Anxiety is a very real medical condition that affects millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, most people never seek help for their anxiety, whether for financial or emotional reasons.
5 Natural Anxiety Remedies
If you are struggling with anxiety and don't want to visit your physician, there are a number of natural anxiety remedies that you can try at home. Here are five of them:
1. Almonds
Not only are almonds healthy for you, but they can help relieve your anxiety. Almonds have natural calming properties and are fantastic for people suffering from depression, stress or moderate levels of anxiety. Rather than eating raw almonds, soften them in a dish of water overnight, peel them and blend them with a cup of warm milk. Add nutmeg and ginger to taste and drink the concoction just before you lay down for the night. The combination of almonds and warm milk will help to put your mind at rest and allow you to get a peaceful night's sleep.
2. Sesame Oil
A warm sesame oil massage is virtually guaranteed to help you relax. Whether you massage yourself or ask your partner to do it for you, spend at least 20 minutes rubbing away the stress of the day before you go to bed. Heat between six and eight ounces of sesame oil in the microwave until it is warm, and rub the oil over your entire body, including the soles of your feet and your scalp. If your partner will be doing the rubdown for you, ask him or her to pay particular attention to the back of your neck, your shoulders and your scalp. The warmth, scent and feel of the oil will help to relax you almost immediately.
3. Oranges
It's been proven that the scent of an orange has the ability to reduce anxiety. To get the most benefit from the orange's scent, peel the skin and place the rind in a sauce pan, cover it with water and heat it to a simmer. The aroma released from the peel will fill your kitchen, reducing your anxiety significantly. You can also inhale the scent from the fruit itself, though it may not be as calming. Additionally, drinking a glass of orange juice mixed with nutmeg and honey is a great cure for a racing heart. If you find yourself in the midst of an anxiety attack, and your heart feels like it's going a million miles an hour, a glass of orange juice mixed with honey and nutmeg can slow your heart and help you relax.
4. Potassium
Many people aren't aware that a deficiency in potassium can cause anxiety. If you are struggling with a constant feeling of nervousness or anxiousness, add foods that are high in potassium and folic acid to your diet. It doesn't matter if you eat raw foods or cooked; increasing your intake of potassium can help you fight your anxiety naturally. Foods that are high in potassium include bananas, apricots, avocados, clams, halibut, yogurt, prune juice, carrot juice, beet greens, lima beans and white beans. No matter your taste in food, it shouldn't be heard to up your daily potassium intake with such a wide variety of choices.
5. Meditation
Meditation, when coupled with any of the above remedies is one of the most effective ways to relieve stress and anxiety. We say "coupled with" because meditation takes practice and, as such, will not provide immediate relief. If you've never meditated before, there are dozens of apps, videos and books that can serve as your guide. Because meditation involves quieting your mind and concentrating on your breathing, it can be a great way to let all of your worries go. Even five minutes of daily meditation can relieve much of the anxiety that you feel on a daily basis. If you are struggling with anxiety, you need to know that you aren't alone. In addition to the natural remedies above, experts recommend keeping a journal to track the events that may trigger social anxiety. You can also make note of the natural remedies that work for you and those that don't. If you are struggling with anxiety and don't want to seek medical assistance, trying the above natural remedies may bring you the relief that you've been searching for.