The Root Cause of Anxiety: A Naturopathic Guide to Healing the Mind and Body Naturally

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges today—but what if it’s not just in your head? What if anxiety is actually your body waving a red flag, trying to get your attention?

Over 40 million adults in the U.S. live with anxiety. While therapy and medication can be helpful for some, they often overlook one crucial aspect: the physical and emotional roots of anxiety. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I view anxiety as a whole-body signal that requires a whole-person solution.

Understanding Anxiety Beyond the Mind

Anxiety can show up in many forms: racing thoughts, insomnia, irritability, digestive issues, or even chronic pain. Traditional treatments often focus on symptom management through medication or cognitive therapy, but they may fail to uncover why your body is reacting this way in the first place.

Anxiety isn’t just mental—it’s often a physiological reaction to an internal imbalance. In my clinical experience, addressing these imbalances is where true healing begins.

5 Common Root Causes of Anxiety in the Body

1. Gut Imbalances

Your gut and brain are in constant communication. Disruptions in gut flora (dysbiosis), leaky gut, or inflammation can interfere with serotonin production—a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.

2. Hormonal Imbalances

Cortisol spikes, thyroid issues, and estrogen dominance can all significantly affect mood and emotional resilience. Many women experience anxiety tied to their menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or postpartum changes.

3. Nutrient Deficiencies

Deficiencies in magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc can contribute to increased anxiety. These nutrients are essential for nervous system regulation and emotional balance.

4. Blood Sugar Dysregulation

Blood sugar crashes can mimic anxiety attacks, causing symptoms such as shakiness, irritability, and panic. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is key to emotional stability.

5. Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation—often driven by poor diet, toxins, or hidden infections—can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect mood by increasing neuroinflammation.

A Naturopathic Approach: Mind, Body, and Emotions

Naturopathic medicine looks beyond symptoms to assess the whole person—physical, emotional, and energetic. While identifying biochemical imbalances is vital, we also address stored emotions and past trauma that may be held in the body.

Unresolved trauma can live in the nervous system, continually triggering stress responses. Recognizing and releasing these emotional imprints is key to creating long-term calm.

Natural Pathways to Healing Anxiety

Once we understand the root cause(s), we create a customized plan that may include:

• Herbal support (such as ashwagandha, holy basil, or rhodiola)

• Nutritional therapy to restore deficiencies

• Lifestyle upgrades to improve sleep, movement, and boundaries

• Energetic therapies to support emotional release and nervous system regulation, such as:

  • Craniosacral Therapy

  • Acupuncture

  • Bowen Therapy

These modalities help release stored trauma from the body in gentle but profound ways.

When to Seek Help

If you’ve tried every supplement, downloaded every meditation app, and changed your diet a dozen times but still feel stuck—it’s not your fault.

You may be tired of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. That’s where working with a Naturopathic Doctor can make all the difference. Instead of guessing, we get to the root of your unique pattern and simplify your healing journey with targeted support and compassionate care.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Anxiety is a message—it’s your body asking for support, not silence. When we truly listen, real healing becomes possible.

If you’re ready to uncover the root cause of your anxiety, I invite you to book a comprehensive Naturopathic Assessment. Together, we’ll decode your symptoms, identify your healing priorities, and build a clear path toward calmness.

Let’s find the answers your body has been trying to give you. Book your appointment today.

At IVY Integrative, you can work with me or build your own team of holistic practitioners! Reach your optimum health in-person or online. Check out our Get Started page to learn how to work with us!

Author: Dr. Marissa Boyd, ND 

References:

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6. Madigan CD, O’Leary F, Divakar U, et al. The role of the gut microbiota in dietary interventions for mental health: mechanisms and evidence. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2022;25(6):515-523. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2022.08.013. 

7. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Anxiety Disorders. Updated 2024. Accessed October 7, 2025. 

8. Yeung WF, Chung KF, Zhang SP, et al. Electroacupuncture for residual insomnia associated with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Med. 2021;10(19):4475. doi:10.3390/jcm10194475. 

9. Li Y, Chen H, Liu X, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):43. doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00327-5.

Disclaimer:

This information is generalized and intended for educational purposes only. Due to potential individual contraindications, please see your primary care provider before implementing any strategies in these posts.