impairs absorption.
-Eating large quantities of sugar increases renal loss of magnesium (2).

That’s why Dr. Otis, recommends a red blood cell (RBC) test over a simple blood test to determine magnesium levels. It can look good in your blood, but if it is not in your cells you won’t get the benefits. RBC testing is not as good as white blood cell testing, but it is easier to obtain, less expensive, and sufficient.

Applied kinesiology or muscle testing by a skilled holistic healer can also help determine your need for magnesium. But let’s face it, if your health can be better and your diet is not so great, considering that almost everyone is magnesium deficient should motivate you to look into how to increase your magnesium level(1).

How to Safely Supplement Magnesium

Magnesium is an area essential cofactor in 80% of the biochemical reactions that constantly go on in the body. This means that if you are magnesium deficient, 80% of your biochemistry is impaired.

It’s almost impossible to overdose magnesium by supplementing, but consuming too much magnesium is still not a great idea. Too much of the mineral could lead to some side effects like irregular heartbeat or slowed breathing. Similar to oral ascorbic acid C, there is a bowel tolerance threshold that brings on diarrhea if exceeded. Not all magnesium supplements are easily absorbed, either.

You can find inexpensive products that feature magnesium citrate, which is among the most readily absorbed forms of magnesium supplements.

You can also apply transdermal magnesium chloride topically to be absorbed internally through the skin. Magnesium chloride is also known as magnesium oil, though not really an oil. It’s a briny solution from ancient sea beds. It is available through various online sources. Google magnesium oil products.

If you don’t want to supplement and simply want to acquire magnesium through food sources, here are a few foods that can relieve you of any magnesium deficiency symptoms:

Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Soybeans
Black beans
Cashews
Spinach
Squash
Sesame seeds
Almonds
Okra (1)

NOTE: Important
People with kidney and heart problems are advised against magnesium supplementation unless they consult a physician. Also, magnesium supplements tend to be alkaline, so too much of the magnesium supplements can impair digestion unless tempered with organic apple cider vinegar in water. Otherwise, too much alkaline can lead to poor absorption and disrupt your pH balance. Dr. Len Horowitz recommends fresh lime or lemon squeezed into your water to cheaply maintain pH balance. Even too much of the transdermal applications listed below can alter your skin’s pH balance(2).

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. If you found this information helpful, please share it with your friends and family. Your support in our endeavor of sharing free information would be much appreciated.

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Resources:

(1) http://naturalsociety.com/ 16-magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-signs-low-levels/#ixzz2YY1BPils
(2)http://otiswoodardmd.typepad.com/ my_weblog/2009/04/magnesium-the-master-mineral.html
(3)http://www.naturalnews.com/ 026768_magnesium_food_supplement.html#ixzz2YY2mJ1qW

By Michelle Toole of Healthy Holistic Living

How To Make Lavender Lemonade To Get Rid Headaches & Anxiety

So many people suffer from anxiety and headaches these days. I believe this to be a mixture of our lifestyles and many of the changes that are taking place in our world that are pushing people to question what we’ve been doing as a society repetitively for many years. You know what I mean… that feeling that there is something more than just going to work, making money, coming home, eating and repeating it all. It may sound cliche, but it’s evident.

Deep down we can feel it, that something isn’t quite “right” with our world anymore and there’s a certain sense of freedom from it all that is calling us from deep within ourselves. Not knowing what that feeling is exactly or what to do, we sometimes will feel anxiety or overwhelm as we look at our lives. How do we deal with these things? There are a number of actions we can take to address the core issue which you can explore here. But I also wanted to share something simple that can aid us while we are making the more long-term adjustments.

Lavender Lemonade

Pure lavender oil is an incredible essential oil to use for your own health and wellness. It’s among the gentlest of essential oils, but also one of the most powerful, making it a favorite of households for the healing properties and uses of lavender essential oil. Lavender oil has a chemically complex structure with over 150 active constituents, which explains its effectiveness at helping with a lot of health ailments. Lavender oil possesses amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifier, hypotensive, and sedative properties.

Florida researchers have found that lavender oil benefits include reducing anxiety and lowering pulse rates in nursing students taking stressful tests. And in hospital settings, lavender aromatherapy has been demonstrated to decrease pre-surgery distress and to be more relaxing than massage or merely resting.(1)

Lavender essential oil has medicinal properties as well. It has been shown to reduce depression, improve insomnia and ease labor pains. And anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil benefits those with headaches, hangovers, sinus congestion and pain relief.
“Much prior research on lavender has focused on the administration of lavender via an olfactory route. The anxiolytic activity of lavender olfaction has been demonstrated in several small and medium-sized clinical trials.46-53 The efficacy of aromatherapy of lavender is thought to be due to the psychological effects of the fragrance combined with physiological effects of volatile oils in the limbic system.54 These calming effects of lavender oil and single constituents may be the origin of the traditional use of lavender. Lavender oil olfaction has been shown to decrease anxiety, as measured by the Hamilton rating scale,51 and can increase mood scores.

The following are selected examples of clinical trials on lavender aromatherapy:

Dunn and colleagues demonstrated anxiolytic activity of lavender oil aromatherapy in patients in intensive care units. Subjects received at least 1 session of aromatherapy with 1% lavender essential oil. Significant anxiolytic effects were noted in the 1st treatment, though 2nd and 3rd treatments did not appear to be as effective.47
Alaoui-Ismaili and colleagues found that the aroma of lavender is considered by subjects to be very pleasant and is correlated with changes in the autonomic nervous system.56
Tysoe and colleagues conducted a study of lavender oil in burner use on staff mood and stress in a hospital setting. A significant number of respondents (85%) believed that lavender aroma improved the work environment following the use of the lavender oil burners.57
Diego and colleagues demonstrated that people receiving lavender oil (10%) olfaction for 3 minutes felt significantly more relaxed and had decreased anxiety scores, improved mood and increased scores of alpha power on EEG (an indicator of alertness), and increased speed of mathematical calculations.58
Lewith and colleagues investigated the effects of lavender aromatherapy on depressed mood and anxiety in female patients being treated with chronic hemodialysis.59 The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA, suggesting an effective, noninvasive means for the treatment of anxiety in hemodialysis patients.
Lavender aromatherapy, with or without massage, may also reduce the perception of pain and the need for conventional analgesics in adults and children, though more rigorously controlled trials are needed.60″ (2)

DIY Lavender Lemonade with Lavender Essential Oil

Ingredients

1 cup raw honey
12 cups pure water
1 drop lavender essential oil
6 lemons, peeled and juiced
Lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.

Other ways you can use Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Headaches

Mix 5 to 6 drops of Lavender essential oil to your bath water if you have dry skin.
Diffuse 10 to 12 drops of Lavender into the air during your workday for natural stress relief.
Add 2 drops of Lavender per ounce of your favorite lightly scented, unrefined organic oil (like almond oil or olive oil) for a body oil with all the benefits of lavender for improving your skin, relaxing your mind, warding off insects or helping you sleep.

1. Wittchen HU, Hoyer J. Generalized anxiety disorder: nature and course. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 11:15-19; discussion 20-21.
2. Ohayon MM, Shapiro CM, Kennedy SH. Differentiating DSM-IV anxiety and depressive disorders in the general population: comorbidity and treatment consequences. Can J Psychiatry 2000;45:166-172.
3. Lawrence AE, Brown TA. Differentiating generalized anxiety disorder from anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2009;197:879-886.
4. Bandelow B, Zohar J, Hollander E, et al. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders-first revision. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2008;9:248-312.
5. Longo LP, Johnson B. Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines—side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61:2121-2128.
6. Preskorn SH . Comparison of the tolerability of bupropion, fluoxetine, imipramine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. J Clin Psychiatry. 5;56 (Suppl 6):12-21.
7. Trindade E, Menon D, Topfer LA, Coloma C. Adverse effects associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: a meta-analysis. CMAJ. 1998;159:1245-1252.
8. Andrews G, Carter GL. What people say about their general practitioners’ treatment of anxiety and depression. Med J Aust. 2001;175 (Suppl):S48-S51.

H/T: Complete Health & Happiness

7 Natural Anti-Anxiety Herbs to Reduce Stress

#3 is beautiful

by Christina Sarich via Natural Society

In the documentary created by National Geographic and researchers from Stanford University, Stress, Portrait of a Killer, experts outline just how deadly stress can be. (Watch the documentary below.) The good news, though, is that there are numerous natural herbs and supplements that can reduce stress without causing as many (if any) side effects or other mental health conditions as many pharmaceutical psychotropic meds do.

Here are 7 natural anti-anxiety herbs for reducing anxiety and stress (and the documentary video).

1. Chamomile

This amazing herb, related to ragweed, can be brewed in a tea or taken as a supplement, and it has been used for centuries to ease the mind and calm frazzled nerves. It has a mildly-sedating quality, and is often used for those having difficulty sleeping due to stress. In an eight-week study of 57 patients with anxiety disorders, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School reported that pharmaceutical-grade chamomile extracts 220mg daily) led to modest improvements compared with placebos.

2. Ashwagandha

Used for thousands of years to soothe the agitated mind, Ashwaganhda comes from Ayurvedic wisdom. Also known as winter cherry, Ashwagandha’s roots contain flavonoids and many active ingredients of the withanolide class. It is an adaptogen, which means it helps us ‘adapt’ to our environments, and that includes the stressful ones.

3. Passionflower

Not only is this herbal remedy beautiful, it is also known for helping those with high levels of anxiety to sleep better, and is even known as an aphrodisiac in ancient Polynesian cultures. Its effects are mildly-sedative, but lesser so than Valerian.

4. Magnesium

Not only does a good magnesium supplement or the consumption of foods high in magnesium help to soothe sore, tight muscles, it also helps to lower blood pressure and reduce stress. What’s more, magnesium has been shown to reduce an abnormal heart beat and keep the cardiovascular system in top shape. It can also help with the treatment of diabetes type 2 as well as insomnia and depression.

5. High Quality Green and Black Teas

L-theanine found in good teas can increase the brain’s alpha waves and help people to feel calmer. It seems the old advice to sit and sip a cup of tea isn’t just a placebo for helping to reduce stress. One study found that L-theanine reduced negative responses to stress. And in other research, it increased feelings of relaxation among people with serious behavioral disorders. It could be, in fact, even better at reducing stress than Xanax.

6. Lavender

The amazing scent of this plant is known to put even agitated babies to sleep. If you can’t get a good laugh to reduce the edge from your day, try smelling lavender, or drinking lavender-infused tea. It should immediately calm your frazzled nerves.

7. Kava

Otherwise known as Kava Kava, this is another Polynesian wonder for those with a worried mind. The roots are brewed to create a drink that is excellent for calming anxiety. It is sedative in its quality, but does not interrupt cognition. Many use it to treat social anxiety instead of the more harmful, alcoholic drink.

Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga.

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