Anxiety

//Western Diagnosis// excess anxiety and worry for more than 6 months affects 5% population in any year

Signs & Symptoms
1. severity of worry exceeds what the situation warrants 2. restlessness 3. fatigue 4. difficulty concentrating 5. irritability 6. muscle tension 7. insomnia

Diagnosis
1. at least 3 of the above sxs

Treatment
1. benzodiazepines 2. kava-kava 3. meditation 4. biofeedback 5. QiGong 6. yoga 7. exercise

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Supplementation
Kava kava is used for treating anxiety, promoting sleep The standardized extract potency of its active ingredient, kavalactone, should be 30 percent (15 mg per capsule). For daytime relief of anxiety, take 250 mg (one capsule or one-half dropperful), three times daily with meals. You can take four to six capsules for sleep (up to 1,500 mg). Do not take it continuously for a prolonged period of time (over four months).
 * kava kava (Piper methysticum)**
 * Recommended dosage:**

The extract of valerian has been the treatment of choice for anxiety and insomnia throughout the world. It is a sedative and painkiller. Helpful in treating insomnia. Valerian root taken at bedtime aids in preventing panic attacks at night. Valerian is quite safe to take for short periods of time. However, its long-term effects are not known. For daytime anxiety, take 150 mg (standardized extract of 0.8 percent valeric acid) three times daily. For difficulty with sleep, start with 150 mg, 45 minutes before bed. If that dose is insufficient, gradually increase to 600 mg. If you are using the herb, use one teaspoon of powdered valerian root in one pint of boiling water for ten minutes in a covered pot. Strain and add honey to taste. Drink one cup per day before bed. For severe anxiety, add 1 drop of valerian oil to bath water. Intervals of two-to-four week breaks are recommended, to avoid habituation.
 * Valerian**
 * Recommended dosage:**


 * Ashwaganda:** An adaptogen allowing the body to adapt more efficiently external stressors, has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress, antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties. Ashwaganda is the primary strengthening tonic in Ayurvedic medicine. Take one capsule or ½ teaspoon of tincture, twice daily.


 * Borage juice** exerts a specific, stimulating effect on the glandular system. It also acts as a general tonic and purifies the blood. Take 1 tbsp. with water daily for two weeks.


 * Bugleweed**: Soothes your nerves. Make an infusion using one teaspoon of herb and one cup boiling water. You can also add lime or linden flowers to the infusion.


 * California poppy:** Strong herbal tranquilizer. Take ½ teaspoon of tincture or two capsules 3-4 times a day or as directed in the product label.


 * Catnip**: Soothes upset stomach. A nervine. Make an infusion using one ounce of herbs and one pint of boiling water. Cool before drinking.


 * Chamomile:** A gentle nervine. Also helps settle an upset stomach. Boil one ounce of blossoms in one pint of water for fifteen minutes; strain and add honey to taste.


 * Fennel**: Fennel relieves anxiety-related gastrointestinal upsets, reduces flatulence, and abdominal tension, and relaxes the large intestine. For best results take it as a tea before or after meals. It has no known side effects. It is a popular tea in Oriental countries such as India.


 * Feverfew:** Calms your nerves. Relieves migraines. Feverfew can help with anxiety-induced headaches. Infuse one ounce of herb in one pint of boiling water. Cool before drinking.


 * Ginkgo biloba** - improves circulation to the brain. It elevates the mood for those depressed.


 * Ginseng:** Taken in combination with royal jelly, ginseng is a great energy booster and lifts the spirits. Take 1 tsp. of royal jelly in a cup of ginseng tea twice daily.

Hops is very popular in making sleep pillow. To make a sleep pillow, stuff a small pouch or pillow with hop flowers. Sprinkle a little alcohol on the herb to release the essential oils.
 * Hops**: Relieves insomnia and encourages sleep. To make a tea boil one teaspoon of herb in one cup of water in a covered pot for ten minutes. Strain and flavor with honey and lemon to taste.


 * Lemon balm** is a mild relaxant.


 * Meadowsweet:** Relieves headaches related to anxiety and stress. Drink meadowsweet tea or extract.


 * Mullein**: Soothes anxiety. Drink two cups of mullein tea each day. Add an aromatic such as clover or cinnamon to overcome the pungent odor.


 * Motherwort** is useful in cases when anxiety is associated with palpitations. If the anxiety is connected to high blood pressure, use cramp bark and linden blossoms.


 * Oats:** Oats strengthens and relaxes the nervous system. Look for preparations that contain the oat seed along with the straw. Take ½ teaspoon of tincture, three times daily.


 * Passion Flower:** A gentle sedative that soothes nervous tension and alleviates insomnia. Use half to one teaspoon of herb in one cup of boiling water. Drink the infusion every three to four hours.


 * Peppermint**: Excellent for an upset stomach or frazzled nerves. Use equal parts of peppermint, caraway seed, and wood betony to total one teaspoon. Infuse in one cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Strain and sweeten to taste.


 * St. John's Wort**, a popular herb for low depression is also good for controlling stress.

To treat tension headaches, combine one part each of skullcap, sage, and peppermint; boil one teaspoon of the mixture in one cup of water for ten minutes. Drink one warm cup as often as needed.
 * Skullcap**: Skullcap is valuable in combating anxiety, stress and tension. It is one of the best nerviness. Skullcap can be taken at bedtime to promote sleep. It aids in preventing panic attacks at night. Boil one teaspoon of the herb in one cup of water for ten minutes. Strain and sweeten to taste. Drink two cups each day in half-cup doses.


 * Verbena:** Sedative. Infuse one teaspoon of the herb in one cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes.


 * Willow bark** soothes stomach distress.

Herbal Combinations
Here is an excellent nervine that will relax your mind and encourage mental harmony.
 * Nervine Tonic**

4 parts rosemary leaves 2 parts sage 1 part goldenseal powdered root 3 parts skullcap powdered herb 2 parts valerian powdered root

Each part equals one-twelfth of a teaspoon. Make an infusion using one teaspoon of the herbal mixture with one cup of boiling water. Take a relaxing bath of a combination of herbs like lavender, thyme, lemon balm and camomile followed by a peppermint and lemon balm tea before going to bed for a restful, healthy sleep.

Dietary Recommendations
Avoid food stimulants (spices, chocolate, ect.)

Recommended Minerals
-Phosphorus -Lithium

Acupuncture Treatment
Points: HT-7, PC-6, GV-20, BL-14, BL-15, BL-43 "anxiety & reactional naurosis" w/ a Shao Yang Temperament: GB-20, GB-34, GB-37, GB-38, GB-39, LR-2, LR-3, LR-8, PC-6, CV-17, GV-20 (Requena)

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 * IBIS:**

Definition:
A neurotic disorder characterized by apprehension, uncertainty and fear directly out of proportion to any known cause, and often elevated to attacks of intense panic associated with physiologic changes. Full names: "Anxiety Neurosis", "Anxiety Disorder" or "Anxiety Reaction".

Etiology:
Anxiety can be physiological and/or psychological and there may be a genetic tendency.

The physiologic factors involved stem around arousal of the autonomic nervous system in the manner of a "fight or flight" response to fearful inner impulses and emotions. This stress response results in the characteristic body sensations often seen in a person in a panic attack (see "signs and symptoms").

The psychologic factors are individual to the patient but usually some sort of emotional stress precedes anxiety. The emotional stress may be easily identifiable (such as the loss of a job or relationship), or may be subconscious and harder to uncover: such as when hidden inner emotional drives of neediness, sexuality, and aggression are kept from the patient's conscious mind by psychological defenses. When these troubles are aroused by a social or environmental occurrence that extremely stimulates the patient, the episodes of anxiety can represent the individual's fear of losing control of these repressed conflicts and, in turn, his actions.

Another reason for anxiety is known or subconsciously hidden trauma that certain situations or events can trigger, reverting the patient to the traumatic event and setting up the resulting fight or flight response.

Somatic Therapies:
• aerobic exercise program • qigong • tai qi chuan

Nutrition:
therapeutic foods: • Eliminate all stimulants: coffee, chocolate, cola, black tea • increase foods that calm the Shen (Spirit), tonify the Heart, harmonize the Stomach and Spleen, clear Heat, invigorate the Liver Qi • Longan, oyster, rice, rosemary, wheat, wheat germ, mushroom • Oatmeal (Zeff)

fresh juices: • One tsp. cherry concentrate, one tsp. chlorophyll, and one egg yolk • Celery, carrot, and prune • Lettuce and tomato • Carrot • Oatstraw juice or tea • Lime juice and whey • Radish, prune juice, and rice polishings • Carrot and spinach (Walker, 146.) • Carrot and celery (Walker, 146.) • Spinach (Walker, 146.)

specific foods: • Foods high in B-complex vitamins, oysters, celery, sesame seeds, tahini, calming foods, oatstraw juice and oats, collards, kelp, cherry, cucumber, corn, grapes, chicory, apples, kale, honey, mulberry, carrot

specific remedies: • 2 oz. fresh walnuts, 2 oz. black sesame seeds, crush together and eat (Butt, Bloomfield, 149.) • For nervous tension: 3 oz. fresh oysters, 3 oz. peanuts, 2 oz. celery. Boil in 2 pt. water until reduced to half. Divide into 2 halves and eat and drink twice daily for 7-14 days (Butt, Bloomfield, 149.) • Eating a normal portion of boiled rice in one sitting (Butt, Bloomfield, 153.) • Take 500 g longan fruit and 500 g sugar. Simmer in water until it reaches a thick consistency. Take one Tbsp. morning and evening (Yin-fang, Cheng-jun, 27.)

avoid: • Eliminate all stimulants, especially those containing caffeine: coffee, chocolate, cola, black tea (Bruce M, et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992;49:867-869.) • Foods with malic acids: most apples (apples without malic acid: Astrachan, Belleflower, Jonathan, Delicious); coffee, tea, fried foods, sugar and sweet foods • Meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods, food additives, tobacco

Botanicals
• Anemone pulsatilla (toxic): insomnia, with Passiflora incarnata (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 174) • Betonica officinalis (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 42) • Brassica spp. (mustard): as foot bath: one handful of mustard powder to 2-3 gallons of water, no longer than 10 min. (Husemann, p. 389) • Bryonia alba (toxic) • Chamomilla: Chamamaelum nobilis, Matricaria chamomilla • Humulus lupulus (strobiles): nervous excitability, induces sleep (Felter, p. 407) • Hyssopus officinalis (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 116) • Passiflora incarnata: irritation, insomnia from worry, overwork (Felter, p. 515) • Piper methysticum (Felter, p. 546) • Primula veris: anxiety states associated with restlessness and irritability, with Scutellaria lateriflora (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 171) • Scutellaria lateriflora: nervous tension states; combines well with Humulus lupulus and/or Passiflora incarnata (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 194) • Selenicereus grandiflorus (toxic): anxiety associated with heart conditions (Felter, p. 253) • Tilia platyphyllos: sedative; combines with Humulus lupulus (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 214) • Turnera diffusa: anxiety neurosis with predominant sexual factor (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, p. 220) • Valeriana spp.: anxiety with fear; nervousness, depression (Felter, p. 685)

Chinese Formulae
• Bupleurum and Dragon Bone C. (Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang); Ardisia 16 (patent): Liver Qi Stagnation with Shen Disturbance (Bupleurum: Hsu, 1980, p. 340, Dharmananda, p. 154; Bensky and Barolet, p. 387; Ardisia: Dharmananda, 1990, p. 36) • Cinnamon and Dragon Bone F. (Gui Zhi Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang), Shen Jing Shuai Ruo Wan (patent): with more deficiency, weak constitution, night sweats (Cinnamon and Dragon Bone: Hsu, 1980, p. 351; Bensky and Barolet, p. 364; Shen Jing Shuai Ruo Wan: Zhu, p. 275; Fratkin, p. 231) • Bamboo and Hoelen C. (Wen Dan Tang): Gall Bladder Phlegm: timidity, dizziness, nausea (Hsu, 1980, p. 114; Yeung, p. 241; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 305; Bensky and Barolet, p. 435) • Ginseng and Zizyphus F. (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan); Emperor's Tea - Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan (patent): Kidney and Heart Not Communicating: irritability, palpitations with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia with very restless sleep, inability to concentrate for even short periods of time, forgetfulness, red tongue with little coat, thin rapid pulse (Ginseng and Zizyphus: Hsu, 1980, p. 270; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 244; Bensky and Barolet, p. 378; Emperor's Tea: Zhu, p. 321; Fratkin, p. 229) • Baked Licorice C. (Zhi Gan Cao Tang): Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency): Palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, constipation, pale shiny tongue (Hsu, 1980, p. 529; Yeung, p. 291; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 247; Bensky and Barolet, p. 257) • Miao Xiang San (Marvelously Fragrant Powder); Fu-shen 16 (patent): Heart Qi Xu (Deficiency): forgetfulness, palpitations, spontaneous sweating ( Miao Xiang: Bensky and Barolet, p. 381; Fu-shen: Dharmananda, 1990, p. 68) • Shi Wei Wen Dan Tang: Gall Bladder Xu (Deficiency) with Shen Disturbance: easily frightened, anorexia, fidgeting, loss of taste and appetite (Bensky and Barolet, p. 436) • Cinnamon and D.D.O.C.: anxiety as a result of a fever, burns, etc. (Hsu, 1980, p. 353) • Diagnostic Tablets (patent): Liver Qi Stagnation with Spleen Distressed by Dampness (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 46)

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Disturbance of Heart Yin; Qi and Xue (Blood) Xu (Deficiency); Heart Misted by Cold Phlegm; Imbalance between Yin and Yang; Shi (Excess) of the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel), Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel), and/or Du Mai (Governing Vessel); Xu (Deficiency) of the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Motility Vessel); Obstruction of Xu Li channel

» illustrative combinations: • TW-10, TW-3, PC-6, UB-62, UB-60, SI-17, St-45, CV-7 and Kd-6 (-) for nervousness (McWilliams, et al., Lesson 31, p. 160) • Xu Li ashi (tender) points on left chest, including St-18, upper Kd points, PC-1, together with CV-12, CV-17, PC-6, Ht-7, St-40, St-43; esp. with an overworked person who is flushed above the diaphragm and has a reddened face (Seem, p. 52) • Lv-3 and LI-4: open the Four Gates; regulate Qi and Xue (Blood) circulation; remove Obstruction of the channels; release bodily tension; relax clenching of jaws; free constraint; calm the mind; relieve mental cloudiness; provide sedative and analgesic effect to calm the nervous system; pacify Liver Yang (Finkelstein, p. 7; Flaws, 1989, p. 76) • UB-14, UB-20, PC-6 and St-36 for palpitations due to Heart Qi and Blood Xu (Deficiency); add Ht-7 and Sp-6 if insomnia is present; add CV-6 and CV-17 if with breathlessness (Qiu and Su, p. 28) • Ht-7, Kd-3, UB-15 and UB-23 for palpitations due to Yin Xu (Deficiency) causing Heat (Qiu and Su, p. 30) • UB-17, CV-17, PC-6, UB-14 and Sp-6 for palpitations due to Stagnant Heart Qi and Blood (Qiu and Su, p. 31) • UB-15, UB-23, GV-4, CV-4 and St-36 for palpitations due to Heart Yang Xu (Deficiency) (Qiu and Su, p. 32) • PC-6 and Sp-4: activate Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) which connects all the Yin channels and tonifies Xue (Blood); Master point and Couple point of the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) • UB-62 and SI-3: regulate the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel) and the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) for which Shen disorders are a symptom of Shi (Excess) • UB-62 and SI-3; Yu (Shu Associated) points: relieve "excess nervous tension" (Mann, p. 116) • UB-15 and Ht-7 (-): calm the Shen; nourish Heart Xue (Blood); regulate and tonify the Heart • GV-24 and Ht-7 (-): quiets the Soul and clears the Brain (Finkelstein, p. 82) • GV-24 and GB-13 (-): relieve "severe anxiety and fears" (Maciocia, p. 472) • PC-6, CV-17 and Ht-7 (-): soothe the Heart; calm the Shen; clear chest and regulate Qi • CV-14 and CV-15 (+): tonify Heart Xue (Blood); pacify the Shen; esp. with anxiety and restlessness • PC-6, Ht-7, GV-26 and SI-3 (also consider LI-4, Lv-3, Lu-11, PC-7, Kd-1, Kd-5 (listed as "Kd-4"), Sp-6, LI-11, GB-34, GB-30, yi lung, TW-21,TW-17, CV-22, UB-1, TW-23, GV-20 and Kd-6) for hysteria (Lee and Cheung, p. 322) • consider treatment for "Internal Dragons" or "External Dragons"; External Dragons: GV-20, UB-11, UB-23, UB-61; Internal Dragons: Master point 1/4" below CV-15, St-25, St-32, St-41; In both treatments, sedate first. If the person and the pulses change, fine. If no change with sedation, then tonify. (Worsley) • CV-22, CV-12, CV-4 and GV-9: Reunion points of the Yin and Yang, needled when there is conflict between Yin and Yang, according to Su Wen (Finkelstein, p. 78) • PC-6 and Sp-4: open the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) for which timidity, fear and nervous laughter are Xu (Deficiency) symptoms • UB-62 and SI-3: open the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Motility Vessel) which transports Yang and for which restlessness is a Shi (Excess) symptom • Kd-6 and Lu-7: open the Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Motility Vessel) which transports Yin and for which restlessness is a Xu (Deficiency) symptom

• search various syndromes, esp. those of Heart and Spleen, in materia medica

Homeopathy
• Aconitum napellus: in company; with fear; inconsolable anxiety; piteous wailing; peevish and impatient; > drinking cold water; with cold sweat • Argenticum nitricum: < anticipating an engagement; after eating; on walking; in open air; tormented with anxiety; about some serious disease; frequent attacks of anxiety with weakness in legs; < 11 a.m. • Arsenicum album: < in bed; after midnight; alone; of conscience; with fear; for others; before stool; about trifles; on waking; hypochondriacal anxiety; anxiety with constriction of chest, < dyspnea; anxiety with nausea • Aurum metallicum: of conscience; with fear; from noise; suicidal; anxious longing to die; anxiety and dread; excessive anguish with palpitations of heart; weariness in all limbs and sleepiness • Bryonia: < in bed, before midnight; about future; anxiety in the whole body so must do something constantly; > open air; anxious feeling in sternum or cardiac region; pressing or painful sensation • Calcarea carbonica: < evening, in bed; in children; after hearing of cruelties; with fear; about future; about health; on going to sleep; after stool; anxiety with nausea; restlessness, palpitation • Camphor: almost loses consciousness; restless tossing in bed; precordial anxiety with weeping • Carbo vegetabilis: < evening, in bed; on closing eyes, while eating, after eating; trembling anxiety in morning; on waking • Chamomilla: everything is unsatisfactory; great uneasiness; ineffectual urge to urinate, without much urine in the bladder • Digitalis: < evening; of conscience; with fear; about future • Folliculinum: history of birth control pills and/or estrogen replacement therapy, esp. bad reaction, i.e., estrogen poisoning; tendency to put others' needs before her own, and then become resentful later; woman has lost touch with her own inner rhythms and her reference has become external rather than internal; often best used in a single dose, or repeated every two weeks, possibly at new and full moons • Kali carbonicum: in children; with fear; during sleep; on waking • Lycopodium: < on waking, evening, in bed, before midnight; with fear; about health; in the house; on going to sleep, during sleep; in open air; anxious thoughts as if about to die and prepares farewell messages • Nux vomica: < morning, on waking, evening, in bed, after midnight; of conscience; after eating; about future; about little things; inclined to commit suicide, but afraid to die • Pancreas 6x: < after sweets or after not eating for a while; butterflies in the stomach, palpitations, feeling of pressure in the chest; very excitable (Burke) • Phosphorus: < morning, on waking, twilight; alone; after dinner, after eating; with fear; about future; about health; hypochondriacal; during sleep; during a thunderstorm; with palpitations • Psorinum: of conscience; with fear; while riding downhill; with oppression of chest; about the heart and dyspnea • Pulsatilla: < in bed, in the dark; with fear; about future; in the house; on going to sleep; suicidal anxiety; sensation in the pit of the stomach; anguish as if death were near; < rest, sitting or lying, > motion • Rhus toxicodendron: < evening, twilight, after midnight, in bed; of conscience; with fear; about future; in the house; suicidal; great apprehension at night; cannot remain in bed; restlessness • Sulphur: < morning, evening, before midnight; of conscience; for others; on waking; wringing her hands; anxiety with heat of head and cold feet; with palpitations; > cold drinks

Subtle Support
• Mi (Gardner, p. 72, 78) • Fa# (Gardner, p. 82, 87)

mental/emotional: • rhythmic folk songs • County Derry • songs of Steven Foster • Spanish tangos • Brahms' Hungarian dances • Sousa's marches • Strauss' waltzes • Gilbert and Sullivan • Indian Love Call • My Wild Irish Rose • Wishing • Estrellita (Heline, p.18)

Mind/Body
• Always include the recognition of the influence of repressed and/or damaged emotions; particularly, anger, guilt, and fear. Environmental pollution such as toxic air or water affect a person's nervous system and can cause a constant rise in anxiety and stress levels. Many inner sufferings are often rooted in chemical imbalances. (Shealy, p. 286) • Not trusting the flow and the process of life. (Hay, 1988, p. 14) • Associated with lack of maternal bonding postpartum. (Harrison, p. 21-2) • An important characteristic of altered states is that many of them cannot be dealt with sufficiently without entering them. Process example: "Consider a man who complains of anxiety attacks which he says make him 'flutter.' He says he is normally very sensitive and delicate, but not anxious. His 'normal state of mind,' (i.e., his primary process) is to be sensitive, cool, and unafraid, his secondary one is to flutter. We can remain in our primary process and talk to him, encouraging him to remain in his normal state, but the chances of our getting at the core of his anxiety and relieving it are not very great. To deal directly with his present problem we might encourage him to get into that altered state, into his secondary process by using the 'fluttering' as a characteristic of this state. When he begins to flutter, he visualizes a figure threatening him. Then he suddenly tells us that he is afraid his father will strangle him, then he automatically comes out of the altered state and seems his normal self. He says that while in that state he realized that he has preferred to repress his own voice rather than be forceful with others. The insight obtained from the experience, that being forceful is difficult for him, coupled with the fact that the fluttering stopped when he began to be more forceful, leads us to wonder why talking about the way he represses himself did not help him. It seems as if one solution to his anxiety problem lay hidden in the complete experience of an altered state and therefore occurred in switching states and processes, in accessing the fluttering and finding our more about its nature." (Mindell, 1988, p. 164)

• Heart ~ Xin houses the Shen (Spirit); governs Fire and Heat; rules the Xue (Blood) and its vessels and directs the circulation; opens into the tongue and controls speech; and relates to the integration of the organs and the personality. » Healthy expressions are warmth, vitality, excitement, inner peace, love, and joy. » Heart Shi (Excess) signs include false or facile laughter; sobbing; agitated spirit; insomnia (Seem, p. 28); frightful dreams; anxiety; tongue feels numb and heavy; heavy chest; hot sweat; and orange-colored urine. » Heart Xu (Deficiency) signs include sadness; absence of laughter; depression; fear; anxiety; shortness of breath (Seem, p. 28); cold feeling in the chest and limbs; palpitations; cold sweat; inability to speak; memory failure; nocturnal emissions; and restless sleep. » The Heart is the Emperor of the bodily realm so that when the Heart is disturbed all the other organs will be disrupted.
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**

• San Jiao ~ Triple Warmer regulates the relations among the three regions roughly delimited by the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and relates to the function of heat regulation. » Mental signs of Triple Warmer channel disorders include emotional upsets caused by breaking of friendships or family relations; depression; suspicion; anxiety; and poor elimination of harmful thoughts. (Seem, p. 28)

• Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); reflects emotional harmony and movement; and expresses itself in the nervous system. » Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement. » Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry skin and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. » Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216)

• Lung ~ Fei governs the Qi; regulates the rhythm of respiration, the pulse, and all bodily processes; is the home of the Po (Corporeal Soul); it relates to strength and sustainability; opens at the nose; extends through the skin, controls the pores, and manifests through the body hair. » Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage. » Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with excessive grief, sadness, worry, and depression. Worry depletes the Lung Qi.

• Large Intestine ~ Da Chang absorbs water; governs transformation and conveyance of waste from food to form stool; relates to strength and sustainability as the Yang aspect of Metal. » Weakness, dysfunction, and illness are associated with sadness, grief, and worry. Worry depletes the Lung Qi which fails to descend and assist the Large Intestine in its functions. » Healthy expressions are righteousness and courage. » Large Intestine Xu (Deficiency) signs include skin eruptions; itching; cold; difficulty warming up (Seem, p. 29); shivering; rumbling in the bowels; diarrhea.

Integrative Therapies
Worry or anxiety is the normal experience of tension and fear in response to a threatening situation. When the threat is gone, the anxiety usually disappears as well. The more intensive form of anxiety, called panic disorder, anxiety disease, or anxiety neurosis, is an emotional disorder characterized by feelings of uneasiness and fear without any definite cause. Anxiety disease is thought to be the result of a combination of dysfunctions in the nervous and biochemical systems, stress, and psychological problems.

Common symptoms of anxiety are rapid heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, excessive sweating, dry mouth, stomach cramps, insomnia, and headaches. Other symptoms are hot flashes, tightness in the chest, sweaty palms, loss of appetite, sexual problems, tingling, numbness, and dizziness. A combination of symptoms usually comes on as an attack that may last from a few minutes to several hours.

The majority of cases of anxiety neurosis begins to manifest between age 17 and 24. Symptoms can be brought on by a bad drug reaction, drug or alcohol abuse, overuse of caffeine, stress, or strenuous exercise. However, there is often no observable cause for an attack. This condition may lead to further illness such as high blood pressure, alcoholism, depression, and heart disease.

If symptoms of anxiety last more than 3 or 4 days, threaten your day-to-day functioning, bring on thoughts of suicide, or are accompanied by symptoms of infection such as fever and vomiting, consult your physician.

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR ANXIETY: 1. B vitamin complex – 50 milligrams, 2 times a day. 2. Calcium – 1,000 milligrams per day, taken at bed time. 3. Magnesium – 500 milligrams per day. 4. A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement – used according to manufacturer's instructions. It is important to choose a brand that is free of sugar and artificial ingredients.

THE PROPER DIET FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: 1. As much as possible, avoid sugar foods such as candy, cake, and cookies and refined carbohydrates such as white flour products. Imbalance of blood sugar levels can often cause or aggravate anxiety attacks. 2. Decrease or eliminate consumption of caffeine, found mostly in coffee, black tea, chocolate, and some over-the-counter medications. Caffeine can bring on anxiety, nervousness, and irritability. 3. Mantain an overall healthy diet – Use fresh foods as close to the natural state as possible, avoiding prepackaged and processed foods. Eat daily servings of leafy green vegetables, whole grains (such as brown rice and millet), fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. Drink at least 8 cups of fluids daily.For more information refer to the article on healthy diet.

HERBS USED FOR ANXIETY: 1. Chamomile tea – 1 cup during the day and 1 cup right before bedtime can help with relaxation and ease nervousness. Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of the dried flowers. 2. Valerian Root and Skullcap tinctures, which are liquid herbal extracts – 10 to 20 drops in warm water 1 to 3 times a day as needed to induce calmness. 3. Oatstraw tea strengthens and nourishes the nervous system. One cup of the tea is taken 2 to 3 times per day. Simmer 1 teaspoon of the herb per cup of water for 10 minutes. 4. St. John's Wort, Kava and Ginkgo tea. Equal parts. Simmer 1 teaspoon of the herbs per cup of water for 10 minutes.

PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. A warm sitz bath once or twice per week. Fill the bathtub about 1/3 full so that the water comes up to your navel. Add an infusion made of 1 pound of Oatstraw herb that has been boiled in 2 quarts of water for about 1/2 hour. Adjust the temperature to about 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Soak in the bath water for about 10 to 15 minutes. As an alternative, you can add oils of Lavender or Rosemary to the water. These have a mild sedative effect. 2. To reduce the effects of stress, use stress management and relaxation techniques such as visualization and meditation. For more information, refer to the article on stress reduction. 3. It is important to exercise regularly. Brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, tennis, and racquetball are all excellent forms of exercise. It is best to start out slowly and increase the amount of physical exercise gradually. It may be helpful to consult an exercise specialist.

HOMEOPATHY: From the following homeopathic remedies the one that best matches the symptoms is choosen. The remedies are taken under the tongue, 3 pellets 3 times a day for 1 week or longer as needed. • Arsenicum Album 12C: This is the most common homeopathic remedy used for anxiety. Especially suitable for anxiety that is made worse by being alone, anxiety at night, and when the person is very restless. • Aconite 12C: For anxiety with intense fear of dying. Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with anxiety. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.