ReeHart - Blogging from the Heart

Posts Tagged ‘stress’

Did you know that even the best anxiety drug has side effects? Tranquilizers require great caution of administration because of the many side effects they cause, such as metabolic changes, brain function impairment, physical addiction and lots of others. Only clinical patients are prescribed drugs, but new classes of antidepressants are also administered in many short-period treatments of random panic attacks.

Fewer side effects: this is the element that one ought to look for when reading about various classifications of best anxiety drug categories.  New antidepressants seem to meet this requirement as they have fewer life-altering reactions even in long-term administration. Tricyclic antidepressants fall into the traditional category of medication prescribed for anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, science cannot fully explain the functional mechanism of such drugs, and it is also pretty difficult to compare the benefits vs the side effects.  BMW Z4 windscreen windblocker wind deflector wind restrictor windstop.

Normally, the best anxiety drug class is recognized to be that of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs that enhance the presence of serotonin in the cells and thus reduce depression and anxiety. The treatment is gradual and it only shows results after a few weeks of administration. Withdrawing rapidly from drug administration could lead to very unpleasant reactions.  Ford Mustang windscreen windblocker wind deflector wind restrictor windstop.

Even if they don’t always make the best anxiety drug choice, monamine oxidase inhibitors are the only solution for more special forms of depression. The risk of drug interactions and the strength of the chemical compounds are the main downsides of such remedies. In some cases, this kind of medication makes it easier for people to quit smoking.  Saab windscreen windblocker wind deflector wind restrictor windstop.

The problem with anti-anxiety medication is that even the best anxiety drug is not completely side effects free, even when administered for a short period of time. Plus, drugs only alleviate the symptoms or rather keep them under control, but without other forms of therapy conducted at the same time, anxiety cannot be identified and eliminated. The vicious circle would thus continue without much hope for the sufferer.

Finally, it is a doctor’s duty to prescribe the best anxiety drug for a patient’s condition, after having studied his/her health status, medical history and after having understood personal specificity. Without one of these steps, the therapeutic process may fail, and the patient will lose faith and go from bad to worse.

Are there any so-called “anxiety herbs?” In a word, yes. There are many herbs that have been known to man for 100’s of years and several of them have been useful in treating stress and anxiety.

Herbal treatments are less expensive than prescription medications and offer a cost effective alternative to drugs. Herbs for anxiety treatment also have fewer side effects and the side effects they do have are usually much less severe than their drug counterparts. That’s because herbs are milder. Of course, this also means they work more slowly and take more time to be effective.

That doesn’t mean that herbal remedies come with no side effects at all. These anxiety herbs definitely do have side effects, they’re just more mild. Still, you should be cautious whenever you start to take any new supplement. Talk to your doctor or your pharmacist before you take anything new.

Valerian

Valerian has a strong reputation as a sleep aid. It can help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep for the whole night. It can also be used during the day as an aid in calming and controlling the effects of stress and anxiety.

Kava

Kava was first used in the South Pacific islands where it grows easily and abundantly. There it was cultivated into a relaxing beverage used in nearly every household. From there, it made its way to Europe and the West where it is used as an effective treatment for anxiety and insomnia.

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort is a medicinal herb that dates back over 2000 years to the days of Hippocrates. He used it to first treat depression but in today’s world, it has been found to be an effective treatment against the effects of moderate levels of anxiety. It comes with certain side effects though as it may increase your sensitivity to sunlight and also interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs you may be taking.

Passion Flower

Passion Flower is so named because early pilgrims to the new world thought it resembled the crown of thorns and the nails on the cross of Christ. When it was first cultivated it was found to assist with digestion. Later, its natural sedative effects were discovered. Today, it is an effective calming herb.

Wrapping Up

Most health food stores carry these herbs for anxiety so they’re easy to find. They’re sold in different forms too…teas, capsules, or liquid extracts, so you have many choices. It will probably take a little trial-and-error before you find the right form that works for you.

Capsules are the easiest to take while the extracts may be the most flexible; you can add them to just about any of your meals or beverages. Teas can be very flavorful and can give you more enjoyment. But whatever you choose, you’ll be getting some serious help from these anxiety herbs, help that can ease your anxiety and stress.

Since organic food started to gain popularity in the late 1990s, people have been skeptical about the superiority of organics. Many people claimed that the benefits of organic over traditional products could not be proven. The truth is that there had simply not been enough testing done to prove the benefits of organic products or the drawbacks of traditionally produced food.

There have been various studies done to show the improved nutritional value of organic agriculture by analyzing the vitamin, nutrient, and mineral content of both organically and traditionally grown produce. There are significantly higher levels of various components in organic products, including:

* Chromium, prevents hardening of the arteries and type 2 diabetes * Calcium and Boron, build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis * Lithium, a common chemical in antidepressants and mood stabilizers * Salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory which can prevent heart disease * Antioxidants, protect cells from damage * Magnesium, helps prevent death during a heart attack * Selenium, helps prevent heart disease and certain cancers * Vitamin C, builds the immune system

While this list seems rather long, its not complete. While these nutrients have been found organic produce, they arent the only ones. This list could also get longer as more research is done about the nutrient benefits of organic food.

While its important to look at the beneficial properties of organic food, we must take into account the harmful effects of traditionally grown foods to fully understand why organic food is superior. When many of the chemicals used in farming were approved, there had been little research to show whether or not these chemicals we harmful. Research has since found that most of these chemicals have negative effects on humans. Non-organic foods have been analyzed and have been found to contain harmful chemicals, heavy metals, solvents, and various hormones. Some of the conditions linked with these substances include:

* cancer * heart disease * osteoporosis * migraines * hyperactivity * decreased intelligence * impaired hearing * less growth in childhood * anemia * Alzheimers * multiple sclerosis * rheumatoid arthritis * early puberty * increase in antibiotic-resistant disease strains

Again, this list is just part of the harmful side effects of these chemicals. There are likely many more conditions to be added to this list after more research is done. Also, most of the research has been done on the affects of single chemicals, and not multiple offenders as are normally found on conventional food. While several of these chemicals have been banned, they are still present in regular and organic food. This is because they linger in the soil; some have been there for over 20 years.

While there are obviously many benefits to organic agriculture, it is not without its faults. First of all, organic products are more expensive. Depending on where you buy organic food, it could cost twice as much as regular grocery store brands. There is also concern that natural fertilizers such as plant material and manure could contain harmful organisms, such as e coli. Although this can be rare it can also make consumers very sick.

Even with the drawbacks, organic food production is proving to be much safer for consumption than other foods available. Along with the health benefits, organic agricultural practices also benefit the environment; keeping it viable for years to come.