|  | Mental Health | Mental Illness Treatments

Supplements for Anxiety

It is standard to treat anxiety disorders with prescription medication. However, that is not the only treatment. Many natural supplements and pills have been shown to be very effective at treating anxiety disorders. Since the early 1990s, the market for natural treatments has boomed and is now over a 20 billion dollar a year industry.

  1. Fish Oil

    • Fish Oil is a supplement which is very helpful in stabilizing mood and treating anxiety disorders. A study conducted at the Roozbeth Psychiatry Hospital in 2008 found that fish oil was just as effective as prescription medication in controlling anxiety symptoms. In order for fish oil to help improve mood, it needs to be taken in fairly high doses, such as 4000 to 8000 millagrams per day.

    Passion Flower

    • Passion Flower is a plant native to North America. It is found mostly in the south and midwest regions. Passion Flower has mild anti-anxiety effects, and may be helpful in dealing with light anxiety. It has been used as a folk remedy for centuries and is also a mild aphrodisiac.

    Kava Kava Root

    • Kava Kava is a very potent herbal supplement effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Kava Kava was originally grown in the South Pacific and was there consumed to increase people's sense of happiness and well being. A study published in Phytomedicine found that kava kava root is just as effective the prescription medication Buspirone in treating anxiety.

    GABA

    • GABA is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is used to inhibit the central nervous system and regulate excitability and arousal. Today you can buy GABA in supplement form. Taking additional GABA is quite an effective method for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

    5-HTP

    • 5-HTP is a supplement which the brain naturally consumes and converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain which is very important. It helps regulate many processes such as mood and impulse control. Many times anxiety is a result of low serotonin in the brain, and so this supplement can be very helpful.

Mental Illness Treatments - Related Articles