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Stressed? These Are the 10 Best Calming Herbs

These stress relievers have long-established roots in human history

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Many of us are newly discovering the power of herbal medicines, but archeological excavations show that humans have been using plants for medicinal purposes for 60,000 years. Today, a growing number of people in developed countries who have full access to Western medicine are integrating the use of herbal medicine with Western medical practices. As a result, modern-day stress relievers have long-established roots in the mists of time. Let's get into our top 10 calming herbs.

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01

Ashwagandha

Botanical name: Withania somnifera

What it is:

  • used for more than 3,000 years as one of Ayurveda’s most prominent rasayanas or life extenders
  • classified as an adaptogen (herbs that help our body manage stress)

What it looks like:

  • small shrub with yellow flowers native to India and North Africa
  • supplements come in extracts or powders from the roots or leaves

What it does:

  • reduces physiological and biochemical indicators of stress
  • corrects imbalances in the neuroendocrine and immune systems
  • significantly reduces anxiety and stress
  • regulates chemical signalling in the nervous system by blocking the stress pathway in the brain

02

Asian ginseng

Botanical name: Panax ginseng

What it is:

  • used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine
  • classified as an adaptogen (herbs that help our body manage stress)

What it looks like:

  • light-coloured, slow-growing, short plant with fleshy fork-shaped roots and oval-shaped green leaves
  • supplements are found in extract, capsule, or powder form from its roots

What it does:

  • supports cognitive function and/or reduces mental fatigue in cases of mental stress
  • boosts mental alertness, low energy, and improves mental fatigue
  • alleviates anxiety and depression caused by stress
  • ameliorates inflammatory diseases caused by stress

03

Camomile

Botanical name: Matricaria chamomilla L.

What it is:

  • herb used for thousands of years, known in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome
  • dried flowers have been used in teas for centuries as remedy for several health conditions

What it looks like:

  • daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family
  • flowering tops of camomile used to make supplements, extracts, and teas

What it does:

  • as an extract is used to improve sleep quality
  • possibly reduces number of nighttime awakenings
  • may moderately improve daytime functioning
  • may help reduce anxiety and distress associated with menstrual period pain

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04

Holy basil (tulsi)

Botanical name: Ocimum sanctum L.

What it is:

  • Ayurvedic herb known as “the incomparable one,” revered as an “elixir of life”
  • classified as an adaptogen (herbs that help our body manage stress)

What it looks like:

  • small aromatic shrub with green or purple leaves and small purplish or red flowers
  • used in cooking for its flavourful, pungent aroma and taste similar to other varieties of basil as well as in tablets, capsules, teas, and essential oil

What it does:

  • may decrease symptoms of stress, including forgetfulness, exhaustion, and sleep problems
  • reduces anxiety and associated stress
  • may help reduce depression in those with anxiety
  • helps protect against damage caused by physiological and metabolic stress

05

Lavender

Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia

What it is:

  • source of drugs as well as perfumes, soaps, flavourings, and crafts since before medieval times
  • popular as an essential oil, which is distilled from its flower spikes

What it looks like:

  • shrub with varieties ranging from 9 in (23 cm) to 3 ft (91 cm) tall with aromatic purple flowers
  • available as a dried powder or gelatine capsules, but its essential oils are used primarily in aromatherapy

What it does:

  • tincture of lavender may help improve symptoms of depression
  • oral use of lavender oil supplement may help reduce anxiety
  • possible improved symptoms (waking frequency/duration and anxiety) in PTSD and chronic fatigue
  • can help treat insomnia and reduce anticipatory anxiety

06

Lemon balm

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis

What it is:

  • a lemon-scented herb from the mint family used for more than 2,000 years
  • contains chemicals that generate a sedative, calming effect; also may have antiviral effects as well as benefits for digestive health

What it looks like:

  • small, perennial herb with similar appearance to others in the mint family
  • available as tablets, capsules, tinctures, teas, essential oil, and salves (used for treating viral skin conditions like cold sores)

What it does:

  • helps improve mood and cognitive performance
  • can reduce some symptoms of anxiety, including nervousness and excitability
  • may help increase calmness and alertness
  • helps reduce sleep disturbances and improve sleep overall by alleviating anxiety

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07

Passion flower

Botanical name: Passiflora incarnate

What it is:

  • has been used since the 16th century as a mild sedative, relaxation, and calming medicine
  • flowers as well as berries, roots, and leaves have been used as a traditional natural medicine

What it looks like:

  • purple/blue and yellow vine flower found throughout South America and southern US
  • available in single or combination formulations in capsules or tablets and in teas

What it does:

  • has significant anxiety-calming effects
  • by reducing anxiety, has also been shown to help increase concentration levels
  • increases levels of the brain chemical, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps regulate mood
  • helps modulate circadian rhythms to regulate sleep-wake cycles and aid in treating sleep disorders

08

Rhodiola

Botanical name: Rhodiola rosea

What it is:

  • for centuries, used in Russia and Scandinavian countries for anxiety, fatigue, and depression
  • adaptogenic herb with beneficial effects on adrenal function

What it looks like:

  • perennial yellow flowering herb native to cold, mountainous regions of Europe and Asia
  • rhodiola root extracts available in capsule or tablets

What it does:

  • helps reduce stress-related fatigue
  • helps increase concentration in those with burnout stress
  • has been shown to improve mood in depressed adults
  • may help improve attention and memory and enhance ability to cope with stress

09

St. John’s wort

Botanical name: Hypericum perforatum

What it is:

  • used for centuries, originally harvested for the feast of St. John the Baptist
  • widely prescribed for depression in Europe and sold as supplement tablets or capsules in North America

What it looks like:

  • small flowering plant with yellow blossoms grows throughout North America
  • found in teas, tablets, capsules, and as a topical treatment

What it does:

  • affects brain’s uptake of serotonin, and other mood-controlling chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine
  • may be as effective as SSRIs, more effective than placebos in mild-to-moderate depression
  • may help reverse anxiety and depression and improve response to stress
  • could have anxiety-relieving effects due to its effects on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmitters

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10

Turmeric

Botanical name: Curcuma longa

What it is:

  • comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a flowering plant of the ginger family
  • spice widely used for more than 4,000 years throughout Asia in cooking, cosmetics, and medicinal remedies

What it looks like:

  • spice is deep golden yellow and often referred to as Indian saffron
  • supplements of its most active compound, curcumin, readily available in tablets or capsules

What it does:

  • has shown promise in treating symptoms of major depression
  • may help reverse harmful brain changes induced by chronic stress
  • promotes resilience to stress and may help reduce anxiety
  • seems to help reverse the effects of chronic stress on behaviour
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