- This could help get rid of your biggest woes this January…
- 3 natural soothers you can take to bust the winter stress
- A tea that reduces anxiety
Welcome to the new decade!
Yes, it’s the 2020s.
My jetpack is all fired up and ready to go…
I have my eternal-life pills in my hand, ready to swallow….
And thanks to the advanced technology of the 2020s, I can look forward to a stress-free decade of leisure.
Erm….
Maybe not.
But that was the idea wasn’t it? Back in the 1960s, the decade I was born, that’s what the future which was promised…. or at least hoped for.
What I couldn’t have predicted was that I’d be writing “electronic letters” to an audience of thousands of “internet users”….
Or that so many of those internet users in the 2020s would be stressed, in pain, worried about the state of a very unstable world, and very far from enjoying unlimited leisure.
But the future is what it is, as they say…
And I’m here to help…
What to do when anxiety gets out of control
As you might recall, at the end of December I wrote to you about the very real health dangers of stress, which can even affect your mobility in later life.
If you missed it and would like to read it, then it’s available on our website here: The Link Between Stress and Mobility Problems
As recommended, I hope you had time to write your list of niggles and anxieties, then find some solutions?
I really think it’s helpful and important.
And if it’s any consolation, I have done the same thing – genuinely! I do it a few times a year when I start to get the sense I that stress is building up.
On my list right now…
The dog needs his teeth cleaned and an extraction at the vets… I’ve got to step back on my coffee intake, which has leapt from a couple of cups a day to a couple of cafetieres… one of my walls has a damp problem after all the recent rain that needs sorted… I have to sort my personal tax bill payment before the end of the month.
And, yes, there’s deeper personal, family and work stuff that I cannot go into in public, but which are even more important that the day to day worries.
Of course, sorting out your life is one thing, but sometimes stress and anxiety can be a physical response that occurs no matter how your life is going… almost like your body is reacting to an invisible menace.
It can occur from simple, unavoidable things that shouldn’t be so overwhelming.
- The cat has puked on the carpet…
- A heating bill arrives
- You read a newspaper article about a tragic incident
- You think you said something embarrassing at a party at New Year
- You’ve no clean underwear
At even the slightest mishap, your body becomes flooded with stress hormones, which cause panic, worry, shaking, dizziness, shallow breathing, difficulty concentrating.
In which case sometimes it can help to use some natural calmers as a form of emotional first aid.
There are three instant recommendations I can suggest.
Three Natural calmers to sooth, relax and de-stress you
Calmophytum is a blend of natural sedatives including extracts of lime tree, lemon balm, chamomile, lemon verbena and hibiscus. It’s designed to relax you, lower stress levels and give you a really good night’s sleep – you can find out more here.
There’s a strong connection between magnesium-deficiency and anxiety, insomnia and severe PMS, so consider getting a top up find out about magnesium
Or if you’ve like to create your own homemade remedy, then you could try this…
A tea recipe for reducing anxiety
A fresh, home made herbal tea can be a powerful remedy for the stresses of everyday life. But for the full effect don’t just go and get those bags of tea from the supermarket which contain chamomile.
For a much more dramatic effect, get your own herbs and make a fresh blend by steeping them in warm water.
Get hold of all, or some, of these and give it a try…
- Vervain – this is also known by many other names, including Enchanter’s Plant, Indian Hyssop, Iron-weed, Wild Verbena, Herb of the Cross, Pigeon’s Grass and Pigeonweed. Research from 2016 showed that vervain decreases the time it takes you to get to sleep, and can be applied medically for “neurological ailments, such as epilepsy, anxiety, and insomnia.”
- Lemon balm – this is believed to have calming effects, which is why naturopaths often suggest it for anxiety and sleep problems. A study has shown that it can also treat hyperactivity and concentration problems in young children.
- Skullcap – a reputed tranquiliser, it’s often used to treat nervousness, irritability, and neuralgia.
- Avena Sativa, also known as Oat Straw – in the 1980s it was officially commissioned in Germany as a remedy for anxiety and stress. It can also increase attention span and improve mental performance.
- Linden flowers – these are a natural relaxant. A 2008 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that Linden tea reduced anxiety in laboratory animals.
You can pick up these online or from health stores as individual bags, then combine them in equal parts. It does come at a cost, but the resulting tea lasts a long time, and you could share the tea (and the cost) with friends and family.
I hope one of these ideas helps. Of course, if you have serious anxiety issues please talk to friends and family, or seek professional advice.
I’ll be back at the weekend with another great use for magnesium… but not for the kind you swallow – and it’s all about its powers of pain relief.
Until then.