5 days Ago By Hannah Coates
Whether it’s those spiralling middle-of-the-night worries or feeling like you’ve got no time to get anything done, we’re all stressed about something. Statistics suggest that 79 per cent of us frequently feel work-related stress, while searches for “how to deal with chronic stress” are up over 5,000 per cent in the last month alone. The ramifications of this include poor sleep, digestion and immunity, plus they also impact how we eat, move and communicate in the world.
Natasha Richardson , a medical herbalist, hormone specialist and founder of Forage Botanicals, recommends employing herbs to help manage stress, down-regulate the nervous system and help promote a feeling of peace. Of course, the best way to manage stress is with a multifaceted approach – from eating a balanced, plant-rich diet to taking time out to do breath work or meditation – but these science-backed herbal ingredients can help too. Here they are: Clary sage “A standout herb when it comes to reducing stress and balancing hormones, clary sage has been scientifically shown to help regulate cortisol , the body’s primary stress hormone,” explains Richardson.
It has excellent aromatherapeutic benefits: one study found that it significantly reduced cortisol levels in menopausal women when inhaled, and it’s also brilliant for those suffering from PMT. Richardson blends it with cedarwood and magnesium-rich Epsom salts in her Premenstrual Me Time Bath Salts, which also help ease tight muscles too. Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is a well-studied adaptogenic herb that has been proven to reduce stress levels.
“Adaptogens are substances that help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress by balancing the nervous system and regulating stress hormones,” explains Richardson. One study found that it also helped individuals’ resistance towards stress, thereby improving resilience – which sounds pretty good to me. You can find it in Wild Nutrition’s KSM-66 Ashwagandha Plus, which also blends it with magnesium to promote relaxation and emotional balance.
Passionflower “Passionflower is a powerful herb that’s been used for centuries to treat anxiety and stress,” says Richardson. “It has been found to have sedative effects, making it particularly helpful in calming the mind and supporting sleep.” She references studies in which it has reduced symptoms of anxiety “as effectively as traditional anti-anxiety medications” as proof of its impressive effects on our emotional wellbeing.
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