What is mild anxiety?
Mild anxiety can last for a few moments or over several years and can feel different for different people. Mild anxiety is a psychological issue deeply-rooted in fear or worry over something either known or unknown. It is often accompanied by a number of real physiological symptoms, including nervous tension, restlessness, irritability, sweaty palms, shallow breathing, dry mouth and sleeplessness. Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system mediates many of the symptoms of mild anxiety.
Contributing factors or possible causes of mild anxiety are many and varied, including thyroid and sugar metabolism disturbances, brain chemical (neurotransmitter) and hormonal imbalances, caffeine intake, triggering social situations, genetic predisposition, nutritional deficiencies and heavy metal toxicity.
Mild anxiety, stress and sleeplessness
Mild anxiety, stress and sleeplessness often go hand in hand. A good example of this could be the thought of public speaking. The thought of getting up in front of an audience can fill many people with dread, leading to symptoms of mild anxiety, stress and sleepless nights. When you experience mild anxiety, your body’s stress response kicks in, ready to help you deal with any perceived threat. If this happens for a long time the impact of this constant stress response can lead to problems with sleep. Over a period of time this can leave you feeling more anxious, stressed and tired.
Herbs that help to relieve the symptoms of mild anxiety
There are a few key herbs that can help to relieve feelings of mild anxiety, stress and sleeplessness:
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Ashwagandha: mild anxiety + stress
Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen to help the body adapt to stress and to support the nervous system. A special extract of Ashwagandha known as KSM-66® provides a unique, full spectrum extract of Ashwagandha standardised to >5% withanolides, the main active component. KSM-66® relieves symptoms of mild anxiety. See Mind Ease. -
St John’s wort: mild anxiety + nervous tension
St John’s wort is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to reduce restlessness and nervous tension and to relieve symptoms of mild anxiety. It is also used traditionally in Western herbal medicine to soothe the nerves and relieve irritability. See St John’s Wort 3600. -
Passionflower: mild anxiety + sleeplessness
Passionflower is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to calm the mind to relieve sleeplessness and reduce symptoms of mild anxiety. See Sleep Ease and Magnesium Night Plus.
