Effective Natural Remedies for Anxiety

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Severe social anxiety

Dear ec, I love this site so much. Its helped me with so many things and I tell all my friends and family all that I learn on your site. I'm having such a problem with social anxiety, I don't know what to do. I'm so lonley and I want to be with people but I get such panic attacks. I was taking 150mg Effexor for a few years that seemed to work sometimes but I still had problems. About 2 weeks ago I had another attack when being introduced to someone and had enough. No matter who I'm around I immediatly get hot and my face turns bright red for no reason. I get so embarrased, I want to run away and it makes others feel uncomfortable because I'm so uncomfortable. So 2 weeks ago I read about Rhodiola on ec. I stopped taking the effexor and started the Rhodiola rite away. For the past 2 weeks I've felt good, more energy, depression gone but anxiety seems to be coming back and worse than ever. I went and got magnesium, l-theanine and b12. I was wondering if its safe to take the effexor and all these other things. I'm desperate and so frustrated I feel like I'm becoming a shut-in because I'm avoiding people. Please help me if you can, I feel so trapped. Thank you so much.

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.!

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.

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.

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!

Dear Earth Clinic, I may have some good advice on how to drastically cut or eliminate depression/anxiety. An exercise. I lay over the edge of the couch face down with my lower stomach on the arm. Keeping my legs straight on the couch I lean down with my torso and back up straight. This works the back muscles and takes pressure off the spine and nerves. Also, a simple visit to the chiropractor helped tremendously.Thanks, Gary.

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.

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

Hello Chadi:

I didn't see if "Molly" had responded to you. You ask if Acetyl Carnitine is the same as L Carnitine. They are not. Carnitine is used for fat removal and to help those exercising to use fat for energy... the chemistry of the mitochrondria is involved.

Acetyl l Carnitine, is a derivative of Carnitine and is primarily used as brain protection, being able to penetrate the blood brain barrier.

I was able to get off of a combination of Wellbutrin (Anxiety) and Vyvanse (ADHD) almost two years ago. I take a daily 750mg GABA, 100mg 5-HTP and about 200mg of chelated magnesium. Both were "adult onset". In the end I think I was just really, really deficient in magnesium and was going through hormonal changes at the same time. It took me about 6 months to get back to normal.

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. :)

I suffer from a very severe anxiety disorder brought on by many catastrophic traumas one after the other in my life. The anxiety is constant, the horrible racing thoughts, the what-ifs, stomach in knots, insomnia, you name it. I am in therapy and medication. If I try the apple cider vinegar remedy I will have to stop the meds immediately right? How many days do I have to wait to see the effects?

R: It is advised by many naturopathic Physicians to minimize pharmaceutical mind medications as the side effects can, in themselves, be debilitating.

Here are some natural alternatives for healthy mind. Yoga & Transcendental Meditation. Warm baths of Epsom Salts or Magnesium tablets taken orally. Herbs like Chamomile, Passion Flower, Valerian, Hops are helpful. Audio or healing harmonic music is becoming increasingly popular for helping correct an whole array of both mental and physical conditions. Go to YouTube.com and type in your condition ("anxiety") plus the words "binaural beats" or "isochornic beats" and listen to this music w/ headphones whenever you can and especially before sleep or while relaxing in bed. Most of these artist have their own YT channel and information about purchasing the tracts so you can download them to your mobile devise and listen when you can.

Try adding a 1/4 teaspoon of Baking SODA & 1 teaspoon of organic Apple Cider Vinegar (with "the mother") to a 16-ounce glass of filtered water. The Baking Soda may prevent your stomach upset.

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!

To Debra from Texas: You mentioned it "hurt" your stomach at first. You might probably had a stomach ulcer and didn't know it. ACV is the cure for that too.

My guess about anxiety and why people might not come back and comment on their problem for long term results...it probably really works and we forget what problems we have when they are gone. I have been using ACV and various other remedies from this site for almost 6 months now. I will admit I was a mess before and I forget all the problems I used to have. I did make a list/journal when I first started these home remedies and update often.

While I would not consider myself "cured" of anything, I have found that Iodine..or the lack thereof...causes me to have panic and anxiety attacks. This is a recent (within 3 months) development for me as I have never had panic and anxiety attacks prior. And although I now take Kelp in a Thyroid supplement (for my newly developed Hypothyroidism), my Iodine test (painting a 2x2 in sq on my abdomen) still shows a regular Iodine insufficiency. Interestingly, I also drink protein shakes that contain 30% FDA Iodine each. I drink 2-3 of these each day. Yet, my Iodine is consistently depleted.

Read this website couple weeks ago and was looking at the comments on anxiety. well i must say it was sooo hard the first time. i still have to physch myself up to it but boy once you try it it almost becomes addictive and yes my anxiety is on the improve. thanks guys. awesome.

L-Tryptophan and B vitamins conquer anxiety-related alcoholism

I was very concerned for my husband, who is hypersensitive (and was getting more so all the time) had severe anxiety issues, constant brain chatter, severe insomnia and drank way, way too much (it was the only way he could calm down).

On discovering Earth Clinic and while searching for stenosis for myself, I came across Ted's advice on alcoholism. I went over all his advice thoroughly and decided on the following once a day:

• L-Tryptophan 1500mg
• Vit B-6 100 mg
• and a Raw B-Complex.

My husband agreed to give it a try. I didn't notice anything for about 4 days then, all of a sudden, we both noticed that his anxiety levels and drinking had greatly reduced. And all this in the middle of stressful issues that were coming at us one after the other. After a week, my husband noticed that he was feeling sleepy in the mornings after taking the supplements. So we reduced the dosage from 3 capsules (1500mg) to 2 and that has stayed at that level. It has been nearly a month and we are both delighted with the results! I am so thankful to this Earth Clinic site and to Ted's advice which was exactly what we needed!

Rhodiola has really helped me with overall mood and has lowered anxiety.

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~

Hi Irina..can you name the brand of the chia oil you're using. Thanks

Hi Lauren - I don't know if I'm allowed to name the brand here, but if you type into Google, "organic edible chia seed oil artisan cold pressed" it will come right up!

For anxiety what worked for me was Vitamin B3-450mg taken first thing in the morning and just before going to bed. This eliminated anxiety within 24 hr.

I am sorry for your sad loss. Regarding high blood pressure, magnesium is effective, and most people are deficient. Magnesium chloride is very absorbable, I just have a pinch per day, but Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) could also be used. Red beetroots also help lower blood pressure.

Thanks young lady (charity) sorry for late reply, I am just not sure how the replies work. I don't know if they go to my site or just posted on EC site. It would be nice to communicate directly, with a copy posted on site for all to view. This is old news, however curious how long you took 6 Valiums (60mg) daily? Wow. That's a lot, actually to much in my opinion but couldn't have been taking long or you would have had major Anxiety Attack plus………? Thank you, curious especially since my son took them for 5+ yrs and when I shaved a tiny off of one pill his Anxiety exploded. Today I restarted and after 3 days of reducing 2mg off of 20mg he is doing quite well. Albeit I do add a few natural things.

I never found any supplements that helped a lot for benzo withdrawal--it took me 3 years to taper off of Ativan. Possibly fish oil and tiny bit? The thing that helped the most was to do a liquid micro taper--crush the pill, either mix it with water to form a suspension or mix it with a ml of alcohol first to dissolve then mix some water to dilute and just decrease the amounts by micrograms every day. Here's some info on how to and the Benzo Buddies website is also helpful.

http://benzo.alwaysdata.net/titration/titrationHelp.htm?help=Readme+First

Sept 11,2021, just read your article, not quite sure I understand but I will view the link. My son is a disabled vet, has PTSD, (severe) among other issues, his VA Dr got him addicted to Valiums for 5 yrs and he takes 30mg daily. He has a new Dr., and in about 5 weeks hopefully she will start tapering him off. I know it is painful and people still suffer even though it is out of his system. Plus it can return and even seizures are possible. I am almost 80 yrs old the Dr says he can be an outpatient, I just have to monitor him. All I have for anxiety now is Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500mg 2X daily, I will also start Taurine. Acetyl-L Carnitine is for the brain, yet it works great, I stoped the L-Theanine 800mg. Anything else you can share will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry to say just because you cut the 100mg in half does not make it 50 mg it still is 100mg just less. Hope this helps you.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Rhodiola for Panic Attacks and Anxiety

Wow...it worked within 25 minutes. I took 100mg last. I felt very peaceful. Downside I got am icky stomach that has continued I to the morning. Manageable. It was still worth taking though!

I realized that in my original post. My point should have been that biting into the Holy Basil capsules and letting them sublingually absorb, rather than just swallowing them whole or just drinking the HB tea seems to reduce the stomach upset that many supplements give me and it seems to work better and faster than having the HB capsules digest in my stomach. Plus I think I heard that HB oil is good for dental hygiene so having that oil coating may be doing some good for my teeth and gums I hope.

Wow! Most of the stuff I've read says shallow breathing is the cause of all our ills and deep breathing is the cure-all. Lately, however, I have been reading that all that deep breathing might not be the answer after all. The answer, according to many, is belly breathing. Go figure.

Hey Robert Henry and Sye. There is a former professional wrestler, who has out a yoga program. The very first thing he covers in this is the way you breath, saying to fill up the diaphragm slowly and exhale slowly. He encourages people to get up to a 20 count. This is slow in and slow out. Starting with just like the count of 2 and then working your way up over time. He says he can go to a count of 60 and that this controls the way you react, adapt, and take action. I can't tell you the name here, but if you Google professional wrestler's This ain't your mamas yoga you will find it. His commercials are on early mornings 3 to 4.30 am eastern time on various stations. Not advertising here, but I made the purchase and breathing is the first thing covered on disc one.

Interesting: you never mention exercise. exercise defined as 1. cardio, 2. weight bearing, and 3. stretching

bare minimum, 3 times a week. ideally, 4-5,2-3 hours a day. yes, it's WORK. yes, it pays; it's the best health insurance of all.

remember this name:

JACK LALANNE

Yes, the chloride form taken orally or transdermally are the best types of magnesium to take because they are best absorbed by the body.

Dear Claire,

You are welcome. Thanks so much for taking time to share what is helping you! I am so glad you are feeling better. Being able to sleep and relax are so important!

~Mama to Many~

Hemp Seed Powder and Kelp Powder

I used to get very anxious and depressed, headaches, stomachaches, sore and tired all over, the headaches were like migraines or tension headaches. I can't eat wheat. I read about how protein is used by the brain to manage its levels of nitrogen and ammonia, so thinking the migraine might be from a lack of protein I took 1/4 cup of hemp seed powder, with a teaspoon of kelp powder since I had the kelp powder, mixed in a glass of water. I feel much better. I did that once or twice a day for three days, I wake up less tired in the morning, my good mood lasts all day, I feel more optimistic and youthful, the headaches are almost gone. The dark circles under my eyes are lighter.

Taking potassium and magnesium pills help too. I take more than the label says depending on how I feel. Sometimes 4 to 6 99mg potassium at a time.

I just bought "Rhodiola" from Gaia Herbs, it is 249 mg. Can anyone tell me if they have used this brand and if it helped you? I have severe panic attacks where the adrenaline lingers on way after the attack. I do not drive and waking is hard too because I feel like I am walking to the side. As though I am going to fall. Can anyone please help me?

Do you have any food allergies or thyroid issues... I've had that walking to the side thing too.

@Lauren0305: Both sleep and mental issues or the presence of both are many or most times only symptoms of underlying problems which are almost exclusively associated with modern lifestyle. There are many factors happening in these cases, and the key is removing these factors. Clean(er) air, food, water is where to start. A good whole food multivitamin/mineral supplement is essential as well as extra antioxidant nutrition. Oil Pulling and Detox Foot Pads help remove any stubborn toxins.

This is just my general assessment and there could be other factors involved of which you might get answered here on E. C.

Thank you for the replies. Yes, we cut out all artificial dyes, preservatives, etc many years ago b/c of his ADHD symptoms. His diet isn't as healthy as I'd like b/c he's picky, but I buy about 90% all natural and/or organic foods. I'm trying to cut him back on gluten to see if that affects anything.

Article published 2 days ago entitled: Gut feelings: the future of psychiatry may be inside your stomach. "...anxious mice dosed with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) showed lower levels of anxiety, decreased stress hormones, and even an increase in brain receptors for a neurotransmitter that's vital in curbing worry, anxiety, and fear..."

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/21/4595712/gut-feelings-the-future-of-psychiatry-may-be-inside-your-stomach

If you have crippling Anxiety, EMDR sessions with a safe trusted professional can really reprogram the brain and help heal trauma. However it takes a full lifestyle change to healthy living to find absolute resolution.. Drink lots of pure water, eat alkaline pure food, Good sleep, breathing, regular bowel movements, enemas, daily mediation or prayer

Awareness and control of feelings of fear, disappear and hopeless. Try to stay in the moment. Gratitude and Love seem to be the emotional antidotes. Talking and healing deep buried emotions are also key.

Avoid- Alcohol, Tobacco, Wheat, SUGER!!! Be patient with your healing. enjoy the journey

To sye from colorado. have you tried the EMDR therapy? I have been reading the book called "getting past your past" by Francine Shapiro, phd. I must say it is a fascinating read so far.

I came across information as well called Iasis treatment on youtube that looks similar but is not available where I live all about neuro feedback and getting brain chemicals in balance. Would like to hear more if you have done the treatment. Thanks. Health to all

I have been plagued with depression and anxiety since 2001 when I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid. I have hot nodules on my thyroid. Began with one about 1in by .5 inch. Now I have two the size of a lemon. I have not been able to take antidepressants. So I have struggled with it all these years. One thing that helps with the anxiety is strong green tea. I take about 6 oz of water and add two tea bags. Let it set a while and make sure you move the tea bags around and squeeze out the good stuff. That is where the L theanine comes from. Drink as much as you want. I also take Lemon Balm. It works well but usually have the green tea. Wish I could beat this depression. I am now 65 and it seems to be getting worse and I am under a lot of stress. Have never tried Rhodiola. Think I will give it a try. Hope the green tea works.