Anxiety or nervousness can be described as any feeling of worry or being dreaded usually about events or circumstances that may potentially happen. This feeling can be normal after some stressful circumstances or events but it should be taken very much under consideration when it interferes with the person’s ability to function.

A person facing a clear and present danger is not usually considered to be in a state of anxiety.

Symptoms

The commonly seen symptoms are fatigue, insomnia; sometimes stomach upset, rapid breathing or shortness of breath and irritability.

A large number of physical changes take place when a person is under anxiety or stress. the brain and nervous system become intensely active; the pupils of the eye dilate; digestion slows down; muscle become tense; heart starts pumping blood harder and faster; blood pressure increases; breathing becomes faster; hormones such as adrenaline are released into the system along with glucose from the liver and sweating starts. All these changes take place in a split second under the direction of the nervous system.

If the stress factors are removed immediately, no harm accrues and all the changes are reversed. Stress in its earlier and reversible stage leads to poor sleep, bad temper, continual grumbling, domestic conflict, repeated minor sickness, a feeling of frustration and increase in alcohol intake.

Stress may be caused by a variety of factors outside the body and within. External factors include loud noises, blinding lights, extreme heat or cold, X-rays and other forms of radiation, drugs, chemicals, bacterial and various toxic substances, pain and inadequate nutrition. The factors from within the body include hate, envy, fear or jealousy.

Ayurvedic Medicines

The Ayurvedic herbs that are useful in treating anxiety are Holy basil, Sage, Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Mandukaparni, Saraswatarishta etc.

Herbal pack for Anxiety

• Stress support – 2 capsules twice daily after meals

• Brahmi – 2 capsules twice daily after meals

• Ashwagandha – 2 capsules twice daily after meals