Don't Panic: 10 Natural Anxiety Remedies

Did you know that anxiety surpasses depression as the leading form of mental illness in the United States?

So little is done to help those suffering with the weight of emotional stress. Seeking help from medical professionals in America will more than likely lead sufferers down the path of least resistance – pharmaceuticals. Treating the symptoms of an anxiety disorder with toxic drugs only numbs the brain and masks root feelings.

It may feel like the problem is solved, but really the underlying stressors continue to beat down and destroy the body.

Here are 10 natural and effective ways to combat feelings of anxiety and keep both your body and mind healthy:

1. Exercise

It’s hard not to see the correlation between America’s battle to beat obesity and the rise in anxiety related disorders. It’s no secret that regular activity can improve one’s physique. Feeling and looking fit undoubtedly improves self-esteem, which at low levels can cause greater overall anxiety for a person.

Apart from the confidence booster, exercise increases blood flow, delivering mood boosting chemicals to the brain. Chronic illness not only weakens the body but can leave a person stressed about their health. A strong body doesn’t worry about the fragility of health.

2. Deep Breathing

This one may seem like a no-brainer (literally) but it’s not enough to simply relax. Studies show it actually requires a great deal of concentration to regulate deep breathing, leaving little room for stressful thinking. Just a few minutes a day of mindful breathing can stimulate positive thinking and relax tense nerves and muscles.

3. Don’t Diet

Depriving your body of food is stressful. Not only does fad or extreme dieting not work, but it’s a sure way to subject your mind and body to unnecessary anxiety.

A drop in blood sugar can spin your body into survival mode and increase normal levels of the stress hormone adrenaline. Instead, consider a regiment of healthy snacking to keep subconscious stresses at bay.

4. Hops

Yes, hops as in beer, but by no means will a beer binge reduce your anxiety. Actually, alcohol is one of the leading triggers of anxiety and should be avoided entirely by those prone to mood irregularities.

Hops contain sedative qualities which are best found in tincture and extract form. The natural compound known as dimethylvinyl carbinol is shown to have extremely powerful relaxing properties, so much so that holistic medicine combines hops with valerian root to treat insomnia.

5. Valerian

Lack of sleep is among the leading stressors contributing to anxiety attacks. Valerian root has a long history as a sleep aid and has recently been shown by a German study to be as effective as the commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medication Oxazepam.

6. Passion Flower

In the same sedative family as hops and valerian, passion flower is proven to relax your mind and release tension in your body.

7. Chamomile

The process of brewing a hot cup of tea can work wonders on reducing anxiety. The chamomile herb contains compounds which bind to brain receptors the same way that Valium does, without any of the addictive consequences. Chamomile tea is also a great digestive aid to help eliminate toxins from the gut and cleanse the body of stressful pollutants.

8. Ginseng

This natural sourced adaptogen has been found to cure anxiety attacks. Supplementing ginseng can prepare the body to better negotiate adverse emotional and physical stressors.

9. Get Hot

You know that euphoric feeling you get after taking a hot shower or bath? Raising your body temperature in a hot bath, shower or sauna will relax muscle tension and improve your overall well being. Research has found the sensation of warmth can alter neural circuits in the brain, which control your mood.

10. Take A Walk

Stress hormones are the primary culprit triggering feelings of overwhelm. Taking a walk outside will lower stress levels in your body and increase blood flow to your brain. Clear thinking can make all the difference.