Aaaarrrgggghhhhh!!!
How many of you growl that sound at least once a day?
And you've tried herbs, really you have, but they just don't seem strong enough to kill the stress monster that lives deep in your psyche.
Did it ever occur to you that you aren't trying the right herbs?
Herbs are very specific when it comes to stress (and sleep, and pain, and....).
Maybe I should just say, herbs are very specific.
What I mean by that is that each particular type of stress has a particular herb that can help it. So to find the right herb for you, you have to match it to the type of stress you are experiencing.
All stress is not created equal.
But it does, equally, deplete 2 things in your body:
Vitamin B and Magnesium.
You burn through both when you are stressed-out.... and you need both to keep stress at bay!
There are lots of types of B-vitamins and they are widely distributed around the food chain, If you are eating a whole-foods diet with lots of leafy greens, you are probably hitting many of them.
You can also use bee products (bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly) as a source of Vitamin B. (Bee for B, you can't make this stuff up!)
B12 is a little tougher. It is found only in animal products. High quantity sources are sardines and salmon.
Magnesium is also tough. It used to be common in veggies. Today our soil is magnesium-deficient so, naturally, are our vegetables are as well.
Seeds and nuts are a good source of magnesium with pumpkin seeds providing the most followed by sesame, sunflower, cashews, and almonds. Sometimes I supplement magnesium with a product called Calm.
So when stress hits:
- Be sure you are getting enough Bs.
- Be sure you are getting enough magnesium.
- Breathe.
Begin to notice how stress affects your body and mind. This will help you to choose the herbs that are right for you as we explore them in the coming weeks.
We all think that however we feel stress must be how everyone feels stress.... but this just isn't true!
Here's what to pay attention to:
- How does your mind feel when you are stressed? Is it racing? Are you forgetful?
- How does your body feel? Find where the stress is lurking! Be specific.
- Do you get headaches?
- Do you get tight muscles? Spasms? Back aches?
- Do you get a stomach ache? Nausea? Diarrhea or constipation?
- Do you need to urinate frequently?
- Do you get asthmatic?
Your homework:
Spend the next week paying close attention to your body. Find the stress. Feel into it. Describe it.
