There Is a Natural Remedy Available for Your Panic Attack
AUTHOR: Jerry Cohen
Do you suffer from panic attacks? Do you occasionally or even frequently succumb to bouts of overwhelming fear? You are not alone. Over half of all Americans have experienced a panic attack and almost 80% will experience one at some point in their lives. Somewhere between 6.5 and 10% of Americans have been diagnosed with a panic disorder, meaning these people suffer from frequent, intense panic attacks. There are various medical treatments available depending on the cause of the panic – Xanax, Valium, Prozac and Paxil to name just a few – but not much attention is given to any natural remedy for a panic attack. However, a natural remedy for a panic attack – an herbal remedy – is as close as your nearest health food store.
There is an amazing array of pharmaceutical panic attack remedies, and many of the drugs within that array have nasty side attacks. Addiction, sleeplessness, drowsiness, anorgasmia, a decrease in libido, and sometimes even an increase in anxiety are among the side effects that can drive a person to seek a natural remedy for his or her panic attacks.
Calming herbs such as lavender, valerian and passion flower have been used in daily combination to reduce the amount of stress hormones in the body, thereby warding off panic attacks. Lavender has long been used as a calming agent due to its sedative properties. Though unsure how exactly how it works, valerian has long been used for its anti-stress properties. It seems to be even more effective at reducing stress when used in combination with kava kava. Passion flower, or passiflora, is a woody vine that is thought to reduce anxiety with its abundant amount of flavinoids. It is believed to work the same way as benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, but it is not addictive.
Herbal treatments for anxiety all require some time to take effect. It can be at least three to four weeks before you notice a reduction in stress and anxiety levels. If you need immediate relief from the symptoms of an ongoing panic attack, many have found that scents such as frankincense, neroli, sage, rose, ylang ylang and bergamot serve as an effective, immediate natural remedy for panic attack symptoms.
Of course, there is more than one type of natural remedy for a panic attack. Herbal remedies tend to work best when they are used in conjunction with other therapeutic treatments such as exposure therapy or hypnotherapy. Some even find success with yoga or other meditative practices.
If you are seeking a natural remedy to ward off your next panic attack, herbal treatments may work for you. It is best to consult your holistic practitioner or herbalist before trying any on your own.