Natural Health: Panic Attacks

Q. Are there any natural remedies which can help treat panic attacks? I would prefer to treat mine without medication.

A. There are some wonderful herbs which can be used specifically to treat panic attacks — two of my favourites being rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Rhodiola works by promoting the release of mood-modulating neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, while Ashwagandha can work to calm the mind when a particular situation or individual is the trigger for the panic attack, stress or anxiety.

Both of these herbs are adaptogenic, which means they work by rebalancing the body and mind. When it comes to taking herbal remedies for stress and anxiety, liquid preparations such as tinctures appear to work more directly, particularly if you hold the solution under the tongue before swallowing.

It is also a good idea to address these panic attacks on an emotional level, using a technique such as Emotional Freedom Therapy/Technique (EFT), a cross between psychology and acupuncture. EFT utilises tapping sequences at specific energy points on the body combined with a spoken affirmation which is personalised according to your situation.

I suggest that you visit www.emofree.com, the website created by the founder of EFT, Gary Craig. This site has a free EFT tutorial which contains a wealth of information.

Rhodiola tincture in regular and alcohol-free preparations costs €19.99 for 50ml and €15 for 30ml. Ashwagandha liquid drops are available at €13.95 for 30ml from Biovea (www.biovea.com/ie; freecall 1-800-948-849).

Q. My five-year-old son has impetigo, which is causing all of us great distress. He has scabs around his mouth, and on his buttocks and legs mainly. I am worried that he will spread the infection to other areas and cause permanent scarring and damage because it is already so extensive. Please help.

A. Impetigo is common in children, but can also affect adults — particularly if you have an existing open wound or skin damage — so take care to protect all family members. You will all need to strengthen and support your immune systems.

Sambucol has a specific ImmunoForte product to strengthen immune function which is suitable for ages four and over. The company also has a specific product for children.

The problem with these pus-filled sores is that the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria takes hold and can be difficult to shift. My top remedy is active manuka honey from the NZ native Leptospermum scoparium shrub. You can also use manuka oil on scabs to help them to heal.

For larger scabs and areas of impetigo where a bandage is practical, apply active manuka honey to the affected area and cover with a gauze bandage. Change this dressing at least once daily. For trickier spots, such as those around his mouth, you can use the manuka oil.

Manuka oil has a powerful action, but is gentle enough to use on sensitive skins, and will help to prevent scarring. Test it first on an inconspicuous area to be sure that it is a good match for your son.

The Active Manuka Honey preparation I recommend for any infection or wound healing is Comvita’s ManukaCare 18+ cream. It is available from health stores where 60g costs €17.65. If you can’t find manuka oil locally, it is available from www.livingnature.com, where 10ml costs around €15 plus p&p.