Anxiety Relief: Natural Remedies That May Help

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Scott (Paradise, California) on 09/11/2007
★★★★★

Hi. I am a new user of ACV and am very pleased and surprised at the way it is helped me to feel better. I know that I have always struggled with candidiasis, but never got the complete relief from it using other remedies. The ACV has made an incredible difference in how I feel. I have also experienced the other benefits of increased energy, decreased anxiety, better sleep. However, there is one concern I have that I hope someone can help me with. Sometimes when I take the ACV it seems to upset my stomach. Help! I really value this remedy, but I'm concerned about stomach upset. Thanks.

Rhodiola

Posted by Margie (Upper Marlboro, MD) on 12/13/2006
★★★★★

I want to thank the person who said that Rhodiola was the best for anxiety attacks. I read the article and immediately searched the internet to find get more information regarding this vitamin. I then went out to get it for my symptoms and it worked. I feel normal again, before I was having a panic attack daily. I didn't know what triggered it, but I was suffering regularly. I also tried the 5HTP and I take them both together, the 5HTP helps with my stiffness in my joints and relaxes my body and mind. I take both daily and had not had any problems in three weeks. It feels good to be normal again.

B12, Folic Acid, 5-HTP and Altoids

Posted by Justin (Port St. Lucie) on 08/22/2006
★★★★★

I was under constant attack from anxiety, and depression was setting in because of it. I saw a therapist who taught me about positive thinking and ways to get myself out of a panic attack. It kinda worked but was a constant effort to always be managing my moods and still fighting random panic attacks. I started self medicating with a popular narcotic made to ease anxiety. We all know it as a small white rectangular pill. I became dependant and my tolerance built up way to high. I lost my job, and almost my wife and kid because of that stupid pill! I checked myself into a rehab...mainly to get it out of my system while in a secure, stable environment. My mind was definetly set on getting that pill out of my life so it was easy to kick. When I got out I was so scared of my anxiety coming back...and it did! I then remembered someone telling me about B-12 and Folic Acid as a natural cure for anxiety. I went to the store found the vitamins and saw it was like $6 for a 3 months supply and said "what the heck, I'll try it".....2 years later only one ten minute panic attack! The one I did have was after a night of drinking and did not take my vitamins...so def. my own fault. I take 500mcgs of B-12 and 400 mcgs of Folic Acid twice a day (i'm a big guy) I rarely, very rarely even think of my anxiety.

I have also, overtime, added a supplement called 5-htp and always carry around Altoids. I take the 5-htp when it just feels like things aren't going my way, and within an hour I am as giddy as a 3yr old watching blues clues! The Altoids help me out just whenever, they give me my own personal break from everything. The freshness it gives just puts everything back on a balanced level. The extreme peppermint taste relaxes me. I pop one in before any stressfull meeting, event, issue and i'ts like my own personal shield from stress!

As a side note since taking these new vitamins I have only been sick with a cold for one day out of 2 years! I have not gotten a single sore throat, flu, ear ache...Everyone in my family can be sick and I get nothing! I feel invincible! Smiling more.

Rhodiola

Posted by Missy (Portland, OR) on 07/12/2006
★★★★★

Rhodiola cured me of anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Cold Showers

Posted by Laura (London) on 10/18/2005
★★★★★

I tried John's below cold shower method to stop panic attacks and i was very surprised at the result it had on my mental state. It totally distacted me from the attack and I have now made a promise to myself that anytime i feel an attack coming on, i will put myself under a cold shower. By the time i'm about to get in, my mind is off the attack and thinking more about the coldness instead! Thank you, John i think you saved my soul!!! Anyone that reads this, try it please!!!

Chia Oil

Posted by Irina (New York) on 03/07/2022
★★★★★

I recently discovered chia oil. Like others who have posted here, flaxseed oil helped my anxiety - but both the seeds and the oil caused me to have sinus congestion. I thought maybe all kinds of Omega 3s would have a calming effect on me - but I was wrong - cod liver oil made me anxious and fish oil didn't help at all. I take chia seeds every day with only positive benefits and randomly came across an edible form of chia oil and thought I'd try it. The very first teaspoon I took had an instant calming effect that felt much stronger than flaxseed oil. I went from super anxious to extremely calm in literally just a few minutes. I am now taking 2-3 teaspoons of chia oil a day (spaced apart, with meals) I can't believe the difference in myself - I feel almost too relaxed to the point where I just want to rest a lot - and this is coming from someone who not only has anxiety. but hyperthyroid. Also, I am able to fall right to sleep at night. I highly suggest trying this oil if you suffer from any of the ailments I've mentioned - it's life-changing!

Valerian

Posted by Beth W. (AL) on 02/17/2022
★★★★★

Back when I was really sick, anxiety became a terrible side effect that left me debilitated on most days. I got so bad that I had to resort to Ativan for a couple of days to stabilize me. In the meantime, I did research and discovered valerian root and hops. I got both in tincture form (for me personally works way stronger/quicker) and for severe anxiety will take about 10 drops of both. Within minutes I felt relief that was possibly better than that from the ativan. While I worked through detoxing and getting well, I had to use this combo a few times and it has never failed me.

GABA

Posted by Janet (Ind) on 03/12/2016

Dear Ben.

Much of what you have written is correct and interesting. This post is less than helpful. Bht kills many an infection. As Oscar has said there is help in the newest medical treatment for this illness. But to discount all the cures and help bht has provided from both Oscar and Ted is disturbing to me. Janet

DHEA

Posted by Jenna (South Dakota) on 06/26/2014
★★★★★

I am giving an update. Holy Basil did not work, all though I thought it had. Just temporary relief. About five days later I ended up in the emergency room for a full blow panic attack and they gave me 1mg of valium, which brought it down. Also a temporary prescription of adivan, which really didn't do anything for me, chilled me only for a few hours. The next day, still anxiety, and so forth. It took me about 5 days of experimenting to figure out what was wrong - took 50 mgs of Dhea, and finally could breathe again, all anxiety left. It was my adrenals all along. Please do research on low Dhea, as there is a kind, I believe call Kudo, that inhibits it affecting other hormones in the body so that you don't grow a mustache, thinning hair. 50mgs is very high to take for any long period of time, check out info on Curezone or other forums.

Peppermint Tea

Posted by IÃ±aki (Toronto, Ont) on 01/06/2014
★★★★★

I seem to have panic attacks only in winters, maybe the lack of D3; who knows. The only natural thing that works for me so far is Peppermint tea. When I feel there is a PA in its way, I run and either prepare or buy ( if I am outside) a peppermint tea and the effect is inmediate. Is this a placebo effect or there is a compound in the mint tea that fights the panic attack? Honestly I dont know, but as long as it avoid a PA I will continue to try it. Hope this advice can help someone.

Chocolate, Nutmeg

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 11/25/2013

Hello Anon from Anon;

Re your recipe using nutmeg as an anti anxiety remedy.

Wonderful...I do love nutmeg...so aromatic and aromatics alone may have great value... we often overlook their benefits. (One of my favorite aromatics is fresh ground coffee and inhaling the grinds as soon as ground...ah, bliss for five seconds.)

Here's one for winter months to help with circulation and again as an aromatic; the scent will permeate the house with a most wonderful earthy feel.

I call this "Three C Tea"...

Grind a teaspoon of cardamom.
Grind a teaspoon of clove.
Grate a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Put in two cups water and bring to near boil, then let steep for ten minutes. (Add a little raw cane sugar to taste.) Add some ginger for circulation needs. Breathe in deeply the aroma as you sip. Wonderful on a cold night.

Dave

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Posted by Robin (Rural, Va) on 03/18/2013
★★★★★

I take Acetyl L-Carnitine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it is fantastic. I take one or two 40mg capsules a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Juliette (Reston, Va) on 06/28/2012

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 :)

Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation

Posted by Susan (San Francisco) on 06/04/2012
★★★★★

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!

5-HTP

Posted by Gtijes (Allentown, Pa, Usa) on 08/29/2010

Does anyone know of a way to introduce something natural like 5-htp, and cut back on the prescription antidepressants? I wasn't sure if they interacted safely at all.

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Posted by Zander (Ohio) on 07/26/2014
★★★★★

I agree with your assessment about acetyl l-carnitine. I experienced relief almost immediately today [about 20 minutes] after taking 500 mg. I had ordered a formulation for Memory & Brain but had no idea it would have the calmative properties it had. I experience fairly intentense restless anxiety from time to time. It produces such a helpless & hopeless feeling. I was not expecting this to provide relief for anxiety at all but there was no mistaking the calm which came over me.

B Complex

Posted by Laura (Honolulu, HI) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★

I am a chronicly (sp?) anxious person. B complex really helps with it. It gives you energy when you don't want to get out of bed and it makes you able to resolve the things you're so busy worrying about. I take it every day- I did here though, that it's kinda hard on your kidneys. I try to take a few days off a month to give my body a break. Hope this helps!

Rhodiola

Posted by Barbara (Minneapolis, MN) on 05/13/2008
★★★★★

Rhodioal works within an hour. I have outrageous anxiety. Glad I found this web site for an herbal remedy.

5-HTP

Posted by Jc (Boston) on 07/07/2015

There is a good amount of research now showing that Serotonin does not cross the Blood brain barrier. So taking 5HTP will only boost the serotonin in the brain IF your Blood Brain Barrier is compromised. Not a good situation overall.

As mentioned above, too much serotonin can cause depression and anxiety. Again, not a good thing.

The best solution for anxiety and depression known to man right now has been around for ever. Exercise! This is not controversial. Doctors of all orientations agree.

Rhodiola

Posted by Moira (Manchester, NH) on 01/15/2009
★★★★★

I know its been a year since asked, but in case anyone else wanted to know if 5HTP and Rhodiola are safe together, the answer is yes (although I am not a health professional - just know from my own research and experience). Your body naturally creates the transmitters that 5htp stimulates - its harmless. In fact, I noticed no difference in my severe anxiety when I took 5 HTP. Rhodiola is an herb that helps regulate serotonin levels and is not affected by 5HTP's process.

Chances are, if you take RR, you'll not need the 5HTP which can have uncomfortable side effects if you decide to quit it. Always remember to taper off any supplement or med to give your body a chance to keep up!

L-Theanine

Posted by Hermano (Lisbon, Portugal) on 10/16/2006
★★★★★

L-Theanine is the best for a mild anxiety. also i tried before playing golf and the results are a four or five better score.this site of yours is the most informative and serious that i have found. thank you.