Herbal medicine is an excellent therapeutic aid in moderate to moderate forms of anxiety syndrome. It should be pointed out that, even if they are "natural drugs", phytotherapy is not harmless: in fact, even herbal drugs, tranquilizers and sedatives natural, can be responsible for unpleasant effects, mostly determined by the synergism with other substances, or by the accumulation of the same. This is why, in the case of anxious syndrome, use moderate of these natural substances is always indispensable, in any case following to the letter the instructions dictated by the doctor or the herbalist. [taken from Herbal medicines: a reasoned manual of phytotherapy, by P. Campagna]
as a basic natural remedy: in other words, oligotherapy helps to overcome pathological tendencies of a functional type. For this reason, the anxiety syndrome can also be overcome by resorting to oligotherapy. Generally, this practice is defined as "supportive", to highlight that it is indeed effective but, when combined with other targeted treatments, it acts in synergy, enhancing the final beneficial effect.
But let's see some concrete examples, which help us to better understand the natural therapeutic approach to the anxiety syndrome.
As a natural remedy, the manual "Herbal drugs"(P. Campagna) recommends taking Cobalt Manganese once a day (cycle: 3 weeks), then continuing with 2-3 weekly intakes, gradually reducing the doses as the treatment progresses.
Magnesium (another trace element) can also be added to the cobalt manganese, once a day, after the evening meal (it induces sleep by exerting a sedative action).
In case of anxious syndrome it is also good to follow some dietary rules, avoiding potentially exciting foods or substances, such as coffee, cocoa, chocolate, saffron, guarana, ginseng etc., which, clearly, would create contrast with the natural substances taken.
Some specialists recommend taking extracts of Ficus carica, another natural remedy that would help to eradicate the anxiety syndrome faster.
The gems of Ficus carica (gemmotherapy) boast tranquilizing, mood rebalancing and neurosedative properties, constituting a very useful remedy to counteract the anxiety and tensions that characterize the anxious syndrome.
As an alternative to Ficus carica, it can be taken Tilia tormentosa, gem-derivative also capable of carrying out a positive action against the anxious syndrome. The lime tree acts in three ways:
- Increases blood levels of serotonin
- It acts at the level of the cortico-hypothalamic axis
- It also carries out its action on the sleep center
Tilia tormentosa it is a good natural remedy to relieve the anxiety syndrome, as it performs a good sedative, antispastic, tranquilizing and - above all - anxiolytic action.
Due to its high therapeutic index, this gem-derivative shows very few side effects and contraindications: in this regard, it is often administered in the case of anxious syndromes in children, the elderly and pregnant women.
It should be pointed out, however, that paradoxically the lime tree taken at high dosages for long periods generates the opposite effect (excitement).
, which uses small doses of highly concentrated essential oils. Generally, these natural remedies are useful in synergy with others, as they improve both the quality and the perception of well-being on an emotional, physical and above all mental level.
In case of anxious syndrome, essences with strong potential to relieve the psychological stress triggering anxiety must be selected. Lavender and lemon balm essences are certainly effective natural remedies in rebalancing the hyperactive nervous system, associated in particular with chamomile and / or bitter orange extract.
The essential oils with a neurosedative action can be distributed and massaged on the body: the absorption of the oils through the skin has been widely demonstrated, for this reason they are also used as essences in massage oils. Furthermore, in case of anxiety syndrome it is recommended to perfume the environment with extracts of drugs with sedative and anxiolytic action (eg lavender).
par excellence, valerian, passion flower, hawthorn and lemon balm cannot be missing; in case of anxious syndrome accompanied by depressive forms, St. John's wort certainly represents an excellent natural remedy with high efficacy, as well as energizing rhodiola, griffonia and ginseng.
Let us now try to extrapolate the key concepts of the most effective anxiolytic drugs to combat the anxiety syndrome.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is currently exploited for its known anxiolytic properties, in particular in the case of anxiety syndromes accompanied by restlessness, dyspepsia, biliary dyskinesias and gastric pains linked to anxiety: in fact, lemon balm performs sedative, spasmolytic, eupeptic and cholagogue (mild) activities. Not recommended in patients with thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism), glaucoma; also contraindicated in association with barbiturates (possible interactions), with chamomile and passionflower (sleepiness) and during pregnancy / breastfeeding (lack of reliable data).
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is recommended to reduce the symptoms accompanying the anxiety syndrome: in fact, the drug is useful in the treatment of palpitations, anxiety and hyper arousal. More specifically, hawthorn proves to be very effective in irritable, hypertensive and dystonic cardiopathic patients, showing nervousness, hyperexcitability and marked states of stress. Not surprisingly, in anxiety syndromes, natural remedies based on bancospin associated with valerian, passion flower and ballota are often recommended. Hawthorn can be administered in combination with linden bud extract.
The sedative-anxiolytic properties of passionflower are also excellent (Passiflora Incarnata): its medicinal virtues are mainly due to indole alkaloids, maltol and isomaltol, as well as flavonoids (vitexin, isovitexin and iperodise). More specifically, the flavonoids present are useful as tranquilizers, while the alkaloids are mild stimulants: the molecules of the passiflora phytocomplex act in synergy, carrying out an excellent sedative, antispasmodic and anxiolytic effect. The drug is indicated in sleep disorders linked to states of restlessness, anxiety and stress, thus promoting a peaceful sleep, without creating numbness the next morning.
Passionflower has some contraindications for pregnant women: it is not a good natural remedy for pregnant women since the alkaloids of the phytocomplex stimulate uterine contractions. Furthermore, in case of concomitant intake of benodiazepines to counteract anxiety, the administration of passionflower extract is not recommended, in order to avoid an enhancement of the active ingredients. Herbal medicines: a reasoned manual of phytotherapy, by P. Campagna]
To conclude, it can undoubtedly be affirmed that passionflower - with the exception of some cases - is an exemplary natural remedy to alleviate the disorders associated with anxiety syndromes.
Other articles on "Anxiety Syndrome: Natural Remedies"
- Anxious syndrome
- Anxiety syndrome in brief, summarized
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