Natural Cures for Common Illnesses

Do you know a misery merchant? Just like your bank manager, a misery merchant always knows just how to bring you down. They’re the sort of person that no matter what happens, always feels down, unhappy or blue?

While it is natural to have days when you’re feeling a little out of sorts, regular problems with moods can really make life, well miserable… pardon the pun!

The long term solution for mood disorders and anxiety is to correct underlying nutritional deficiencies. Unfortunately, this is not always a quick process. This is where herbal medicine can help you to obtain short-term relief.

Sage – More Than Just Sore Throats

Sage is probably not the first herb that springs to mind for mood disorders; even most folk herbal remedies use sage more as a natural antiseptic in the treatment of sore throats and coughs. Sage though, has far more to offer than just this. Research is only now uncovering what the Chinese have known for centuries and sage is taking its rightful place as a powerful herb to support mood and nervous system function.

What really makes sage stand out from the crowd is its rapid action. Studies have shown reductions in stress and improvements in mood as quickly as one hour after taking the powdered form of the herb. Other mood boosting herbs require several days of consistent use and even then, only make their effects known gradually.

If you’ve ever tried sage tea, you will know it doesn’t make the nicest brew. This taste though can easily be masked by the addition of other strong flavours such as peppermint or liquorice. Alternatively, some health food stores stock powdered sage in capsules that can make this herb a little easier on the stomach.

The use of sage oil internally and strong sage preparations should be avoided during pregnancy. It may also exacerbate some gastric disorders and complaints.

Passion flower – Beautiful & Effective

Passion flower has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and not just in the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety. It has been suggested that the early North Americans used passion flower in the treatment of epilepsy; and like a lot of other herbs in human history, it didn’t take long for us to figure out it could be smoked.

Research has shown passion flower’s effectiveness on mood is not just folklore. Studies comparing passion flower extract with common pharmaceutical drugs used in mood disorders, have found it to offer similar results without the risk of addiction found in pharmaceutical medications. Anxiety, insomnia, and stress symptoms all responded equally well and results can be obtained in as little as two weeks of use.

Passion flower is readily available in most health food stores as either capsule or a loose leaf tea. Capsule and tablet forms are most effective for stress and anxiety, while the tea, particularly when prepared with valerian, is a great way to prepare for bed.

Guarana – Not Just a Quick Hit

Not just in energy drinks any more, guarana is increasingly found in herbal mood and anxiety formulas.

Most people are probably familiar with guarana as the healthy form of an energy drink. Did you know that in addition to giving a quick energy boost, guarana can also be beneficial for mood? It’s not just a caffeine boost either, as lower doses have been shown to be more affective than higher doses.

The use of guarana in the treatment of mood can be controversial due to its stimulatory effect which can worsen symptoms for those that are already highly strung. It can however be useful where mood disorders are accompanied by high levels of fatigue or low energy and lethargy.

Make Sure to Consult a Naturopath

If you’re affected by mood disorders or anxiety, it’s important to consult with your Naturopath. While herbal remedies can provide short-term relief, lasting mood improvements will only come from addressing underlying nutritional deficiencies.

It is also important to ensure that your mood disorder, isn’t related to a more complex condition requiring treatment from a qualified psychiatrist or counsellor.

Many people are starting to realize that taking an addictive pill from the pharmacy is not the way that they want to gain control over their anxiety. Instead, people are searching to find natural remedies for anxiety because it makes them feel safer, and more in control.

It makes sense that you wouldn’t want to treat anxiety or panic attacks with something that can easily make you feel worse if you stop taking it like a prescription can. On top of that, you haven’t solved any of your anxiety problems by taking the medicine in the first place.

For people in your situation, there are some natural or herbal methods that you can use to gain back some calmness in your body and mind. Some people don’t do well with any type of medication, including herbal treatments, so there is also cognitive behavioral therapies available, which help many people deal with anxious behavior effectively.

Another avenue that you can explore was built in when you were a care-free person without any anxious thoughts. Have you ever met someone who always thought of life as a great, positive experience? I would be willing to bet that any such person most likely doesn’t have any issues with anxiety, wouldn’t you?

And that would actually make perfect sense if you think about it for a minute. People with a positive attitude never think they are going to die every single time they get a little bit nervous. They accept being nervous as a natural event, and they do not dwell on what may or may not happen to them.

They are in control of their mind, which people like yourself that have an anxiety disorder are not. You are merely trying to live inside a brain that thinks it should be constantly panicked and freaking out. An over-active, nervous brain is the trademark of having anxiety, so don’t think there is anything really wrong with you.

You can try something to help get rid of anxiety though, and you can find it in just about any store in your community. Various teas and extracts like Chamomile and Velerian root give some people who take them a feeling of calmness. You have to be careful though, because some remedies like Valerian have been known to act the opposite, and cause increased nervousness in some people.

Because of this, and some other side-effects caused by over the counter medications such as herbal remedies, it will be a good idea to check with your doctor first just to make sure. This is always a good idea when attempting to add any remedy to your routine, just to be on the safe side.

Finding a good remedy for anxiety and panic disorder is hard for many people. Not only are there a lot of different techniques or remedies available, not every one of them works the same for each person.

There are many different ways one can be stressed which causes anxiety and feelings of anger or frustration. It can be a personal conflict, another person’s problems, or maybe your boss or coworker that gets on your nerves. It can also come from money problems or even a chemical cause like for example the use of alcohol, caffeine, drugs, diet pills, ADHD medications, medication for asthma, or even nicotine from smoking. You also might be deficient on a certain vitamin. For example not having enough vitamin B12 in your body can also help lead to stress and anxiety. There is also the possibility that you might have PTSD (Posttraumatic stress disorder) from different traumatic events too.

Dealing with anxiety can be a challenge you definitely want to make sure you do something about it. You would not want to wait until it gets worse, making you feel like there’s nothing else you can do. So it’s best to quickly address the problem. If it’s a substance abuse like caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol you’ll want to address that and your best option would be to cut them out. For instance, you might not have as much caffeine as normal and replace it with something like ginseng that gives you energy but doesn’t cause the anxiety crash. In addition it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor first to see what options they give you in addressing it.

When you talk to your doctor, they might prescribe medication to try and help your anxiety. This could be an antidepressant like Paxil or Prozac. There are other drugs that could be prescribed as well but for example we’ll take Prozac and explain some of the negative things about it. If you have bipolar disorder or mania, diabetes, liver disease, psychosis, seizures, have a history of suicidal attempts or have allergies to fluoxetine or other foods dyes or preservatives as well as breast feeding or pregnant you would want to avoid taking it. It can cause seizures, different allergic reactions, breathing problems, confusion, fast or irregular heart rate, tremors, problems sleeping, unusual bleeding or bruising, vomiting, flu like symptoms or thoughts of suicide. This medicine can also cause a variety of liver problems, which is something they do not list. That is why they make mention to avoid taking the drug when you have liver problems to begin with.

You might want to avoid prescription medication that in many causes has more side effects than just having anxiety. In addition, many of them are addictive and are very hard to stop once you get started taking them. There is no need to fret though, safe remedies are available that can help make you feel less stressed. There is a large list of different herbs and tea’s that can help relieve your stress. Some of these are, Kava kava, Ginseng, Valerian, Ashwagandha, Lemon balm, Catnip, St. John’s Wort, Bugleweed, Chamomile, California poppy, Feverfew, Ginkgo biloba, Hops, Mullein, Passion Flower, Verbena, and Skullcap. All of these come from natural plants and are not chemically produced while some of them might not be good for long term use, most of them are much safer then harsh chemicals that can leave you with an addiction or have more harmful side effects then just being depressed.

Depression is a disease of the mind. It can be brought about by extreme emotions or through an imbalance of natural chemicals in the body.

As much as there are chemical-based medicines that would help correct this imbalance, alternative and natural therapy for depression is becoming popular as more and more studies are starting to prove the effectiveness of these forms of therapy.

The following are just some of the few effective natural remedies for depression:

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is known for its many medicinal potential, most especially in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Its use would date back to ancient Greece. Researchers believe that the action of St. John’s Wort in treating depression is because of its active constituent chemical, hyperforin, which inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and nor-adrenaline. Studies are also being conducted on the potential of St. John’s Wort in the treatment of alcoholism. St. John’s Wort comes in capsule and tablet form, as well as teabags, liquid extracts and tinctures.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid. Do you remember grandma forcing you to take that yucky and smelly cod liver oil? Well, it’s because of this important essential fatty acid that is believed to have countless of benefits to the human body. Luckily, today, there are preparations of this wonder drink that’s no longer smelly and easy to swallow. Essential fatty acids are needed by our body for normal metabolism, however it is unable to synthesis it on itself. That is why it is essential that our diet includes rich sources of this unsaturated fatty acid. More common sources are fish, flaxseed, butternut, and black raspberries. Studies have shown that people whose diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids have lesser incidence of depression. This is most specially recommended to patients with postpartum depression, since antidepressants can prove to be harmful to the baby.

Vitamin B Complex. People suffering from depression are found to be deficient in Vitamin B, most especially that of folic acid. One of Vitamin B’s use in the body is its ability to regulate mental and emotional health. For example, Vitamin B12 is needed in the formation of red blood cells, thus lack of it would mean lack of oxygen possibly to the brain. This would lead to mood swings, paranoia, and irritability among others. Folic acid (Vitamin B9), on the other hand is needed for the production of SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine). Lack of folic acid could result to forgetfulness, mental confusion, and depression. Although there are many supplements available in the market, natural sources include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and beans.

SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), pronounced as “sammy”, is naturally produced in our liver. This is a compound essential in the transport of what is called the methyl group, which is vital for DNA repair and production. SAM-e is one of the most effective vehicles to transport methyl groups, as such, if our body lacks this compound normal body functions in the cellular level would be impaired. SAM-e is naturally occurring in the body, but as we age, we produce less of this. This is actually a combination of a compound called methionine, which can be sourced from protein-rich food, and another essential compound called the adenosine triphosphate (ATP). SAM-e is widely available as a supplement in capsule form.

Often simple lifestyle changes can help cure depression and anxiety without medication naturally. However, because they are simple to do, they are also simple not to do!

• Learning how to relax is extremely important in relieving stress and reducing depression and anxiety. Taking on too much can put undo pressure on anyone. Be kind to yourself, but be firm with yourself too, make sure you are active every day! Reduce your workload and re-examine your schedule. Learn to say no. Others do to you, why should you not to them? It is self preservation, often you find people suffering from anxiety or depression are too nice for their own good!

• Regular exercise, sunshine, nature, meditation, pilates and deep breathing techniques will all help to make you less anxious and stressed. Exercising in the fresh air, especially somewhere beautiful (countryside or sea) is proven to have an invigorating effect on the mind, due to the negative ions in the atmosphere, which cause your endorphins (feel good chemicals) to rise. A daily walk will definitely help cure depression and anxiety without drugs.

• A well-balanced diet that includes plenty of vitamins and minerals will help the body and mind to function at its peak and will help you to reduce anxiety and depression. An apple a day really does keep the Doctor away! (And cellulite too, as a side benefit!)

Make sure you get plenty of essential fatty acids in your diet too, especially Omega 3, as the brain is 70% ‘good’ fat. No – these won’t make you fat, it is the same oil found in oily fish, and as a side benefit, is great for you hair, skin and stops your nails splitting! You can take these as capsules, to avoid the fishy taste. Make sure you get one that is high in EPA, you need a concentrated strength version, don’t just go for the cheapest and wonder why it doesn’t work! With Vitamins especially, you get what you pay for, so buy a reputable brand as cheap ones can be full of ‘fillers’.

• Get plenty of rest, make sure you get some sleep before midnight and avoid the overuse of caffeine and alcohol, two things that can massively contribute to raised levels of depression and anxiety. Alcohol especially is actually a depressant, and long term use will make you paranoid and suspicious of people, leading to social withdrawal and further problems.

• Herbal remedies such as Kava-Kava or St.-John’s-wort can work wonders to cure depression and anxiety naturally. Kava-Kava can’t be bought in the uk, but you can obtain it online, from the USA, and it is as effective as valium as it acts on the same part of the brain as valium, but instead of making you incredibly tired and groggy, it actually improves mental clarity and performance!

Follow all the advice above and you will be able to cure your depression and anxiety without medication. I know, I did! And if I can, so can you!

Anyone who struggles with the fear associated with panic or anxiety attacks knows how serious it is. These fears are real and can be very scary. Knowing how to stop an unexpected attack can feel like a true lifesaver for people suffering with the disorder. Many individuals who are unaware of this know-how think that anxiety and panic attacks simply happen and are out of their reach to control. The reality is however that you can acquire the skill to control and stop anxiety at will.

When we are in harms way mother natures fight or flight mechanism tells our brain to release the hormone adrenaline into the body so we can endure the pain or fight and flee quickly. When this occurs in a demanding situation we don’t notice the adrenaline increase until we return to safety and the affects wear off. Anxiety and panic attacks are a result of our fight or flight instinct that “burst of adrenaline” taking effect unexpectedly.

The symptoms can vary from person to person, but there are some behavioral patterns that are common such as increased heart beat, difficulty breathing, the whole body shaking, chest pain, nausea, chills, dizziness, fainting, people feel that they are losing control, and that they are in mortal danger.

To overcome a Panic and Anxiety attack the first thing you should do is think to remain calm and take control of your breathing. Remember that these symptoms of anxiety and panic result from an unwarranted burst of adrenaline. Change the image in your mind and your focus. Concentrate on slow and deep controlled breathing to help offset the symptoms of adrenaline and bring the body down from the experience to a normal state of being.

Individuals who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks do so as a result of some fear they are thinking about. The negative thoughts of fear take control of their emotions and is the root cause of the attacks.

To overcome the fearful thoughts we must replace them with positive pleasant thoughts. Our minds only allow a response to a negative or positive thought about any given situation at any given time. Changing the image in our mind about whatever the situation is essential. Doing so and then reinforcing the positive thoughts now in our minds with for example the words “don’t worry everything will be okay” is like a natural cure for a panic or anxiety attack.

The mastering of your thoughts and visions from negative to positive should allow you to identify the subjects in mind that cause the attacks. By doing so one can take charge of and control their fear with the realization of knowing that nothing feared came to pass and in fact there was actually nothing to be scared of but the fear itself.

It is also important to cut down on caffeine and alcohol and make sure your diet is rich in vitamins and minerals. I recommend using soothing teas as well as infusions of lavender, valerian and rose hips which have a relaxing effect. Vegetables and fruit juices are also essential, especially carrots, apples and cabbage.

A neurological or psychological condition that is manifested by extreme or intense fear and terror is known as a panic attack disorder, which is quite common among adults and children alike. Most advanced cases are severe enough that it actually affects the day to day life of the sufferer. Although many of the panic disorder cases are easily treated by anti anxiety and anti depressant medications, some people do believe in the effects of natural treatment for disorders. Proper diet, regular exercise, and behavior modification therapy are just some of the natural treatments that can have serious positive effects for people with anxiety attack disorders.

If you wish to treat these disorders naturally, the first thing you need to do is ask a health care professional regarding the methods involved in behavior modification therapies. These types of therapies can be very effective in battling the disorder. CBT, or cognitive behavior therapy, is probably among the most effective form of behavior modification therapy in dealing with panic problems, simply because the main goal of the therapy itself is to seek the underlying causes of the panic attacks and then attempts to modify or change those behaviors and undesirable responses with more acceptable substitutes. This form of natural treatment is actually more common than one might think.

Another form of therapy that you should familiarize yourself with is interceptive exposure therapy. This form of therapy attempts to trigger the symptoms of the panic attack in order for the therapist to demonstrate to the sufferer that no harm will come to him or her. After all, the best way to deal with your fears or anxieties is to face them, don’t you think? Although this form of therapy can be quite risky at times to some individuals, especially those who manifest severe symptoms, it has been proven to be quite effective in treating panic problem in a natural manner.

Another form of treatment that may help reduce the severity of the symptoms of an attack is having a proper exercise regimen. An individual who suffers from these attacks should be encouraged to start an exercise regimen that incorporates deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Exercises such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and other forms of stretching and breathing exercises can greatly help reduce or alleviate the symptoms that are manifested in terror attacks. These forms of exercises can help relieve the stress that you may be experiencing, which may be the cause of your anxiety or panic attacks.

If you are a panic attack disorder sufferer, you may also want to take care of your diet. Practicing proper eating habits and proper diet can help deal with panic disorders naturally. You should avoid foods or beverages that have stimulants such as sugar and caffeine, because these stimulants can make the symptoms more severe. They can make you feel more nervous, jittery, and irritable. In other words, they can possibly trigger a panic attack. Aside from improving or altering your diet, you may also want to look at vitamin supplements and herbal formulas that are specifically designed to help relieve the symptoms of panic attacks. Herbal supplements are actually more effective than most people believe.

There are a variety of things that can cause us to get the blues or feel a little down. If you feel like you may be suffering from a form of depression it is important to seek professional help, but if you are just feeling a little down in the dumps there are a few things you can do to help perk yourself up again. Things like getting the right blend of nutrients, exercise and listening to music can all help improve your mood.

Nutrients and Supplements

To get a wide spectrum of nutrients from your foods it is important to eat a variety of foods including plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also choose whole grains instead of refined grains as they have more mood boosting nutrients. Some research suggests that a lack of certain nutrients can affect the way our bodies metabolize brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline which can have a direct impact on your mood.

Make sure you are getting enough B vitamins, particularly folate, B6 and B12. Vitamins D and C as well as zinc and magnesium are also important for emotional health. To make sure you are getting enough of these vitamins and minerals consider taking a multivitamin every day. But also remember too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing, so stick to recommended doses.

There are a few herbal supplements that have shown to help improve mood in a variety of people, particularly things like rhodiola rosea extract and St John’s wart.

Fats

Some research suggest that an imbalance in certain fats, particularly omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, may create a higher risk of depression. Modern average diets are typically high in omega-6 fatty acids but low in omega-3 fatty acids. Foods high in omega-6 fatty acids include meat, eggs and refined grains, so you may want to cut down on these types of foods. Foods high in mood-boosting omega-3 fatty acids include flax seeds, nuts and fish so you may want to add more of these to your regular diet to help improve your mood.

Exercise

Getting regular exercise can help your body produce brain chemicals that improve mood. You don’t even need to participate in an intense exercise, a brisk 20 minute walk should be enough to help your body produce these feel-good chemicals. Find an exercise that you enjoy and will do regularly to help elevate your mood on a regular basis. Not only will it help your mood but it will also improve your overall health, which is another thing to feel good about.

Music

For most people listening to music is a natural mood booster. Find music you enjoy and play it while you are commuting, working around the house or exercising.

Have you ever experienced sudden surge of weird feelings while you are outside having fun and socializing? The kind of feelings that are so overwhelming that makes you tremble, shiver, sweating and also having thoughts of dying? If you have ever gone through all these symptoms, you should know how frightening and distressing they can be.

This experience is a typical anxiety attack symptoms. There are millions of people all over the planet who are having similar problems like yours. There are those who have more severe anxiety symptoms while others have milder ones. Either way, this is the kind of feelings that no one wants in their life. So, have you tried anything to cure your anxiety disorder symptoms? Have you tried drugs medications or natural anxiety remedies to treat your anxiety attacks?

If you have, ask yourself honestly what have you achieved so far? Have you been completely cured? Somehow, I am quite sure that you are not having the results that you actually want from these drugs or natural anxiety remedies. Why? This is simply because these method of treatments can only offer quick relief from anxiety but not a permanent curative effect. You want permanent cure and not just a quick relief, don’t you? Generic cialis professional

Natural anxiety remedies and drugs are not meant to cure anxiety disorders, they simply can’t. Anxiety attacks are not any form of illness, they are behavioral conditions. Your subconscious mind have been conditioned to behave that way in some situations or places. The reason this happened is because of constant bombardment of stressful events such as bereavements, marital problems, family violence, money worries, massive workload etc in your life that may have set a higher base line to your Amygdala, So to use drugs medications on these symptoms are outright wrong and inappropriate.

Each time the Amygdala sense the same “threat” merely at the thought of certain places or situations, the Amygdala will react as though you are in trouble and start to release signals (hormones) to the rest of your body system for a fight or flight respond, even though there are no real threat present. When these hormones are not being used to fight or run, it will then manifest as symptoms of anxiety disorders mentioned above. So to actually cure your anxiety completely, you must break this habit that your subconscious mind have learned. If not, you will be having the same, feelings again and again in your life and if left untreated can affect your life tremendously.

If you suffer from anxiety, you know how it can take over your life and leave you feeling scared and powerless. Using herbal remedies for anxiety is one way to help gain control of your life again, but how do you know which remedies actually work and aren’t harmful for your health?

Most herbal remedies are designed to relax you and reduce your feelings of anxiety. These herbs are safe for most healthy people, but of course you would want to check with your doctor before taking them.

Why Herbal Remedies For Anxiety Are Better

Anxiety has a way of feeding on itself. You probably find that you are nervous a lot (even when there is no reason to be) because you are afraid of your next anxiety attack. This nervousness actually feeds on itself and can bring on an attack.

Now, there are pharmaceuticals that you can take to help calm you down, but these have bad side effects and can cost a lot of money. For people who want a healthier option, herbal remedies can be a great way to go.

Not only are herbal remedies healthier, but they also cost less, are not habit forming and don’t require repeated trips to the doctor in order to continue using them.

What Are The Best Herbal Remedies?

Usually, herbal remedies for anxiety are not tested medically or in clinical trials, but a couple of the herbs below have actually shown promise in trials.

• Valerian is an herb that has actually been medically tested and has shown to reduce anxiety in clinical trials.
• L-theanine This is actually an amino acid which is derived from Green Tea and has a significant anti-anxiety effect and some say it works as good as prescription anti anxiety medication but without the side effects and addicting qualities.

• Chamomile has long been used to treat stress and help calm nerves. It is also great as a sleep aid and for an upset stomach.
• St. Johns Wort This herb is actually a natural reuptake inhibitor which has been used since ancient times to improve mood and help with nervousness.

Why Herbal Remedies Will Not Cure You

Using herbal remedies for anxiety is a great way to take the edge of and lessen your overall nervousness, however they will never make your anxiety go away forever!

In order to get rid of anxiety once and for all, you need to stop the cycle of anxiety that happens inside your head. This can’t be done with drugs or herbs but requires a certain technique (thankfully, this is easy to learn). Once you learn how to stop the cycle of fear, you will never have to worry about dealing with anxiety attacks again because you simply won’t have them anymore!