Passionflower, chamomile but also nerd, valerian, and St. John’s Wort … Do you know the anti-stress properties of these plants? Are there interactions with drugs? Capsules, herbal teas, infusions, how to cure your anxiety with plants?
Xanax is an anti-anxiety medicine.
Xanax is very famous in the united states, and no doubt it is powerful anti-anxiety medicine, but it is not a permanent way to get rid of stress. You can find almost every person depressed and not happy in his/her life, and that is why many people use some medicines or do yoga to keep them calm. How long does Xanax last in your blood to keep you quiet? Just a few hours, which is why many experts suggest we not use such things.
We must find a way that gives us happiness, like talking to our loved ones, but yes, we can use some natural things like herbs, meditation, and yoga that have no side effects and are very efficient.
John’s wort, a medicinal plant?
We are all concerned with anxiety at some point in our lives. But when the feeling of worry persists and goes so far as to disrupt daily activities and sleep. This is a real psychological disorder that affects 16% of the population in France.
While doctors favor antidepressants and anxiolytics to treat heavier symptoms such as depression, herbal pharmacopeia has been proven to work for milder disorders.
Passiflora, chamomile, bale, hawthorn, valerian, St. John’s wort … Some have been granted marketing authorization by the ANSM, which represents a guarantee. But beware of side effects and interactions with other drugs.
Among the anti-stress plants, there is St. John’s Wort. Also known by its Latin name, Hypericum perforatum has been the subject of many criticisms because of its interactions with other drugs.
Saffron, a natural anti-stress
Stress, anxiety, generalized anxiety, insomnia… our nerves regularly put us to the test and undermine our morale. To regain the smile and serenity, when these disorders remain moderate, it is not necessarily necessary to turn to anxiolytics or other allopathic drugs. Sometimes happiness is in the meadow, and plants can be effective against stress, like saffron.
You know him, especially for his use in cooking. The saffron gives a touch of color and delicate meats, fish, and even desserts. Pharmacopoeia, saffron, and nothing but the crocus pistil have been used for centuries to relieve various ailments such as menstrual pain or digestive disorders. Today, “red gold,” as it is known, is best known for its soothing virtues or anti-depressive.
It is the flower of wisdom and cheerfulness; behind the name of Crocus sativus and its purple petals hides, in fact, the saffron. A rare flower that Who can only pick in autumn. The red saffron pistil has been cultivated for centuries, especially in Iran, and is known for its soothing virtues.
Saffron is indeed used for gastric problems, ear infections, and bronchial and pulmonary problems … but today, saffron is mainly used for the issues of depression, anxiety, and anxiety. To dry, the fresh saffron is placed in a dehydrator for two hours at 35 ° C. It loses 80% of its weight; 150 to 200 flowers must obtain one gram of dry saffron. No wonder it’s the most expensive spice in the world. In herbalism, red gold costs 17 euros per gram, but it has multiple virtues.
Because of its high cost, saffron is incorporated in small quantities in preparations containing other plants (petals of orange blossom, passionflower, marjoram …). All of these plants act on relaxation, relaxation, soothing, agitation …
The anti-stress properties of saffron are found in saffron-based dietary supplements. Dosed at 30 mg, saffron also acts on the mood in the manner of an antidepressant. An Iranian clinical study compared the effects of saffron with those of fluoxetine, better known as Prozac®, in 40 people with mild to moderate depression. As a result, symptomatic improvement was observed in both groups of patients after six weeks.
Does saffron make you see life in pink? Only time and research will determine it. It is not indicated in cases of severe depression, and if the symptoms persist, medical advice is essential.
Passionflower: soothing benefits
Nervousness, irritability, difficulty falling asleep or restless sleep… To stay calm or regain all its serenity, some plants would be very effective.
One of the plants used for its soothing virtues is the passionflower, the species Passiflora incarnata.
Passiflora incarnata is the name of a plant with a stunning flower. It flowers in summer. Olivier Escuder, the botanist, is very knowledgeable about passionflower: “Passiflora incarnata is a small plant, it grows on different supports with the tendrils that allow it to rise in height. This plant takes its name from its flower color which is red, reddish “.
Always used by Native Americans, this plant was discovered by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century. But it was not until 1937 that passiflora incarnate entered the French pharmacopeia. According to Michel Pierre, an herbalist, ” the Passiflora incarnata is one of the best calming, anti-stress, relaxing plants that also works against melancholy and allows you to have a good sleep (…) it is prepared in decoction by putting a tablespoon per cup, boil for two-three minutes, let infuse ten minutes, take a cup half an hour before bedtime regularly. It is the regularity of employment that will give a result.
The passiflora incarnate can also be associated with other soothing, relaxing plants with the same action as hawthorn and valerian if sleep is difficult. And for people who do not like herbal tea, passionflower also exists in the form of mother tincture or capsules. To consume there again at bedtime for a more peaceful sleep.
Herbal tea: the healthy drink of the winter
Long fallen into disuse, the favorite beverage of grandmothers is now back. Consumed naturally, with a little sugar or a spoon of honey, herbal tea is the ideal drink in winter. Good news for our health because the plants that make up these herbal teas contain active ingredients that, if used properly, can be beneficial for our bodies.
However, it is not always easy to find your way among the many herbs and infusions that exist in commerce. To be sure not to go wrong and choose the appropriate herbal tea, you can take advice from a herbalist.
In winter, one of the recommended plants is the antiseptic pine bud. Eucalyptus leaves also have antiseptic and expectorant properties. The poppy flowers allow for thinning the mucus and expectorating. Finally, lapacho bark can be used to enhance immunity in case of fatigue.
And for those who do not dare to make the mix themselves, do not panic; there are herbal teas ready to consume. Using the plants in bulk makes it possible to preserve them better and to have sufficient and effective active ingredients. Do not hesitate to take out the teapots. Herbal tea is a pleasure to consume without moderation.
Anti-stress tea: a recipe idea
To stay calm and find the serenity of the holidays, some plants are very effective. This is the case of bird’s-foot trefoil, St. John’s wort, and ground ivy that can be combined in an anti-stress herbal tea!
To prepare an anti-stress herbal tea, you first need St. John’s Wort. A plant with yellow flowers. Gathered between May and October, St. John’s Wort is best known for its antidepressant properties, but this plant hides many other virtues: ” St. John’s wort is very useful on stress because it will calm down. Xanthones and flavonoids that give these properties, it is a cholagogue plant, that is to say, it increases the biliary hunt, and we know that when we are stressed, we have difficulty digest” says Dr. Elisabeth Busser, a doctor of pharmacy St. John’s Wort has contraindications to many medications, so ask your doctor for advice.
The trefoil, also called houndstooth, is also a calming plant. It is widely used for women during menopause or pre-menopause because the hormonal change involves nervousness.
A member of the Lamiaceae family, such as mints, the earthy ivy is characterized by heart-shaped, slightly fluffy leaves: ” It is a respiratory tonic,” says Elisabeth Busser, ” and when you are in a state of well-being of stress, very often one is in apnea, one does not breathe … And in this case, as a respiratory tonic, the ground ivy will open the bronchi and will allow breathing better “.
To prepare the anti-stress tea, start by making water simmer. ” In this infusion, we seek to have the active ingredients of the three plants that are soluble in simmering water,” says Elisabeth Busser. Count one liter for 30 to 40 grams of plants. Let infuse for ten minutes and enjoy it. Three or four cups of herbal tea daily for a few days, and your stress should fly away.
