Feeling overwhelmed is understandable. Today – life is hectic. Everything is so fast and stressful. Sometimes, it can get a little too much. It’s perfectly normal to feel unsettled. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can help naturally treat anxiety and improve your well-being. Whether you’re equipped to go for a walk to clear your head or think aromatherapy would de-stress, Spirit & Destiny has done extensive research into the best anxiety remedies. Make sure to prioritise yourself sometimes. Just, breathe.
Remember: anxiety is not the same thing as stress. Often conflated with one another due to their similar symptoms, stress comes and goes and is based on an external factor. This factor could be a stressful project at work or money issues. On the other hand, anxiety takes root and can linger. For us, it's best to pinpoint why you're feeling worried.
Best Anxiety Remedies Shortlist
Best supplements for stress and anxiety: Together Health, Stress Aid Complex - 30 Capsules
Best drops for anxiety: Nelsons, Rescue Remedy - 10ml
Top de-stress pick: Tisserand Aromatherapy, The Little Box of De-Stress
Best gift for anxiety sufferers: LUXE Diffuser Bracelet 18k Gold
What is the best help for anxiety?
Anxiety is very common – and can make us worry a great deal.
This can cause tension, an increased heart rate, and chest pain, negatively impacting our wellness. However, there are many natural remedies and methods. Why not consider a natural remedy before looking at herbal tea, supplements and other support? Though there are plenty of herb remedies, you may benefit from making a few lifestyle changes.
Best Anxiety Remedies
Supplements
First, there are supplements. Problem is, there are quite a few to choose from. For this, we recommend Rhodiola or ashwagandha supplements because they are both adaptogens and have a host of great benefits. Plus, ashwagandha has been known to alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety, too. All of this and more are below...
Best supplements for stress and anxiety
The Together Health Stress Aid is made with herbal extracts and is a food-based complex blending 11 food-based vitamins and minerals. It contains eight essential B vitamins, ocean-sourced magnesium and three key adaptogenic herbs (Schisandra, Ashwagandha and Rhodiola). Take one capsule a day to support your body during busy or anxious times and help your body manage how it responds to stress.
Customer Review: "I like this brand and buy quite a lot of their stuff. I don't take them daily, but these capsules are the best I have found for taking the edge off when I am feeling particularly stressed out, and they have helped me get to sleep a few times (depending on the stress level)."
Best supplement for anxiety
This Ashwagandha supplement from Together Health is vegan-friendly, highly absorbable, gentle on the stomach, 100 per cent clean and free from artificial additives and processing aids. It comes with 30 supplements per pack; take one daily to help restore balance.
Customer Review: "I have been taking this supplement every morning for a morning now and the quality of my sleep has seriously improved. I fall asleep a lot faster and I feel energized most days when I get up. The capsules are also easy to swallow and they taste ok, so overall this is a great product for me."
Best CBD supplements
www.hollandandbarrett.com
There’s a lot of hype around cannabidiol (CBD), a popular natural remedy derived from the cannabis sativa plant. It has many reported uses, including reducing pain, treating acne, and easing anxiety. For a dose of CBD, we recommend these tasty gummies from Starpowa. They contain no additives, impurities or synthetic chemicals. Plus, they're vegan.
Our Review: "I took these gummies for a little while last year when I felt unhappy, burnt-out and anxious. They tasted great and I loved the apple flavour. I took two a day and I felt myself feel calmer and ready to tackle the day."
Best anxiety remedy for fatigue
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Recently, there has been a buzz online about the wonders of magnesium - and how it settles down all those thoughts that keep you up at night. For a peaceful night's sleep, we recommend Magnesium, paired with Zinc. Aside from the other essential roles it plays in our body's function, there is reason to believe that magnesium may improve brain function. Specifically, research shows that magnesium plays a role in regulating neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout the body. These 90 tablets may support the mind, as well as your nervous system and bones.
Customer Review: "After a few days of taking these my chronic water retention issue has gone - I didn't even know these would help that until after I read up about them in more detail! I take 2 before bedtime each day, originally to compliment vitamin b-complex for better mental health, absolutely delighted."
Best valerian root extract supplement
Since the second century A.D., Valerian has been used to ease insomnia, anxiety, and nervous restlessness. It comes from a pink flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. So, it's been a historical remedy to anxiety. As well as these Kalms tablets, you can get the plant's dried roots in the form of capsules or oral drops. It may take a week or so for the root to take effect, so sit tight if you choose this remedy - and use it sparingly.
Customer Review: "I’ve used these off and on for years and think they do a great job. I tend to get very tight muscles in my neck and shoulder which can lead to earache etc and I don’t like using painkillers. A couple of these twice a day does wonders for relaxing the muscles … as does staying off my IPad for a day! They also help me sleep if I’ve had a hectic day. I’ve never taken more than 4 a day but it says max is 8. They don’t make me drowsy either so no problem driving. I find for occasional use they are great."
Best remedy for anxiety and low mood
www.hollandandbarrett.com
St John’s Wort is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of slightly low mood and mild anxiety, based on traditional use only. It contains many active substances, including hypericin and hyperforin, which are thought to affect mood. Research suggests that St John's wort works in a similar way to standard antidepressant medication, by increasing the activity of brain chemicals such as serotonin and noradrenaline that are thought to play an important part in regulating our mood. These one-a-day tablets may ease your mood.
Customer Review: "I started taking these to try and lift my mood and I can definitely feel a difference. Will be buying again."
Perfect for all-around health
B-complex vitamins contain all eight B vitamins, which may help improve mood and reduce stress by either lowering homocysteine levels or maintaining healthy levels of this amino acid. When taken in a supplement form, it may relieve stress, boost cognitive performance, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. This B Complex supplement from Together Health contains all eight essential B vitamins. Take one capsule a day to support your daily well-being.
Customer Review: "As a vegan, I've been a little concerned my B-vitamin count was low. It's less about my B12 intake, which is already controlled like the Veg1 tablets. It's the rest of the B vitamins. So, I thought I'd try these. I take one before sleep each night. I'm sure that I have a better night's sleep when I do take them, compared to when I don't. I've not even googled to look into whether this is a scientific likelihood. I just feel more refreshed in the morning.
Although they are pretty expensive compared to all other B-specific supplements, and the claims about how they're manufactured look like crazy pseudoscience, I'm going to keep with them for the moment."
Best drops for anxiety
www.hollandandbarrett.com
Next, we have Rescue Remedy. This Passion Flower supplement has been around for a long time and uses a combination of five natural flower essences. A passion flower is a climbing vine with white and purple flowers which contain chemicals that have calming effects. Native to the Americas, it's been traditionally used to help with sleep. It is a liquid supplement, so it would be a great choice for those who don't like taking tablets.
Customer Review: "A few drops in my morning juice helps me get set for my day. Highly recommend a try if like myself you need gentle help to overcome anxiety."
Best remedy for low mood
These Vitamin D3 K2 supplements from Howard & James contain 4000iu of vitamin D and are one of the best high-strength supplements on the market. Believe it or not, most people in the UK are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients that help balance mood and keeps your brain healthy, so a deficiency may also be tied to other mood disorders, including anxiety. There are 120 in each bottle to be taken once daily. The 100ug tablets also contain no artificial flavours, colours, preservatives or sweeteners and are suitable for vegans.
Customer Review: "Had a Vitamin D deficiency that was treated by my GP 6 years ago. Ever since when the winter months come I feel drained. Vitamin D was recommended however it only helped a little. These seem to work great and I'd say it's down to the Vitamin D and K2 mix. It seems to make all the difference. It works better if you cycle on and off giving the body time to adjust."
Best mushroom extract for anxiety
www.planetorganic.com
Arguably our favourite - and most unique - supplement on this list, we have DIRTEA. They're a leading name in the functional mushroom industry, and their powders can be implemented into your diet easily - just like protein powder. Reishi mushroom has been known for its special ability to help manage anxiety, as it can calm the nervous system and reduce stress. These adaptogenic fungi are natural, safe to ingest and have health benefits across the board.
Customer Review: "I've found Dirtea Reishi to be so helpful to have a good and restful night's sleep. It tastes very bitter but I quite like it and drink it like a before-bed espresso shot."
Essential Oils
For centuries, aromatherapy has been used to improve our well-being, whether to provoke sleep, remedy anxiety or alleviate pain. It's safe to say that essential oils do far more than smell enticing. Though smells are very powerful and can evoke some powerful emotions, aromatherapy has a scientific explanation behind it.
Scientifically speaking, when you inhale a fragrance, the scent molecules found in essential oils traverse from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially affect the amygdala - the emotional centre of the brain.
Aromatherapy works through smell and can be found in all sorts of products, such as incense sticks and pillow sprays.
Incesne sticks for anxiety
www.ebay.co.uk
Satya is hand-rolled in India - each pack contains 15g of Incense sticks, which is approximately ten incense sticks. There is a huge range of scents - from calming meditation aids to spicy warm, or fresh cleansing aromas. For remedying anxiety, we recommend Lavender, Frankincense, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile and Rose. We're impressed by this large range**,** coming with more than 50, ranging from lavender to romance to meditation.
Our Review: "Another favourite from Spirit & Destiny, you can't go wrong with Satya. They have a great range of scents, even blends that smell great. I love their Opium scent, especially. As for burn time, the smell lingers for hours."
Top de-stress pick
A lovely gift set for restoring balance, this little de-stress aromatherapy box contains three Tisserand pulse point roller balls containing calming essential oils such as Peppermint, Lavender, Lemon, Frankincense, Geranium, Orange, and Nutmeg. You have six sets to choose from: De-Stress, Happiness, Mindfulness, Motivation, Sleep and Wellbeing. Go with your gut, trust your instincts - and pick the scents you need at this moment.
Customer Review: "These are perfect little bottles of bliss. I have some for when travelling and everyday use in the handbag. Friends are always pleased to receive these as a gift. Ideal for any stressful or anxious times. And they smell divine."
Top essential oil for anxiety
www.nealsyardremedies.com
Just like chamomile tea, this essential oil is light and earthy and distilled from the chamomile flowers and leaves. This naturally calming essence balances your emotions and helps to ease stress.
Customer Review: "I love Chamomile Roman essential oil. I use it when I blend my shampoo, shower gel, ointment, and body cream and in my diffuser. It has a calming effect and helps to repair the skin."
Best gift for anxiety sufferers
www.oylelondon.com
Beautiful, this elegant bracelet is a stunning piece of jewellery. And, it has another purpose. Plated in 18k Gold, this pendant opens to hold a wool bead, ready to diffuse your essential oil. To apply, put 1-2 drops in your pendant and wait for the relaxation. It's the perfect gift for any loved one who loves aromatherapy.
Our Review: "This is a breathtaking bracelet. It arrives in a wonderful box which would make it a fabulous gift. I love that you can choose which sent you wish to put in. The aromatherapy oils are really strong and a few drops will last all day. I found the whole process relaxing. When I feel stressed just putting my wrist to my nose is a great way to remind myself to take a bed breathe and exhale any negativity."
Best blend for anxiety and migraines
www.bcalm.co.uk
No matter how you like to use essential oils, this blend is perfect to help comfort and support you with any migraine symptoms or anxiety. Add to your diffuser, inhale from the bottle or add a few drops to the bath. It contains Lavender - which has pain relief properties that are safe and effective when dealing with a migraine. Plus, lavender also calms and relaxes anxious thoughts. Peppermint is present, also, which improves circulation, relaxes muscles, and soothes the gut, all of which can be helpful during a migraine or anxiety. Lemon - is an earthy, citrus aroma that has calming and soothing effects. It is uplifting and cleansing to help with the discomfort of migraine or anxiety.
Customer Review: "A really beautiful set and the fragrances are so strong, I think they will last a long time. It's great to know they are organic too. Thanks so much!"
Recommended
www.hollandandbarrett.com
The soothing properties of Lavender Oil help calm the mind, improve relaxation and promote a good night’s sleep. Lavender is perhaps most associated with sleep; however, its soothing properties help calm the mind and improve relaxation. With a sharp sweet freshness and an underlying note of warm spice, this scent blends well with Bergamot, Clary Sage and Geranium.
Best candle for uplifting mood
floralstreet.com
Inspired by one of Vincent van Gogh's favourite subjects, this is a scent to signify the first buds of spring. As for the scent, it has delicate florals, infused with creamy vanilla, green matcha and a touch of tonka bean. It's a fresh take on nature's masterpiece. All ingredients are vegan and sustainably sourced; plus, all packaging is recyclable.
Customer Review: "Got this for my mum who is a massive Van Gogh fan, she's so happy with it! Nice, uplifting scent and the perfect gift for the artist in your life."
Best bath oil for anxiety
Containing a blend of calming Lavender, anti-inflammatory Myrrh and uplifting Sandalwood, this oil creates the ideal ambience for romance while inspiring inner calm and harmony. Melt away all the tensions, anxiety and stresses of the day with this oil... Get a good night's sleep - as it's aromatic and sedative, too. Plus, it's vegan and cruelty-free.
Customer Review: "Fantastic product - smells gorgeous, is sensual, little goes a long way. I bought this product from a supermarket at £6 about 5/6 years ago, so it is very pricey now. But because it is so amazing I still buy it. Wish it did come back in supermarkets every now and again!"
FAQs
What calms anxiety naturally?
Time with Animals - It’s been scientifically proven that petting an animal can reduce blood pressure. Give them a squeeze if you’re lucky enough to have a pet at home. There’s nothing quite like it.
Exercise – Exercise has been proven to get happy hormones (endorphins) throughout your body. If things get too much, do a gentle workout. Getting down on your yoga mat may help your head.
Aromatherapy – There are several natural aromatherapy oils you can incorporate into your daily life. Read more on the best essential oils for anxiety and stress below. Hopefully, you’ll find your calm.
Sleep – As discussed before at Spirit & Destiny, sleep is everything. Stress and anxiety are intertwined, too. Luckily, we have guides on herbal sleep aids to help you with nodding off.
Journaling – Opening up about our worries can be stressful, especially when the words don’t come the way you want. Alternatively, why not consider getting it all out in a wellness journal?
Herbal Tea – As discussed below, caffeine can stimulate anxiety. If you’re feeling the weight of the world, swap out your caffeinated drinks for a herbal alternative. A relaxing night-time ritual…
Diet – can, believe it or not, can reduce our anxiety. Eating a balanced diet can squash some of our worries. Eating foods such as dark chocolate and asparagus may help you feel calm.
Talk – Discussing worries gets them out in the open. It’s no good to keep all of your anxieties locked inside. Sometimes, it feels great to chat through things with a supportive friend or even your GP.
Meditation – Calming, relaxing and nurturing, meditation is another go-to anxiety remedy that we recommend. Whether you prefer to stand, sit or lie down, focus on your breathing and get comfy.
What to look for in anxiety supplements?
Senior Commercial Content Writer, Ellen Kinsey, spoke to dietitian Lola Biggs at natural health supplement brand, - Together Health for the best advice. Lola answers the questions you may have about ingredients and more.
Firstly, Lola says it's important to check how 'clean' supplements are. After all, "you are putting these into your body," she says. "So, steer clear of artificial additives, unnecessary fillers and allergens." For this, Lola suggests sticking to formulas containing organic ingredients manufactured by chemical-free processes.
You may be wondering: how long does it take for anxiety supplements to have an effect? Well, Lola from Together Health says that taking them regularly works best for your body - as your body has what it needs when faced with stress: during the day. After all, anxiety - for most - may come at any time and can be triggered by anything.
She adds that "supplements are most effective when taken over a longer period, so incorporating them into your long-term routine is the best way to get the most out of them. You’ll need to take any supplement every day for a few weeks at least before you see real benefits.” So, make sure to stock up and add them to your morning or evening rituals.
What are adaptogens?
You may have heard the word flitting around. But, what is an adaptogen? Well, Lola has the answers for this.
"Adaptogens are a unique set of herbs and plants that can help the body adapt, adjust, and recalibrate itself depending on our physical and emotional surroundings." How cool is that? She adds that Ashwagandha and Rhodiola are powerful and have excellent benefits, but they can "also be very effective to pair them together."