-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
mental/emotional
Anxiety
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Worry or anxiety is the normal experience of tension and fear in response to a threatening situation. When the threat is gone, the anxiety usually disappears as well. The more intensive form of anxiety, called panic disorder, anxiety disease, or anxiety neurosis, is an emotional disorder characterized by feelings of uneasiness and fear without any definite cause. Anxiety disease is thought to be the result of a combination of dysfunctions in the nervous and biochemical systems, stress, and psychological problems.
Common symptoms of anxiety are rapid heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, excessive sweating, dry mouth, stomach cramps, insomnia, and headaches. Other symptoms are hot flashes, tightness in the chest, sweaty palms, loss of appetite, sexual problems, tingling, numbness, and dizziness. A combination of symptoms usually comes on as an attack that may last from a few minutes to several hours.
The majority of cases of anxiety neurosis begins to manifest between age 17 and 24. Symptoms can be brought on by a bad drug reaction, drug or alcohol abuse, overuse of caffeine, stress, or strenuous exercise. However, there is often no observable cause for an attack. This condition may lead to further illness such as high blood pressure, alcoholism, depression, and heart disease.
If symptoms of anxiety last more than 3 or 4 days, threaten your day-to-day functioning, bring on thoughts of suicide, or are accompanied by symptoms of infection such as fever and vomiting, consult your physician.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR ANXIETY:
1. B vitamin complex 50 milligrams, 2 times a day.
2. Calcium 1,000 milligrams per day, taken at bed time.
3. Magnesium 500 milligrams per day.
4. A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement used according to manufacturer's instructions. It is important to choose a brand that is free of sugar and artificial ingredients.
THE PROPER DIET FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
1. As much as possible, avoid sugar foods such as candy, cake, and cookies and refined carbohydrates such as white flour products. Imbalance of blood sugar levels can often cause or aggravate anxiety attacks.
2. Decrease or eliminate consumption of caffeine, found mostly in coffee, black tea, chocolate, and some over-the-counter medications. Caffeine can bring on anxiety, nervousness, and irritability.
3. Mantain an overall healthy diet Use fresh foods as close to the natural state as possible, avoiding prepackaged and processed foods. Eat daily servings of leafy green vegetables, whole grains (such as brown rice and millet), fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. Drink at least 8 cups of fluids daily.For more information refer to the article on healthy diet.
HERBS USED FOR ANXIETY:
1. Chamomile tea 1 cup during the day and 1 cup right before bedtime can help with relaxation and ease nervousness. Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of the dried flowers.
2. Valerian Root and Skullcap tinctures, which are liquid herbal extracts 10 to 20 drops in warm water 1 to 3 times a day as needed to induce calmness.
3. Oatstraw tea strengthens and nourishes the nervous system. One cup of the tea is taken 2 to 3 times per day. Simmer 1 teaspoon of the herb per cup of water for 10 minutes.
4. St. John's Wort, Kava and Ginkgo tea. Equal parts. Simmer 1 teaspoon of the herbs per cup of water for 10 minutes.
PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1. A warm sitz bath once or twice per week. Fill the bathtub about 1/3 full so that the water comes up to your navel. Add an infusion made of 1 pound of Oatstraw herb that has been boiled in 2 quarts of water for about 1/2 hour. Adjust the temperature to about 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Soak in the bath water for about 10 to 15 minutes. As an alternative, you can add oils of Lavender or Rosemary to the water. These have a mild sedative effect.
2. To reduce the effects of stress, use stress management and relaxation techniques such as visualization and meditation. For more information, refer to the article on stress reduction.
3. It is important to exercise regularly. Brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, tennis, and racquetball are all excellent forms of exercise. It is best to start out slowly and increase the amount of physical exercise gradually. It may be helpful to consult an exercise specialist.
HOMEOPATHY:
From the following homeopathic remedies the one that best matches the symptoms is choosen. The remedies are taken under the tongue, 3 pellets 3 times a day for 1 week or longer as needed.
Arsenicum Album 12C: This is the most common homeopathic remedy used for anxiety. Especially suitable for anxiety that is made worse by being alone, anxiety at night, and when the person is very restless.
Aconite 12C: For anxiety with intense fear of dying.
Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with anxiety. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.
Clinic
Footnotes
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Yamada K, Miura T, Mimaki Y, Sashida Y. Effect of inhalation of chamomile oil vapour on plasma ACTH level in ovariectomized rats under restriction stress. Biol Pharm Bull 1996;19:1244-1246.