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Tag Archive: anxiety
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of living but when it becomes chronic and/or begins to interfere with your daily life, it may be time to get some support.
Some people are reluctant to turn to the medical community for help because they do not want a prescription medication that may cause dependence or side effects. Understandable.
Below are ten natural remedies for treating anxiety.
- Homeopathic remedy – Ignatia Amara
Homeopathy works on the principle “like cures like”. Highly diluted substances of what would cause symptoms in a healthy person are given to treat the symptoms of the ailing person. Though homeopathy eludes scientific explanation, quantum physics is moving toward shedding light on just how it works. It has been used effectively for over 200 years. Ignatia Amara is a homeopathic remedy I have been using with great success for many years. My naturopath prescribed it to me. When first trying homeopathy, I recommend consulting a naturopath first to find the correct dosing for your individual needs.
- Natural herb – Valerian
Valerian is an all-natural herb that helps calm the body and mind when taken in its prescribed dosage. It is commonly used for insomnia but also works well for anxiety. I have been using this remedy for years with great success.
Caution:
Do not overdose on valerian. Even though it is a natural herb, it can cause side effects such as vivid dreams, drowsiness, headaches and upset stomach. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not use valerian. If you are currently taking medications for insomnia or anxiety, do not use valerian unless directed by your healthcare practitioner. If you have liver disease, avoid using valerian.
- Supplement – Magnesium
Magnesium is vital to 300 of the body’s enzymatic reactions. One of the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency is anxiety and tendency to startle easily. Ironically, cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, causes magnesium depletion. Magnesium occurs naturally in foods such as: chicken, green, leafy vegetables, oats, cocoa, nuts and seeds and whole grains. If you choose to take a magnesium supplement, take chelated magnesium as it is best absorbed by the body.
- Flower essences
Flower essence work to heal the body on an energetic level, much like homeopathy. Aspen, rock rose, and agrimony are helpful in relieving anxiety. Flower essences, as with homeopathy, work on an individual’s energy. I recommend experimenting with them slowly, one at a time, to see what works best for your individual needs.
- Natural herb – Chamomile
A nice cup of chamomile tea is helpful to calm the mind before bedtime and is also used in the treatment of anxiety. For a little more potency, chamomile can be taken as a tincture or in capsule form.
Caution:
If you are allergic to plants in the daisy family, have a bleeding disorder or taking medications that would increase the risk of bleeding or if you are pregnant or nursing, do not use chamomile. Common side effects are drowsiness when combined with other sedatives. Take caution if you are on medication for diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Supplement – Vitamin B3
Since niacin, or vitamin B3 is responsible for supporting the neurotransmission system of the brain, deficiencies in this vitamin has been linked to anxiety & depression. Foods such as salmon, chicken, red meat, tuna, milk products and mushrooms contain natural niacin. You could also choose to supplement your diet with B3 in capsule or liquid form. A common side effect of niacin is flushing if used in high doses.
- Activity – Writing
Writing may seem like an odd ‘natural remedy’ for anxiety but it helps. If your worry comes from too much to do or financial or business concerns, getting your thoughts organized with a list is a great stress buster! Try this: write your worries on the left side of the page under ‘Stress’ and on the right side, under ‘Busters’ write down a possible solution to your problems. Having a plan of action creates feelings of empowerment, which can greatly reduce your anxiety.
- Activity – Meditation
When you read the word ‘meditation’ visions of silent monks crunched up into uncomfortable positions for hours may be the first thing that comes to mind. Meditation is simply a way of quieting the thoughts. Try this: find a comfortable chair in a place where you will be uninterrupted for at least twenty minutes. Close your eyes and settle back. Breathe deeply in and out through your nose 5-10 times and then, just let your breathing return to its natural rhythm and allow your thoughts to drift. Sometimes it is helpful to concentrate on a mantra, just one or two words to help clear the mind such as: “peace” or “calm”. Just ten to twenty minutes a day can work wonders!
- Activity – Exercise
When you work out, your body releases natural endorphins called serotonin, which give you an instant mood lift and help release “nervous tension”. You don’t have to join a gym either; a brisk walk or hike, dancing to your favorite music while pumping 2 lb weights or even vigorous housecleaning can give you just the boost you need to release stress.
Note: If your anxiety is related to a recent or past trauma and/or the above steps do not make a significant improvement in your mood and well being, it is a good idea to consult a qualified therapist who may have additional suggestions for healing from panic and anxiety. If, at any time, you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, call a crisis center immediately.
Click the link below for a suicide hotline.
I have first-hand experience with anxiety and some of the above natural remedies have worked wonders in my life. I hope they will in yours too.
For more information on how to heal your body naturally, visit: www.itoldyouiwassick.com.
This article is intellectual property © Jaime A. Heidel 2010
All Rights Reserved
Do you have unexplained symptoms? Have you gone to doctor after doctor and taken test after test just to have the health professionals you’re going to for help insist they can find nothing wrong with you?
I feel your pain.
I was sick from birth. As an infant, I had terrible colic, threw up constantly and did nothing but scream and cry most of the day unless I was passed out from exhaustion. In early childhood I had terrible behavioral and cognitive problems that only grew worse as I went into my teenage years.
I moved out on my own at 17 and continued to go to doctors trying to find out what was causing the constant stomach and muscle pain. I didn’t know at the time that the emotional and behavioral problems were linked to the same culprit. It wasn’t until my hair started falling out and my weight dropped drastically that I went to a naturopath for the first time.
He looked over my medical records, my symptoms and my behavior and knew, almost instantly, that my problem was food intolerance related.
Eight years later, I’m following a healthy diet free of the foods that used to make me sick from head to toe; gluten, corn and processed sugars and to a lesser degree, beans and peanuts and I’ve never been healthier in my life.
Do you have a food allergy or intolerance?
Food intolerance has been linked to the following health problems:
- Sinusitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Skin rashes
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Delayed learning
- Behavioral/cognitive problems
- Muscle pain
- Flatulence
- Candida (yeast)
among others.
As the digestive system struggles to assimilate what it is sensitive to, the body produces an inflammatory response causing one or more of the above symptoms.
Intolerance to wheat gluten has even been linked to autism spectrum disorders.
Also, those who suffer from autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome may develop food sensitivities that can worsen the symptoms of these conditions.
So what do you do if you believe your symptoms may be linked to food sensitivity?
While some would advise a blood test either done at your doctor’s office or through a home self-testing kit, my advice is to avoid this. Research shows, since we all make antibodies to the food we eat, blood tests for food sensitivity are too inconclusive to be of benefit.
Instead, try an elimination diet followed by the reintroduction of the most common foods that cause symptoms of intolerance. These being wheat, gluten, dairy, corn, soy, egg, citrus, nuts and seafood.
The best example of an elimination diet I have recently come across is under the link below.
Though it is categorized under fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, this elimination diet can be used by anybody who is looking to see if food sensitivity is the cause of their chronic ill health.
I would offer the diet I followed myself but it was mostly rice and vegetables and the above list has much more variety. 😉
Remember to keep a journal of what you’ve eaten throughout the day and don’t give up. It’s tedious at first but the results are absolutely worth the journey.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Check out the Product Review Page on my website for a list of natural products I’ve used to improve my digestive health.
This article is intellectual property © Jaime A. Heidel 2010
All Rights Reserved
So you’ve done yard work for the first time in months and you just know you’re going to be sore when you wake up in the morning. Just reach for some menthol-heavy cream and ibuprofen right? Not necessarily.
There’s a more natural (and less expensive) way of easing your aching muscles. Plus, there are some great added benefits!
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate; an element our bodies need but do not absorb enough of through diet alone.
Just a fifteen-minute soak in a hot bath filled with 4 cups of Epsom salt draws toxins from the body, relieves stress and reduces inflammation. Another benefit is Epsom salt’s ability to regulate the body’s electrolytes. This improves nerve system function which alleviates anxiety and induces a deeper, more restful sleep. The sulfate in Epsom salt also stimulates digestion and improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
I’ve used Epsom salt for years to help with anxiety and ease inflammation due to my body’s autoimmune response. It’s real medicine and it works.
At less than two dollars a pound, you can’t go wrong with this tried-and-true folk remedy!
Caution:
If you haven’t done an Epsom salt soak before, use 1 cup of Epsom salt to start. Soaking in magnesium sulfate can cause feelings of lightheadedness and it’s best to begin gradually to see how you’ll react. Do not soak in Epsom salts if you are pregnant or allergic to sulfur. If you have a specific medical concern, seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner before using Epsom salt.
For more healthy, natural products I recommend check out the Product Review Page on my website.
This article is intellectual property © Jaime A. Heidel 2010
All Rights Reserved
I Told You I Was Sick 