by Orianna
This article includes affiliate links.
As someone who has a lot of experience with anxiety and has also done a lot of spiritual work, it is my opinion that many people who struggle with anxiety are Highly Sensitive People (HSPs). HSPs have sensitive nervous systems. They pick up on the subtle energy of everything around them, and it can be overwhelming.
Until an HSP recognizes that they are sensitive and understands how to center in their own energy rather than letting the chaos of the collective consciousness rag out their central nervous system, they will find comfort in one or more of the remedies below. Even after a good self-management protocol is developed, these are great tools to have as support.
Of course, there may be other reasons for anxiety. For example, the person's outward actions are not in sync with the inner desires (aka: they are allowing societal or familial expectations to dictate what is “right.”) This creates an internal war of sorts, and in this case, the anxiety is internally generated.
Another cause may be that the person is holding on to trauma that has not been dealt with, even though it has tried to come up for review and release. This is the proverbial head in the sand “if I don’t look at it, it can’t be real” situation. Until trauma is processed and released, the effort it takes to hold it back and the friction it creates within the emotional body and energy field causes anxiety.
Yet another reason for anxiety may be that it is caused by a medically-driven chemical or hormonal imbalance. The information in this article is presented from personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. If you are really struggling with anxiety, please see a health care professional.
While it is always a good idea to try and understand the cause, these remedies have worked for me in the past to help relieve anxiety.
6 Natural Methods to Relieve Anxiety
1. Natural Calm
Natural Calm is a magnesium and calcium supplement. It comes in a powder that you mix into water and drink. Both calcium and magnesium are very stabilizing to the body. Magnesium is sometimes called “nature’s valium.” I have used this product a lot, and from my experience, it is effective. It is also safe enough for children and may be a great support for interrupting a panic attack.
I also take Epsom Salt baths regularly. Epsom Salt includes magnesium and helps to clear the “junk” from our subtle bodies. This is an alternative method for employing magnesium to support anxiety.
For more information about how magnesium supports anxiety, you can refer to the article How To Take Magnesium For Anxiety Or Depression by Dr. Suruchi Chandra. To purchase on Amazon, click here.
2. L-Theanine Supplement
You have likely heard of L-theanine — it is the amino acid in green tea that everyone raves about. I took 100mg of L-theanine every day for approximately two years. This was when I was going through a significant period of spiritual awakening and expansion of consciousness. When we “awaken,” we become more aware of a wider range of frequencies. As our subtle bodies and psychic centers begin to perceive and receive these frequencies, it may be stressful and cause anxiety. This is a description of my use case. I found that as I got better with self-management, I no longer needed the L-theanine, and at some point, I started to modulate better without it, so I discontinued use.
When I was younger, I took the prescription drug Xanax, a benzodiazepine that dampens the central nervous system. I no longer wanted to take prescription drugs to manage anxiety, and in my case, L-Theanine was an excellent substitute. After two years of taking L-Theanine, I no longer require a daily anxiety medication and it has been over six years since I discontinued use. I now manage my energy proactively using intention and visualizations. If this method interests you, the book Own Your Energy by Alla Svirinskaya may be a helpful tool.
Again, this is not intended as medical advice; please see a health care professional for support if needed. An integrative medicine practitioner may be better able to advise about the pros and cons of prescription medication versus natural remedies.
For more information, you can refer to the article What You Should Know About L-Theanine.
To purchase on Amazon, click here.
3. Rhodiola
Rhodiola is an adaptogen, an herb that seeks out imbalance and helps bring the body back into homeostasis. It is shown to increase the activity of the major neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. I have used Rhodiola tincture several times for short periods. For me, it did not work as well as some of the other remedies on this list. Perhaps like L-Theanine, Rhodiola is a long-game solution rather than an emergency support tool.
There is good evidence, though, of the effectiveness of Rhodiola on anxiety. In my experience, it was better for boosting energy — which it is also known for. WebMD says, “Early research shows that taking a specific Rhodiola extract twice daily for 14 days can improve anxiety levels and mood in college students with anxiety.”
For more information about Rhodiola, you can refer to the article What’s to know about rhodiola rosea?. To purchase on Amazon, click here.
4. Red Clover Flower Essence
Flower essences are subtle energy medicine that does not interact with any existing medications you may be taking. Red Clover is an excellent remedy for finding peace amidst the chaos. It can be used as an emergency support tool for panic attacks or daily support until better balance can be achieved.
This is the Red Clover description from Green Hope Farm, one of my favorite flower essence sellers:
De-escalates panic and anxiety Red Clover helps when we feel anxious about events unfolding around us, when we are swept up in situations of extreme stress or find ourselves in an emergency situation. Red Clover calms the emotional body and helps defuse any chain reaction in our energetic system that might exacerbate our feelings of distress or promote a reaction of panic. -Helps with panic attacks. -Excellent in any emergency situation.
For more information about Red Clover flower essence, you can refer to my Medium article Flower Essence #2 Red Clover. To purchase on Amazon, click here.
5. Bach Rescue Remedy
Bach’s Rescue Remedy flower essence is my go-to for times of high anxiety. I keep several bottles of this essence around my house so that it is within easy reach. I pay attention to my balance, and if I sense anything a little “off,” I take a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy. Sometimes, this happens when I am on a conference call and participate in group energy and need to quickly “right” myself. In addition to the flower essence, I use the Rescue Gum, and my son uses the Rescue Remedy pastilles. If you are wondering if flower essences are safe for kids — they are. My son has used Bach gum and pastilles since he was five years old!
For more information about Bach’s Rescue Remedy, you can refer to their website description. For information about using flower essences for children, you can refer to the book Bach Flower Remedies for Children: A Parent’s Guide.
To purchase the Bach Rescue Remedy flower essence on Amazon, click here; to purchase Bach’s Rescue Remedy pastilles, click here. (Note: all of these products are typically carried at your local health food store, including Whole Foods. The pastilles also come in a variety of flavors.)
6. Inositol
I recently started using Inositol to help with hormonal balance. Inositol is Vitamin B-8. Although I have not used it specifically for anxiety, I wanted to mention that there have been studies done regarding the effectiveness of this supplement for reducing panic attacks. Mental Health of America says: "Writing in Mischoulon and Rosenbaum’s compendium, Belmaker and Levine propose inositol as a stand-alone supplement for depression and panic disorder rather than as a complement for other psychotropic drugs…”
While many prescription drugs have multiple adverse side effects, Inositol has fewer risks. According to the article, The Health Benefits of Inositol, “Inositol is generally considered safe in adults. Side effects, if any, tend to be mild and may include nausea, stomach pain, tiredness, headache, and dizziness. Most side effects occur with doses greater than 12 g per day.”
In general, B vitamins support the central nervous system, so even a B complex vitamin supplement may be helpful for anxiety. This study indicates that “particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) contribute essentially to the maintenance of a healthy nervous system.”
To purchase Inositol on Amazon, click here; to purchase a B-vitamin supplement, click here. (Note that most B complex vitamin supplements do not include Vitamin B-8; they typically include B-1, -2, -3, -5, -6, -7, -9, and -12.)
Other Natural Anxiety Remedies
According to the BeBrainFit article Proven Natural Remedies for Anxiety, several other remedies may be effective. I know of these and have taken some of them, but I have not tried them in terms of their ability to relieve anxiety:
Ashwagandha — a prevalent Ayurvedic herb, also considered an adaptogen
Bacopa — another Ayurvedic herb, considered effective for longevity and improving memory
Ginko Biloba — one of the most popular herbal supplements on the market; considered effective for improving memory
Ginseng — called the “elixir of life” in Chinese medicine; very popular for improving energy levels
Kava Kava — a South Pacific herb most well known as an anti-depressant; it increases the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Passionflower — native to North America, well known for its effectiveness in relieving insomnia
Valerian — like Magnesium, Valerian is often called “nature’s valium”; similar to Kava, it is thought to increase GABA levels in the brain.
One thing with herbal remedies is not to bargain shop. Do some research and purchase a trusted brand. I typically use Country Life products whenever I can. My local health food store has a twice-yearly promotional sale and provides a buy one, get 50% deal for Country Life products. Looking for these kinds of deals can help alleviate the slightly higher cost of higher-quality products. I also like the NOW Foods and Gaia Herbs brands. On Amazon, try to buy from the supplement seller directly, rather than a third party whenever possible.
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