Home Remedies and Herbs for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that affects individuals who have undergone extremely stressful life events, such as warfare, sexual assault, or major vehicle accidents.¹ PTSD is often associated with surviving war veterans, but it can affect people in all walks of life. 

While it’s normal to experience stress during major life events, PTSD lasts longer than normal and is diagnosed based on intensity of feelings, how long they last, reactions to these feelings, and other associated symptoms. Individuals with PTSD often experience intense fear and helplessness due to the memories of their trauma. PTSD usually forms within the first three months after an incident, but they can occur long after as well.¹

What Causes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

PTSD is triggered by terrifying events and may occur in individuals who witnessed or experienced the event.2 It’s not clear why some people get PTSD and others don’t. Some factors at play may include:

• Your inherited mental health risk
• Previous life experiences, including early childhood trauma
• Your personality and temperament
• Your body’s ability to regulate hormones in the brain

Examples of trauma that can trigger PTSD include:

• Combat
• Terrorist attacks
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Serious accidents
• Natural disasters

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms can include:

• Recurrent memories of the event
• Flashbacks, or reliving the memory
• Nightmares
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions
• Avoiding places and people that remind you of the event
• Depression
• Memory problems
• Irritability
• Overwhelming guilt or shame
• Trouble concentrating
• Insomnia
• Self-destructive behavior

These symptoms can vary over time. Certain reminders can make symptoms worse. For example, if you were in a serious car crash and hear about another crash on the news, you may be overcome with memories of your own accident.⁵

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment often includes counseling and antidepressant medications.⁴ However, some findings show that antidepressant drugs may not be any more effective for PTSD patients than the placebo.⁶ For some patients, taking posttraumatic stress disorder herbal remedies can help regulate their hormones and anxiety. Consider these posttraumatic stress disorder herbs:

• Holy Basil - Holy basil provides adrenal gland support, which can become overactive in individuals with anxiety. Holy basil helps ease nerves and keep you calm when you have PTSD.
• Green Tea - Green tea is said to have relaxing properties. Drinking it daily can help relieve your stress and provide other healthy benefits, such as an immune system boost.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Omega-3 fatty acids act as a posttraumatic stress disorder natural remedy by helping to regulate mood. You can take these in supplement form or get them through your diet, such as by eating fish.
• Ayahuasca - Ayahuasca is a beverage brewed by indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Among its benefits, it helps treat depression and anxiety to assist in combating PTSD symptoms.

While these posttraumatic stress disorder home remedies can help with your anxiety, talk to your doctor about your PTSD symptoms in case you need further counseling.

References

1. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/posttraumatic-stress-disorder
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/definition/con-20022540
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/causes/con-20022540
4. http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw184188
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20022540
6. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/03/drugs-found-ineffective-for-veterans-stress.aspx