In periods of intense anxiety, try your favorite food with various herbs. You can put basil and bay leaves into pasta sauce, or give more flavor to your soup with rosemary and thyme. You can flavor salads with mint or add sage to your favorite meat dish.
Garlic. Garlic has been used to help with symptoms brought on by colds, the flu, and allergies. It is also known to lower hypertension associated with stress.
Ginger. Ginger is a very aromatic spices and it has a positive effect against stress overall and particularly stress headaches.
Herbs can offer a great deal of stress relief. Some herbs calm the mind, help break down adrenaline, or strengthen the heart. Most herbs you can grow in your own back yard, but if you want to purchase your herbs, MountainRoseHerbs.com is a good site.
Tarragon. Tarragon is known to provide pain relief and a feeling of peaceful relaxation. It promotes calmness and contains minerals that are often missing from the average person’s diet.
Dill. Dill is known to soothe upset stomachs, and relieve digestion cramps.
Rosemary. Rosemary relaxes the muscles in the body. It also aids in mental clarity, which is often a problem when under intense stress.
Sage. Sage is known to enhance memory and clear the mind; it is also a powerful antioxidant.
St. John’s Wort. St John’s Wort works in two different ways to help with stress. It first removes the stress hormone norepinephrine, and second it helps the pituitary gland produce extremely beneficial hormones.
Note: St. John’s wort has been found to interact with a variety of medications, so talk to your health care provider before using St. John’s wort if you are currently taking medication.
Chamomile. Chamomile has a relaxing and restorative effect. Chamomile tea has a calming effect, soothes stomach problems, and is an effective sleep aid.
Note: Chamomile is safe for most people, but some people have serious allergic reactions to chamomile.