The fast changing lifestyles of people has made a major impact on the stress levels and paced the mental disturbances of every person. Be it an old retired person,a working professional or even a student, every person has to face stressful times at some point or the other. During exam period, meeting deadlines, Achieving targets, taking care of family and work, creating a work-life balance and all kinds of responsibilities a person has towards his personal and professional life cause tensed muscles, anxieties, tensions, speed up heart beat rates and can cause panic attacks.
There are numerous pills and tablets available in the market to curb the stress levels at peak times but they all come with side effects which can be as little as shredding of your hair to as major as threatening your life. So here I am providing you with 5 most effective natural herbs that curb panic attacks and reduce stress levels, going the organic way.
Lemon Balm
Derived its name from honey bee, lemon balm or balm mint is a herb found in south central Europe, Central Asia, north Africa and the Mediterranean region. Though it is mainly used in combination with other herbs, high intake of lemon balm is useful for reducing stress levels even in generally anxious people. Use liquid lemon balm for making tea or soak fresh lemon balm in water for 4-5 hours and use this water to make tea. This tea can be taken 4 times a day and the average intake a day can be upto 400-500 mg. Dry leaves of lemon balm used in tea bags can also solve a good purpose.
Lavender
Lavender or lavendula is commonly used in making scents and the aroma therapy of lavender can cure anxieties and panic attacks. It is used in room fresheners, car scents, skin and beauty care products and even in some food products. Lavender is native to Canary islands and southwest Asia, South India, eastern Africa and in southern Europe. It is an easily available but relatively expensive herb from the old world. Lavender tea can be a good cure to panic attacks and it moderates the heart beat of a person. Lavender essential oils are used in making balms for curing head aches too.
Green Tea
The L-theanine amino acid found in the green tea is considered as one of the best cures to relieve stressed muscles. L-theanine supplements are also available in the market. Green tea is also rich in anti oxidants. It not only alerts your mind,but also helps in slowly opening the blocked nerves. You can drink 3-4 cups of green tea in a day. However the uses of green tea are renowned all over the world and are not just constrained to the alertness of mind and regulation of heart beat but extends to de-toxification of blood , building a better digestive system and in beauty and skin care products too. Green tea bags soaked in water when placed on forehead and eyes destress your eyes and brain muscles too by providing a cooling effect.
Ashwagandha
Grown in North America, middle east, north Africa, India and other temperate climates, this herb has testimonials to work wonders from even the Ayurveda. Also called as Withania somnifera and winter cherry in America. This short woody shrub has amazing medicinal properties and its flower blooms throughout the year. The red berry like fruit it bears and the roots are used in therapeutic purposes. The dried roots of ashwagandha are finely powdered and used to make sparkling tea to cure stress and anxiety. However,the popularity of this herb nowadays has also made available this herb in capsule form and liquid forms at many drug stores all over the world. Consumption of ashwagandha increases the metabolism of a person and also improves their mental power. It is also prescribed for chronic fatigues and contains rejuvenating properties.
Passion Flower
The German government has approved Passion flower as a cure to nervous restlessness. Passiflora, passion flower or passion vines are found in southern America, eastern Asia, southern Asia and New Guinea. Some species of passion flower are also found in Ohio, California, Australia and New Zealand. Consume this herb really carefully and do not over intake it. Usually to relieve stress,you can consume passion flower for about 15-20 days and do not consume it continuously for more than a month. It can be consumed by making a tea or through its fruit. It is usually prescribed to treat insomnia,hysteria, and epilepsy, and is also valued for its analgesic properties. The dried leaves of the passion flower can also be smoked. However, it should be avoided to be consumed for a longer period as it may have short term side effects. Also some studies have revealed that the passion flower has a toxic effects on the body and it also makes a person drowsy.
Though the above stated herbs are a great way of relieving stress, but a person must never forget the effects of exercises, especially the breathing exercises and the exercises that pace up your heart beat in acting as a stress buster.