Finding natural remedies for anxiety leads many people to ask, “What is the best supplement for anxiety?” Mild anxiety – the kind experienced probably daily – is complex and different for everyone.
In today’s age, feeling anxious is an understandable response to all the stressful events happening. And the results on our bodies and minds are not good – from lack of sleep, to muscle tension, to strain on personal relationships – finding a way to alleviate anxiety is a goal for most.
However, not all anxiety is bad. Like when those little hairs on your arms wake up to alert you? It makes you aware of danger, motivates you to stay organized and prepared, and helps you calculate risks. It is when things snowball, or stack on top on one another and life seems to get of control, that type of anxiety can cause more harm than good.
Thankfully, there are natural remedies to address everyday stresses and change your responses to them. Natural remedies for anxiety and depression are those that don’t involve conventional medications, or ones prescribed from a doctor or health professional. This list could include herbs, aromatherapy and even items that fall under “Eastern Medicine.” Remember, there is no magic bullet. But there are ways to help reduce anxiety. By doing a few things, such as elevating your exercise routine, changing your diet, and adding supplements, you can help yourself feel a bit better.
Combating Stress and Anxiety – Naturally
When you are in the throes of anxiety, trying to find a natural supplement for anxiety and depression can seem like a monumental task. Here are some suggestions:
1. Consider Your Diet and What You Put in Your Mouth/Gut
Some have said your gut is connected to your mind and in fact, your stomach can give you warnings before your brain can register it. Perhaps that’s where the term “listen to your gut” is derived from? So, it isn’t a reach to consider what we put into our bodies e.g., our gut, has a direct link to our brain.
- To avoid – Foods: Sugar and processed foods. For some, gluten and dairy are triggers, as well.
- To avoid – Drinks: Alcohol has also been known as a “downer” for many people. Ever get sleepy after a glass of red wine? Turns out the grape has melatonin on its skin. Since red wine is made with more contact with the grape skin (to get that wonderful red color), for most, red wine also makes them sleepier than white wines.
- Also consider removing caffeine from your system. Some people are known to be more “sensitive” to caffeine that others, which may attribute to anxiousness. Caffeine has been linked to mood and sleep disorders, and can exasperate existing issues, such as eating disorders.**
- To try – Foods: Healthy fats from such items as wild-caught salmon (be sure to read the package on where your fish is from!), grass-fed beef, nuts, seeds, avocados, and coconut oil.
- To try – Drinks: fermented drinks, such as kombucha are popular right now to add probiotics to your gut health. Also consider a variety of teas, from calming chamomile to Warfighter Hemp’s own tea blends.
- Warfighter Hemp Elderberry Tea with 400mg of CBD Extract: Contains elderberries, which has also been shown to help with immunity*, plus a variety of other natural spices to create a tasty tea along with Warfighter Hemp’s own Hemp Extract.
- Warfighter Hemp Hibiscus Tea with CBD Hemp Flower Extract : This blend contains hibiscus flowers, along with a variety of spices, plus Warfighter Hemp’s CBD Hemp Flower Extract, to create a delicious tea.
2. Consider Adding a High-Quality Hemp Extract Oil Supplement
The body has a vital and vast receptor system called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The Endocannabinoid System is possibly the most valuable biological system in maintaining human health and function. The ECS contains cannabinoid receptors. There are two main types of receptors, cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2).
Although the ECS affects a huge range of physiological processes, scientists believe that its true purpose is to help the body establish and maintain good health. Warfighter Hemp has whole-plant phytocannabinoids, one being the non-addictive cannabidiol (CBD). These phytocannabinoids naturally fit in the ECS’s receptors and help establish and maintain good health.*** It is like pieces of a puzzle that just fit together. To learn more about how CBD works, read our blog post here.
Many Warfighter Hemp customers have told us they use our CBD tinctures as a natural supplement to treat everyday anxiety symptoms.*** In fact, that’s why we started Warfighter Hemp – as an alternative to “zombie cocktails” prescribed to our Veterans to help with PTSD symptoms. (Read more about how and why Warfighter Hemp was started with this Q&A here.)
- Hemp Extract Oil – Warfighter Hemp CBD Tinctures – utilizing hemp seed oil as the carrier, this product is taken sublingually, or under the tongue, for the best absorption into the body. Offered in regular and peppermint flavor in many strengths.
- Warfighter Hemp CBD Capsules – some Warfighter Hemp customers rather take their CBD via capsule form as they dislike the “herbal” taste from the tinctures.
3. Consider What Goes into Your Mind
Meditating has become mainstream, with a variety of apps, videos and retreats now available. And the best part? You don’t need any tools to meditate and you can’t do it wrong. According to Julie McQueen, founder of the sleep and mediation app, UnWind, daily stressors in life, such as trouble sleeping and good mental health, lead her and her team to develop their app.
“We wanted to develop something that will bring calm and relaxation, better sleep cycles, into your life through nature and the outdoors. This app is the perfect thing to take with you on your next camping trip, or simply at home when you want to bring the outdoors indoors. Research shows that even if they’re artificial, sounds of nature can help our body relax and could be especially beneficial for those with high-stress,” shared McQueen.
McQueen brings up a great point on getting outdoors. Besides listening to the sounds of nature, another benefit to being outside walking, hiking or photographing nature is that you are reducing that screen time on your phone. It is hard to be stuck inside of Instagram when enjoying the beauty of nature.
Consider what you are putting into your mind by “binging” TV shows, social media channels and other online activities. You know the saying that you are the sum of three to five friends you hang out with in the real world? We feel the same is true for what your mind consumes, too. Your mind is the sum of the three to five things you last listened to, read, watched and scrolled.
4. Consider How You Move
Study after study shows the positive effects of exercise on the body and mind. The newest research even talks about how sitting is now the new “smoking” for our generation! This doesn’t bode well for all of us working from home now. Here are some quick ideas for moving your body daily:
- Make it a priority first thing in the morning. Read “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod and learn how with just a few minutes each morning, you can meditate, journal, move your body and recharge before the day even begins. Not a morning person? Sure, we all say that, but consider going to sleep 30 minutes earlier at night, so you can wake up 30 minutes earlier in the morning.
- Dance your heart out. Don’t want to follow a program? (There are so many FREE workouts on YouTube and other social channels.) Then put on your favorite Spotify list and dance in your living room, in your PJs, with your coffee. No one cares.
- Invest in a standing desk. These are ever so popular now with everyone working from home, but they are helping to solve one problem – sitting all day long hunched over your computer. There are options for platforms that sit on your existing desk, and options that include the entire desk moving up/down, for any budget.
5. Consider How You Sleep
Not being able to fully rest at night – or waking up in fits and starts – is a sign of insomnia, which is a common symptom of anxiety. There are many tricks and tips to getting your zzz’s nightly; here are a few we like – and ones we’ve heard from Warfighter Hemp customers.
- Resist watching television while in bed. In fact, can the TV be removed from the bedroom altogether? Can the iPad and other devices charge in a whole different room?
- Resist using your phone, tablet, or computer while in bed.
- Avoiding caffeine at least a few hours before going to bed. For some, the cut off might be longer than that – depending how sensitive to caffeine your body is.
- Keeping the room dark and cool – consider blackout curtains and weighted blankets.
- Writing down your worries before going to bed.
- Flip that and write down three things you are grateful for before hitting the hay. Consider getting “The Five Minute Journal,” which asks you to spend five minutes in the morning giving gratitude, and five minutes at night to do the same.
- Try to go to sleep at the same time each night.
Other Natural Alternatives to Beating Insomnia, Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia
Many Warfighter Hemp customers have turned to natural alternatives to combat insomnia, rather than taking a prescribed pill or medication that could be habit forming. They are seeking over-the-counter alternatives to anxiety medication. They have told us that using a CBD product, either by ingesting such as a tincture, or taking a bath with a CBD Bath Bomb, has made a world of difference in their sleep patterns, and could be a natural remedy for anxiety and paranoia. There are many ways hemp can help, if you want to give it a try!
We especially love Warfighter Hemp CBD Bath Bombs as our skin is our largest body organ, which allows for the largest absorption of products. Alongside its role in protecting us from many different environmental challenges, the skin is an extremely active structure. Without this remarkable organ, human life as we know it would not be possible. Think about it – the skin protects against pathogens (germs), prevents excessive water loss from our body, insulates us from heat and cold, and aids in our temperature regulation. Plus, the skin is so sensitive, we can feel the weight of a fly!
One of the ongoing controversies is the effect of synthetic chemicals in personal care products. Many are going “all natural” from makeup to moisturizer and lotions to yes, even bath bombs, and bath salts, which is another product Warfighter Hemp offers.
But back to CBD within bath bombs. The combination our herbs and oils within the bath bombs, plus the fact you are soaking in a warm environment, and the delivery of 35 mg of CBD per bath bomb, could equal a restful evening for your mind, body and soul.*** But don’t just take our word for it, read our customer reviews here.
Conclusion on Natural Remedies to Beat Mild Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia
Finally, we’d like to leave you with a tip that has worked for us here, at Warfighter Hemp. Hey, we experience many the symptoms you have, too! Which is why we love working here and helping to support our customers.
When we are feeling anxious, or feel our heart rate start to rise and things start to feel a bit “out of control,” we do this:
- Say out loud five things you can see
- Say out loud five things you can smell
- Say out loud five things you can touch
- Say out loud five things you can hear
After completing this simple exercise, you suddenly feel more grounded and pulled outside of your head, and back into the real world.
Namaste friends.
* https://www.webmd.com/diet/elderberry-health-benefits#1
** https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/neuropsychiatric-effects-of-caffeine/7C884B2106D772F02DA114C1B75D4EBF
*** These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.