Holistic Stress Remedies
Stress is an unavoidable fact of life and too much of it can cause reprehensible damage to your health. All of us have experienced it on varying levels. Stress is defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. It can be short term or long term. Stress ranges fromeustress, the type of stress you feel while riding a motorcycle, to chronic stress, the type of stress that seems to perpetually present.There are a large number of stress induced conditions including ulcers, depression, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and sexual dysfunction. When people are faced with chronic stress and an over activated autonomic nervous system, they start to see physician symptoms manifest.
Many of us live our lives in a constant state of anxiety and stress due to over scheduling, taxing work hours and lack of down time. At this time, there is no prescription medication that ‘cures’ stress. Patients experiencing stress ultimately take prescription medication that deal with the manifestations of stress. Opioids are prescribed for pain, proton pump inhibitors are prescribed for ulcers, sedatives are prescribed for anxiety and antidepressants / psychotropics are prescribed for depression.
There are holistic methods to reducing stress. Many of these recommendations are widely available at your local health food store, they have far less side effects and they are far less inexpensive.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as ‘alternative or holistic’ medicine. For nearly half its existence, Ashwandha has been used to reduce anxiety, relieve pain associated with inflammation, reverse sexual debility in men, and strengthen the immune system. It has an inherent way of enhancing the body’s ability to cope with stress. Those that regularly take Ashwagandha report improved mental acuity and reaction time. Dosing of this root varies. It’s widely available at most health food stores. I suggest you either consult with your practitioner or follow the suggested dosing on the product label.Milk Thisle (Silybum marianum)
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean region, and is now found throughout the world. The consumption of alcohol can lead to a plethora of health issues. Milk thisle is one of the most researched herbs for protecting the liver and stimulating regeneration of liver cells after injury. The active ingredient in milk thisle is Silymarin. Silymarin keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by toxins. It’s a potent antioxidant that reduces inflammation. Milk thisle comes in capsule and liquid form as well as trincture. Dosing generally ranges from 120 to 140 mg of silymarin a day.
Meditation
The purpose of meditation is to calm the mind the find inner peace. In a world of chaos and activity packed schedules,
meditation offers the ultimate ‘Zen moment’ on a daily basis. A common misconception is that meditation equates to hours of breathing deeply in the middle of a dimly lit room surrounded by candles. A brief ten to twenty minute session in your kitchen, in your car, in your bedroom, etc. can help you overcome stress and achieve inner piece and balance. Meditation makes you calmer, focused, and peaceful.For those used to utter chaos in their life, meditation can initially be very difficult. It actually takes training and experience to calm the mind, focus on your breathing, and achieve a peaceful state. The more you do it, the better you get. It’s said that the better you get at meditation, the ‘purer the happiness’ you will attain.
I’m a strong believer in meditation. Your mind and feelings vacillate like a feather in the sky. One minute your extraordinarily angry due to a poor day at work, the next minute your elated because your spouse complements you on your physique. Meditation eliminates stress and centralizes your thoughts. It brings you to a ‘steady state’. There are hundreds of books, audio tapes and online resources that have created to help you learn meditation.
Exercise
Simply put, exercise eliminates stress. Many people, including myself, consider their local gym a sanctuary. Whether it’s an hour on weight training, aerobics, Pilates, or martial arts, the hour (or more) spent in the gym is an hour long escape from the grind of daily life.Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
This medical mushroom can significantly calm anxiety, ease insomnia, and regulates the immune system. It’s non-toxic and can be taken daily without producing side effects. Reishi is highly prized in China for thousands of years. It’s known as the ‘Elixir of Immortality’ for its healing power and ability to promote longevity. Reishi is available in capsule, syrup, or tincture. Dosing varies and I would suggest you follow manufacturers’ recommendation.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is the scent most associated with products that induce sleep. Its amazing smell can calm the nerves and
induce relaxation. Lavendar can be used in balms, perfumes, topical application and cosmetics. English and Dutch Lavendar are primarily used due to their sweet smelling essential oils. Stress can generate headaches and muscle tension. Lavendar can eliminate both. Is it time to meditate? Enhance your Zen like experience by placing a drop of Lavendar essential oil behind your earlobes. Love to take a bath? Place 10 to 20 drops of essential oil into the bathwater.Lemon Balm (Melissa officianalis)
Lemon Balm, a member of the mint family, has a sweet smell that has been used to calm the nerves. Citronella, Lemonella, Quedlinburger and Lime are cultivars of Melissa officianalis. Yes, Lemon Balm will ease your tension and repel mosquitoes at the same time (and mosquitoes cause stress!). It is available in capsule form and essential oils.
Ginseng (Siberian – Eleutherococcus senticosus & Chinese – Panax ginseng)
I previously wrote about ginseng in my article, ‘Natural Energy Boosting Methods’. Pharmaceutical grade Siberian and Chinese ginseng are both available at most health food stores. They have been well studied and improve performance during stressful activates (or the daily grind). Siberian ginseng supports the health of the adrenal glands and bolsters the body’s resistance to stress-related illness. Chinese ginseng is similar to Siberian and has been used for years in traditional Chinese medicine. It enhances immune function, facilitates motor coordination, increased mental acuity, and improves the ability to cope with mental and physical stress. Dosing varies on both types of ginseng. Purchase a pharmaceutical grade brand and assure you comply with the recommended dosing (usually between 400 to 600 mg 4 to 5 times a day).I truly hope some of these suggestions help. At the end of the day, you control the stress level in your life. The aforementioned suggestions I have provided will help dissipate stress but there is no such thing as a cure.
Harry G. Psaros is the publisher of Health, Nutrition, and Wellness.
Follow Health, Nutrition and Wellness on Twitter at HNWellness.
Find Health, Nutrition and Wellness is now on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment