Originally published October 12 2013
How to reduce mental stress naturally
by Derek Henry
(NaturalNews) We live in a jacked up world. Everyone is on edge and much of it revolves around their health, finances and family. It seems like we can't shake the stress of day-to-day life, no matter how hard we try. It's time to end that streak and start to chill out with these three ways to reduce mental stress naturally.
Live with perspective
In a world of keeping up with the neighbors, we find ourselves never being satisfied with where we are and what we currently have in life. We are always looking for more, focusing on the future and on what we don't have.
To stop this type of mental stress, we need to live in the present moment, express gratitude every day and live with perspective. This gives us a much broader view of life and allows us to see that what we stress about is often not worth the mental and physical toll it can take on our bodies.
Yoga and meditation are two great ways to help you live with perspective, as they both help slow down the mind and put it in the present moment.
Take adaptogenic herbs
Adaptogens are plants that help us maintain balance by specifically supporting the endocrine system. This system controls our ability to adapt to different stressors in life and maintain a healthy outlook on life.
When we encounter too much stress and do not handle it effectively, it triggers a fight or flight mechanism which prompts the adrenals to release cortisol and enable short bursts of energy. Under chronic stress, the adrenals eventually give out and can no longer respond appropriately to external stressors.
This is where adaptogenic herbs do their important work. It was discovered that they have the ability to resist chemical and biological stressors, and therefore adapt to change, which is passed on to those humans who consume them.
A study with Siberian ginseng also showed its ability to increase the body's resistance to stress by reducing the activation of the adrenal cortex, which slowed down the release of fight or flight hormones.
Some great adaptogenic herbs include medicinal mushrooms, gynostemma, goji, schizandra, astragalus, Siberian ginseng, rhodiola, holy basil, and ashwagandha.
People are becoming increasingly aware that your gut health affects your mental health as well, primarily through the vagus nerve connection between the gut and the brain.
The power of this connection was proven through an experiment at University College Cork in Ireland with two groups of mice, one which was a control group and the other which was fed Lactobacillus ramnosus, a bacterium often use in yogurt.
These mice were placed in bowls of water to see how they would react to water stress. The control group swam for four minutes before giving up in a fit of despair. The bacteria-fed mice swam for up to six minutes and were far less frantic when they were removed from the water.
What they found was that the stress hormones of the control group were 100 fold higher, and the bacteria-fed mice had half as much of this stress hormone in their veins. A follow-up experiment where the vagus nerve was severed showed the bacteria-fed mice acting the same as the control group - frantic paddling and no calming influence. This made it clear that gut health has a dramatic affect on mental health as well.
Stress can take a horrible toll on the body. Use these stress-reducing techniques and foods and consider other alternatives such as chamomile, passionflower, skullcap, valerian root, magnesium and grounding.
Sources for this article include:
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http://bodyecology.com
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About the author:
Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn't solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results under their own direction.
Find out how you can reverse disease and thrive with a holistic approach.
Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn't solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results under their own direction.
Find out how you can reverse disease and thrive with a holistic approach.
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