Introduction: Homeopathic Philosophy

Herbal remedies for stress have become prevalent in the last few years. The world is a busy place and people find themselves constantly having to juggle work and personal commitments. This inevitably leads to stress. Stress itself can be a killer as it leads to chemical reactions within the body that can be harmful. Some will resort simply with going to the doctor to be prescribed conventional drug treatments. Some would prefer more natural methods and in recent times there has been an upsurge in herbal and homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is controversial as most compounds are predominantly water. The philosophy behind it suggests, however, that as symptoms are the body's attempt to achieve balance, minute quantities of compounds which induce the symptoms, will in effect, boost the immune system.

Herbs are Chemicals Too!

The common faith behind this trust in herbal remedies is that they are natural, trusted for centuries and will have fewer side effects than conventional drug therapies. Yet many of the herbal remedies for stress are related, if not the active ingredient, for the synthetic counterparts: valerian root for instance, a common substitute for sleeping pills, forms the basis of valium!

If They are Chemicals What Do They Do?

Like the synthetic drugs many herbal remedies aid in altering the chemical reactions throughout the body. Some act as sedatives and tranquillizers, whilst others are mood enhancers. Hops, for example, is commonly used to aid sleep; as is chamomile, but this can also be used to boost the immune system during periods of depression. Skull Cap, and strangely Cat Nip is used to calm the brain down. Whereas Rhodiola can be multifunctional: it's classed as an adaptogenic herb and can be used in regulating the heart, as well as improving the serotonin levels and thus suppressing the depression causing chemicals in the brain. It's also an aphrodisiac, perhaps something that may also improve the mood. St John's Wort is a popular alternative to conventional anti-depressants, although it should be checked with a health professional before using, as adverse reactions are known to occur when taken with other medications.

Other Uses For The Herbs

If still concerned about ingesting strange herbal substances remember herbs like Lavender are very popular in aromatherapy, either in an oil burner or added to a bath. Other fragrances such as Rose are so said to have a calming effect when used in this manner. However, when in doubt exercise, a good diet and plenty of relaxation activities, used in conjunction with what ever other remedies suit, will no doubt help in relieving stress.

Conclusions

Herbal remedies have been used by humans for hundreds of years. Some of the treatments that we use today were based on natural materials. Herbal remedies are a very effective treatment for many conditions, including stress.