Natural remedies for anxiety

As I have mentioned in a previous post I have anxiety and specifically social anxiety disorder.
When you are having an anxiety attack your heart beats faster, breathing is shallow and you enter a state of panic unable to relax. However there are a number of natural remedies that you can take that will help with calming you down:

• Tea

It is a well established British tradition that in times of worry or panic somebody will offer to make a cup of tea yet as caffeine is seen as being a stimulant for anxiety you should stay away from black tea and rather choose a green tea or herbal variety.



Passion flower, lemon balm and chamomile teas are all considered to be good for anxiety because of their calming, sedative properties. However these sedative herbs should not be taken for more than a period of a month and you are advised not to ingest any of these herbs if you are taking any sedative medication. 

I haven't been able to find any passion flower tea yet despite my hunt of health food shops

• Eat Breakfast

 I'm sure that you all know by now that breakfast in the most important meal of the day as it kick starts your metabolism. Yet Dr Ramsey of health.com is of the opinion that many people who suffer from anxiety skip breakfast! Try eating eggs for breakfast which contain large amounts of choline (important in the synthesis and transport of lipids in the body) studies suggest that people whose diet is low in choline have increased anxiety. Peanut butter is also apparently a good source of choline so there! Having peanut butter on toast for breakfast is good for me!

• Lavender

The calming aroma of lavender does a lot more than making your sock drawer smell nice! Studies have proved that lavender oil and scent is very calming so having a spare Lavender candle handy and lighting it when you are feeling anxious can work wonders.



Other herb remedies include liquorice root, valerian and the odd and rather sinister sounding Skullcap and Mother wort.