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.
B Complex
Posted by Laura (Honolulu, HI) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
I am a chronicly (sp?) anxious person. B complex really helps with it. It gives you energy when you don't want to get out of bed and it makes you able to resolve the things you're so busy worrying about. I take it every day- I did here though, that it's kinda hard on your kidneys. I try to take a few days off a month to give my body a break. Hope this helps!
Iodine
Posted by Jo Ana (Daytona Beach, FL) on 01/30/2009
★★★★★
I think a lot of us are iodine deficient. I have low thyroid function with a body temp of around 97 as well as various other low-thyroid related symptoms which I would like to alleviate. I now take 10 drops of Lugol's in water in the AM and 6 more in the PM. That's about 100 mgs of iodine but my body seems to need it. I had tried iodoral, nascent iodine, painting feet & wrists with Lugols with no noticeable improvement. My body seems to crave iodine. Lugol's can be purchased online from various vendors.
5-HTP
Posted by Bodulica (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) on 03/12/2013
My reaction to 5-HTP was terrible. Felt like I ingested a poison. Very sick, felt like fainting, headache...
5-HTP
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 09/04/2013
Hello Chadi:
I didn't see if "Molly" had responded to you. You ask if Acetyl Carnitine is the same as L Carnitine. They are not. Carnitine is used for fat removal and to help those exercising to use fat for energy... the chemistry of the mitochrondria is involved.
Acetyl l Carnitine, is a derivative of Carnitine and is primarily used as brain protection, being able to penetrate the blood brain barrier.
5-HTP
Posted by Susanne (Indianapolis, In) on 11/30/2007
★★★★★
I began taking 5-HTP for depression and anxiety and sleeplessness during a very emotionally stressful breakup. I have Not had an anxity attack since 3-07 which I had suffered from off and on for several years. I sleep so much better. I am able to think clearer and stay focused and concentrate so much better as well as improved my memory. I am thankful for this. My dr. wanted to put me on Wellbutrine. NO Thank U!
Knitting
Posted by Sarah (Romulus, Michigan) on 03/20/2007
★★★★★
My therapist recently taught me how to knit. I was in her office one day and she said that knitting calms her down and she's taught many of her patients how to knit. So she started up the process for me, handed me the needles, and i took off like a natural. Since then I've become a knitting fiend, and whenever i get anxious or panicy, i pull out my yarn and knitting needles and it takes my mind off it, all the while making something useful...mostly scarves.
Cold Showers
Posted by Mike (Elberta, Alabama) on 02/14/2007
★★★★★
I read about the cold shower and placed it somewhere in the back of my mind because I received news that I was going to have surgery and be out for 8 weeks (torn Achilles tendon which I have found no natural cure) I remembered the cold shower and started out with warm and raised the cold water and after I dried off the stress was gone and I felt great and looked at the surgery as an opportunity to catch up much needed paper work at home. Thanks for the cold shower
Cold Showers
Posted by Sharon (NYC) on 08/22/2006
★★★★★
I read about cold showers on your site a few months ago. Since then whenever an anxiety attack hits me, I jump into a cold shower and stay there for about 5 minutes until I warm up. I am amazed at how fast it works to diminish anxiety. It must correct brain chemistry.
Rhodiola
Posted by Kristine (Belle Chasse, LA) on 08/21/2006
★★★★★
Rhodiola is the best stuff ever for anxiety.
Rhodiola
Posted by Missy (Portland, OR) on 07/12/2006
★★★★★
Rhodiola cured me of anxiety, depression and fatigue.
B Complex
Posted by Dee (USA) on 02/24/2006
★★★★★
I have found that taking B complex vitamins work very well for depression and anxiety. Also repeating positive affirmations like "I am healing" while imagining a white light covering your entire body has worked very well for me! Much peace to you all!!
Niacinamide
Posted by Tom (Regina, Sk) on 09/15/2010
L-Tryphophan and B Vitamins
Posted by Rosiland (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico) on 01/11/2023
★★★★★
L-Tryptophan and B vitamins conquer anxiety-related alcoholism
I was very concerned for my husband, who is hypersensitive (and was getting more so all the time) had severe anxiety issues, constant brain chatter, severe insomnia and drank way, way too much (it was the only way he could calm down).
On discovering Earth Clinic and while searching for stenosis for myself, I came across Ted's advice on alcoholism. I went over all his advice thoroughly and decided on the following once a day:
- L-Tryptophan 1500mg
- Vit B-6 100 mg
- and a Raw B-Complex.
My husband agreed to give it a try. I didn't notice anything for about 4 days then, all of a sudden, we both noticed that his anxiety levels and drinking had greatly reduced. And all this in the middle of stressful issues that were coming at us one after the other. After a week, my husband noticed that he was feeling sleepy in the mornings after taking the supplements. So we reduced the dosage from 3 capsules (1500mg) to 2 and that has stayed at that level. It has been nearly a month and we are both delighted with the results! I am so thankful to this Earth Clinic site and to Ted's advice which was exactly what we needed!
Rhodiola
Posted by Vee (London) on 11/02/2022
★★★★★
Rhodiola has really helped me with overall mood and has lowered anxiety.
Rocking Chair Therapy
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 09/10/2022
★★★★★
I have had a significant flare up of my bursitis, which has led me to a help that I have never considered.
Yesterday was a lovely day and I went out to the porch to swing and crochet in the sunshine for a little bit. I realized my pain was not bothering me as much. Certainly sunshine and something to do with my hands was a pleasant distraction, but then I considered the rocking.
Parents and caregivers naturally rock and sway to sooth babies and little children. Perhaps rocking is soothing for humans of all ages!
I did a little research and found that studies have found that rocking in a rocking chair has many health benefits.
It helps to decrease cravings of addicts in rehab facilities. It improves balance among the elderly in care facilities, it also reduces requests for pain medicines, and reduces agitation. Rocking can release endorphins, which can help with pain.
For the elderly, rocking in a chair improve blood flow and gives a bit of exercise to muscles.
Rocking chair therapy has also been used to improve outcomes after some surgeries.
My take away is that it makes sense to ensure that the elderly have an available rocking chair. And that anyone, no matter the age, may benefit from some rocking chair time to relieve anxiety, pain, and cravings.
Maybe rocking chairs are a way to restore some calm to our society which has become increasingly frenetic.
Happy Rocking,
~Mama to Many~
Chia Oil
Posted by Irina (New York, NY) on 05/30/2022
★★★★★
Hi Pacific Coast Lady - Good luck on weaning off the clonazepam. I don't know if I'm allowed to name the brand here, but if you google "organic edible chia seed oil artisan cold pressed" the brand I'm using will come right up! I've found that the chia seeds also help my anxiety, but I need to take a lot more than just a teaspoon a day - I take 2 teaspoons 3X a day or even 1 tablespoon 3X a day. Someone at the company I bought the chia oil from told me that 1 tablespoon of the oil = 3 tablespoons of the seeds. The seeds also do help with my anxiety/hyperthyroid symptoms, but I do think the oil is even more powerful. You could take both if you need to. When I take 1 teaspoon of the oil 3X a day, I don't feel the need to also take the seeds, I already feel almost too calm doing that. Good luck! Please post back and let us know if it works for you!
Serpina
Posted by Joseph A, (Stockton, Ca) on 11/07/2021 73 posts
This reply is a lil late since I don't receive all comments, nor am I on this site each day. The question is regarding taking SERPINA with high blood pressure. As far as I know it is safe, however keep in mind that this Serpina was originally produced to lower blood pressure in 1934. I did see it on line and at Amazon for sale. It does help with Insomnia, mental illness, Anxiety, and much more. Interacts with cold flu medicine, antipsychotic medications. Sorry I was late but I forgot about checking fir reply's. Thank you. Joseph
Wormwood Combo
Posted by Reza (Tehran, Iran) on 03/25/2020
★★★★★
Hey Rexine, I must say that I feel the same about the wormwood medicine. I wake up less neurotic and at ease, something that I'm not even familiar with . Great recommendation!
Rhodiola
Posted by Katie (Missouri) on 01/18/2017
★★★★★
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Rhodiola for Panic Attacks and Anxiety
Wow...it worked within 25 minutes. I took 100mg last. I felt very peaceful. Downside I got am icky stomach that has continued I to the morning. Manageable. It was still worth taking though!
GABA
Posted by Ben (Bremerton, Washington ) on 03/12/2016
As far as I am concerned, bht butylated hydroxy toluene sounds like trouble. First off there are conflicting reports of its carcinogenic effects. Then the substance is known to have harmful effects on gut microflora. Aside from that there are numerous other methods of stopping hep-c, hiv and other viruses that are not potentially dangerous. When in doubt I usually err on the side of caution, but that is just my opinion.
Buteyko Method
Posted by Jason (Berkeley, California) on 08/28/2015
★★★★★
I've found shallow breathing to pretty much make my anxiety and panic attacks nonexistent pretty much overnight. I used to take deep breaths thinking it would help, but I found them to actually make things worse. Now I take slow, shallow breaths and can finally do things like drink coffee again without any real anxiety. I haven't tried all the exercises, but more information on this theory can be found by looking up the Buteyko breathing method.
Buteyko Method
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 03/13/2017
My Indian Guru in the Middle East told me that I should try to breathe through my legs!! No kidding.
He was an Ayurvedic practitioner and so much of what he suggested was entirely novel to me.
This of course, is to try to steer people away from shallow/lazy breathing! Not getting one's fair share of the world's limited supply of Oxygen.
I may talk more about him in a future posting: watch this space!
Cheers, Michael
Deep Breathing
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 02/27/2015
★★★★★
For anxiety, my input is to look at your breathing. I say this because I had the same issue as a young hard charger in industry. All the doctors said I was blacking out because of hyperventilation. They gave me Dilantin to prevent this. Years later, a doctor told me this was equivalent to killing a fly with a 105 Howitzer.
This treatment caused osteoporosis and lot of other problems I now have.
The anxiety eventually went away, but in my shady side of the mountain years, I am studying more and how you breathe is a biggie. 40 years ago I thought the doctors were full of stuff. Now I think they were right. I learned that chest breathing can cause this anxiety problem. You have to breathe with your diaphragm and let the exhale be as long as you can stand. You have to balance O2 and Carbon Dioxide. Both players are important.
I encourage you to read what Dr Shallenberger says about his patients and anxiety. He has a video on this subject. Goggle him.
Wish you well.=======ORH=========
