Ayurvedic Herbs For Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but if you feel overwhelmed by continual stress it can have a negative effect on your body. Stress can weaken your immune system and lead to mental and physical disorders, such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and heart problems. Ayurvedic herbs for stress are mainly nervines, or herbs that act on your nervous system, and adaptogens, which affect your endocrine system and help your body resist stress. Consult your health care practitioner before starting herbal treatment.

Ayurveda and Stress

Ayurveda, meaning "knowledge of life," is the traditional medical system of India. It is based on the idea that health is a state of physical and mental harmony, and disease is just the opposite. Ayurvedic herbs for stress will help restore emotional and hormonal balance, strengthen your immune system and allow your body to cope better with stressful situations. You can also combine herbal remedies with mental practices like yoga and meditation to enhance stress relief.

Brahmi

Brahmi, or Bacopa monnieri, is a creeping succulent native to India. Ayurvedic practitioners consider it a powerful adaptogen, nervine and rasayana, or rejuvenating herb, and use it to treat mental disorders and stress. Its potent active ingredients include flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins. In a study published in the May 2007 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," researchers from the Central Drug Research Institute in India found that bacopa extract normalized brain chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, in test animals with induced acute and chronic stress. Do not combine bacopa with other anti-depressant, sedative or epilepsy medications.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, is a perennial herb found throughout western India. It is also known as the Indian ginseng because of its revitalizing actions. Ashwagandha is a rejuvenating tonic in Ayurveda, and practitioners use the roots to treat general fatigue, nervous exhaustion, insomnia and stress. In their 2000 book "The Herbal Drugstore," Dr. Linda B. White and medicinal plant expert Steven Foster recommend ashwagandha to enhance your body's mental and physical performance and its ability to cope with stress. You can use ashwagandha teas, tinctures and capsules, but consult a qualified health care professional for dosage instructions. Do not use ashwagandha if you are pregnant, have stomach ulcers, autoimmune disease, or if you are having surgery with anesthesia.

Tagara

Tagara, or Valeriana wallichi and V. officinales, is a perennial herb rich in volatile oils. Ayurvedic practitioners use it to treat emotional stress, nervous tension, insomnia, muscle spasms, headaches and anxiety. The active ingredients are called valepotriates, and they have potent antispasmodic and anti-anxiety action. In her 2009 book, "The Holistic Herbal Directory," herbalist Penelope Ody says that tagara can also be applied as a cream topically to treat stress-related skin conditions like eczema. Do not combine tagara with other sedatives or antidepressants.