Ayurvedic Herbs & Supplements for Stress Management
Stress. For many of us, life is inherently stressful and has been since the beginning of time. While the cause of stress has changed over time—we are no longer running from saber-toothed tigers—our bodies, as intelligent as they are, do not distinguish between physical danger (like facing real tigers) and emotional stressors (like “paper tigers” at work). Our nervous systems are ingeniously designed to fight or run.
How do we reduce stress? Or how can we handle stress better? Ayurveda can help. We offer certified organic and sustainably sourced calming herbs, adaptogenic herbs, and a wide array of stress relief products.
How Does Stress Affect the Body?
Stress plays a fascinating role in the physiology of the body. Basically, we are designed to survive. In the face of stress, bodily functions which are not absolutely necessary for survival in that moment, like digestion, are inhibited or shut off, while the focus goes to providing enough blood and oxygen to your large muscle groups, allowing them to work harder and run faster.
This response is influenced by our primary stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. And this is where the effects of stress get a little more complicated. If we are continually jolting into a fight or flight response, when do our bodies get the opportunity to relax and restore? If our digestion is always compromised due to our stressful lifestyle, when do our bodies get the adequate nutrition they need to build and regenerate new tissue? Or do they stay in a state of hyper alertness, preparing for the next tiger?
Is Stress an Emotion?
Along with the very real physical implications of stress and burnout, stress also affects a person’s mood, emotions, and mental health. Ayurveda recognizes a profound connection between each of these realms, explaining why fluctuations in stress levels can lead to mood instability, nervousness, anger, exhaustion, and unexpected shifts in mood.
Fortunately, while we may not be able to eliminate all of life’s stressful situations or anxious feelings, we have options. We have choices and lifestyle practices to help alleviate some of the effects of our busy, stressful lives. And we have herbs—plants that humans have used for thousands of years to help calm the body and the mind. In the Banyan collection of Ayurvedic products, we have a broad variety of herbs for mood support to help relive both mental stress and emotional stress.
Supplements to Support Healthy Cortisol Levels
Maintaining healthy levels of stress hormones like cortisol are key to positive long term mood support. Luckily, there are many herbal allies to help when stress is too much—relieving tension, decreasing mood swings, and helping to destress.
Stress Ease tablets utilize ashwagandha along with many other adaptogenic herbs, including brahmi/gotu kola and kapikacchu, to create a truly balancing and supportive formula for coping with stress.
Herbs to Help with Mood Stabilizing
Adrenal Nourish supports healthy adrenal glands, which play an essential role in the regulation of stress hormones. Featuring ashwagandha, kapikacchu, tulsi, and more, this formula helps to stabilize the nervous system when dealing with stress and anxiousness.
Tranquil Mind is a wonderful choice if seeking herbal mood stabilizers. For anger or agitation, calming herbs like bhringaraj, skullcap, and passionflower soothe the system and promote mental calmness.
Ashwagandha for Stress Management
Ashwagandha is a widely popular adaptogenic. It is both vitalizing and nourishing, promoting strength and restful sleep. It can be supportive on its own, and it can also be found in many of our most popular blends, including many of the formulas already mentioned, like Stress Ease and Adrenal Nourish.
How to Reduce Stress
Along with these mood and stress supplements, there are highly beneficial lifestyle practices to try. Five valuable suggestions for stress relief include:
- Slow down (stop running)
- Indulge in Quality Self-Care (try self-massage)
- Commit to a Daily Routine (key word here is commit)
- Quiet the Mind-Body Organism (breathe!)
- Eat a Supportive Diet (think fresh, wholesome, and nourishing)
