 Most
people experience anxiety from time to time and this is normal.
If you feel anxious before something important such as as an
exam, a first date or standing in front of a crowd to make a
presentation you are not alone. This happens to most people at
some time or another in their lives. Then there is the type of
anxiety that affects life on another level completely. This type
of anxiety is called an "Anxiety Disorder" and the stress of the
modern world has them becoming one of the most prevalent
disorders in modern society. The incidence of anxiety disorders
has risen dramatically in the second half of the twentieth
century, to the point that they are now the most common "mental"
illness. The National Institute for Mental Health reports that
one in nine Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety
disorders are considered to be the most prevalent mental health
issue in many western countries today.
The use of herbal medicine for anxiety has attracted much
attention in recent times and is becoming more common in today's
world. There are many advantages of herbal medicine over
traditional pharmaceutical treatment are many. Herbal treatments
for anxiety tend to have fewer side effects and are less likely
to cause dependency. They also are usually very cost effective.
Care should be taken when altering any medications or adding
supplements to your prescribed treatments. Close attention to
drug interactions should be made before taking any herbal
medicine. The cause of anxiety must be investigated thoroughly
with your health care professional with herbs viewed as part of
a holistic approach to better health. When looking to use herbal
therapy for anxiety, it is essential to investigate whether or
not there is also depression so that an appropriate formula can
be prescribed.
It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany depression,
eating disorders, substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders can also co-exist with illnesses such as
cancer or heart disease. In such instances, the accompanying
disorders will also need to be treated. Before beginning any
treatment, however, it is important to have a thorough medical
examination to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. This
being said there are many effective ways to deal with an anxiety
disorder. Among the natural medicine therapies offered at East
West Center for Natural Medicine are Heavy Metal Detoxification,
CranioSacral Therapy, Flower Essence Therapy, Homeopathy, NAET
(allergy elimination), Nutritional and Dietary therapy,
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Qi Gong.
Nutritional
and Herbal Therapy for Anxiety
 Include
natural supplements 1,000 mg of calcium and 500 mg magnesium
daily. Try taking half the amount in the morning and half at
night to increase absorption of calcium. Also, take 50-100 mg B
complex daily, in the morning to decrease stress effects.
 Avoid
stimulating foods and drinks: caffeine, sugar, processed foods
and alcohol. Avoid foods that commonly cause food sensitivities
(peanuts, soy, dairy, wheat, corn, shell fish). Increase
consumption of fresh vegetables and whole grains.
 There
are some very safe and effective Chinese herbal formulas that
help decrease anxiety and help improve sleep such as: Xiao Yao
Wan Formula or An Mian Wan Formula.
 St.
John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) helps with both depression
and anxiety. The mild action of this antidepressant herb has led
to it being one of the most popular of all medicinal herbs and
is a reliable herb to consider for treating anxiety. St John’s
Wort has the added benefit of being a gentle sedative and can
assist in treating insomnia. The St John’s Wort’s flowers
contain hypericin, and hyperforin both considered to be vital
components in the mood lifting action of this herb. The action
of these compounds is enhanced by the flavenoid glycosides
naturally found in this plant and a good supplement will have
standardized amounts of hypericin and flavenoid glycosides.
Caution: If you are taking warfarin, digoxin and some drugs
used to treat HIV (indinavir and nevirapine), chemotherapy
medications such as irinotecan, and antihistamines,
benzodiazepines and simvastatin. Consulting your health care
practitioner is advisable before beginning any new medication
and in the case of St. John’s Wort, it is recommended to
discontinue for seven days before a general anesthetic.
 Passion
flower (Passiflora incarnata) Passionflower is helpful for
anxiety with insomnia.
Passion flower has a tranquilizing affect on the nervous system
and is indicated specifically for anxiety and insomnia. With a
reputation as non habit forming medication for anxiety,
passionflower has been indicated in preparations for alcohol,
nicotine and opiate withdrawal. This herb is extremely gentle in
its action and should be considered for insomnia associated with
anxiety before using valerian.
 Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian root is possibly one of the most pungent herbs in use.
This strong smelling herb is famous for being the plant that
Valium was derived from. It is one of the more potent calmatives
in use and care should be taken when using valerian for more
than three weeks for insomnia associated with anxiety. Valerian
can cause drowsiness and prolonged use may disrupt deep sleep
which can lead to tiredness, even after a full nights sleep.
 Hops
(Humulus lupulus)
This herb is primarily a sedative and is often combined with
passion flower to enhance its action to treat nervous tension
and insomnia. A recent German study concluded that as a
substitute to benzodiazepines, hops and valerian provided a
viable alternative. Caution should be used when prescribing hops
for anxiety if depression is thought to be involved.
The health care professionals at East West Center for Natural
Medicine are experienced in the use of herbs and natural
therapies that will ease the often paralyzing and uncomfortable
sensations that go with this condition. This herb and formulas
featuring these herbs are available through licensed health care
practitioners, and may be prescribed as herbal decoctions (teas
you brew), or in convenient tablets and fluid extracts. For
information on obtaining the benefits of TCM and natural
medicine please contact East West Center for Natural Medicine at
574-210-4982 | .... |
