Effective Natural Remedies for Anxiety

I've been having such bad anxiety, that the muscles in the front of my neck are in pain for days at a time from the tension. I noticed that taking a few drops of Lugol's iodine in water gives complete and instant relief from the tension and pain. It's weird how fast it happens--I mean AS I am drinking the water!! I think perhaps, since tyrosine and iodine work together to make thyroid hormones, that the deficiency of iodine causes excess tyrosine, which is known to cause elevated heart rate and anxiety. Also, I have been taking SAMe daily for six years, for depression, and I took my usual 3 day break from it, and felt complete relief from the anxiety, which came back when I took another SAMe pill yesterday. So, I guess it's time to exchange the daily SAMe with N-acetyl cysteine for the purposes of replacing methylation lost from mercury toxicity.

I have never suffered any depression, panic or anxiety my entire life. I had the normal ups and downs everyone typically has, but nothing ever so severe where it felt life threatening and debilitating. I had a pretty severe panic attack which lead to obsessive worrying and anxiety for the last 5 months. It was directly connected to a liver detox a chiropractor / AK recommended. Whatever the liver detox did to me, unleashed and ravaged my life for the last 5 months. Ongoing anxiety attacks and obsessive worrying. I went to a dr and all they wanted to do is prescrive meds and kept assuring me its normal and most of the population takes them. Umm... No thanks.. I was not like this before this event so something must have happened.

To make a long story short. As for treatments...
- I tried valerium, holy basil, lemon balm, anxiety supplements, vitamin b complex, and all of the sorts.
- I tried hypnosis, chiropractic and other forms of therapy which did not work.

To narrow down what did work.
- The chiropractic helped releive minor anxiety for less than a day.
- Acupuncture was the holy grail to a true feeling of calmness and relieve. Other times after intense work outs I felt like I did not have anxiety, I didn't.. But subconciously I was worried and obsessivly thinking about dying and all sorts of horrible feelings. The difference was after my 3rd visit, I felt a true "release" of all the worries. What did the accupuncture do? I don't know exactly but from my research of the points they put on my body, I am guessing even though my thyroid levels were normal, I could have been out of balance. My other feeling on this, I have noticed a drastic increase in many pepole I know having these exact same issues, not a coincdene considering the radiation fallout from japan has already circled several times. Radiation is bad for the thyroid, thyroid issues will cause panic, anxiety and depression.

So the game plan:
- Read positive books such as Think and Grow Rich, Tony Robbins products.
- Get Acupuncture and Chiropractic treatments
- Take hot epsom salt baths with essential oils for scents to stimulate your brain
- High Intenseity exercise and daily walks
- Socialize even if you are not in the mood, be around positive people that will push you outside of your comfort zone.
- Take at least 2000-3000mg of fish oil/day ACV every third day
- Get your thyroid checked!
- Cry it out if you have to, there are stored emotions you should not hold back. At some point you wont be able to cry anymore, crying is a way for the body to release. Why do you think people cry?

I second rhodiola as a remedy to try. It sounds like you are physically burned out, and the way you described your symptoms is exactly what I went through because of a really demanding job and relationship a few years ago. Rhodiola helped me immensely in terms of getting my life and energy back. If you take it in small doses (100-200mg), it helps stimulate your energy and removes anxiety. In larger doses, it makes you feel drowsy and super relaxed. It has been a God-send for me. I take about 125mg twice a day.

When I first saw "calm down" above I scoffed -- because that's the hardest thing to do when you're really anxious!! After reading the post, though, I must admit it helps. I am prone to impatience and skyrocketing anxiety if I don't work on keeping it under control. I have trained myself to never respond immediately to really frustrating or anxiety-provoking situations or people. I walk away, take a break, let voicemail screen calls and put replies in email only after I have calmed down. This helps me immensely so that my responses are driven by rational thinking, rather than frantic, anxious thinking, and it goes a long way in preserving my good relationships with others :)

ALSO try getting a magnesium supplement... Stress depletes your bodys magnesium apparently, I felt much better after getting some magnesium citrate in powder form and having some whenever I felt stressed (whole foods has a good one blue bottle I think)

I had a similiar reaction after drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for the first time I just felt like clean and balanced which in turn made me happier. Things that I've done that have helped in the long term are chaste tree berry (if your depression is hormonal youll see a huge difference) and holy basil tea (tulsi tea). I also take 5htp from time to time. Eating healthy and going on a juice fast will really show a HUGE difference too. At the end of the day though you have to take care of your spiritual health in whatever way feels natural to you, that is when you will start to feel real comfort! Good luck :)

I think we sometimes confuse depression and sadness. If we are in an awful place and very miserable about it we call it depression when it is sadness. I do not believe that any medication can help with that, it has to be you changing the way your life is so that you become happy and are no longer sad. I have heard that Apple Cider Vinegar helps with lots of things but never depression but if it does wonderful. I cannot see how it helps for a bit and then stops nor how such a small amount can cure depression. But there again they now say daffodils can, so maybe. Maybe you were feeling so miserable you wanted it to work so felt it did?

Chelsea, read up on Rhodiola here on EC.

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I began experiencing anxiety and depression four months ago as a result, of extreme stress from grad school/ life circumstances. It quickly became severe. I stopped eating, was nauseous every day and could barely get out of bed. I am on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, which arent doing much. I am also going to therapy.

I read about ACV on this site and decided to try it a few days ago, using the standard recipe of 2 tsp in water 3 x a day. For 3 days, it has been amazing! My motivation, appetite, energy, ability to function, all came back within a day and by the second day my constant stress headache had vanished.

I took the same amount today and nothing happened. My headache is back, my motivation/energy are low. Is it possible for your body to become used to the ACV that quickly? Should I stop taking it for a few days? I am afraid of what will happen if I do. But I am also concerned because I have osteopenia, and have read that ACV taken regularly can exacerbate this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Susan, although I have never had the diagnosis of mycoplasma lung infection, I have many of the symptoms. Last night I nebulized Colloidal Silver w/ 2 distinct surges of herx and felt much better today than I have in several days or weeks. Mycoplasma infections are as hard to diagnose as they are to treat, but this is a possible culprit in your condition. I haven't the panic attacks but I do have very high stress levels and come near panic sometimes, so the stress factor is definitely involved here it's just the cause you need to know. Also, as a side note, the herb Hawthorn- 2 caps seem to provide immediate relief for the lungs and energy but I don't experience the herx. My 2 cents.

I posted this at Cure Zone a couple of days ago and thought I'd post here, too. I had panic attacks for decades (I'm 58) and didn't know what my problem was. I had my most severe ones standing in lines (bank, grocery store, etc. ) and would feel like I was going to faint, and my heart would race to the point I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I came to the conclusion that they were psychosomatic. I was watching the Sally Jesse Raphael show (years ago) and the subject of the show was panic attacks. I'm relieved (or sorry?) that I wasn't the only one. I never went to the doctor for it. Why? So he could send me to a shrink who would put me on pills? No thanks. So, I've stumbled around with this condition for decades. I started inhaling 3% food grade H2O2, for what I don't remember. I came home from the grocery store one day and realized that I hadn't had a panic attack. I wondered if it was because of the H2O2 and started inhaling this every time I went anywhere. I haven't had a panic attack in 2-3 months.

I must conclude that MY panic attacks were physical. Why 'were' and not 'are'? I don't need the H2O2 anymore. I came home from the store one day and realized that I hadn't had any H2O2 and hadn't had a panic attack. I then realized that I hadn't had any H2O2 in a couple of weeks.

Does anyone have any two cents worth on what might have been my problem? Did the extra oxygen molecule (if that was what fixed my problem) create a bridge (or something else) in my brain (or somewhere else), so now I am "fixed"? I'd really like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience. Thanks!

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing. It can be done by looking left and right, hearing sounds in alternate ears left and right, crossing your arms and tapping your hands on opposite arms, or patting someone's legs left and right to help them. The idea is to stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain alternately while dealing with the trauma. I'm thinking it helps the emotional side of the brain and the logical side of the brain talk. You can read up on it on the net easily enough, but it's best that a therapist help adminster it for best results.

I heard that people in the 9/11 attack used EMDR with good results. I used it for getting past a rape and another invasive trauma. EMDR is the therapy that finally helped.

I agree that dehydration may trigger anxiety. It definitely was a factor in my first panic attack, also, supposedly many people experience attacks after they had been drinking alcohol.

Drinking herbal/green tea, plenty of water, eliminating alcohol and coffee from my diet has helped me a lot when dealing with anxiety, and so did changing my eating habits. I found that I had been missing on some essential vitamins, so adding those to my diet was a part of the healing process. A lot of people nowadays have low magnesium and/or 'B' vitamins intake (I used to get cravings for peanut butter, apples and celery, now I know why), which may also add to your anxiety.

There is a much much much easier way to do this "couch exercise! " Just use a small blanket or towel and bunch it up into a tight ball. It should be about the size of a medium watermelon when it is all bunched up. Put the bunched up towel/blanket on the floor and lay tummy down with your stomach on top of it. It will be uncomfortable at first but shouldn't hurt. Then, wiggle your hips from side to side slowly for 2-5 minutes. You can experiment with having the towel/blanket higher on your stomach or lower. The way it was explained to me this process releases serotonin from your gut while also giving your insides a massage. Some find it helps with digestive issues or even menstrual difficulties in addition to mood/depression/anxiety issues.

To Ganpat from Jaipur : Hello :) I would recommend vitamin b complex for your nerves and also look on the internet for E.F.T (emotional freedom technique) videos or instructions. It works very well and can help you.

Best wishes, Fiona

Hi Ganpat; It's possible that a zinc deficiency is involved with these symptoms. Anxiety and depression along with BPH are included in the long list.

The amounts people take average between 15-30 mgs. daily of zinc. If higher doses are to be taken, a practioner should be consulted, because too high a dosage can irritate the prostate. As with any supplement, we need to find the most suitable amount.

Potassium is also very helpful for anxiety. Apparently, there is alot of zinc and potassium in prostate fluid.

I have Anxiety, fear and social depression. Can I have Omega-3 to treat myself? I am 59, male, enlarged Prostate also. No other problem. Please advise.

After suffering for years with palpitations, anxiety and panic attacts I read on a (afrikaans) forum that it might be a shortage of potassium. I`ve bought a supplement of potassium... And started eating foods like banana etc rich in potassium. I also supplement with magnesium and calsium. I feel so much better.

May this also help you!

WARNING!

Please be careful with TUMS. That can block phosphorus and have ill effects on your bones. Happened to me. Thought it would actually help bones because they talk about having calcium. I had fractures in my shins, femurs and feet. After many scans and blood work, stopped TUMS and went back to normal.

I suffered with crippling anxiety for about 9 years (at first it was just feeling sick when I was out in a place I knew I couldn't just leave... Then it turned to agoraphobia). I was put on every anti anxiety med at one point or another throughout those years. I tried yoga, therapy, herbal remedies and a few self help programs. Finally, I went to see a naturopathic doctor for the first time. She realized that, while I didn't feel sick to my stomach all the time, my anxiety was caused by imbalances of the gut. Enter a broad spectrum enzyme at meals and probiotics (I started with 50 BILLION dose and now I take a maintenance dose of 16 Billion). That really helped my particular anxiety.

However, while I was waiting for my gut to heal and these two treasures to do their thing, she also had me taking 200 mg of L-theanine, a component found in green tea in smaller doses. This is the most reassuring little supplement! It takes about 15 minutes to kick in and you just feel more in control. It worked better than any anxiety med I was taking and it has no side effects. I highly recommend it - it's worked for the rest of my family and a few friends. Look it up on the web - there's lots of good third party sites about the effects.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I tried taking a cold shower for the first time this morning for my severe anxiety. I felt wonderful and giddy during the shower. I did notice my scalp and back tingled and itched and burned a bit. (I have very dry scalp and my back itches alot) - When I got out of the shower my back was bright red and I had welts on my wrists, hands chest and back? I do not usually ever get welts? My skin gets red after hot showers, but never this red? I've looked everywhere and usually cold water helps eliminate hives/welts? Is it safe for me to continue doing this?

Hi EarthClinic-ers! I've been experimenting with Holy Basil (a remedy I found on this site) both for myself and my husband. I have to say the results are great! I originally started my husband on the Holy Basil because he would get stressed out at work and get into weeks-long "funks" where he would be depressed/grouchy. It definitely helped to shorten the duration of his "funk" and lessen the severity. I think now it's even helping prevent them. I'm trying to finish my Ph. D. so there is a lot of stress in my life too. I started taking the Holy Basil on an as-needed basis (my husband takes it every day). Definite improvement. I feel like it takes the edge off my mood to where I can more easily cope with whatever problems I'm having.

Another interesting effect -- I had a big presentation to give early this morning in front of my Ph. D. Examination committee. I took 2 Holy Basil pills last night in preparation. I usually get stage fright when I have to talk in front of other people (especially when they determine when I can graduate! ). This morning, I had NO STAGE FRIGHT! I will definitely remember this when I have to give my dissertation defense later this year. Thank you Earth Clinic and thank you Holy Basil! I love this stuff!

Hope this can help someone else out there.

Sophie

Please note that L-Carnitine and Acetyl L-Carnitine are different! L-Carnitine can help you lose weight and improve heart function, but for anxiety and depression, ALC is the one you want. ALC may benefit those with glucose issues and has been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. There are studies that an increase in oxidative stress while taking ALC is possible. If so, 100-600mg of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) will not only combat this side effect, it will increase the anti-aging effects!

What dose did you take and how long did you have to take it before you noticed it helped for your anxiety, fatigue and depression?

I've found myself getting wound up with my husband and wanting to scream with frustration which is bad for my blood pressure, bad for the food I'm making and bad for my small son to witness. I've found that when I'm about to explode, shutting myself in the study and perusing ailments puts my issue with his selective deafness into perspective and gives him time to make his coffee thereby grinding his idling brain into a faster gear. ; )

What has helped me in the past for "nerves" is an old-fashioned help aid for woman known as Lydia Pinkham Tablets!

It didn't help me until 2 weeks of taking it so don't give up and continue to take the tablets everyday as directed. It got to the point of even if I tried to be nervous I couldn't get nervous for nothing!

Order them at your drug store or buy them on-line. (I am not affiliated with this product). I've only used the product. Brought to my attention by a friend of the family.

How long did you take L-Carnitine before noticing results? I purchased gelatin capsules 500 mg and don't know how I am going to divide them or take smaller doses. I would rather start smaller and raise it, if needed. Your post really inspired me, so I hope to hear more about this. Anyone out there know if this amino acid helps with anxiety or depression?

I was having terrible IBS symptoms along with extreme anxiety. I started taking 5-htp on the advice of my naturopathic doctor. Within 1-2 weeks, my IBS reduced substantially and my anxiety lessened dramatically. I felt great everyday with a more stable, consistent mood than I have ever felt in my life.

According to my doctor, a large proportion of serotonin either resides or is made in your gut (I forget which) so it makes sense that it helped my IBS. When I started, I was taking 200 mg each morning. It didn't help me sleep though, in fact it kept me wide awake. After taking for about a year or so, I started feeling very ill every morning. It took me a long time to figure out it was the 5-htp. However, my general health has improved much over the past year and I have now cut the dose back to 50 mg per day and can handle it fine. My doctor told me my system probably did not need as much now and this is perhaps why larger doses were making me so ill.

There is no right or wrong way to meditate. So take what other people give you and find your own way. I have carved out a small corner in one of the rooms in my house as my meditation corner. I keep my stuff there and usually meditate in the same place every day - although I will meditate in other rooms or outside if I feel called to do so. I don't really need much - I have a pillow to sit on, a candle that I light, my journal and occassionally I use lavendar oil. I also usually set a timer so I know how long I've meditated for. I light my candle, open my journal to a fresh page, and sit in a cross legged position, upright, with a straight and long spine. I do maybe 5-10 deep belly breaths... First focusing on my 3rd eye (the space in between your eyebrows), then focusing on the rising the breath up from my belly to my chest. Then I release the breath and just breath normally. And I just sit there. If a thought comes in, I don't judge it, I don't fight it - I just let it be. I let everything be - my thoughts, my breath, etc. In most of our lives we do the exact opposite - we are never happy just being... We are always trying to strive for me, be different, change and control things, etc. So in meditation I focus on just being. In the beginning its hard. I would keep my journal handy bc inadvertantly I would run through list after list of things I needed to do or remember. So I would write it down during meditation so I could get it out of my head. I started off with 10 mins once a day and literally it was 10 mins of to do lists. But I let it be. And eventually made my way up to 20 mins twice a day. I started noticing the to do lists would fade and I would just be sitting there enjoying being in the present moment, when all of a sudden it was 20 mins later.

The theory is that the more stillness you can bring to your mind through consistant meditation, the more still it will become... Sort of like working out a muscle. Also the more you connect with your spirit, higher self, the Divine, etc - the more you attract good things and the higher emotions into your life... Rather than lettting the mind and ego run rampant with lower emotions and thinking bad things. I will also sometimes ask "what do I need to know" and see what messages I get. Or sometimes I will do visualizations of living life without anxiety. I always end my meditation with prayer - gratitude first, and then what I need to help me serve other people.

I have tried MANY things for anxiety - and this has hands down been the most important practice in my arsenal. I can only hope that it does for you what it has done for me. Please feel free to reply back with any questions - I would love to help in any way I can.

You also have to keep believing that there is hope and that you will get better.... bc you will.

Awhile back I was dating a heavy beer drinker. I started heavy drinking beer with my buddy. 'bout a 6 pack of exotic beer a night. 'round that time I got horrible panic attacks for the 1st time in my life. So bad I'd go to the hospital. They gave me drugs but the drugs didn't help. They'd give me more drugs util I was a zombie. My family complained & I was taken off. I had also stopped drinking beer cuz your not supposed to drink while on these drugs. So even I stopped the drugs I didn't get panic attacks that sent me to the ER. Lots of sugar can also bring them on a lil' bit. I've been readin here & other places that alcohol & even sugar can deplete the body of nutrients like magnesium. When I rub some magnesium on I feel calmer. No panic attacks. Also helps with my leg cramps and speeding heartbeat I sometimes get at night. IDK why the hospital doesn't look for such. There tests don't seem to pick up borderline deficiencies. My shrink tried to tell me I got me a chemical imabalance and needed the drugs. When I stopped the drugs that made me nutty in a different way, the attacks were gone. Cuz I quit the drinkin as well.

I used to have panic attacks that had my husband rushing me to the emergency room all the time! I thought I was losing my mind with fear and anxiety. I would feel like digging a hole, jumping in and pulling the hole in with me!

In my case I found that "acid reflux" was the cause of my problem. Whenever I start to have a panic attack---I take a few TUMS as it works the best for my acid/panic attacks! Baking powder will work too if I don't have Tums. But for some reason Tums works best on me.

Panic attacks are the scariest thing I ever experienced in my life. I hope this little secret helps someone with this problem.

Strong Coffee and hot chili can bring on an attack.

Just add a pinch of baking soda to lower the acidity.. :) I'm very sensitive to anything going in my tummy, and my Mom told me about the BS.. No problem since. :)