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The
Problem
The word
"anxious" comes from the Latin word which means "to strangle" -- an
apt description of acute anxiety, which can result in rapid heartbeat,
sweating, dizziness, trembling, dry mouth, and a choking sensation.
But even if your symptoms are less dramatic, chronic anxiety takes a
toll on your body as well as your mind.
Anxiety
starts in the limbic system, your brain's emotional alarm center, which
sends out chemical signals to prepare your body for potential danger.
Normally, when the perceived threat is past, the limbic system calms
down. Anxiety results when the limbic system overreacts, sending out
warning signals far in excess of any immediate danger and resulting
in a state of constant arousal.
Anti-anxiety
drugs are highly addictive
Not surprisingly, the conventional
solution is a drug that counteracts this arousal -- usually a benzodiazepine
tranquilizer such as Valium or Librium. However, these drugs simply
mask the symptoms of anxiety.
Worse, they can cause many
side effects, both moderate and serious, including dizziness, drowsiness,
fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, agitation, blurred vision,
irregular heartbeat, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. These drugs
also can be highly addictive.
If you're taking a benzodiazepine
drug, here's what we suggest you do. First, talk with your physician
about gradually weaning yourself off this medication. As you reduce
your dose, take the steps outlined below and try a natural anxiety reliever
like GABA or kava as needed. Keep in mind that it may take a while for
you to get used to the subtlety of natural remedies, as they don't blast
into your system like drugs do.
Natural
Protocol for Anxiety
Exercise
is useful for any type of anxiety
Exercise changes your brain
chemistry in a natural and health-enhancing way, discharging anxiety
and raising levels of "feel good" neurotransmitters called endorphins.
Ease anxiety by exercising -- taking a brisk walk is adequate -- four
to six times a week for 30 to 60 minutes.
Take
the amino acid GABA
GABA (gamma-amino butyric
acid) safely and naturally stimulates the same receptor sites in the
brain as benzodiazepine drugs. The recommended dose for GABA is 750
mg (or half a 750 mg capsule if you weigh less than 100 pounds --
the capsule and mix with a few ounces of water), up to three times daily.
This is especially helpful before going into a stressful situation,
like flying on an airplane or giving a speech.
Lighten
up with kava
This safe, nonaddictive anxiety
remedy comes from the root of the pepper plant Piper methysticum, which
grows in the South Pacific and has been used medicinally for centuries.
Kava relieves anxiety, promotes tranquility, and enhances sociability.
Look for a product standardized
to contain 30 percent kavalactones (the active compound in kava). Take
1 to 2 capsules per day (150-300 mg) with meals or 2 to 4 capsules at
the end of the day for relaxation. Don't take kava for more than 3 months
without a 2- to 4-week rest period.
Ask
your doctor about Dilantin
If the above recommendations
don't work for you, talk to your physician about Dilantin. This prescription
drug, which has been available for 60 years for seizure control, quiets
your nervous system, providing effective and safe relief from anxiety
and phobias. The usual dose for anxiety is 100 mg twice a day.
To learn more about the clinical
uses of Dilantin, read the book A Remarkable Drug has Been Overlooked,
by financier Jack Dreyfus, whose life was turned around by Dilantin.
Make
sure you're covered
To make sure you're getting
adequate B-complex vitamins and other nutrients essential for the maintenance
of mood and overall health, take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral
regimen.
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Anxiety
The
Problem
Anti-anxiety
drugs are highly addictive
Natural
Protocol for Anxiety
Depression
Coping the
Natural Way
Anxiety
Coping the
Natural Way
Mental
Well-being
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