Stress and Anxiety Diet, Symptoms, Herbal and Natural Treatment

12.13.2007 by Dr John Anne in Health Care

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The need for anxiety or stress treatment is becoming urgent as more and more people in the developed world seem to be suffering from this debilitating condition. It is estimated that fully 25% of Americans may need stress treatment at some point in their lives. Anxiety can cause hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) which can have very serious health consequences. Anxiety treatment can be effective in reducing hypertension and thus is an important aid in overall health.

However, modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry have colluded to make anxiety a ‘disease’ that is ‘cureable’ by the drugs they are more than happy to sell you. The reality is that the best anxiety treatment begins by taking care of the whole body, both mental and physical, and achieving good overall health. As health improves, anxiety or stress symptoms disappear, and there are no residual effects of drug therapy to deal with aftet the condition is gone.

Stress or Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety is a chronic condition that can escalate from low level stress to a full anxiety attack. Anxiety attack symptoms can be quite frightening to one who is experiencing them; heart palpitations, hot flashes, difficulty breathing, dizziness and loss of balance are often common experiences.

Heavy sweating, facial swelling and breaking out in hives are also symptoms. Digestion is often affected, with cramps and bloating a common effect. Head aches, chest pain, tingling sensations, dilation of the pupils, nausea and chills are all reported symptoms. Add to this the emotional symptoms of dread, panic, feeling overwhelmed, feeling your life is threatened and the need to escape, and you have a very serious set of symptoms. No wonder anxiety treatment is in such demand.

Medical Anxiety Treatment

The standard medical response to anxiety is to prescribe anti-depressants and anxiolytics, usually in the form of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. There are many brand names associated with SRI medications, and they often are quite useful in alleviating severe symptoms. The problem is that the drugs can be quite addictive, and have many side-effects associated with them, some of which can be more debilitating than the anxiety itself. Also, serious withdrawal effects often last weeks or even months when attempting to get off anti-depressants. Unfortunately, the medical community often does not inform patients of the seriousness of the side-effects and withdrawal symptoms before prescribing drugs for a condition for which many alternative treatments exist.

Alternative Anxiety Treatment

Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy can be a very effective anxiety treatment. In hypnotherapy, deep relaxation is induced, and positive suggestion and images are implanted into the subconcious that can extend the relaxation well beyond the hypnotherapy session. There are no side effects, and no chemicals are introduced to the body. Besides just symptom relief, hypnotherapy can set the groundwork for overall mental changes that lead to improved physical condition as well, such as the desire to exercise and eat healthy foods. Each element is part of a holistic plan to increase overall health in the patient and reduce or eliminate the anxiety completely.

Herbal Stress Relief

Many herbs have a calming effect, and unlike synthetic chemicals, they have no addictive qualities or heavy side-effects. Ginseng, Lemon Balm, Valerian, St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava, Bugleweed, Catnip and Chamomile have all been used effectively to deal with stress and anxiety. These herbs can be found at any health food store, and often even in grocery or department stores. Unlike the SRI’s no prescription is needed, so attempting an herbal remedy is an easy first choice before resorting to harsher chemicals in attempting an anxiety treatment.

Stress Diet and Exercise

Stress Treatment Anxiety is a bio-chemical condition, which is why the medical establishment likes to try to control it with synthetic chemicals. But one of the best ways to affect bio-chemistry, with only positive side-effects, is to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Unfortunately, the average diet is so poor that obesity and poor physical fitness are very commonplace, as is anxiety.

Beyond eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, daily supplements of B complex vitamins are recommended. B vitamins help in the formation of neurotransmitters, which control communication in the brain, and are important for mood and mental functioning. Calcium is also useful as a supplement, particularly for women, and should be taken when attempting an anxiety treatment.

Besides that, eliminating toxic foods and activities, such as caffeine and smoking, can do much to improve anxiety symptoms. Physical exercise reduces stress, and improves circulation, digestion, breathing and flexibility, thus creating optimum health and reducing or eliminating anxiety.

This is a part of our Managing Stress section available at AyurvedicCure.com. For more solutions and remedies visit our Depression Treatment guide. If you have any questions or remedies, please post them here as comments. Our visitors want to know what you feel and what you have been doing for this concern. Also don’t forget to bookmark this post!