Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Natural Cure for Anxiety

Feeling anxious every once so often is normal. Looking at it positively, anxiousness pushes us to become wary of possible consequences which may not be entirely to our liking. It keeps us from becoming too comfortable to the point that we become negligent and come to harm. However, if we are anxious all the time, and it has already gotten in our way of enjoying a peaceful existence, then it is high time we pay our psychiatrist a visit. For all we know, we could already be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Generally, such psychological ailments would entail the use of certain prescription medicines, most of which would be classified under psychotropic drugs, and psychotherapy.

However, prior to resorting to these traditionally accepted treatments for anxiety, there are other options that do not involve the use of synthetic drugs. A natural cure for anxiety could be in the form of herbs and other medicinal plants in order to alleviate our condition. According to people who advocate natural remedies, making use of natural plants and other materials for addressing ailments could work better since they are supposedly devoid of side effects. If you have been feeling more anxious than you used to lately, then trying these out could be the answer you are searching for.
  • Get a massage.
All forms of massage therapy are intended to ease muscle tension, promote better sleeep, and diminish stress.
  • Try the powers of passionflower.
A study that involved 198 participants has proven the efficacious properties of passionflower in addressing the symptoms of anxiety. In addition, another study has confirmed that its effect is similar to that of benzodiazepine drugs. However, unlike other natural remedies for anxiety, using passionflower can have adverse physical effects. These are vomiting, dizziness, and heart palpitations. It is also important to take into consideration that passionflower can never be taken alongside other sedatives without medical supervision.
  • Valerian may work, too.
Valerian is an herb that is widely popular for treating insomnia. Yet, it is also used for treating anxiety. Like passionflower, using it may generate adverse physical side effects, such as dizziness, headaches, slight indigestion, and rapid heartbeats.
  • Consider the positive effects of kava.
Popularly utilized as a medicine, kava, a shrub native to Polynesia, is known to work against human anxiety. However, the United States Food and Drug Administration has released a public advisory warning consumers of its negative effect to our liver.
  • Why not try the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy?
A commonly known branch of herbal medicine, aromatherapy makes use of the medicinal components of plants, essential oils, and herbs. Among the essential oils used to address the symptoms of anxiety are the following: lavender, ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood, melissa, neroli, jasmine, geranium, cypress, and bergamot. However, among them, lavender is the one that is widely used for promoting relaxation.
  • You can also try GABA.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA is an amino acid used in some anxiety drugs to impact our brain receptors. It is known to have a positive effect in addressing the symptoms of anxiety.




Summary:

Prior to resorting to these traditionally accepted treatments for anxiety, there are other options that do not involve the use of synthetic drugs. A natural cure for anxiety could be in the form of herbs and other medicinal plants in order to alleviate our condition. According to people who advocate natural remedies, making use of natural plants and other materials for addressing ailments could work better since they are supposedly devoid of side effects.


Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

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