12 Best Supplements to Combat Stress

The stresses of modern life can get to all of us.  This is why it’s important to relax after a hard day’s work. Mother Nature knows this, and that is why she has given us so many natural herbs that we can use to take the stress away.

Herbs work by increasing our mental calmness, and if our brains are relaxed, the rest of our bodies will follow suit. They can help us get to sleep, relax muscles and switch off from the worries of everyday life.

Different herbs have different properties and benefits, so it’s good to know which ones can offer you the effects that you are looking for. Here are the 12 best supplements to help you combat stress. Now let’s get started on the path to relaxation with these amazing natural anxiety supplements.

Passionflower

The passionflower is a herbal sedative whose effects have been shown to be as strong as valium. As well as helping with sleep, it can help combat nervousness and anxiety. Away from its mental health benefits, the passionflower produces a fruit used in a variety of soft drinks.

Schisandra

Schisandra is considered a super berry for its properties.  It is known as “Chinese Prozac.” It’s a non-toxic adaptogenic herb that helps reduce the levels of stress hormone in your blood system.  It also helps to fight fatigue and improve physical performance. In China, it is either drunk as a tea, taken in capsule or berry form. It can also provide a boost to your libido too.

Chamomile

This supplement is very popular worldwide.  Consuming this as tea is probably one of the most popular ways to use it.  It is the most mainstream herbal remedy known to the wider population due to the fact it is safe and mildly sedating.  It also helps to settle the stomach and help relaxation before going to bed. Chamomile has a mild scent and pleasant taste, and its soothing of both internal and external irritations makes it the perfect plant to guarantee a relaxing night’s sleep.

Lavender

There are so many ways in which lavender can help the human body that it is hard to know where to start. It can eliminate nervous tension and treat breathing problems. Also, it has antiseptic and cleansing properties which makes it ideal for skin and beauty solutions.  In addition, it can help minor burns or bug bites heal, and it can fight acne, eczema, hair loss, and indigestion. Regarding relaxation and stress, evaporating lavender’s essential oils have the ability to eliminate nervous tension from within the body and lower blood pressure by improving circulation.

Red Clover

This non-sedative plant will calm your nervous system and is extremely similar to lavender in the properties it has. In China, it is served as a tea to help treat those with coughs or respiratory problems and is a rich source of estrogen and antioxidant isoflavones, making it popular among women going through menopause.

Marijuana

Certain strains of medical marijuana supplied by companies such as Greenwave can have a calming effect. You’ll want to focus on the Sativa strain of marijuana for relaxation purposes. Sativa’s makeup is high in the compound Cannabidiol (CBD) which scientists say moderates electrical and chemical activity in the brain, helping us to switch off. Studies on strains high with CBD have shown that it is anti-psychotic and likely to help with stress, anxiety, mental illness, and behavioral issues.

Ashwagandha

This Indian plant can be enjoyed any time of day or night. Most commonly consumed as a tea, ashwagandha tackles our stress hormone levels which as a result can help those who are exhausted and agitated. It can also have a similar effect to vitamin C supplements in boosting our immune systems, helping us fight off disease, and aiding in the anti-aging process.

California Poppy

You can grow California Poppy in your own back garden before picking it to brew a tea using any part of the plant’s leaves or petals. It’s known as a remedy for headaches, has mild pain-relieving qualities, and helps relaxation of the muscles which helps those with involuntary muscle spasms and nervous twitches.

Lemon Balm

A part of the mint family, lemon balm is a great summer tincture whose properties can help with a digestive aid, fighting depression and anti-anxiety. It acts as a sedative which makes it great for stress relief while its effects on the body’s central nervous system mean it is particularly useful for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

St John’s Wort

The plant world’s answer to anti-depressants, just with a lower risk of most of the side effects associated with the prescription drugs according to studies. The most common way to take St John’s Wort is via liquid remedies or capsules, and it is a powerful detoxifier. It relaxes the body and mind, helps lift moods, and fights fatigue. Plenty of users also take it for its sedation qualities, and it can help with heart palpitations, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Kava Kava

According to Dr. Axe, Kava Kava is a Polynesian psychotropic sedative and an extremely powerful herb. The most common way of taking it is through tea although it can also be administered as a mouthwash or by being rubbed into the skin. It is a calming supplement that helps to ease anxiety, treat depression, relieve stress, helps combat ADHD, and decrease problems associated with insomnia. Such is its strength; you should only take Kava Kava using strictly recommended doses of the plant.  Research studies have said that Kava may help to get rid of anxiety because of the calming effects in the plant, but more research needs to be done in the future.

L-theanine

Yes, this one isn’t really a herb, but it’s found in so many herbal teas and has such a huge effect on relaxation that we had to include it. It’s found mainly in green and black tea and can also be bought as a supplement in its own right. It acts directly on the brain, helping to reduce stress and anxiety while also reducing drowsiness. A typical cup of green or black tea contains a small amount – about 25mg – of L-theanine so if you want to get a good amount of it into your system, give the supplement ago which is more like a 200mg dosage per day.