How Does It Work?
Ashwagandha Withania or “Winter Cherry” reduces serum cortisol levels. Cortisol is an adrenal that helps metabolize glucose and regulate the body’s response to stress. Cortisol can be affected by physical factors such as strenuous activity, infection, or injury, or by emotional stresses.
It has also been proven to calm the mind and promote a sound sleep, giving the body a chance to rest and strengthen both the immune system and the nervous system.
Its rejuvenative properties help you cope with anxiety by activating the amma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor in the brain, promoting calmness and relaxation.
Eleuthero or Siberian Ginseng root is used to help replenish and restore performance after periods of intense physical or mental exertion.
What are some ways you can manage your stress naturally?
First, realize that both your physical and your emotional sides hold stress and need to be addressed when dealing with stress.
Emotional Stress Aids
Meditation: if you’ve never tried meditating, you might think it’s just an excuse to sit in a quiet room and zone out. But done properly, meditation teaches you to stop judging and dwelling on the past. When you free your mind to think about the future and solutions, you reduce stress naturally.
Write It Down: putting an old-fashioned pen to equally old-school paper can help you organize your thoughts, understand sources of stress, and come up with a plan to solve your issues. Set aside 10-15 minutes at the start or end of each day to record events and brainstorm ideas to solve them. Don’t judge what you are writing: just let the pen go where your mind does.
Volunteer: of course you don’t have any extra time in your day – you’re already stressed enough as it is! But volunteering to help others can give you perspective on your own issues, and helps you to set deadlines. If you know someone is counting on you to deliver a meal at 6 pm, you’ll do everything you can to get your work finished by then, including letting go of the ‘small stuff’. And that in itself is enough to release stress.
Physical Stress Aids:
Exercise: by putting your mind in ‘neutral’ while your muscles take over, you give your subconscious a chance to work through problems, while simultaneously allowing tension to release from your body. Some great options are walking, yoga, and swimming.
Massage: with or without aromatherapy, massage is an excellent way to relieve physical tension. Some scientists believe that the human touch plays a large role in reducing stress.
Sleep Enough: lack of sleep can leave you frazzled and feeling out-of sorts. Try to get at least 7 hours per night. Trouble falling asleep? Avoid caffeine after lunch. Limit alcohol close to bedtime. And try to record your favorite show instead of forcing yourself to stay up watching it. Get rid of electronics an hour before bedtime to minimize sleep-disturbing stimulation.
