The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
DHEA
Posted by Jenna (South Dakota) on 06/26/2014
★★★★★
I am giving an update. Holy Basil did not work, all though I thought it had. Just temporary relief. About five days later I ended up in the emergency room for a full blow panic attack and they gave me 1mg of valium, which brought it down. Also a temporary prescription of adivan, which really didn't do anything for me, chilled me only for a few hours. The next day, still anxiety, and so forth. It took me about 5 days of experimenting to figure out what was wrong - took 50 mgs of Dhea, and finally could breathe again, all anxiety left. It was my adrenals all along. Please do research on low Dhea, as there is a kind, I believe call Kudo, that inhibits it affecting other hormones in the body so that you don't grow a mustache, thinning hair. 50mgs is very high to take for any long period of time, check out info on Curezone or other forums.
Flax Seed Oil
Posted by SUNNY (Ca) on 05/20/2014
★★★★★
I use flaxseed oil softgels of 1000mg or more. Cold pressed! Organic. I take as many as I need like 2 per meal. It helps with my anxiety so much, very quickly after I take them. I take them also prior to getting my period, which helps to balance mood then.
Flax's fatty acid profile: omega 3,6, and 9. Love it!
Namaste, Sunny
Rhodiola
Posted by Yell (U.k) on 04/13/2014
Been taking rhodiola for a week 1 tablet mid day with main meal and find that's I can't keep awake about an hour late an hour later. Just doze for about 10 15 minutes I suffer from anxiety panic and agoraphobia and am 90 years old. Pretty fit apart from the above.Cant visit the dr because of the agoraphobia. Didn't usually feel so tired after dinner have seen othe instructions for taking rhodiola on an empty stomach.Also I am bored out of my mind at this point of the day. Any advice please. Thank you
Peppermint Tea
Posted by Iñaki (Toronto, Ont) on 01/06/2014
★★★★★
I seem to have panic attacks only in winters, maybe the lack of D3; who knows. The only natural thing that works for me so far is Peppermint tea. When I feel there is a PA in its way, I run and either prepare or buy ( if I am outside) a peppermint tea and the effect is inmediate. Is this a placebo effect or there is a compound in the mint tea that fights the panic attack? Honestly I dont know, but as long as it avoid a PA I will continue to try it. Hope this advice can help someone.
Chocolate, Nutmeg
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 11/25/2013
★★★★★
For anxiety, prayer. Also, these cookies:
Chocolate Nutmeg Cookies
In a large pan melt 1 stick butter, 1 cup peanut butter, 1/2 large dark-chocolate bar (to help the bars hold their shape). Mix in 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp clove powder. Mix in 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Mix in about 2 cups uncooked oatmeal till thoroughly mixed. Press into the bottom of a cake pan, cut/score into squares with a knife, chill in the fridge or freezer until firm. Share. Enjoy.
The measurements are approximate. It looks like a lot of spice, but that's why they are so good. Have them for breakfast with fresh fruit.
Chocolate, Nutmeg
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 11/25/2013
Hello Anon from Anon;
Re your recipe using nutmeg as an anti anxiety remedy.
Wonderful...I do love nutmeg...so aromatic and aromatics alone may have great value... we often overlook their benefits. (One of my favorite aromatics is fresh ground coffee and inhaling the grinds as soon as ground...ah, bliss for five seconds.)
Here's one for winter months to help with circulation and again as an aromatic; the scent will permeate the house with a most wonderful earthy feel.
I call this "Three C Tea"...
- Grind a teaspoon of cardamom.
- Grind a teaspoon of clove.
- Grate a teaspoon of cinnamon.
Put in two cups water and bring to near boil, then let steep for ten minutes. (Add a little raw cane sugar to taste.) Add some ginger for circulation needs. Breathe in deeply the aroma as you sip. Wonderful on a cold night.
Dave
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Juliette (Reston, Va) on 06/28/2012
I had a similiar reaction after drinking Apple Cider Vinegar for the first time I just felt like clean and balanced which in turn made me happier. Things that I've done that have helped in the long term are chaste tree berry (if your depression is hormonal youll see a huge difference) and holy basil tea (tulsi tea). I also take 5htp from time to time. Eating healthy and going on a juice fast will really show a HUGE difference too. At the end of the day though you have to take care of your spiritual health in whatever way feels natural to you, that is when you will start to feel real comfort! Good luck :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dwane (NJ) on 03/05/2022
Put a pinch of baking soda in it as well. It calms the second brain and sends better signals to your brain.
Holy Basil
Posted by Sophie (Dayton, Ohio, Usa) on 02/03/2012
★★★★★
Hi EarthClinic-ers! I've been experimenting with Holy Basil (a remedy I found on this site) both for myself and my husband. I have to say the results are great! I originally started my husband on the Holy Basil because he would get stressed out at work and get into weeks-long "funks" where he would be depressed/grouchy. It definitely helped to shorten the duration of his "funk" and lessen the severity. I think now it's even helping prevent them. I'm trying to finish my Ph. D. so there is a lot of stress in my life too. I started taking the Holy Basil on an as-needed basis (my husband takes it every day). Definite improvement. I feel like it takes the edge off my mood to where I can more easily cope with whatever problems I'm having.
Another interesting effect -- I had a big presentation to give early this morning in front of my Ph. D. Examination committee. I took 2 Holy Basil pills last night in preparation. I usually get stage fright when I have to talk in front of other people (especially when they determine when I can graduate! ). This morning, I had NO STAGE FRIGHT! I will definitely remember this when I have to give my dissertation defense later this year. Thank you Earth Clinic and thank you Holy Basil! I love this stuff!
Hope this can help someone else out there.
Sophie
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sober (Anonymous, Usa) on 07/09/2011
★★★★★
Awhile back I was dating a heavy beer drinker. I started heavy drinking beer with my buddy. 'bout a 6 pack of exotic beer a night. 'round that time I got horrible panic attacks for the 1st time in my life. So bad I'd go to the hospital. They gave me drugs but the drugs didn't help. They'd give me more drugs util I was a zombie. My family complained & I was taken off. I had also stopped drinking beer cuz your not supposed to drink while on these drugs. So even I stopped the drugs I didn't get panic attacks that sent me to the ER. Lots of sugar can also bring them on a lil' bit. I've been readin here & other places that alcohol & even sugar can deplete the body of nutrients like magnesium. When I rub some magnesium on I feel calmer. No panic attacks. Also helps with my leg cramps and speeding heartbeat I sometimes get at night. IDK why the hospital doesn't look for such. There tests don't seem to pick up borderline deficiencies. My shrink tried to tell me I got me a chemical imabalance and needed the drugs. When I stopped the drugs that made me nutty in a different way, the attacks were gone. Cuz I quit the drinkin as well.
Metabolic Conditions That Cause Anxiety
Posted by Carolyn (Milford, Ct) on 01/28/2011
★★★★★
For those suffering from anxiety and depression, please investigate the condition known alternatively as Pyroluria, Kryptopyrrole and/or Mauve Factor. Debate is raging as to the underlying cause of this metabolic disorder, but the body loses massive amounts of B-6 and Zinc, as well as the omega-6 acids. Moreover, copper begins to build up to toxic levels in the body, causing everything from depression to anxiety to seizures to schizophrenia. The degree of symptoms has everything to do with individual biochemistry and the degree of essential nutrient deficiency. The treatment is simple: high-dose daily suplimentation with niacinimide, B-6 (in the form of B-6 and P-5-P), zinc, manganese, magnesium, chromium, biotin and omega-6 in the form of evening primrose oil.
PLEASE NOTE, however, that this suplimentation should NOT be done without blood monitoring by a qualified medical practitioner. The doses required to see results are extremely high for each of nutritional components, and poisoning can result, particularly In the case of zinc. Moreover, a patient can reverse copper toxicity to the point of too-low copper, which results in its own, unwanted Medical complications.
This metabolic "disorder" is seen in 85% of all autistic spectrum individuals. It is speculated, in this case, that heavy metal poisoning initiates the oxidative stress that, in turn, results in pyroluria. The resulting low B-6 levels result in the inability to properly manufacture serotonin, the "happy nuerotransmitter". Thus, a myriad of psychological "disorders" can result. Conversely, the depleted zinc levels manifest themselves in the gut, leading to coeliac disease and other Malabsorption disorders, as well as leaky gut syndrome. This, in turn, allows various fungi, like candida, to thrive in the gut and, later, the entire body. This, in turn, leads to various types of cancer later in life.
This same biocycle occurs in non-autistic individuals, but to a lesser (slower) degree. Thus, testing for and treating pyroluria involves more than "just" treating anxiety and depression.
Those properly treated have experienced nothing short of miracles. But do note that it can take up to 12 months (although most see some improvement after 3-4 weeks and most see significant gains in 3-6 months) to restore the body's proper balance and that treatment must be adhered to each and every day, for the remainder of one's life, barring any new discoveries as to the underlying cause of pyroluria.
5-HTP
Posted by Me (San Diego) on 07/30/2017
I had the same side effects as you experience...migraine headaches. I no longer use the product.
Cold Showers
Posted by Igor (Moscow, Russia) on 02/21/2009
★★★★★
Dear Earth Clinic,
Thank you for this excellent forum on cold water therapy. I had an anxiety which seemed to 'come from nowhere'. Cold baths work on this much better than cold showers. Also swimming in the sea or lakes. There is a tradition of doing this in Russia and also northern China: but in modern times people think it is madness. In this time of credit crunch (2009) this is a practice which everyone can afford.
I have a question to people on this forum: what about time? I do it for 1-4 minutes, 2 times a day, before and after sleeping, every day, as my uncle showed me, like the brushing of the teeth. (The washing with warm water and soap I do before or after this: it seems not to matter which.) It seems that a longer time is not beneficial at all. So I am interested to know other people's ideas about timing.
Another question: I work sometimes in Arabia where it is very hot in the Summer times. There is no problem to make a bath of water, but it is not very cold. So do people know of any device/machine which can be put in a bath to make the water cold? Putting ice from the fridge is OK but this method needs a lot of ice.
Kind regards,
Igor
Peanut Butter
Posted by Doris (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) on 05/19/2008
★★★★★
Anxiety Remedies: I saw Ryan's comment about peanut butter and it reminded me of when I had anxiety for five months in 1993. I couldn't eat, sleep, or do anything. I was as nervous as a cat and had to take a leave of absence from working with school children. I lost about 30 lbs. I didn't have a computer at that time so couldn't look anything up about my condition. (I was too nervous to look anything up, anyway.) All I could eat was a peanut butter sandwich or toast with peanut butter. I couldn't even drink coffee because it felt like it was taking my breath away. My medical doctor wanted me to see a psychiatrist, but I wouldn't because I was not going to get hooked on pills with all the side effects. With a lot of prayer I finally got better and went back to work. When I got my computer three years later, I read that peanut butter has lots of magnesium and is good for anxiety. I believe the magnesium is what my body needed to get better (not drugs). I've never had anxiety again and I make sure I take magnesium supplements everyday.
Rhodiola
Posted by Barbara (Minneapolis, MN) on 05/13/2008
★★★★★
Rhodioal works within an hour. I have outrageous anxiety. Glad I found this web site for an herbal remedy.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Loretta (Red Deer, Alberta) on 12/13/2007
★★★★★
In September, I started using some of Ted's remedies from earthclinic for a 20 year CFS/pain condition, and kidney/liver lesions.
The remedies I take are:
- 1/4 teaspoon borax & some drops of H202 in 1 liter of water sipped slowly throughout the day.
- Chlorella
- B complex
- Amino Acids
- Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) in 1/2 glass of water with citric acid.
I take these five days a week. I also use borax in the bath daily.
This program has been adjusted, and I will continue to do so, but I really wanted to write about a major change in my health: anxiety is gone! and most of the kidney pain too! It takes time, it takes alot of reading, it takes a willingness to change diet, lifestyle and our conditioned beliefs, but these remedies have been the best thing to help me....and until I found earthclinic, I had tried it 'all'. I am no longer a slave to untreatable diseases from doctors, or dependent on expensive naturalpaths.
Let's not just 'thank Ted'....let's 'show' him our appreciation. L
5-HTP
Posted by Peter (Seattle) on 06/04/2015
Why are natural alternatives like 5htp better? Anti-depressants work by shutting down the receptors that rid your brain of serotonin, in a sense forcing old serotonin to be recirculated constantly. Your serotonin receptors then shrivel up.
5htp gives your brain the raw materials to build serotonin. When it needs it, its there. But only what it needs, when it needs it.
Pete
5-HTP
Posted by Kennywally (Midwest) on 02/09/2017 46 posts
wellbutrine is known to change personalities. I say it opens a path to demons, hence the personality change. The same goes for similar drug counterparts, they can enable a path to the spirit world. But many don't get that, but I do. Just a word to the wise.
5-HTP
Posted by Gord235 (Vancouver, British Columbia) on 09/11/2017
I was on Citalopram 20mg., a common SSRI for ten years and found that it didn't always work. I found it very easy to switch to 5HTP 50mg. by just cutting the Citalopram in half for a few days while starting the 5HTP simultaneously. I find I get a much better sleep while taking 5HTP and wake up feeling rested even on less than 8 hr. sleep.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Liz (Ny ) on 07/25/2020
If you add pure organic raw honey it helps with the upset stomach. It also adds to the benefits as well. Honey is a natural tranquilizer and has a lot of other great qualities too. Hope this helps.
L-Theanine
Posted by Michael (Adelaide, Australia) on 12/17/2006
★★★★★
L Theanine in Black Tea cured my Chronic Anxiety and Minor Depression. I have suffered the above symptoms for a large part of the past 15 years. Have been prescribed a host of SSRI's and other drugs during this time. For the past few weeks I have been drinking a lot of black tea (6 cups per day) and the results have been amazing. The depression has lifted and i am more relaxed than i have been in years. I drink the tea straight (no sugar or milk) and let it settle well before drinking. Interestingly i used to drink a lot of green tea but did not get as good a response. Im very encouraged by my experience of black tea and hope it continues to work.
Cold Showers
Posted by Laura (London) on 10/18/2005
★★★★★
I tried John's below cold shower method to stop panic attacks and i was very surprised at the result it had on my mental state. It totally distacted me from the attack and I have now made a promise to myself that anytime i feel an attack coming on, i will put myself under a cold shower. By the time i'm about to get in, my mind is off the attack and thinking more about the coldness instead! Thank you, John i think you saved my soul!!! Anyone that reads this, try it please!!!
Cold Showers
Posted by John (Arlington, TX)
★★★★★
I started taking cold showers after I developed panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, and moderate depression. Cold showers have been the best distraction out of any other distraction to get a panic attack to go away. It feels so good when I take a cold shower that it is like an addiction to me. I feel instant gratification both physically and mentally when I take cold showers. They our the best to get rid of negative thoughts, minor physical pains from within the body, fear from a panic attack, and anger. At first I tense my muscles together so I can get use to it and then I let them untense and let the water flow and it feels so great. Also I feel that my body is working better and I am a lot more alert and awake. I always feel like I am regenerated afterwards no matter how much I am going through. It is an intense body high. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from anxiety, depression, or addiction problems. Remember when you take any of these three away you need to replace them with something else and cold showers is a great safe alternative that works wonders!