What is anxiety? It’s a constant and uncontrolled feeling of worry that doesn’t stop. You may live with an anxiety disorder when these feelings become intense and frequent enough to interfere with day-to-day activities severely.
While traditional therapies can be highly effective, people with anxiety may find that they don’t work as well as expected. For example, it’s estimated that nearly 50 % of people receiving common treatments for generalised anxiety disorder will not respond to first-line therapy, such as antidepressants.
Treatment involves psychological therapies, like cognitive behaviour therapy or medication. However, research suggests that dietary changes, minerals, vitamins, and other supplements may benefit those with anxiety disorders. For example, to relieve anxiety symptoms and ease your life, do consult ibuyalprazolam. Studies using herbal supplements and supplements to treat mild-moderate anxiety disorders have emerged in recent years.
So, can supplements help ease anxiety? The short answer is maybe—depending on the anxiety’s cause and severity. However, you should consult your doctor before supplementing your diet or exploring alternative treatments.
Supplements and Anxiety
Anxiety may present very differently in two people with the same diagnosis. For example, one may have primarily physical symptoms when anxious or stressed, and another may feel physically calm but internally restless. A supplement that affects the specific part of the nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight stress response may help a person ease the physical symptoms of his anxiety. But, this same supplement might not be practical for someone with emotional symptoms.
So, taking a personalised approach towards herbal supplements for anxiety is very crucial. The role of supplements as a therapy for stress and anxiety is that they’re not a standalone, cure-all solution. Instead, they’re typically only one part of other modern lifestyle approaches to managing stress and anxiety.
Suppose we are keen for a supplement to change the brain activity but have not worked on developing a daily mind-body practice or exercise pattern and found whole foods dietary approach. In that case, supplements will have a less-than-hoped-for impact. Nutritional supplements for anxiety may be beneficial for many people, especially for individuals who:
- Have a known nutrient deficiency
- Have mild and only occasional symptoms
- Are resistant to taking medication
- Haven’t responded to other traditional therapy
Top Supplements That May Help Ease Anxiety
Many supplements claim to help with anxiety. Finding the right one may involve a bit of trial and error, but it should always be done with a doctor’s help. Some of the best anxiety supplements known to help ease anxiety include the following:
Kava
A piece of substantial evidence suggests that kava positively impacts the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Furthermore, despite the absence of long-term data on safety and effectiveness, the evidence indicates that short-term use (up to 24 weeks) may lead to minor improvements in generalised anxiety and that short-term risks do not outweigh the benefits.
Ashwagandha
An Ayurveda herb that may work exceptionally well for those with anxiety and insomnia, it improves sleep and resilience to stress. However, recent reviews on the safety and efficacy of ashwagandha for fear indicated that while effects are generally positive, study sizes are small.
L-Theanine
L-theanine is a plant-based compound commonly found in tea leaves. L-theanine is an amino acid that’s naturally present in green tea. It has stress-relieving and anti-anxiety effects when taken in supplement form.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral in the body’s stress response. Recent clinical studies suggest that magnesium supplementation, combined with other vitamins like zinc or vitamin B6, may be an assuring treatment for relieving anxiety in stressed adults and people with Type-2 diabetes and heart disease. So Magnesium supplements may benefit people with anxiety and are generally well tolerated.
Saffron
Saffron is a brightly-hued spice having culinary and medicinal uses. It’s overloaded with antioxidant compounds and may benefit people with anxiety if used as a supplement.
Studies suggested that saffron supplements helped reduce anxiety. In addition, some studies demonstrated that treatment with saffron had similar anti-anxiety effects compared to the anti-anxiety medication fluoxetine.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a herb with calming properties. It’s commonly consumed as a tea, and chamomile supplements may benefit people with anxiety. Research shows that chamomile has anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a nutrient that works as a powerful antioxidant in the body. Researchers find that vitamin C helps combat damage due to oxidative stress in people with neuropsychological disorders, including anxiety.
Vitamin D
Many individuals are deficient in or have suboptimal vitamin D levels, a fat-soluble nutrient essential for brain function and mood regulation. Studies show that vitamin D inadequacy or deficiency is widespread in people with mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders.
CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant-based bioactive compound in the cannabis plant. One of the reasons people say they use CBD is to treat self-reported anxiety. Cannabidiol is a popular natural remedy for several health conditions, including anxiety. Evidence suggests that CBD when utilised in doses ranging from 300–600 mg, may help reduce stress in people with SAD and those without anxiety disorders.
Other Supplements for Anxiety
There are many different supplements for easing anxiety, including:
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Passionflower
- Omega 3 fatty acids
To navigate the conflicting and confusing views around which supplements are effective for anxiety, it’s a great idea to work with a medical provider with expertise in determining which supplements may be appropriate for you.
Who Should Avoid Supplements for Anxiety?
There are possible side effects, and even dangerous for some people to take supplements for anxiety; the following people are :
- People who take certain medications that might interfere or interact with certain supplements.
- People with other mental health conditions or medical conditions, where supplementation may make existing stress and anxiety-induced symptoms worse or cause new symptoms.
- People with severe anxiety need access to immediate treatment.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people (unless they talk to a doctor first).
Conclusion
The trend of using complementary and alternative medicine has increased over the past decade. Data support the effectiveness of some available herbal remedies and dietary supplements in persons with symptoms or diagnoses of anxiety. The potential for benefit seems more incredible than harm with short-term use in patients with mild to moderate anxiety.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
