If you lived through the past year and a half, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that stress and anxiety are on the rise for the American people.
And it’s not just because of a lingering global pandemic and political unrest, either.
In reality, there has been a rapid increase in anxiety levels among the general public, especially teens and young adults, over the past decade.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that more people than ever are looking for treatment.
But with scary side effects and a risk of dependency, the standard fare pharmaceuticals just aren’t looking as good as they once did.
As a result, more and more people are turning to natural supplements to decrease stress.
From daily CBD capsules to specially brewed herbal tea, the stressed out have found some clever ways to help take the edge off.
But do any of them actually work?
In this article, we’ll go over a few of the most popular stress supplements to help you decide if any of them can actually help you soak up some much needed mental calm.
7 Common Supplements People Are Taking for Stress:
1. Cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is the hemp derived compound you’ve seen explode in the past few years, and for a few obvious reasons.
Proponents say that if you take a bit of CBD tincture or a few gummies, you’ll feel more relaxed and less stressed.
The good news is that the research seems to back up the claims.
In fact, pre clinical and clinical studies show that people who take CBD see a decrease in anxiety levels.
If you want to give this option a try, make sure to take THC free organic CBD, as this will contain all the good parts about CBD with none of the intoxicating effects of THC.
Plus, it will eliminate some of the legal concerns.
2. Ashwagandha.
When researching anti stress herbs, you’ll undoubtedly come across the word “adaptogen.”
But what does this mean, exactly?
An adaptogen is a plant that naturally helps the body resist stressors of any kind, including the hormones that make you feel stressed and anxious.
The apoptogenic plant ashwagandha has long been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to help treat stress.
Like many similar solutions, more research is needed to determine ashwagandha’s efficacy, but some studies have shown that the herb does indeed have properties that make it suitable as an anti stress agent.
3. Melatonin.
Aside from CBD, melatonin is one of the most popular and well studied solutions on this list for treating sleep issues.
Although it is taken in supplement form, melatonin is actually a naturally occurring hormone produced by the body which helps control the sleep wake cycle.
When taken before bedtime, melatonin can help signal to the body that it’s time to go to sleep, which can help you sink into a more relaxed state so you fall asleep and stay asleep.
4. 5 HTP.
For something that sounds like it would be a high tech coding language, 5 HTP holds a lot of promise in terms of health and wellness.
5 HTP, it stands for 5 Hydroxytryptophan, is actually a naturally occurring amino acid which helps in the biosynthesis of serotonin, the main hormone responsible for helping regulate mood and happiness.
People take 5 HTP as a supplement to help aid in anxiety, stress and depression because it is believed to help boost production of serotonin, helping to even out mood and reduce stress.
When we feel happy and when our Serotonin levels are within the borders of what’s normal we can manage our stress better.
Also, your brain chemistry decides what you will focus on meaning if you are happier you will not tend to focus on things that might stress you out.
5. Bacopa.
Bacopa, otherwise known as Brahmi, is a plant that has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat everything from stress to lack of memory and focus.
While much more research is needed, proponents believe that bacopa can help increase some of the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for mood and thinking.
As such, it is often taken for anxiety, stress, sleep disorders and even ADHD.
It also contains powerful antioxidants that are good for general health.
6. B Complex Vitamins.
This is something I have personally taken.
B complex vitamins are vitamin blends that contain eight different B vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate) and others.
B complex supplements are easy to obtain and fairly well studied, so they’re becoming more and more popular in the treatment of a wide range of ailments, including stress, anxiety, depression and mental fatigue.
Plus, the complex is a great way to support overall health and wellness, as it ensures that your body has the key nutrients it needs to thrive.
7. Valerian Root.
You often see valerian root added to teas and herbal compounds meant to help you relax and get better sleep.
The wild growing traditional herbal remedy is harvested for its medicinal root, which is often added to capsules and compounds as a dietary supplement.
Studies show that valerian root is a safe sedative and may help some patients with anxiety.
The plant is believed to work when taken consistently for a few weeks, so make sure to give it a bit of time before determining whether or not it affects you.
Keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes only. We do not promote or advise consuming any of these supplements without first speaking with a doctor. We strongly suggest to consult with a professional doctor for any decision regarding you health.
