Dear Doctor,

Are there any natural treatments for anxiety?

S.T., Billings

Dear S.T.,

Chronic anxiety is very common in America with one out of seven visits to physicians related to anxiety. Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from medically significant anxiety. Anxiety is frequently accompanied by depression and is defined as a state of fear or worry in the face of perceived threat that lacks a realistic basis. Anxiety is the primary emotion in panic disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and phobias. The most common form of anxiety, however, is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a situation in which a person feels overwhelmed by a continuous state of worry, as if your thoughts have taken control of you. Anxiety is often accompanied by physical symptoms including racing heart, shortness of breath, muscle tension, sweating and dry mouth. Fortunately there is help: natural therapies, lifestyle choices and counseling can all be of significant benefit.

Anxiety can be related to traumatic life events or can seem to “come out of the blue”. People often feel that they were born an anxious person. In either case, counseling can be extremely helpful. If you have generalized anxiety without apparent cause it is important to be evaluated for medical causes of anxiety: hyperthyroidism, tumor, hypoglycemia, excess stimulant use and nutritional deficiencies. Additional testing can be performed to evaluate more subtle physiologic causes of chronic anxiety. Imbalances in the amounts of neurotransmitters in the brain can be due to genetic variations in the production of these neurotransmitters. Genomic testing and urine amino acid evaluation may be helpful in determining functional neurotransmitter levels.

To evaluate anxiety it is important to consider a part of the brain called the locus ceruleus. Excess stimulation of the locus ceruleus causes anxiety, panic disorder, bipolar symptoms and increased appetite (one reason why we eat when we are stressed). The locus ceruleus can be stimulated by caffeine, MSG, lack of B-vitamins and inability to adequately digest wheat and dairy. The locus ceruleus is calmed by serotonin, GABA, glycine and endorphins. Serotonin, GABA and Glycine can be increased with herbs, supplements, amino acids and medication. Endorphins are increased through exercise.

Naturopathic treatments for anxiety include calming the body and mind through healthy diet and lifestyle choices. Regular meals of whole grains, vegetables and protein with adequate water is essential. It is also important to establish regular routines for sleep, exercise, creativity and rejuvenation. Hydrotherapy treatments and specific breathing exercises are known to be helpful in acute anxiety situations.

Certain nutritional deficiencies are common in anxiety: B-vitamins, Omega-3 fats, calcium, magnesium, chromium and protein are some examples. Herbal and homeopathic medicines may be used, specifically and individually, to help calm anxiety states. Last but not least, medically supervised detoxification programs have shown great benefit for anxiety by eliminating stimulants, junk food, sugar and food allergens while supporting optimal liver and gastrointestinal function.

As you can see, there are many possibilities for the natural treatment of anxiety. One of the easiest ways to get started is to have an evaluation to assess which of these treatments will work best for you.