Natural Alternatives to Xanax

When it comes to some seriously dangerous and addictive prescription medications, Xanax always appears to be at or near the top of the list. If you aren't familiar with it, Xanax is used to treat a variety of panic and anxiety disorders. It may also be used to help treat insomnia.

It is designed to produce a calming effect on the brain, which it does by enhancing the effects of GABA, a natural chemical found in the body.

However, there are many reasons why you might want to avoid Xanax, which we will discuss below. 

There are plenty of natural alternatives to Xanax that are generally considered to be much safer. These Xanax alternatives may also be able to produce a calming effect on the brain and may possibly reduce symptoms related to anxiety, panic, stress, and more.

Today, we will talk about a list of natural Xanax alternatives and how they function, as well as why you might want to stay away from Xanax in the first place.

Key Takeaways

• Xanax is a dangerous and addictive drug, and although it may be able to relieve symptoms of panic and anxiety, it also has many serious side effects.
• There are plenty of great natural alternatives to Xanax, including CBD oil, magnesium, ashwagandha, and others, which are considered much safer yet still effective at managing symptoms associated with anxiety, panic, stress, and even fatigue.
• If you’re looking for a fantastic natural product to promote calmness and help you be produtive, TUNE IN is always a great option to consider. It's loaded with many beneficial ingredients, including many of the same natural Xanax alternatives that we're here to discuss today.

Why Might You Avoid Xanax?

Xanax can be useful in terms of its primary purpose, which is the release of panic and anxiety disorders. However, this does not mean that Xanax is a safe drug, nor is it ideal when compared to other natural alternatives. 

Let's take a look at why you might want to avoid Xanax.

It Comes with Serious Side Effects

Xanax has some pretty serious side effects that many people experience, even with lower doses. Many people may experience dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, decreased appetite, increased saliva production, and a change or decrease in sex drive and sexual abilities.

Although it is rare, some serious allergic reactions can occur, including, but not limited to, rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, trouble breathing, and dizziness.

Although rare as well, yellowing of the skin and eyes, as well as seizures, hallucinations, mood changes, trouble speaking, trouble walking, memory problems, loss of coordination, and even thoughts of suicide may all occur when taking Xanax. 

That is a huge list of serious side effects, which most people would probably like to avoid.

It Can’t Be Mixed With Alcohol

Xanax is also something that should never be mixed with alcohol. In no way is it safe to do so. Mixing Xanax with alcohol may cause breathing problems, drowsiness, and dizziness. If you're somebody who likes to have the occasional beer, being on Xanax would prevent you from doing so.

It Can Be Addictive

The other issue with Xanax, perhaps the biggest one of all, is that it is extremely addictive. Addiction can happen very quickly, as the tolerance to this drug in the human body develops rapidly, which means that you keep having to take more and more to achieve the same effect.

Those with the most serious Xanax addictions may take up to 30 pills per day if not more. If a user stops taking Xanax, insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, tremors, and mood swings may all occur.

Of course, addiction can have very serious consequences for all aspects of life, whether schooling, your career, or personal life. Xanax addiction can very quickly destroy somebody's life, which is why this drug is best avoided in favor of much less dangerous natural alternatives.

What are Natural Alternatives to Xanax?

If you are looking for the best natural alternative to Xanax, here we have five that may help reduce symptoms associated with panic and anxiety in their own ways and may even help you get a good night's sleep. 

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is a naturally occurring non-dietary amino acid found mostly in green tea leaves. This amino acid is so special because it isn't incorporated into other proteins like other amino acids.

Instead, it displays nootropic effects on the mind by crossing the blood-brain barrier, ultimately affecting GABA receptors, as evidenced by this study.

Once again, GABA is thought to produce a calming effect and is believed to play a major role in controlling anxiety, fear, and stress.

Here is a study that suggests that taking a moderate dose of L-theanine on a daily basis may help improve cognitive function, mental stress, and quality of sleep.

There are many other studies out there that suggest that this amino acid may help improve cognitive function while simultaneously reducing symptoms associated with stress.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is an evergreen shrub that can be found in Africa and Asia. Ashwagandha extract is known as an adaptogen, which means that it may have beneficial effects on the human mind and body, mainly the reduction of symptoms associated with stress and anxiety.

This extract has been used in natural medicine for a very long time and is thought to have a wide variety of benefits.

Some of the main active ingredients in ashwagandha are known as withanolides, with withaferin-A being the most prominent one. Without getting too scientific about it, these are known as steroidal lactones that can modulate brain chemistry through various functions.

Specifically, it is thought to affect the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, which is related to the human mind's stress response. In fact, here is a study that suggests that taking ashwagandha on a regular basis may lead to a reduction in symptoms related to anxiety and depression by up to 50%.

Here we have another study that suggests that ashwagandha extract may be effective at increasing resilience towards stress.

To round things off, here we have a double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical study that evaluated the effectiveness of ashwagandha root extract in 58 participants with anxiety and stress. The results were very promising, especially when compared to the placebo. 

Ashwagandha happens to be one of the main ingredients in TUNE IN!

Magnesium

Another great all-natural alternative to Xanax is magnesium. This is a mineral that is found in many legumes and vegetables, one that is responsible for protein building, bone mineralization, immune system functionality, muscular contraction, and more.

The issue with our diets is that they tend to lack magnesium. The problem with this is that magnesium deficiencies are shown to produce muscle cramps, dehydration, mental disorders, chronic stress, and more.

Some pretty strong research shows that supplementing magnesium may help support immune function, reduce oxidative stress, and promote good health in general.

There are also other pieces of evidence that suggest that magnesium may be an effective treatment to quickly relieve symptoms associated with panic attacks and anxiety.

Although it has not been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is assumed to be a result of magnesium's interaction with the HPA axis, which regulates cortisol, a stress hormone, as well as GABA. 

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola Rosea is a naturally occurring herb native to cold mountainous areas of Europe and Asia. The roots of Rhodiola Rosea are thought to be adaptogenic, which means that they should be able to help your body adapt to increased stress levels.

For many years now, this adaptogenic root has been used in many countries around the world in an attempt to naturally relieve symptoms associated with depression, fatigue, and anxiety.

In fact, this study suggests that taking 400 milligrams of this extract per day for one month may reduce stress and anxiety levels, as well as fatigue and exhaustion.

Here's an interesting study that suggests that this extract has the potential to help improve memory function and learning. This is yet another study that suggests that Rhodiola Rosea can be an effective treatment to reduce symptoms of general anxiety disorder. 

CBD Oil

One of the other most popular natural alternatives to Xanax is CBD oil, or technically CBD in any form. 

For those who don't know, CBD or cannabidiol is considered to be a non-psychoactive component of hemp and cannabis, one that has many potential benefits without the risk of getting you high. CBD oil may very well be able to help you get in a better mood and relax your mind.

For instance, this study indicates that CBD may be able to increase levels of dopamine in the human mind, with dopamine being responsible for feelings of reward and pleasure.

Here we have a study that suggests that CBD may also be able to help increase serotonin levels, with serotonin being able to reduce symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. 

Furthermore, CBD may also be able to help reduce cortisol levels, a stress hormone responsible for producing feelings of stress and anxiety.

Natural Alternatives to Xanax: Final Thoughts

The bottom line here is that plenty of alternatives are much better to take than Xanax, both in terms of their benefits and side effects. Xanax just isn't natural; it's not overly safe, it's addictive, and it can be quite expensive.

Natural Alternatives to Xanax: FAQs

What Could I Take Instead of Xanax?

Ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, L-theanine, magnesium, and CBD oil can all be taken instead of Xanax.

What Tea Feels Like Xanax?

Green tea feels somewhat like Xanax because it is full of L-theanine.