Home Remedies For Anxiety

Anxiety is the second most common psychological problem, yet remains undiagnosed 75% of the time. In our anxious age, doubts and fears can manifest as simple worries, free-floating anxiety, phobias (agoraphobia, social phobias, etc.), panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. The latter may affect as many as 7 million Americans. Home remedies for anxiety offer the best approach to complement the traditional treatment.

Anxiety is the unpleasant physical and emotional state experienced by a person that may be a combination of fear, apprehension, or worry. Anxiety can be short-term or long-term. In short-term anxiety, the person feels well after the cause of anxiety has subsided (as when one is worried about visiting a doctor with a health report). The long term anxiety, such as those present due to work stress or incompatible relations with important persons in one’s life may persist for longer and can lead to other medical conditions including tension, migraine headache, and high blood pressure. Mild anxieties can be treated with natural anxiety remedies which may include some lifestyle changes, home remedies, and herbs for anxiety. However, chronic anxiety (encompassing suicidal thoughts) must be referred to the expert opinions of doctors as soon as possible.

Physical aspects of anxiety include stomach upsets, colitis, migraines, palpitations, hypertension, and sweating. Anxiety after trauma, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), is also increasingly common. Underlying, contributing factors are low blood sugar, food allergy, nutrient deficiency (fatty acids, B complex, etc.), and imbalances of the thyroid, ovaries, or adrenals. Home remedies for anxiety can help you get this nutrient in.

Prevention:

Many of the herbs that help anxiety work on the same brain receptor sites as drugs like Valium, Xanax, and Halcion. Herbs, however, tend to be gentler, safer, and non-addictive. They have relaxant properties but also nourish and strengthen the nervous system. There are hundreds of home remedies for anxiety and nervous disorders.

One of the major causes of anxiety is stress which may occur when demands are greater than a person’s ability to cope with them. Improving coping skills or managing the demands and expectations in life can prevent anxiety. One can also bring some lifestyle changes to keep anxiety at bay. Prevention and some habits are the best natural remedies for anxiety. Here is a list of natural remedies for anxiety that can be tried by people who suffer from frequent anxiety attacks.

Exercise- Stay active to avoid anxiety attacks. Exercise burns off extra adrenaline so jog, walk, cycle, or use exercise equipment like a treadmill for at least half an hour four days a week

Meditation and Deep Breathing- Learn basic deep breathing techniques from some yoga expert or try it yourself by inhaling for longer than normal, holding your breath for a couple of seconds, and then exhaling it. Meditation can also be tried to soothe nerves.

Avoiding Junk Foods and Drinks- Refined Sugar and Carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, smoking, and other things should also be avoided to get rid of anxiety.

Warm Bath and Aromatherapy- A relaxing bath while listening to some soothing music can calm anxious nerves. Essential oils used for aromatherapy can also be used to relax oneself and avoid anxiety.

Being Positive and Relaxed- Be positive, talk to people with a positive attitude, listen to music, spend some time doing your favorite work, pursue hobbies, learn to say no in uncomfortable situations, develop the attitude that things will work out, ask for help when the workload is too much, read your favorite novel or book, talk to friends and family about the issues that concern you. All this will prevent anxiety attacks.

Home Remedies For Anxiety

1. California Poppy—Eschscholtzia californica

• A tension-relieving, sedative, anti-anxiety, and antispasmodic herb.
• Helps sleeplessness, and quells headaches and muscular spasms from stress.
• Gentle, non-addictive action that is safe for children and the elderly.

2. Chamomile—Matricaria recutita

• Tranquilizing effects, with action similar to drugs, i.e. Halcion, Valium.
• Reduces effects of stress-induced chemicals in the brain, while promoting healthy adrenal hormones (e.g. cortisol). Relieves pain and spasms.
• It Aids digestion, cramping, and back pain. Promotes restful sleep.

3. Ashwagandha- is an important Indian herb that has a mild calming, anticonvulsant, and antispasmodic effect. Ashwagandha can significantly relieve most of the symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and phobia.
4. Passion Flower- is a non-drowsy natural sedative that provides relief from nervousness and anxiety attacks.
5. St. John’s Wort- is a herb for anxiety that acts as a natural antidepressant.
6. Ginkgo Biloba- this herb improves blood circulation in the brain and elevates mood.
7. Hops—Humulus lupulus

• Calms nerves, and eases anxiety, restlessness, and tension. For headaches from stress, insomnia/sleep loss, indigestion, or effects of alcohol.
• Its sedative properties are not appropriate for use during the depression.

8. Kava Kava—Piper methysticum

• Reduces anxiety, fear, and tension; alleviates stress from many emotional, interpersonal, and career factors. Improves performance; no grogginess.
• Relaxes muscles relieve pain, and insomnia, and promotes restful sleep.
• Compares favorably to tranquilizers and benzodiazepines for anxiety.

9. Lemon Balrn—Melissa officinalis

• Relaxing and tonic herb reduces anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness.
• Helps with panic disorder, palpitations, racing heart, and overactive thyroid.
• For digestive upset from stress or anxiety; nausea, indigestion, or colic.
• Anti-depressant. Good in synergistic combination with other herbs.

10. Linden—Tilia Europaea

• Reduces tension, promotes relaxation; mild mood-elevating qualities.
• Protects against illness due to stress, anxiety, and overactive adrenal glands, including high blood pressure, palpitations, and gastric ulcers.

11. Mothervvort—Leonarus cardiaca

• A relaxing, tonic herb and mild sedative that gently relieves tension, and anxiety when feeling under pressure. A heart, uterine, and thyroid tonic.
• Relieves symptoms like a racing heart, and shallow breathing.

12. Passionflower—Passiflora incarnata

• The sedative herb relieves anxiety, tension, spasms, pains, and neuralgia.
• Promotes restful, refreshed sleep; induces relaxation, and mild euphoria.
• Gentle action, suitable for nervousness in children and the elderly.

13. Skullcap—Scutellaria lateriflora

• Relaxes, yet tones and renews the nervous system. Calms oversensitivity.
• Helps hysteria, depression, and exhaustion, and eases stress during PMS.
• Pain reliever and antispasmodic, decrease restlessness, and nervousness.

14. St. John’s Wort—Hypericum perfoliatum

• Effective long-term action for anxiety and tension, as well as irritability and depression. Also for mood changes during menopause and for pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuralgia.

15. Valerian—Valeriana officinalis

• Sedative and muscle relaxant; for anxiety, stress, muscle tension and pain, nervous cramps, restlessness, insomnia, overwork or overstudy.
• For easing off drug dependency (both medical and recreational drugs).
• For after effects of chronic flu. Improves poor concentration.

16. Vervain—Verbena officinalis

• Relaxing nervine; reduces tension, and strengthens the nervous system.
• Reduces anxiety due to stress, PMS or menopause calms hysteria.
• Useful for lingering depression after a cold or flu. Tones the liver.

17. Wild Lettuce–Lactuca virosa

• Gentle tranquilizer, calming an overactive, excitable nervous system.
• Very suitable for anxious children or adolescents. Helps with insomnia.
• General pain reliever and antispasmodic, especially for irritable coughs.

18. Wood Betony—Stachys officinalis

• Sedative action relieves tension, anxiety, and nervous exhaustion.
• Calms an overactive, edgy state. Relieves headaches and neuralgia pain.
• Strengthens neurological function and improves memory, and clarity.

19. Soak 10-12 raw almonds in water for at least 8 hours and peel off their skins. Blend the almonds with a cup of warm milk, little ginger, and nutmeg. Drink this preparation before going to bed.
20. Add equal amounts of baking soda and ginger powder in water for a warm bath.
21. Massage the whole body with warm sesame oil including the scalp and the bottoms of your feet. Other oils like sunflower, coconut, or corn oil can also be used for a massage before a bath. Have celery and onions- raw or cooked- with meals for a couple of weeks. They both have good quantities of potassium and folic acid whose deficiencies also cause anxiety.
22. Peel and inhale an orange whose aroma is considered to reduce anxiety. Orange juice with a teaspoon of honey and a pinch of nutmeg can also be had to relax the nerves.

Author: Dr Izharul Hasan

READ MORE:

• Home Remedies For Anemia
• Home Remedies For Alzheimer’s Disease