Natural home remedies for anxiety

If it seems like the causes of your anxiety are all around you, take heart: so are the cures, like herbs and oils to boost the soothing powers of a warm bath, worry-taming teas, and even some classic comfort foods. For those times youâ€™re feeling anxious, here are some forms of kindness you owe yourself.
Soak away your cares

* A warm bath is one of the most pleasant and reliable ways to soothe your senses. For an even better balm, add some lavender oil (or dried flowers if you have them) to the tub and soak to your heartâ€™s content. Although no one knows what gives this wonderfully scented herb its calming effect, lavender has a 2,000-year-old reputation as a calmative that soothes the nerves. No time for a bath? Dab a bit of lavender oil on your temples and forehead and sit quietly for a few minutes.

Suck it in...deeply

* Regulating your breath can help bring your anxiety under quick control. To slow and deepen your breathing, sit down, put one hand over your abdomen, and slowly inhale so that your belly expands under your hand but your shoulders do not rise. Hold your breath for four or five seconds, then very slowly exhale. Repeat until you feel calmer.

Sip your way to serenity

* An old-time remedy for insomnia, drinking a glass of warm milk, can tame tension any time of day. Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is needed for the production of the brain chemical serotonin, which enhances feelings of well-being.
* Catnip, the dried herb that makes cats bizarrely hyperactive, has the opposite effect on humans. It contains chemicals that act as a mild sedative. Simply purchase catnip tea bags and enjoy a cup as often as you like.
* Hops, which give beer its distinctive bitter flavour, have a long history as a sedative. In fact, workers who picked hops in the fields were known to suffer from unexplained sleepiness known as hop-picker fatigue. Place 2 teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of very hot water. Drink up to three cups of this â€œanti-anxiety teaâ€ a day.