Stress and anxiety can take a toll on the body in many different ways. It can affect every system of your body.
How Stress Affects the Body Systems
In order to keep these at bay, several herbs can be used to help balance the body.
Consider the following herbs for a tea infusion.
Butterfly Pea Flower – helps ease anxiety, boost energy and lessen “butterflies in the stomach”.
St John’s Wort – supports the nervous system and respiratory system, immunity, eases anxiety, depression, tension, menopausal transition and pairs well with chamomile, lemon balm, passionflower, hops, valerian, mullein.
Passionflower – calming, a mild sedative, soothes the nervous system, balances blood pressure, focus, attention.
Skullcap – supports the nervous system, eases anger and “flying off the handle”.
Ashwagandha Root – adaptogen that helps adapt to and combat stress, anti-inflammatory, immune system (prevent white blood cell depletion), nervous system, energy, mild sedative, sleep aid, reproductive tonic (sexual drive, vitality, and libido), thyroid stimulant, rich in iron.
Eleuthero Root – a calming adaptogen that helps adapt to and combat stress, increases energy and stamina, helps with fatigue, insomnia, and anxiety, modulates blood sugar, and improves cognitive function.
Cinnamon – an anti-inflammatory, warming, added for taste and blood glucose management.
Tea Infusion
2 PARTS Butterfly Pea Flower
2 PARTS St John’s Wort
1 PART Passionflower & Skullcap
½ PART Ashwagandha Root & Eleuthero Root
DASH Cinnamon
Directions
*Each herb can be used one at a time to familiarize yourself and body to herbal constituents if needed. Everyone is different and responds differently to each herb. The recommended dosage is 2-4 cups of tea per day.
*Herbal Sources: Frontier Co-Op, Star West Botanical, Mountain Rose Herbs.
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Meditate
We are linked to nature's cycles and our own personal growth cycles. The energy of winter is that of going within and self-reflection. It’s important to take this time to reflect on the past year, the new experiences that came our way and renew ourselves for what is to come.
Adjust to the time change
Balance your schedule as the sun goes down earlier. Practice hibernation by getting needed exercise earlier in the morning and eating a light meal in the evening.
Rest
Slow down and conserve energy. Grab a calming herbal tea and get lost in your favorite book or your journal.
Herbal Tea
My favorite calm tea is from Herbal Academy made with lemon balm leaf, chamomile flowers, linden bract and flower, rose petals and spearmint leaf. Each herb offers their own benefits to promote positivity, joy and calmness.
Read more about each herb here.
Calm Tea*
Ingredients
2 parts lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaf
1 part chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flowers
1 part linden (Tilia spp.) bract and flower
1 part rose (Rosa spp.) petal
½ part spearmint (Mentha spicata) leaf
Directions
*When shopping for herbs consider purchasing ones that have a certified organic seal, sustainably wild-harvested, tightly sealed packaging and ones with fresh color, scent and taste. My go-to brands are Frontier Co-op and Starwest Botanicals.