Reduce stress with Herbal stress relief supplements?

Herbs and their medicinal properties were discovered in India thousands of years back. Since there was no scientific evidence to trace their curative properties, they were largely ignored by the western world till the early 1900s.The use of natural healing methods, including herbal stress relief products, is gaining in popularity all across the world. These products are also believed to have no side effects. However, critics of herbal stress relief products say the products make no sense and are selling fast due to the hype.

Herbal stress relief products

Herbs are either used individually or in combination with other herbs in stress management therapy. Here are some of the prominent herbs used in stress management along with their medicinal properties:

Kava:

Kava (also referred to as Kava Kava) is famous amongst other stress-busting herbs. It is an ancient plant, belonging to the pepper family, normally grown in Indonesia and the Polynesian islands. Traditionally, Kava is consumed like any herbal tea. The tea extract is derived from its root and/or stump. The kava extract comes both in liquid, solid and pill form. Kava is said to relax muscles and aid in getting a good sleep.

Valerian:

Valerian is regarded as the oldest stress reliever. It is a plant native to Europe and Asia. It is used in the herbal stress management therapy as a sedative, as it soothes tensed muscles and relaxes the nervous system. Valium is not derived from Valerian.

Passion flower:

Passion flower is a grouping of flowering plants. Their extract contains alkaloid that boasts of anti-depressant properties. Passion flower is also known for painkilling properties. In herbal treatments, it is believed to act like a sedative.

Hops:

Hops are grown across the world. This flower is primarily used as a flavoring agent in beer, and in herbal stress relieving medicine. In herbal stress therapy hops are used as mild mind-pacifiers as hops-extracts have mild tranquilizing properties.

Catnip:

Catnip or Nepeta has excellent properties. When used as an herbal tea, catnip induces sweating. It also helps relieving digestive problems.

Chamomile:

Chamomile is a native European plant. This is used as an herbal stress reliever. Chamomile relieves gastric ailments such as colic and dyspepsia. It also aids sleep and therefore known as mild herbal tranquilizer.

Rhodiola Rosae:

Rhodiola Rosae is a plant that grows in the cold regions across the globe. Russian research shows that this plant is effective for treating ailments related to depression. It also reduces fatigue.

St. John's Wort:

This is a yellow-flowering perennial herb which was primarily grown in Europe. Its extract is used in herbal stress relieving medicine and it is prescribed to fight depression.

Ginkgo:

The Ginkgo herb is not a plant or a shrub. It is a tree. The extract of its leaves contains flavanoids that are believed to enhance memory and improve blood flow.

Can herbal stress busters be made at home?

Herbal medicine should not be made at home due to the following reasons:

• Herbal medicine is has to be extracted or combined by an expert in the right quantities.
• Before taking any herbal product you must be sure that it won't trigger off a reaction in your body.
• Being natural does not mean being safe. Many plants contain powerful compounds and are poisonous to humans.
• Herbal medicines can interact with other medicines resulting in reduced or enhanced side effects

So, the preliminary rules of consuming herbal stress busters are:

• Don't make them at home; and
• Consult a physician before you buy them.

Herbal stress busters should not be taken by everyone as there are some expectations. You should not take it if your body is allergic to it. Similarly there are certain people whoa re forbidden from taking an herbal medicine. Some of them are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, children, elderly people, those who are about to have an operation. These people are advised to avoid it though there is only a probability that taking herbal medicines would be harmful to their health.

As said earlier certain herbs are also dangerous. There are two specific herbs that have been categories as unsafe under certain conditions. Those two drugs that have harmful effects are Licorice and Ephedra. The first one is unsafe for people suffering from cirrhosis, kidney or heart disease whereas the second one has been associated with high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke and even death.

Availability of herbal stress busters

Herbal stress busters are available from a variety of sources such as drugstores, grocery stores, health food stores. You can also buy then through the Internet. Similarly you can also get them by mail order from practitioners. No prescriptions are required for these. One must consult a physician before consuming any kind of medicine - natural or artificial.