STRESS: That’s the Way We Spell Success

Best Single Herb: Chamomile

Best Combinations: Chamomile, passion flower, hops, fennel, marshmallow, feverfew; suma, astragalus, Siberian ginseng, ginkgo biloba, gotu kola

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: Lifestyle

Complementary Help: Massage; reflexology; stress management; chamomile eye pillow; chamomile tea

Who hasn’t heard of stress these days? It seems to enter our vocabulary daily. One definition of stress is mental or emotional pressure. This is stress you can’t see, but your body still knows it’s there. Unfortunately, stress is not always caused by negative things, such as work-related stress, or bad-relationship stress, or car-trouble-induced stress. In fact, some of the top related stresses are good things.

Read over these examples of some positive things that cause a great deal of stress in our lives, if you have more than two or three of these things going on at once, you could benefit from extra stress-reducing herbs and supplements:

• Weddings
• A new marriage
• Travel
• A move to a new home — even when it is your dream home!
• A promotion at work
• A new baby
• High goals you set for yourself and then work toward
• Starting your own business, and being successful
• Retirement preparations

Needless to say, the universe has a way of keeping in balance, and along with the positive things that come your way, you can be sure you’ll experience negative side effects from stress to make up for it. Stress is linked to a host of related ailments and can make your immune system more vulnerable to other illness. If you are overburdened with good or bad things in your life that are causing you stress, take some time to sip the herbal tea.

Chamomile for Soothing the Right Nerve

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of the safest and most effective herbs to use to gently calm your nerves and ease stress. It has been used successfully to calm intestinal cramps; ease colic, indigestion, stress, and ulcers; and ease restlessness. What’s more, this herb is safe enough to be shared by pregnant and nursing moms and babies.

Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

Recently, a nursing mom asked me about what she could do for her colicky baby. I told her about the soothing effects of chamomile, and she sipped a couple cups of tea before breast-feeding her baby that evening. The next day she told me that she hadn’t slept so well in weeks — and her baby woke up only once during the night!

Chamomile flowers are used as a hair rinse for blond hair to help keep the hair’s color. This herb, also called wild pineapple or ground apple, grows low to the ground and gives off a wonderful smell — similar to pineapple — when picked fresh. I find it interesting that wild chamomile grows in areas such as driveways and where people walk constantly — I have always found it under my feet, literally. I have a theory, based on the doctrine of signatures, that chamomile grows in areas where it receives much abuse or stress, and that is what makes it such a good herbal remedy for this condition!

Warnings about the use of herbs

Although chamomile is considered a very safe herb, a small percentage of folks may be allergic to it. The people who have a severe sensitivity to ragweed seem to be the most vulnerable.

Researchers have found that a plant’s medicinal parts are actually part of the plant’s own immune system. When a plant is attacked, such as when its leaves are plucked or when it’s trampled on, the medicinal qualities actually get stronger. So, maybe the chamomile that is trampled on will serve as a more potent stress-relieving remedy than a chamomile that is pampered. I don’t know for sure, but, as always, there are many thoughts to ponder while sipping that nice, relaxing cup of chamomile tea. Ahhh!

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Kava kava has been used as a staple herb in the Pacific Islands for more than 3,000 years to ease anxiety. Kavalactones, the active ingredient in this herb, serve to relax muscles and sedate the nerves without the toxic side effects that tranquilizers can have. Several studies have shown that kava actually increases mental mood and alertness, while creating a euphoric-type state.

Mote De-Stressing Solutions

Plenty of remedies in the herbal kingdom can help ease your mind and body. Passion flower and hops are also favorites. (See more on hops in Chapter 6 in the section “Anxiety: Panic Not — Herbs to the Rescue.”) The B-complex vitamins are always helpful as well because your body utilizes more of these B vitamins when under stress.

Add some adaptogen herbs that help your body adapt to stress if you are feeling worn-out due to lifestyle. Suma, astragalus, ginseng, and gotu kola are all excellent herbal tonics that can help pull you back together after a stressful period or keep you going through the rough times. Avoid taking these herbs just before bed, however, because they can keep you awake.

Other great therapies that are helpful to many with stress include massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, meditation, and exercise.

Related posts:

1. SAFETY INFORMATION SAFETY INFORMATION: HERB DRUG INTERACTIONS, TOXICITY, AND CONTRAINDICATIONS A 1997 peer-reviewed appraisal of kava kava safety based on a comprehensive review of the scientific and historical ethnobotanical literature determined that When used in normal therapeutic doses, kava appears to offer safe and effective anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant actions without depressing centers of higher thought. The...