You must be sceptical about using herbs for stress and anxiety relief. But give it a second thought. Read this article and I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Stress-related disorders are among the most common health problems. Stress can cause an imbalance in neurotransmitters which could directly affect your behavioural pattern, resulting in symptoms such as anxiety, anger, restlessness, irritability, and social withdrawal. Stress may result from external factors, such as loud noises and pain, or from internal factors that include emotions such as hate, envy, and anger. It can also lead to physical symptoms like increased heart rate and uncontrollable sweating. Here are 7 Ayurvedic herbs for stress and anxiety relief.

Herbs for stress and anxiety 

1. Holy basil or Tulsi— Holy basil, which belongs to the mint family is regarded as “the queen of herbs,” and is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. Chew around 10 to 12 Tulsi leaves daily to battle stress. The leaves act as effective anti-stress agents. Also, the entire plant from leaves to the seed is beneficial as a tonic for the body, mind, and spirit.

To make some soothing tulsi tea, boil one tablespoon of fresh basil leaves in a cup of water.

2. Sage—A tea made from fresh sage leaves is truly stress-relieving when prepared by boiling 1 tablespoon of leaves in a cup of water.

The chemical constituents present in the leaves of this herb for stress and anxiety relief can also help increase mental capacity.

Sage tea is made by blending one teaspoon of dried sage leaves with boiling water. Strain the resulting mixture and sweeten it with honey.

3. Lavender– Lavender is thought to dampen the nervous system’s response to stress by acting on the amygdala and the hippocampus via the body’s limbic system. The essential oil of lavender has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years, with much empirical evidence of its effects on improving mood, reducing anxiety and mental stress, and aiding in sedation and better quality sleep.

You can use the essential oil of lavender in several ways to gain these therapeutic effects, from adding lavender oil to a bath, which has been shown to increase relaxation and cause a deep sleep, to air diffusion or even rubbing the oil directly into your hands or temples.

4. Passionflower

Passionflower, a herb often recommended as a treatment for anxiety and stress, has been found in studies to have no detrimental effects on job performance when compared to the prescription drug oxazepam. Passionflower provides the same calmative effects on anxiety as oxazepam without causing any adverse effects.

This herb is available in dried, capsule, tea, and other forms; the recommended dose is 100-200 milligrams per day.

 5. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is an effective stress-reducing herb that combats stress by lowering cortisol levels, the stress hormone. It can be taken in tea form or supplement form. It is one of the most recommended herbs for stress and anxiety.

Take 1-2 grams of fresh or dried Ashwagandha root, boil it in a cup of milk or water and sip it slowly thrice a day. It is one of the significant ayurvedic herbs for stress and anxiety relief. However, this herb isn’t recommended for pregnant women and young children.

6. Chamomile: This herb has a sedative effect on your central nervous system. Due to the presence of flavonoids and other plant constituents, Chamomile aids in muscle relaxation and promotes good sleep. 

Consuming in tea form or supplement form is generally preferable. It also comes in other forms such as topical creams and gels and most of the other common herbal supplement forms.

7. Brahmi: Brahmi reduces stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. It’s always on the list for people who look for herbs for stress and anxiety. Brahmi hinders the stress effects by controlling hormones involved with the stress response.

Brahmi leaves (fresh or dry) can be used to make a tea that helps calm you down and relieves anxiety and stress. These are sold in the markets as pills or in powdered form. However, it has to be taken only on the doctor’s recommendation.

If you’re considering taking any herbs for stress and anxiety relief, talk to your doctor first, especially if you take other medications. The interaction of a few herbal supplements and medications can trigger serious adverse effects. Although all these herbs are good and safe, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using them. Besides, people suffering from autoimmune diseases too should avoid them.