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Natural Cure for Anxiety

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is a normal reaction to stress that only becomes a medical disorder when anxiety causes an "irrational dread of everyday situations." If anxiety is not disabling, it can be treated through a variety of natural ways, including diet, exercise, yoga, vitamin supplements and herbal remedies.

  1. Diet

    • The Mayo Clinic reports the following diet tips to ease anxiety: eat frequent small meals throughout the day to stabilize blood sugar; increase carb intake, which increases serotonin levels; drink plenty of water; and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Eating foods that contain tryptophan can help improve mood and relaxation. Foods that contain tryptophan include milk, bananas, oats, soy, poultry, cheese, nuts, peanut butter and sesame seeds.

    Exercise

    • Exercise is a natural release for anxiety. The Mayo Clinic reports that the reason for this may be because exercise raises levels of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise boosts endorphins and reduces the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. According to the Mayo Clinic, at least 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 days a week is required to have an impact on stress levels.

    Yoga

    • The Mayo Clinic also endorses yoga as a way of coping with stress and anxiety. Hatha yoga may be a good starting point for people wishing to decrease their stress and anxiety levels. Hatha yoga is a series of body poses and breathing exercises that are beneficial to reducing anxiety.

    Vitamins & Minerals

    • Although vitamins are not FDA-approved to treat anxiety, some vitamins and minerals may help ease the symptoms of anxiety and stress. The National Institute of Health notes that "stressful states (such as physical trauma) increase chromium losses and can lead to deficiency." Vitamin B6 may help anxiety, because this vitamin is required "for the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine," both of which have been identified as crucial to understanding stress and anxiety. Always consult a doctor on the proper doses of vitamins and minerals.

    Herbal Remedies

    • Herbal remedies may or may not help to ease the symptoms of anxiety. Medline Plus, a joint project from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, has a comprehensive list of herbal supplements and their uses. According to Medline Plus, herbs that may help ease anxiety include chamomile, kava, lavender aromatherapy, passion flower and valerian.

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