Coping with stress

If your stress levels are spiralling out of control and causing physical symptoms, read on for the herbs that can bring some calm into your life 

A certain amount of stress is necessary to keep us on our toes, but too much can become a drain on energy levels and exhaustion and anxiety can quickly set in.  How much is acceptable differs from person to person. Some people, for example, thrive on the challenge of responsibility and are bored with anything that runs short of running the country, while for others even getting out of the in the morning can be a strain. 

The secret is to work out how much you can cope with and to aim to keep it within these levels. But what if things start to get put of hand?  Luckily there are a number of herbs that can help to keep you on an even keel.

For relaxation

The herbal relaxants, such as valerian and passionflower do just as their name implies – they aid relaxation. They are also good for insomnia and general anxiety problems as well as for helping to reduce the physical effects of stress, such as tense muscles and digestive problems. At times of particular anxiety, such as during panic attacks, valerian and hops are the most beneficial.

For stimulation

The adaptogen herbs such as members of the ginseng family can be used to heighten your resistance to stress. These have an invigorating and enlivening effect, stimulating the nervous system and therefore improving concentration and reasoning skills, and raising your resistance to infection.

For exhaustion

Herbal tonics for the adrenal gland are also useful for stress-related problems. Adrenal tonics are particularly important when physical illness is worsened or caused by stress. Liquorice (which is unsuitable if you suffer from high blood pressure or fluid retention) and borage (which should not be used long-term) are among the most popular adrenal tonics.

Adrenal gland exhaustion often occurs if you've been suffering from stress for some time and in this case liquorice together with Siberian ginseng may help, as well as motherwort, a relaxant herb.

Stress beaters

• Diet matters Follow a healthy, balanced diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, wholegrains, low-fat protein.  Cut back on salt, sugar and stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol. 
• Sleep well Aim for between seven and eight hours a night. Make your bedroom a restful place (no work or TV), and try to stick to the same bedtime and waking hours.
• Move it Regular exercise is recognised as one of the best antidotes to stress there is. Aim to do some sort of activity that you enjoy for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Relax, relax Yoga, Pilates, meditation and deep-breathing exercises all help to relieve stress and help you feel relaxed and peaceful. 
• Have a good laugh When you chuckle you release feel good hormones that can help to clear stressful feelings.
• Talk about it A problem shared can be a problem halved. Just having a sympathetic ear can make a huge difference to how you feel.