Anxiety
Anxiety: A Natural, Whole-Body Approach
Anxiety is more than simply feeling stressed or worried. It can reflect an overactive stress response involving the brain, nervous system, hormones, sleep, and overall health. From a natural-healing perspective, the goal is to look beyond the symptoms and identify the factors that may be keeping the body in a heightened state of stress.
The brain relies on a balance between stimulating and calming neurotransmitters, including glutamate and GABA. GABA is one of the brain's primary calming neurotransmitters and helps regulate nervous-system activity. Supporting the body's natural ability to maintain this balance may be an important part of managing anxiety.
Lifestyle also plays an important role. Research has examined exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, dietary and lifestyle changes, acupuncture, and herbal therapies as complementary approaches to anxiety. While the strength of evidence varies, several lifestyle-based strategies show promise for reducing anxiety symptoms.
Sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and overall metabolic health can all influence how the nervous system responds to stress. Creating healthy routines around these foundations can help the body become more resilient rather than remaining in a constant state of heightened alertness.
Certain herbs and natural therapies are also being studied for anxiety. Systematic reviews have found promising evidence for some complementary approaches, although more research is needed to determine which therapies are most effective for different individuals.
Rather than simply focusing on the symptom of anxiety, Dr. Art takes a natural, whole-body approach to identifying factors that may be contributing to an individual's stress response. Through personalized nutrition guidance, lifestyle recommendations, natural therapies, and targeted wellness protocols, his goal is to support nervous-system balance, healthy stress responses, restorative sleep, and overall wellness.
The goal is not simply to quiet anxiety in the moment. It is to help create the foundation for a body and nervous system that are better equipped to handle stress, promoting greater calm, balance, and resilience.
Persistent or severe anxiety should be properly evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional. Natural approaches can be an important part of a comprehensive plan for supporting mental and physical well-being.
References:
https://weilab.com/uploads/products/4309851728.pdf
https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/healthy-brainwaves-to-increase-gaba
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29508154/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22969831/
