For 20 million adults in the U.S., anxiety isn’t just a passing feeling. It is recurring and life-altering. When someone has chronic anxiety that can be triggered by stress, they have a disorder. One of the body’s ways to manage stress is to become anxious. This is believed to help you cope with the situation. When anxiety persists, you may have a disorder. If you have irrational fears about any number of things, your anxiety may have taken the leap from a symptom to a disorder requiring medical attention. These include social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.
Here’s a quick list of the best natural remedies available for anxiety:
1. Valerian: The king of soothing herbs. For anxiety, it may bind itself to brain receptors and release its sedating effect. It is thought to calm nerves, balance mood swings and reduce stressful situations. You can drink valerian root tea many times a day, or opt for supplements of between 600 mg and 1,200 mg, three times a day.
2. 5-HTP: This popular supplement is used by your body to make serotonin that controls mood. Best known for treating depression, 5-HTP may be useful for anxiety. A typical dose is 100 mg to 300 mg, three times a day.
3. Inositol: This is a B vitamin useful for anxiety that triggers panic attacks. It’s advisable to speak to your doctor about this possibility, as the doses needed are rather high. Studies have used 4 g all the way to 18 g a day.
4. Multivitamins: Strangely enough, a simple multivitamin-mineral supplement has been found to reduce anxiety. It can also reduce how a person views a stressful situation.
5. Passionflower: Hailing from the same soothing herbal family as valerian root, passionflower has been long used as a mild sedative. Drinking three cups of passionflower tea (with real dried leaves) a day can reduce anxiety, particularly in those with generalized anxiety disorder.
6. Magnesium-Hawthorn: Combining this mineral and this herb together is a common anxiety remedy in France these days. It is best used for generalized anxiety disorder.
7. Alternative Therapies: Outside the realm of supplements, many alternative therapies can help reduce one’s anxiety and ability to cope with stress. They include acupuncture, massage, meditation, yoga, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and biofeedback.
8. Other: Early evidence shows that the following supplements can be helpful and are worth a try for those searching for an anxiety cure: melatonin, lemon balm, gotu kola, European skullcap, linden, sage, chamomile, hops, and flaxseed oil.