Natural Anxiety Remedies - Do They Really Work Or Are Most Of Them Really Just Nonsense?   by G. Dauberman

Stress is one of those things that is so common yet can cause a lot of disruption to a person's life. In this article, I focus on some of the natural approaches you can take to help cure your anxiety and lead a normal, happy life.

Probably the king of natural herbal remedies is St. John's Wort. It is a safe herbal remedy which can be purchased over the counter in many countries. It comes from the Hypericum Perforatum plant -- a yellow-flowering herb which grows wildly in many meadows throughout the world.

St. John's Wort is a very effective herb, and is known as the "happiness herb". Many people find that it greatly improves their mood, calms them down, and even enhances their sleep and dreaming. It also has hardly any side effects, and a lot of people even report having no side-effects at all.

Another herb worth considering is Valerian. Its plant name is Valeriana officinalis, which has pink sweet-smelling flowers and grows in the northern hemisphere from June to September. It is often referred to as nature's valium, because it has a similar effect but without the same side-effects.

Another natural approach you can take is Yoga. Yoga gently stretches, exercises and tones the body whilst also relaxing your mind. Whilst doing yoga poses, you move into them smoothly, in time with your breathing, and hold them for a certain number breaths. A lot of people find this to be the most relaxing form of exercise available. Consider joining a local yoga session, or buying one of the many instructional DVD's or books available.

Walking is also fanastic because it is a natural stress reliever. It relaxes the mind, integrates the left and right sides of the brain, and also lowers your blood pressure. Try to walk whenever you get the opportunity. At work, use the stairs rather than the elevator. If you need to go to the shops to buy something, walk instead of driving your car. Use every opportunity you can to walk.

Another great way to de-stress is to just become aware of your breathing. You do not need to control your breathing, just gently be aware of it. You can either, stop what you are doing and sit quietly to focus on your breathing, or you can become aware of your breathing when you are doing another activity. This will not distract you from what you are doing; it will just calm your thoughts but make you more alert at the same time.

Also, if you are feeling anxious about things either in the past or in the future, consider writing about them. Writing is known to be great for calming the mind. When you write, you put your thoughts into words and this helps you get some perspective on them. Writing about what's worrying you can be as therapeutic as talking to someone. It feels like a weight has been removed from your shoulders.