Herbs for Stress Relief
You only need to turn the pages of your local newspaper to know that stress is becoming epidemic. Stress is a part of life but it does not have to be a way of life. Chronic stress is deceptive and can leave your body sapped of energy. This type of unrelenting stress can leave you feeling frazzled at the end of the day – sapping your adrenal glands and leaving you fatigued and riding an emotional roller coaster. This can cause an increasing cycle of low energy and even higher stress. No single drug can cure stress. Many drugs can cure the symptoms of stress – the stress headaches, the moodiness or the high blood pressure. BUT… to get to the root cause of stress some lifestyle changes will need to be made to break this low energy/high stress cycle. Herbs for stress can be one way to break the low energy/high stress cycle. Herbs for stress can help you to cope with stress and give you the restorative power that you need. While herbs may not have been subjected to the same rigor as Western medicine, many cultures have used herbs to cure illness and promote health – with their knowledge founded on thousands of years of experience. Since some herbs should not be combined with other drugs or treatment, and also due to the powerful effects of herbs, please visit your local doctor before starting out any herb for stress program. How herbs for stress improve your ability to cope with stressThere are a number of herbs for stress that can be used to reduce stress. These herbs can be classed into three basic groups: Some typical herbs for stressAmerican Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) or Asian/Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng). Studies have shown that ginseng can improve mental alertness and reduce fatigue. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Now this is not the candy type of licorice, but rather the root-type. Licorice nourishes the adrenal glands and is an anti-inflammatory. Please note that there may be some potentially harmful compounds in licorice – for example glycyrrhizin may affect steroid hormone activity. Schizandra (Schizandra chinensis). Widely used by the Chinese as an adaptogen, Schizandra is said to improve the body’s physiological processes and helps to counter stress. Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococus senticocus). Has been used in Russia for the treatment of stress and depression. This herb is said to be an adaptogenic and also stimulates the immune system. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). This herb (actually it is a mushroom) is said to ease anxiety and promote calmness and nourish the immune system. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica). Said to rejuvenate the nervous system this herb also is believed to help people deal with stress and reduce fatigue. Other anti anxiety herbs and natural stress relief strategiesThere are a number of ways to reduce stress naturally, whether through good nutrition or anti anxiety herbs. Here are a number of other options to reduce stress and anxiety.
 Anti anxiety herbs may be one way to reduce your dependence on over-the-counter drugs. Anti anxiety herbs can reduce your anxiety without the side effects of drugs. Any approach to reduce anxiety with herbs should be conducted with your doctor. For more information see this article on anti anxiety herbs.
There are times when I have reached for a cream bun when I felt my life was falling apart. However, this emotional eating can perpetuate the cycle of stress. The right nutrition will increase your ability to cope with stress. Your body's ability to deal with stress can be enhanced by following these stress nutrition guidelines.
 Chronic stress depletes your body of vitamins and also makes it difficult to absorb other vitamins and minerals. Stripping the body of these vitamins can make your ability to cope with stress less. Here I discuss the important vitamins for stress and the foods that contain these important vitamins.
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