Treating Anxiety

A large number of people in Ireland suffer from anxiety – ‘an unpleasant emotional state, ranging from mild unease to intense fear’. Anxiety differs from fear in that, while fear is a rational response to a real danger, anxiety usually lacks a clear or realistic cause. Though some anxiety is normal and even healthy, higher levels of anxiety are not only uncomfortable but can lead to significant problems.

    Anxiety is often accompanied by a variety of symptoms. The most common symptoms relate to the chest, such as heart palpitations (awareness of a more forceful or faster heart beat) throbbing or stabbing pains, a feeling of tightness and inability to take in enough air, and a tendency to sigh or hyperventilate. Tension in the muscles of the back and neck often leads to headaches, back pains and muscle spasms. Other symptoms can include excessive sweating, dryness of the mouth, dizziness, digestive disturbances and the constant need to urinate or defecate.

Anxious individuals usually have a constant feeling that something bad is going to happen. They may fear that they have a chronic or dangerous illness – a belief that is reinforced by the symptoms of anxiety. Inability to relax may lead to difficulty in getting to sleep and constant waking through the night.

Severe anxiety will often produce what are known as ‘panic attacks’ – intense feeling of fear. Panic attacks may occur independent from anxiety but are most often associated with generalized anxiety or agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is defined as an intense fear of being alone or being in public places e.g. Mass. As a result, many people with Agoraphobia become housebound.

Panic attacks are very common; about 15% of the population experience a panic attack in their lifetime.

Clinical anxiety, including panic attacks, can be produced by caffeine. Perhaps the most significant biochemical disturbance noted in people with anxiety and panic attacks is an elevated blood lactic acid level and an increased lactic acid to pyruvic acid ratio. There are at least six nutritional factors that may be responsible for elevated lactic acid to pyruvic acid ratio:

1. alcohol
2. caffeine
3. sugar
4. deficiency of the B vitamins, niacin, pyridoxine, and thiamin
5. deficiency of calcium or magnesium
6. food allergies

By avoiding alcohol, caffeine, sugar and food allergens, people with anxiety can go a long way towards relieving their symptoms.

It has also been found that people with a deficiency of essential omega3 fatty acids - found in high concentrations in flaxseed oil - can suffer more from anxiety and panic attacks. In one study, three out of four patients with a history of agoraphobia for more than 10 years improved within two to three months after taking flaxseed oil at a dosage of 2 to 6 tablespoons daily. All patients had signs of essential fatty acid deficiency, such as dry skin, dandruff, brittle fingernails that grow slowly, and nerve disorders.

Herbal medicine also has much to offer patients with anxiety and/or panic attacks. Chamomile, valerian and passion flower are all excellent herbs to ease anxiety. Rhodiola is also used to ease anxiety along with its ability to lift mood in depression.

Suggested supplements for anxiety include calcium magnesium citrate, B complex vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil. Calcium magnesium citrate is excellent if constipation and/or muscle cramps are also present.

Exercise outdoors. Hiking, walking and swimming are the best antidotes for anxiety and tension.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Hebalist