Indian Ginseng
Drink Herbal Tea
Sip a cup of tea made from the roots of Ashwagandha, a kind of herb also known as Indian ginseng.
Why it works: When researchers in India isolated a component of the herb’s roots and administered it orally to rats once a day for five days, the relaxing effect was similar to that produced by lorazepem or Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication.
Breathe Fully
Close your eyes and breathe deeply, keeping our belly soft. As you slowly breathe in through your nose, say “soft“. AS you breathe out through your mouth, say “belly“.
Why it works: When your belly is soft, the breath goes to the bottom of the lungs and you get a better oxygen exchange, explain James Gordon, M.D., founder and director of the Center for Mind Body Medicine in Washington D.C. Deep belly breathing also activates the vagus nerve, which counteracts the stress response, and as the belly muscles relax, so do other muscles of the body.
Let Yourself Cry
Crying when something makes you angry, or frustrated eases stress.
Why it works: Emotional tears have a different chemical makeup from other types, according to William H. Frey II, Ph.D., a biochemist and leading tear expert, who theorizes that the chemicals unique to emotional tears may be the ones that build up in the body when at stress. Getting rid of them through crying makes you feel better.
Related posts:
