Revolutionizing Anxiety Management
Considering more than 40 million adults in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder, new research that has identified a brain pathway that instantly calms the body is welcome news — especially since scientists believe it could one day lead to what is called a “yoga” pill that has fewer side-effects than current anti-anxiety medications. Here’s a closer look at the study, plus we’ll explore alternative natural methods for managing anxiety without resorting to pharmaceuticals.
A Calming Brain Pathway
Most of us have experienced anxiety at one point or another — racing heart, shallow breathing, and spinning thoughts — when faced with a perceived threat, whether psychological or physical. It’s easy to fall into a loop of anxious thinking and stress that is difficult to reign in, so mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation have become a mainstay in many countries to calm the body and mind. But what if this same effect could be experienced without spending hours in meditation or yoga classes? This is what neuroscientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego were determined to find out.
The new study, published December 2024 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, identified a brain pathway that can instantaneously calm the anxiety response by regulating voluntary breathing. This is the conscious breathing you can control, not the automatic breathing you don’t think about.1 The pathway the researchers discovered essentially mimics the relaxed state that arises during yoga, breath work, and meditation — and the team believes it opens up the possibility of developing a “yoga pill” that would influence this brain circuit.3
“As a scientist, finding something never known before is always exciting,” said Sung Han, senior author of the study. “This top-down breathing circuit has been a longstanding question in neuroscience. It’s exciting to find the neural mechanism to explain how the slowing down of breathing can control negative emotions, like anxiety and fear.”
We all know that taking a deep breath can make you feel calmer, but up until this study, researchers didn’t know why it worked or which parts of the brain were involved. They have now identified a cluster of cells in the cortex region of the brain that’s responsible “for more conscious, complex thought, that send messages to the brain stem, which in turn sends information to the lungs. That’s the aforementioned “circuit.”’2
This discovery opens up the possibility of creating a class of drugs that target specific areas of the brain to successfully treat anxiety disorders without undue side effects. However, the availability of such pharmaceuticals is quite far off after clinical trials are factored in — ten years or more. Thankfully, natural options are available today for safely and effectively managing anxiety.
All-Natural Alternatives
If you prefer to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and the subsequent side effects, several time-tested herbal remedies are known to effectively help manage stress and anxiety. These include Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum). Each is found in our potent Anxiety & Stress Blend. Here’s what makes each botanical shine:
ASHWAGANDHA
- Adaptogenic
- Helps calm inflammation
- Soothes anxiety and depression
- Helps balance hormones
- Helps quiet the stress response
- Supports cognitive function including attention, processing speed, and memory
LEMON BALM
- Helps brain function
- Soothes ADHD symptoms
- Helps balance blood sugar levels
- Helps protect against oxidative stress
- Enhances sleep quality
- Known to assist with Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s
- Anxiolytic (soothes anxiety) and helps calm the body and mind
- Antioxidant properties help protect nerves
- Encourages GABA production, a calming neurotransmitter that helps to soothe anxiety and stress.
LION’S MANE MUSHROOM
- Helps with inflammation
- Enhances cognitive function
- Shown to help reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s.
- Helps repair damaged nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain by encouraging Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).
- Studies have shown that lion’s mane has a unique ability to help stimulate the growth of brain cells.
- Helps with sleep, anxiety, and depression
- Enhances energy by helping with blood oxygen levels, muscle fatigue, and lactic acid accumulation.
REISHI MUSHROOM
- Helps suppress certain inflammatory compounds
- Assists in strengthening the body against the negative effects of stress, including: hormonal imbalances, high cortisol,
- fatigue, brain fog, and low energy.
- Promotes quality sleep, alleviates adrenal fatigue, and encourages healthy immune function.
SERIOUSLY HELPFUL IN THE EVENING
“You know when you are trying to sleep and thoughts keep going round in your head? This tincture really helps reduce those. I get a much more restful night’s sleep. So happy to have this tincture. Thank you.” -Robin U.
If you are seeking a natural way to calm anxiety and melt away stress, stop by my apothecary today and learn more about my powerfully effective Anxiety & Stress Blend!
Nicole Apelian
Nicole’s Apothecary Products in this Post
Anxiety & Stress Tincture
References
- Jhang, J., Park, S., Liu, S. et al. A top-down slow breathing circuit that alleviates negative affect in mice. Nat Neurosci 27, 2455–2465 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-024-01799-w
- “A ‘yoga pill’ to end anxiety? Neuroscientists discover a brain circuit that instantly deflates stress” The American Institute of Stress, December 2, 2024. https://www.stress.org/news/a-yoga-pill-to-end-anxiety-neuroscientists-discover-a-brain-circuit-that-instantly-deflates-stress/
- “Yoga in a Pill? Scientists Discover Brain Pathway That Controls Breathing” SciTechDaily, November 30, 2024. https://scitechdaily.com/yoga-in-a-pill-scientists-discover-brain-pathway-that-controls-breathing/
