Anxiety
When faced with a potentially dangerous situation-a large barking dog,
for example-anxiety is a healthy response. Your brain, sensing the
danger, signals for the release of hormones to prepare your body to defend
itself. Muscles tense, heartbeat and breathing rate increase, and the
blood
even becomes more likely to clot (in the event of injury). In some
individuals, this response is set in motion even when there is no obvious threat.
Such a reaction can be bad for your health, causing exhaustion, poor
concentration, a sense of detachment from yourself or your surroundings,
headaches, stomach problems, and an increase in blood pressure.
Anxiety disorders come in two basic forms. Generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition that involves a recurring sense of
foreboding and worry accompanied by mild physical symptoms. A
panic
attack, on the other hand, comes on suddenly and unexpectedly, with
symptoms so violent that the episodes are often mistaken for a
heart
attack or another life-threatening condition.
Some scientists think that the central nervous systems of people with
anxiety disorders may overreact to stress and take a longer time than
most to return to a calmer state. Anxiety may begin with
an upsetting event-an accident, divorce, or death-
or it may have no identifiable root.
There may also be a biochemical basis for
anxiety. Studies have shown that people who are prone
to panic attacks have higher blood levels of lactic
acid, a chemical produced when muscles metabolize
sugar without enough oxygen. Other research suggests that anxiety may
be the result of an overproduction of stress hormones by the brain and
adrenal glands.
Supplements and herbs
In many cases, herbal and nutritional remedies for anxiety can be used in
place of prescription medications, which may be addictive and have other
unpleasant side effects. Several studies have shown that the herb
kava is very useful
for anxiety-perhaps as effective as prescription medications; it reduces
symptoms such as nervousness, dizziness, and heart
palpitations. In addition,
people with anxiety should add calcium,
magnesium, and a
vitamin B
complex supplement, plus extra thiamin. These nutrients are important for
the healthy functioning of the nervous system, especially for the
production of the key chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Valerian, known as a sleep aid, can be used at low doses throughout
the day for a calming effect. Try this herb if kava doesn't work for you.
Even if you're taking kava during the day, you can have a nighttime dose
(250 to 500 mg) of valerian if you have trouble falling asleep.
St. John's wort can be added to kava or valerian if you are depressed as well as
anxious. At least a month is needed before the full effect of St. John's
wort will be felt; the other supplements begin working immediately.
Aromatherapy
Commonly used essential oils for anxiety:
Homeopathy
Use a remedy in the 30c as needed or once daily, for chronic cases.
- Aconitum
Anguish, fear of death, predicts the time. Sudden intense
panic attacks.
Causes: shock, accidents, injury, earthquake, seeing death or evil,
fevers.
Fear in crowds, narrow spaces, outdoors, of loss of control. Restless.
Hyperventilates; tingling or numb, burning
pains. Palpitations,
faintness.
Worse: at twilight, midnight, cold winds, music. Better: open air, rest.
- Argentum nit
Fears: being late, closed spaces, heights, having a fit or dying, robbers.
Nervous, always hurried. Impulsive, obsessive. Fear of failure; doesn't try.
Anticipation and dread of ordeals, events, tests. Desires company, talking.
Stuttering. Bloating, belching.
Diarrhea from nerves. Trembling, weakness.
Worse: sweets, warmth, indoors. Better: motion, open air, belching.
- Arsenicum album
Anguish and fear of death, health, robbers, about family, closed spaces.
Nervous, very restless. Dependent, yet mistrusting; selfish and miserly.
Paranoid; feels lonely and threatened. Obsessed with order, cleanliness.
Sudden weakness. Problems recur regularly. Chilly, but burning pains.
Worse: when alone, after midnight, exertion. Better: warmth, being busy.
- Calc carb
Fear: of losing control, poverty, future, something will happen,
infection, heart disease,
cancer, insanity. Feels as if being watched, criticized.
Full of worries. Doubtful of recovery, affected by sad scenes. Stubborn.
Tired and confused. Worse: cold, damp, exertion, dark, before menses.
- Gelsemium
Anticipation anxiety and fear: of losing control, public appearances,
open spaces, exams, any new situation. Loss of will. Desires quietude.
Feels paralyzed; dull, weak, trembling, uncoordinated. Heavy limbs,
dizzy.
Worse: bad news, muggy weather, tobacco, thinking of one's problems.
- Phosphorus
Sensitive, impressionable, suggestible, sympathetic. Likes interacting.
Fear: darkness, death, being alone, illness, robbers, ghosts or monsters.
Anxiety about health, that something will happen. Hypoglycemia, thirst.
Worse: alone, cold, twilight, sleep, storms. Better: consolation, warmth.
- Stramonium
Effects of deep shock, seeing death, after disasters, etc. even long ago.
Fears: dark, evil, water, dogs, mirrors, closed places, people, new things.
Outbursts of violent anger or action. Night terrors. Twitches, spasms.
What else you can do
- Cut out caffeine,
alcohol, and excess sugar, which may trigger anxiety.
- Do aerobic exercises regularly. They burn lactic acid, produce natural
feel-good chemicals (endorphins), and enhance your use of oxygen.
- See a therapist to develop more positive ways of coping.
Usual dosage
-
- Kava
- 250 mg 2 or 3 times a day as needed.
Look for standardized extracts in pill or tincture form
that contain at least 30% kavalactones.
- Calcium / Magnesium
- 600 mg of each a day.
Take with food; sometimes sold in a single supplement.
- Vitamin B complex
- 1 pill, plus extra 100 mg thiamin, each morning with food.
Look for a B-50 complex with 50 mcg vitamin B12 and
biotin; 400 mcg
folic
acid; and 50 mg all other B vitamins.
- Valerian
- 250 mg twice a day.
Should be standardized to contain 0.8% valerenic acid.
May cause drowsiness; take at bedtime for insomnia.
- St. John's wort
- 300 mg 3 times a day.
Should be standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin.
More useful herbs
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