Anxiety disorders can contribute to a variety of physical as well as mental complications especially when the symptoms have been ongoing for a long period of time. Some of these symptoms include muscle tension, fatigue, headache, and difficulty sleeping.While professional medical treatment should never be substituted with alternative forms of treatment without first consulting with your physician, there are some alternative methods that have been effective in some individuals for controlling the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Alternative methods of treatment seem to work best when combined with conventional forms of treatment.Acupuncture and Massage Therapy Acupuncture has been known to have many positive effects on the body as well as the mind. Acupuncture can have a very relaxing effect which lowers blood pressure, decreases the heart rate, and reduces stress levels. It can also produce a feeling of tranquility and calmness which is particularly beneficial to individuals with a high level of stress or anxiety.Acupuncture has also been used as an alternative form of treatment for depression and some claim it can replace anti-depressant medications as well as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Massage therapy has also been beneficial to numerous individuals who suffer from anxiety and stress.One of the physical symptoms of anxiety is muscle tension which is reduced through massage therapy as it relaxes the muscles and relieves stiffness and aches. Massage therapy also has been known to relieve anxiety while improving sleep and overall well being.Another form of physical therapy which was developed by the Japanese is called “Shiatsu” which is a massage therapy that utilizes the fingers and hands to apply direct pressure on the energy channels or meridians and acu-points on the body which increases the flow of energy in the body and is said to benefit individuals physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.

Yoga and Meditation to Reduce the Symptoms of Anxiety An anxiety disorder can have serious physical effects on the body as it is constantly in a state of stress which can drain the energy resources within the body. When the body does not get enough physical exercise, these conditions worsen and the muscles can become extremely tense and breathing is restricted.Practicing various forms of yoga such as the “Sun Poses” are said to greatly reduce the level of stress and restore the energy within the body. Recent studies have been done that show the practice of yoga can be very beneficial in relieving many forms of mental health disorders and the method of controlled breathing that is learned in yoga has been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression that are commonly associated with anxiety disorders.With proper meditation practices a deep state of relaxation can be attained which can be beneficial in healing both the body and the mind as the metabolism slows along with physiological functions and a decrease in muscle tension. This also relaxes the mind and reduces the upsetting thoughts which cause anxiety.Anxiety and stress are a normal part of everyone’s life at one point or another and these forms of treatment can reduce these mental conditions, however, when anxiety becomes chronic and adversely affects everyday normal activities a medical assessment should be obtained for a proper diagnosis.

When a diagnosis of OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder is made, the typical or conventional form of treatment consists of a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. The most common types of antidepressant medications used are SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.SSRIs increase the level of serotonin within the brain that is thought to be the neurotransmitter or brain chemical that are responsible for affecting our moods. However, there are many uncomfortable side effects that some patients experience while taking these medications which have lead many to seek alternative forms of treatment for their obsessive- compulsive disorder.Using the St. John’s Wort Herbal Supplement for OCD There have been numerous research studies done on the effects and benefits that some herbal supplements have when taken for mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders including OCD.While some of these herbal supplements have proven to be beneficial for some patients, caution should be taken when trying any form of dietary or herbal supplement as some have been known to cause serious side effects in some individuals – particularly when taken in combination with other medications.The most common and popular herbal supplement that has proven effective in some patients who suffer from anxiety disorders and depression is “St. John’s wort”. St John’s wort is commonly prescribed in Germany for patients who suffer from mild to moderate depression.St. John’s wort has been known to have beneficial effects that are very similar to some of the prescription SSRI medications – particularly “fluoxetine” or “Prozac”. St. John’s wort is the only herbal supplement that has been tested in clinical trials, however, no herbal supplements – including St. John’s wort – have been approved by the “FDA” or “Food and Drug Administration” for the treatment of OCD or any other mental illness.St. John’s wort has shown positive effects in some patients with OCD that are similar to the effects of the commonly prescribed SSRIs that are given to raise the serotonin level in patients with OCD. However, many individuals have experienced serious side effects including serotonin syndrome when taking St. John’s wort as it has the potential to cause the level of serotonin to become dangerously high.Alternative Therapies for OCD Regular physical activity and exercise that include meditation and yoga have been proven to have positive effects on patients who suffer from anxiety disorders. While all forms of exercise can have a positive effect both physically and psychologically, exercises such as yoga that stretch and flex the muscles have had the positive effects of reducing the symptoms of anxiety and compulsions in patients with OCD.Many individuals with OCD often suffer from a tightness or rigidity in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and back that can be relieved by various forms of massage therapy which has been also known to reduce anxiety as well as some of the urgency of the compulsions experienced by OCD sufferers.A proper diet and nutrition is also very important for those with anxiety disorders to maintain a stable level of blood sugar within the body. Foods and beverages that contain stimulants should also be avoided including refined sugars, and caffeine.While there are many alternative forms of treatment that can benefit patients with OCD, if you suffer from this disorder or any other form of mental illness it is essential that you consult with your primary care physician or health care provider before attempting any alternative methods of treatment to avoid the potential of developing any dangerous side effects.

If it seems that even traditional medication is not working to ease the pain of a migraine that you might have then you might want to consider alternative medicine or treatments to try and get yourself some relief. There is actually some medical research that does support the use of acupuncture and chiropractic treatments as good ways in which to fight your migraine headache. There are also nutritional items and herbs that may also be of help.If you are diagnosed with migraines, you might want to try a more holistic approach that might include some lifestyle changes like changing your diet. Other things might be using reflexology, some physical therapy as well as homeopathic treatments that could give some relief. You can also combine the alternative methods with traditional methods as well.It is still a mystery to this very day what really cause migraine headaches. There are different theories and different studies that have been done but no cold hard facts on what definitely causes them. Some things they do know is that about 28 million people get migraine headaches. These headaches are severely painful; they are recurrent and have other symptoms like visual disturbances and nausea. You can have either the common migraine which is a migraine with the visual disturbances or the classic migraine that has no visual disturbance.If a migraine is not treated they can last anywhere from four to seventy-two hours. The person with the headache is going to experience throbbing pain on one side of the head, doesn’t matter which side and it will get worse if they try to do any kind of exercise or physical activity. There is extreme sensitivity to light as well as to noise. They also become pale and sometimes feel like they are cold.Some doctors will recommend that you go see a licensed chiropractor and or an acupuncturist. Having acupuncture done will restore normal body functions by getting the blood into the small intestines where 99% of the immune system is located. It will stimulate points of the body to help reduce the pain that a person is experiencing in their head and neck by balancing the body’s meridian system. This has been studied for over 20 years now and the results in the people studied have been very effective.A chiropractor will help manipulate the spine and this also has been known to be effective in relieving a lot of people’s migraines. Sometimes the spinal manipulation is combined with a daily medicine called Elavil to help combat the migraine. The results have been very effective in alleviating the pain and getting the migraine to go away and there are very few side effects. The spinal manipulation restores the normal motion to the occipital area of the brain at the base of your head and will reduce the pressure of the nerves going to the head.There are also some nutritional supplements that might help as well. Some of these would be 2,000 mg of calcium and 1,000 mg of magnesium each day along with 60 mg of Co-enzyme Q10 and Co-enzyme A can be wonderful treatments for migraine headaches. The calcium and the magnesium will help to regulate a person’s muscle tone and will transmit nerve impulses through your body and to your brain. The co-enzymes will increase your blood flow to your brain and improves overall circulation.You also might want to consider going on a diet that is low in the simple carbohydrates and high in protein. Almonds, parsley, fennel, cherries and fresh pineapple are some good foods to have on this diet. You need to avoid food with a lot of salt and foods that are acid forming like meat, cereal, grains and bread. Also it’s best to avoid fatty, greasy or fried foods.