In my practice, I find most people come to me for help with some kind of stress-related imbalance. Stress is a fact of life, but too much stress can be quite harmful and can compromise our health on all levels.
It is important to understand that the human stress response is an evolutionary adaptation that has helped humans cope in moments of crisis. Stress is also a powerful tool for launching an appropriate response to danger; however, the circumstances of our lives in modern times have changed rapidly and our stressors have multiplied: They are everywhere, every day. It’s important to note that stress hormones linger in our systems long after a stressful event is over.
Ayurveda offers wonderful advice on how to cope with this universal element of human experience — from lifestyle suggestions to herbal support. In this article, I will provide you with a few tips from Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom, equipping you with some simple tools to combat the everyday stressors that are such a prominent feature of modern times.
First, the most important tip is to SLOW DOWN. You may think, how is this possible? It’s hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. Our culture has trained us to move from one thing to the next without taking a break, and we are teaching our children to do the same by encouraging them to get involved in as many activities as possible. It can be frightening to allow ourselves to do nothing. However, with time and practice, the positive changes that come from doing things at a slower pace reinforce our intentions and encourage us to slow down a bit more, and then a bit more, and later even more. So take baby steps, and incorporate small ways of slowing down. I have included a few ideas below:
Just do less. Focus on what’s really important, what really needs to be done, and let go of the rest.
Focus on people. Too often we spend time with friends and family, or meet with colleagues, and we’re not really there with them.
Appreciate nature. Many of us are shut up in our homes and offices and in cars and trains most of the time and rarely get the chance to go outside.
Eat slower. Instead of cramming food down our throats as quickly as possible — leading to overeating and a lack of enjoyment of our food — learn to eat slowly. Be mindful of each bite.
Breathe. When you find yourself speeding up and stressing out, pause, and take a deep breath. Take a couple more. Really feel the air coming into your body, and feel the stress going out.
Spend 5-15 minutes meditating each day — practice meditation without expecting anything special to happen. I like to use a simple method by the name of empty bowl meditation. See the meditation described at the end of this article.
Focus on self-care. Purposeful and committed self-care can be a beautiful part of the healing process and a meaningful opportunity to practice self-love. Ayurveda offers a lot of ideas on how to create a routine of self-care in your daily life. I have written a whole article about these practices. Take a look and pick a couple that will be easy to incorporate into your life.
Establish a consistent sleep routine: Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day. Make sure to be in bed before 10 p.m., so your body has the chance to heal and rest itself during the critical hours between10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Of course, the avoidance of stress seems like the ideal strategy for reducing anxiety and other-stress related symptoms, but we know that is not possible, and we sometimes have trouble maintaining the proper lifestyle routine for limiting the impact of stress on our physical and emotional health. Fortunately, Ayurveda helps fill the gaps in our stress management strategy by prescribing several herbs known to provide stress relief.
Brahmi is a wonderful herb used for reducing stress and regulating the hormones involved the body’s stress response. Known as one of Ayurveda’s brain tonics, it revitalizes the cells of the brain and soothes the central nervous system. It is known to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body and is widely used in stress relief formulations.
Ashwagandha is one of Ayurveda’s most revered herbs. It is classified as an adaptogen, meaning it supports your body ability to manage stress, providing you with energy when you need it and calmness when that’s what your mind and body require. Ashwagandha also provides numerous other benefits for your body as a whole as well as specific support for the brain and nervous system. For example, it can boost brain function, lower blood sugar and cortisol levels, and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Bhringaraj: Bhringraj massage oil is a common medicinal oil that is valued in Ayurveda for its neuroprotective effects. This creeping vine is known for its full spectrum of benefits, including lowering stress levels and supporting a consistent supply of oxygen to the tissues of the brain.
Tulsi: Tulsi works to support healthy cortisol levels by mitigating stress. It is a powerful antioxidant and supports all digestive processes, including processing and assimilating mental and emotional experiences. It is the best herb for alleviating anxiety and depression, and its adaptogenic properties reduce the intensity and negative impact of physical, emotional, and environmental stressors.
Jatamansi Also known as Indian spikenard, jatamansi is an anti-stress and anti-fatigue herb. The roots of jatamansi are the primary parts of the plant that have therapeutic effects on a stressed mind. These roots keep our mind and body free of toxins and blockages and promote a sense of stability, allowing the brain to function properly.
Vacha: This magical root has soothing properties that help calm an over-stressed and anxious mind. It also has the added benefits of improving the overall strength of your memory and helping the body get good sleep.
Stress Relief Formulation
Mix 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs in equal parts and store in a glass container in a cool place. Each morning mix 1 teaspoon of formulation in 2/3 cups of water until the water has reduced to 1/3 cup water. Drink half of the decoction in the morning and half at night.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease