If you are prone to anxiety, these healthy home remedies can be a great option.
Feeling anxiety is a normal reaction of human beings to situations of stress or uncertainty. In fact, all of us, at some point in our lives, have experienced its symptoms.
However, despite being an adaptive reaction, it can sometimes interfere with the proper functioning of people’s lives and can create great discomfort.
In more severe cases, that is, those in which the person suffers from an anxiety disorder, it is necessary to go to a psychology specialist in order to successfully overcome this problem.
Related article: “6 effective treatments against anxiety”
Natural remedies to calm anxiety
In situations where anxiety is not a serious problem (although it is annoying or uncomfortable) it is possible to benefit from some natural remedies to relax. These remedies can also be useful in more severe cases as long as psychotherapy sessions are also attended.
If you want to leave drugs that contain chemicals behind and want to know what these natural antidotes are, in the following lines you will find a list that can help you calm anxiety.
1 Valerian tea
Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia and has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for various ailments. Valerian root is believed to have an impact on the availability of the GABA neurotransmitter in the brain.
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the nervous system, and is responsible for inhibiting the activity of brain neurons. GABA promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels.
You can learn more about this transmitter in our article: “GABA (neurotransmitter): what it is and what role it plays in the brain”
2 Green tea
Although green tea is a stimulant, some studies have shown it to be beneficial for anxiety. Mainly because it stimulates brain neurotransmitters that induce relaxation, thanks to L-theanine.
Also, this substance helps stop the rising heart rate and blood pressure. A human study showed that subjects most prone to anxiety were calmer when they took 200 milligrams of L-theanine.
3 Yoga
Yoga has a number of psychological benefits as well as physical ones. Its practice has a positive impact on stress and anxiety, as confirmed by a study by Thirthalli and Naveen (2013), as it reduces cortisol levels, a hormone that is released in response to stress.
By practicing yoga we can lower the levels of this hormone to reduce stress and, therefore, anxiety.
4 Lemon balm
This herb has been used since the Middle Ages, as it is effective in treating sleepiness, nervousness, and anxiety. It is a digestive infusion and originally from central Europe. However, in excess it can be counterproductive and cause more anxiety, so it must be taken in moderation.
5 Licorice root
It works as a natural alternative to cortisone, which can help the body deal with stressful situations, and works to normalize blood sugar levels, as well as the adrenal glands, providing the energy needed to deal with the stressful situation. Licorice root stimulates cranial and cerebrospinal fluid and calms the mind.
6 Kava
This plant is a subspecies of mint, and is beneficial for reducing anxiety and nervousness. It is native to the South Pacific, and studies show that it is very helpful in calming people down. It is also used against insomnia.
7 Linden
Linden is one of the most consumed infusions for anxiety. Many people take a lime before an important exam to calm their nerves and feel more relaxed. It is not as strong as valerian, but it can be very effective.
8 Passion flower
This infusion acts as an anxiolytic and is a calming and relaxing that comes from the passion flower. It was used by the Aztecs centuries ago for its analgesic and sedative effects. It is also indicated in cases of depression, as it produces a slight euphoria. It is also used for insomnia, headache or tachycardia.
9 Skullcap
Skullcap is a very effective remedy for people experiencing anxiety and nervousness along with muscle tension. When someone is feeling excessively nervous, skullcap can help to relax not only their anxiety, but also the muscular tension that accompanies it. It can be taken as an infusion or as a tincture.
10 Chamomile
Chamomile is a widely consumed infusion that has not only beneficial properties for digestion. This infusion contains anxiolytic characteristics and helps reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia, at least this indicates a study at the Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
11 St. John’s wort or herb
St. John’s Wort is beneficial for the treatment of depression, as it can restore the balance of neurotransmitters that have an impact on mood. Likewise, it is also beneficial for anxiety. It is possible to find it in any pharmacy and you do not need a prescription to buy it.
12 Arctic root
It has been shown to be very effective for anxiety that occurs occasionally and for periods of stress. It is a plant native to Siberia and is known for its adaptogenic properties. An adaptogen is a physiological agent that naturally increases the body’s resistance to physical and emotional stress. This plant favors the increase in the activity of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
13 Hops
This plant is characterized by its bitter taste. It is native to various regions of Europe and, after consumption, has a positive effect on the nervous system. It is known for its effectiveness in treating anxiety, nervousness, stress, insomnia. In addition, it facilitates digestion.
14 Ashwagandha Tea
Its strange name is understood due to its origin, since it is an Indian tea, which has been used in the medicine of that country for centuries. Ashwagandha tea promotes well-being, clears the mind, reduces hypertension and combats stress and anxiety.
15 Physical exercise
Physical exercise should be a habit that everyone should practice because its benefits are numerous. Among them, we can find that it reduces cortisol levels in the body, helps to fall asleep, releases endorphins that make us feel good, and reduces stress and anxiety levels.
You can delve into this topic in our article: “The 10 psychological benefits of practicing physical exercise”
16 Lemon verbena
Another infusion with calming and tranquilizing properties and that is useful in cases of nervousness and anxiety is Lemon Luisa. This plant is effective for those people who are mentally down. It is not advisable for pregnant or lactating women.
17 Meditation
Meditation has been shown to be very effective in controlling anxious thoughts and calming the mind. That is why currently, to treat anxiety, psychological techniques such as Mindfulness are used, which have shown their effectiveness in different investigations.
If you want to learn to meditate, do not miss our article: “How to learn to meditate, in 7 easy steps”
18 Walk through the countryside and the beach
One of the great problems of this society is the rhythm of life that we have. Always working, hooked on new technologies… We have little time to connect with ourselves and enjoy nature.
A 20-minute walk on the beach or in the woods, as indicated by a study carried out by Japanese researchers, helps reduce stress and anxiety. In addition, like any aerobic exercise, walking reduces cortisol levels, as confirmed by research published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, and makes us feel good thanks to the release of different brain chemicals such as endorphins or serotonin.
