Calming Herbs

Anxiety, restlessness and stress are common problems of today's fast pace life. They, in turn, give rise to another set of problems which include sleeplessness, stomach disorders, headaches and loss of appetite. All these conditions are sufficient enough to make your life miserable and pathetic. However, you cannot allow these medical conditions to spoil your life. You need to find ways to get rid of them. The best way to do so is to take actions which can ease your day-to-day problems. This will allow you to keep yourself cool and calm. You may take help of several other things as well to promote sound mental health. Following a balanced diet will prove to be of immense help. Another effective thing is the use of herbs. If you don't know much about them, keep reading to learn a bit about a few highly effective ones.

Natural Calming Herbs

Skullcap: Skullcap is a herbaceous plant, which is native to North America. It is a hardy perennial herb and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The scientific name of skullcap is Scutellaria lateriflora. Skullcap is known by many common names. Some of them are blue skullcap, Virginian skullcap, hoodwort and mad-dog skullcap. Skullcap is mildly sedative in action. It promotes sleep. Both these properties make it able to be used in the form of a herbal medicine. Skullcap herb is helpful for nervous exhaustion. It strengthens a depleted nervous system. It relieves stomach problems, controls tremors and diaphragm spasms, and reduces the restlessness of legs. It is often recommended by herbalists to the patients who show symptoms like clenching or grinding of teeth and anxiousness. Skullcap should be used in its either fresh or freeze-dried form. The tincture or extracts prepared from its dried form does not retain the useful properties.

Lemon Balm: Lemon balm is a perennial herb, which belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Its botanical name is Melissa officinalis. Lemon balm is usually used as a flavoring agent in ice cream and herbal teas. It is believed to have antibacterial, antiviral and calming properties. It is often used as an anxiolytic (anxiety relieving), mild sedative and calming substance. Lemon balm has been scientifically proven to be effective at reducing stress. Its extract contains a substance which acts as inhibitor of GABA transaminase, the enzyme which is involved in producing anxiolytic effects. The essential oil obtained from lemon balm has been observed to be very effective in relaxing one's mind and body. Hence, it is usually used in aromatherapy.

Oat: The scientific name of oat is Avena sativa. It is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed. Oats are suitable for human consumption. It is often eaten in the form of oatmeal and rolled oats. It is commonly used as a livestock feed. It is healthy for consumption in general. It is particularly effective at easing stress. Herbalists often recommend fresh oat to people who feel emotionally frayed. It is also considered to be great for people who have no emotional grounding. Oat is known to control cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This particular herb is popular for its ability to take the edge off caffeine, morphine and nicotine cravings.

Passion Flower: Passion flower, also called passion vines, are a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants. It belongs to the family Passifloraceae. Its scientific name is Passiflora incarnata. It is counted among the strong calming herbs for anxiety. It is known for its mild sedative action. It provides relief to the patients of insomnia induced by repeated thinking over and over the same topic. Herbalists prefer to prescribe passion flower for relieving tension, nerve pain, back pain, gastro-intestinal symptoms and headaches. It is considered to be one of the great calming herbs for children.

KavaKava: Kavakava, scientifically termed as Piper methysticum, is a tall shrub. It is commonly found to grow in the South Pacific islands. It belongs to the pepper family. It is known by several other common names. Some of them are kawa, kew, safau and yagona. Kavakava has been used as social and occasional beverage and as a folk remedy. It finds numerous uses in the field of medicine. It helps bring pain down, eases stiffness which is caused due to anxious feelings. It is believed that it works on the amygdala part of the brain, which is involved in the stress response of the body. Thus, it is a very effective at relaxing stressful and anxious feelings. This ability makes it known as a great calming herb. Kavakava is prescribed by herb doctors for various other purposes. They include cooling down hot flashes, easing joint pain, menstrual cramps and muscle tension.

These herbs are usually safe for consumption but having them in right amounts is surely required to obtain the maximum possible benefits. To get information on their dosage and safe usage, you need to consult a herbalist.