How Blood Sugar Affects Anxiety
Have you ever felt anxious for no reason? Your blood sugar might be to blame. Unstable blood sugar levels can cause feelings of anxiety and irritability, along with a host of other symptoms. In this article, we'll explore how blood sugar affects anxiety and what you can do to stabilize your levels.
The connection between blood sugar and anxiety
When blood sugar drops, anxiety can increase as the body responds to this change. This anxiety can lead to symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, tremor, and feeling of fatigue or tension. This connection may also explain why some people are hypersensitive to changes in their blood sugar levels if they have pre-existing mental health disorders related to anxiety such as depression or panic disorder. It’s worth noting that anxiety does not only come from low levels of glucose but also from high levels which can cause symptoms such as irritability and restlessness. Therefore, better management of one’s blood glucose level could be beneficial for both physical health and mental well-being by improving overall mood stability and reducing anxiety.
Chinese herbs that help stabilize blood sugar levels
While medical treatments exist to help stabilize blood sugar levels, many are turning to ingredients found in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the condition. In particular, Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to help maintain healthy glucose levels and instill balance in patients. Gynostemma pentaphyllum, commonly known as Jiao Gu Lan, is one such herb that works by promoting insulin production and reducing blood sugar spikes after meals. Another beneficial herb is Cinnamomum cassia, also known as Cassia chips, which helps to reduce glucose uptake in the intestine with its active compound cinnamaldehyde. Other herbs used for managing diabetes include fleawort root, Rehmannia glutinosa root powder, bitter melon extract, tienchi ginseng extract, and licorice root powder.
Although these herbs may be effective, it's strongly recommended that patients should not rely solely on traditional Chinese medicine and consult their regular doctor first. Additionally, caution should be taken when using any of these herbs because they can potentially interact with other medications and cause harmful side effects if not taken properly or managed within prescribed doses. As a result, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider before incorporating any of them into your treatment plan.