The Stress Talk

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Introduction: Homeopathic Philosophy

Herbal remedies for stress have become prevalent in the last few years. The world is a busy place and people find themselves constantly having to juggle work and personal commitments. This inevitably leads to stress. Stress itself can be a killer as it leads to chemical reactions within the body that can be harmful. Some will resort simply with going to the doctor to be prescribed conventional drug treatments. Some would prefer more natural methods and in recent times there has been an upsurge in herbal and homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is controversial as most compounds are predominantly water. The philosophy behind it suggests, however, that as symptoms are the body’s attempt to achieve balance, minute quantities of compounds which induce the symptoms, will in effect, boost the immune system.

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?

What many of the herbal remedies do in stress relief is either calm the system down, or act as a sedative or tranquilizer (Hops,) Some claim to have anti-oxidants (Flavinoids) (Passion Flower).Some claim to be mood stabilizers such as Skull Cap; Cat nip works on de-stressing the brain and well as calming the digestive system. Quite the opposite effect that the plant has on a cat! Something like Rhodiola, an adaptogenic herb suggested for people who are continually have disrupted sleep patterns, regulates the heart, as well as suppressing the depression causing chemicals in the brain and improving the serotonin levels. It’s also an aphrodisiac: perhaps another way of improving the mood? Chamomile, commonly drunk as a sedative tea will also help the immune system during times of depression. St John’s Wort is commonly also used as a natural anti-depressant although it should be used with caution if taking other medication.

Other uses For the Herbs

Herbal remedies are not necessarily about ingesting: aromatherapy is very popular. Smelling scented oils like lavender, usually in an oil burner or dropped into the bath is said to have a calming effect on the brain. However, stress can also be controlled by being more positively pro-active. Exercise, a good diet and plenty of down time are also really useful in coping with life.

Conclusions

Human beings have been using herbal remedies for millennia. Some of the treatments that we use today were originally based on natural materials. Herbal remedies are an effective treatment for many conditions, not limited to but including conditions such as stress.