Video
Calm Your Mind and Body: Dr. Berg's Stress-Reducing ElixirHerbal extract for relaxation and stress reduction -
You might have heard that some herbs can help your body regulate and respond to stress. But can herbal remedies actually aid in reducing stress? Many different herbs have been touted to have calming effects and chronic stress, including:. In addition to these, another category of herbs considered adaptogens are thought to be powerful stress response modulators.
Those may include rhodiola, ashwagandha, ginseng, holy basil , reishi, and others. Lavender is a fragrant plant that includes more than 30 species. Some suggest that lavender essential oil may be a therapeutic agent for a variety of ailments , acting as a:.
Most commonly, lavender is recommended for oral ingestion or aromatherapy. Two compounds in lavender, linalool and linalyl acetate, are taken up through the skin after topical application with massage and are thought to induce central nervous system depression.
For example, in several human clinical studies involving oral ingestion of lavender oil, researchers found:. At the recommended dose, lavender is considered to be well tolerated with few side effects. However, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite have been linked to high doses of lavender more than five grams per day.
As for drug interactions , taking lavender with other sedatives and hypnotics may have cumulative or synergistic effects.
Lavender contains coumarin, which has the potential to enhance the action of anticoagulant drugs. Always seek medical advice from a trusted healthcare professional before beginning herbal therapy.
Passionflower Passiflora incarnata is another plant made popular for its proposed stress-reducing effects. Traditional use of passionflower celebrated its sedative qualities. In one meta-analysis, researchers examining various passionflower preparations in the form of drops, tablets, and syrup, found that passionflower supplements :.
It was also noted by the same authors that passionflower may have an anxiety-reducing effect on par with oxazepam or midazolam. According to the National Institutes of Health , up to milligrams daily of a dried alcoholic extract of passionflower has been used with apparent safety in studies lasting up to eight weeks.
However, some people may experience symptoms such as:. Taking passionflower in amounts of around three and a half grams or more over a hour period may be unsafe.
Not much is known about the safety of the topical application of passionflower. As a result of its ability to induce uterine contractions, experts advise against its use in pregnant women. With a widespread reputation for supporting a sense of calm, chamomile has a rich history of medicinal use.
However, clinical trials investigating its use in stress reduction are limited and have largely taken place in vitro or in limited animal models. The two varieties most commonly assigned therapeutic effects are German chamomile Matricaria chamomilla L. and Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile L.
The plant contains many bioactive compounds thought to be responsible for its effects, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins. Chamomile often prepared as an herbal tea has primarily been used in the treatment of :.
So how might chamomile and its bioactive compounds contribute to stress reduction? Researchers believe that this may be due to a combination of factors , including the way chamomile bioactives:. Regardless of these promising findings, high quality randomized controlled trials using chamomile in vivo are limited.
Many of the chamomile bioactive compounds will be degraded rapidly in the living body and have low bioavailability. According to the National Institutes of Health , chamomile is probably safe when used in amounts commonly found in teas.
Some longer-term studies for chamomile use of around 38 weeks report minimal adverse events. Chamomile does interact with some drugs and medications, so be on the lookout and always talk with your doctor.
Interactions between chamomile and cyclosporine and warfarin have been reported. Kava drinks are typically prepared from the root of Piper methysticum.
Kava is best known clinically for its anti-anxiety effect including its use in generalized anxiety disorder GAD. German chamomile. Lemon balm.
FDA issues consumer advisory for dietary supplements containing kava. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Bystritsky A. Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Herbs and medications.
Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health. Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements: What you need to know. Using dietary supplements wisely. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Bauer BA expert opinion.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. See also Anxiety disorders Cognitive behavioral therapy Anxiety and diet Depression and anxiety: Can I have both? Fatigue Generalized anxiety disorder Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness Mental health Mental illness in children: Know the signs Mindfulness exercises Muscle pain Psychotherapy Shortness of breath Sleep disorders Stress symptoms Sweating and body odor Tachycardia Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
Show more related content. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.
Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book.
FAQ Home Herbal treatment for anxiety Is it effective. Show the heart some love! Give Today. Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. Explore careers. Sign up for free e-newsletters. About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy. Media Requests. Gutierrez J, Rodriguez G, Barry-Ryan C, Bourke P.
Efficacy of plant essential oils against foodborne pathogens and spoilage bacteria associated with ready to eat vegetables: antimicrobial and sensory screening.
J Food Proct. Hncianu M, Aprotosoaie AC, Gille E, Poiat A, Tuchilu C, Spac A, Stnescu U. Chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oil Melissa officinalis L.
from Romania. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. Kennedy DO, Little W, Haskell CF, Scholey AB. Anxiolytic effects of a combination of Melissa officinalis and Valeriana officinalis during laboratory induced stress. Phytother Res. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA. Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm.
Psychosom Med. Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, et al. LaValle JB, Krinsky DL, Hawkins EB, et al. Natural Therapeutics Pocket Guide. Hudson, OH: LexiComp; Madisch A, Melderis H, Mayr G, Sassin I, Hotz J. A plant extract and its modified preparation in functional dyspepsia.
Results of a double-blind placebo controlled comparative study. Z Gastroenterol. Mantle D, Pickering AT, Perry AK.
Medicinal plant extracts for the treatment of dementia: a review of their pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. CNS Drugs. Mazzanti G, Battinelli L, Pompeo C, Serrilli AM, Rossi R, Sauzullo I, et al. Inhibitory activity of Melissa officinalis L.
extract on Herpes simplex virus type 2 replication. Nat Prod Res. Muller SF, Klement S. A combination of valerian and lemon balm is effective in the treatment of restlessness and dyssomnia in children.
Nolkemper S, Reichling J, Stintzing FC, Carle R, Schnitzler P. Antiviral Effect of Aqueous Extracts from Species of the Lamiaceae Family against Herpes simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2 in vitro. Planta Med. Patora J, Klimek B.
Flavonoids from lemon balm Melissa officinalis L. Acta Pol Pharm. Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Schnitzler P, Schuhmacher A, Astani A, Reichling J. Melissa officinalis oil affects infectivity of enveloped herpes viruses.
Taavoni S, Mazem Ekbatani N, Haghani H. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Triantaphyllou K, Blekas G, Boskou D. Antioxidative properties of water extracts obtained from herbs of the species Lamiaceae.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. Share Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Home Health Library. Lemon balm Balm mint; Blue balm; Garden balm; Honey plant; Melissa officinalis; Sweet balm. Plant Description Native to Europe, lemon balm is grown all over the world.
Medicinal Uses and Indications Insomnia and anxiety Several studies show that lemon balm combined with other calming herbs such as valerian, hops, and chamomile helps reduce anxiety and promote sleep.
Herpes Some studies suggest that topical ointments containing lemon balm may help heal cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus HSV. Other uses Some evidence suggests that lemon balm, in combination with other herbs, may help treat indigestion.
Lemon balm Melissa officinalis Relaxaiton, a member of Muscle-building diet Isotonic drink ingredients family, xnd considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, foor appetite, and ease pain and exrract from indigestion including gas and bloating, as well as colic. Even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings. Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming, soothing herbs, such as valerian, chamomile, and hops, to promote relaxation. It is also used in creams to treat cold sores oral herpes. Native to Europe, lemon balm is grown all over the world.
We Isotonic drink ingredients products we rfduction are useful Hegbal our readers. If you buy through fir on this page, we may Isotonic drink ingredients a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and feduction that we relaxatkon behind. While herbal supplements may be used to help manage anxiety, they do not provide a cure. Therefore, when selecting supplements, be wary of products that claim to treat or cure anxiety disorders. Over the years, treatment options for anxiety disorders have widened to include both prescription medications and natural alternatives 1. Research suggests that several herbal supplements may be helpful in managing anxiety, though more research is needed 2.
0 thoughts on “Herbal extract for relaxation and stress reduction”