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Traffic is a nightmare, the house is a wreck, the bills are due and you have a deadline looming at work. Every day is full of worries that can weigh on you, cause your blood pressure to rise or completely overwhelm you. Fortunately, there also are many ways to treat stress. If you poll your friends, you'll find that everyone has their own way of handling the strains of daily life. Some people swear that meditation will alleviate anxiety while others rely on exercise, prayer, therapy or medication. If you think you need help to control the stress in your life, you may want to consider herb therapies made from roots, plants and flowers. Herbs can provide an effortless, natural path to help you live stress-free.
Although research on the positive effects of herbal remedies is inconclusive, herbal treatments have been used since ancient times and many people report positive results when using these alternative therapies. Natural herbs are generally more affordable that prescription medications and can be obtained without a doctor's prescription. Most herbal remedies are easy to use and can be found at your local health food market, grocery store or online.
Hit the Target
Sometimes stress can cause particular ailments such as headaches or stomach discomfort. Certain herbs can be used to specifically target these areas and relieve stress symptoms. Try Meadowsweet or Feverfew to help your headache. Catnip has been used successful for migraine relief. Fennel can be used to relax the stomach and intestines, reducing gas and other stomach problems. Some mothers even give mild fennel tea to their babies to quiet colic.
Sleep Well
If daily worries keep you up at night, you may want to try strong bedtime herbs such as Skullcap, Cowslip, St. John's Wort and Valerian to help you sleep. For centuries, Valerian has been used as a sedative to encourage deep sleep and also can be taken during the day for calming effect. The California Poppy and Passionflower are also said to encourage sleep and lower tension. Kava kava root, chamomile and peppermint are among the gentler remedies known to promote relaxation and often can be taken in a capsule or as tea. Ginseng root is another ancient remedy that is said to help stimulate your mood and lower anxiety levels so you can rest.
Caution
Be aware that some herbs are stronger than others and can even be addictive. Certain herbs may have an immediate effect and others make take weeks before you see results. Taking the wrong herbs may cause unwanted side effects. While some herbs may support or complement prescription medicines, other herbs may interfere with a medicine's effectiveness or have other contraindications. As with all health concerns, consult your medical professional before taking any type of supplement. It may be most helpful to work with an herbologist or a doctor who embraces alternative types of treatment. If herbal therapy and other alternative approaches don't offer relief from stress and anxiety, talk to your doctor about therapy, prescription medicines and other approaches to stress treatment.
Editor, 07/19/2012
