Don’t Reach for Those Pills Use These Natural Anxiety Cures

Anxiety is an emotion that we all experience on occasion. However if a person experiences it too frequently then it is a sign that a problem is on the horizon and needs to be addressed.

An overabundance of anxiety is a concern that cannot be swept under the carpet. But there are natural methods for coping with the prevalence of this emotion. Here we explore the most effective natural cures for anxiety.

Too Much Anxiety:

Anxiety is something we all suffer from from time to time. It is a normal response to a situation that is stressful and difficult to cope with. However if you experience it on a regular basis and your worries threaten to assail you then it is possible that you have developed generalized anxiety disorder.

If you are experiencing irritability, restlessness, poor concentration or find yourself growing impatient very easily then you should be evaluated by a medical professional. It helps to also become familiar with the most effective natural cures for anxiety.

Bodywork for Relief:

Bodywork is an excellent natural way of releasing tension and anxiety in the body and the mind. To help you to relieve stress, let go of muscle tension, sleep better and to feel more relaxed try massage therapy or shiatsu. You can also explore other methods of bodywork to reduce the level of anxiety you feel.

Mind and Body Techniques for Relief:

Techniques that engage both your mind and body can also provide an effective cure for anxiety in a natural way. Examples of those include meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, yoga and tai chi. There are also mind/body exercises that you can do. Getting plenty of physical activity is also a natural anxiety cure as it reduces stress, gives you more energy and provides relaxation. What you might want to do is to try a variety of mind/body techniques and then choose the ones that are most fitting to your lifestyle and schedule.

The Herb Valerian:

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb that is often used to treat those who suffer from insomnia as it can provide a restful night’s sleep. This is also an herb that has shown success in patients who suffer from a mild form of anxiety. Be aware however that the research done on Valerian and anxiety shows promise but is limited at the present time.

This herb should be taken once a day. The best time is approximately one hour before you go to bed. You should continue to take it for a period of two to three weeks at a time. You should not take it for more than three months. Valerian should not be taken with other types of medication. In particular it should not be taken if you are also taking antihistamines or sedatives.

Other Natural Anxiety Remedies:

Other natural remedies for anxiety that you may wish to explore include the herbs passionflower and kava as well as aromatherapy. Chamomile is also good for anxiety as are the B vitamins and the minerals calcium and magnesium.

Becca

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Stress Driving You Crazy? – Ways to Stress Less – Part I

Stress. It is one small word but oh what a loaded word! Too much of it is bad for your health and your overall well-being. It can affect your heart, your relationships, your ability to focus and make decisions and even your cholesterol level. Here we look at some simple ways that you can relieve tension and minimize stress in your busy life.

You know that expression, “Stop and smell the roses”? Well when it comes to stress there is some logic in that. It is aromatherapy and stopping to smell the roses that can help to ease stress. Roses contain a chemical called linalool which has been proven through scientific studies to reduce stress.

This is also true of fruits such as oranges, mangoes and grapes, and herbs such as basil, rosemary and lavender. Keep a vase of flowers nearby or some dried lavender or a bowl of fruit and take a whiff of it whenever you are feeling blue.

Here is one you may never have thought of – chew gum. Chewing gum offers a means of busting stress and it is a pleasant treat that will not cause a spike in your cholesterol level. A recent study showed that workers who chew gum reported a lesser amount of stress than did workers who did not chew gum. Putting a piece of gum in your mouth and chomping on it stimulates a nerve known as the vagus nerve. This nerve helps to calm and relax you. Just make sure that you think of the health of your teeth as well.

Naturally, opt for sugar-free gum.

Sipping a relaxing cup of tea is well… relaxing and soothing when you are feeling like a bundle of nerves. Take a hint from the British. The Brits brew a pot of tea when stress threatens to boil over and it helps them to feel calmer and more in control of their circumstances. Black tea has been found to be high in antioxidants that blast stress.

These antioxidants include flavonoids, polyphenols and amino acids. There is also evidence to suggest that green tea can help to lower the bad type of cholesterol in the body, otherwise known as LDL cholesterol. Next time you feel overwhelmed with stress brew yourself a cup and sit down and enjoy it!

Do you laugh a lot? Do you even laugh enough? If you cannot remember when you last cut loose with a hearty laugh then it is no surprise that your health is paying the price when it comes to stress. As far as stress is concerned, laughter really is one of the best types of medicine. When you let go with a hearty belly laugh this brings about the production of endorphins which are the feel-good brain transmitters. It also relaxes blood vessels and thereby increases blood flow. As an antidote for tension laughter is very good indeed!

More ways continue in Part II to stop stress in its tracks.

Samantha

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Reducing Stress Levels with Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy. Even the word has a relaxing and calming sound to it.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in order to improve and enhance an individual’s health and well-being. While it is not a miracle practice it is a very basic and natural way to manage and reduce stress in your life.

Essential oils can be thought of as concentrated extracts that are taken from the roots of plants, as well as the bark, flowers and leaves of plants. Examples of these include orange, rosemary, roses, lavender and sandalwood. Aromatherapy is not a new concept by any means. It dates back to ancient times and was even made reference to in the Old Testament.

Lessening Stress with Oils:

You may wonder how aromatherapy can be of help when it comes to stress. If you are constantly facing situations in your life that are stressful then stress can become overwhelming and downright harmful to your well-being. The scents of essential oils can be used to relax and soothe because they produce chemical responses in the brain that can help to center the mind and make stress more manageable.

Our noses play an important role in this process as they are the entry by way scents make their way to our thinking and feeling center – the brain.

Olfactory cells are found at the top portion of each one of our nostrils. These cells capture the scent of the essential oil and then take those impulses and transport them to the limbic system in the brain.

It is the limbic system that not only controls the way in which we respond to stress but also stores and recalls all of our memories (it is our very own memory lane!) and processes all of our emotions. The limbic system is connected to our sense of smell. How we respond to stress also starts here which explains why what we smell can have a strong effect on stress.

Plant Essences – Something for Everyone!

If you would like to try aromatherapy for stress relief but are not sure what plant essence appeals to you the most then experiment with a variety of them. There are many essential oils from plants that can lead to a calmer and tranquil state of mind.

The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is that it is simple to do and is not expensive. You can dip a cotton ball in the oil, inhale it and let it take over your senses and improve your mood. Aromatherapy can be enjoyed by anyone practically anywhere. This makes it a very versatile natural therapy for stress.

If anxiety and tension are weighing you down then try a combination of geranium, lavender and patchouli.

Lavender and geranium can also be used on their own to relax the body and mind and to relieve stress. As a type of nerve sedative chamomile and Melissa earn high marks. Chamomile can also be effectively used by itself as a stress and anxiety reducer.

Clary sage is beneficial when you have a strong desire to relax.

When it comes to depression and/or insomnia sandalwood can be very effective. Sweet marjoram is helpful when it comes to reducing high levels of anxiety and tension. Juniper berry is also an anxiety reliever and is worthwhile when you are feeling red hot with anger!

Samantha

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Seeking Out Alternative Treatments for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that can cause a great deal of pain, bleeding and scarring for the woman who develops it.

This disease takes place when the tissue that lines the uterus (known as the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus and into the abdomen. In some women it may grow on the ovaries or in the fallopian tubes.

This disease affects in the range of eight to 15 percent of females. It is most commonly found in women in their early 20’s and those in their early 30’s. Endometriosis can make getting pregnant difficult. It can also increase a woman’s chances of developing certain types of cancers, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. If not treated and diagnosed in its early stages endometriosis can get worse over the passage of time.

Alternative Treatment Options:

Alternative therapies can be beneficial to those women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis.

Those who practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are of the belief that this disease is caused by the stagnation of qi (blood stasis), damp heat or dampness and phlegm combined. They are also of the mind that endometriosis may develop if the organs of the body are not as strong as they could be. Many TCM practitioners believe that a constant insufficiency in a combination of the body’s organs can lead to negative patterns that take place over a long stretch of time.

It is these negative patterns that they seek to eradicate with alternative treatments.

TCM is all about herbal treatments. The herbs that characterize TCM are often combined with the practice of acupuncture to regulate the progression of the disease as well as the rate at which the blood is stagnating. When these therapies join forces they can find the root of the problem and then can work from there to improve the health of the sufferer.

Aromatherapy has also shown promise for those women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis. Aromatherapy uses oils to heal the body.

The adhesions that take place as a result of this chronic disease can be reduced with the application of a selection of oils. The most beneficial ones for this purpose are chamomile, jasmine, lavender, neroli and rose. Not only are these oils healing in nature but they are also anti-spasmodic which means that they prevent and/or reduce the occurrence of muscle spasms.

Both of these significant properties of oils can make them very useful for muscles and tissues.

If you suffer from endometriosis then you may wish to see what the world of alternative medicine has to offer you. You do not have to abandon conventional treatments all together but can look to other more natural and holistic means to help your condition.

Samantha

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Calm Yourself in a Whole New Way- Try Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an ancient art that has been used for thousands of years as an aid to both emotional and physical well-being.

The practice of aromatherapy can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians who made use of the therapeutic powers of essential oils. It is also a practice that people in China and the Far East have been using with much success for a long time.

Aromatherapy can be used for many purposes. The most common of these include stress reduction, pain relief, sleep problems, restlessness and calming the mind and body.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils and specific scents, such as vanilla and lavender as a way to improve mood and to improve a person’s overall well-being. Many people don’t realize how strong their sense of smell is. It is also well-developed as the brain responds to fragrances. The smell of a particular plant oil can soothe the brain, conjure up past memories and make it possible for a person to become more invigorated. Suddenly the experience of being alive takes on a greater meaning and there is less tension, anxiety and unrest in the person’s being.

It has been theorized that aromatherapy has a positive and relaxing effect on the nervous system. Yet others believe that it works simply because it is suggested that it will. No one really knows. Aromatherapy is ancient and holds many mysteries that Western society has yet to fully understand or that the practice is willing to reveal. Despite its secretive nature, aromatherapy can benefit everyone.

Let us look at an example of this. Lavender is a type of herb that has a very calming scent to it. It is commonly used to help those who have trouble falling asleep. Many years ago lavender was placed inside pillows and then sewn into them. It was believed that the person who laid their head down on the pillow would have a restful and peaceful night’s sleep.

Yet another common scenario for lavender was that it was sprinkled on handkerchiefs and sniffed when needed. Why was that? It was thought to calm the nerves and make a person feel less tense and uptight.

If you ever look closely at products marketed for babies you will discover that many of the lotions, creams, oils and powders include lavender as an ingredient.

Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

There are many different types of essential oils used in the practice of aromatherapy but the most common and recommended ones include:

• Chamomile
• Eucalyptus
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Sandalwood
• Marjoram
• Jasmine
• Neroli

You may be very familiar with some of these oils but not so much with others. The oils can be used to treat everything from skin problems to indigestion to premenstrual pain to infections to, as previously mentioned, calm the nerves. For example, chamomile can be purchased as a tea. Its calming properties on the stomach are well documented. This is an excellent tea to drink if you are preparing to fly and are feeling nervous and apprehensive.

Essential oils for aromatherapy can be added to a bath and then soaked in for a feeling of total relaxation. Always remember however that a little goes a long way. They can also be sniffed in much the same way that you would take in the scent of a perfume that appealed to you.

Many people believe that aromatherapy and massage go well together and therefore make their own massage oil. Together the two combined make for a very relaxing experience! Aromatherapy candles are also very popular if you prefer to smell the scents in your home but not have them on your body.

To learn more about aromatherapy please visit these sites:

http://www.aromaweb.com/
http://www.aworldofaromatherapy.com/

Samantha

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