Herbs
From Lowering Stress Naturally
Herbs are a gift of nature for the healing of our minds and bodies.
Since stress is an inevitable and even necessary part of life, we must learn to use it for our benefit, and at the same time keep it under control. Stress can keep us "on our toes" to do our best in a challenging situation, but, like fire, it must not be allowed to consume our health and well-being.
It is important for our bodies and minds to relax and rest during part of each day, to put off all stress for a time while our systems regenerate. In today's society, most people will say they don't have time to relax. If just a few minutes of a busy day can be combined with medicinal herbs, you will have a winning combination.
A cup of hot tea is a relaxing thing in itself. If the tea is made from medicinal herbs, the result can be very effective. Chamomile has been used for hundreds of years as a soothing relaxant and makes a very pleasant tea. Lemon Balm also has stress relieving properties and has a pleasant lemon flavor. Rosemary is very relaxing and has an added benefit of antiseptic action in the body, which makes it useful for fighting colds and flu as well as stress. These three are very easy to grow in your garden or in containers on your windowsill or patio, which may also be relaxing to some people.
Other medicinal herbs can be taken as supplements to relieve stress. Some of these are: hops, lady slipper, passion flower, pau d' arco, rose hips, Siberian ginseng, skullcap, licoris root, borage seed, and valerian root.
A vitamin B complex supplement can be helpful in managing stress as well as daily exercise. A brisk walk in a quiet place of natural beauty is especially beneficial. The walk increases blood circulation to all parts of the body to help flush away the toxins that have built up during your stressful situation, while the natural beauty helps the mind to let the stressful memories of the day slip away. After such a walk, you will find it much easier to sit quietly and enjoy your tea, or lie down to rest.
~Lois