Mentally Well

by Joy Choquette | September 1, 2024

Strategies and natural products may help promote relief and resilience for stress, anxiety and mental wellness.

Does it seem like stress is on the rise? Are words like “worried,” “anxious” and “anxiety” much more prevalent in U.S. culture today than a decade ago?

If it seems that stress and anxiety are on the rise, it’s because they are. The most recent Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that while 81 percent of survey respondents stated that their mental health was good, 37 percent reported having a diagnosed mental health issue.1 The most cited mental health conditions by respondents were anxiety and depression. In contrast, the percentage of respondents who reported having a diagnosed mental health issue in 2019 was 32 percent. Much of the stress that people are experiencing, the survey stated, was related to post-pandemic trauma recovery, racial injustice, inflation, global conflict and environmental disasters.

How can natural practitioners help facilitate a reduction in stress and anxiety in their patients? What are some of the best ways to address anxiety and stress? Are there any ingredients or natural products that are better suited to potentially improving mental health?

The Detriment of Stress and Anxiety on the Brain and Body

With stress, there is often a cascade effect. According to an article titled, “Physiology: Stress Reduction,” by StatPearls Publishing, a stressful situation whether environmental or psychological in nature can cause a cascade of stress hormones in the body.2 This can produce physiological changes including the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in a fight or flight response.

It’s important when working with patients, however, to treat each one individually. Dr. James Greenblatt is the CEO of Psychiatry Redefined (Massachusetts), an educational platform providing an evidence-based curriculum in functional psychiatry and integrative medicine for mental health. Biochemical individuality, Dr. Greenblatt stated, is key in moving beyond symptom management when treating patients with anxiety, stress and other mental health disorders.

“The inability of traditional mental health treatments to look at patients as individuals reinforces why treatment remains so stagnant for many today,” said Dr. Greenblatt. “If we treat everyone with anxiety with a generic anxiety treatment, it’s like flipping a coin for those who get better. If we see the individual as a unique person with a unique life story, genetic vulnerability and biochemical uniquities, we can tailor the treatment to the individual, pinpointing what is most needed.” Misconceptions Around Mental Health, Anxiety & Stress

Dr. Greenblatt stated that the biggest misconception in this area is believing everyone is the same. In fact, personalized treatment is essential for root cause recovery. “How one person is impacted by a particular medicine or treatment protocol is completely different than how another person will respond,” he said. “Stress is a normal response for all of us, but how our bodies deal with stress or eliminate the physiological changes that come with stress is based on genetics and current nutritional health.”

Dr. Greenblatt offered this example. “If you are going to the airport and that stresses you out, how you handle that stress is different for everyone. If you have certain genes, your stress decreases in half an hour. For others, you stay stressed for hours,” he explained. “The point is that genetic differences affect how we experience and manage stress and work to eliminate psychological changes. People can appreciate the multi-layered approach that offers the most effective and successful.”

Mental Health in a Post-COVID-19 World

Cheryl Myers is the chief of scientific affairs and education for Wisconsin-based EuroPharma, Inc., the parent company of the EuroMedica brand of dietary supplements. Myers stated that the pandemic has permanently changed our world and that many things have changed forever. “Most people are more uncomfortable around anyone with a cough or cold than before. Many people are more anxious about their health and fear another pandemic. And the long-term effects of COVID infection—sometimes called long-haul syndrome—lends itself to much higher levels of anxiety,” she explained. “For example, ongoing loss of smell, confusion, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations, shortness of breath—the list is very long—are extremely stressful situations for both patients and their families. All this has brought more people into the world of integrative medicine, both men and women and even younger people.”

When asked which demographic was most likely to purchase natural health products to combat stress and anxiety, Myers responded that it’s those who are most affected and strained by mental health stressors, and the individuals most vigilant about their health and well-being.

Dayna Dye, education content writer, at Florida-based Life Extension stated that the pandemic increased awareness and acceptance of mental health issues across all demographics. “This increased openness has driven more people to explore and adopt products that support mental well-being. While aging adults are still a core demographic for Life Extension, there has been a noticeable shift in the wider market toward younger adults becoming significant consumers of these products,” Dye explained. “This shift reflects broader societal changes and an increased recognition of the importance of mental health across all age groups.”

Herbalist and researcher Heather Saba of Herb Pharm, a manufacturer in Oregon, said that she’s noticed an increase in interest from the young adult demographic when it comes to natural products for stress, anxiety and mental health. “The majority of social media content creators fall in this category and given the stress of pandemic times, more young adults have been speaking out about ways they have been taking care of their mental health and managing stress and mild, occasional anxiety,” said Saba. “It is refreshing to see the conversation around mental health opening up more and encouraging folks to turn to herbal allies and products that can help them navigate the stressors of life with ease.”

Product Manager, DeAnna Swinton, works at Boiron, a manufacturer located in Pennsylvania. She too has noticed a change in demographics when it comes to natural mental health products in a post-COVID world. “The demographic landscape for stress and mental health issues has evolved significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic heightened psychological distress across various populations, particularly adolescents, young adults, women and low-income households,” she explained. “Products targeting stress relief, such as those containing natural active and homeopathic ingredients, grew in popularity. The pandemic has amplified the trends we’ve seen growing over the past several years. Self-care as a first defense versus seeing a doctor has become more the norm for acute stress-related conditions.”

Because women are more likely than men to experience stress issues, Swinton noted, this group has a greater tendency to purchase prescription medications and over-the-counter products. Additionally, she stated that professionals and students are often drawn to stress reduction products due to their need to relax and focus. “High-income and well-educated individuals, who have greater access to health care and education, also tend to consume more of both conventional and holistic medicines,” she said.

Mental Health Must-haves

Pam Conboy, health care practitioner support & education for Omni-Biotic brands (in New York), stated that “Ensuring a balanced gut microbiome serves as a foundational ‘must have’ for all humans not only for balanced stress response and mood, but for comprehensive wellness.” One of the products that the company offers is Omni-Biotic Stress Release. “With clinical studies demonstrating not only improvements in mood and affect, but also shifts in (fMRI) brain activity from the more ruminative default mode network to the more executive functioning salience network, with no other interventions, provides powerful evidence of the microbial influence over mood and mind,” stated Conboy.

Dye stated that “Ashwagandha has recently become a popular supplement for people experiencing stress, anxiety, and/or insomnia, all of which impact mental health.3,4 Life Extension offers Sensoril ashwagandha extract combined with Neumentix K110-42 spearmint extract to support calmness and focus.”

At Herb Pharm, Saba recommends kava as a hands-down winner when it comes to reducing stress and mild, occasional anxiety. “There is a reason why our Kava liquid herbal extract remains a best-seller year after year,” she said. The company also now offers Kava capsules. “For daily, adaptogenic stress support, ashwagandha is also a staple,” noted Saba. “This remarkable herb provides traditional support for calm energy, helping us handle day-to-day stressors when taken daily, over time.”

Category Manager Kristin Chapman, also of Life Extension, stated that when it comes to restorative sleep—important for stress reduction and improved mental health—the company recommends Shoden ashwagandha. The product may support healthy sleep patterns by improving overall sleep quality, increasing sleep time and other benefits, Chapman said.

At Kaneka Probiotics, a manufacturer located in California, Chief Business Officer Jordi Riera, stated that the company recognizes the essential role of natural health products and ingredients in promoting overall wellness. The company’s strains, such as L. plantarum DR7, have performed well in clinical trials, he said. Beyond the digestive system, Riera stated the company has seen positive results on other body systems as well including women’s hormones during menopause, the cardiovascular system, immunity and more. “We believe that by balancing all these health areas, we can enhance overall quality of life and well-being, thereby positively impacting mental health and fostering a holistic approach to health,” he added.

Céline Torres-Moon, senior scientist for Illinois-based Protocol for Life Balance stated that the following are must-haves when it comes to promoting improved mental health. “Magnesium, amino acids—5-HTP, tryptophan, glycine, theanine, etc.—and botanicals like ashwagandha, kava kava, saffron, Panax ginseng, etc.” The company has also noticed an increased interest from consumers in ingredients and products that have science to back them. “There is a lot of interest in our industry in developing products with innovative clinically validated ingredients,” said Torres-Moon. “In the past couple of years we have launched products with Zembrin which is an extract of Sceletium tortuosum, an herb traditionally used in South Africa to support emotional and mental well-being.* Zembrin has been clinically validated to promote a feeling of calm while enhancing mental alertness. It can help maintain emotional stability while enhancing certain cognitive functions, such as memory and mental flexibility.”*

Trends in the Market

When it comes to trends in this market, Torres-Moon points to an ingredient that isn’t novel but is gaining popularity. “While it is not entirely new, ashwagandha and other adaptogens have been trendy and are high sellers. Mental health is still a driver in terms of product development and sales,” she said. “There is also a lot of interest in the gut-brain axis and how supporting a healthy gut flora may in turn help promote mental health.”

Saba stated that the trend of self-care has been growing for some time. More recently, however, Herb Pharm has noticed a trend toward people interested in nurturing and regulating their nervous system function. “It’s no secret that daily stress can affect our health and quality of life over time, and it’s encouraging to see more people looking for ways they can support their stress and mild, occasional anxiety with herbs,” said Saba. “Given this, we have noticed a growing and maintained interest in nervine and adaptogenic herb categories.”

At EuroMedica, Myers stated that she’s most excited about the company’s AnxioCalm product. “One interesting advancement is the use of plant-based cannabinoids that are not found in cannabis—hemp and/or marijuana,” she said. “We use an echinacea extract developed at the Academy of Science in Budapest, Hungary that is standardized to a set of alkamides that interact with specific cannabinoid receptors in the brain.” Myers explained that activation of those receptors elicits a sense of calm and relaxation without the altered judgment, sedation, increased appetite, or other unwanted side effects that hemp and/or marijuana products may cause. “It is one of our best-selling supplements and continues to grow,” she noted.

Conboy stated that there have been several studies published recently regarding the importance of the gut-brain axis. “As we address the gut-brain axis in terms of mental health and wellness, the influence of the gut microbiome on mood disorders is at the forefront,” she said. Several of the studies Conboy mentioned explore the relationship between one’s gut health and one’s mental health, including links between obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and anxiety disorders, among others, and how these may be influenced by the health of the microbiome.

Riera explained that in recent years there’s been a significant shift toward more natural and holistic approaches to brain, mental health and cognitive health functions. “Probiotics are gaining rapid recognition for their role in the gut-brain axis, which is the communication pathway between the gut and the brain. This axis is a bidirectional communication system that facilitates the exchange of signals between the gut microbiome and the brain,” he said. “The relationship between a nourished gut and the CNS impacts brain functions, emotional behaviors, gut homeostasis and digestion.”

This relationship and the increased awareness, Riera stated, has created a growing interest in the relationship between gut health and mental well-being. “Probiotics are now recognized as pivotal players in this field. Our research has shown that our offerings can promote a healthy GI (gastrointestinal) tract, support mood, increase enzymes known to affect the serotonin pathway and more,” he noted.

At Boiron, Swinton explained that current trends in the areas of mental health and stress reduction are favoring a holistic approach. “This approach emphasizes the use of natural active ingredients and personalized treatment plans. The shift underscores the value of combining traditional and innovative practices, including homeopathy, to enhance overall patient well-being and resilience,” she said. “This broader movement toward integrated health care focuses on achieving balance and long-term wellness. Additionally, there is a growing patient preference for sustainable and eco-friendly products that align with their own environmental and ethical values.”

As Americans continue to become more aware of mental health and its effect on physical and emotional health, the market for products which may help in these areas will likely continue to grow.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

1 Stress in America 2023, American Psychological Association: www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2023/collective-trauma-recovery.

2 “Physiology, Stress Reaction. [Updated 2024 May 7], StatPearls Publishing: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/.

3 Pratte MA et al. An alternative treatment for anxiety: a systematic review of human trial results reported for the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Dec;20(12):901-8.

4 Speers AB et al. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress- Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(9):1468-1495.

Healthy Take Aways

• According to the most recent Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), while 81 percent of survey respondents stated that their mental health was good, 37 percent reported having a diagnosed mental health issue.

• The demographic post-COVID has changed in the stress, anxiety and mental health product related category—more young people including busy professionals and students—are now reaching for products which may help in these areas.

• Trauma recovery, inflation, racial injustice, global conflicts and finances are all significant stressors to Americans now.

• Stress affects more than just the brain—a cascade effect of stress means that one’s physical and emotional health are also affected negatively.