Natural Anxiety Remedies

Anxiety is a state of fear or apprehension in the face of threat or danger. It is a natural, healthy response since it allows the body to prepare itself (through adrenaline) to cope with the danger. Anxiety can, however, take a person over—a condition known as anxiety neurosis— and the person is then said to be in an anxiety state. This may be chronic anxiety, with a constant feeling of worry, associated with depression, or an acute anxiety attack, when the sufferer will be suddenly overwhelmed by fear and feelings of dread.

When we are faced with a frightening or threatening situation, our body goes into a “fight or flight” response, when adrenaline pours into the system and the body prepares itself for action. When no action follows, and nervous energy is not discharged, there is physiological confusion—otherwise known as a panic attack. Symptoms may include dizziness, visual disturbance, clammy hands, racing heart, dry mouth, and overbreathing.

Up to 70 percent of people who have panic attacks end up seeing as many as ten physicians before being correctly diagnosed. Anxiety appears to affect twice as many women as men. Evidence exists that some people may be biochemically vulnerable to panic attacks.

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that drugs for anxiety disorders are among the 20 drugs most frequently prescribed. In the U.K., a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists stated that more than 9 million Britons will suffer from abnormal anxiety and fears at some point in their lives. Anxiety is an element of many psychological disorders, including phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Symptoms
• dry mouth
• sweaty palms
• rapid pulse and palpitations
• in anxiety neurosis: breathlessness, headaches, general weakness, and fatigue, feeling of tightness in the chest, high blood pressure, abdominal pain and diarrhea, insomnia, loss of appetite

TREATMENT

Ayurveda 
An Ayurvedic medical practitioner would balance the tri-doshas, and use panchakarma for balancing the vátha. 

Chinese Herbalism 
A Chinese herbalist might suggest ginseng, Chinese angelica, and white peony root with thorowax root for relaxation. Treatment would be designed to strengthen the Spleen and enliven Liver qi.

Traditional Folk and Home Remedies 
Oats contain thiamin and pantothenic acid, which act as gentle nerve tonics

Herbalism 
Herbal remedies would be used to calm the nervous system and to generally relax you. Skullcap and valerian are useful herbs, blended together for best effect. Drink this as a tea three times daily while suffering anxiety symptoms. Lady’s slipper and lime blossom may also work to ease anxiety and tension. Aromatherapy A relaxing blend of essential oils of lavender, geranium, and bergamot in sweet almond oil or peach kernel oil may be used in the bath at times at great stress and anxiety.

Homeopathy
Constitutional treatment will be appropriate for chronic conditions, and there are a number of remedies which will prove useful for relieving acute attacks. These include:
• Aconite, for dispelling a sudden panic attack.
• Arsenicum may be useful if you feel insecure, restless, tired, and tend to fight anxiety by being obsessively tidy or really well organized.
• Nat. mur. may be useful if you have a tendency to dwell on morbid topics and generally hate fuss.
• Calcarea, if you fear for your sanity, forget things, and feel the cold.
• Ignatia, if your anxiety follows the loss of a loved one or a specific, distressing event. 

Flower Essences 
Remedies are prescribed according to the personal characteristics of the sufferer, and the cause and the nature of the anxiety. Try Elm for anxiety accompanying a feeling of being unable to cope, or Red Chestnut for anxiety over the welfare of others. Aspen, for anxiety for no apparent reason. Rescue Remedy or Emergency Essence are useful during attacks.

Vitamins and Minerals 
Increase your intake of B-vitamins, which work on the nervous system, and avoid caffeine in any form.