Some people have dubbed the twentieth and twenty-first centuries as “The Age of Anxiety” – and with good reason. The fast-paced lifestyle that many people lead with long working hours, longer commutes and family responsibilities to boot can cause feelings of general uneasiness and stress. Stress and anxiety have been associated with the worsening of a number of health problems, including chronic conditions like migraines or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
While there are a lot of prescription anxiety treatments out there, most carry with them the possibility of dependence or addiction or can have other, unwanted side effects like sedation. Fortunately, there are also many possibilities for natural treatments, including some of the therapies discussed below.
Take an Anti-Anxiety Elixir
Elixirs have been used for hundreds of years for a variety of ailments – including anxiety. The recipe for a simple but effective elixir is given below.
Anti-Anxiety Elixir
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons ground fresh gingerroot
- 1 teaspoon raw, unfiltered honey
Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Refrigerate in a glass jar and take three times a day for anxiety.
Lemon and honey both are known for the calming and soothing effect which is the basis of this elixir.
Use Calming Herbs
Another way to help alleviate anxiety is to take advantage of the calming properties of many different herbs. Two of the best for this are lavender and lemon balm. Both of these herbs have been clinically proven to be effective anti-anxiety agents. For instance, in a study done in 2010 on lavender oil compared with lorazepam, one of the most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety agents, it was found that lavender oil was actually more effective at relieving anxiety and stress. In another trial which studied lemon balm and its benefits, researchers discovered that lemon balm extract help to improve the mood, decrease stress and enhance alertness after as little as an hour.
The great news is that these herbs can be either taken internally or used in aromatherapy. If taken internally, 80mg daily is the suggested dosage for lavender, while the ideal dosage for lemon balm is 60 drops from a tincture daily.
The big takeaway here is that for people who struggle with feelings of anxiety or unease (and there are many who suffer from this), there are a number of natural ways to help treat this issue without resorting to prescription drugs which can be highly addictive and bring with them a variety of unwanted side effects. The use of elixirs like the one above, calming herbs and other more holistic therapies offer the chance to relieve the anxiety in a healthy way and lead to an improvement in overall emotional and mental health and happiness.
Sources: health.com, doctoroz.com
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