Can Plants Help Treat Anxiety?

When it comes to anxiety, quite a few people around the world are dependent upon pharmaceutical medications, many of which can lead to dependency and other problems. At Dawn Potter Acupuncture & Wellness we are proud to offer a more natural approach to healthcare and anxiety management, including a variety of herbs. Today, we’ll be discussing which herbs are best known for their anxi-anxiety properties. Have additional questions? Interested in Clearwater Chinese herbal medicine? We would be happy to help, schedule your free 15-minute discovery call to get started today.

Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile)

If you’ve ever looked around at tea, especially the caffeine free variety, chances are you’ve seen Chamomile mentioned. Chamomile is an extremely popular herb that has been used for centuries to promote relaxation and reduce overall anxiety.

Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender)

Have you ever noticed Lavender is in a lot of products for babies? This is often due to the fact it can promote relaxation, improve sleep and reduce anxiety. Luckily, it isn’t only helpful for infants! Lavender has been shown to greatly improve anxiety when taken orally.

Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm)

This next plant isn’t quite as well known as the others on the list, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. Lemon Balm has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve mood and decrease rates of depression.

Valeriana Officinalis (Valerian Root)

Another common plant found in caffeine free tea varieties is Valerian, commonly listed as Valerian Root. Valerian has sedative properties and has been shown to change chemistry in parts of the brain often correlated with anxiety and stress. **As with anything you take, you should consult a professional before adding/changing anything related to your medical care.**

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Interested in a more natural approach to your anxiety treatment? Schedule an appointment with us today to discuss our Clearwater Chinese herb treatment.

Can Herbs Promote Better Sleep?

Did you know that an estimated 70+ million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems? A lack of sleep has been associated with a range of problems from chronic illness, mental illness, increased healthcare costs, loss of work productivity and even injuries. While sleeping medication is available, it often comes with side effects that people wish to avoid. Many are left wondering, is there something more natural like an herb that could promote better sleep? Today, Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida is discussing herbs that can promote better sleep. If you are currently taking any medications, we recommend consulting your doctor or Dawn Potter to make sure these herbs are safe to take while on specific medications. You can schedule a free 15 minute consultation with Dawn today to learn more.

Valerian Root

For hundreds of years people around the world have been using the root of the Valerian plant to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, restlessness and sleep disorders such as insomnia. Valerian root has been found to promote better sleep by making you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.

Passionflower

Passionflower is another plant that has been used for many years around the world as a sleep aid. Certain flavonoids in passionflower can relax the nerves, promote calmness and aid in better sleep by de-stressing the body. Passionflower can be found in many stores and is a component and many teas you find readily available in the stores, especially ones made for sleep or relaxation.

Chamomile

If you’ve ever looked at a box of “sleepy” tea in a store, chances are you’ve seen Chamomile on the label. Chamomile is another ancient herb which has been used for its medicinal/relaxing effects on the body. Studies have shown Chamomile reduces anxiety, soothes nerves and can reduce insomnia.

Lavender

Have you ever noticed baby products often feature lavender scent in some capacity? Lavender has been proven to have calming, sedative and antidepressant effects, along with being able to help stabilize moods.

Schedule Your Appointment For Natural Sleep Treatment in Clearwater, FL Today

Interested in natural sleep treatment in Clearwater, Florida? Contact Dawn Potter Acupuncture today, we’d be happy to get you on our schedule for a free 15 minute consultation,

Acupuncture For Depression-Related Coronary Heart Disease

Did you know that depression has been associated with cardiovascular disease & coronary heart disease due to physiological mechanisms and lifestyle? Patients who suffer from depression are more likely to suffer from sleep problems, have poor exercise habits and tend to eat more poorly, among other things.

Elevated heart rate and blood pressure along with reduced blood flow to the heart and increased cortisol production has also been noticed. Luckily, newer research has shown that acupuncture treatment can actually lower the risk of coronary heart disease (a common form of cardiovascular disease) in patients that suffer from depression.

A recent study by Chia-Yu Huang, et al. has found that patients who have been diagnosed with depression and received acupuncture treatment actually have a lower risk of coronary heart disease in comparison to patients diagnosed with depression that didn’t receive acupuncture at all. The results of this study were independent of medication use, comorbidities, sex and even age.

The study conducted by Chia-Yu Huang, et al. involved more than 43,000 patients and were divided into two groups, an acupuncture group and a non-acupuncture group. During the study, manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture were both used. Manual acupuncture was far more common (including 88% of patients), while 9% of patients received both and 3% only received electroacupuncture.

On average patients suffering from depression received about 9 acupuncture treatments each, with treatment occurring more than 3.5 years after the diagnosis of depression.

At Dawn Potter Acupuncture we proudly offer acupuncture treatment along with a variety of other treatment options that can help with a range of conditions, including depression.

Contact Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater Today

Do you suffer from depression? Worried about coronary heart disease? Considering Clearwater acupuncture treatments? Dawn Potter Acupuncture would be delighted to help. Simply reach out, let us know what is going on and we’ll get you added to our schedule for an appointment.