Recognizing Anxiety + 3 Natural Anxiety Remedies

I was contacted by Healthline.com to share their new infographic with my readers.  I thought it would be helpful to remind you how anxiety affects your body + give you 3 natural anxiety remedies!

Do you ever feel really anxious, troubled or worried? Do you get lightheaded? Does your stomach feel like its in knots and your heart feels like its beating out of your chest?

Anxiety can affect anyone at any given time.  If you don’t find relief, it can rob you of your health and peace of mind.

We all worry, panic and experience some form of anxiety in our life.  In fact, anxiety is hard wired in our DNA.  Moreover, it is associated with our body’s fight or flight response to help us recognize and respond to danger.

However, for many people anxiety is chronic and constantly recurring.  With no real threat or danger, the body is flooded with chemicals and hormones that can become toxic to our health.  If you frequently feel anxious, check out these 3 natural anxiety remedies.

1. Chamomile — If you feel anxious or jittery, try a cup of chamomile tea to calm you down.  The calming effects of chamomile are due to compounds called (Matricaria recutita).  These compounds bind to the same brain receptors as prescription drugs like Valium.  You can find chamomile as a tea, dried chamomile flowers or capsule form.  In a study by the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, researchers found that patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who took chamomile supplements for eight weeks had a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to patients taking placebo.

2.  L-theanine (or Green Tea)— L- theanine is an amino acid found in green tea.  It is very helpful in reducing stress and creating a relaxed state by increasing alpha wave activity.  These alpha waves are the ones that occur when you are awake, alert and relaxed.  L-theanine, also helps to improve concentration without the harmful side effects of drowsiness.

It is helpful for anxiety because it crosses the blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that prevents many compounds from reaching the brain.  Therefore, this makes L-theanine a safer alternative for certain anti-anxiety medications, according to Dr. Donald Colbert, author of the book “Stress Less.”

In one study, anxiety-prone subjects were calmer and more focused during a test because they took 200 milligrams of L-theanine beforehand.  However, to get these kinds of benefits, you’ll need to drink at least 5 cups of green tea daily.  You can also try a capsule-based formula found in most drugstores.

3. Lemon Balm — This herb belongs to the mint family and is considered a calming herb. The mild lemon aroma of the leaves have been used for centuries to reduce anxiety and treat constipation associated with worried thoughts. One study found that those who took standardized lemon balm extracts (600 mg) were more calm and alert than those who took a placebo. Lemon balm can be found in tea, capsule and tincture form.  Additionally, it is combined with other calming herbs like hops and chamomile.

Precautions: Lemon balm is generally considered safe, but taking too much of it can actually make you even more anxious.  With any natural remedy, always follow dosage directions. Also, please check with your doctor before trying any of these 3 natural anxiety remedies.