Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Depression

• What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is  an unpleasant state of mind. It includes nervousness, fear, excessive worrying about non-specific life events.

• What is Depression?

Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by disturbed sleep or appetite, sadness, loss of pleasure or interest, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration.

Natural Anxiety & Depression Soother

Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council has a number of expert suggestions for natural products that are soothing, relaxing and helpful in overcoming anxiety symptoms. Some have been found to help improve sleep and relieve stress and jitters.

TO HELP YOU RELAX, here is the list of natural remedies for anxiety and depression.

• 
  Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea. A study measured the brain activity of volunteers after a single 200 mg dose of theanine. Researchers  reported that the supplement helped generate alpha brain waves, which are usually considered to be associated with relaxation. The anine (also known as L-theanine) is available in natural food stores.

 

• 
  GABA  (gamma-aminobutyric acid)  is among the most important neurotransmitters in the brain, involved in relaxation and inhibition. In fact many of the pharmaceutical drugs used for treating anxiety, including Valium, act by enhancing the effects of GABA. Some research suggests that as a supplement GABA works better when combined with other ingredients like the anine. If you can find the two together in a supplement, it makes sense to take them that way.

 

• 
   Lemon balm  (a plant, Melissa officinalis, in the mint family) is another mild sedative. A recent study of 24 healthy volunteers published in Phytotherapy Research found that a single dose of 600 mg of a product combining valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and lemon balm reduced reported anxiety.
  

 

• 
  Kava is from a plant called Piper methysticum. Despite controversy associated with its use long-term, kava has long history as an herbal medicine to relieve anxiety, stress and insomnia. A recent review of randomized clinical trials on herbal remedies that relieve anxiety published in Phytomedicine found evidence “beyond reasonable doubt” for kava’s effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety.  “It relaxes skeletal muscles without causing drowsiness, so you can become physically relaxed but remain mentally sharp within 15 minutes of taking a product containing kava,” Blumenthal say. The recommended kava products are 70% standardized extract, sold in 100 mg doses, thus containing 70 mg of kavalactones (it will say so on the label).

Caution: Don’t take kava with alcohol or drugs that have an adverse effect on the liver (e.g. acetaminophen, or Thylenol). Also, kava has been associated with some liver problems. It is not considered safe for breastfeeding women, pregnant women or people with a history of liver disease. Consult your doctor before considering kava for long-term use.  

• 
  Lavender is associated with relaxation, often used as aromatherapy in spas and as an ingredient in supposedly soothing lotions and teas. Just breathing the aroma of natural lavender oil-in a spray or infuser, or as a massage oil-has mild relaxing effect.

Top

Mark Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council and the editor of the publication HerbalGram,  www.herbalgram.org.

Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Depression

Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Depression