18 natural remedies to calm anxiety
Feeling anxiety is a normal human reaction 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, can sometimes interfere with the smooth running of people’s lives and can create great discomfort .
In more severe cases, that is, in those where the person suffers from an anxiety disorder, it is necessary to go to a specialist in psychology in order to successfully overcome this problem.
Natural Remedies to Ease 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 you also go to psychotherapy sessions.
If you want to move away from medicines that contain chemicals and want to know what these natural antidotes are, you will find a list in the following lines that can help you calm your 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 neurotransmitter GABA 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 function 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 the neurotransmitters in the brain that induce relaxation, thanks to L-theanine.
In addition, this substance helps stop the rising heart rate and blood pressure. A human study showed that subjects most likely to suffer from anxiety were more relaxed when they took 200 milligrams of L-theanine.
3. Yoga
Yoga has a number of psychological as well as physical benefits. Its practice has a positive impact on stress and anxiety , as confirmed by a study by Thirthalli and Naveen (2013), since it reduces the levels of cortisol, 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, since it is effective in treating sleep, nervousness and anxiety . It is a digestive infusion and originated in Central Europe. However, in excess it can be counterproductive and cause more anxiety, so it should be taken in moderation.
5. Liquorice root
It works as a natural alternative to cortisone, which can help the body manage stressful situations , and acts 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 in reducing anxiety and nervousness . It is native to the South Pacific, and studies show that it is very useful in calming people. It is also used against insomnia.
7. Lime tree
Linden is one of the most consumed infusions for anxiety . Many people drink lime blossom before an important test to calm their nerves and be more relaxed. It is not as strong as valerian, but it can be very effective.
8 Passion fruit
This infusion acts as an anxiolytic and is a soothing 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. Scutellaria
Skullcap is a very effective remedy for people who experience anxiety and nervousness along with muscle tension. When someone feels excessively nervous, skullcap can help to relax not only their anxiety, but also the accompanying muscle tension. 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 properties and helps reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia , at least this indicates a study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia.
11. Hypericum or grass
Hypericum is beneficial for the treatment of depression , as it can restore the balance of neurotransmitters that have an impact on mood. It is also beneficial for anxiety. It can be found in any pharmacy and does not require a prescription.
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 promotes increased activity of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine.
13. Hops
This plant is characterized by its bitter taste. It is native to several 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. It also facilitates digestion.
14. Ashwagandha tea
Its rare name is understood due to its origin, as it is an Indian tea, which is 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 the levels of cortisol in the body, helps to fall asleep, releases endorphins that make us feel good and reduces stress and anxiety levels.
- You can read more about this in our article: “The 10 Psychological Benefits of Physical Exercise”
16. Louisa grass
Another infusion with soothing and calming properties and that is useful in cases of nervousness and anxiety is the Herb Luisa . This plant is effective for those people who are mentally ill. It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.
17. Meditation
Meditation has been shown to be very effective in controlling anxious thoughts and calming the mind. That is why psychological techniques such as Mindfulness are now used to treat anxiety and have been shown to be effective in various research studies.
- If you want to learn how to meditate don’t miss our article: “How to learn to meditate, in 7 simple steps”
18. Walk in the country and on the beach
One of the great problems of this society is the pace of life we have. Always working, hooked on new technologies… T 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 conducted 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.