Certain supplements, nutrients, and relaxation-focused approaches may support general nervous-system health or help reduce known tremor triggers such as stress. However, scientific evidence that these approaches directly reduce Essential Tremor severity is limited, and results vary between individuals. These strategies are widely explored by people seeking to ease hand tremors naturally without relying solely on medication. A few of the most commonly discussed Essential Tremor options include:
- Passionflower — traditionally used to support relaxation and reduce anxiety. Reduced anxiety may indirectly help some people cope with triggers, but evidence for passionflower as a direct treatment is limited. Check with your doctor before trying it, especially if you take other medicines.
- Hawthorn — traditionally used for heart conditions. It has not been shown to help Essential Tremor, so check with your doctor before trying it.
- Vitamin B — B vitamins matter for nerve health, so a suspected B12 deficiency is worth checking with your doctor, but routine supplementation has not been shown to treat Essential Tremor itself.
- CBD — studied for its calming properties, but the research is not encouraging so far: in a small placebo-controlled trial, a single 300 mg dose had no significant effect on tremor (Santos de Alencar et al., Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2021). Some people report improvement, but long-term use has not been properly tested. Always consult a healthcare provider before use.
Certain foods, while not scientifically proven to reduce tremor, are often suggested for nervous-system health. No single food has been shown to reduce Essential Tremor. The eating pattern most often recommended is the Mediterranean diet, covered below.
Understanding what may worsen tremors is as important as what may help. Some people with Essential Tremor notice that certain foods, drinks, or habits increase tremor intensity or frequency. Identifying and managing these triggers may help some people with symptom management.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous-system stimulant, and cutting it out is common advice, but controlled research has not found that it worsens Essential Tremor. In a controlled test, a single 325 mg dose of caffeine did not increase essential tremor at one, two or three hours afterwards, and only 8% of people with Essential Tremor felt coffee made their tremor worse (Koller et al., Neurology, 1987). Sensitivity still varies, so if coffee clearly makes your own hands shakier, practical strategies include:
- Gradually reducing caffeine rather than stopping abruptly
- Switching to half-caffeinated or decaffeinated options
- Monitoring tremor changes after caffeine to identify personal sensitivity
Alcohol
Alcohol presents a paradox in Essential Tremor. Many people experience temporary tremor reduction after a small amount: in a standardized 2024 study, 80% of 85 people with Essential Tremor had a measurable drop in tremor after one dose (McGurrin et al., Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2024). But the effect is short-lived and often followed by rebound worsening, and regular use carries a risk of long-term problem drinking, so it is considered too risky to recommend as a management strategy (León-Ruiz & Benito-León, Revista de Neurología, 2022).
Propranolol was supposed to help and I don’t think it does… alcohol eases them, anxiety worsens them.
— Essential tremor community member, Quora
About this quote: a real answer shared on Quora, a public question-and-answer website, by a person living with essential tremor.
Other dietary triggers
Some people report that heavily cooked or charred meat seems to make their tremor worse. There is no good evidence yet that cutting back eases tremor, but if you notice this pattern, moderating intake is a reasonable personal choice.
Although no specific diet has been proven to treat Essential Tremor, the Mediterranean diet is frequently recommended for overall brain and neurological health. The diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, omega-3-rich fish, healthy fats such as olive oil, and limited processed foods and added sugars. An elimination-style approach and a symptom journal can help you identify which foods or drinks worsen your own symptoms.
Alongside dietary changes and supplements, lifestyle adjustments may help reduce the impact of tremors:
- Stress management — stress often makes tremor worse (Paparella et al., Journal of Neural Transmission, 2026). Meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation may help you stay calmer in the situations where shaking bothers you most, alongside the other approaches to living with Essential Tremor covered in our guide on how to stop shaking hands.
- Physical exercise — strength training has the best evidence: a systematic review found that resistance training improved force steadiness and dexterity in older adults with Essential Tremor (Keogh et al., Sports Medicine, 2019).
- Sleep — in a 2026 study, insomnia went with more severe tremor (Paparella et al., Journal of Neural Transmission, 2026). That is an association, not proof that better sleep lowers tremor, but sleep problems are worth raising with your doctor.
The table below summarizes the approaches discussed above (sources are cited in each section), the benefit each is proposed to offer, how strong the evidence is, and the key caveat to keep in mind. It is a reference to discuss with your healthcare provider — not a treatment plan.
Beyond diet and lifestyle, some people use an assistive device to steady the hands during everyday tasks. The Steadi-3 Plus is a wearable glove that uses a passive magnetic vibration absorber (tuned mass damping) to mechanically absorb tremor energy during voluntary movement. It has no electronics, no batteries, and needs no charging — it is simply worn like a glove. In clinical testing, 84% of participants showed improved tremor control versus no device, and 70% of participants showed improved tremor control versus a placebo glove (Steadiwear, Steadi-3 Plus validation study). Assistive devices such as stabilization gloves may help some people perform daily tasks more comfortably; results vary between users. The glove steadies the hand during tasks; it does not treat or cure the underlying neurological condition.
For individuals seeking a comprehensive approach to managing Essential Tremor, the anti-tremor glove offers an option that can complement home remedies. Its lightweight, battery-free design makes it a non-invasive choice, and when paired with a nutrient-rich diet, stress management, and other lifestyle adjustments, it can be part of a broader plan aimed at better symptom control and improved quality of life.