“All humans experience fear and anxiety…Anxiety can arise suddenly, as in panic, or gradually over many minutes, hours, or even days. Anxiety can last from a few seconds to years” [1]. In today’s fast-paced, and often illogical society, it is no wonder that anxiety has increased. Depression can precede or be preceded by anxiety [1].

While ‘[t]he causes of anxiety disorders are not fully known” there are “> 200 neurotransmitters and neuromodulators of the brain” that can affect “abnormal arousal and anxiety” [1]. For everyone faced with a “fight or flight situation” epinephrine (formally called adrenalin) is secreted by the adrenal glands [1]. The body’s homeostatic mechanisms normally will handle this by releasing norephinephrine which will help calm the person down and relieve feelings of anxiety. However it appears that this does not happen in some anxious people and some who are inclined towards panic attacks. Throughout human history, tonic herbs and other Foods have been found to be helpful for various forms of anxiety.

Acerola Cherry is one of the most vitamin C dense Foods. The adrenal glands contain large amounts of vitamin C.

Alfalfa is a source of trace minerals, and has historically been used for thyroid and nervous system support [2]. The name Al-fal-fa means the “father of all foods”.

Bovine parotid supplies parotid tissue. Some practitioners believe that parotid tissue in glandular supplements ‘tags’ the other tissues to be more useful in the body.

Bovine thymus supplies thymus tissue. Dendritic cells within the thymus play a role in immune response [3] as well as the nervous system. The thymus may have a slight calming affect on the body.

Collinsonia Root is also called stone root and has tonic effects [2]. Although it is most often used for stomach complaints, hemorrhoids, or constipation than for anxiety [3,4], its tonic effects within the bowels help maintain a state of calm throughout the body (and also helps the bowels function more naturally).

“Ginkgo Biloba exerts ischemic protective and antioxidant effects…The herb also reduces neutrophil infiltration and increases blood flow to prevent the progression of dementia ishemia. The antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing activity increases cerebral hypoxia tolerance’ [2]. “Cerebral insufficiency may cause anxiety and stress, memory, concentration and mood impairment, and hearing disorders, all of which may benefit from ginkgo therapy” [5].

Kelp is a source of trace minerals, including iodine [2] is needed for most thyroid hormones [6]. Brown kelp also contains alginic acid salts [2]. Brown kelp and alginic acid have been used to removes heavy metals from the body [7].

L-tyrosine is an amino acid used in the production of adrenal and thyroid hormones [6] and can “improve vigilance and lessen anxiety” [8]. The l-tyrosine in Anxie-Tone is from a fermented bean extract. Tyrosine is a basic building block nutrient in the production of norepinephrine [6].

Ovine/bovine hypothalamus supplies hypothalamic tissue. The hypothalamus is the body’s master endocrine gland, and thus has control over many bodily processes. The hypothalamus can cause tranquility [6].

Passion flower “is used in several parts of the world as a traditional medicine for the management of anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and morphine addiction” [9]. A double blind study concluded that is effective “for the management of generalized anxiety disorder” [10]. The type of passion flower does make a major difference as a recent study concluded, “P. incarnata exhibited significant anxiolytic activity at an oral dose of 125 mg/kg, whereas P. edulis was devoid of any significant activity” [11]. In Western societies, some recommend it for panic attacks [12].

Rice bran is a Food source of B vitamins [2], which are often used for stress and anxiety.

Vitamin B-1 , in Foods, does not exist as such unnatural forms as thiamin HCL or thiamin mononitrate [13,14]. B-1, is often used with Vitamin B-2 and B-3 for stress management.

Vitamin B-6 , in Foods, does not exist as such unnatural forms as pyridoxine HCL [13,14].

Vitamin B-9 is found in Foods, as folates, but folic acid (the synthetic form of vitamin B-9), is not naturally in any food [13,14].

Vitamin B-12 , in Foods, does not exist as such unnatural forms as cyanocobalamin [13,14].

100% Food Anxie-Tone contains vitamin C and many B vitamins, in the forms actually found in reals Foods, which are frequently advised to deal with stress. Numerous scientific papers have concluded that Food vitamins and minerals are better than USP isolated ‘nutrients’ because they contain important enzymes, peptides and phytonutrients which are critical to the utilization of vitamins and minerals and are lacking in isolated USP nutrients [e.g. 13,14]. Peer-reviewed research has concluded that Food vitamins are superior to non-food/USP nutrients [14].

How Much Better are Food Vitamins?

The difference is between Foodand isolated vitamins are more than quantitative. Vitamins in Foodare normally structurally and even chemically different from those in so-called ‘natural’ isolated vitamin formulas [13,14]. Scientists understand that isolated ascorbic acid does not contain the other form of vitamin C that is found in Food [14]. Scientists have observed “consumption of more than 266 mcg of synthetic folic acid (PGA) results in absorption of unreduced PGA, which may interfere with folate metabolism for a period of years”; thus the quantities of folic acid found in many so-called ‘natural’ supplements can possibly contribute to disorders of folate metabolism [14,15]. Why would anxious people (or anyone else) want that?

Food supplements, actually made of Food, are superior and more natural than those filled with isolates!