Treatment of Anxiety Disorders with Food Supplements - Essay Example

FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND ANXIETY Introduction While it is normal to feel worried at times, if these worries become overly perturbing and cause tremendous disturbances in your normal physical and mental setting, there is a great possibility that you are suffering from anxiety. Essentially, anxiety takes place as a normal faction of life. As a matter of fact, it helps as our alarms when there are impending threats or dangers. However, there are some individuals whose anxieties are quite snooping thereby affecting the regular disposition of their body and mind. These types of anxiety can become potential causative factors of some health concerns and severe physical and mental problems. Most of the time, general anxiety disorder is described as thinking or worrying over manifold things that concern the person suffering from it. There are also some other types of anxiety that are more serious including panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and the popular obsessive-compulsive disorder or more commonly known as OCD. Common symptoms of anxiety vary according to type, however there are general symptoms that appear to be common among all types of anxiety and these include the following: “feeling apprehensive, feeling powerless, having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom, having an increased heart rate, breathing rapidly (hyperventilation), sweating, trembling, and feeling weak or tired” (Mayo Clinic, “Anxiety”). According to reports, 19 million people in the United States alone are suffering from some kind of anxiety. Also, in the United Kingdom, between 2006/2007 and 2010/2011, “prescribing of antidepressants – now commonly used to treat anxiety disorders as well as FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND ANXIETY 2 depression - rose by 38 per cent, with almost 43 million prescriptions issued last year” (Donnelly 2012) thereby implying more anxiety cases in United Kingdom during these periods. There are two most common treatments for anxiety disorders and these are psychotherapy which “involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms” (Mayo Clinic, “Anxiety”, and medications which range from Antidepressants, Buspirone, and Benzodiazepines. These medications need consultation to a doctor. Although these treatments have relatively proven their efficacy in reducing anxiety disorders, there are recent developments in alternative medicine, particularly herbal remedies, which aim not just to treat anxiety disorders but to totally eradicate them. In other words, these herbal remedies are attempting to cure anxiety disorders. As a matter of fact, “complementary therapy have become hugely popular….in 1999, the total expenditure for such treatments in UK was £1.6 billion” (Ernst and White, 2000). Unlike synthetic medicines, herbal remedies or complementary therapy almost ensures no side effects, which make it a lot more desirable for patients suffering from anxiety disorder, than the usual antidepressants and all other synthetic drugs like tranquilizers; although, these remedies should not solely be resorted in cases of panic attacks or severe anxiety disorders. One of the most common types of complementary therapy is food supplement. Food supplements are usually used as supportive means of boosting the immune system and providing more vitamins and minerals throughout the rest of the body. But nowadays, it has transcended that purpose. They are now used to treat and remedy anxiety disorders. As a result, I have created a food supplement that should help cure anxiety disorders. I have named this supplement as FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND ANXIETY 3 AnxietyClear. Research shows that one of the reasons why a person experiences anxiety is because of deficient supply of vitamins and minerals in the body. When our body lacks of these essential nutrients, it affects the normal functioning of our brain; thus, affecting our entire behaviour caused by irritability. This food supplement that I created contains numerous vitamins, minerals and herbs which ensure a comprehensive healing effect to the patient suffering from anxiety disorder. This food supplement contains the following ingredients: 1. Magnesium – another ingredient of AnxietyClear is the mineral known as magnesium. Magnesium, just like Calcium, enforces our nervous system and keeps our brain healthy. It also reduces anxiety and settles down tensions. It is also a great mineral for controlling the occurrences of tantrums and panic attacks. Since magnesium is considered as micro nutrient, enough supply of magnesium to the body suggests a better mental and emotional condition considering that it directly affects the central nervous system. 2. Vitamin C – it is one of the most abundant vitamins on earth. They are commonly contained in fruits like strawberries, pineapples, mango and grapes. We can also get them from vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and spinach. Vitamin C improves and fortifies the immune system and keeps your body from harmful and mostly pernicious radiations and free radicals present on the foods that we eat. It is included in the food supplement because vitamin C prevents these free radicals from invading our immune system that could possibly disturb our mental and emotional conditions. 3. St John’s Wort – is a very important herb that has been extensively used as a remedy for so many years. It contains elements that improve the immune system. It also contains a substance called hypericin that is known for reducing and even eradicating depression. It FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND ANXIETY 4 is included on this supplement because it increases appetite and enhances blood circulation. Research also shows that St. John’s Wort has the ability to reduce the indications of anxiety, lessens the possibility of depression, and releases stressfulness. It also promotes better sleeping habits thereby preventing insomnia which would otherwise cause anxiety disorders. Aside from these benefits, it is also found to be a good source of energy boosters and can shrink down exhaustion. 4. Kava-Kava – if synthetic medicine has antidepressants and Buspirone, complementary therapy also has Kava-kava. For hundreds of years, it has been used as the most effective natural remedy for stress-related disorders. Unlike synthetic medicines which include tranquilizers and antidepressants, Kava-kava has no adverse side effects. It contains ingredients like kawain and methysticin which decrease anxiety while preserving the normal mental and emotional states. Its prime benefit is relaxation of both the mind and body which are important tools to maintain perfect emotional and mental fitness. If this is the case, it will prevent anxiety and panic disorders from taking place. 5. Valerian – it is an old-style remedy for disorders concerning the nervous system. It is also used as a remedial agent for culture shock, depression and anxiety. More recent applications are made on nervous breakdowns and insomnia as a result of its primary function of reducing exhilaration and exasperation. Contraindications The ingredients used to create the product are generally tolerated, occasional incidence of nausea and sleeplessness may occur due to the effects of the ingredients Valeria and Kava-kava; FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND ANXIETY 5 although, this effect can be considered as a beneficial result. Also, the magnesium and vitamin C content is limited to the most safety formulation. Dosages Adult: 10 years old and older – 1 (500 mg) capsule, thrice a day, every after meal. Children (syrup): 1 – 2 years old: 2.5 mL (half a teaspoon) 5-10 years old: 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) Label contents It is essential for a food supplement manufacturer to include all the necessary information on the label of the product he sells. This is done to inform the public of what the product is all about. AnxietyClear contains the following information on its label: 1. Formulation – it is important to inform the public of the ingredients contained on the product so that they will know if the product is suitable for them or not. 2. Dosage and administration – correct dosage and administration should also be included on the label as this will guide the patient on how frequent or how much they need to take for a particular period of time. 3. Contraindication – although this is made up of herbs, vitamins and minerals, it is still important to inform the public about the limitations of the product. By so doing, it will prevent undesirable consequences. FOOD SUPPLEMENT AND ANXIETY 6 4. Indication – this is important as it summarizes the purpose of the product, to inform as for whom the product is created for and to educate the public about common complementary therapy benefits. References Donnelly, L. (2012, January 01). Anxiety disorders have soared since credit crunch. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8986320/Anxiety- disorders-have-soared-since-credit-crunch.html Ernst, E. &White,A. R. (2000) The BBC survey of complementary medicine use in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 8, 32–36. Mayo Clinic. (2012, February 04). Anxiety. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anxiety/DS01187/DSECTION=treatments- and-drugs Read More