Stress is a normal part of the human experience that can be controlled but never permanently eliminated, according to the Mayo Clinic. When your body perceives a threat, it's programmed to react in a protective manner. Once a stressful event or situation has passed, your body returns to a resting state until another stressful situation erupts. A number of herbs may help alleviate the symptoms of stress.
Lavender Oil and Orange Blossom Oil
The aroma of lavender is often recognized as having a calming effect. Lavender oil and other aromatherapies are frequently used to induce relaxation, according to the Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The calming scent of lavender has reduced anxiety in patients undergoing adialysis treatment for chronic kidney disease called haemodialysis, according to Disabledworld.com. Orange blossom oil also may ease the symptoms of anxiety. Itl contains a large amount of an active ingredient called neroli that's believed to have a calming effect, according to UMMC.
Valerian
Valerian is a perennial plant native to Europe. It's a well-known herbal sedative that's regarded as safe and gentle, according to the UMMC. Valerian also may diminish stress and its physical effects, such as upset stomach, sweating and headaches.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (melissa officinali) is a member of the mint family. It's regarded as a calming herb. Its use as a stress and anxiety reliever and sleep aid dates to the Middle Ages, according to the UMMC. A German study of more than 900 children ages 12 and under with minor sleep problems found those who took an herbal combination of valerian and lemon balm slept much better than those who took a placebo. The findings of the study were published in the June 2006 edition of Phytomedicine.
Passionflower
Passionflower has long been used in the U.S. and Europe to treat anxiety and insomnia, according to the UMMC. An Iranian study involving 36 patients who suffered from general anxiety disorder discovered that passionflower worked just as well as the anti-anxiety medication oxazepam (Serax) for treating symptoms. The study was conducted by researchers from Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. It also found that patients were less likely to have impaired performance on the job when they took passion flower in place of oxazepem. The findings of the study were published in October 2001 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
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