Autumn Calmers

November 13th is National Stress Awareness Day so read on for some herbs to help you keep your life on an even balanced keel

A little bit of stress is necessary to keep us on our toes but too much can be seriously debilitating and can lead to all kinds of problems such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, low libido, heart disease, IBS and other digestive problems. The secret is to maintain a healthy balance between work and play and to nip any niggles in the bud before they have time to develop into a full-blown stress attack. Here are some herbs to help get you started

SIBERIAN GINSENG
Ginseng belongs to a group of herbs known as adaptogens that are thought to help the body cope with the stress of physical exertion, sleep deprivation, infections, psychological upsets and more. So if every day seems more stressful than the one before why not try a dose of Siberian ginseng. It boosts the adrenal glands  - the small glands above the kidneys that secrete stress-fighting hormones.

RHODIOLA
Rhodiola rosea has been quietly climbing up the popularity charts over the past few years although it has long been used in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. Studies how that it can help common symptoms of stress such as poor concentration, lack of motivation, sleeplessness and depression.

PASSION FLOWER
Passionflower together with valerian belong to a group of herb known as relaxants and both do just as their name implies. They aid relaxation. Passionflower has long been valued for its calming, sedative properties and is especially good for taking the edge off anxiety and worry, as well as helping stress symptoms such as a racing heart.
It is often combined with valerian, which is worth considering if your worries are keeping you awake at night. Valerian contains several important compounds including valeric acid, valepotriates and volatile oils, which are all thought to be responsible for its sedative powers.

Take a deep breath

Try this quick and simple exercise if you start to feel stressed. Keep your breathing smooth and regular throughout.

•  Sit or lie in a comfortable position with your arms and legs uncrossed and your spine straight
•  Breathing from your abdomen, inhale through your nose, slowly to a count of five
•  Pause and hold your breath for a count of five
•  Exhale through your mouth or nose to a count of five
•  When you have exhaled completely take two breaths in your normal rhythm then repeat steps two to four.
   

Repeat exercise for at least three minutes

Rhodiola rosea can be found in Vitano - A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress such as fatigue, exhaustion and mild anxiety based on traditional use only.