What is anxiety?

Anxiety is characterized by a feeling of fear and worry, more or less intense and lasting, which may or may not be correlated to a specific internal or external stimulus.

There are those who define anxiety as a kind of pathological, intense fear but let’s try to understand the difference between these two sensations. Fear represents a way of reacting to an immediate stimulus, while anxiety identifies a disturbing element in a future condition, to which one reacts with a series of both psychological and physical changes.

Fear is therefore an emotion of defense, which developed when our primitive ancestors, having to find food and defend themselves and their offspring, learned to pay attention to the various signs of danger. Fear is therefore a healthy reaction and plays an essential role in the dynamics of survival.

People with anxiety, on the other hand, experience excess worry and discomfort towards a future condition not related to survival and rarely supported by real facts. It can be triggered by a surrounding reality or just by a thought. Furthermore, anxiety disorders differ from normal fear because they become excessive or persistent over time in comparison with the development of a temporary fear.

As a result, the consequence of fear is the avoidance of danger while anxiety, in many cases not being based on real danger, leads solely to personal discomfort that is interpreted as a threat to survival.

Anxiety: symptoms and possible causes

A share of the causes of anxiety are completely unknown by health professionals and may require external intervention to be understood.

To identify the cause of anxiety it is necessary to investigate the subject’s upbringing and the ways in which their anxiety has been expressed in their personality in the past. We must analyze various reference points, the parental figures and their educational upbringing, as well as previous life experiences and problem solving skills. 

 An important contribution to the development of these symptoms could come from the breakdown of families and tight knit communities. The lack of emotional support, which were previously found within one’s family unit and community, can contribute to a sense of isolation and unpreparedness, leading to low self-esteem and self-doubt.

Of course, there are different levels of anxiety. They range from moderately anxious, characterized by indecision or lack of confidence, to the opposite extreme, characterized by panic attacks and trips to the emergency room to resolve doubts of a heart attack.

In between there is a whole series of more or less uncomfortable symptoms of varying degrees:

• tachycardia and heart palpitations;
• profuse sweating;
• restlessness;
• performance anxiety;
• excessive intestinal activity;
• hyperventilating;
• frequent urination.

How to combat anxiety?

Before using medication, a good way to begin to deal with states of anxiety and agitation begins with three distinct but related coping strategies:

1. adopt a healthier lifestyle;
2. strengthen your personality traits;
3. try using products of natural origin.

Lifestyle is essential — feeling physically strong and having a body capable of withstanding fatigue can also help us feel strong emotionally. Therefore, following a healthy diet that consists mainly of vegetables and a moderate intake of animal proteins alongside regular physical activity and optimal sleep quality are the primary ways in which we can strengthen not only the body but also the mind.

To improve our response to external stimuli, like for example in the case of social anxiety disorder, we need to put ourselves to the test. The ideal way to do this is to take advantage of the moments when we feel good and are not experiencing tension or anxiety. This is the moment to start a conversation with someone we don’t know, demonstrate leadership and even make trivial decisions that were usually left to others. We can also increase our active participation in conversations and social situations by staying updated on current events, articles or books.

As a third strategy you can consider the use of natural medicinal remedies that are less aggressive than chemical drugs but are able to give you a greater feeling of relaxation by relieving both physical and mental tension.

Herbal medicine: natural remedies for anxiety attacks

Using herbal medicine and other natural remedies, such as herbal teas and dry plant extracts containing sedative elements, can be particularly effective in combating and reducing anxiety.

• Chamomile and Lemon Balm: calm irritability and reduce nervous tension through muscle relaxation. They also act as natural antispasmodics, helping relieve gastrointestinal disorders;
• Linden and Hawthorn: they can help lower blood pressure and have a calming effect on the cardiovascular system, counteracting arrhythmias, palpitations, nervousness and headaches caused by anxiety and stress;
• Passionflower: sedative action of the central nervous system with tranquilizing and anxiety relieving effects;
• Bud derivatives: effective remedies to reduce mood swings and relax nervous and/or agitated subjects.

PromoPharma’s natural remedy for anxiety

Promopharma has developed Aminovita Plus® Ansimel, a supplement based on various plant extracts that are useful in the treatment of various aspects of anxiety. It promotes relaxation, mental well-being, and stable moods.

Aminovita Plus® Ansimel is composed of three natural elements that work together in synergy to relieve the complex symptoms associated with anxiety.

Melissa officinalis is a plant that acts at the level of the central nervous system. Flavonoids, one of the biochemical components of this plant, are similar to benzodiazepines because they act on the same receptors in the brain, without the side effects or risk factors associated with sedative drugs. At the same time they help with the relaxation of the cardiovascular system and the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract which causes a reduction in contractions and spasm.

Linden (Tilea tomentosa) can help amplify the effects of lemon balm because it acts both as an antispasmodic for calming muscles of the intestine and it works directly on the same receptors in the central nervous system as lemon balm.

Finally, Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) supports the heart, the main culprit in the somatic reaction of anxiety and associated panic attacks, slowing down their frequency and reducing the pressure on the walls of the arteries that can aid in relaxation.

Aminovita Plus® Ansimel can be used in both the acute phase, as first aid in case of sudden anxiety, as well as on a routine basis to keep anxiety at bay and encourage overall well-being and serenity.

We recommend 1 stick pack per day, to be taken as is, away from meals. In periods of increased need, we recommend 1 stick pack up to 4 times a day, always between meals.