Medicinal plants against stress – settle down and relax

Relax, breathe deeply and settle down – that’s hard for many people. Some herbs can help in coping with stress.

Everybody knows such hectic days: in the office one has the feeling that time is slipping through one’s fingers and incessantly sinks the chance to do even half of the upcoming doings. After work, on the way to childcare, an annoying traffic jam steals more precious minutes – and even the queue at the supermarket cashier seems to be endless again …

Permanent stress makes sick

Stress has become a part of our everyday lives. As long as it occurs only for a short time, there is no reason to worry.

For our ancestors, stress was even necessary for survival, because in a threatening situation, it provided energies for escape or a fight: the heartbeat increases, the oxygen turnover increases, fat reserves are made available, the experience of pain sinks and the immune system works only on low flame.

In the long run, however, stress makes you sick. Those who are under constant pressure and can not calm down endanger both their physical and mental health. The consequences are various and depend on the individual constitution: They range from high blood pressure, headaches, migraines, tensions, stomach aches, digestive problems, sleep disorders and susceptibility to so-called burnout syndrome, anxiety and depression.

Good for the well-being

To come to rest, to switch off from everyday life and thus counteract the stress is therefore important for the well-being. There are a number of medicinal herbs that support mental and physical recovery in hectic phases and relieve symptoms such as nervousness, tenseness, migraines or lack of concentration.

Although this does not eliminate the causes of the stress, but does provide some distance. And, of course, a more relaxed posture will also help a lot in dealing with stressful situations.

Many of these “anti-stress herbs” can be found bought in special markets and online, or you can even cultivate them in your garden or balcony.

In the apothecary garden, bedding plugs lead the way to lavender and melissa – the classics among medicinal herbs that support with tension, stress and nervousness. St. John’s wort and rose have also proven to be stabilizing and harmonizing aids. Sometimes medicinal herbs do well against tension, stress as well as nervousness. For example, if these symptoms cause exhaustion, lack of power or lack of concentration. Then such plants have priority.

Cardiotonic hawthorn

Many people get headaches or migraines when they are under constant pressure. Relief can provide a soothing and antispasmodic tincture set with lavender and feverfew. The latter was already held in high esteem in the Middle Ages and still grows today in many gardens – but its healing powers have almost been forgotten.

The hawthorn has also been valued hundreds of years ago. The heart-strengthening effect of this medicinal herb has been studied in numerous studies and is now scientifically recognized. Its ingredients improve the blood flow to the heart, which is particularly affected by too much stress.

In addition, it has a slightly soothing side effect and is recommended as an ingredient for nerve-strengthening, balancing and relaxing tea blends. Anyone who drops such a cup of tea in passing and already has the next appointments in mind will certainly not benefit from its harmonizing effect. It is much better to consciously take a little break, to enjoy the tea in peace and to think of something beautiful.

You should treat yourself to even more such well-being rituals and thus counteract the stress: A revitalizing foot bath, a relaxing facial mask or a refreshing massage help to keep your body and soul in balance. Gain distance from everyday life – that works great in the bathtub. In warm water, various medicinal plants as additives can develop their calming, strengthening and balancing properties. Rose, lavender and Co. not only work on the skin, but also on the sense of smell.

Selected essential oils

Fragrances have direct access to our emotional world via the so-called limbic system and directly influence our well-being. The essential oils of selected medicinal plants, which are used in aromatherapy for baths, skin oils or fragrance lamps, therefore play an important role in stress management.

These are especially flower oils such as lavender, jasmine, neroli, rose or rose geranium, which have a relaxing and stabilizing effect. Or the essential oils of grapefruit, mandarin and other citrus fruits that have revitalizing properties and make you happy.