The holiday season may be one of the most anticipated and cheerful times of the day but it is also one of the most stressful periods of the year. EcoWatch has recommended some herbs that will help calm one's nerves to keep them in control whether it is the holiday season or just a regular day.
During stressful events, like preparing for the holidays, the body releases too much cortisol which is the fight-or-flight hormone that elevates blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Additionally, the body releases glucose into the bloodstream, the immune system is suppressed, and digestion slows down.
If stress is not relieved, it could become anxiety, could cause hormone imbalances, sickness, and gut problems. Ultimately, with cortisol out of control, it can make the person feel that they are not in control, tied, and overwhelmed with the holiday stress.
To at least help alleviate that, below are the herbs that are guaranteed to calm the nerves.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an ancient Indian medicinal herb that is widely studied for its effects on stress tolerance and cortisol production. A study from the journal of Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine claims that a high concentration of the root extract of this herb will improve resistance towards stress and improve the self-assessed quality of life.
Moreover, a 2018 study found that taking ashwagandha for eight weeks could help regulate thyroid levels. Besides that, animal studies found that this herb also can prevent weight due to chronic stress and prevent stress-related gastric ulcers.
Chamomile
Chamomile is usually served as a tea as it is full of potent antioxidants, such as flavonoids and terpenes to ward off cold. According to studies, chamomile tea can improve sleep quality, and relieve postpartum depression. Quality sleep is important to reduce stress levels.
Also, chamomile essential oil is good to use as an aromatherapy diffuser to calm and reduce stress.
Read also: ALSO READ: Immunity and Stress hormones while Pandemic: Need for calm goes to another level
Ginseng
Ginseng is another one of those herbs that have been long used in history to promote calmness, improve memory, and reduce stress. Out of all its variety, Panax ginseng has the highest concentrations of therapeutic components.
According to a 2010 study, 400 milligrams of Panax ginseng can improve calmness and enhance mental arithmetic. Also, another study has proven ginseng's benefit in reducing stress levels in rodents.
Lavender
Probably the most studied herb, lavender essential oils can reduce stress quickly because it contains phytochemicals that are small enough to easily pass through the nasal cavity and enter the bloodstream.
A 2016 study suggests that inhaling lavender aromatherapy could reduce stress, depression, and anxiety in postpartum women, and can be a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral to boost immunity.
Holy Basil
Aside from its use in cooking, holy basil or also known as tulsi is an Ayurvedic medicine that acts as an anti-aging treatment and used in skin disease, infections, and the common cold. But recently, researchers said that holy basil can also reduce stress and enhance a person's cognition.
This claim is backed by a study in 2015 that found holy basil can improve reaction time, reduce error rate, and decrease the production of cortisol hormones, therefore reducing stress.
Check out more news and information on Stress on Science Times.
