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“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”
— Anonymous
Prepping for a new year, social gatherings whether you want them or not, balancing your budget – pressure. Let’s breathe. These natural stress remedies I have for you might be the answer.
Bergamot and Lavender Essential Oils
Citrus Bergamot is an extract derived from the bergamot orange fruit. It’s been clinically shown to support heart health by promoting healthy cholesterol, blood sugar and triglyceride levels, and supporting blood vessel function. But those aren’t the only benefits of bergamot. When made into an essential oil, it can help reduce anxiety and stress. A 2015 study found that it relieves stress and improves mood in both animals and humans.
Lavender might be one of the most well known natural remedies for stress. It is known for its calming properties and can even be a solution for anxiety, sleeplessness, or stress. Lavender calms the body through impacting the limbic system, the area of the brain that controls emotions. A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2019 which aimed to assess the efficacy of lavender on anxiety and anxiety-related conditions found that “overall, the administration of lavender essential oil proves to be effective in the treatment of anxiety.”
Honeysuckle Tea: Herbal Support for Mind, Body & Spirit
A practice as old as time… sending, sharing, and cooking with specific flowers to express a sentiment, be it hope, sorrow, peace, joy, or love. Known as floriography, flowers have long been used to reveal sentiments of love and affection, and, if arranged in a certain way, they could even convey a secret message or meaning. Honeysuckle was one such flower used to relay deep affection and strengthen the bonds of love.
Recognized by a delicately sweet aroma and long vines dappled with unusually-shaped pink or yellow-orange blossoms, Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) flower extracts have many medicinal benefits. Honeysuckle has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Externally, the flowers are applied as a wash to skin inflammations, rashes, and sores.
Though there are many ways to prepare Japanese honeysuckle, tea is one of the most popular. Teas made from honeysuckle leaves, buds and flowers can be enjoyed on their own or in combination with other “like-minded” herbs such as passiflora or lemon balm. A complement to its use in strengthening the bonds of love, honeysuckle is also seen as a useful aid in letting go of the past, releasing memories, and moving forward with life, one sweet sip at a time.
Going Outside with Winter Walks
While essential oils and flowers are great for relieving stress, nothing beats the stress relief of spending time outside. Going outside can be a great way to feel happier and to get out of negative thought patterns. Getting outside doesn’t just take you from stressed to neutral, but stressed to relaxed and happy.
A 2019 study found spending 10 minutes or more in nature 3 times a week can reduce biological indicators of stress by over 20%. This is because spending time outside helps you disconnect from stressors and reconnect to your natural environment. Making walking in nature one of the most beneficial and easy workouts you can do–and you don’t have to stop when the weather gets cold outside! If it’s cold, consider bundling up with more layers or going for shorter walks.
You don’t have to walk outside for too long if you live in a cold environment. A 15 minute walk in nature can decrease stress by 15%. By walking outside when possible, you’re combining the stress relieving qualities of walking with the benefits of direct sunlight.
