In the hustle and bustle of modern life, stress has become a constant, yet unwanted companion for many. While conventional medicine, like pharmaceuticals, offers various options for those afflicted with health conditions, an increasing number of people are turning their gaze towards alternative medicines for stress relief and mood balance. From ancient herbal remedies and mind-body techniques to new innovative approaches like CBD and honey, these alternatives offer up an approach to stress management that is more holistic in nature, focusing on underlying causes in addition to targeting the symptoms.
This shift to more naturally-based medicines reflects a desire for a deeper understanding of how interconnected our minds and bodies truly are.
Understanding Stress and Its Effects
Stress is a common occurrence in our lives and affects every person in the world. It is a necessary aspect of survival and is designed to activate our body’s fight or flight response when faced with unforeseen or unusual circumstances. This is a survival mechanism that prepares us to either confront or flee from perceived threats. When faced with these various stressors encountered throughout our day-to-day lives, our bodies release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
When released, these hormones have a variety of effects on our body, namely on our heart rate and blood pressure. If you’ve ever driven through an intersection and been met with someone running a red light or stop sign, you’ve experienced this rapid fluctuation of heart palpitations and increased blood pressure. Stress can be a good thing in this sense, because it alerts us to potential dangers.
But it’s not always a good thing. Chronic stress, an ailment suffered by millions of people worldwide, can harm your health over time. If left untreated it can lead to serious health problems that include heart disease and mental health issues like depression.
For those who are in a constant state of stress, or alert, the body becomes strained, so much so that it can have a debilitating effect on family life, work, and overall quality of life.
Managing Stress
Identifying what causes your stress is crucial for effective management and self care. Once you know your triggers, you can work on strategies to deal with them better.
- Exercise
- Meditation
- Time management techniques
are some methods that help reduce stress levels without causing significant side effects.
Understanding how chronic tension affects the nervous system helps in finding ways to relax it effectively.
There are a number of natural medicines with scientific research that shows they may help to provide not just relief for stress, but some of the underlying factors that lead to stress.
Ashwagandha: An Ancient Remedy for Modern Stress
Ashwagandha is a plant root that can be taken in the form of a supplement or tea. It plays a key role in supporting adrenal function, which can aid the body in how it responds to stress. Studies indicate that ashwagandha can be beneficial for those dealing with chronic stress by helping to normalize cortisol levels. It also enhances energy without stimulating the heart, leading to improvement in daily tasks and energizing your daily routine.
CBD: Powerful Relaxation and Stress Relief
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of over a hundred phyto-chemical found in cannabis hemp. It’s often compared to THC, which is known for its psychoactive effects.
But CBD is unlike its popular cousin in that it does not cause a high while simultaneously providing powerful calmative effects. Studies show that it affects key receptors in the body responsible for stress response, including endocannabinoids, cortisol, and neurotransmitters.
It is often found in the form of an oil, softgel capsule, gummy, or blended with edibles like honey. Some users may be sensitive to certain cannabinoids found in full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD blends, and it is suggested that it be taken smaller doses initially. Some CBD manufacturers offer free CBD sample packages to help potential users decide if its right for them.
Lavender: Soothe Your Stress Away
Clinical studies have shown lavender oil’s aroma reduces anxiety when it is inhaled via a diffuser or used in a warm evening bath. In these studies, subjects reported feeling less anxious and stressed, and many showed improvements in falling asleep.
Lavendar can also be taken in the form of a loose-leaf tea and combined with honey for added stress relieving benefits during the day or nighttime.
Chamomile: A Gentle Relaxant
Chamomile is a popular choice for relaxation and highlights the goodness that tea has to offer. It’s safe to use, so much so, that parents often give it to their hyperactive or stressed out children in the evenings to help them relax and fall asleep.
Apigenin, believed to be the key phytochemical in Chamomile that gives it its calming properties, acts as a mild natural sedative to relax both the body and mind by binding to key receptors in the central nervous system responsible for sedation.
Lemon Balm: Uplifting Mood and Mental Clarity
Lemon balm is a popular natural alternative that is often taken in the form of a supplement or warm tea. It is believed to work wonders for the mind by increasing GABA neurotransmitter levels in the brain. The result is a calming relaxant that is safe for adults and children alike.
Lemon balm is also often prescribed by integrated medicine practitioners to aid with headache relief and sleep improvement.
Stress Relief Takeaway
The ancient use of herbs like ashwagandha and modern plant extracts like CBD offers a potential solution for those suffering from everyday or chronic stress. These remedies, which include widely popular herbs like lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, and honey, are beneficial individually or may also provide an entourage effect of support when taken in combination with each other.
As more research becomes available, conventional medical doctors and integrated medicine practitioners will increasingly use natural alternatives as part of holistic plans for users seeking relief from stress, anxiety, and scores of other ailments.