Archive for February, 2009

Alternative Anxiety Herb for Panic Attack Therapy

Friday, February 27th, 2009

It isn’t impossible to get rid of anxiety disorders without the support of medication except for a few very severe cases where drugs are crucial. Even, the requirement for supplementary treatments to control the side-effects has diverted most suffering population towards natural herb for anxiety treatment. The merits of taking herbal treatment are that these are cheaper and safer without non-habit forming properties.

Different forms of natural herbs for anxiety have been discovered and successfully applied as well to suppress stress associated with anxiety. Some of the common herbs put into use for curing anxiety and depression are discussed briefly.

Chamomile

Chamomile has a tranquilizing effect that helps to reduce stress chemicals in brain. It is also soothing tonic used for herbal baths. The leaves of the Chamomile plant are used to prepare tea and they are also natural alternative to treat anxiety disorder.

Lavender

Lavender is popular in parallel with Passion flower and at times used in place of it for treating anxiety. Famous for its calming capabilities, the natural herb for anxiety treatment focuses on counteracting panic attacks. It is an important tonic for a healthy nervous system.

Passion Flower

A plant with natural power to treat anxiety can act against general anxiety and restlessness as it is a sedative. Symptoms like tremors, nervousness, depression, blood pressure and epilepsy are skillfully overcome due to their calming properties. When required, Passion flower could also act as a painkiller.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is in use as a medicinal plant dating long time ago. It functions by freeing the passage of oxygen supply to the brain that inculcates high feelings in the patient.

Lemon Balm

A combination of Lemon balm along with Chamomile, Passion flower or Valerian is a good source of antagonist of anxiety attacks. Singly, Lemon Balm preparations are utilized to fight high blood pressure which is kept under check by calming digestive and nervous systems.

Kava

The active ingredients of the Kava plants have calming and sedative effect. It is a useful tranquilizer.

Summary

A number of other herbs like Rhodiola, Bacopin, Dandelion are promising in treating anxiety in appropriate quantities. Choice of the correct natural herb for anxiety treatment is mandatory for quicker cure. The overall effect of each of the herb used in the mixture of herbs is far greater than the ones used for treatment separately. But then, an amateurish preparation may prove dangerous and demands expert handling backed by adequate knowledge of its preparation. For most active cure, right proportion of each of the herb is essential.

Though the herbs Treatments for Panic Attacks have no side effects as compared to the medication. When dealing with anxiety attacks, it is wise to take the medicinal herbs in proper dosage after consulting your physician. The natural herb for anxiety treatment should be taken in a synergized and comprehensive formula for an effective relief from anxiety disorder. There are many companies producing herbal medicines for treat panic attack and stress in a natural way. But care should be taken that the herbal medicines should be taken in combination with proper diet.

The Alternative Methods of Anti Panic Attacks

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Millions of people across the world are subjected one or the other type of anxiety disorder. Long sessions with psychiatrists and medicines are the trend of the day as people want to get rid of stress and its related problem as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are numerous anti anxiety natural remedies available these days that are free from the risk of side effects and addiction. So there is no reason why drug should be the first choice instead of natural remedial measures.

Herbal medicines are the most popular form of anti anxiety natural remedies. The benefits of certain herbs are discussed as follows.

Kava

Kava is helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms. The herb contains anti anxiety constituents and hence, treats anxiety effectively. Inspite of being a natural remedy for anxiety in some cases it shows side effects such as risk of severe liver injury.

Valerian

Patients suffering from mild anxiety and insomnia problem can get relief with the help of the herbs. The liquid extracts and tea of this herb is available for easy use of the herb. But due to its strong aroma many people prefer to take Valerian in the form of capsules. Generally, physicians don’t recommend this anti anxiety natural remedy along with other sedatives and antihistamines. Also, this herb should not be taken for more than three months continuously. With extensive use Valerian may cause side effects such as dizziness, headache, mild indigestion and high palpitation. It is important to take advice of your physician before using the herb for your anxiety treatment.

Aromatherapy

Of late, aromatherapy is also considered as one of the important anti anxiety natural remedies. Essential oils from plants such as lavender, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, cypress, bergamot, cypress etc bring significant soothing effect on the mind. These essential oils can be used as massage, added to bath or can be infused. Those who have allergic to fragrance are recommended not to use this therapy.

Passionflower

Passionflower, an ideal substitute for benzodiazepine, is recommended to treat various forms of anxiety disorder. As one of the widely used anti anxiety natural remedies, Passionflower is really effective for the patients to ward off stressful thoughts. The positive side of using the herb is it will produce less drowsy effect as compared to drugs such as mexazolam. However, some patients complain of rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting after taking the herb. Often doctor don’t recommend this herb along with other sedatives. But recent studies have revealed that intake of Passionflower along with Valerian can show dramatic results.

Besides these, there are several other herbs available which can be used as anti anxiety natural remedies. Herbs such as St. John’sWort, Bilberry, Ginkgo Biloba sooth the nervous system and thus prevent panic attacks. These herbs are affordable and safely in most cases. But exceeding the recommended dose can be harmful. Apart from these medicinal herbs, mind/body relaxing techniques such as self-hypnosis, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and breathing exercises help patients feeling relaxed and cope with day-to-day stressful situations.

Herbs, as anti anxiety natural remedies, give better results when used in combination with other herbs. But the crucial point of using the herbs is to take professional advice.

When curing panic attacks, you can’t only rely on herbal medicine, taking the CBT program is vital to the recovery process, treatments for panic attacks also involve the mind cure, and you need to help both your mind and body when dealing with anxiety attacks.

why choose Natural Cures For Depression?

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things.

So what does the doctor prescribe?
Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat depressive disorders. However, significant numbers of patients continue to experience symptoms such as sadness, low energy and hopelessness after intensive treatment with antidepressants. As a matter of fact 50 % of depression sufferers don’t improve after using antidepressants, according to a Washington Post article, written by Shankar Vedantam. But lately some doctors are even looking into recommending natural cures for depression, to go along side with the traditional treatments.

And there is one more aspect about antidepressant medications. They have many side effects, unlike the natural cures for depression. Therefore many people chooses natural cures for depression, to avoid side effects. According to a survey by US psychiatrist David Richman 10 to 25 per cent of people on Prozac experience all of these, while 37% of patients on fluvoxamine (Faverin) corn plain of nausea and vomiting, leading to withdrawal rates of up to 19% of patients placed on this type of drug.

The most common side effects of antidepressants are:

  • Agitation (feeling jittery). If this happens for the first time after the drug is taken and is more than transient, the doctor should be notified.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Dry mouth
  • Sexual functioning may change; if worrisome, it should be discussed with the doctor.
  • Constipation and the urine stream may not be as strong as usual; the doctor should be notified if there is marked difficulty or pain.
  • Headache and Nausea
  • Dizziness rising from the bed or chair slowly is helpful.
  • Nervousness and insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking often during the night)


What can natural cures for depression do for you?
There are a number of things you can do to improve your condition. Just for start, you should know that there is a growing wealth of evidence, which highlights the ever-increasing role that the food we eat plays in our emotional status. Research is ongoing in this area and some of the proposed benefits require further research before we can equivocally relate specific illnesses to a deficiency of nutrients in our diets.

Natural Cures For Depression: omega 3 fatty acids
Depression has been linked to deficiencies in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B, vitamin C, zinc, and tryptophan. Vitamin D has also been linked to depression. So a diet high in this can improve your overall mood and reduce the depression symptoms, and it is one of the powerful natural cures for depression easily available to everyone.

The omega-3 fat DHA, which is found in fish, is highly concentrated in the brain and populations with low omega-3 fats tend to have higher rates of depression. While aggressive anti-cholesterol diets and medication, which tend to exacerbate omega-3 deficiency, are associated with increasing incidence of depression. There is also a correlation between incidence of depression and heart disease, the latter being also associated with deficiency of omega-3 fats
Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other marine life such as algae and krill, certain plants (including purslane), and nut oils. Also omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. So this too is another one of the natural cures for depression that anyone can use.

Natural Cures For Depression: the B vitamins
The most common deficiency in people with depression is a lack of one of the B vitamins, which are powerful regulators of mood. Of all vitamin deficiencies, insufficient folic acid (vitamin B9) tends to be the most frequently seen.

Natural cures for depression: Serotonin
The function of natural serotonin can have a calming and relaxing effect on the nervous system. Lack of serotonin can lead to anxiety and depression.

When we eat foods that are naturally rich in tryptophan, such as whey protein shakes, scrambled eggs, milk, lean meats, etc., the tryptophan turns into natural serotonin. The serotonin is then found in the blood stream, in the gut, and is synthesised in the central nervous system. This is how nature intended things to work and how things could work if only we would eat a more healthy diet.

Natural Cures For Depression: sleeping better and in total darkness to produce Melatonin
Melatonin is one of the Natural cures for depression , that our own body makes, since it is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain . It helps regulate other hormones and maintains the body’s circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour time-keeping system that plays a critical role in determining when we fall asleep and when we wake up. Darkness stimulates the production of melatonin while light suppresses its activity.

Melatonin levels decrease with age and this deficit may be why so many elderly folks suffer from insomnia.

Natural cures for depression: St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum)
St. John’s wort is effective in treating depression and anxiety disorders. However, this herb has been found more effective in treating mild depression, than chronic depression. According to the British Herbal Medicine Association Scientific Committee, a dosage of 2 to 4 gram dried herb in any form 3 times a day will generally suffice to drive off the blues. It may not work as fast as the pharmaceutical alternatives, but there are NO side-effects, and in time (perhaps 6 weeks) are just or more effective.

Natural cures for depression: “Talking” therapies, depression courses and programs
A depression course can help you in many ways by teaching you how to avoid anxiety and stress. Things start to happen instantly when you begin such a program. It is a major psychological breakthrough point.

Programs that are designed to tackle the general anxiety by releasing calm into your body through specific exercises that are designed to help with depression. By the end of such a program, which is one type of the natural cures for depression, you are left feeling restored, confident and more like your former self.

“Behavioral” therapy programs regards as fundamental an approach that respects and enhances each person’s capacity for self-knowledge and self-care, and it emphasizes techniques that are grounded in this approach.

Whatever you choose from the large variaty of natural cures for depression, or the medicines prescribed by doctors, you should keep in mind it is not uncurable. Give yourself permission to move forward.

Some Alternatives Treatment For Panic Disorder

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Today, everybody is in constant look out for possible natural alternatives for anxiety and stress related solutions to fight against many diseases. People, nowadays, prefer to use natural, non-addictive alternatives to effectively deal with diseases like insomnia. One can choose from a wide range of affordable natural products, like Aromatherapy products, herbal teas and supplements, to help erase tension. Here’s a quick guide to some of the most admired natural anxiety remedies:

# Aromatherapy
# Valerian
# Kava Kava
# Passionflower
# Aromatic bath salts and oils
# Cardamom

Aromatherapy

Under this therapy, a variety of natural ingredients are used to stimulate the senses of the person. All its products are smell based and are prepared with some of the rarest herbs found in the nature. Products under Aromatherapy category ranges from candles, oil diffusers, sprays, lavender and other essential oils that helps you to relax and soothes your senses. In fact, some of the sleeping sprays contain the mixture of lavender, chamomile and/or sandalwood along with other herbal oils because of their capability to ease stress and ensure a restful sleep.

Valerian

The effect of Valerian roots as one of the best natural alternatives for anxiety has been realized ages ago. Apart from anxiety, valerian roots are highly effective against high blood pressure, palpitations and gastrointestinal disturbances. Sedation caused by these roots help in mental as well as physical relaxation although these are not recommended for pregnant and nursing ladies.

Kava Kava

Tension, irritability and insomnia are relieved largely by the effects of another natural herb called Kava Kava. Their mode of action is similar to that of Serotonin which acts by calming down the nervous system and leaves the patient with a joyous feeling. A muscle relaxant with slight sedative properties, Kava Kava is best suited for patients with hyperactive brain. Kava Kava, in conjunction with antidepressant chemicals may prove harmful.

Passionflower

Crude drug extract of passionflower own sedative and relaxing properties without habit-forming properties. They are capable of treating disorders and symptoms like heart palpitations, convulsions, epilepsy, insomnia and even menopausal complaints in women. These may however pose threat to pregnant and nursing women.

Aromatic bath salts and oils

Aromatic bath salts and oils are intricately related to aromatherapy but are considerably extraordinary natural alternatives for anxiety although the herbal elements and fragrance contained in them are used in aromatherapy as well. This is because of the advantageous effects of a spa.

Cardamom

Cardamom oil is yet another essential oil that helps people feel rejuvenated and energetic even after a long stressful day at work. This herb is well known for its warm and comforting effect on the body, as well as its capability to promote clarity.

Conclusion

Natural alternatives for anxiety and stress-related issues have left us with prevention options along with treatment remedies. These are simple and have proven to be effective against disorders like insomnia and restlessness. It is sometimes useful to consult a doctor if the problems persist in spite of the remedies.

Depending on many factors, not every panic attack cures are suitable for everyone, to treat panic attacks effectively, special treatment plan must set to combat the trigger of anxiety. This is a question of how to deal with panic attacks, and not the treatment problem itself!

A Couple Impressive Information on How to Recover From Anxiety Disorder

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Reports reveal that over 19 million adults in the United States are subjected to anxiety disorders. According to the report around 8-10% of children and adolescents are also affected by this disease. Under normal circumstances, anxiety is a natural reaction of our body to stress. Almost every one of us undergo such anxiety in our everyday life. The tension before exam, interview or first office presentation, or the feeling before the first date- they are the signs of anxiety. Such anxieties are necessary as they help us to take action and cope with the tensed situation. The problem arises when anxiety controls our way of living and rises as a serious anxiety disorder. Sometimes, anxiety disorders also turn out to be mental disorder when they get acute. In such scenario the concern is how to treat anxiety disorder.

Often people ignore the primary symptoms of anxiety disorder considering it to be a minor problem, where as the reality is it’s a serious mental disease. Many times the disease is related to similar disorder among other family members, the significant proof is yet to be revealed though. Whatever may be the reason, but it’s crucial to meet a psychiatrist and learn how to treat anxiety disorder in its preliminary stage. If left untreated for long the disease may hamper the routine life of the patient.

Though the anxiety disorder is common to psychological condition and can affect people of all age-group, it has been found that women are more susceptible to these symptoms. According to the research based treatment options that are available on the web, patients suffering from anxiety disorder should be informed about the methods of how to treat anxiety disorder. Here are some methods that are highly recommended by the physicians.

Drug therapy

Benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, and Tricyclic Antidepressants are some of the commonly prescribed medicines for anxiety disorders. But, medicines are prescribed only when the condition of the patient is too serious. Again doctors don’t prescribe medicines for longer as the patient may get addicted to it.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy has significant effect on the thinking procedure of the patient. It exposes the patient to dreadful situations that rouse compulsion. The process help the patient deal with the adverse situations. Physicians are unanimous about the significant effect of the cognitive-behavior therapy. As some people complain of side-effects of medicines, CBT along with medicines or only the CBT process can be effective solution to how to treat anxiety disorder.

Natural therapy

Generally, the natural remedial measures of anxiety disorder don’t have any side-effects. The fragrances of Passion Flower, Lavender, Lemon Balm, are common natural therapy to treat anxiety and panic attack disorders.

Though, there are several useful methods to treat panic attacks, it is wise to take the advice of your physician on how to deal with panic attacks. controlling panic attacks is not easy, it takes time to see result, just be patient.