Friday, July 12, 2013

Natural Supplements For Anxiety - 4 Supplements That Can Help

By Denise N. Bates


There are many natural supplements for anxiety and some are way more effective than others. Aromatherapy and water therapy are all very popular alternative treatments for anxiety but which herbs for anxiety are the best? Lavender.This herb is synonymous with relaxation and when it comes to coping with anxiety, lavender is an essential herb that anybody who suffers from panic disorder should try and utilize. It is one of the most popular herbs from ancient times and was often used to mask smells and keep insects away. These days, it's used to treat insomnia and panic disorder.

Passion Flower (Passiflora Incarnata).Passion Flower is an herbal supplement. The leaves, petals, and stems of the plant are used in making teas or tinctures. When in tea form it may be mixed with other calming herbs to increase its effectiveness. Tinctures can be added to juice or other drinks and taken as needed. Passion flower is primarily used as a calming agent to help with anxiety or insomnia. Doctors agree that is does work as well as some prescription drugs for aiding in anxiety disorders, however, there are few studies on how it actually works. It is theorized that it increases the production of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA is an amino acid that helps calm and reduce hyper-activity which is why passion flower has become such a popular supplement for treating children.

How to use it: Linden is most commonly used to make a fragrant and tasty tea. You can drink four to five cups a day and add a little bit of honey to make it taste even better.Passion Flower.Passion flower has a long history of being used as a sedative and is very popular when it comes to treating anxiety. It has a mild sedative effect when taken in small doses so it is safe to be used during the day time since it won't impair your functionality.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum).St. Johns Wort is one of the herbal supplements that is frequently compared to prescription based drugs such as Prozac. It is generally available for purchase in pill, tea or tinctures. St. John's Wort has been widely tested for its properties as an anti-depressant and sedative. It is frequently used to treated mild forms or depression and anxiety, and is especially useful is children and young adults. Speaking with a doctor before taking St. John's Wort is highly recommended. It has been known to interact with some prescription drugs such as birth control, rendering them ineffective.

Because calcium and magnesium promote relaxation and calmness, supplements should be taken before bed to avoid drowsiness. Likewise, calcium and magnesium can be naturally added to the body by consuming dairy products, green leafy vegetables and whole-grain cereals.For betterment of cognition/improving focus and mental stamina,Alpha GPC (choline) - A more potent supply of choline, as compared to lecithin. It is a great auxiliary substance to piracetam, which depletes acetylcholine, ergo adequate transmission will be maintained.Aniracetam - A nootropic (memory/learning enhancing) dietary supplement that is immensely useful when your thinking is obscured by anxiety. Depersonalization often causes brain fog and therefore I found it to be a helpful implement when learning/working. Furthermore it also exhibited anxiolytic properties in laboratory mice via action on dopamine. Take 2 - 3 750mg pills daily.

Winter Cherry (Withania Somnifera).Winter cherry is an herbal supplement that comes from India. It is sometimes referred to as Ashwaganha. The root of the plant is powered and sold in pill form. This plant is used to treat both depression and anxiety. There are no known side effects for this herbal supplement. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. People who are taking MAO inhibitors should also avoid this supplement.

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan).5-HTP is an amino acid. It occurs naturally is foods such as turkey, milk, and pumpkins. It is metabolized in the body and turned into the chemical Tryptophan. This chemical is thought to increase production of Serotonin and Melatonin in the brain, both of which are highly effective mood stabilizers. 5-HTP can be found in capsule form and added as a dietary supplement. There are no known side effects and it is generally thought of as being safe.

Relaxation,GABA - A supplement that is essential in regulating anxiety, GABA in this supplement form, does not readily cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) in lower doses. Nevertheless, it indirectly calms you down (the exact mechanism is yet to be elucidated, but as the name suggest it might be involved in regulation of the inhibitory transmitter GABA). Majority of our brain has an inhibitory role not a productive one, when there is lack of inhibition anxiety and/or other symptoms often arise as a result of information overload. Once or twice a day of 750mg should be enough (morning/evening before sleep). This dose can be exceeded, but in such cases it may have paradoxical effects and work against you by increasing anxiety.

Lecithin - Not only does it reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, but it also helps you to achieve an overall calm state of mind. I found it to be outstanding in reducing panic attacks which many people report along with depersonalization. The cholinergic system is involved in memory and learning among myriad other sympathetic and parasympathetic responses. Therefore lecithin, being a precursor to acetylcholine, will positively address cognitive impairments such as brain fog.L-theanine - Extract from green tea that evokes a focused state of relaxation without making you tired or overly stimulated. Along with its nootropic properties it is also a worthy mood-enhancer. 400-800mg daily should do the job.Improvement without noticeable sedation/stimulation,Vitamin B - chronic supplementation of b-complex has been shown to reduce work related stress in addition to attenuating confusion and depression. I recommend using the sublingual form if accessible due to its high bioavailability. It is difficult to overdose on B-vitamin since it is water-soluble, so don't be afraid to incorporate it into your daily diet.

Once you have decided to take the challenge and try one of the many supplements for anxiety and stress you will be faced with many different choices. For me those containing passion flower or lavender seem to work the best for daily daytime use. Valerian root on the other hand creates drowsiness, so unless you are looking for a sleep remedy valerian should be excluded.Also, there are both liquid and tablet formulas. Without a doubt the liquid formula will get into your system faster, and are more appropriate for unexpected stressors. But ultimately it is a personal choice with both types of herbal remedies for anxiety and stress shown to achieve excellent results.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment