Our schedules are becoming busier by the day. This causes us to spend less time taking care of our mental health and working for long hours without a break. Along with it, it carries a lot of stress that can lead to problems like anxiety and depression.
Considering the rising stress levels in our daily lives, I have enlisted a few herbs that can help you combat stress naturally and feel better despite working continuously.
1. Brahmi
Brahmi is a very important ayurvedic herb native to India. It has natural properties that make it one of the best herbs to combat stress. Brahmi reduces the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, in our body which leads to lower stress levels in the body. Brahmi is also used by many to counteract anxiety issues as it can improve the body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that can help in keeping the mind calm.
2. Amla
There are hundreds of herbs used in Ayurveda but Amla is by far one of the most-used. Amla benefits have the ability to combat various disorders including reducing the side-effects of stress. Amla is extremely rich in vitamin C which helps in keeping the blood vessels and capillaries in our body relaxed, thus, combating one of the first signs of stress – the constriction of blood vessels and capillaries. This helps in improving the blood flow in the body which leads to the brain receiving a better amount of oxygenated blood.
If the brain gets sufficient blood supply, it goes a long way in reducing stress and depression. Regular consumption of amla can help you lower your stress levels significantly and fight problems like anxiety and depression. As it is a seasonal fruit, you can consume dry amla in the months when it is not available as dry amla retains all the antidepressant properties of the herb.
3. Cacao
From children to adults, everyone loves chocolate. While all of us can enjoy chocolate at any time, you might have noticed that we often tend to crave chocolate whenever we are feeling down. The reason is that raw cacao is a great source of phytonutrients that are useful in helping boost our mood and uplift our spirits.
Cacao is rich in phenylethylamine, a neurochemical that plays a major role in enhancing feelings of contentment. Not only this, but cacao has also been proven to improve the production of serotonin and dopamine in the body. This extraordinary combination of mood-enhancing nutrients and vitamins establishes cacao as one of the best natural remedies to combat feelings of depressions.
4. Catnip
Catnip has been used in ayurvedic medicines for several centuries to treat restlessness and sleeping disorders in toddlers. It is also used for treating several nerve disorders and anxiety issues. At present, an alarmingly large number of people suffer from sleeping disorders like insomnia that can lead to anxiety.
Catnip acts as a natural sedative that can help people sleep better and therefore, help reduce stress and anxiety to a large extent.
5. Coconut
Coconut has quite a lot of properties that can help combat several disorders. For instance, it can help in relaxing the adrenal glands which secrete cortisol. This leads to lower production of cortisol and thus the body experiences lower stress levels.
It also provides the brain with chain triglycerides that are necessary for its development and are essential for young children. It also provides energy to the body as it can be easily metabolized by the liver.
6. Damiana
The leaves of the Damiana herb have been used for a long time to maintain the overall health of the body. This herb is extremely useful in treating moderate cases of depression and anxiety. It is particularly handy in treating anxiety caused by chronic stress. It has a stimulating effect on the body and can help enhance the mood when consumed. Regular consumption can lead to lower production of cortisol and a stress-free body.
7. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a popular natural remedy because of its ability to cure both physical and emotional side-effects of depression. It helps in increasing the blood flow to the brain and leads to faster metabolism of glucose.
This helps in fighting depression as poor blood flow to the brain and lower energy levels due to slow metabolism of glucose can lead to an increase in the feeling of depression. Ginkgo Biloba also contains an enzyme, Kaempferol that helps regulate the amount of dopamine that is required by the brain at all times.
Taking care of our mental health along with our busy schedule is important. Try to include these herbs in your daily diet to help lower your stress levels and maintain your productivity.
Leave a Reply