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Mind-Body Practices Have Proven Benefits

Anxiety disorders affect 18% of the adult American population. If you’re one of those who is suffering, you could benefit from holistic therapy for anxiety.

Holistic therapy incorporates mind, body, spiritual, and physical therapies to heal you from the inside out.

 Let’s take a look at a few areas where holistic therapy can prove beneficial.

As a lymphatic drainage massage therapist, I am very familiar with the connection between the body and the mind. Anxiety hits both areas like a lighting bolt.

To combat or reverse the effects anxiety has on the mind and body, I highly recommend yoga. Yoga is more than an exercise. It is mind and body relaxation technique. In fact, it infuses mindful movement into your daily life. That mindfulness translates into better awareness of your thoughts and emotions, allowing you greater control over them.

Studies on mindfulness meditation, which Yoga also incorporates, shows that within 8 weeks of practice, there is an improvement in the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It costs little to nothing to practice yoga. Do a quick YouTube search to find a few helpful videos to get started.

The Connection Between Mind & Gut

Another area that is often overlooked by anxiety sufferers and their doctors, is the connection between the mind and the gut.

Did you know that the gut is considered the second ‘brain’? The communication between our brains and our guts has been well studied, and there is research showing that an unbalanced gut microbiome can contribute to mood and cognitive disorders.

One reason is that the gut interacts directly with the brain through the vagus nerve. This nerve is connected to the central nervous system. It is also responsible for calming the body physically.

A good microbiome is diverse, stable, and robust. But there are many factors that damage our gut lining integrity including:

-Overuse of antibiotics

-Foods such as refined sugar and refined carbohydrates

-Not enough dietary fiber

-Stress

-Overconsumption of alcohol

There are steps you can take to improve your gut microbiome. For example, fiber is incredibly important for microbial diversity. Consuming high quality fiber foods can boost your microbiome. Taking a prebiotic supplement may also help.

Other foods I highly encourage you to consume include:

-Yogurt

-Kim Chi

-Bone Broth

-Kefir

-Sauerkraut

-And other Naturally Fermented Foods

Balancing your gut health can reduce anxiety and improve your mood from the inside out.

Chiropractic Therapy Can Help

Holistic therapy for anxiety isn’t limited to what you eat, however. Chiropractic therapy can also help. As a natural, medication-free solution, chiropractic care can alleviate pain and reduce stress and anxiety. Some research suggests that a partial dislocation or subluxation of the spine can lead to stress and anxiety. Regular adjustments could improve your mental health as well.

Aromatherapy Provides Relief

Perhaps my favorite holistic therapy to support a calm nervous system is aromatherapy. It is a great way to customize your stress relief strategies.

While lavender is a tried and true essential oil for stress, there are so many other oils you can use!

For example, bergamot, sandalwood, and sweet orange oils are all highly favored by anxious individuals. Studies back up these effects, even laboring women show lower anxiety scores when exposed to essential oils like sweet orange! Chamomile too is a great solution for bedtime if you have challenges falling asleep.

Reach out to me if you’d like to learn more about the essential oils I love to use for wellness. You can also explore some of my favorite recipes for women and other essential oil tips on the blog.

Anxiety Doesn’t Have to Be Permanent

Anxiety and stress affect us all at some point, but if you are suffering from chronic troubles, I highly recommend looking into holistic therapy for anxiety. Combining these solutions into a complete strategy can give you the long-term relief you’ve been looking for.