Anxiety Relief: Natural Remedies That May Help

B Complex

Posted by Dee (USA) on 02/24/2006
★★★★★

I have found that taking B complex vitamins work very well for depression and anxiety. Also repeating positive affirmations like "I am healing" while imagining a white light covering your entire body has worked very well for me! Much peace to you all!!

Rocking Chair Therapy

Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 09/10/2022
★★★★★

I have had a significant flare up of my bursitis, which has led me to a help that I have never considered.

Yesterday was a lovely day and I went out to the porch to swing and crochet in the sunshine for a little bit. I realized my pain was not bothering me as much. Certainly sunshine and something to do with my hands was a pleasant distraction, but then I considered the rocking.

Parents and caregivers naturally rock and sway to sooth babies and little children. Perhaps rocking is soothing for humans of all ages!

I did a little research and found that studies have found that rocking in a rocking chair has many health benefits.

It helps to decrease cravings of addicts in rehab facilities. It improves balance among the elderly in care facilities, it also reduces requests for pain medicines, and reduces agitation. Rocking can release endorphins, which can help with pain.

For the elderly, rocking in a chair improve blood flow and gives a bit of exercise to muscles.

Rocking chair therapy has also been used to improve outcomes after some surgeries.

My take away is that it makes sense to ensure that the elderly have an available rocking chair. And that anyone, no matter the age, may benefit from some rocking chair time to relieve anxiety, pain, and cravings.

Maybe rocking chairs are a way to restore some calm to our society which has become increasingly frenetic.

Happy Rocking,

~Mama to Many~

Alternatives to Benzos

Posted by sue (PNW) on 10/18/2021

Hi Joe,

I was tapered off a benzo which I depended on for sleep for way too many years. I had tried to reduce many times on my own, and couldn't, but with the help of a new "doctor, " actually a young nurse practitioner, we were successful. It took six months plus to slowly taper down to a very, very low dose which seemed almost microscopic, but then I just couldn't go any lower. She then prescribed Doxepin, a tricyclic anti-depressant at a low dose. At a dosage of 75 mg and up it treats depression, but they have found that a low dosage of 3 - 6 mgs helps with insomnia. It has helped me, a lot, I am off of the benzo and sleeping better, with a clearer head. I don't know if this will help your son with his issue, PTSD and benzos, but it might be another tool available for his tool kit.

I hope he has as good a clinician as my young ARNP.

5-HTP

Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver) on 10/24/2021

At the time, I had no idea that taking twice my regular dose would have such an adverse effect as 5HTP was described to me as a vita-nutrient. So to me, it was the same as taking a double dose of vitamin C.

5-HTP

Posted by ST (Oregon) on 12/22/2022

Lol, I've done that and also when reading product reviews. We know a good thing when we see it. =)

Brahmi Ayurvedic Herbs

Posted by Reet (Vic) on 02/22/2017 1 posts
★★★★★

I have been experiencing shortness of breath and anxiety for some time. But recently the frequency of these attacks has increased and it started affecting me almost every day. This is so bad that I cant focus on anything but just dreading with fear when / what will trigger the attack. When I get my anxiety attack I feel I can't breath, my heart rate increases, my hands get very cold, body start shaking and my mind starts thinking that I am dying . It is very fearful state. In blood tests everything is fine. So my GP put me on some anti-depressant. which I don't want to take at-least until I have tried alternative method.

Thanks to Earth clinic it has helped me in this time. I have started making few changes in my diet and overall I can see improvements. Brahmi is one of the herbs which has helped me. I feel my breathing becomes easy almost within 15min of taking it.

Other things that have helped me are Folic complex 500mg, B12 1mg at night and ACV + baking soda.

This is my first post here. What I went thru in last few weeks was so bad that I felt to share my experiences with other who might be facing similar issues and this might help someone.

Probiotics

Posted by Good Advise Wife (Los Angeles, Ca) on 07/08/2016
★★★★★

The reason for anxiety is because the intestinal tract does not have enough good bacteria to create the B12 or serotonin needed to calm the nervous system. Taking probiotics will encourage good bacteria in the intestinal tract. Taking supplements or drugs are a temporary fix but they will work in an emergency situation. A good film to watch is: The Gut; Our Second Brain. It explains it perfectly.

Ashwagandha

Posted by Kaylap (Abbotsford, Bc) on 02/03/2018 5 posts

My naturopath just started me on this. Fingers crossed it helps! I found that so far exercise has been the best remedy but hopefully the ashwagandha helps keep things level when I can't exercise.

Enzymes and Probiotics

Posted by Brittani (Pa) on 11/18/2014
★★★★★

For anxiety, improve your digestion system. The gut is the second brain. Haven't you ever heard of the gut/brain connection? If you are not digesting your foods, this can wreak havoc on the entire body. I was getting very anxious with heart palpitations before and ever since I improved my digestive system by taking digestive enzymes and probiotics, I have been calm as can be.

Flax Seed Oil

Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 05/20/2014
★★★★★

I use flaxseed oil softgels of 1000mg or more. Cold pressed! Organic. I take as many as I need like 2 per meal. It helps with my anxiety so much, very quickly after I take them. I take them also prior to getting my period, which helps to balance mood then.

Flax's fatty acid profile: omega 3,6, and 9. Love it!

Namaste, Sunny

Chocolate, Nutmeg

Posted by Anon (Anon) on 11/25/2013
★★★★★

For anxiety, prayer. Also, these cookies:

Chocolate Nutmeg Cookies

In a large pan melt 1 stick butter, 1 cup peanut butter, 1/2 large dark-chocolate bar (to help the bars hold their shape). Mix in 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp clove powder. Mix in 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Mix in about 2 cups uncooked oatmeal till thoroughly mixed. Press into the bottom of a cake pan, cut/score into squares with a knife, chill in the fridge or freezer until firm. Share. Enjoy.

The measurements are approximate. It looks like a lot of spice, but that's why they are so good. Have them for breakfast with fresh fruit.

Valerian

Posted by Samantha (Abbotsford, Bc, Canada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★

I've also had success with Valarian root for anxiety. I started having episodes of mania and rancing thoughts, with an inability to fall asleep. My brain just would not shut off and I thought I was going crazy; it was unsettling and felt like my nerves were totally shot. I bought another sleep aid (I was currently only taking melatonin) and it had valarian root combined with hops and lemon balm. It helped a lot and I could actually fall asleep again and stay sleeping throughout the night.

I then noticed during the day when it would wear off and saw how much it helped my general anxiety and took half doses as needed. It's incredibly calming and soothing and helps relax my muscles and all the tension in my brain. It's made a huge difference getting through an incredibly stressful time. I hope this helps someone else too!

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

Posted by Steve (Las Vegas, Nv Nevada) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★

I have used EFT to cure my anxiety, fears, sadnesses, and all types of pain too numerous to mention. It's such an easy technique to learn and use you can try it for almost any issue. If you don't get results there are plenty of other energy healing modalities that will be helpful. Here is a chart I use and with the tapping points and also a chart that explains what each point does energetically: http://www.freewebs.com/stevelevine/efttappingpoints.htm

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Dwane (NJ) on 03/05/2022

Put a pinch of baking soda in it as well. It calms the second brain and sends better signals to your brain.

Probiotics

Posted by Alisha (Boston, Ma Usa) on 03/03/2012
★★★★★

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.

Deep Breathing

Posted by Lmp (Long Island, Ny) on 07/25/2011
★★★★★

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.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Sober (Anonymous, Usa) on 07/09/2011
★★★★★

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.

Metabolic Conditions That Cause Anxiety

Posted by Carolyn (Milford, Ct) on 01/28/2011
★★★★★

For those suffering from anxiety and depression, please investigate the condition known alternatively as Pyroluria, Kryptopyrrole and/or Mauve Factor. Debate is raging as to the underlying cause of this metabolic disorder, but the body loses massive amounts of B-6 and Zinc, as well as the omega-6 acids. Moreover, copper begins to build up to toxic levels in the body, causing everything from depression to anxiety to seizures to schizophrenia. The degree of symptoms has everything to do with individual biochemistry and the degree of essential nutrient deficiency. The treatment is simple: high-dose daily suplimentation with niacinimide, B-6 (in the form of B-6 and P-5-P), zinc, manganese, magnesium, chromium, biotin and omega-6 in the form of evening primrose oil.

PLEASE NOTE, however, that this suplimentation should NOT be done without blood monitoring by a qualified medical practitioner. The doses required to see results are extremely high for each of nutritional components, and poisoning can result, particularly In the case of zinc. Moreover, a patient can reverse copper toxicity to the point of too-low copper, which results in its own, unwanted Medical complications.

This metabolic "disorder" is seen in 85% of all autistic spectrum individuals. It is speculated, in this case, that heavy metal poisoning initiates the oxidative stress that, in turn, results in pyroluria. The resulting low B-6 levels result in the inability to properly manufacture serotonin, the "happy nuerotransmitter". Thus, a myriad of psychological "disorders" can result. Conversely, the depleted zinc levels manifest themselves in the gut, leading to coeliac disease and other Malabsorption disorders, as well as leaky gut syndrome. This, in turn, allows various fungi, like candida, to thrive in the gut and, later, the entire body. This, in turn, leads to various types of cancer later in life.

This same biocycle occurs in non-autistic individuals, but to a lesser (slower) degree. Thus, testing for and treating pyroluria involves more than "just" treating anxiety and depression.

Those properly treated have experienced nothing short of miracles. But do note that it can take up to 12 months (although most see some improvement after 3-4 weeks and most see significant gains in 3-6 months) to restore the body's proper balance and that treatment must be adhered to each and every day, for the remainder of one's life, barring any new discoveries as to the underlying cause of pyroluria.

5-HTP

Posted by Me (San Diego) on 07/30/2017
0 out of 5 stars

I had the same side effects as you experience...migraine headaches. I no longer use the product.

Peanut Butter

Posted by Adam (Tucson, Arizona) on 12/19/2009
★★★★★

Add another Yea! to peanut butter --and bananas too! I am currently overcoming my anxiety, very successfully using natural foods, medicines, and remedies. I have to add that, sitting down and eating 2-3 bananas with peanut butter is one of my all-time favorite past-times. It's like ambrosia, so I say go for it!

I only recently began eating bananas again, because I was allergic to them for several years.(?) I missed them, so much, especially with peanut butter. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Feeling calm and being healthy has never tasted so good.

I'd also like to reply to 'Joyce from Joelton, Tn', that the arginine found in peanuts is very very healthy for you. There is no link between herpes and the arginine found in peanuts. That is a fallacy.

There IS a link between consuming LESS arginine in your food intake for people that have herpes and spreading their herpes during an outbreak. This is limited to people with herpes, it does in NO WAY cause herpes. I just wanted to point that out so no one gets scared and quits eating delicious peanuts and peanut butter, because I LOVE it and it's AWESOME! Thanks E.C.!

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Posted by Timh (KY) on 07/27/2014 2041 posts

Zander: I think your testimony about the two mentioned nutrients makes a fine illustration of how the modern western life w/ all the stressors and toxins can deplete our nutritional & antioxidant status.

I would recommend broad spectrum nutritional supplementation w/ extra antioxidants. Also, many herbs w/ many benefits for your health. I have been using nutrition (supplements for many yrs and am still learning new stuff and have literally spared my life from severe environmental illness.

Cold Showers

Posted by Igor (Moscow, Russia) on 02/21/2009
★★★★★

Dear Earth Clinic,

Thank you for this excellent forum on cold water therapy. I had an anxiety which seemed to 'come from nowhere'. Cold baths work on this much better than cold showers. Also swimming in the sea or lakes. There is a tradition of doing this in Russia and also northern China: but in modern times people think it is madness. In this time of credit crunch (2009) this is a practice which everyone can afford.

I have a question to people on this forum: what about time? I do it for 1-4 minutes, 2 times a day, before and after sleeping, every day, as my uncle showed me, like the brushing of the teeth. (The washing with warm water and soap I do before or after this: it seems not to matter which.) It seems that a longer time is not beneficial at all. So I am interested to know other people's ideas about timing.

Another question: I work sometimes in Arabia where it is very hot in the Summer times. There is no problem to make a bath of water, but it is not very cold. So do people know of any device/machine which can be put in a bath to make the water cold? Putting ice from the fridge is OK but this method needs a lot of ice.

Kind regards,

Igor

5-HTP

Posted by Bodulica (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) on 03/12/2013
0 out of 5 stars

My reaction to 5-HTP was terrible. Felt like I ingested a poison. Very sick, felt like fainting, headache...

5-HTP

Posted by Peter (Seattle) on 06/04/2015

Why are natural alternatives like 5htp better? Anti-depressants work by shutting down the receptors that rid your brain of serotonin, in a sense forcing old serotonin to be recirculated constantly. Your serotonin receptors then shrivel up.

5htp gives your brain the raw materials to build serotonin. When it needs it, its there. But only what it needs, when it needs it.

Pete

5-HTP

Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 02/09/2017 46 posts

wellbutrine is known to change personalities. I say it opens a path to demons, hence the personality change. The same goes for similar drug counterparts, they can enable a path to the spirit world. But many don't get that, but I do. Just a word to the wise.

5-HTP

Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 09/11/2017

I was on Citalopram 20mg., a common SSRI for ten years and found that it didn't always work. I found it very easy to switch to 5HTP 50mg. by just cutting the Citalopram in half for a few days while starting the 5HTP simultaneously. I find I get a much better sleep while taking 5HTP and wake up feeling rested even on less than 8 hr. sleep.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Liz (Ny ) on 07/25/2020

If you add pure organic raw honey it helps with the upset stomach. It also adds to the benefits as well. Honey is a natural tranquilizer and has a lot of other great qualities too. Hope this helps.