My teenage son has been dealing with a lot of anxiety.

Mental Health/Mood & Stress

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Q. Dear Terry, “My teenage son has been dealing with a lot of anxiety. He’s finding it more and more difficult to interact with other people, he seems more irritable, and says he feels more nervous overall. His doctor diagnosed him with anxiety and said if it got worse we could consider medications. Before we go that route, are there natural options he can try?”– Krista D., Phoenix, AZ

A. Dear Krista, According to the National Institute of Mental Health, teens have higher levels of anxiety than adults. Almost one in three adolescents may deal with anxiety at some point in their teenage years.

Whether he suffers from occasional or frequent anxiety, I recommend adding narrow-leaved coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) to his daily regimen. Researchers have discovered that compounds in this unique type of coneflower can help reduce anxiety as effectively as certain prescription medications, without the side effects. These compounds have been shown to affect certain brain receptors, which helps to instill a sense of calm and relaxation.

Clinical research shows fast-acting results. In one study, the special extract of E. angustifolia was tested with individuals experiencing increased anxiety and tension. After just one day, the participants noticed a reduction in stress and anxiety, with an even greater reduction in just seven days.

I recommend 20 to 40 mg once or twice per day of the coneflower extract. This ingredient is safe enough to be taken daily to help prevent anxiety as well.  Make sure you look for a clinically studied, narrow-leaved coneflower root extract standardized for echinacoside and an alkamide profile in the right ratio to reduce anxiety.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally