Anxiety affects us all and it can take many forms. The panic attack is one of the more serious types of anxiety. Our heart starts beating faster, we get cold sweats, tremors and we cannot concentrate. We are paralyzed with fear, whether it’s rational or irrational. There are many prescription drugs that are meant to treat anxiety disorders but the side effects that they bring don’t make them very safe on the long run. Plus, these prescription drugs are very addictive and can transform us into walking veggies. Fortunately, there are other safe ways to calm us down when panic strikes. Here are 10 natural remedies that relieve anxiety and are completely safe for our health.
10. Chamomile
When you’re having one of those “nervous” moments, try drinking a cup of chamomile tea. There are many studies showing that chamomile is not only relaxing, but it can also relieve anxiety and depression. Researchers proved that chamomile relaxes the blood vessels, as well as the muscle fibers.
9. Green Tea
No wonder Japanese Buddhist monks are so relaxed and can meditate for hours. One of the reasons is that they drink a lot of green tea. Green tea is one of the best natural remedies that relieve anxiety because it contains an amino acid called L-theanine. This compound helps control the heart rate and blood pressure and it has also been proven to reduce anxiety.
8. Valerian
Some natural remedies help reduce anxiety without making you sleepy. Others act like a sedative. Valerian is one of those natural remedies that relieve anxiety. It contains sedative compounds that help improve sleep disorders like insomnia. You can drink valerian tea or take valerian capsules to improve mild anxiety attacks, but it’s only advised to be used if you’re not driving because it may be sleep inducing.
7. Passionflower
Passionflower, just like valerian, is a natural sedative that can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. It was first used by the Native Americans in the U.S. Passionflower has a powerful anti-anxiety compound called flavones chrysin which has similar effects as the prescription drug Xanax.
6. Natural Remedies That Relieve Anxiety – Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular natural remedies for anxiety. You can drink it as tea or use it as a key ingredient in anti-stress massages. This soothing oil is used in Europe, North America and Australia for its calming effects and it has been scientifically proven that lavender has the ability to slow down the nervous system, helping us relax and sleep better.
5. Kava Kava
This plant is considered one of the most effective natural remedies to relieve anxiety. It calms the mind and elevates the mood. It’s a non addictive way to treat stress disorders and depressive episodes.
4. The Sun
Sunshine is very therapeutic when dealing with stress and anxiety related issues. The vitamin D and the bright light from the sun have a positive effect on our brain chemistry and hormonal balance. Think about how “down” we get when it’s rainy and cloudy outside. If you want to uplift your mood, we need to get out more when it’s sunny and warm.
3. Exercise
Exercising is a great way to improve our physical and mental state and it’s been proved to be quite effective in relieving anxiety and depression. Half an hour a day of running will fuel your batteries, will refresh you and you’ll see the world from a brighter point of view. If you don’t feel like running you can just walk and you’ll still feel the therapeutic effects it has on your mind.
2. Omega 3
We all know by now that omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart. But did you know that it’s also indicated if you suffer from anxiety? Scientists recommend that we should consume at least 2.5 of omega-3s daily to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. We can take it from a variety of fish or as omega-3 supplements.
1. Positive Thinking
We know this sounds a bit simplistic and that when the black veil of anxiety and depression covers us, it feels like there’s no way out. Often, there is the tendency to lose ourselves in dark thoughts and we feel like nothing makes any sense anymore. But it’s really up to us to change something. We need to distract ourselves whenever we feel anxious. We need to think about something that really makes us happy and stay there for a few minutes, try to relax and empty our mind. It can make a great difference.
This was our list of natural remedies that relieve anxiety. Do you have other remedies you would like to share with us?
