If you suffer from ongoing stress then you should actively consider incorporating Herbal Remedies into your stress management plan.  You can take them for several months without fear of dependence or any withdrawal symptoms.

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Work can be a very stressful environment to be in depending on the job you do, the people you work with and are managed by and the type of deadlines you work to.  Increasingly in the UK we are working longer hours and the balance between homelife and work is distorted and unnaturally bent toward work.  Work practices are becoming more complex with new technologies, productivity is rated above quality and most environments are fast paced and competitive.  The work environment creates an ideal place for stress to hit us.

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Stress is part of everyday life.  It finds us at work when we have a tight deadline to meet, in the supermarket on a Saturday or when you’re late for an important engagement.  As a nation stress is becoming greater and life events such as weddings, moving house and changing jobs can send those stress levels soaring through the roof.

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Before you reach for over-the-counter drug based remedies to tackle anxiety consider a herbal alternative.  The beauty of these herbal cures is that there are no side effects so common with drug based alternatives and no risk of becoming addicted.

Stress, anxiety and depression are common conditions in our hectic, busy society and more people are turning to Herbal Health strategies to cope with and minimize anxiety.  These remedies act on both the mind and body to relax and sooth. 

Kava kava is a natural sedative and has an affinity with the central nervous system.  Take kava kava powder mixed in a glass of water and drink.  Alternatively you can get the herb in tincture or capsule form.

Rhodiola encourages the production of serotonin and norepinephrine which are happy hormones that naturally lift your mood and reduce anxiety.  Taken regularly the herb acts to reduce mental fatigue and mood swings.  It is also great at enhancing your memory and concentration span. 

Lavender is the Queen of relaxation herbs.  It eases nervous tension, aids a sound a restful sleep and can lift depression and melancholia.  It is also good for releasing stress, easing headaches and lifting fatigue. 

Passion flower give immediate relief from stress and anxiety.  It has also been used to treat cases of hyperactivity, nervous tension and sleep issues as well as being used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Belonging to the mint family Lemon Balm is a calming herb and combines well with lavender, chamomile and valerian to increase its sedative qualities. 

Siberian Ginseng stabilizes the neurotransmitters in the brain.  Stress then becomes easier to cope with and an added benefit of this herb is that it boosts your immune system. 

Stress is commonplace in our busy and hectic lives and affects all ages.  Modernization, Western culture and materialism have brought many more stresses and worries to people’s lives.  Consequently it’s not something that you can easily avoid.  What we all must do is learn how to deal with stress effectively when it strikes.  One of the ways is to use Herbal Remedies to reduce the affects of stress.

Stress affects us on all levels by creating imbalance on the mental, emotional and physical level.  Mentally and emotionally it can cause lack of concentration, feelings of anger, mistrust and a sense of being overwhelmed and unable to cope.  Physically it can cause insomnia, headaches, skin problems, raised blood pressure and even heart problems or strokes.

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For most people stress is a constant companion.  Its there as we sit in a traffic jam on the way into work, as we brace ourselves to look at the latest gas bill, as your youngest child wakes you in the night with a barking cough.   As a nation we are becoming more stressed out at work and events such as Christmas, weddings and house moving can push us to breaking point!

We all need an element of stress to add zest and excitement to our lives but its long been accepted that too much stress can cause serious health problems impacting sleep, eroding our immune system and causing difficulties in our relationships.  Even heart attacks and cancer are thought more likely to occur in those whose resistance to stress is low.

So how can we protect ourselves?

It’s not necessarily the stress that causes illness, but how we react to it.  By recognising our limitations and being aware of our levels of anxiety and physical exhaustion we can safeguard our health by relaxing and calming the mind and body.

An excellent way to do this is using soothing Aromatherapy Oils that have a calming and sedative effect on the mind.  Of our five senses, smell has been found to have the greatest impact on the emotional centre of the brain.  When inhaled, odour molecules are filtered and warmed within the nose, and the nerve cells are stimulated.  This triggers communication to the limbic section of the brain, which is the area associated with emotions.

Aromatherapy oils can be used as part of a relaxing massage, in an oil burner to infuse your rooms with calming scents or adding to bath to soothe away the stresses of the day.  Here are just some of the aromatherapy oils available to you:

Lavender

Probably one of the most widely used oils is Lavender which has a sedative and calming effect on the mind.  It is perfect for treating insomnia.  It can be used in a massage blend or simply add some drops to your pillow for a sound and refreshing night’s sleep.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass acts as a sedative on the central nervous system and can be used to good effect to counteract mental fatigue.  Lemongrass blends well with Rose and Sandalwood oils, which soften its strong aroma.  It also blends well with Rosemary oil which enhances the fresh, citrus scent.

Orange

Orange is considered a general tonic for anxiety and its uplifting and familiar scent is popular with children.  Used as massage oil it can ease tension in the back.

Marjoram

Excellent for treating insomnia and restoring frayed nerves, Marjoram can be used as an oil dropped in a warm bath or as part of a soothing back massage to promote a good night’s sleep.