Vitamin Supplements - A Natural Approach to Fighting Anxiety

By Margaret R. Ferguson


For most anxiety suffers, traditional treatments (including drug therapy and psychotherapy) serve as a Band-Aid, but never fully correct the physiological imbalance that causes anxiety in the first place. Fortunately, natural approaches exist to fight stress by replenishing the body of essential vitamins and supplements missing from the brain or nervous system.Anxiety may surface in a variety of forms, ranging from brief discomfort and uneasiness to full-blown panic disorder. Depending on the patient's condition, sufferers will generally be prescribed SSRI's (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors) such as Zoloft or Lexapro, in addition to a tranquilizer such as Xanax or Ativan to control attacks.

Passion Flower (Passiflora Incarnata).Passion Flower is an herbal supplement. The leaves, petals, and stems of the plant are used in making teas or tinctures. When in tea form it may be mixed with other calming herbs to increase its effectiveness. Tinctures can be added to juice or other drinks and taken as needed. Passion flower is primarily used as a calming agent to help with anxiety or insomnia. Doctors agree that is does work as well as some prescription drugs for aiding in anxiety disorders, however, there are few studies on how it actually works. It is theorized that it increases the production of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA is an amino acid that helps calm and reduce hyper-activity which is why passion flower has become such a popular supplement for treating children.

How to use it: Linden is most commonly used to make a fragrant and tasty tea. You can drink four to five cups a day and add a little bit of honey to make it taste even better.Passion Flower.Passion flower has a long history of being used as a sedative and is very popular when it comes to treating anxiety. It has a mild sedative effect when taken in small doses so it is safe to be used during the day time since it won't impair your functionality.

B Vitamins.Supplementing the body with B-vitamins is essential for any person suffering with anxiety on a regular basis. Research shows that low levels of B-vitamins such as B-9 and B-12 are directly linked to mood changes and depression.Furthermore, B-vitamins enhance and support the neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine - all which have a direct effect on stress.Complete B-vitamin supplements can be purchased at your local health food store or obtained naturally by eating whole-grain cereals, bread, red meat, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, legumes, sweet corn, brown rice, berries and yeast.Calcium and Magnesium.Calcium and Magnesium are natural remedies for brining the body back to a calm and de-stressed state. Calcium is a natural tranquilizer, while low levels of magnesium in the body is have been linked to increased stress, tension, nervousness and intense periods of anxiety and panic.

Rhodiloa Rosea.Rhodiola Rosea is and herbal supplement that is native to the colder regions of the world. It reached popularity is Russia as a supplement that assisting in helping the population deal with the cold Siberian climate. It is generally sold in pill or capsule form. The root is the part of the plant that is used when manufacturing the herbal supplement. Rhodiola Rosea is highly effective as an anti-depressant. It is believed that this herbal compound adjusts the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. It may also act as an MAO inhibitor. Side effects of this herb are unknown. A doctor should be consulted before adding this supplement to the diet.

For some of you the idea of supplements for anxiety and stress may be a new idea. Perhaps a friend mentioned that they have had success with these all natural approaches, or maybe a co-worker or family member hinted this might be something to consider. Whatever the reason gaining a better understanding of supplements for anxiety and stress will help you know how to get the most benefit, all the while knowing what to expect.

Fatigue relief,BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids) - Comprised of 3 amino acids: Valin, Leucine and Isoleucine. This supplement will find its use not only in body-builders who are looking to gain some muscle tissue, but also in those struggling with fatigue and depression. Because Amino Acids are essential to protein synthesis, which make up almost every cell and structure in our bodies, it can't hurt to provide yourself with the bodily structural basis. Works great in alleviating physical exhaustion/fatigue, which is inherent to depression and anxiety.Rhodiola Rosea - a plant based supplement, which is thought to alter the levels of serotonin and dopamine to our mood's favor through monoamine oxidase inhibition (enzyme breaking down neurotransmitters). This plant has been used in Siberian and Scandinavian countries for centuries to alleviate stress and depression. If it has helped people in such desolate climates and conditions its beneficial properties shall not be ignored. The active ingredients of this plant, rosavins, provide among the abovementioned reduction in fatigue by increasing your mental and physical stamina as well making it a great aid in depression and exercise.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).Vitamin C occurs naturally is fresh fruits. It is often used to protect the body from illness. Research had shown that deficiencies in vitamin C may cause mental disease and anxiety. This vitamin can be found in a variety of forms such as pill and liquid. Often foods are enriched with vitamin C to promote health. There are no known risk associated with vitamin C. It is a water soluble vitamin and the risk of overdose is low.

A full spectrum approach to healing and relaxing the mind and body may produce a number of additional benefits such as supporting nervous system health, balancing out emotions from those minor unforeseen daily challenges, boosting immune system function, and help in promoting and maintaining a positive outlook. This is in sharp contrast to the headaches, withdrawal symptoms, and stomach upset often associated with prescription medications.

Omega 3-6 - also known as fish oil, this dietary supplement supplies plenty of benefits to not only psychiatric patients suffering from anxiety by reducing its symptoms, but also by actively involving in prevention of cancer, inflammation and depression.Magnesium - deficiency can precipitate depression and anxiety so make sure to keep proper levels in check. Usually magnesium is contained, in sufficient daily amounts, in green vegetables, but if you need immediate relief magnesium can act as a gateway to sleep and calmness.Zinc - zinc levels on its own are rarely relevant, more important is the zinc-copper ratio that determines functions necessary in keeping a healthy mindset. A low zinc:copper ratio has been correlated with autism and increased prevalence of violent behavior. Furthermore, zinc has been identified in some neurons (specifically in synaptic vesicles) where it might aid cognitive functions.Although supplements can be of great help when treating anxiety, they are not the only possibility and nor are they the most effective approach compared to techniques such as exercise, meditation, exposure therapy, and so on. Consider supplements as catalysts to attaining better mental health and for maximum effects interweave their use with other methods suited for anxiety relief.




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