Healing Stress & Anxiety Naturally: The Naturopathic Way


​With the rapid increase of anxiety in NZ, it is fast becoming one of our the most prevalent health conditions.  While conventional treatments exist, many people are turning to naturopathic medicine for relief. Studies show that naturopathic care offers promising results, with a 50% response rate for anxiety symptoms.  Additionally, natural interventions like regular physical activity prove to be as effective as psychotherapy for managing anxiety symptoms.

When you encounter stress, your body launches a complex physiological response. The hypothalamus triggers your adrenal glands to release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This "fight-or-flight" reaction is designed to protect you, but when activated chronically, it can harm nearly every system in your body. These include the nervous system, digestive system, immune system, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system and the endocrine system.

By understanding wide spread effect of chronic stress and anxiety, we can understand why true healing requires a holistic whole body approach.

The root causes will be different for everyone. So areas we need to think about and assess are:
  • Key neurotrasmitter balance
  • Gut brain connection and the microbiome
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Genetic influences

Naturopathy & Herbal Medicine for Stress & Anxiety Relief

Natural remedies have been used for centuries to calm frazzled nerves. The modern use of herbs and supplements offer promising avenues for easing anxious minds naturally. These natural substances work with your body's systems to address the physiological aspects of anxiety without many of the side effects associated with conventional medications.

Adaptogenic herbs for stress resilience

Adaptogens are a special class of herbs that help your body adapt to stress and restore balance. These remarkable plants interact with the HPA axis, which initiates your body's stress response. To qualify as an adaptogen, a herb must be non-toxic, support the body's ability to cope with stress, and help return to a balanced state. 

These herbs include:  Ashwagandha, Rhodiola & Siberian Ginseng
Which brings us to an important point.  The quality of these herbs is vital.  NZ is a unregulated healthcare market.  What you buy online or retail, is made cheaply and that means it is lacking in most if not all of the essential quality control measures.  If you want to try it, get what you know to be therapeutic, then you can assess it properly.

Calming herbs for anxiety relief

Unlike adaptogens that build resilience over time, certain herbs offer more immediate calming effects. Chamomile is one of the many herbs that are particularly effective.  A 2016 clinical trial found Chamomile significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
A nervine is a herb that improves the tone, vigor and function of the nervous system, and includes: Bacopa, Green Oats, Saffron, Schisandra, Skullcap & Vervain.

An anxiolytic herb is one that alleviates anxiety, and includes: 
​Green Oats, Passionflower, Valerian, Lavender, Zizyphus & Kava.
It is worth mentioning again, quality is the key with these herbs, as well as understanding their safety profile.

Essential nutrients that support nervous system health

There is a lot to be considered here, to ensure the correct prescribing. An initial consultation is one hour and provides us the opportunity to take the time to look at the whole picture and prescribe for you based on your individual needs.  An example of this is understanding your current situation, as some nutrients work over time, whilst others can have a fast effect.
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​The nutrients in this category include: B Vitamins, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega 3, L-Theanine, Glycine etc...

Nutritional and lifestyle foundations for healing

Beyond supplements and herbs, the real work to balance our lives and restore harmony lies in the management of our daily choices.
  • What you eat directly affects your brain chemistry
  • Are you looking after your gut health?
  • Regular physical activity calms the mind and increases anti-anxiety neurochemicals
  • Sleep:   Insufficient sleep increases the stress hormones
  • Meditation and Breathing techniques are vital.  This is not just a quick fix but a lifelong investment in your mental health.
Stress and anxiety can feel overwhelming.  Starting with small changes and gradually building healthy habits allows you to take control of your body and mind.  Coupled with herbs and supplements for early relief, Naturopathy provides many tools for recovery.  Remember that healing takes time - be patient with yourself as you explore which combination of natural solutions works best for your unique situation.