by GreenMedInfo Research Group
In the face of the rising costs of anxiety in the United States and the world, here are seven substances that act as natural anti-anxiety agents and may make a difference in addressing the unprecedented levels of stress people face today, in the wake of the COVID crisis.
In the United States, approximately 1 in 3 people will test anxiety disorders In their lives, diagnoses are increasing among young people in particular.[i] Direct healthcare costs exceed $40 billion each year, and their recurring nature leads to sustainable costs for individuals, families, and entire communities.
The good news is nature shows worry Relief is in abundance. Here are some materials to naturally calm your mind.
1. coffee
Scientifically known as Piper methysticum, coffee It is a crop of Pacific islands that has an anxiolytic effect, mainly due to the modulation of GABA activity in your brain. It’s available without a prescription in countries like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.[ii]
A meta-analysis of three trials indicates that kava extract is superior to placebo as a treatment for anxiety symptoms.[iii] In a different study, the herbal remedy was found to be an effective alternative treatment to pharmaceuticals in non-psychotic anxiety disorders, with greater efficacy observed in females and younger patients.[iv]
2. Essential oils of lavender, rose, bergamot and orange
Aromatherapy through the use of essential oils It has been widely studied around the world for its ability to relieve anxiety, stress and depression.[v] Some of the leading essential oils for this purpose are lavender, rose, bergamot, orange, and lemon, to name a few.
Study subjects who mixed an essential oil consisting of lavender and bergamot oils, applied topically to the skin, rated themselves as “calm” and “more relaxing” than the control subjects.[vi] They had to rate their emotional state in terms of factors such as relaxation, vitality, calmness, attention, mood, and arousal.
In a review of 14 studies, lavender and rose oils were also found to be effective in relieving anxiety in various animal anxiety models.[vii] Even just the scents surrounding orange and lavender reduced anxiety and improved mood in the dental clinic.[viii] While more studies are recommended, a range of results indicated an anti-anxiety effect from the scent of sweet orange, supporting its use as a sedative by aromatherapists.[ix]
3. cannabidiol (CBD)
Both animal and human studies point to this cannabidiolCBD, or CBD, a major component of cannabis, provides not only pain relief but also anti-anxiety properties.
Results from a study in individuals with generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) indicate that CBD reduces anxiety in seasonal affective disorder through its effect on activity in the limbic and paralytic regions of the brain.[x]
Online Course: Herbal Energetics (Advertisement)
In the case of a 10-year-old girl who had been sexually abused and had little parental supervision under the age of 5, pharmaceutical drugs provided partial and short-term results, with significant side effects.[xi] The CBD trial led to a “sustained decrease” in anxiety as well as a steady improvement in the quality and quantity of her sleep amid PTSD.
4. psilocybin
strong drug psilocybin It is the active ingredient of magic mushrooms or mushrooms.
“Stimulation of serotonin neurotransmission by psilocybin has been shown to shift emotional biases away from negative stimuli to positive,” researchers write in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical, noting that decreased amygdala activity during threat processing may be key to the substance’s effect on emotional processing.[xii]
In a double-blind trial in patients with advanced cancer and anxiety, researchers used a moderate dose of 0.2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of psilocybin, revealing a trend toward improved mood and anxiety.[xiii] Psilocybin may also be useful in treating drug addiction, anxiety, and mood disorders, especially in treatment-resistant subjects.[xiv]
5. gotu kola
Also referred to as brahmi and Indian pennywort, gotu kola It is a perennial flowering plant of the family Apiaceae. Native to Asian wetlands, it is useful as a botanical and therapeutic herb, and has been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to relieve anxiety and depression.[xv]
Compared to placebo, gotu kola showed significant anti-anxiety activity in humans as measured by the sudden acoustic response (ASR).[xvi] The researchers explained that this shows its potential in the treatment of anxiety syndromes.
6. chamomile
Who forgets their favorite tea at night to calm your mind and soothe your tired body? The first controlled clinical trial of chamomile extract to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) found that it may have moderate benefits in patients with mild to moderate cases.[xvii]
In a separate search, chamomile Cortisol patterns also improved in people with moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder.[xviii] The response to chamomile therapy may be attributable in part to the normalization of dysfunction in stress biology. On top of its anti-anxiety effect, chamomile may also have “clinically meaningful” antidepressant activity.[xix]
7. passion flower
Another natural anti-anxiety compound is Passiflora incarnata, more commonly known as passionflower, maybob, and wild passion vine. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers in South America learned about the plant and brought it to Europe, where it was widely cultivated and became part of European folk medicine.[xx]
In the management of GAD, passionflower has proven to be effective, with the added bonus of a lower rate of impaired functioning compared to the anxiety drug oxazepam.[xxi] Among outpatient surgery patients, passionflower has been an effective pre-medication in reducing anxiety without acting as a sedative.[xxii] Find out more Natural anti-anxiety agents With nearly 500 abstracts on GreenMedInfo.com.
references
[i] Shacman A and others Two decades of neuroimaging research for anxiety: new insights and a look into the future. I am psychiatry. Epub 2021 Feb 1.
[ii] Sarris J et al Kava: a comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and psychopharmacology. UST NZJ Psychiatry. 2011 Jan; 45 (1): 27-35. Epub 2010 November 15.
[iii] Pittler M et al The efficacy of kava extract in the treatment of anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Yee Clean Psychopharmacol. 2000 Feb; 20 (1): 84-9.
[iv] Witte S et al “A meta-analysis of the efficacy of kava acetone extract WS1490 in patients with non-psychotic anxiety disorders”. Phytother Res. 2005 Mar; 19 (3): 183-8.
[v] Barati F et al The effect of aromatherapy on anxiety in patients. Nefrorol Mon. 2016 Sep; 8 (5): e38347. Epub 2016 Jul 31.
[vi] Hongratanaworakit T. Aromatherapy Effects of Massage with Mixed Essential Oils on Humans Nat Broad Common. 2011 Aug; 6(8): 1199-204.
[vii] Tsang H et al A systematic review of the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy on rodents under experimentally induced anxiety models. Pastor Neurosci. 2010; 21 (2): 141-52.
[viii] Lehrner J et al The scents surrounding orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in the dental office. Physiol Behav. 2005 Sep 15; 86 (1-2): 92-5.
[ix] Goes T et al Effect of sweet orange scent on experimental anxiety in humans. J Alternate Supplement Med. 2012 Aug; 18(8): 798-804. Epub 2012 Jul 31.
[x] Crippa J et al Neurological basis for the anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. psychopharmacol. 2010 September 9. Epub 2010 Sep 9.
[xi] Shannon S et al The efficacy of cannabidiol oil for childhood anxiety and insomnia as part of post-traumatic stress disorder: a case report. perm c. 2016 Oct 12; 20 (4). Epub 2016 Aug 12.
[xii] Kraehenmann R et al “The mixed serotonin receptor agonist psilocybin reduces threat-induced modulation of the amygdala connection.” Neuroimage Clean. 2016; 11:53-60. Epub 2015 Aug 22.
[xiii] Group C and others A pilot study of the treatment of psilocybin for anxiety in patients with advanced cancer Arch General Psychiatry. 2011 Jan; 68 (1): 71–8. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
[xiv] Dos Santos R et al “The antidepressant, anxiolytic, and anti-addictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years” There adv Psychopharmacol. 2016 June; 6 (3): 193–213. Epub 2016 Mar 18.
[xv] Bradwin J et al “A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on sudden vocal response in healthy subjects” Yee Clean Psychopharmacol. 2000 Dec; 20 (6): 680-4.
[xvi] Bradwin J et al “A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on sudden vocal response in healthy subjects” Yee Clean Psychopharmacol. 2000 Dec; 20 (6): 680-4.
[xvii] Amsterdam J et al A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of treatment with oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract for generalized anxiety disorder. Yee Clean Psychopharmacol. 2009 Aug; 29 (4): 378-82.
[xviii] Keefe J et al An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during treatment with chamomile extract for moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder. Easy Seater Race. 2018 01; 96: 189-195. Epub 2017 Oct 16.
[xix] Amsterdam J et al Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious and depressed humans: an exploratory study. Alternative Ther Health Med. 2012 September – October; 18 (5): 44-9.
[xx] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.ncih.nih.gov/health/passionflower
[xxi] Akhondzadeh S et al Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Clean Pharm is there. 2001 Oct; 26 (5): 363-7.
[xxii] Movavg et al Preoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. i forgot i forgot. 2008 Jun; 106 (6): 1728-32.
GMI Research Group (GMIRG) Dedicated to investigating the most important health and environmental issues of the day. A special focus will be placed on environmental health. Our focused and in-depth research will explore the many ways in which the current state of the human body directly reflects the true state of the surrounding environment.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of GreenMedInfo or its employees.
Source: GreenMedInfo
This article is copyright GreenMedInfo LLC, 2021
Visit our Repost Guidelines