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.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jane (Pasadena, CA) on 06/17/2009
★★★★★
i recently survived a stretch of great stress combined with physical exhaustion. i read up on many of the remedies on the adrenal fatigue and on the stress page in order to take the best care of myself during these months. i have had adrenal fatigue hit me a few times in the past, though this time i think what i had is classified as 'stress exhaustion'. either way, after all the chaos, i knew well enough that there would be an aftermath of exhaustion and fatigue. i think that each person's system is different or has different causes/susceptiblities. And I believe there are 2 phases, one is the hectic stress or adrenaline-robbing phase, and the next is the adrenal crash, or exhaustion phase that one is left in. in my experience some of the things that helped me feel pretty good even on my worst days were:
1) Getting as much extra sleep as possible, even if it meant going to bed hours early when i could. This REALLY helped in the long-term.
2) Taking a multivitamin and B-complex vitamin
3) (I also read that extra C, Zinc, and the other 'essentials' is great for a.f. recovery. I did this as well)
4) Taking a teaspoon of baking soda with Apple Cider Vinegar in the a.m. and afternoon to keep my energy and sharpness going. ACV is also a great immediate stress-soother.
5) NOT drinking coffee
6) Eating an extrodinarily healthful diet; Keeping myself full (avoiding any low blood sugar spells)
7) Drinking Matcha green tea which is amazing for soothing stress and not over-caffinating (though completely limiting caffeine is ideal)
8) As much soothing relaxing activities as necessary, "Self Care".
9) Taking Bee Pollen (I read this is excellent for a.f. recovery)
10) avoiding unnecessary stressful conversations whenever possible, limiting conversation with 'draining' people, or avoiding anything else that might rile or tense me up.
10) I also took advice from the stress page about 'stress foods', particularly adding pistachios and barley to my diet.
11) I also tried to educate those close to me about how one under stress/adrenal fatigue might react or be very in need of elevated support and gentle treatment during this time, and that helped immensely.
I hope this information will help someone else as well, and I'll keep reading these pages for more insights.
Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha
Posted by Galaxy (Boston, Ma, Usa) on 05/19/2013
★★★★★
I have found that one 450 mg capsule of Ashwagandha at bedtime helps to lower my overall stress level A LOT. My friend prefers to take one or two capsules in the morning. It is an "adaptogen" herb that helps to even out cortisol levels, and it really works for us.
B Vitamins
Posted by David (Titusville, FL) on 06/07/2007
★★★★★
I just turned 60 and I still have my brown hair. I attribute this to taking B vitamins in a 50 mg. complex (50 mg. of each B vitamin in one capsule), and two or three 800 mcg. of folic acid tablets. The B vitamins are known to be a stress reliever. Remember the old saying how kids can give you gray hairs? It's true! Stress can make the gray come in! The B vitamins inositol and choline are important for the color of your hair. Did you know that some wool companies deliberately make their sheep deficient in these two B vitamins so that the wool will be much whiter?! Folic Acid also helps with hair growth and had been named after the word Folicule, meaning hair! Looking younger than your age and knowing that you didn't dye your hair to look younger makes people ask if you found the fountain of youth! Try the B vitamins and folic acid for at least 6 months and you make notice a great change!
Wim Hof Breathing Method
Posted by Suzy (Abbotsford) on 10/10/2021
★★★★★
Wim Hof Breathing Technique will immediately reduce stress and anxiety and is free, found online and only takes minutes With zero negative side effects.
EC: The Wim Hof breathing technique is as follows:
Sitting in a comfortable place, take 30-40 quick, deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Then, take a deep breath and exhale; hold until you need to breathe in. Inhale again, as deep as you can, and hold it for 10 seconds. Repeat as many times as you like.
More details here: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/breathing-exercises
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!
5-HTP
Posted by Charlotte (Richboro, PA)
★★★★★
My 6year old grandson was diagnosed with "Select Mutism" 2 years ago and rather than put him on "Prozac", my daughter did some research and learned about 5HTP and chose to try it first. He started on 50mg every night. His psychologist saw the same results with the 5HTP as children on prescribed drugs. It's been a miracle for him. I have since then also taken it since our family seems to have anxiety problems and ADD runs in the family and it has helped very much with these problems. I usually take 100mg to 200mg daily depending on my stress levels at the time. We are so grateful our little grandson did not have to take Prozac or a similar drug. I would highly recommend it as a first choice to try at least.
EC: Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child's inability to speak in select social settings, such as school. These children understand language and are able to talk normally in settings where they are comfortable, secure and relaxed.
Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha
Posted by Megan (Chattahoochee) on 06/13/2018
★★★★★
I also take ashwagandha for stress. It helps very much but you need to be careful with it so read up on all the side effects. I bought a different brand with more potency and it lowered my blood pressure like crazy. I stopped feeling the effects after a while so I take a 2 week break from the supplement. During that time I use tryptophan.
Ayurvedic Herb Ashwagandha
Posted by Galaxy (Boston, Ma, Usa) on 05/20/2013
Additional note about ashwagandha; It did take three or four days for me to notice a much improved over all sense of well being. For more acute stress situations I add chamomile tea, but for long term overall stress reduction Ashwagandha has made an incredible difference. I wish I had known about this decades ago.
B Vitamins
Posted by Coco (Teaneck, Nj) on 05/13/2011
★★★★★
This is for Connie from Salt Lake-Utah. Thanks so very much for all your help and info. It is about a month now , I started with liquid B complex made as a live culture. The progress was minimum and I was sceptical... But after a month O'''h Dear Got what a difference. Today I saw my dentist an unpleasant guy who is just conveniently close to my home. Normally I would sweat and shake like a Jello. Today for the first tome in years I was totally calm. AMAZING!!!!! It looks really like my nerves needed this protection, so I am going continue.. 20 drops at the morning and 20 at the afternoon. Thanks Connie again for your advice....
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amber (Portland, Oregon) on 03/27/2009
★★★★★
Elsewhere on this site someone wrote that drinking Apple Cider Vinegar (1-2 tbsp) in a glass of water (8oz) helped to alleviate stress/anxiety. I recently started to try this, as I was practicing drinking ACV a few times each day already. I noticed immediate improvement in my mood, and the ability to calm down and feel at ease. EWhen my boyfriend upset me yesterday, instead of speaking my mind, I went and made the ACV drink and felt more balanced before we discussed matters. : ) I will continue doing this, along with taking an extra B vitamin, when under stress or feeling upset. Sometimes I also take a GABA sublingual supplement for calming effect, but i think the ACV actually worked just as well!
Dietary Suggestions for Stress
Posted by Mohammed (Birmingham, U.K.) on 05/04/2008
★★★★★
stress and depression is caused when the nervous system becomes weak and starts breaking up similar to a phone connection. following are excellent cures for stress:
1 fresh pineapples.
2 cauliflower.
3 guavas.
4 bananas.
5 coriander soup.
6 barley,- soup, porridge or bread made from this is one of the best cures with a multiple arrange of other health benefits.
7 pistachio nuts, guarantee you smiling throughout the whole day and also increase facial beauty. more effective when taken with milk.
8 grapes, help you have really good dreams.
9 sheep's milk. eat these on a regular basis and enjoy life.
Please note some people are upset due to some tragedy and find it difficult to be happy. i urge those people to try these cures and promise them that by praying and asking to god they will have no reason to be upset. wish you best of health and wealth, love you.
B Vitamins
Posted by Ann (Bastrop, Texas, Usa) on 07/29/2011
I ditto this post about the B-50 vitamin complex keeping the hair from turning gray. I am almost 63, and have been taking a stress formula B-complex regularly (1 or 2 caps a day at breakfast and/or lunch) since 1975. Have endured LOTS of stress! I have a little bit of silver around my temples, but the overall affect is healthy chestnut brown. Too bad it didn't prevent wrinkles!!!
EarthClinic has been my favorite website since my strep throuat was cured overnight with ACV and a pinch of cayenne in warm water (gargled) in 2008. A unique and valuable service!
5-HTP
Posted by Kathryn (Toronto, Ontario)
★★★★★
I am taking 5-HTP to help me with sleeping. My 16 yr old daughter is also taking it to help with stress and weight control as well as sleeping. We have found it has helped a lot and I don't have to take it every day . My kids call them the turkey pills because the amino acid they contain are the same as the one found in turkey, milk, bananas etc. We both take 100 or 200 mg a day.
Dietary Suggestions for Stress
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 12/20/2012
Hi Everyone, I am posting this because it's relevant to the holidays. It is an audio interview of David Wolfe speaking on foods and ways to help reduce stress. He's also speaking on reducing cortisol in our bodies. It is full of valuable information and what is causing stress.
http://theawareshow.com/s8/offer/wolfe#Replay
I hope you take the opportunity to hear what he has to say. I am always amazed at how I learn something new every time I hear him! Best to everyone, Lisa
Laughter Is...
Posted by Deirdre (Earth Clinic) on 10/15/2009
Rhodiola
Posted by Sara (West Palm Beach, Florida USA) on 03/25/2008
★★★★★
I took this for fatigue, stress and a bit of low mood. I took it for 2 months and noticed I wasn't tired anymore and could deal with things more. I finally had energy to do things that I didn't before . Caffeine didn't work because I believe I stressed out the adrenals.
I really noticed that this worked when I stopped taking it for a week to cycle it. Back to being tired and not wanting to do much.
This herb has given me my life back. It sounds cliche, but it's true.
Rhodiola
Posted by RR (Vancouver, Canada) on 02/21/2008
★★★★★
Rhodiola is amazing! I've been taking rr for about 6 months with fantastic improvements. I suffer from major anxiety/stress disorder, minor depression, was taking effexor xr for 5 years prior to this wonderful herb..the effexor caused me to gain 35lbs, made me sweat heavily, and actually gave me more anxiety, the sweating is still a problem, but is getting much better since taking rhodiola, almost gone, except when i get really anxious - socially, i start to sweat from my head/face..which is pretty dam embarrassing..DONT TAKE EFFEXOR! as this never happened before even with the anxiety i had. Since taking rhodiola and stopping the effexor..i've lost the 35lbs that i gained..alot faster then iv'e ever lost weight before...so YES..it does help you lose weight..as long as you exercise hard and eat reasonably healthy. I dont eat that great, still eat pizza,wings, and drink beer occasionally. Just cut that deep fried food..mcd's etc to a minimum. EXERCISE is the key to losing weight with this herb, although when i took a break from working out...i still dropped a couple pounds.
Thanks to rhodiola, i'm almost back to my old self, except for this lingering little bit of anxiety. rhodiola works best with other herbs, acutally makes those other herbs work better then if u were to take them alone. My stress is so dramatically reduced, i almost feel normal again.
I'm currently on the search for the best combination to combat this left over anxiety issue, looks like i'll try 5-htp as people seem to have success with this combo.
I've been using the Arctic Root brand, from proactivebio, and currently trying out the Ameriden brand..just google ameriden..you'll find it...apparantly its from Siberia where this root was first discovered.
And as far as i know..you cannot grow it properly here, the active compounds will not be present if grown here, needs that cold arctic condition to grow properly.
U have nothing but to benefit from taking this herb. I'm getting my whole family on it now!
and usually takes about 2-3 weeks before you really notice the effects!
