Tired, stressed-out people running from one obligation to the next is a normal sight these days, especially in big cities. We are almost always on the go, trying to keep up what seem like unlimited responsibilities. The harried pace of modern-day life has made stress an almost integral part of everyone’s life.

Eliminating stress from everyday life seems like an impossible task. This leaves us with only one option – find different ways to relieve stress. Here’s where plants can help.

There are several herbs that can help reduce the symptoms and effects of stress on our body and calm our nerves. They are called adaptogens, because they help the body to “adapt” to stress.

Herbs for Stress

Nature contains a wide range of adaptogenic herbs that can offer support when life gets too overwhelming and stressful. Following are some of the best-known ones:

Ashwagandha

Long known as an adrenal adaptogen, Ashwagandha has been found to help regulate the stress hormone – cortisol. The herb is also said to have calming effects on the nervous system and help strengthen the immune system. In a research study, people who were given 300 mg of full-spectrum, high-concentration Ashwagandha extract twice a day, for 60 days, showed improved resistance against stress. They also exhibited a significant reduction in serum cortisol levels and their scored on stress-assessment scales also dropped. The participants also reported an improvement in the overall quality of life.

Experience the benefits of this incredibly powerful herb with our organic Ashwagandha root tincture or ashwagandha capsules.

Read more about Ashwagandha: the pros and cons of ashwagandha, Ashwagandha vs. Rhodiola, Ashwagandha vs. L-theanine, ashwagandha and ADHD, and ashwagandha for kids.

Skullcap

A member of the mint family, this perennial plant has a long history of use as a nervine tonic in western herbalism.

For those who do not know, nervine tonics are herbs that support a healthy stress response in the body.

Skullcap, or American Skullcap, is also found to be highly effective for nerve fatigue, resulting from physical and/or mental exhaustion. The herb is believed to help maintain balance and support healthy sleeping patterns.

The herb can be used both during the day, to calm your nerves, relax the body, and restore balance, and night to promote restful sleep. Get the best quality organic skullcap tincture and capsules from us!

Holy Basil

Holy Basil, also called Tulsi or Ocimum Tenuiflorum in the scientific community, has been used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenating tonic for over 3,000 years. The herb is used as a meditative aid and is believed to have the power to balance the mind and helps the body regulate stress. It is also considered a valuable nervine, immune-modulator, and antioxidant.

Experience the stress-relieving and rejuvenating benefits of this ancient Ayurvedic herb by getting your hands on 100% pure and organic Holy Basil tincture. 

Lemon Balm

Another perennial herb from the mint family known for its fresh, sweet, citrusy smell, lemon balm has been used as a calming herb since the Middle Ages. It is known to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and promote sleep. A research study conducted to test these claims found that administering a 600-mg dose of lemon balm extract significantly increased calmness, improved mood, and reduced alertness in people with laboratory-induced psychological stress.

Lemon balm herb is also a potent antioxidant and nervine. It also supports a healthy immune system, helps reduce tension in the body and has uplifting effects on the mind, body, and spirit.

You can get these benefits by incorporating lemon balm capsules or tincture in your daily routine.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea herb, a small, fleshy flowering plant that grows in the cold, mountainous regions of Europe, North America, and Asia, has been a part of traditional medicinal systems of Russia and Scandinavia for centuries. The root of the plant, also known as arctic root, rose root, and golden root, is valued as a natural adaptogen. The herb has been found to be effective in increasing body’s resistance against all types of stressors. Some research has also shown that Rhodiola root can also help regulate norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the body.

In a research study, participants were given 400 mg of Rhodiola root extract every day for four weeks. But, the participants started experiencing significant reductions in stress-related symptoms, such exhaustion, anxiety, and fatigue, just after three days. The favorable results continued throughout the four-week study period.

Another research found that Rhodiola is also a promising herb for stress-related burnout. The herb showed improvements in several parameters in just one week, and continued to improve the symptoms even further throughout the 12-week period.

At Secrets of the Tribe, we offer 100% organic and pure Rhodiola root tincture and rhodiola capsules to save you from the hassle of finding reliable suppliers.

The Sum Up

Stress has become part and parcel of modern-day life.  We are surrounded by numerous stressors, almost all the time. While we cannot completely remove these stressors from our lives, we can certainly take measures to increase our body’s resistance to them and find ways to keep our mind and body calm and relaxed. Herbs offer great help in it.

While there are plenty of herbs known for their adaptogenic properties, the ones discussed above have been used for this purpose for hundreds of years. This means, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to confirm stress-relieving properties of these herbs. Even though research is insufficient, these have also been scientifically studied and there is some positive evidence supporting the historical claims.

Learn more about herbs for calmness or herbs for stress and anxiety.