Anxiety is fear, plain and simple. It can happen when we are stressed or afraid and the “flight or fight” mechanism is triggered. It can occur when we are out of harmony within ourselves and with the people and things around us. Anxiety can cause shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest tightness, trembling, sweating, dizziness, numbness, shaking, and muscular tension. If you have panic attacks, you may feel as if you’re dying or going crazy. Though panic attacks rarely last longer than 10 minutes, they can be very disabling. Here’s how to calm down now.
HERBS THAT EASE ANXIETY
Choose nervine mineral-rich herbal teas such as California poppy, catnip, chamomile, hops, lemon balm, oat straw, and passionflower. Drink 3 cups (705 ml) daily.
Hops and valerian tincture are not so lovely to taste but have strong sedative properties to calm anxiety and relax tight muscles. Put 4 drops in water and sip.
Kava kava extract was recently approved in Germany for its anti-anxiety effects. A study in the German medical journal, Arzneimittel Forschung in 1991 showed that this herb significantly reduced anxiety levels. Take 100 mg 3 times daily.
VITAMINS THAT EASE ANXIETY
Taking calcium (1,000 mg daily) and magnesium (500 mg daily) can help ease anxiety. So can taking a good B-complex vitamin (50 mg daily). These nutrients help calm and restore the nervous system.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) helps protect the brain from excitatory messages so one is less likely to feel overwhelmed. Take 250 mg up to three times daily.
The amino acid 5-HTP (5-hydroxytrytophan) is a precursor to serotonin, which has a calming effect. Take no more than 50 mg twice daily.
FLOWER ESSENCES THAT EASE ANXIETY
Have Rescue Remedy, a combination of five Bach Flower Remedies, with you in several convenient places such as your briefcase, desk, purse, and glove compartment and use it when anxiety starts to come on. Take four drops under the tongue or in a glass of water as often as needed, up to every 15 minutes.
You can also take Aspen flower essence if you feel fearful and anxious but don’t know why. Take four drops under the tongue or in a glass of water. Mimulus flower essence and Agrimony flower essence also ease restlessness and anxiety. Take four drops under the tongue or in a glass of water three times daily.
AROMATHERAPY THAT CALMS ANXIETY
The brain is in very close proximity to the nasal passages, so taking ten deep inhalations from an opened bottle of pure essential oils changes neural pathways in a moment. Inhale the anxiety-relieving essential oils of basil, bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, marjoram, melissa, neroli, petitgrain, rose, rosemary, or ylang-ylang. You can find these in your health food store.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR M.D.
If your anxiety has a significant effect on your life, consider therapy. Cognitive Behavior Therapy teaches a person to view situations that tend to cause panic differently. Visit www.beckinstitute.org for information.
SOOTHING PRACTICES TO CALM ANXIETY
Remember to breathe and feed your brain the oxygen it craves for serenity. Deep diaphragmatic breathing can actually help relieve anxiety. For this reason, exercise is a good way to reduce anxiety.
Use a peaceful mantra to calm the spirit. Say “OM” (the sound of everything in the universe all at once), “the Universe supports me,” or any other centering phrase over and over. I’ve always liked “Om Mane Padme Hum,” which means “God is a lotus in my heart.” Repetition gets you to breathe more slowly and calms a racing heart.
Write about what has triggered your anxiety. Are there any common denominators such as a food, place, theme, a certain person, or a situation? Ask what the anxiety is trying to protect you from. Make a list of the people and places you typically encounter. Ask which of those feel safe and which don’t. Put a mark by all those that feel threatening. Try to avoid those situations to reduce anxiety until you feel strong enough to face them.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Massage can help release tension and, in turn, anxiety. Hold the thumb of one hand with the other as a calming technique. Rub the third eye (center of the forehead) to calm the spirit. Holding your toes, especially the middle toe, helps to bring the energy down from the head and ground it so you feel calmer.
This Coping With Anxiety article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
