Holidays Stress Soothers

Holiday Stress Soother

How to recuperate from holiday stress

 Christmas Holidays are supposed to be festive and a time of relaxation.  Yet for many, this season is the most stressful time of the year.  Planning meals, vacations, buying presents, and everything else can wear the mind and body down.  As a result, we can suffer from fatigue, infections, depression, anxiety, digestive problems, and many other ailments.  This Christmas, soothe away the effects of stress with the help of natural remedies.

 

Multivitamin

First, start by making sure you have adequate nutritional support.  A high potency multivitamin rich in B vitamins help supply basic nutrients that retard the effects of stress.  Studies also show that regular multivitamin supplementation helps prevent the common cold. (See special info for colds and flu)

Omega High potency of epa/dha

Increase serotonin levels in your brain which is responsible for feelings of calm and well being.

Calcium and magnesium

 Consider taking 250 milligrams of calcium and 250mg of magnesium in the morning and evening, as they relax tight muscles and promote relaxation of the nerves.  These minerals are especially helpful if you are prone to tight muscles or headaches.  As a bonus, magnesium works wonders for energy production.  Also, supplementation of these minerals is helpful for many people who experience insomnia as the result of stress.

 Kali phosphoricum

 If you are experiencing “brain fog,” “jangled nerves” or anxiety, I highly recommend this homeopathic remedy.  It acts as a nerve tonic to relax the nerves and also improves concentration. Take 4 pellets of the 6X potency three times daily.  It has no toxicity and can be taken for extended periods of time.

 St John’s Wort

 If you are feeling the holiday blues and need a cost-effective natural elevator, I recommend St. John’s Wort.  This versatile herb has also been shown to be effective for anxiety.  Take 900mg of a 0.3 percent standardized extract daily.  To avoid any herb-drug interactions, do not take St John’s Wort if you are currently taking an antidepressant.

 Astragalus

 Many people come down with respiratory infection such as the common cold or flu during Christmas.  Stress and lack of sleep have been shown to suppress the immune system.  To guard against infection and enhance immune function, I recommend taking 1000mg of this Chinese herb in the capsule form daily or 30 drops of liquid from twice daily.

Digestive enzymes

 During this holiday season, many of us consume foods that we would not normally eat.  Also, gatherings usually involve larger amounts of foods than our digestive system can handle.  Try to be wise with your food selection but still enjoy some of the “goodies.”

This is more easily done by taking a full –spectrum digestive enzyme with larger meals or hard-to-digest foods (i.e., fatty, creamy foods).

Ginger Root

 If holiday foods are causing an embarrassing amount of flatulence, try ginger root.  This digestion wonder herb reduces gas formation as well as intestinal cramping. Drink a fresh cup of ginger tea as needed.  It is also available as a supplement in capsule or liquid form.

 Passionflower

 Worrying about planning all your family festivities or long nights staying up with friends or family members can contribute to insomnia.  Passionflower is a great herb to safely relaxation of the nervous system and a good night’s sleep.  This herb is not known to cause the drowsiness or hangover feeling in the morning that some people experience with pharmaceutical sleep aids.  Take 500mg of the capsule form or 30 drops a half hour before bedtime.

 Nux vomica

 For those who overindulge in the alcohol and are prone to nasty hangovers, I recommend the homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica.  It is the most effective remedy to relieve the headaches, digestive upset, and fatigue associated with hangovers.  It is much better option than pharmaceutical pain relievers that can potentially cause liver and brain damage when combined with alcohol.  Of course, drinking in moderation or not at all is the best treatment.

 Remember,

 Don’t need to take all of these supplements at once.  Start by listening to your body first and choose what is appropriate for you.  I always recommend an omega fish oil, digestive enzymes and vit B (not necessarily in vit b form) can be royal Jelly or other herbs that have great amounts of Vit B.  If you have a hard time making a choice, see your health practitioner to help facilitate your choice.

 Wishing you happy festive holidays!

Anna R. Dias Stay free! Good Health is Good Living!