The best supplements for anxiety to restore balance

If you're searching for natural remedies to calm your nerves, the best supplements for anxiety offer a safe and effective way to find balance and tranquillity. Natural remedies are so potent as they are taken from plants and herbs - the origins of all medicines. The best supplements provide extraordinary effects on your immunity, nervous system, and overall wellbeing. However, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any new supplements into your routine, especially if you are currently taking medication, as some ingredients may interact with certain medications.

Anxiety is a common condition that affects many individuals, characterised by persistent worry, fear, and unease. It can manifest in various ways, such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, or specific phobias. While anxiety can be debilitating, there are natural anxiety remedies that can help alleviate its symptoms and promote a sense of calm. These ingredients and adaptogens include Ashwagandha, Passionflower, Valerian root, CBD, and specific vitamins and minerals.

The best supplements for anxiety shortlist:

• Best ashwagandha supplement for anxiety: Ashwagandha Together Health Supplement
• Best passionflower supplement for anxiety: Holland & Barrett Stress Relief Passionflower 30 Tablets 425mg
• Best Vitamin D supplement: Nutri Advanced Vitamin D3 with K2 Liquid Drops
• Best tincture for anxiety: Bach Original Rescue Remedy 20ml
• Best functional mushroom for anxiety: DIRTEA Reishi Mushroom Powder
• Best CBD supplement for anxiety: Elixinol Serene CBD Water Soluble Tincture 10ml

When choosing the best supplements for anxiety, it's essential to consider certain factors that indicate their quality. Look for supplements that are made with high-quality ingredients, free from artificial additives, and sourced from reputable manufacturers. In this article, we will explore some of the best supplements drawn from the expert advice from Lola Biggs, a dietitian at the natural health supplement brand - Together Health. Be sure to read the roundup below for more information on natural remedies, adaptogens and resources on anxiety,

By choosing the best supplements for anxiety, you can take proactive steps in managing your wellbeing and finding inner calm. These supplements offer a natural approach to support your mental health and provide relief from anxiety symptoms. From the best vitamin D supplements to functional mushrooms through to natural supplements to tinctures, we have rounded up the best natural supplements for anxiety that are sustainable and have extraordinary effects on your immunity, nervous system and general well-being. Remember to prioritise self-care, maintain a balanced lifestyle, and seek professional help if needed.

The best natural supplements for anxiety

What are the best natural ingredients for anxiety

Passion flower

A passion flower, also known as Passiflora incarnata, is a climbing vine with white and purple flowers which contain chemicals that have calming effects. It is native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America. It's been traditionally used to help with sleep. When dried, they can be used for making tea or in a supplement capsule or liquid form.

Valerian

Since the second century A.D, Valerian has been used to ease insomnia, anxiety, and nervous restlessness. It comes from a pink flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.

You can get a tea or tincture of the plant’s dried roots and capsules or tablets of the dried plant. While some people may feel the effects of valerian root quickly, many note that the herb works best when they take it for a week or two. However, research has not fully explored the long-term effects of valerian.

Magnesium

One of the most abundant minerals in the body, magnesium plays an essential role in many of our bodily functions and has several health benefits. One of the reasons magnesium may reduce anxiety is that it may improve brain function. Research shows that magnesium plays a vital role in regulating neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout the brain and body.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a herb that has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to help support stress and focus. It enables the body to adapt to both environmental and psychological stresses and can be beneficial for calming nervous tension and aiding more peaceful sleep. Nowadays, it has gained popularity as a remedy for stress and anxiety, sometimes known as winter cherry and Indian ginseng.

CBD

There’s a lot of hype around cannabidiol (CBD), a popular natural remedy derived from the cannabis sativa plant. It has many reported uses, including reducing pain, treating acne, and easing anxiety.

Reishi mushroom

Reishi mushroom is a functional mushroom that is known for its special ability to manage stress levels by nourishing and calming the central nervous system, which, in turn, will help to manage anxiety. This adaptogenic mushroom is totally natural, safe to ingest and has many extraordinary health benefits that naturally help manage anxiety.

Vitamin D

Most people in the UK are vitamin D deficient, and as vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients that helps balance mood and keeps your brain healthy, we should all be supplementing it. Research has connected low vitamin D levels with depression, suggesting that a deficiency may also be tied to other mood disorders, including anxiety.

The human body naturally makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to sunlight. We can also get it from certain foods or through supplements. Vitamin D is essential for supporting your immune system and for many functions in the body. As we cannot absorb as much Vitamin D from the sun during the colder and darker months, supplements are essential.

Look for drops or supplements that contain Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2. These should always be combined as they work together synergistically to ensure that calcium obtained from food is deposited in the bones and not in the arteries and helps with the vitamin D absorption in the body. We have selected the two best options below.

B-complex

B-complex vitamins contain all eight B vitamins, which may help improve mood and reduce stress by either lowering homocysteine levels or maintaining healthy levels of this amino acid. When taken in a supplement form, it may relieve stress, boost cognitive performance, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a fantastic natural, non-toxic herb and adaptogen that has been shown to improve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue and stress-related burnout.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is not the same thing as stress. Stress comes and goes and is based on an external factor, such as a stressful project at work or money problems. On the other hand, anxiety can linger, and you may not be able to pinpoint why you feel it.

The overall number of people reporting mental health issues has increased in the last 30 years. According to Mind.org, a study showed that the number of people with common mental health problems went up by 20 per cent between 1993 to 2014 in both men and women.

According to the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, women in the UK were more likely than men to have reported common mental health symptoms, and one in five women or 19 per cent, had reported CMD symptoms, compared with one in eight men (12 per cent).

So why are women more likely to have CMD symptoms than men? If we add hormones into the mix, such as being premenopausal or menopausal or hormonal contraception and the symptoms that these can bring, we can see why this can lead to anxious thoughts. These might include worries about ageing, health, careers, appearance and changes in our lives. We have created a guide to menopause and anxiety as well as menopause supplements too.

Anxiety supplements buyer's guide

We talked to Lola Biggs, a dietitian at natural health supplement brand - Together Health, who are on a mission to provide the cleanest, most natural, effective, and affordable health supplements on the market; to discuss what to look for in anxiety supplements.

What to look for in anxiety supplements

Making sure the supplements you choose include the right ingredients to manage anxiety is essential, Lola says. "It's also important that your supplements are as 'clean' as possible. You are putting these in your body, so keep clear of artificial additives, unnecessary fillers, and allergens."

She suggests looking for formulas that use organic ingredients, chemical-free processes and ingredients in their whole food state as these generally mean better quality ingredients and better quality supplements.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens is quite the buzzword right now, but what does it mean? Lola told us that, "Adaptogens are a unique set of herbs and plants that can help the body adapt, adjust, and recalibrate itself depending on our physical and emotional surroundings. They help relieve stress by modulating the release of stress hormones from the adrenal glands."

She went on to add, "Ashwagandha and Rhodiola are two of the most powerful of these herbs as they have excellent benefits as stand-alone herbs, but it can also be very effective to pair them together as they can work synergistically to provide you with a focused, calm, and stabilized energy through the day."

What ingredients to look out for in supplements for anxiety?

There are so many different supplements on the market for anxiety it can be hard to choose what one will work for you. Lola breaks down what ingredients to look out for in anxiety supplements.

Lola said, “Two of the most renowned ingredients known for their wellbeing benefits are rhodiola and ashwagandha. Both adaptogens, Rhodiola, often referred to as the ‘golden root’, can help reduce anxiety, promote higher energy and general feelings of better wellbeing, and improve overall cognition. You can also look for ingredients such as schisandra, a lesser-known but still powerful adaptogen as well as St. John’s Wort, valerian, 5-HTP, B-complex and magnesium.”

She finishes by saying, “It’s important to remember that while supplements can be hugely beneficial, it can be advisable to ask your GP first before taking them just in case they interfere with any medication you are taking”

So, now that you know what to look for, let's take a look at these ingredients and the best supplements for anxiety that will be safe, effective and will help reduce your nerves.

How long does it take for anxiety supplements to have an effect?

Lola from Together Health told us, "With most vitamins, consistency is key. Taking them regularly is the best way to ensure your body has what it needs to respond positively to daily stressors. Supplements are most effective when taken over a longer period, so incorporating them into your long-term routine is the best way to get the most out of them. You’ll need to take any supplement every day for a few weeks at least before you see real benefits.”

Discussing anxiety is not all doom and gloom. As our world is more stimulating and busy than ever before, we will have more to process and think about than generations before us. We must give ourselves some credit for that.

Mental health statistics are on the rise due to a progressive open dialogue about mental health, and individuals feel more comfortable sharing their feelings and concerns.

Anxiety can be dealt with when we can free ourselves from our thoughts and return to our body to help us feel safe and grounded in the now. It can be done with practices such as meditation, taking natural supplements such as adaptogens, breathing exercises, getting out in nature and talking to a friend. When we understand the feeling, we can find ways to address it.

How can homoeopathic remedies help with anxiety and your emotional health?

A homoeopathy is an alternative approach to medicine based on the belief that natural substances, prepared in a special way and used most often in very small amounts, restore health. If you have no gauge of where your vitamin and mineral levels are, it is excellent to get a test to find a targeted approach to your health journey. Homoeopathy offers a safe and natural option to help us manage anxiety.

For anyone wishing to improve their health or are interested in knowing what's happening in their body. The Organic Pharmacy offers a health assessment using A BioEnergetic device and homoeopathic consultation to provide insight into any imbalances in the body, what to investigate further and homoeopathic remedies and supplements for your emotional and physical health.

The Health Assessment With Quantum/EIS (£160) is an effective way of monitoring health treatments and a tool for interpreting the results of various tests and health checks. This device scans the body in three minutes and offers profiles on vitamin and mineral deficiencies, organ function, hormone balance, viruses, bacteria, fungus, parasites, digestive disorders, stress and food intolerances.

All results are available immediately, and a personalised programme is recommended so you can target your health goals efficiently.

If you or anyone you know are exercising any anxiety symptoms, reach out and talk to someone

Whether it’s a friend or a healthcare professional, hearing your thoughts out loud can be very helpful and comforting. There should be no shame in seeking help.

If you are looking for some guidance or would like to refer a family member or friend to a professional, then Mind's helplines provide information and support by phone and email.

Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.

Or reach out on Side by Side,a supportive online community for anyone experiencing mental health struggles.

Meet the experts:

This article contains expert advice from Lola Biggs, Dietitian at Together Health. We've made sure to review and evaluate each supplement we have recommended with the help of expert professionals. Always speak with a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement regime. This will ensure that the supplement is appropriate to you, that you're taking the right dosage for your individual needs, and to ensure it doesn't interact with prescription or over-the-counter medications you may be taking.

Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Yours, specialising in natural health and beauty. She lives and breathes all things food, travel and wellness.