Mental Health
Anorexia Nervosa
A serious eating disorder in which the person (most often a young woman) refuses to maintain healthy body weight due to an intense fear of weight gain and a distorted body image. About a third of those with this problem die prematurely from starvation, infection, heart disorders, or suicide. Early nutritional restoration and emotional support are critical.
Also known as: Anorexia, Self-starvation disorder, Restrictive eating disorder
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Psychological and behavioral: low self-esteem, perfectionism, need for control, depression; Sociocultural pressure equating thinness with beauty and success; Nutritional deficiencies (which intensify the distorted thinking and depression).
First thing to try: Anorexia nervosa requires gentle, sustained effort to restore both nutrition and self-worth.
See a doctor if: Anorexia is a serious medical condition — care from a doctor and a counselor together is essential, not optional
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Psychological and behavioral: low self-esteem, perfectionism, need for control, depression
- Sociocultural pressure equating thinness with beauty and success
- Nutritional deficiencies (which intensify the distorted thinking and depression)
- Possible food allergies causing discomfort after eating, leading to food aversion
- Drug or alcohol abuse in some cases
Change what you can
- Anorexia nervosa requires gentle, sustained effort to restore both nutrition and self-worth.
- Stimulate appetite with betaine hydrochloride and pancreatic enzymes (papain and bromelain).
- Before meals, give appetite-stimulating herbs: buckbean, gotu kola, ginger, peppermint, or marsh trefoil.
- St.
- John's wort aids in preventing depression.
- If extremely nourishing food is eaten, a person can maintain good health on less food -- so less food does not mean more weight.
- Full vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More →-mineralA natural building block your body needs in small amounts, like calcium or magnesium. More → supplementation with ginseng provides vibrant energy without significant weight gain.
- Test for food allergies; known allergens can be a key driver of food aversion.
- Mild daily exercise builds confidence and physical strength.
- Social connection -- especially encouraging connection with others who have positive outlooks -- accelerates healing.
- Service projects and involvement in helping others are powerfully restorative.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- Anorexia is a serious medical condition — care from a doctor and a counselor together is essential, not optional
- Fainting, chest pain, a very slow heartbeat, or confusion: emergency care now
- If thoughts of self-harm come, call or text 988 right away — you will be met with kindness
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your anorexia nervosa — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
Anorexia nervosa is an obsessive eating disorder characterized by persistent intense fear of gaining weight, continuous dieting to the point of self-starvation, and refusal to eat except in very small portions. Almost all anorexics are women, typically between the ages of 12 and 18. They often have low self-esteem, depression, and a fixed belief that their body is unacceptably large, even when dangerously underweight. About a third of those with this problem die prematurely from starvation, infection, heart disorders, or suicide. About 30% have the condition all their lives. Malnutrition intensifies the feelings and distorted thinking, creating a dangerous cycle. In some cases, food allergies causing distress after eating contribute to food aversion, and identifying them can be part of healing.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental-health condition in which an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of one's body lead to dangerously restricted eating. It is far more than a matter of food or willpower — it deeply affects both mind and body, and prolonged starvation can harm the heart, bones, hormones, teeth, and other organs, making it one of the most medically serious psychiatric conditions.
Recovery is very possible, but it genuinely requires professional help — medical, nutritional, and psychological care together — rather than self-management, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not failure. Compassion, patience, and support from trusted people matter enormously alongside that care. If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to a doctor or an eating-disorder helpline such as the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. Signs of a medical crisis — fainting, chest pain, a very low or irregular heart rate, or severe weakness — need urgent care, and a caring, non-judgmental approach helps more than pressure or blame.
Common signs
- Persistent, intense fear of gaining weight
- Self-starvation and refusal to eat except in tiny portions
- Abnormal, dangerous weight loss
- Cessation or irregularity of menstruation
- Low energy, weakness, sensitivity to cold
- Depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal
- Distorted body image -- certain of being overweight despite being dangerously thin
⭐ Community-ranked natural supports
Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.
Oatmeal is one of the most gentle and nourishing foods for refeeding — it provides complex carbohydrates, magnesium, and B vitamins that support nervous system stabilization.950
Bananas provide potassium, serotonin precursors, and mood-supporting B6, all important for addressing the cardiac and neurological effects of prolonged malnutrition.940
Adding extra virgin olive oil to foods boosts caloric density without requiring large food volumes, supporting the gradual calorie increases needed in nutritional rehabilitation.900
Warm vegetable broth provides easily tolerated electrolytes, minerals, and gentle nutrition during the early stages of nutritional rehabilitation when solid food is overwhelming.890
Spinach provides iron, folate, magnesium, and antioxidants needed to reverse the deficiencies caused by restricted eating, supporting both physical and cognitive recovery.880
A small amount of honey in warm water or herbal tea provides easily absorbed simple sugars for energy-depleted cells without requiring complex digestion.880
Avocado provides nutrient-dense healthy fats and calories in a relatively small volume, making it an important food for rebuilding fat stores and hormonal function.870
Chamomile tea eases the digestive discomfort and anxiety that often accompany refeeding, providing a warm, gentle ritual that supports a healthier relationship with eating.850
Restoring the severely disrupted gut microbiome with probiotic-rich foods improves nutrient absorption, gut motility, and the gut-brain signaling that influences appetite and mood.830
Ginger addresses the nausea and digestive sluggishness that often accompany early refeeding, making meals more tolerable and reducing the fear of eating.820
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
The most nourishing possible diet in the smallest acceptable quantities -- complete proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, vitamins, and minerals. No sugar, processed food, or white-flour products. Identify and eliminate food allergens. Avoid drug and alcohol use. As intake is restored, gradually increase amount and variety.
⚖️ Good to know
- Anorexia nervosa carries a high mortality rate -- it is a medical and psychiatric emergency in severe cases.
- Hospital nutritional rehabilitation may be necessary in life-threatening cases.
- Caring psychological support from family and community is essential; the underlying self-perception must be addressed alongside nutrition.
- Beware of counseling approaches that do not align with the patient's values -- focus on practical, relationship-centered support.
💙 If it ever feels like too much
Heavy feelings are not a failure of faith — and you don't have to carry them alone. If you or someone you love is thinking about self-harm or suicide, please reach out right now:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): call or text 988 — free, confidential, 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.
- Outside the US: findahelpline.com ↗ lists free helplines by country.
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 (or your local emergency number).
Natural supports can walk alongside professional care — never in place of it when life is at risk.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening psychiatric and medical condition requiring specialized multi-disciplinary treatment; natural remedies play a supportive role in nutritional recovery, not a primary one.
Commonly offered
- Medical nutritional rehabilitation — structured refeeding with calorie targets–
- Inpatient hospitalization for medical instability or severe malnutrition–
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and family-based treatment (Maudsley approach)–
- Olanzapine for weight restoration in resistant cases–
- Monitoring and correction of electrolyte imbalances (refeeding syndrome prevention)–
- Bone density monitoring and treatment for osteoporosis–
- Multidisciplinary team: physician, dietitian, psychologist, psychiatrist–
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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