Naturally balance your mood and anxiety with 3 easy tips

If you find yourself upset, depressed, irritable, or outright snappy this article is perfect for you. Nutritional supplements can do wonders for your mood while you are busy addressing the underlying causes. When our brain functions optimally, our mood and energy balances itself. However, when things are out of balance,  we reach for the quick fixes (also known as “vices”) that end up pushing us further out of balance.

As a Naturopathic doctor, I treat the cause of mood disorders by addressing sleep, digestion, exercise, etc. and using herbal and homeopathic medicine to treat deeper issues. But treatments may take time, meanwhile here are three easy tips to try out before reaching for that bag of chips or sugary snack…

1. L-theanine

Overall, my single favorite mood enhancer has to be L-theanine. This naturally occurring amino acid is found in green tea and has a calming and focusing effect on the mind. In studies of mice, L-theanine reduces social stress (Source 1). In recent studies, subjects taking L-theanine report a calming effect that is confirmed with changes in the actual brainwaves (Source 2). During medical school, L-theanine was a valuable ally for me to stay calm, focused, and in a positive mood during tests.

2. Ashwagandha

Another mood enhancer I see clinical results with is Ashwagandha. This is one of Ayurvedic Medicine’s great treatments for calming anxiety and relaxing the mind. The powder can be taken daily to balance the mood and help deal with stress in the long-term. Ayurvedic medicine is from India and is the world’s oldest tradition of medicine.  A scientific study in 2014 analyzed five other research studies and concluded that there is a significant benefit in using Ashwagandha for anxiety (Source 3).

3. “Stress Care” by Himalaya

Many treasures that Ayurvedic medicine holds are being revealed by the world of science. Over the thousands of years of development, Ayurvedic medicine has formulated powerful herbal combinations for almost every ailment. Along these lines, “Stress Care” by Himalaya is a favorite mood support amongst the staff in nutrition departments. This product combines many Ayurvedic medicines for balancing the mood into one product. 

These three tips help balance your brain but do not really get to the cause of your stress. Everyone has different causes of stress, such as hormone imbalances, blood sugar issues, digestive health, and psychological stress. Naturopathic doctors look at all of this and treat the underlying cause.

If you or a loved one could use some support, schedule an office visit with one of our Naturopathic Doctors. 

SOURCES

1. L-theanine in psychosocial stress:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22707502

2. L-theanine brainwave study:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18841456

3. Ashwagandha for anxiety:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25405876