« How To Use Your Homeowners Insurance Plan To Save Money | Home | Atlanta: Getting Great Used Cars »
Stress Kicker - Natural Herbal Remedies
By Floella McFee | June 6, 2008
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?
Like the synthetic drugs many herbal remedies aid in altering the chemical reactions throughout the body. Some act as sedatives and tranquillizers, whilst others are mood enhancers. Hops, for example, is commonly used to aid sleep; as is chamomile, but this can also be used to boost the immune system during periods of depression. Skull Cap, and strangely Cat Nip is used to calm the brain down. Whereas Rhodiola can be multifunctional: it’s classed as an adaptogenic herb and can be used in regulating the heart, as well as improving the serotonin levels and thus suppressing the depression causing chemicals in the brain. It’s also an aphrodisiac, perhaps something that may also improve the mood. St John’s Wort is a popular alternative to conventional anti-depressants, although it should be checked with a health professional before using, as adverse reactions are known to occur when taken with other medications.
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.
Topics: Health&Fitness |
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.