Top 5 Natural Supplements For Anxiety

Some anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel a certain amount of unease or uncertainty when it comes to stressful situations such as taking a test, giving a presentation, or meeting new people. In many cases, a small amount of anxiety every so often can be a good thing. It helps to keep you aware of potential dangers and motivates you to be prepared. 

Anxiety: The Unwanted Companion

For many people, however, anxiety occurs more frequently. They experience it almost every day. Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or phobias can interfere with normal daily activities, affecting their work, home, and personal lives. They differ from regular anxiety in that people feel an excessive amount of fear or anxiousness. 

These conditions often do not have one singular root cause but several influencing factors combined. These factors include a family history of mental health conditions, personality traits, physical health problems, and the obvious—ongoing stressful events. The causes of anxiety can be hard to pin down, but you don’t have to resign yourself to anxious feelings.

Top 5 Natural Supplements for Anxiety

Dealing with anxiety can be stressful, but it is treatable. Coping with anxiety doesn’t have to mean prescription pills. Nature offers plenty of supplements to provide anxiety relief.

• Cannabis - Cannabis promotes relaxation and minimizes stress. What’s more, studies have shown that CBD and THC interact with the parts of the brain that regulate fear and anxiety-induced behaviors to such a degree that it can be considered effective as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders. Smoking cannabis is a great option for fast, onset anxiety such as an panic attack. This is the fastest intake for your body to absorb and start to relax. To shop products like these, visit our shop at Budz Family CBD.

• Ashwagandha  - In addition to CBD, this is one of our favorites. If you’re familiar with Ayurveda, a whole-body healing system from India—one of the world’s oldest, you’ve likely heard of the herb Ashwagandha. This powerful root adaptogen has been proven to lower cortisol levels (that’s your stress hormone) and lower anxiety, depression, and stress levels.  

• Magnesium - Magnesium is involved in over 300 essential functions in the body, one of which is neurotransmitter health. It is believed that magnesium affects the hypothalamus, the part of your brain which regulates the glands responsible for your response to stress, which helps in reducing anxiousness and improving an overall sense of calm. Taking magnesium right before bed is often best as it promotes better sleep by relaxing muscles and helping the calming neurotransmitter, GABA, in your brain.

• Cordyceps - This medicinal mushroom, which is another adaptogen, supports the body’s stress response and regulates anxiety by stimulating the adrenal glands and modulating the nervous system when you experience chronic stress. If you're interested in learning more about mushrooms, watch Fantastic Fungi on Netflix. 

• Chamomile - Chamomile is a flowering herb similar in appearance to a daisy. You commonly find this in tea. A 2016 clinical trial  investigated the efficacy and safety of chamomile as a long-term treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and found it helped with relapse symptoms. 

   

How to Incorporate Supplements into your Routine

Incorporating supplements into your routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Most of these come in a pill, gummy, tincture, tea or powder form. 

Some of these supplements such as CBD, Ashwaganda and Cordyceps are best to take in the morning, as they can assist when anxious situations and feelings arise later in the day. 

While some supplements are best to take in a combination at night, such as Chamomile, CBD and Magnesium. Taking these right before bed is often best as it promotes better sleep by relaxing muscles and helping the calming neurotransmitter, GABA, in your brain.

Be Consistent

Just like the Vitamin C you take daily, you'll see the best results with consistent use. You can't set the expectation that with a single dose, your anxiety will magically disappear. In addition to healthy habits such as exercise, journaling and a healthy diet, taking these supplements daily can greatly support your mental health.