Natural Ways to Beat Anxiety

If you have anxiety, you know what a struggle it can be. Medication is a hugely important part of the treatment equation, particularly for acute and urgent situations, says Robin Berzin, MD, a functional medicine doctor and founder of Parsley Health.

But there are also natural methods to help quell anxiety, Berzin says — that don’t come with the unknowns of taking anxiety medication over a long period of time. Meditation — three to five minutes a day is a great place to start — can help, as can taking magnesium, nature’s “anti-anxiety medication,” Berzin advises.

“Magnesium is a super-nutrient in the body involved in just about everything from muscle contraction to bone health, blood vessel function, and nerve health,” she tells Yahoo Health. “Our nervous system is very reliant on sufficient levels of magnesium. When our nerves and neurons don’t run smoothly we get irritable, foggy-brained, and stressed out. The cycle then continues because stress depletes nutrients like magnesium and lack of magnesium decreases our ability to cope with stress.”

For more natural ways to beat anxiety, watch the video above.

*Editor’s note: Always talk to your doctor first before stopping or starting a treatment for anxiety.

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