Medicinal use of herbs to treat stress is common practice in alternative and complementary medicine. Such uses are often derived from folklore, in which herbs such as St. John's wort were used for their mood-lifting and nerve-calming capabilities. Herbs can be ingested via teas, liquid extracts or capsules. Herbal treatments such as St. John's wort and ginseng should be taken as a tea, liquid extract or tincture up to three times daily. Follow the directions on any product you plan to ingest, as the instructions will be specific. Aromatherapy herbal essences such as lavender can be added to a diffuser in your home or sprinkled on your pillow at bedtime.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort is a side-effect-free herbal treatment for mild depression and stress management. Because of the herb's active compound, hypericin, it has been used for thousands of years to treat those symptoms and a host of others, including general nerve disorders. Vanderbilt University reports that in Germany, St. John's wort is prescribed nearly seven to one over the leading chemical antidepressant.
Lavender
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that lavender essential oil can be used to treat anxiety and stress. Lavender oil is sometimes used in integrative medicine such as massage. Massage with lavender essential oil can manage your stress by stabilizing your mood, improving concentration and reducing anxiety. The medical center also suggests the aroma therapeutic use of lavender to relax the activity of the nervous system and improve sleep.
Ginseng
Ginseng is an adaptogenic, which means that it helps mitigate the effects of stress. The extracts found in ginseng stimulate brain activity and cause a more efficient use of your body's energy. The University of Michigan says that ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides, which diminish stress and benefit mental and physical performance.
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