There are many natural stress relievers that we can incorporate into our lives. Some of these include breathing exercises, eating right, movement and meditation. We will cover the definition of stress, how our bodies react and explain some of the natural stress relievers that we can do.
Generally we are a highly stressed society and according to the American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress, NY, the following statistics are common in the United States.
Other studies find:
Stress has a few different definitions but the one I am concerned with today is the following from Merriam-Webster:
– a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
– a state resulting from a stress; especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium <job-related stress>
Some of the effects of high stress are:
Stress is a survival mechanism. We are designed to have stressors that help us evade danger. Unfortunately the stress mechanisms that are natural have not evolved to our modern day stress levels.
Our autonomic nervous system is the part of our brains that controls our heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, dilation of pupils, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal.
The autonomic nervous system is made up of two subsystems; the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the fight or flight system. This system was designed to give us the energy that we need to protect ourselves. It tells our body to increase the production of epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol from the adrenal glands which in turn helps to increase our heart rate, diverts the blood flow from the digestive tract to skeletal muscles to help us deal with danger, dilates the pupils so we can see the threat, dilates the bronchioles of the lung which helps us take in more oxygen and effectively shuts down the immune system.
Once the danger is gone the parasympathetic nervous system takes over and we are able to rest and digest. This system reverses the effects of the fight of flight reaction allowing our bodies to return to normal functions.
Because of our constant levels of stress created by our lifestyles, our body doesn’t completely recover from the fight or flight response thereby causing the dis-eases that we have. This inhibits the immune system, keeps us awake at night and causes poor digestion which in turn creates a lot of illness. No wonder 70 – 80% of doctor visits are stress related.
If you control your mind, you control your body. Although many of the effects of the autonomic nervous system are involuntary there are several functions that we can control with our minds.
Here are some easy activities that are natural stress relievers.
Prevent self inflicted stress by accepting your limits, don’t compare yourself to others, do something you enjoy every day, set realistic goals and prioritize, avoid perfectionism, manage your time wisely, don’t bottle your emotions and appropriately share them, express gratitude and grant forgiveness.
If you eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water your body will be able to handle stress better that if you have a poor diet and are dehydrated. One of the best natural stress relievers is to add the use of essential oils to your life.
Essential oils are the highly concentrated, volatile, aromatic essences of plants. Because essential oils contain hundreds of organic constituents, including hormones, vitamins and other natural elements that work on many levels they are 50 to 100 times more concentrated than the oils in dried herbs.
Essential oils directly effect the limbic system. The limbic system consists of the hippocampus, fornic, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, mamillary bodies, amygdala and olfactory bulb. The limbic system is not just our smelling mechanism, it is an integral part of man, and has a direct and indirect influence on so many of our body systems. This includes the regulation of the endocrine system and autonomic nervous systems and the resulting patterns of behavior and motivation. Our sense of smell is more than simply a coping mechanism, but fulfills its own regulatory work as well.
Here are some basic essential oils to help reduce stress:
This is a blend of Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Ocotea and Lavender.
Copaiba has traditionally been used internally to aid digestion and support the body’s natural response to injury or irritation.
Lime has an invigorating and stimulating effect and may help mental clarity and encourage creativity as well as supporting healthy skin.
Vanilla may have aphrodisiac and sedative effects.
Ocotea has a high level of alpha humulene which is a compound that helps aid the body’s natural response to irritation and injury, it also has natural cleansing and purifying properties.
Cedarwood stimulates the productions of melatonin.
Lavender reduces blood levels of cortisol.
This blend of essential oils contains Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lemon, and Spearmint essential oils. Rich in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene, it supports the immune system and overall health while bringing about a sense of well-being, creativity, and feelings of joy.
Roman Chamomile essential oil has a warm and sweet, herbaceous scent that is relaxing and calming for both mind and body.
Stress doesn’t have to make you sick, there are many natural stress relievers that are available to control the stresses of daily life and have a happy, healthy life.
We would love to hear how you control your stress levels. Please comment below.
[sc_fs_faq html=”true” headline=”h2″ img=”” question=”What are some natural ways to relieve stress.” img_alt=”” css_class=””] Some of the most effective ways to relieve stress are; exercise, healthy eating, massage, meditation, natural supplements like essential oils & CBD products and breathing exercises. [/sc_fs_faq]
What The Hell Are Superfoods? Superfoods—now that’s a word, isn’t it? It conjures up images…
How to Make Homemade Crème Fraîche (and Why You’ll Want It on Everything) Crème fraîche…
Everyday Steps to a Healthier Life Did you know that small, consistent steps can significantly…
As summer starts to fade, August is a key time for gardeners. It's when you…
Echinacea is One of the best Medicinal Herbs Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a…
Spring Planting Spring is nature's invitation to breathe new life into our gardens. As the…