Ayurveda approach
Anxiety is caused basically to aggravation of vata dosha in the nervous system. To heal anxiety, there are several effective Ayurveda to balance vata; and heal fear and improve insomnia associated with anxiety.
Learn ways to relax and control your worry by focusing on relaxing the entire body:
· Relaxing bath
Pacify your anxiety with a bath using ginger and baking soda.
Preparation:
1/3 cup ginger
1/3 cup baking soda
Add to a tubful of water and soak for 10 – 15 minutes and relax.
· Ayurvedic oil massage
A full body massage using the following ingredients will help reduce anxiety.
Preparation:
Vatas: sesame oil
Pittas: sunflower or coconut oil
Kaphas: corn oil
Use about 7 ounces of warmed oil, not hot, and rub liberally over the body from head to toe.
Have this massage before the morning shower or, if you have insomnia or high anxiety, you can do it before sleeping. You can also benefit from a mini-massage using the appropriate oil. Rub some on the scalp and bottom of the feet, massaging for a few minutes.
· Meditation
Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit, paying attention on the top of your head while doing the So-hium meditation.
· Relaxation pose
Lie on your back with arms by your sides in the yoga position, savasana also called the ‘Corpse’ or relaxation pose.
· Calming pressure point
This is an exercise you can do anytime and anywhere to help calm the agitation of prana, which causes anxiety.
Rest your fingers in the middle of the palm by making a fist with your left hand. Find the point where the centre fingertip meets the heart of the palm.Press this point firmly with your right thumb for a minute.
Soothing drinks can also help control anxiety:
· Almond milk
Eliminate anxiety with almond milk.
Preparation:
A cup of milk
10 raw almonds
ginger
nutmeg
saffron
Soak 10 raw almonds in water for a night and peel off skin before blending with milk. Best to use a blender. Whilst blending, add pinches of nutmeg, saffron and ginger.
· Calming tea
This herbal tea is soothing and helps pacify and reduces anxiety.
Preparation:
1 part tagar or valerian
1 part musta
Steep ½ teaspoon of these herbs in a cup of hot water. Leave foe about 5 – 10 minutes and drink.
Valerian root WARNING- can be very dangerous for those on any medication
link -
http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldforma...&article_id=83
another link of warnings about valerian root
http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb133...tegory5Herb133
Side Effects and Toxicity of Valerian -
Several reports of toxic effects of the valepotriates have surfaced since the early 1980s. Because the valepotriates possess an epoxide structure, they demonstrate alkylating activity in cell culture. Valepotriates were shown to be cytotoxic to tumor cells, mouse early hematopoietic cells, and human T-lymphocytes.21,22 They also inhibited the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.23 Alkylating agents show a good correlation between alkylating potency and mutagenic potency in the Ames test.24
Purified valepotriates and their decomposition products—baldrinal and homobaldrinal—were investigated for their genotoxic activity in the Salmonella/microsome test (Ames test) and the SOS-chrom test.25 The valepotriates developed mutagenic activity in these test systems only after being activated by esterases, whereas baldrinal and homobaldrinal showed direct mutagenic effects in both tests. When evaluating the potential in vivo danger of these cytotoxic effects, it must be noted that valepotriates are lipophilic compounds and are thus present only in very small quantities—if at all—in most standard aqueous extracts of valerian roots. They are also unstable in most extracts and are poorly absorbed after oral administration. Therefore, concentrations achieved in vitro would unlikely occur in vivo.
In studies of CNS depressant activity of the purified sesquiterpene valerenic acid in mice, extremely high injected doses (150?00 mg/kg) resulted in muscle spasms and strong convulsions.11 Despite these toxicological findings, there have been no clearly identified toxicities reported in humans.26 However, reports of headaches, excitability, and cardiac disturbances have been noted in various clinical trials.26 Because of its potential effects on uterine contraction, valerian’s use during pregnancy could be problematic. Importantly, valerian extracts have not proven to act synergistically with alcohol as have the benzodiazepines. The interaction of valerian with other CNS depressants such as opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines, is unclear.
· Orange juice
This natural fruity drink is best for anxiety with a fast heart rate.
Preparation:
A cup of orange juice
1 teaspoon of honey
pinch of nutmeg powder
Add honey and nutmeg to orange juice, stir well and drink.
http://www.ayurvedhealthcare.com/anxiety.html