Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Create a Stress Management Program using Alternative Treatments
Jun 4, 2009
People who are stressed out can calm themselves using natural remedies for anxiety. It is important for people who have an anxiety disorder to find a coping strategy because chronic anxiety can negatively impact a person's health. Stress and anxiety can affect the body's immune system, blood pressure, metabolism, and interfere with a person's ability to think clearly.
Anxiety can leave a person in a constant state of fear. In some cases, the fear is so strong, that it interferes with a person's ability to function properly. A person may experience anxiety in response to a stressful situation, such as impending surgery, or the loss of a job. Symptoms of anxiety include shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness, or nausea.
Massage Therapy Benefits
Several studies indicate that massage therapy benefits people who have anxiety disorders. Massage therapy involves stroking and kneading a person's muscles. This will help relieve tension in the muscles. It will also stimulate the circulation of blood, causing nutrients and oxygen to flow to tissues around the body. It reduces anxiety by decreasing the levels of stress hormones in the body.
The effectiveness of massage therapy as a natural remedy for anxiety is supported by the results of a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience (September 1996). During the study, 26 of the participants were given a chair massage twice a week for five weeks Researchers found that following the massages, the participants, who received massages were more relaxed, more alert, and were less likely to experience job related stress.
Green Tea as a Natural Remedy for Anxiety
Tea lovers have long recognized the relaxing effects of green tea. Much of this has to do with an amino acid, known as L-theanine, which is found in green tea. The extract from L-theanine helps calm the brain of humans and animals. This amino acid also helps stimulate the production of dopamine, which is a natural chemical that acts as a natural sedative. Research suggests that it works as well as medication.
A study published in the Journal of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan (February 1998) analyzed the way L-theanine effects the brains of women experiencing moderate to severe anxiety. Researchers found that L-theanine caused the participants to produce more alpha brain waves. This naturally occurs when a person reaches a state of relaxation.
Meditation
Meditation is probably one of the most convenient natural remedies for anxiety, because a person can do it any where. In order to meditate, a person must focus his or her attention on one thing, such as a word, a mental image, or one's own breathing. Physicians are increasingly recognizing meditation as a method for treating a variety of medical conditions, including anxiety.
A study that examined the effects that mindfulness meditation has on anxiety, was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (1992). All of the participants had generalized anxiety disorder, or a panic disorder. They participated in group meditation sessions, which were part of a stress management program. Researchers found that meditation helped reduce panic and anxiety symptoms, and the results were long term.
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