Anxiety. It’s those unwanted thoughts, heart palpitations, and striking fears that overcome you and can put a halt to your whole life. While there are many pharmaceutical options that can help curb your anxiety, some individuals prefer a more holistic approach (or a mixture of both!) Here’s a holistic, break-glass-if-needed anxiety tool kit to help you bounce back quickly!

For fast-acting anxiety relief:

1. Encapsulated lavender oil (such as Lavela by ITI) can create quick relief of the physical symptoms of anxiety, and decrease nervous tension.  You may also want to try placing a drop or two of  Lavender essential oil on the inside of your wrists for continuous inhalation of the relaxing volatile oils.
2. Kava Kava is very well known to help calm you down, all while increasing your mental focus and clarity. It can also be purchased as a breath spray, for easy for on the go use.
3. Breathing techniques/meditation – Take a moment and focus on your breathing. Try this easy technique:
   • Inhale for 4 seconds.
   • 1 second hold
   • Exhale for 4 seconds.
   • 1 second hold.
   • Repeat as needed
4. Herbal Teas (such as Cup of Calm by Traditional Medicinals) that include nervine herbs can reduce anxiety on the spot! Try steeping one tea bag in 8oz of hot water, and allowed to cool before enjoying! For best results, cover the cup while the bag is steeping to keep all the volatile oils from evaporating.
5. Glycine, an amino acid, is a calming neurotransmitter in the brain that can be used for swift reduction of anxiety.

Of course the best solution is to prevent anxiety from returning, so here are some long term solutions as well.

Long-term solutions for lasting anxiety control:

1. Adaptogenic herbs – There are many great herbs out there for long term tonification of your nervous system including:
   • Eleutherococcus useful for individuals who suffer from chronic stress, and can help increase energy, promote restful sleep, and build your immune system.
   • Rhodiola is a good fit for acute or chronic stress, and can help protect your heart from stress-induced damage! It is also useful for improving focus and memory and has mood enhancing effects.

2. Brain support – imbalance of your brains chemical messengers can have large effects on your anxiety. Supporting pathways that are calming, such as GABA, can be beneficial to decrease anxiety.
3. Acupuncture– a skilled acupuncturist can help to promote the free flow of energy, and promote relaxation!
4. Nutritional changes that support even blood sugar all day, and avoiding foods that create sudden, drastic drops in blood sugar.

It’s important to remember that anxiety can either be a diagnosis or a symptom of another issue. For example, thyroid disorders (both high and low states) can have anxiety as a symptom, so it is important that you rule out the root cause of your anxiety before starting treatment!

Dr. Cassie Wilder

Dr. Cassie Wilder is a registered Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) and founder of MIMC. Her passion is empowering her patients through education, understanding, and support through their healing journey. After graduating from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and Health, Dr. Wilder earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, a fully accredited and nationally recognized institution in Phoenix, AZ. During her clinical training, she received extensive hands-on training with many leading experts in the field of functional medicine and developed a passion for treating hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular concerns, and adrenal fatigue.