Anxiety Depression Herbal Remedy and Alternative Treatments

Are you looking for an all-natural way to deal with your anxiety and/or depression? If so, then you are in luck because there are a lot of non-invasive alternative methods you can try.

Let's start out by defining depression and anxiety so we can better understand some of the alternative treatments that are recommended.

Depression is usually characterized by a sense of hopelessness and despair. It sometimes manifests itself as extreme sadness. Depression in everyday life refers to sadness and despair, while clinical depression refers to severe symptoms that interfere with the everyday life and last for over 2 weeks.

"Anxiety disorders come in two basic forms: Chronic anxiety and panic disorders. The chronic form involves a recurring sense of foreboding and worry accompanied by mild physical symptoms. On the other hand, panic attacks come on suddenly and unexpectedly, with symptoms that are often mistaken for a heart attack or another life-threatening condition. There is sometimes a feeling of not being able to get a full breath of air. Symptoms come on suddenly and diminish suddenly and can be quite frightening."

Many people use FDA-approved drugs for chronic depression and anxiety. Actually, drugs to treat anxiety and depression are the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the United States. Unfortunately, these drugs have adverse side effects and often fail to address the origin of the anxiety and depression. This is why so many people are looking for alternative treatments such as herbal remedies.

Anxiety, Depression, Herbal Remedies and Alternative Treatments

Herbal Remedies and Essential Oils:

*Keep in mind that if you are on antidepressants or any medications, you need to check with your physician before taking any herbs.

Herbs

• St Johns Wort - this can be made into a tea or taken in capsules

• Same -sold in capsule form to be taken as directed

• Adapton (Garum extract)- sold in capsule form taken as directed

• Catnip - this can be made into a tea

• Kava - this can be taken as a capsule

Essential Oils can be heated in small vessels and placed around the house or you can take a cotton ball and soak it in the oil and place it in a dish.

• Lavender

• Lemon

• Sandalwood

• Nutmeg

• Patchouli oil

Ayurvedic Treatments:

• "Add some fresh Rose petals to a cup of boiling water. Add sugar and drink whenever feeling depressed.

• An Apple eaten with milk and honey is very good to uplift a mood. Good Home Remedy for Depression.

• Blanch 5-7 rosemary leaves in a boiling cup of water, add honey, wait 3 minutes and drink.

• Cook 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to 1 cup of rice milk or soy milk, boil and stir for a minute on law temperature. Can add nuts, almonds, dried fruits, maple syrup or honey.

• Stir 1 teaspoon of lavender leaves to a cup of boiling water, cool and drink 3 times daily.

There is a strong correlation between anxiety/panic disorder and low levels of certain vitamins and minerals. There are several things you can do to restore this balance in your body:

• Take Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules 400mg daily

• Take calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and b-complex vitamin supplements

• Avoid refined sugars and carbohydrates, and instead eat foods low in sugar and containing whole grains

• Avoid coffee, tea, and cola sodas (or any other drinks with caffeine)

• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, as these tend to use up your bodies supply of important vitamins and minerals when your body metabolizes them

• If you consume artificial sweeteners, stop! Splenda, Nutrisweet (Aspertame), and Sugar Alcohol should be avoided.

• Relaxation and Meditation are also effective measures in the treatment of depression. The best method of relaxation is to practice shavasana or the dead pose Meditation involves training the mind to remain fixed on a particular external or internal location. Mediation helps to create balance in the nervous system.

• Lying down, in a dark room, maybe getting a 1/2 hour of sleep will always make you feel better.

• Biofeedback

• "Various yogic asanas such as halasana, paschimottanasana, sarvangasana, shavasana, shalabhasana, vakrasana, bhujangasana and pranayamas like kapalbhati, bhastrika are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression."

• Get plenty of exercise

• Seek Counseling

• Eat Nuts, cheese and a spoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.

• Eat at least 5 bananas a day, Reduce to one in time.

• Eat a lot of pumpkin seeds.

• Warm avocado leaves and put them on forehead.

• Get into a warm bath with a lot of salt and relax.

Or you can read one of my recent blog entries Is depression and anxiety controlling your life

http://www.grannymed.com/meds/stress-and-depression.aspx

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/Depression.

http://lef.org

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ayurvedic-Herbal-Home-Remedies-for-Depression&id=643316

http://www.grannymed.com/meds/stress-and-depression.aspx

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