Supplements for Healing Trauma Stored in the Body

Introduction 🌿

Trauma is not just a memory of what happened in the past—it’s also stored in the body. When unresolved, trauma can linger as chronic stress, muscle tension, fatigue, and emotional overwhelm. For people with conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), PTSD, or complex trauma, these symptoms can feel overwhelming and persistent.

While therapy (such as EMDR, somatic experiencing, or DBT) is the cornerstone of trauma recovery, supplements can provide an additional layer of support. By calming the nervous system, balancing neurotransmitters, and reducing inflammation, supplements can help the body release stored trauma and become more receptive to healing practices like breathwork, yoga, and therapy.

This article explores the best supplements for healing trauma stored in the body, how they work, and how to integrate them into a holistic approach to recovery.

Looking for supplements for people with BPD? Click here.

Understanding Trauma Stored in the Body 🧠💔

The Science of Stored Trauma

When we experience trauma, the body reacts with fight, flight, or freeze responses. If the trauma isn’t fully processed, the nervous system can remain “stuck,” leaving the body in a constant state of hyperarousal or shutdown.

This manifests as:

Muscle tension 💪

Sleep disturbances 🌙

Chronic anxiety ⚡

Emotional flashbacks 🌪️

Digestive issues 🌿

Dissociation 🌫️

The Role of the Nervous System

Trauma is closely tied to the autonomic nervous system (ANS):

Sympathetic system (fight-or-flight): Stays overactive, leading to anxiety and panic.

Parasympathetic system (rest-and-digest): Becomes harder to access, making it difficult to calm down.

Supplements can support neurotransmitters, hormones, and physical systems that help restore balance to the ANS.

Core Supplements for Healing Trauma 💊🌱

Magnesium 🌌

How it helps:

Supports GABA, the brain’s calming neurotransmitter.

Reduces muscle tension and physical stress.

Lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.

Best forms: Magnesium glycinate or bisglycinate for relaxation, magnesium threonate for brain health.

Pairing: Excellent before bed or after trauma therapy sessions to calm the body.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids 🐟

How it helps:

Reduce inflammation in the brain and body.

Improve neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to heal and rewire).

Stabilize mood and reduce impulsivity.

Sources: Fish oil or algae oil supplements.

Pairing: Supports therapy integration by strengthening brain pathways.

L-Theanine 🍵

How it helps:

Found in green tea; promotes calm without sedation.

Increases alpha brain waves → relaxation + focus.

Reduces hyperarousal during trauma triggers.

Pairing: Great before therapy or breathwork for emotional grounding.

Ashwagandha 🌱

How it helps:

Adaptogen that reduces cortisol.

Balances stress response, lowering anxiety and irritability.

Supports resilience in long-term trauma healing.

Pairing: Works well with breathwork or yoga to lower baseline stress.

Zinc ⚖️

How it helps:

Essential for neurotransmitter balance.

Supports dopamine regulation and impulse control.

Deficiency linked to depression and PTSD symptoms.

Pairing: Enhances mood stability alongside therapy.

Vitamin D ☀️

How it helps:

Regulates serotonin and dopamine.

Low levels linked to depression and emotional instability.

Pairing: Best combined with outdoor movement or yoga for added benefits.

Probiotics & Prebiotics 🦠

How they help:

Improve gut-brain axis, which regulates mood.

Reduce systemic inflammation.

Enhance emotional resilience by supporting serotonin production.

Pairing: Combine with mindful eating for maximum effect.

Curcumin (from Turmeric) 🌼

How it helps:

Potent anti-inflammatory.

Improves mood and reduces depressive symptoms.

May protect brain cells from trauma-related damage.

Pairing: Use with black pepper (piperine) for better absorption.

B-Complex Vitamins ⚡

How they help:

B6 and B12 support neurotransmitter production.

Reduce fatigue and improve energy regulation.

B vitamins lower homocysteine levels, linked to trauma-related depression.

Pairing: Useful for people with burnout from trauma recovery.

Glycine 🌙

How it helps:

An amino acid that calms the nervous system.

Improves sleep quality by lowering core body temperature.

Supports recovery from stress-related insomnia.

Pairing: Take at night with magnesium for restorative sleep.

Looking for supplements for people with BPD? Click here.

Supplements That Support Somatic Release 🌬️🧘

Trauma isn’t only stored in the mind—it’s stored in the body. Supplements can make somatic therapies (like yoga, breathwork, or EMDR) more effective.

Magnesium + Breathwork: Enhances body’s ability to relax during deep breathing.

L-Theanine + EMDR: Helps regulate anxiety so processing trauma is less overwhelming.

Ashwagandha + Yoga: Supports stress reduction during body-based practices.

Probiotics + Mindful Eating: Reinforces gut-brain healing during trauma release.

Building a Trauma-Healing Supplement Routine 🌱

Morning 🌞

Omega-3 + Vitamin D with breakfast.

B-Complex to support energy and focus.

Probiotic for gut-brain balance.

Afternoon 🌿

L-theanine tea before therapy or stressful tasks.

Movement grounding (yoga, walking) to release tension.

Evening 🌙

Magnesium + Glycine for sleep.

Ashwagandha for lowering cortisol.

Mindful journaling + 4-7-8 breathing.

Want to try Breathwork? Click Here.

Therapy + Supplements: The Real Synergy 🛋️💊

Supplements alone cannot heal trauma. But they prepare the body to get more out of therapy.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): Supplements stabilize emotions → DBT skills easier to learn.

EMDR: Magnesium and L-theanine reduce hyperarousal → processing traumatic memories becomes more tolerable.

Somatic Experiencing: Ashwagandha lowers stress → body can safely release trauma.

Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: Probiotics improve vagal tone → therapy is more effective.

Looking for online therapy for people with BPD? Click Here.

Case Studies 👩👨

Case 1: Anna 🌸

Struggled with panic during EMDR.

Added magnesium glycinate and L-theanine before sessions.

Reported calmer body responses and better processing of trauma.

Case 2: Daniel ⚡

Chronic anger and muscle tension from stored trauma.

Began taking Omega-3 and practicing yoga.

Experienced reduced reactivity and more physical release.

Case 3: Maria 🌙

Insomnia and depressive symptoms after trauma.

Took glycine + magnesium nightly.

Slept more deeply and felt more grounded during the day.

Challenges & Tips ⚠️

Consistency: Supplements need weeks for noticeable results.

Overwhelm: Start with one or two, then build.

Interactions: Always check with a doctor if on medications.

Emotional Release: Supplements may make it easier to access emotions—pair with grounding practices.

Long-Term Benefits 🌈

By combining supplements with therapy and somatic healing, people can experience:

More restful sleep 😴

Calmer nervous system ⚖️

Fewer emotional flashbacks 🌪️

Reduced impulsivity 🎯

Stronger therapy progress 🛋️

Greater resilience and self-compassion 💜

Conclusion 💜

Healing trauma stored in the body requires a mind-body approach. Supplements can’t replace therapy, but they create the biological foundation for recovery.

Magnesium, L-theanine, and Glycine calm the body.

Omega-3, Zinc, and Vitamin D stabilize the brain.

Probiotics and Curcumin reduce inflammation.

Ashwagandha and B-Vitamins build resilience.

When combined with therapy, breathwork, and mindful movement, supplements unlock deeper healing—helping the body release trauma, restore balance, and reclaim peace. 🌿✨

References 📚

Linehan, M. M. (2014). DBT Skills Training Manual. Guilford Press.

Shapiro, F. (2018). EMDR Therapy. Guilford Press.

Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory. Norton.

Parker, G., et al. (2015). “Omega-3 supplementation and borderline personality disorder.” Psychiatry Research.

Murao, E., & Shimizu, E. (2021). “Magnesium in psychiatric disorders.” Nutrients.

Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). “Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Jerath, R., et al. (2015). “Physiology of long pranayamic breathing.” Medical Hypotheses.

Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. HarperCollins.