Kick Stress’s Butt Naturally
Introduction: Homeopathic Philosophy
There has been an up-surge in herbal stress remedies in recent years. Everybody these days seems to suffer from stress. Nevertheless stress is a killer! Not to cause you any distress. Stress produces particular chemical reactions in the body, which, if left unchecked, can lead to everything from indigestion, to sexual dysfunction; from major depression to heart failure, and cancer. Whilst some might consult a medical professional to combat the onset of stress, others might sooner deal with through herbalism and homeopathy. The effectiveness of homeopathy is widely disputed by conventional science, but its philosophy is quite simple and rather runs along the lines of trying to boost the body’s systems of dealing with symptoms.
Herbs are Chemicals Too!
There is a widely-held belief that herbal remedies for stress relief , being natural, will not have as many side effects as man made drugs; but many natural remedies contain the substances on which drugs are based. Valerian for instance is similar to diazepam and actually is the chemical constituent of valium. Even salic acid, the main active ingredient in aspirin is derived from willow bark!
If They Are Chemicals What Do They Do?
In fact herbal based stress remedies will work in the same way as prescribed drugs: altering chemical functions in the brain and the nervous system. Rhodiola is widely used to help deal sleep disorders, but what it does is boost the serotonin levels in the brain and therefore suppressing the chemicals that cause depression. Some stress relieving herbal remedies make have unexpected effects. For example, give Cat Nip to Tiddles and see the excitement; but take it yourself and you might find yourself becoming more sleepy as well as finding your digestion improving. Chamomile tea is a popular herbal stress remedy, but as well being calming, it can also help boost the immune systems during downturns in mood. Unfortunately herbal remedies are not always without sides effects: St Johns Wort, a widely used herbal anti-depressant can prove problematic when taken with certain conventional drugs. As ever, consult a health professional if in any doubt.
Other uses For the Herbs
If still concerned about ingesting strange herbal substances remember herbs like Lavender are very popular in aromatherapy, either in an oil burner or added to a bath. Other fragrances such as Rose are so said to have a calming effect when used in this manner. However, when in doubt exercise, a good diet and plenty relaxation activities, used in conjunction with what ever other remedies suit, will no doubt help to relieving the stress.
Conclusions
Herbal remedies have been used by humans for hundreds of years. Some of the treatments that we use today were based on natural materials. Herbal remedies are a very effective treatment for many conditions, including stress.
Tags: Health and Fitness