Stand up to stress
Here are some herbal remedies to help you go into the new season cool and calm
The end of summer means the end of holidays and back to school or work. And that can be stressful. A new term and maybe a new job are not always plain sailing. Both call for a switch from holiday mood into action mode as well as a certain amount of preparation.
If you start to feel overwhelmed or as though things are spiralling out of control there are some herbal answers that could help to keep stress at an acceptable level and you on an even keel.
RELAX WITH HERBS
The herbal relaxants such as passionflower and valerian 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 also has mild analgesic properties, which makes it useful for soothing tension headaches.
Passionflower is often combined with valerian, which is a herb worth considering if your worries are keeping you awake at night. Valerian contains several important compounds including valeric acid, valepotriates and volatile oils, all of which are thought to be responsible for its sedative powers. Unlike some conventional sleep remedies, valerian has no side effects so you don’t have to worry about waking up feeling groggy in the morning.
It is non addictive and works by calming the brain and body so sleep can occur naturally. As well as passionflower, valerian is often combined with other herbs such as lemon balm and hops both of which are also well known for their calming properties.
Passionflower is found in RelaxHerb - A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress such as mild anxiety based on traditional use only.
TRY THIS
If you come home all stressed try this fabulous recipe for a lavender footbath from Helpful Herbs for Health and Beauty by Barbara Griggs (Infinite ideas).
Add five drops of lavender essential oil to a little milk, tip it into a hot footbath and soak your feet in this for five to ten minutes while sipping a cup of calming camomile tea. Put a drop of lavender oil on your pillow too.
Herbal Helpers
- Passion flower
- Valerian
- Lavender
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