Stress Management with Foods

  There are various plants and berries which nature has provided as natural stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional relievers.  Not only do they lift you up, but they can amazingly help balance your central nervous system while giving energy to the entire body.  The adrenal glands are directly affected by stress and negative energy and through proper balancing and stress management, the adrenals are allowed to function properly.  Let’s take a look at some simple plants that can simultaneously balance the adrenals and nervous system.  My favorites are:

• Rhodiola Berry – An adaptogenic herb that can help the body achieve emotional balance, reduce stress and anxiety, and provide good energy to the body.  I have known people with severe depression successfully use Rhodiola Berry to get off of pharmaceutical anti-depressants and reach a peaceful balance within.

•  Schizandra Berry – Used for stress, sustained energy and thyroid and adrenal support 
•  Reishi Mushroom – An amazing antioxidant with anti-stress and anti-aging properties
•  Maca Root – Peruvian root that assists the body in energy, focus, balance and hormones
•  Holy Basil – Known for its mood support, stress support and blood sugar balancing
•  Eleuthero (ginseng related plant) – Helps to create a balanced energy and stress support, along with assisting thyroid function
•  Ashwaganda – Increases resistance against stress, tension and fatigue and assists thyroid and nervous system function
• Passion Flower - Helps to relieve anxiety and stress.  This flower is also used for reducing blood pressure.
• Hops - This plant has a relaxing and calming effect on the nervous system.  It is also used for insomnia, tension, and insomnia.

Many of these natural herbs are found in combinations together because they tend to work synergistically.  Although nature has provided various plants to help balance and restore the nervous system, don’t forget about the affects of your lifestyle.    I never recommend depending on supplements alone to bring balance and release stress.  The body is a complex universe and all of the individual parts need to function properly together in order to reach and maintain harmony.  A proper balance of diet, exercise (especially yoga), work, meditation, sleep, laughter and breathing exercising are key for balancing the tension and health of every organ and cell in the body.