Aa
Does B12 work
My doc told me B12 doesnt really help with anxiety.I asked him this because i hear so many people say it does help.What about st.Johns wart?Im trying to find something more natural to take and doesnt have so many side effects any suggestions?
Best Answer
First, are you on medication? St. John's Wort is thought very highly of in Europe for moderate depression, but it isn't really on point for anxiety. 5-HTP plus herbal relaxants and a program of other supplements, exercise, dietary changes, and meditation would be the natural approach. A naturopath would be the expert to see about this, or a psychiatrist who practices integrated medicine. As for B12, it depends on whether you need it or not. It is essential to proper functioning of the neurological system, but B6 is much more on point for anxiety. You don't want to take too much B6, but it's an essential co-factor for the production of both serotonin and GABA, the body's natural relaxant. Where B12 comes in is for people with a deficiency, and it's common, especially in vegetarians, the body will lack energy and overwork itself, which can cause anxiety. But without a deficiency, most people take it to increase energy. Best way to balance the Bs is to take a stress B, a B complex that focuses on the Bs that are most important to the nervous system, plus Vitamin C. A good book to read is Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist at UCLA. And don't believe that just because something is natural there are no side effects, there might be. St. John's Wort, for example, causes a skin rash from sun sensitivity in some people. Anything can have side effects. The good thing about natural remedies is that they are easier to deal with because you can just stop taking them, something that is often difficult to do with medication, and the body recognizes them because it's used to them (assuming the remedy is genuinely natural). The body doesn't know what to do exactly with medications because it hasn't had centuries to adapt to them.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
