Our Naturopathic Doctors' Top 5 Supplements for Anxiety

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Does doing normal tasks feel like a never-ending hill to climb? You're not alone. Millions of people experience anxiety, especially in today's world! Finding the right treatment options for you is the key. Supplements can be a great way to help reduce anxiety and improve your overall mental health. Find out our 5 favourite ones by reading on!

5HTP 

5HTP is often used to treat anxiety and depression. It's an amino acid that helps increase our serotonin levels. Serotonin is a natural compound that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite. Studies link low serotonin levels to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

It helps restore your serotonin levels, which help reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being. So how does it work? 5HTP is required to make serotonin. 5HTP reaches the brain, then gets converted into serotonin. Increased serotonin helps reduce anxiety and increase dopamine levels. Dopamine makes you feel relaxed, and can improve focus.

Lavender

Lavender is probably the most well-known herb for anxiety. You can take it as a supplement, diffuse oil, rub on skin, or drink as a tea! Its scent brings about a deep sense of calm and relaxation. Did you know that smelling lavender essential oil can calm the brain?

Lavender contains a plant compound called linolool. Linolool promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. Stress increases cortisol levels, which increases anxiety. Lavender can reduce anxiety due to high cortisol levels!

Lavender doesn't stop there, friends! It increases deep sleep and reduces restless nights. By doing this, it reduces daytime anxiety. Now you get why we love lavender so much!

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid. It's found in green and black teas (matcha lovers, this is for you)! It increases GABA in the brain, which relaxes you and calms the mind. GABA is short for gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Studies show that L-theanine:

• reduces stress hormones and makes you feel better relaxed
• reduces anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder
• improves performance in attention and memory tasks
• improves quality of sleep in adults with insomnia
• increases total sleep time and deep sleep stages

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has been around for a long time. This Ayurvedic herb contains active compounds called withanolides. Withanolides reduce stress, improve cognition, and promote relaxation.

Here's what the research says about ashwagandha:

• reduces anxiety in 80% of people
• lowers stress hormones (think about cortisol)
• improves attention and memory
• enhances brain function
• has anti-inflammatory actions and reduces oxidative stress
• increases muscle size and strength (reduces fatigue during activity)

Saffron 

Saffron is a spice from the Crocus sativus flower. Recent studies have found that saffron can help:

• reduce anxiety symptoms (before and during stressful situations)
• promote relaxation
• improve sleep quality
• improve cognitive function
• regulate mood
• reduce depressive symptoms

Saffron contains compounds that reduce anxiety (remember lavender?) Saffron contains crocin, safranal, and picrocrocin. These compounds affect serotonin and GABA levels. More serotonin and GABA makes you feel calm!

Pro-tip: Our naturopathic doctors sometimes mix L-theanine and saffron. This combination reduces anxiety better than either separately. We can help with dosing!

Want to take your anxiety management to the next level? Why wait? Take the first step towards better health today and book your appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors! Your body and mind will thank you for it! 

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