Chill Out This Holiday Season: Stress-Less Remedies

The holidays can be a wonderful time with friends and family. It's a time to remember the past or make memories for the future. I love the traditions our family has developed over the years, but it can also be a time of great stress. You get caught in traffic jams. When shopping for a special gift, you find every store is currently out of the one thing you wanted. You need time for baking and decorating. It's during these times your adrenal alarm goes off in response to stress, excitement or anxiety. Your adrenal glands are controlled by your nervous system and respond quickly to your emotions. Extra stress overworks these glands and they become exhausted. You get sluggish and seem tired all the time (not exactly what you need at this time of year).
Make sure you are getting a sufficient supply of the "anti-stress" B vitamins. Also consider nervous system sedatives such as Valerian, Scullcap, Chamomile and California Poppy to help keep you calm and to repair damage that may already have been done (heart disease, ulcers, allergies, high blood pressure, headaches, need I go on?).
The versatile herb Valerian calms people who are agitated, but stimulates those who feel fatigued. (To get the full picture of just what Valerian can do, read Valerian: The Relaxing and Sleep Herb, by Christopher Hobbs).
American Ginseng and Siberian Ginseng can help you handle stress by sedating or stimulating your central nervous system, according to your body's needs. Ginseng also increases your brain's utilization of amino acids, which is important because when you are under stress, your body uses more protein than usual. (Proteins are composed of amino acids).
Schizandra also has a regulating effect on the central nervous system. This herb quickens responses and makes you more alert. It relieves headaches, insomnia, dizziness and calms a racing heart. It also has been reported to control anger and aggression.
Kava tea is used to induce relaxation, restful sleep and a sense of mild euphoria. Kava is not a true sedative, however. Instead, it is a muscle relaxant. It is used to treat nervous tension, muscle spasms, tension headaches, insomnia from stress or tight muscles. I have found that Kava lives up to its reputation of promoting peace and harmony among people. This is a pretty amazing feat for an herb, but I am convinced that all the world's leaders should sit down to cups of Kava before their meetings.
You can make a tincture to use in emergencies.

"Chill Out Tincture"

Combine 1 tsp. each tinctures of Valerian, Licorice Root, Siberian Ginseng Root, Kava Root and California Poppy.

 Take as needed up to 1 tsp. per hour (in emergencies). Otherwise, take 1/2-1 dropperful per day, as a general aid.

If the tincture isn't your style, and if you're a person who enjoys hot baths, combining herbs with heat is one way to combine stress-relieving methods. Add herbs or essential oils to warm compresses or baths. There is evidence that at least 20 minutes of heat in a sauna or hot tub or half an hour of deep massage changes brain chemistry for the better. Some of the most relaxing essential oils to try include lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, orange, petitgrain and ylang ylang.



by Judy Burger