Stress, Anxiety & Medicinal Herbs…
Turning To Herbs When Anxiety Is High…
In our modern world, stress and anxiety have touched the lives of most people. Whether it is due to financial or job stress, family drama, or health scares, we have all experienced the feeling of fear and overwhelm in our bodies. A common instinct is to numb the feelings away. I can speak from personal experience in this department when turning to smoking or alcohol feels like the best option. Now, don’t get me wrong, everything in moderation. Sometimes watching your favorite show with a glass of wine or a bowl of ice cream is exactly what the doctor ordered. But I want to talk about dealing with stress and anxiety from a more holistic perspective; when you desperately want to make changes in your life rather than letting the weeks drift by in fear.
Let’s begin the story on a Sunday evening. The dreaded Sunday scaries, when the anxiety of the week ahead feels crippling and sends us into a fear spiral. Next time these feelings arise, instead of clicking “Yes, I'm still watching” on Netflix try doing at least one thing to make your week ahead a little easier. But first, let’s go to the kitchen and make a cup of tea. Better yet, make yourself a really big batch of tea so you can keep it in the fridge and drink throughout the work week. Some of my favorite combinations of relaxing herbs for the nervous system are Lemon Balm, Mint, Chamomile, Blue Vervain and Passionflower. Mix and match herbs for a tasty mix or stick to one herb at a time. Get the biggest mason jar you've got or a french press also works great and add your fresh or dried herb. Fill the jar with boiling water then place a lid over your infusion to keep in all the essential oil goodness. Allow your tea to steep for at least 30 minutes.
Okay, now that you've taken care of the tea, what’s something that causes you anxiety throughout the week? Is it running around in the morning like a headless chicken trying to make coffee, eat breakfast, make lunch and get out the door in time? Or is it stressing about your outfit while still half asleep in the morning? Whatever it is, get ahead of the game and do something nice for your future self. Make some cold brew tonight, prep your lunch for the week or pick out your clothes ahead of time. Then rest easy knowing your morning will be a bit easier.
By now your tea should be done steeping. Pour yourself a cup. Stay present for this moment, there’s nowhere else you need to be. Take a deep breath, and another, and let out a sigh of relief. You did it. Strain the rest of the tea, store it in the fridge and rest easy knowing that you have some herbal help the next time your nerves are in a knot.
In addition to Nervine herbs that help calm and gently sedate an overactive nervous system, try incorporating some adaptogenic herbs into your daily routine. Adaptogens have been all the rage in popular culture lately, and for good reason! Our modern world is full of people who are chronically stressed and over caffeinated. Without the proper tools to relax and release tension, our bodies are unable to let go of the day and ease into a parasympathetic state. There’s a reason they say stress kills! Without the active intention and practices to destress, our bodies hold on to stress as it builds and builds over time leading to symptom management and chronic illness. Although we are surrounded by modern technologies and uber important information at every turn our bodies are still hardwired like Neanderthals. When we experience stressful situations our bodies go into fight or flight mode. Run! Save yourself! On the outside it may look like scary presentations and deadlines but on the inside it still feels like we are running from a lion. Once you’ve safely escaped the sharp claws of the lion and found shelter, your body would naturally start to shake, releasing the pent up energy and allowing the body to release and relax in a parasympathetic or rest and digest mode. Without this natural conversion of energy your body is unable to complete the stress cycle and enter into a relaxed state. This is why many people like to exercise, do yoga or simply take a shower after work to let the body know that we are safe, it's okay to relax now. Keep this in mind the next time you come home from a stressful day and are unable to let the tension go from your body. Find something that helps your body complete the stress cycle and enter into a rest and digest state.
Now, back to the Adaptogens. Adaptogens help the body adapt to external stressors whether it be emotional or physical stress. They support the body over time, building up your resilience to stress and providing you with the necessary “tools” to experience stress, react properly, and let it go. Some wonderful adaptogens to try incorporating into your daily life are Reishi Mushroom, Chaga Mushroom, Ashwagandha Root, Holy Basil, and many more. Find the method that works best with your lifestyle, whether it be tea, tincture, or in capsule form. There are many wonderful companies out there today that make adaptogen coffee or coffee alternative blends, creamy nighttime powdered lattes, or dried tea blends. Find what works best for you and take the necessary steps to start reducing stress in your life.
Some herbal products I make to help cope with stress are:
