Stress Less This Holiday Season

Christmas and New Years can be a stressful time, so here are a few herbs and tips to help calm us, so that we can truly enjoy this season.    

There are two types of herbs that are especially beneficial for stress.  These are nervines and adaptogens.
 

Nervines
Nervines are herbs that specifically help support the nervous system such as skullcap, oatstraw, chamomile and valerian root. In general, these herbs are used to help relieve muscle tension, calm worried thoughts and anger, promote concentration and help support healthy nerve function with regular use. Other herbs such as lavender can be calming, and often used in aromatherapy for its mild calming action while uplifting the spirit. Lemon balm is like sunshine, helping with gloom and elevating the mood, and has even been shown to help with panic attacks. Catnip is gentle and calming, a good herb for children. St. John’s wort helps with mild depression and concentration.

Adaptogens
Adaptogens help us to manage stress and adapt to what our body needs at the moment. These herbs help restore overall balance and strengthen the function of the body as a whole without impacting the balance of an individual organ or body system. They are known to improve focus, support a healthy immune system, and the body seems to know just where they are needed!  Some Adaptogenic herbs are:

Eleuthero root (Siberian ginseng)
Licorice root
American ginseng
Ashwaganda
Mushrooms
Wood betony
Maca 

Solle Natural has some GREAT products with adaptogen herbs. 

• Drink a cup of Herbs4You Stress Ease Tea or Serotonin Tea
• Take our Serotonin or Relax Ease Tincture
•  Do a session of Emotional Release
• Take a hot bath with Epson salt and lavender essential oil.
• Do some Tuning Forks
• Whenever feeling stress, do some deep breathing.
• Sing Christmas carols or listen to soft music.
• Rock in a rocking chair or recliner.  The motion releases tension.
• Go to parties, but don’t hold them.
• Spend less, Connect more.
• Focus on meaningful traditions, forget the extras.