Natural Anger Management: Holistic Tips & Remedies

This is such a true posting, that the Bible that hardly any human reads is so important. The Creator wrote it for our own behalf, it is life's handbook on the human condition. I encourage all to read it, as I did things against it, but now live for him and follow his ways and I tell you, it is the best cure for the human condition, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

People must realize that anger/wrath has a negative impact in the spirit, soul and body which when it something is said or thought in anger/wrath the body tries to rid itself of that negative impact by localizing it a certain area of the body. In the Old Testament book of Proverbs many places tell of the outcome of being an angry/wrathful person. Prov 1:5,3:10-12,4:24,14:17,29 15: 32,19:11,19,22:24,25,26:21, and 27:4

The New Testament also confirms that it is not good to harbor anger. Eph 4:31,32, James 1:19-27 and other passages. There is however a place for righteous anger, but to be careful not to sin, by going out of bounds, and instead keeping a calmness in spite of being angry.

Avoiding hidden sources of MSG. Eliminating whole wheat products would help. Adding ginger to what you eat will help. My nutrition book reports there is an antidepressant ingredient in ginger. Since I've increased ginger in my diet, it has made a world of difference. I think it's difficult to zero in one one thing. It has been over a twenty-year piecemeal endeavor for me so I understand why many don't agree.

I've mentioned BSM several times but Mama to Many is correct and I am adamant about taking that too.

Dear Sara, Vitamin Deficiency could cause that "easily irritable" feeling. 1 Tablespoon of Blackstrap molasses a day would be something to try, as well as B-complex. Please keep us posted as to how you are coming along with this. ~Mama to Many~

Wow you got some awesome responses! Go Earth Clinic! :D

Just wanted to add - I dealt with an intense anger, everything made me mad, everyone made me mad, I could not handle the circumstance of life.

I recommend looking up Stuart Wilde and purchasing a copy of his book Infinite Self. It really truly helped me and my boyfriend so much. Completely changed our perspective (which is the actual problem :)! ) on life. You can get it on amazon for a penny + Shipping :)

Also, not sure if you are an alcohol drinker but when I stopped drinking 4 1/2 years ago things got 1000% better in regards to anger and irritability!

Just think - it can only get BETTER from here!!

Baylamer: I am a cranky old goat who needs to sweeten up. This is why I am always eating a whole lot of my favorite delicase, sugar. You and I we are not bad people. We have a nutritional deficiency, like Scrooge in the Christmas Carol. I learned everything from my favorite coach, the banana girl. I watched her videos. There are four beneficial substances we need, enzymes, bioactive minerals, sugar, and kangan water that radiates far infrared waves. All these are in raw organic fruit. Raw fruit has enzymes. Organic fruit has 3 times as many minerals as conventionally grown fruit. Bananas and dates have the most sugar. After I eat a bunch of raw organic fruit I admire everybody's proficiency, appreciate everybody's effort and respect everybody's decisions. That is why I am a very popular social butterfly with a lot of interesting people in my life.

Try upping your B vitamins, especially B3 (niacin) and magnesium as well. I also found it useful to stop and try to figure out why I was becoming angry--was I hungry, tired, trying to do too much in too little time, etc.

Hi Baylamer, you should stop eating 100% whole wheat bread, if that's what you eat, and add powdered ginger to whatever foods you eat for starters.

Hello Baylamer from Skokie:

In re: Irritability

What a great question and also a great confession.

You've taken the first BIG step in getting control of the problem and that is self recognition. That honesty opens the way for a solution.

1. Is the problem of irritability lifelong or has it worsened in the last few years? If it has worsened in the last five years, then it is at least partially caused by fatigue. Your adrenal system is depleted and as such the whole endocrine system is impacted. With hormones out of balance you literally cannot control you reactions. A police officer can easily become endocrine impacted in 15 years. If a male, he should get testosterone supplements AND adrenal glandular pills. A mother who is going to school at night and at the same time is seeing marriage problems, needs an endocrine panel test. She will definitely need adrenal glandular, and maybe thyroid supplements etc.

2. Next in importance of depletion: Magnesium. I am an advocate of Epsom salts baths and oral supplementation of magnesium. Heat up two cups of ESalts in hot water on stove. Then run a very warm bath and pour dissolved salts into bath water. Soak for twenty minutes. Repeat every other day for at least a total of three. In the "old days" our great grand mothers would comment upon encountering an irritated person, "He needs his salts. " That mean the irritated person needed his Epsom salts/ magnesium baths. The transformation can be remarkable. In just a week, you can go from a mad man to a happy and mellow person. The herb valerian is also a help, not only in sleeping but drink it during the day to just "chill."

3. Consider your "situation" in life. If you are living under extreme strain then consider your "life situation. " Example: In my office a few weeks ago I had a couple I was counseling with. In their late twenties their lives had been filled with drama. Both had come from previous marriages and one had maxed out the family credit cards... Not on necessities. I instructed them as follows: "Place a sign on your refrigerator that says, 'I will not blame you and I will not blame myself. ' " Next I offered them a one hundred dollar prize if they would do the following for only five days: After supper they would turn off ALL electronics in the house that created "noise. " For one hour they would sit in their living room and read or just talk. But the talking had to be positive with no negative about anything. They didn't have to talk. They were to try to just enjoy each other's company... even if no words were exchanged.

I have found an amazing relationship between ambient anger... and electronic noise. There must be times of peace... quietness when the spirit can rest. Children can be trained to love such times... when the parents aren't screaming at the kids to be quiet and someone turns the TV even louder to over come the screaming.

The couple I counseled with could not even complete the second night of "one hour of peace."

4. Irritability is almost always associated with lack of exercise. Not exercising at the blare of rock music at the gym. I mean a thirty minute walk in the evening. I find when I walk alone at night I pray for almost the whole time. I come back into the house refreshed and happy.

5. Memorize and repeat: "Be anxious for nothing (don't be anxious about anything), but by prayer and supplication make your requests known unto God. " And speaking of God, if you are a Christian, really if I am exploding in "fits" then I ask myself, "Now would the Lord approve of screaming at that driver like I just did? I then breathe deeply and let my mind relax and chest muscles and shoulders relax, and ask Him to forgive me and fill me anew with His Spirit. " There's nothing like BEING forgiven that lets me forgive myself. And irritation can be based on... Anger at myself even more than anger at others or circumstances. The Christian cannot be controlled by circumstances but actually "give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. " My irritation/anger level vanishes when I "reckon" that truth as a reality in me. After all, if I am His, and I am, then the responsibility is on Him to take care of me and deal with the problems thrown at me and all I have to do is do all I can, and let him make my work.... Work. Blessed rest. It is paradoxically the "work" of faith.

Irritation/anger/prejudice/frustration/pride...it all vanishes. "I must decrease, He must increase.

I admire you for recognizing the problem and making an effort to address it. Many irritable people just don't care if they bludgeon other people.

There is something called tapping. It involves tapping certain accupuncture points. I'd study that and other body energy manipulating techniques. You may find something very simple that you can do to release your irritability. I'd also consider visiting a real shaman or psychic involved in energy systems who may be able to find a source for it.

I commend you for wanting to get ahold of your anger issues. I can relate. Years ago as a young thirty something year old, nasty comments would pour forth from my mouth during my commute into and out of San Francisco during rush hour. I would suprise myself with how much rage I had directed at strangers.

After my girlfriend at the time pointed out that I had a problem, I decided to do something about it. I started to work the anger out of my system every day at the gym. I got a personal trainer who was an ex boxer and trained me on the punching bag. After a few months of regular rigorous training, my anger dissipated. Yes, it took a few months. Some people might tell you to try supplements and pscyhologists, but in my opinion you need to exercise until you feel peaceful. And if and when the toxic emotions well up again, you go back to gym or go for an arduous hike. Move it through, don't let it out, is what I tell my kids now when they get angry. Good luck.

Hi Gean,

Twinlab B-50 in capsule form is the one I've been using that works fine for me. It's not time-released. I usually only take one daily as I've upped my intake of B-containing foods (I also take extra B12, the methylcobalamin form, in a sublingual tablet). You can take more than one -- you might try one with each meal, for instance. I've actually just run out and might try another brand as I like to experiment a bit. If there's anything significant to report on that front, I'll update here.

Robert - interesting info on the burdock root, thank you. When you make up the quart you mentioned, how much do you take, and how do you store the rest?

Regarding anger management, the diet suggestions are correct & helpful especially the B-complex which helps the liver. In Chinese medicine, anger comes from a hot,(inflammed), liver. I have personally used burdock root for this & it does work for me.The only side effects I know of are lowering the blood sugar levels & that depends on the amount used. I use the dried, cut root avail at most herb stores or the fresh root, called 'Gobo'by the Japanese is avail at asian markets.For the dried, I use 2-tbsps,prox, per quart of water & lightly boil covered for about 10-15 mins.There are plenty of other 'liver' herbs like dandelion, etc. but burdock works well for me & its also a great spring tonic.

This will be my broken record until I die *lol* but here goes: everything starts with the diet! (And supplements if necessary - whatever it takes to get the proper nutrients in). Being ill for some time, my anger control was poor, and anger was actually present much more than before simply because I felt so awful all the time and my body wasn't able to take even the smallest stressor anymore. I really hated myself because it seemed like I couldn't get the control over it that I wanted to. Even when I didn't express it, it would tear me up inside. And you're right, that isn't healthy; it's downright physically and emotionally harmful. Once I cleaned up my diet and started to correct deficiencies, I started being able to level out much better. I think what has helped the most is taking a B-complex every day. I not only have greatly improved anger control, but I am not just "holding it in", either. I honestly don't feel it so much anymore. I'm not nearly as easily irritated as I used to be, and wow, what a relief that is! I can let a lot of things ride, and with this awareness and a deliberate aim towards practicing mindfulness, it's just getting better all the time.

A note - I found that when I took a liquid B-complex, I actually would get irritable. Taking a capsule (and it was actually the same brand!) worked great, however. If you don't see success with one brand or form, try another. But try to be consistent. If I stop the B-complex, it isn't long before my nerves start going downhill again.

Apart from supplements, leafy green veggies, eggs, and brewer's yeast, among other things, provide lots of B vitamins. And of course, dumping processed 'food' and artificial colors and sweeteners, avoiding MSG, etc. can only help.