Supplements for Anger: Reduce Irritability & Manage Your Stress
Best Supplements for Anger, Stress & Anxiety
What Exactly is Anger?
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Anger is a feeling of discontentedness with a given situation and is one of our human responses to a perceived threat. Think of the time you had tucked away a sweet treat somewhere in a cabinet, only to go back and find that your spouse had eaten it; your sweet tooth’s satisfaction has been threatened! Or, more seriously, think on a time when you saw someone being treated unjustly. Anger serves many purposes for us, sometimes motivating us into positive action, sometimes preventing us from being abused by others. But sometimes, anger can get out of hand and have detrimental effects on ourselves and those around us.
Relationships can be damaged if the emotion of anger is left uncontrolled, potentially leaving people you work with or care about themselves feeling angry, betrayed, or any number of negative feelings. Anger releases stress hormones in our bodies, and if this is done for an extended period of time, it can also have a negative effect on our health, impacting our abilities of discernment, our memory, as well as our immune systems. Studies have also shown that anger may contribute to heart disease, hypertension, ulcers, and stroke!
What Can be Done to Help with Anger?
There are several things we can do to help manage anger when we find it afflicting us. Effective means can include constructive communication, whereby you express your feelings of anger in an effort to rationalize your thoughts and work the problem out. You can also take a moment to step back from the situation, take a deep breath, and assess what you need to do to avoid an outburst. Yet another, but generally not recommended, option is to suppress your feelings; this can be used to convert anger into a different behavior, but it can also backfire in the form of passive-aggressive behavior or fiery outbursts.
Luckily, there exist several supplements which we can use to help with anger. The following supplements are known to help bring a sense of calmness and can help abate certain emotions such as anger.
Valerian for Anger
Coming from Europe and Asia, valerian is a plant whose roots are used medicinally. It is well-known for use in helping with sleep problems such as insomnia, but it is also used for psychological stress. Research has indicated that valerian can decrease blood pressure and heart rate and relieve the sensation of pressure that is brought on by stress. It has also been shown that valerian may reduce feelings of anxiety. It is well known that anger can raise your blood pressure and increase your heart rate; just think of the phrase, ‘you’re making my blood boil!’ Consider using valerian if you find yourself dealing with emotions of anger from time to time. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under three years of age should not use valerian without consulting a doctor. Also, be cautious with alcohol or sedative drug use when using valerian, another topic we recommend discussing with your doctor.
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Passionflower for Anger & Anxiety
Passionflower is a plant that was discovered by the Spanish when they were exploring Peru in the sixteenth century. Native to parts of Northern, Central, and South America, this plant has been used for many centuries for the treatment of various ailments. Today, extracts from the plant are used for things such as anxiety, pain, sleep disorders, heart problems, and burns, among others. The chemical extracts from passionflower have calming effects and can thus help to relieve the stressful feelings associated with anger. This supplement can be used by children but with caution as there is not significant research on the extended use of it in that population. Pregnant women should avoid it altogether as it may induce contractions.
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Chamomile for Anger
This plant has been used by us humans for thousands of years and continues to be used extensively today: Over one million cups of chamomile tea are consumed per day, for example. It is known for its calming and relaxing effects on the nervous system, and it has been shown to reduce anxiety. Chamomile can be used when you are feeling anger creeping in or when you need to take a step back from a stressful situation. Just steep some of the leaves in hot water and enjoy! The main risks arise if you are allergic to any other plants in the same family as chamomile and from the fact that chamomile has a chemical that can impact blood thinning if it is used in larger doses for longer periods of time.
Conclusion
Anger can serve us well, but it can also have negative effects on ourselves and those around us. If you find that your anger is difficult to get a handle on and is starting to negatively affect your life and your relationships, consider seeking professional help. In any case, whether you seek professional help or decide to manage anger with various techniques, you should also consider using natural supplements to help ease your emotions and bring you some rest and calmness.
