Natural Remedies for Stress Reduction

Tension, anxiety, and stress interfere with the body’s natural rhythms. Fortunately, there exist many natural methods of restoring this equilibrium and re-elevating your mood.

hen energy accumulates in your muscles, it becomes tension that hinders the free flow of nutrient and oxygen-rich blood, vital energy, hormones, and nerve substances. This tension, combined with anxiety and stress, interferes with the body’s natural rhythms. Fortunately, there exist many natural methods of restoring this equilibrium and re-elevating your mood. Here are some natural choices to consider.

Exercise, Relaxation Techniques, and Massage

The best natural anti-anxiety medicine is vigorous, energized, spirited exercise. If you seem to be feeling anxious more often, add daily relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation, visualization, and deep breathing exercises to your daily routine. Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi gong all regulate vital energy and release built-up tension.

The healing, soothing touch of a massage therapist can locate tension and knead it away. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet therapy are all potential avenues to explore for healing mild to severe depression or anxiety.

	Don't forget the power of friendships... ask for help in de-stressing your life.

Creating a Stress-Free Sleeping Environment

Sleep habits are an important part of natural healing. Here’s what you need to create a relaxing routine to optimize your body’s rest and restoration time:

• Create a regular schedule
• Avoid exercise, alcohol, and caffeine right before bed
• Keep your bedroom at a cool to moderate temperature
• Use calming aromatherapy sprays or scented pillows
• Insulate against ambient sound and light with earplugs, an eye mask, curtains, and rugs
• Avoid tossing and turning. If you can’t sleep, do something quiet like reading, stretching, meditating, or Yoga

Diet, Herbs, and Supplements that Reduce Stress

The first dietary changes that could be most helpful to improving your moods are increasing protein and reducing sugars. It may be hard to accept, but eliminating caffeine can positively improve your outlook. Foods with vitamin B6 can help with mood problems. Wheat germ, bran, bananas, avocados, spinach, millet, kidney beans, and soybeans can all lift your spirits.

Supplements for depression, anxiety, and insomnia include:

• B complex: niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin
• Vitamin B6 and folic acid
• Calcium (800 mg.)
• Magnesium (1200 mg.)
• Sprulina
• Vitamin E (400 IU)

Nearly everyone knows that St. John’s wort can lift your mood, but valerian, California poppy, and kava kava can also work wonders on frazzled nerves. Drinking mild herbal teas can safely elicit a state of calm and promote sleep. Lemon balm, linden (lime flower), and chamomile are gentle, relaxing herbs that make tasty teas. St John’s wort should be used with caution, as it can interact with some antidepressants and other prescription medications, especially blood thinners.

Chinese Traditional Methods of Stress Reduction

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that a healthy liver promotes overall health and balances the emotions. Liver cleansers, such as dandelion root, burdock, and yellow dock, help the liver produce bile, which eliminates toxins. Visit a licensed acupuncturist or other TCM practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. Chronic stress almost always affects your digestion. To aid digestion, try introducing Chinese herbs such as atractylodes, poria, and ginger into your food.

Aromatherapy for Stress Reduction

Aromatherapy, while probably not effective against mood disorders on its own, is a great complement to alternative therapies. Some of the most frequently used, mood-lifting essential oils are orange peel, tangerine, grapefruit, and neroli. Lavender and chamomile are excellent on their own or blended. Many women find jasmine and clary sage especially helpful. Rosemary, marjoram, fir, or cypress can be beneficial if you experience sorrow from loss.

Don’t forget the power of friendships. Gain strength from your relationships and ask others for help in de-stressing your life.

Visit an experienced herbalist or a natural healthcare practitioner to help your body soothe your mind. Natural therapies and remedies can help put you back on the right path during times when you seem to lose your way.