While stress can be a great
motivator, a long lasting state of stress can be harmful to the body. Each body has a different way to
express an overload of stress. Weight gain, weight loss, water retention,
migraines, anxiety attacks, fatigue, insomnia, and developing food
sensitivities, allergies, or skin rashes are only a few examples of the potential
side effects of stress. In general, stress will start affecting the Achilles
Heel of the body. For example, if your digestive system is weak to begin with,
this is the first place to suffer from stress. To maintain your well-being, it
is important to address stress, or any physical ailment, as soon as you start
noticing the symptoms. Ignoring a problem, treating the symptoms instead of the
main cause, or forcing the body to behave in a business-as-usual way will only
aggravate the situation. I’ve been there, tried that – it doesn’t work.
Last month I wrote here about 3 Easy Techniques to Deal with Stress.
In this post I would like to share with you 3 herbs that help the body
to cope with stress and anxiety. Please keep in mind that each body is
different. Some herbs that work for other people with similar ailments may or
may not work for you. It is really important to pay attention to the signals from
your body, and not to blindly follow recommendations from others (even if it is
from me). You can also try muscle-testing to identify which herbs, and how much
of them, may be good for you.
The following three herbs can be
found in different forms: tea, capsules, and tinctures. Use the form that will
be the easiest for you to consume.
1.
Passionflower, also known as Passiflora (there
is also a fruit by the same name) has a calming effect on the body and the
nervous system. It also helps to induce sleep, however it does not cause
drowsiness and is safe to take during the day.
2.
Ashwagandha, also known as Ayurvedic Ginseng, is
used in traditional Indian medicine to support the body during stressful times
and to treat insomnia and anxiety.
3.
Rhodiola, also known as Siberian Golden Root,
was discovered by the Greeks and used by the Vikings to increase stamina and
mental capacity and to reduce environmental stress. It’s a good replacement for
coffee, when you need to perform at high levels of energy and mental clarity
but don’t want to exhaust your adrenal glands.
Do you have a favorite herb to recommend for treating
stress? Please share it in the comments below.
