We all know stress, especially chronic stress, is bad news for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Indeed, it’s crucially important for us to constantly combat, limit and avoid as many stressors as we can. However sometimes, no matter how hard we try to avoid it, life throws us a curve ball. In such times, herbal medicine is my number one go to. There’s a whole class of herbs called adaptogens, which I like to think of as Mumma Nature’s natural stress relief. Here are my three favourite herbs to help the body adapt to stress when it cannot be avoided:
- Astragalus for physical stress: Astragalus is commonly utilised in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Herbal Medicine for it’s ability to increase the body’s resistance to physical and biological stress. It promotes the body’s own ability to function normally despite the stressor / stressors. It is ideal for chronic illness and infections due to it’s immune enhancing and general tonic effects, but it’s best avoided during acute infections and with immunosuppressive drugs.
- Ashwaganda to keep you on form: This is my all time favourite herb for all types of chronic stress. It has tonifying effects on the entire body, which help physical performance. It is also anti-inflammatory and contains iron, perfect if you’re prone to anaemia.
- Siberian ginseng to lift your mood: Siberian ginseng is a wonderful herb when stress has got you down. It helps to provide your body and mind with the endurance you may need during times of chronic physical, mental or emotional stress. Like Astragalus, it is best avoided during acute phases of illness.
Where herbs are sourced from, the type of manufacturing they’re exposed to, the forms they’re in (liquid extract, dried herb, capsule or tablet) and the dosage all vary. This makes a huge difference to the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicine. For this reason, it’s best to seek guidance from a Naturopath when exploring herbal medicine. Click here to find out how to book your appointment
