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Natural Cures for Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is a much bigger problem than many people believe. It affects people of all ages, although it usually starts in teenage years or the mid twenties, and it appears to affect twice as many women as men.

Anxiety problems can be acute or chronic. Acute anxiety usually is shown by episodes known as panic attacks. A panic attack is essentially when our body's natural "fight or flight" reaction occurs at the wrong time for very odd reasons, and is totally involuntary.

Chronic anxiety is usually milder and more generalized. Patients feel anxiety most of the time, however it rarely reaches the intensity of a full-blown panic attack.

There are many things you can do to help control your anxiety disorder without the use of prescription drugs. A key consideration is to do whatever it takes to relieve day-to-day stress. Many patients that suffer from panic attacks have taken trips to the emergency room, just to be told they are suffering from stress.

So, how do you relieve stress effectively and safely? You can certainly use calming herbs, but I recommend using them in conjunction with reflexology treatments for the best effect.

Reflexology, a technique used in Thai massage therapy and ancient Chinese medicine, is based on the belief that applying pressure to reflexes on the feet and hands can effectively treat the entire body. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, reflexology stimulates blood flow and eliminates toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.

One of the most common uses for reflexology is for stress relief. In our fast paced society today, everyone is looking for a way to unload the stress of everyday life and for good reason. Stress is a silent killer. The effects of stress have been studied for quite some time and it is known that if you do not release stress from your body on a regular basis, it will eventually wreak havoc on your body in the form of one of many different sicknesses or diseases.

Besides being a beneficial tool for promoting relaxation and stress relief, it is also an effective tool for improving circulation, relieving pain, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; chronic fatigue, fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

If you decide to combine your reflexology treatment with herbal medicine, some good herbs for this condition are catnip, chamomile, cramp bark, kava kava, hops, valarian root, linden flower, motherwort, passionflower and skullcap. All of these promote relaxation and aid in preventing the onset of a panic attack. Fennel relieves anxiety related gastrointestinal upsets and abdominal tension sometimes associated with anxiety. It is most effective taken as a tea. St. John's Wort, probably the most well known herb for anxiety, works well, although like most herbal remedies, does not give immediate effects and takes two to four weeks before real results are seen.