I’m what my grandmother used to call a “worry wort.”

I don’t know if anything actually uses this archaic term anymore.

But it does describe me. I tend to worry. A lot. Often about things that are never possibly going to happen.

Through the years, my anxiety has gotten so much better. Or maybe I’m dealing with it better.

It’s not nearly as intense as it was a couple of decades ago. I’m so thankful for that.

Still, anxiety is something I’m probably already going to live with. For the rest of my life. It’s part of me. It’s who I am.

I think the best approach is not to expend energy worrying that I worry too much.

Maybe anxiety has something to do with my upbringing. Or genetics. My mother worries a lot too.

I don’t know. But I do know that natural remedies help take the edge off. With no side effects. And no possibility of addiction.

Homeopathy has been immensely helpful.

However, with something as deep seated as anxiety it’s a good idea to work with a professional homeopath.

Don’t expect instant relief.

Feeling better is a process.

It will probably take months and a series of consults before you can look back and realize things have improved.

Just to note, the information in this article is for educational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or a trained therapist. (I’m a certified homeopathic educator.)

Lifestyle Changes To Get Rid of Anxiety

(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)

Fortunately, I’ve always managed my anxiety without drugs.

Instead, I’ve used a combination of herbs, homeopathy and essential oils.

I switched them around, because that makes them work better.

Homeopathic remedies appear to affect the mind and the body.

In a positive way. For instance, if you take a remedy for knee pain, it also works as a mental balm.

I’ve used a number of various homeopathic remedies.

Most of these are individual remedies that match my symptoms.

But there’s another homeopathic-like treatment everyone should know about.

It was developed by a British physician named Dr. Edward Bach, MD.

Dr. Bach believed negative thoughts could cause disease.

So he developed a line of flower essences to heal the emotions.

The big benefit of flower remedies is that they’re really easy to use.

Unlike regular homeopathy, Bach remedies can be DIY.

You don’t necessarily need to work with a professional.

Instead, you just match your symptoms to the remedy.

There are only 38 Bach remedies. So this greatly narrows down the field.

Rescue Remedy for Anxiety Reviews

Some people use Bach Rescue Remedy whenever they feel tense. I’m not sure this is the right way to use it though.

Instead, I reserve Rescue Remedy for those times when stress is overwhelming. Like right after the shock of hearing bad news.

For more routine, run-of-the-mill stress other Bach remedies may be more appropriate.

For instance, another flower remedy called Mimulus is a good choice for stress caused by something specific, according to the British-based Bach Centre. This organization promotes the work of Dr. Bach. (He died in 1936.)

Bach aspen flower essence, on the other hand, is considered good when the fear can’t be named.

I’ve been using Bach remedies for more than 20 years, with very good success.

Like regular homeopathic remedies, I use them judiciously. I take only what is needed. This is very individual. I typically only need a couple of doses. Others may need more. Then I put the remedy away. I only use it again when needed. These flower essences don’t go bad.

My first bottle of Rescue Remedy lasted more than 20 years. I only ordered another because I misplaced the first bottle.

Rescue Remedy is available at health food stores and online.

Calming Herbs To Help With Stress

There are certain plants known as “adaptogens.” It’s believed that adaptogens can help us adapt. This means they mitigate the effects of stress. Both physical stress and emotional stress.

Some of the better known adaptogens are tulsi, ashwagandha and rhodiola. In Indian Ayurveda, tulsi is known as the “Queen of Herbs.”

There are other herbs thought to be good for stress as well. A partial list includes Passionflower, valerian, hops, chamomile, lavender and lemon balm.

In general, herbalists like the concept of taking multiple herbs together. This is because it’s believed this creates a synergy. This means the individual herbs become more effective when combined with other herbs.

The synergy concept is why herbal recipes have been developed. One of my personal favorites is Oregon’s Wild Harvest Stress Guard. It contains both tulsi and ashwagandha, as well as licorice root and skullcap. Plus, it contains natural B-complex Vitamins derived from food. This combination for me is like a natural chill pill.

Vitamins for Stress and Fatigue

Stress makes the body burn through B-complex vitamins.

However, our nervous system is in desperate need of these nutrients, especially when we’re under stress. B Vitamins seem to act as a natural mental balm.

Also, the Standard American Diet is nutritionally deficient. So many people don’t get enough of these vitamins from food.

Also, chronic stress is a prevalent feature in our society. I think this is one reason why Oregon’s Wild Harvest Stress Guard works so well, at least for me. Because it contains natural B Vitamins, in addition to herbs. We’re all different though. What works for one person may not work for another. But this is a remedy I use for chronic, low-level stress.

There’s now evidence that B-complex Vitamins can help with workplace stress. One study published in the Nutrition Journal found that B Vitamins found that stressed workers who took B-complex Vitamins for 90 days reported less anxiety and depression, compared to a control group that didn’t.

The study appeared to use laboratory formulated vitamins, with the addition of an herbal Passionflower extract. However, I prefer food-based vitamin supplements because of a belief they’re more readily absorbed by the body. They also contain the nutrients we need in the exact proportions.

Healthy Eating for Anxiety

It goes without saying that our bodies need real food. For people with anxiety, I personally believe good nutrition is all the more important. However, please remember that I’m not a medical professional. Just a wife and mother who struggles with anxiety.

On two separate occasions, I’ve been told I have adrenal fatigue. This is when your adrenal glands become burned out from too much stress.

Holistic healers readily diagnose adrenal exhaustion. Conventional doctors don’t. That’s because the prevailing view is there’s no such thing. Only adrenal failure is recognized. This is a potentially life-threatening condition, in which the adrenal glands no longer work.

Mainstream doctors don’t recognize the possible gray area between perfect health and tired but still functioning adrenals. If you’d like to read more about adrenal fatigue, here’s a previously published post that explains what it is and how it’s treated.

Stress and Adrenal Fatigue

But anyway, one of the primary causes of adrenal fatigue is too much stress.

There are various symptoms of adrenal fatigue. But one of them is ability to handle stress.

Anxiety may happen for no particular reason.

You have difficulty shaking it off. It might even keep you awake at night. All of this takes an additional toll on your adrenal glands.

The treatment for adrenal fatigue is less stress, more rest and good nutrition. (Certain supplements may also be recommended.) Generally this means whole food and real food.

Essential Oils for Mood Lifting

Essential oils have also helped. I discovered them a number years ago.

They were the missing piece in my natural anxiety recovery plan, and one of the tools that helped me learn to sleep better.

Part of my problem was anxiety about not sleeping was keeping me up at night.

I used these in between taking various well-selected homeopathic remedies.

Chronic insomnia was a very vicious cycle.

Instead of worrying that I wasn’t sleeping, I instead focused on the soothing scent of essential oils. I’d put a drop or two on a cloth, and then place it by my pillow.

Certain essential oils, such as lavender, are scientifically proven to help take the edge off.

Two of my favorite relaxation blends you can see below. They are sold by Plant Therapy. One is Relax Synergy Blend and the other is Meditation Synergy Blend. I own both of them and they smell exquisite.

Tapping To Relieve Anxiety Naturally

One of the more amazing healing methods is Emotional Freedom Technique.

It’s also known as tapping. Because it involves gently tapping on certain meridians, located on your upper body.

This technique was developed in the 1980’s. It’s a blend of ancient Chinese medicine and modern psychology. The good news is that it’s been scientifically proven to work. Tapping is considered good for calming the mind and body. It’s believed it can also help erase previous trauma. Tapping is really easy to do. I highly recommend it to my readers because I’ve done it myself and I think it helped a lot. If you’d like to learn how to “tap,” here’s a previously published post that contains a demonstration video.

Also, don’t rule out the value of working with a good therapist.