Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Other Holistic Remedies

Anxiety is a natural part of life, but can be inappropriate when it starts to interfere with your everyday life…

A natural anxiety remedy can be a really effective way of treating your anxiety problems long term, and making sure they don't come back...

Whether you are worried about a single event in the future, or have an inexplicable, long term anxiety problem, or are somewhere in between, there are natural remedies for anxiety that can really help you out…

A herbal natural anxiety remedy will be very effective, but you should consult your doctor before switching from your current anxiety medication.

Diet and lifestyle changes can be excellent as an anxiety natural remedy, and can be incorporated very easily into your life…

These natural health remedies can be complemented by other natural remedies for anxiety, that can be used even together with conventional anti-anxiety treatments.

All these natural remedies for anxiety are very effective, but you need to choose the remedy which feels best for you:

Always remember to consult your healthcare provider before taking any decisions regarding your health.



Natural Remedies for Anxiety:

Meditation
Hypnotherapy
Breathing
Biofeedback
Massage and Essential Oils
Flower Remedies
Acupuncture
Homeopathy

Meditation

• Research has shown that anxiety sufferers practicing natural remedies for anxiety such as ‘mindfulness meditation’ showed less anxiety than those who didn't. Those who were still meditating 3 years on showed continued improvement.
• The state of meditation is a state where the mind is ‘empty’ – also known as ‘relaxed awareness’.
• Meditation produces alpha waves in the brain. This creates deep relaxation - but still with mental alertness. (Alpha waves are normally produced during sleep, but in meditation the waves are more intense.)
• If you learn to meditate regularly, you can learn to shift easily into this state, go into deep relaxation and counteract stress more effectively.
• There are lots of different ‘types’ or ‘schools’ of meditation, but all have in common that you should focus the conscious part of the brain on a particular:
  • physical object
  • mantra
  • rhythm of breathing
  • repetitive physical movement
• The flame of a candle is an ideal focal point if you are just starting meditation.
• You can learn to meditate on your own (through books, CD’s or DVD’s), or with the help of an experienced teacher, alone or in groups.
• Do not necessarily be put off by the fact that a particular meditation seems to belong to a certain faith. As long as you are comfortable with the situation, it is not necessary to convert or believe in this faith, to get the benefits.
• Regular meditation is more beneficial than a ‘one off’, and you will find that the ‘relaxed awareness’ state becomes easier with practice.
• If you have any history of psychiatric problems, do consult your doctor before you start. And do be aware that feelings of anxiety may temporarily worsen, in some cases. Your teacher should be able to help you work through this.

Recommended Meditation Resources:

Downloads::

Guided Meditation
Relaxation hypnosis - Guided Meditation

Meditation Hypnosis
Banish unwanted thoughts during meditation

Read a Book:

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Hypnotherapy

• Hypnotherapy is particularly suited to conditions like anxiety. It uses a similar state of deep relaxation to meditation (see above). This deep state of calmness in mind and body has great benefits in itself…
• But Hypnotherapy also takes advantage of the relaxed and receptive frame of mind to make suggestions to the unconscious mind, of how it should react towards anxious situations in the future.
• People who have undergone hypnotherapy say it works fantastically - I certainly think it is one of the best natural remedies for anxiety...
• You can go to a qualified hypnotherapist where you can expect several sessions before you see an effect. Ask around for a reputable practitioner.
• I like to use self-help hypnosis downloads, which give you a basic session you can use at home, where you are feeling more relaxed and comfortable.
• I found these sessions to actually be very effective - not to mention, very soothing and relaxing.

  It will probably take several sessions over a matter of weeks (or possibly even months) to work fully. You should start to see some difference very quickly, though – and the results (for me, at least!) were well worth it, so do persevere…

I found these downloads especially helpful natural remedies for anxiety:

Overcome Fear & Anxiety
Overcome fears and anxieties with hypnosis

Relieve Stress and Tension
Relieve stress and tension with hypnosis

Quiet Mind
Access a quiet mind any time any place

Stop Worrying
How to stop worrying today

Get more information about hypnosis therapy and self help hypnosis as natural health remedies.

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Breathing

• Surprisingly enough, such a simple thing as the way you breathe can be one of the most effective natural remedies for anxiety, and can make a huge difference to your feelings of anxiety! Surprised? I was…
• Holistic remedies, such as meditation and yoga use breathing techniques and patterns to bring the mind and body into a state of calm.
• Anxious people tend to breathe more rapidly than ‘normal’. Taking control of physical breathing patterns is a good way of directly influencing other physical (and even mental and emotional!) processes of the body and mind.
• I know it sounds unlikely, but try this breathing technique for yourself, and see how you can quickly go from feeling anxious and stressed, to feeling much calmer…

  (I’ll tell you how it works in a minute…)

  7 – 11 Breathing

  • Simply take a deep breath in – counting to 7, then…
  • Breathe out – smoothly and gently – to the count of 11, and repeat.
• This breathing pattern works (and pretty quickly too!) as with the deeper ‘out’ breaths, the lungs are more efficiently used. They are more completely filled and emptied with each breath…
• This means more oxygen is available for the body’s essential processes. But more ‘waste’ is also breathed out (which means less CO2 and lactic acid in the body, which can lead to anxiety and fatigue).
• With such breathing techniques, the body can not help but relax - even in a very stressful situation you will find this to be one of the most effective natural remedies for anxiety and stress.
• Practicing such breathing for about 10 minutes every day, will gradually help any state of anxiety.

This is the '7-11 Breathing Exercises' download I used to perfect the technique...
I hope you will get the same benefits from it as I did...

Breathing Exercise
Relax anytime, any place with the 7-11 Breathing Exercise

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Biofeedback

• Biofeedback is a type of therapy, whereby a machine is used to allow patients to see physical changes in their own body (such as temperature, brainwaves etc.)
• The machines don’t actually ‘do’ anything – other than monitor the physical changes in the body. The patient is taught to control the body’s physical responses (helped by what they see on the machine), and so learn to keep the body in a physically relaxed and calm state.
• Biofeedback is used for a variety of conditions, including:
  • migraine and tension headaches
  • high blood pressure
  • and particularly stress and anxiety
• Biofeedback can be done by yourself at home (with the right equipment – of course!). But it is best to start with a qualified therapist who can show you how the machines work, and teach you relaxation, and breathing techniques.
• Several sessions will probably be required, and ongoing practice, either at home, or in further sessions.

Massage and Essential Oils

• Massage is a really good way of ensuring complete physical relaxation.
• Getting rid of all muscular tension helps to relax the body, and helps the mind to relax too.
• This is particularly helped if you use aromatherapy essential oils in your massage.

  Try adding a few drops of each of the following essential oils, to a base of almond oil or olive oil:

  • basil
  • clary sage
  • camomile
  • lavender
  • frankincense
  • patchouli
  • sandalwood
  • rosemary

  (Do not use the essential oils neat on the skin. Use 5 - 10 drops (total) in 2 tablespoons of base oil.)

• You can also use a few drops of the same oils on a tissue - to inhale whenever you are feeling stressed.
• Or use them in the bath. Use 5 - 10 drops (total) in 2 tablespoons of almond or olive oil.
• If you want to try a massage, you will get the best results from a professional therapist, and frequent sessions will probably be recommended.

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Flower Remedies

• Flower Remedies are truly excellent natural remedies for anxiety, working for any kind of anxiety state.
• ’Bach Remedies’ are the best known – and the basis for most other flower remedies.
• Flower Remedies work by using the ‘essence’ of a flower or plant, to treat emotions and energies in the body and mind.
• Flower Remedies are an ideal self treatment. They are widely available at many health stores – together with information about choosing the correct remedy. (Choosing your own remedy is a big part of the cure for Flower Remedies)
• Choose only around 4 – 5 remedies to use together at any one time. (You can always use any others you might feel you need, at a later date, if you still need them.)




• For a single remedy:
  • use 4 drops directly onto the tongue
  • use at least 3 times a day
  • can be used up to every 15 minutes, if required
• For multiple remedies:
  • mix 2 drops of each into a mixer bottle, with some mineral water, and a little brandy, to preserve
  • use as above – as if it was now a single remedy
• You can also add the drops to a glass of water, and sip throughout the day.
• Flower Remedies are completely harmless - so don’t worry about choosing the wrong remedy, overdosing or interactions with other treatments. The worst that can happen is, that it won’t work.
• So, feel confident at having a go at choosing your own Flower Remedies. I find that Flower Remedies have helped me countless times, in all sorts of different situations, so can thoroughly recommend their use as effective natural remedies for anxiety.
• I also recommend this book, which I use all the time, to help you with your choices:

  (It’s very nice and simple, making it easy to refer to, but with plenty of useful info on each remedy.)

  
  
  




• Try Bach Rescue Remedy for any acute state of anxiety, shock or emotional state. This is a pre-prepared blend of the most suitable remedies, and is truly excellent, working in minutes (quite literally!).
• Some other Flower Remedies, which are particularly suitable for treating anxiety are:
  • Agrimony: For anxiety hidden behind a smile
  • Aspen: For apprehension and anxiety with no apparent cause
  • Cherry Plum: For long term anxiety, leading to fear of a nervous breakdown, or for sudden, acute emotional shock and anxiety
  • Impatiens: For restlessness, fretfulness and mental agitation
  • Mimulus: For anxiety and nervousness of known things
  • Red Chestnut: For anxiety and worry over loved ones
  • Rock Rose: For extreme fear and panic
  • Scleranthus: For anxiety through uncertainty and indecision
  • Water Chestnut: For anxious thoughts going round and round in your head

Acupuncture

• This uses needles in specific parts of the body, to release tensions and energy blockages.
• These tensions and blockages can be causing your anxiety and so removing them, will help you to relax and feel less anxious.
• Many people say they feel a huge sense of release and relief after their acupuncture session, and a feeling of deep relaxation.
• Always see a qualified acupuncturist, and expect to go to several sessions. Your practitioner will be able to advise you on what is most suitable for you.

Homeopathy

• It is best to consult a qualified homeopath who can advise you on the best natural remedies for anxiety for your particular circumstance.
• Homeopathy uses minute doses of the homeopathic treatments, to get the body back into a state of balance. You may experience a temporary worsening of symptoms, before you feel any improvement.
• Some of the most useful homeopathic natural remedies for anxiety are:
  • Gelsemium: for anxiety before a specific event – test, dentist etc.
  • Argentum nitricum: for fear and anxiety related to being forced to do things in a hurry, stage fright, or panic in a crowd
  • Aconite: for panic, shock and restless anxiety
  • Arsenicum albicum: persistent anxiety with panic attacks

Once you get into using these natural remedies for anxiety, you will find them very effective anti-anxiety cures, that keep working long term...

Try to choose the natural remedies for anxiety that you think will suit you best.

Look at more tips to relax and de-stress

Also take a look at how your diet and lifestyle could be your best anxiety natural remedy!

Learn more about how a herbal natural anxiety remedy could help you.

Look at how some holistic stress management techniques could help you.

Return to the main page for more anxiety information and natural remedies for anxiety

What works for you?

Do you have any tips and experiences in finding natural remedies for anxiety, to share? Tell us about your experiences...

Return to the main page for Holistic Remedies for Mind and Mood

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