Homeopathy offers ray of hope for sufferers of anxiety, nervous tension

Better Nutrition, Oct, 1996 by Victoria Dolby

You pace around the room with your thoughts racing, drum your fingers on the table, or perhaps sit quietly while the pressure seems to be building to unbearable levels around you. Whether it is caused by an upcoming job interview, a public speaking engagement, or a looming work deadline, we have all experienced anxiety. Although jangled nerves can be unsettling, anxiety in these situations does serve the purpose of heightening the body's ability to focus, concentrate, and complete the task at hand.

For a large segment of the population - some experts suggest up to 8 percent (15 million) - anxiety and nervousness become an overriding factor in their daily lives that impairs their ability to function optimally at work and socially. These people may experience extended periods of worry and intense fear, which is out of proportion to the situation they are facing. In fact, in some cases, there is no base for worry, but feelings of anxiety are present nonetheless.

Anxiety is a common,

but unwelcome, problem

Anxiety is "both an emotional and a physiological state, in which subjective feelings are apprehension and worry, and physical symptoms are increased pulse rate, clammy skin, and disturbed sleep and appetite. In some people, physical symptoms can be severe enough to mimic a heat attack," explains Dr. Andrew Lockie in his book, The Family Guide to Homeopathy: Symptoms and Natural Solution.

Lockie goes on to point out that anxiety serves to prompt an action in a threatening situation, but anxiety becomes a health problem when it is a permanent state because, for various reasons, the body is perceiving almost everything as a threat.

There are several different types

of anxiety disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a person, has continual, but unfounded, vague feelings that something "bad" is going to happen. This feeling of impending doom often interferes with daily life.

Generalized anxiety disorder most commonly develops during a person,s 20s. It can be triggered by either positive stress (e.g., a wedding or job promotion) or negative stress (e.g., divorce or death of a loved one). It is not unusual for individuals with this condition to be misdiagnosed and treated for several different symptoms, without the underlying anxiety being addressed. As a result, they may suffer for years without dealing with the root of their anxiety.

Another common condition is panic disorder, in which a person experiences sudden overwhelming episodes of terror that occur for no apparent reason. Symptoms characteristic of panic attacks include a racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, and trembling.

You can win the worry war

While most Americans suffering from anxiety disorders are plied with tranquilizers or other addictive (and side effect-causing) drugs, there are natural alternatives. There are a variety of formulations now available in health food stores.

Some homeopathic remedies are designed to ease nervous tension, occasional stress, and minor anxieties, without being habit@forming or causing adverse effects. Some active ingredients include: Cicuta virosa 4X, Ignatia 4X; Staphysagria 4X; Asfoetida 3X; Corydalis formosa 3X; Sumbulus moschatus 3X; Olei gaultheria procubens 4X; Valeriana officinalis 3X; Hyoscyamus 3X; and Avena sativa 1X.

Putting the natural alternative to the test

Who says "natural" remedies can,t reach the effectiveness of drug therapies? One anti-anxiety homeopathic formulation was put to the test in a one-month long, randomized trial involving 30 women suffering from anxiety.

Half of the women were given the anti-anxiety homeopathic remedy daily and the other half took a daily dose of 2 mg of the common pharmaceutical diazepam, Valium.

The homeopathic treatment was found to be as effective as diazepam in relieving anxiety, phobia, and emotional instability. Other symptoms, such as hot flashes, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, intestinal problems, and dizziness, also improved with the use of homeopathic remedies.

REFERENCES

Heulluy, B. "Random Trial of [homeopathic remedy] with Diazepam in Cases of Nervous Depression," Center for Therapeutic Research and Documentation, Paris, France, January, 1995. Lockie, Andrew, G.P. The Family Guide to Homeopathy: Symptoms and Natural Solutions. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1989, p. 111.