Anxiety is a state of nervousness associated with certain events or situations. It should be differentiated from anxiety disorders where episodes of anxiety arise for no specific reasons. While it is natural for every person to feel anxious now and then, sometimes the anxiety is extreme and can even be debilitating. For example, most students will be anxious about an exam but some may begin to panic, hyperventilate, become weepy, sweat profusely, experience diarrhea, nausea or abdominal pain or suffer with headaches.
It is always advisable that an anxiety mood disorder is treated by a psychiatrist along with the assistance of a clinical psychologist. The nutritional, homeopathic and herbal remedies discussed below may be useful for acute episodes of anxiety or during stressful periods in a person’s life where nervousness may occur. Most of these remedies do not have an intoxicating effect and are not addictive.
Diet and Lifestyle
- Avoid caffeine and nicotine as these stimulants can exacerbate some of the symptoms associated with anxiety.
- Alcohol consumption should be moderated.
- Exercise may help to distract a person and control stress levels.
- Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation may help a person reduce the anxiety. Another techniques known as guided imagery, which is closely related to visualisation, may be used for anxiety as part of mind body medicine.
Herbal Remedies
- Chamomile (Marticaria chamomilla)
- Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)
- Kava kava (Piper methysticum)
- Skullcap (Scuttelaria lateriflora)
- Wild oats (Avena sativa)
Homeopathic remedies
- Aconite
- Argentum nitricum
- Arsenicum album
- Gelsemium
- Kali phosphorium (tissue salts)
- Phosphorus