Natural Anxiety Relief: Using Supplements

Using supplements is a great resource for natural anxiety relief. I have tried a few, which I will review in this post. I would caution you however to always first check with your medical practitioner before taking any supplements, and be guided as to dosage, side effects and benefits.

St. John’s Wort

I first learnt of St. John’s Wort through reading a book By Carolyn Dean The Magnesium Miracle (Revised and Updated 2014 Edition) (Updated). As a recommended treatment for anxiety and depression, Dr. Dean references a number of supplements, including “St. John’s wort: 300 mg standardized extract 3 times a day.”  There a number of brands that carry St John’s Wort, but I have tried this particular brand by Nature’s Bounty. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon with 107 people having reviewed it. I have been using it for two weeks now. I note that the bottle says it “promotes a positive mood” so I figured maybe it would get me into a blissful state at work :-). It actually has not, unfortunately. However, I do notice that since taking it I have not felt the anxious bodily sensations such as the racing heartbeats, tingly sensations throughout my arms and the intense fear and feelings of being trapped. It so far has not helped me with calming my thoughts, so I still rely on my gratitude exercise for that, as I discussed in another article about gratitude.

Nature’s Bounty St. John’s Wort, Double Strength, 300mg, 100 Capsules (Pack of 2)

I would absolutely recommend it because I find that it has reduced the intensity of my feelings. It has taken me from the level of freaking out and crying, down to a level more of OK let me just get on with things.

I do find it odd that the bottle says double strength yet I don’t feel that “positive mood” that it claims to promote, and I have to take a capsule three times per day, as opposed to once, as indicated on the bottle. I do notice that there is another brand on Amazon that has even better reviews than Nature’s Bounty, and contains a higher amount of the extract. Nature’s Bounty brand is 300 mg, while Real Herbs brand is 500 mg. The Real Herbs brand has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 and has been reviewed by 195 persons on Amazon. People seem to find it quite effective. One reviewer mentioned that her anxiety used to be so bad people thought she was bipolar in high school, yet taking this particular brand of St John’s Wort tamed her anxiety. Have a look at some of the reviews yourself and I think you’ll feel convinced. It’s definitely worth the try, but note this supplement being a herbal remedy, is not recommended to be taken by pregnant women, children, the elderly, or by people taking certain medications. It also has a photosensitizing effect and so long exposure to sunlight should be avoided. Therefore please exercise caution.

St. Johns Wort – 500mg X 100 Capsules – All the Benefit of St John’s Wort, Concentrated in Capsule Form

Flaxseed Oil

While flaxseed oil may not be heavily promoted as a product for reducing anxiety, I notice that whenever I take it my energy level spikes. This is great because exhaustion is linked to anxiety. Sometimes anxiety leads to exhaustion and sometimes being exhausted leads to anxiety, so taking a supplement that helps to increase your energy level, is great. When I did my last full health check up I was told that I needed to increase my intake of flax seeds, nuts, fish oils and to incorporate more salmon in my diet. I have been making the effort but perhaps not to the full extent that my body needs, so at least now I am gaining some benefits from flaxseed oil.

                                             Nature Made Flaxseed Oil 1000 mg Softgels, 100 Count

Currently I take the Nature Made 1000 mg, one capsule two to three times for the day (the recommended dosage). It has been reviewed by 152 customers on Amazon and earning a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Some customers have commented on it lowering their blood pressure or helping with their cholesterol, while some have noticed greater energy levels. I have no issues with the product thus far, but I do note that there is another option with this brand, of 1,400 mg, holds 300 liquid softgels in the bottle, compared to 100 in the 1000 mg and you only need to take the capsule one time for the day, instead of up to three times.

 

 Nature Made Organic Flaxseed Oil 1,400 mg – Omega-3-6-9 for Heart Health – 300 Softgels

It is next on my list to try :-). I note that this particular option is on Amazon’s #1 bestseller in flax seed oil nutritional supplements. Definitely worth the try, but be cautious if you are pregnant, about to do surgery, have bleeding problems or undergoing any treatment which may affect the ability of the blood to clot.

In general, while these supplements may be safe, it is always best that you consult with your medical practitioner before trying any new supplement. Personally, I make my decisions based on observing myself and doing my own research online and from reading books, but I would highly recommend that you consult with your medical practitioner because each individual’s situation is unique.

Best wishes and cheers to great health.

Karlene Stewart

www.letpanicflow.com