Winter times can bring beautiful snowy nights and lots of fuzzy socks, which we all love. But winter also means shorter, colder days, and less time to get outside and get in touch with nature. Some of us even experience more anxiety this time of the year due to the seasons changing, and sometime with the high expectations set for the holidays. To help combat or prevent any added anxiety this season, we encourage you to learn more about these healing herbs!
Lavender
You probably have heard of lavender before, and even more likely, you’ve enjoyed smelling the flowers. Lavender is an easy-to-find flower that can help ease anxiety and improve sleep. Disrupted sleep can sometimes lead to feeling more anxious, so try having a lavender herbal tea before bed time, or diffusing lavender essential oil around the house. Even fresh a bundle of lavender next to your bed may help induce relaxation and reduce anxious feelings.
Ashwagandha
Is a common medicinal herb used by Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is an ancient medicinal system that focuses on healing the whole human through aligning lifestyle choices to improve mental and physical health. Ashwagandha is an herb has been associated with reducing cortisol levels within the body. Cortisol is the chemical that’s produce when our bodies are stressed, which can cause feelings of anxiety, loss of emotional control, fatigue, and much more. This herb is usually best ingested in tea form, but supplements are also available. Our recommendation is to do your research, and to talk to a holistic health practitioner or your physician to find our more about this herb, and how it may fit into your life.
Lemon Balm
Last, but certainly not least is lemon balm! This herb is from mint family, not the lemon family, and an excellent contender for reducing anxiety. Lemon balm has been shown to reduce anxiety by possibly increasing the availability of GABA in the brain. A lack of GABA availability can lead to anxiety disorders and even panic attacks. Lemon balm may help with this availability, and is often used in teas or waters. Keeping fresh lemon balm or diffusing lemon balm essential oil around the house is also a great way to fresh up any home!
If you experience anxiety, please speak with your doctor about what your best treatment method is. These herbs are not a cure for any disease, but may help alleviate some symptoms, so please consult with a health profession before incorporating anything new into your diet.
Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate water intake are all things that contribute to helping reduce symptoms of anxiety as well. If you feeling like you need to get your diet on track, take the metabolic quiz today find a meal plan customized for you today!