Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I am a 23 yr old female and my question is as follows. I have suffered from panic attacks and anxiety disorder for about 6 yrs. I was wondering if there are any kinds of natural supplements you may recommend. I have used magnesium and B vitamins and I have found they help. I was also wondering if you would know anything more relating to panic attack such as if it is related to thyroid problems or if it could be iodine deficiency. Any suggestion or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.” —Jessika R., San Antonio, TX A. Dear Jessika, Anxiety problems are the symptom of a problem. It can stem from severe psychological stress in your life, or neurotransmitter imbalances, hormonal issues, thyroid hyperactivity, adrenal problems, or even your diet. Therefore, you may have to experiment to find what works best for your own situation, because everyone is unique. Regardless of cause, you are on track with using vitamin B6 and magnesium. I prefer the active form of vitamin B6, called pyridoxal 5 phosphate, or P-5-P, blended with magnesium glycinate. This form of magnesium is much more absorbable, and works to activate the P-5-P enzyme action. Anyone suffering from anxiety could benefit from this formula. Next, you may need to strengthen your adrenal glands and your body’s ability to fight off the negative physical consequences of stress. I recommend a blend of 4 adaptogenic herbs to increase adrenal function, increase energy and stamina, and reduce excessive physical response to stress. The herbs are rhodiola, ashwagandha, eleuthero, and schisandra. Take about 450 mg of this blend once or twice a day and you will see your response to stress improve. Last, but certainly not least, you will also need to deal with the brain issues associated with excessive anxiety. There are some excellent studies from the Hungarian Academy on a unique extract of echinacea that can greatly reduce anxiety. This is not the kind of echinacea you use during cold and flu season—this echinacea is grown in a special way and certain compounds are extracted to achieve these excellent anti-anxiety effects. Interestingly, this is a case where less is more. The most optimal outcomes are achieved using a dose of 20 mg. that may be repeated every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Taking more than this dose often cancels out the product’s effectiveness. You should notice an improvement using this product within a week or two. One life style intervention I should mention is getting physical activity every day. There is a reason they tell someone who is upset about something to “go take a walk.” Physical activity is calming and helps modulate some of the adrenal hormones that are released during stressful events. Good luck to you. Healthy regards! Terry . . . Naturally