I get several requests from people asking for my recommendation on natural anxiety remedies. Well to begin with, it goes without saying that its important to get the right balance of vitamins and minerals in order to treat anxiety naturally.

All the vitamins and minerals we need are usually found naturally in the food that we eat. However, the vitamin and mineral content in our food has diminished over the years therefore, it may be necessary to take supplements.

To help reduce feelings of anxiety I suggest you take a good B complex vitamin along with Magnesium Citrate 3 times a day in powder form. You should also take omega-3 oils. Omega-3 is not only good for helping ease anxiety, but also has many other reported health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and possibly reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. These are good anxiety natural remedies.

When it comes to herbal supplements to help ease anxiety naturally there are several options available and it can often be quite confusing when trying to decide which ones to try. To add to the confusion several herbal supplements come combined in one remedy and are sold as all-in-one ‘natural cures for anxiety’. After several years of communicating with people who have used various different supplements, I can recommend two herbal supplements that appear to be effective natural anxiety remedies. Passiflora and Valerian.

Passiflora (Passiflora incarnata) has traditionally been used as a folk remedy for anxiety and insomnia. It contains many active ingredients. The most widely studied of these constituents, maltol and ethymaltol, seem to be responsible for much of the anti-anxiety effects. It works on the physical body, relaxing muscles to reduce tension, which can be particularly effective for people who feel physically tense e.g. tight shoulders or the sensation of a knotted stomach. People also report good results using this herb to aid sleep. It should not be taken with sedatives unless under medical supervision.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is believed to have used for its calming and soothing effects since at least the time of Hippocrates (460-377 BC). Right up until the introduction of prescription sleep medications is was used as a natural anxiety remedy for a variety of conditions such as insomnia, nervousness and headaches. The primary use for valerian today is to treat insomnia but it is reported to reduce feelings of general anxiety. The active constituents in Valerian appear to be valerenic acid and valerenal. These compounds have a calming effect because they interact with the neurotransmitter GABA. As with most herbal supplements it generally takes a few weeks of use to feel the full benefit. Valerian may cause sleepiness or daytime drowsiness and should not be used with other medications for insomnia or anxiety.

It is important to be aware that herbal supplements are not a magic pill. In most instances people report only mild improvement from anxiety natural remedies and it is not uncommon for no benefits to be felt at all. Again you should discuss these or any other supplements with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or taking any kind of medication.