Supplements for Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety is a disorder that affects more than 20 million Americans. Characterized by irrational feelings of fear, worry, and dread, anxiety can also manifest physically as a racing heart, racing mind, and shortness of breath.
People who suffer from anxiety can find relief in a variety of ways, including lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, supplements that are shown to help alleviate the symptoms, and even pharmaceutical intervention. Often times, a combination of these methods culminate to be the most effective way to overcome anxiety. Finding the right combination that works to ease your symptoms can take time, so be patient with yourself if you’re struggling to find that balance.
Below are some supplements that research suggests can help treat symptoms of anxiety. Talk to your health care practitioner about which ones will work best for you.
This unique amino acid, found in green tea, supports mental calmness by increasing dopamine and GABA in the brain (according to a 2018 study); it also assists the alpha brainwaves associated with relaxation, without any drowsiness.
Identified in more than 300 bodily processes, magnesium relaxes small muscles and is also a key player in mental relaxation, neuromuscular transmission and energy—serving double duty in both helping rebuild the body and providing a sense of wellbeing. Take a look at our top magnesium supplements for supporting a sense of ease and calm.
L-tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP in the body, which can then be converted to the neurotransmitter serotonin and in turn, the hormone melatonin. Serotonin deficiency has been linked to poor sleep, loss of appetite, as well as depression and anxiety. Supplementing with L-tryptophan or 5-HTP could help maintain sleep for those who wake in the night, a common problem with increased stress or in those who suffer from anxiety.
B vitamin deficiency can exacerbate stress and anxiety, since B vitamins are critical to many functions in the body—including calming the nervous system. When someone is stressed, they burn through B5 and B6 more quickly, so adding a supplement to your routine in times of stress can help alleviate these symptoms.
GABA is the predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter that works to calm over-excitement in the nervous system that can lead to irritability, restlessness, sleeplessness and spasmodic movements. GABA increases the production of calming alpha waves and decreases stress-related beta waves in the brain. Read more about GABA’s mood stabilizing and stress-reducing capabilities here.
“Rescue Remedy, a combination of five flower essences, is designed for immediate relief from stress or some kind of trauma,” says Lindsay F., former homeopath at our Santa Fe store. The formula includes essences of rock rose, clematis, impatiens, cherry plum and star of Bethlehem, and is designed to restore a sense of balance to the body.
Our adrenal glands produce stress hormones (such as cortisol), and can quickly become imbalanced with chronic stress. That’s where adaptogens come in—research indicates that they help improve adrenal gland function and boost your body’s natural stress response. Our practitioners often recommend rhodiola, eleuthero, astragalus and ashwagandha—in single extracts or combinations.
For this blog post and others, visit https://www.pharmaca.com
