By Ben Carter, Naturopath Stress – it is somewhat impossible to remove all of it from our lives. Whether it is physical, emotional, biological or environmental, these “stressors” and exposure to chronic or long term stress can lead to serious health issues, such as hypertension, anxiety, depression, memory impairment, digestive disorders, heart disease and panic attacks.
Consequently the identification of the major stressors in your life is – of course – a big key to managing stress, developing ways to adapt or removing them completely, and also utilising the more common stress reducing techniques, such as exercise, education, dietary changes, massage and meditation etc, to avoid ill health in the long term.
But, with these more common place techniques aside, are there other things you can do that can reduce and adapt you to stressors in your life? The answer is yes, and it can be as easy as having a cup of tea or taking a bath.
I am sure everyone has heard of using herbal formulas or remedies to heal this, prevent that, fight off a cold or flu, or to give you more energy. But there is a classification of herbs called “adaptogens” which actually aid and enhance your body’s natural resistance to the effects of stress, ultimately raising your “stress threshold”, building general vitality and improving your physical and mental capacity for work, all of which through balancing your body’s biochemistry, hormones and immune system.
Here are a few of my favourites:
Withania (Ashwagandha)
– Good for nervous system/adrenal exhaustion with insomnia, and debility due to stress.
Siberian Ginseng
– For fatigue due to acute or chronic stress, adrenal exhaustion, and can aid in improving mental performance.
Dang Shen
– Stress induced muscle tension, fatigue, headaches, reduces adrenalin and high blood pressure due to stress.
Golden Root
– Aids to improve mood, mental and physical performance and generalised fatigue.
And finally…
Hot Oat Baths
At least once per week, place 2 cups of rolled oats into a muslin cloth or stocking, tie firmly over spout and allow the water to run through the oats.
Ensure that the water is as hot as possible (never hot enough to burn or cause discomfort) then allow bath water to cool to your preferred temperature before entering.
Bathe for at least 20 minutes to allow maximum benefit whilst sponging the oats bag over your body. Aids to alleviate any muscle or nervous mental tension and anxiety, softens your skin, and brings about a sense of calm and peace.
Please also consider many herbs contain components that can generate side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbal remedies and preparations should be taken with care, preferably under the supervision and guidance of your health care practitioner who is qualified in the field of botanical medicine.
A note from RESCU: Congratulations to the amazing Six Senses Spas and Resorts who have just won five awards in the World Travel Awards! For more information on this and other Six Senses news, check out this article.
Other Six Senses blogs you may enjoy:
- A wellness expert explains what a detox really does, and provides 10 simple ways to cleanse your body
- Achieve a better night’s sleep with this manual from the wellness experts at the Six Senses Destination Spa
- Make romance blossom with expert advice – direct from the Six Senses Destination Spa
- Increase your fertility naturally with advice and recipes from the Six Senses Wellness experts
