By Dr. Farah Khan, DOM
Let’s face it. We all get stressed out now and then. Life is hectic. We often feel like we have too much to do in too little time. People in our lives can be difficult. There are so many factors that can throw our life off kilter at times. One way to reduce stress in our lives is to focus on personal growth and renewal. This includes mental and spiritual renewal along with maintaining our bodies in optimum physical health. The state of our nervous systems can particularly make a huge difference in our capacity to adapt and thrive through all of the curve balls that life may throw us. Proper rest and relaxation, proper nutrition, proper exercise, as well as prayer and meditation can all improve our ability to handle stress. In addition, there are numerous herbs and essential oils that can help us to handle stress better.
Certain herbs can improve our ability to handle stress. Siberian ginseng is one herb that is well known for its adaptogenic functions. This means that it can aid our bodies to adapt to a variety of stressful conditions better. Many athletes use it to improve athletic performance. In China, it is commonly used to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It can reduce many of the negative effects of chemotherapy. People’s white blood cell counts stay more normal and they have less hair loss and nausea when taking Siberian ginseng. We can take Siberian ginseng in everyday life to cope better with stress. In small amounts, it can also improve our sleep and alleviate insomnia. It can alleviate fatigue and exhaustion in people whose nerves feel fried from doing too much.
Another Chinese herb that increases our resistance to stress is cordyceps. Cordyceps is a Chinese herb that has been shown to improve oxygenation in our body. It enhances our ability to adapt to stress and it boosts energy. It has been shown to be beneficial for people suffering from chronic fatigue. In Chinese medicine, it is considered to be a kidney tonic. This means that it can be particularly beneficial for people who feel adrenal depleted. These people often have fatigue combined with a poor appetite and low back pain.
Free and Easy Wanderer is an herbal formula that can help anyone experiencing moodswings, anger, fatigue or depression along with changes in appetite. It contains bupleurum root, which is renowned in China for its capacity to relieve stress. This herbal formula is particularly beneficial for women with premenstrual syndrome, but it effectively relieves stress in men as well.
An herbal formula called Lung Tan Xie Gan Wan, or Dragon Gallbladder Clear Fire Pill, can be useful for those of us who get angry and enraged easily. This Chinese patent pill can reduce conditions of heat and inflammation in the body, and concurrently alleviate emotional “heat”.
Another herbal formula called Zizyphus Pills can help people suffering from anxiety and insomnia. The main ingredient, zizyphus seed, is beneficial for calming and soothing strained nervous systems. It can increase the nourishing yin energy of the body which helps to promote restful sleep. This herb can also be helpful for people who are continually anxious about the future and for people who tend to hyperventilate or who have panic attacks. Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Formula can also be beneficial for people with panic attacks or for those who experience stress-induced asthma.
Certain essential oils can also increase our capacity to handle stress and can also encourage us to relax so we do not get stressed out in the first place. Simply sniffing these scents by placing a drop on a handkerchief or diffusing the aroma with a room diffuser can make a wonderful difference in our state of mind.
Lavender essential oil is very soothing, calming, and relaxing. One drop placed on or near our pillow at night can improve sleep and may alleviate insomnia. Chamomile essential oil can also promote a good night’s rest. Placing three or four drops in our bathwater before we go to bed can promote sleep and calm our nerves.
When we want to be awake and energized, a number of essential oils can give us a little pick me up. Peppermint essential oil can improve our clarity of mind and our wakefulness. Lemon essential oil can also make us feel more alert. Studies in Japan have shown that lemon essential oil increases the accuracy of people’s work when the fragrance is diffused through their office.
Grapefruit and tangerine essential oil can make us feel more joyful and optimistic. These are good oils for people who tend to get depressed easily. Grapefruit essential oil can also promote wakefulness in people suffering from jetlag. Another essential oil that is helpful for people who get depressed easily is rosemary. Simply inhaling the scent of rosemary can enhance the flow of oxygen to the brain. This can also help improve retention of information and improve people’s test taking abilities.
And last but not least, if you are interested in letting go, letting things flow and taking the stress out of romance, certain essential oils are wonderful for creating a good ambience. Ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose essential oils can all help to create a relaxing and warm atmosphere to help us loosen up and enjoy an evening with someone special.
As you can see, there are many different remedies that can aid us in our quest to lead a more relaxed life while managing our stress naturally.
Biography
Dr. Farah Khan is a licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine in the state of New Mexico. She is an experienced herbalist, aromatherapist, and acupuncturist. She also practices a form of spiritual energy work that was passed on to her by a line of Mexican curanderas. Her specialties include treatment of Lyme Disease and fibromyalgia. She has a B.A. in psychology from Brown University and an M.A. in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Albuquerque, NM. She is available for herbal consultations over the web and has an extensive line of products at her site.
Her web site is at http://www.yinessence.com.
You can e-mail Dr. Khan at farah@yinessence.com.
© aromahealthtips UK 2004