Anxiety is experienced as a feeling of fear or nervousness and its source is not always easily recognized. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort, dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, muscle tension, sweating, trembling, fatigue, irritability, and sleeping disorders. Consuming certain herbs and vitamins may relieve anxiety. However, you should always consult a doctor before taking herbal or vitamin supplements and never replace other forms of treatment with alternative remedies.
Kava
Kava is a herb that may help you feel relaxed without making you feel drowsy or sedated. This herb has been used to improve mood and well being; some research says that it may treat nervous disorders including anxiety and insomnia. However, you should be cautious about taking this herb if you have liver problems. Research has linked this herb to liver damage. Therefore, if you drink alcohol on a daily basis, or take medications associated with your liver, you should not take kava. You should consult your doctor before taking this herb in any dose.
Valerian
Valerian is another herb that may be useful for anxiety relief. Research evidence has been mixed, but the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that an effective dose may be 150mg, taken two to three times a day. This herb has been used in combination with St.John's wort and lemon balm to provide relief from mild-to-moderate anxiety. You should be cautious about taking this herb since valerian can interact with sedative drugs, including benzodiazepines, narcotics, and antidepressants. Your should not take this herb if you have liver problems, or are pregnant or nursing.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 may also treat anxiety because of its effect on S-Adenosylmethionine, or SAMe. The substance SAMe occurs naturally in your body and helps maintain healthy cell membranes, and both form and break down brain chemicals including dopamine, melatonin, and serotonin. These brain chemicals are important for mood and behavioral regulation. SAMe works with vitamin B12 to function properly and if you are deficient in vitamin B12, then you may experience lower levels of SAMe in your body. This can reduce the levels of chemicals that are necessary for a healthy and balanced mood. To help keep your mood steady and your levels of SAMe adequate, you can boost your intake of vitamin B12 through foods such as poultry, eggs, dairy, meat, fish, and fortified breads and cereals.
Folate
Folate, or vitamin B6, also works with vitamin B12 to enhance the absorption of SAMe in your body. Therefore, this vitamin is important for mood regulation, which can effect your level of stress and anxiety. A deficiency in folate can also contribute to weight loss, weakness, and irritability, which are factors that influence anxiety levels.You can find folate in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and fortified breads and cereals.
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