Herbal Stress Remedies

Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief

The definitive guide to adaptogenic herbs, formerly known as “tonics,” that counter the effects of age and stress on the body

• Reveals how adaptogens increase the body’s resistance to adverse influences

• Provides a history of the use of these herbal remedies and the actions, properties, preparation, and dosage for each herb

We all deal with stress every day, and every day our bodies strive to adapt and stay balanced and healthy. In Adaptogens, authors David Winston and Steven Maimes provide a comprehensive look into adaptogens, non-toxic herbs such as ginseng, eleuthero, and licorice, that produce a defensive response to stress in our bodies. Formerly known as rejuvenating herbs or tonics, adaptogens help the body to “adapt” to the many influences it encounters. They increase stamina and counter the normal effects of aging and thus are becoming important tools in sports medicine and in the prevention and treatment of chronic fatigue and other stress-related disorders.

Winston and Maimes present the historical uses of these herbal remedies in India, Russia, China, and the Americas and explain how they work and why they are so effective at combating stress-induced illness. Monographs for each adaptogen also present the latest scientific research and include the origin, traditional use, actions, properties, preparation, and dosage for each herb.

The New Age Herbalist: How to Use Herbs for Healing, Nutrition, Body Care, and Relaxation

We have all grown increasingly aware of the potential -- and documented -- dangers of the chemical toxins that surround us. The New Age Herbalist is a compendium of healthy alternatives, an indispensable guide for contemporary natural living. Created by a team of experts, it offers:

A full-color illustrated glossary of more than 200 herbs, describing their properties, active ingredients, and traditional uses around the world

A guide to using herbs for scent, for decoration, and even as chemical-free housekeeping aids

Tips on using herbs for skin care and beauty, by making natural shampoos, lotions, soaps, and cosmetics

A review of culinary herbs, with some unusual recipes that use familiar herbs in delightful new ways

An examination of the growing science of herbal healing, discussing herbal remedies -- including stress relievers -- and the scientific research that validates them

A complete herb gardening plan, with advice on choosing symbiotic herbs, designing and scheduling plantings, and preserving the harvest by freezing and drying

Fascinating, authoritative, packed with information presented in a stunning visual style, The New Age Herbalist will be the home herb user's bible for years to come.

The Bible Cure for Stress (Bible Cure Series)

Bestselling BibleCure series from Dr. Don Colbert.

Relora: The Natural Breakthrough to Losing Stress-Related Fat and Wrinkles (Basic Health Guides)

WouldnÂ’t it be nice to find a natural dietary supplement that would help you decrease that unwanted stress, along with the weight gain, sweet cravings, and premature aging it causes? Studies show that Relora, an all- natural formulation of traditional plant medicines, is just such a product. By normalizing cortisol and DHEA levels in the body, Relora tackles the effects of stress head-on, enhancing metabolism, improving the immune system, and slowing the aging process. Learn everything you need to know to get started on finding and reaping the benefits of managing stress more effectively.

Herbs for Reducing Stress & Anxiety (Natural Health Handbooks)

One of America's foremost herbalists provides concise, simple-to-understand, and practical information for using herbs for health and well-being. Each book contains profiles of specific herbs, cautions, contraindications, and easy-to-make recipes to relieve common ailments.

Kava: Nature's Answer to Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia

What St. John's wort is for depression, kava is for everyday anxiety. Native to exotic locales including the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, kava is a ritual and medicinal herb that's been used for centuries. It may not taste fabulous, but it effectively relieves tension and anxiety without affecting one's alertness or mental capacities or resulting in addictions, unlike prescription drugs such as Valium. Written by Hyla Cass, M.D., a well-known alternative medicine consultant and assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA, Kava: Nature's Answer to Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia is an intelligent, engaging reference to this increasingly popular herb.

Cass clearly explains the herb's chemical composition without delving into turgid scientific mumbo jumbo, or relying on lifeless quotes from scientific papers. She also thoroughly covers the herb's various forms--tinctures, tablets, pastes, powdered extract, and sprays--and suggests appropriate dosages for various treatments (for insomnia, for instance, you'd take a larger dose than if you just wanted to calm yourself before a plane flight). Cass also covers herbs that can be used in combination with kava, including valerian, licorice, and Ginkgo biloba; suggested dietary changes to improve overall mood and health; possible side effects; and techniques for managing stress in the first place, so antianxiety treatments aren't as needed. For anyone who wants to know all about what they're putting into their body, this is a solid primer.

Discover Nature's Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, and Insomnia

Kava has been used ritually and medicinally in the islands of the South Pacific for centuries. Widely used in Europe, this amazing herb has been shown to relieve tension and anxiety while maintaining alertness. In larger doses kava promotes deep, restful sleep. Safe, natural, and inexpensive, kava is the perfect supplement for today's stress-filled lifestyle, and the ideal alternative to drugs such as Valium.



"Authoritative, fascinating, and richly readable, this book tells you what you want to know about kava and guides you in using it."

—James S. Gordon., M.D., Director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and author of Manifesto for a New Medicine


"An engaging and informative guide to understanding and using kava."

—Jack Canfield, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Soul


"A valuable contribution to the body of kava literature. Sharing a seasoned clinician's positive experience, the authors cast a deservedly cool light on Valium and its chemical cousins, and let kava emerge as a safe, effective remedy for stress and anxiety."

—Chris Kilham, author of Kava, Medicine Hunting in Paradise

Healing Anxiety with Herbs

The bestselling author of Hypericum & Depression has compiled here the latest dosage information on kava kava, valerian root, ginkgo, ginseng, licorice root, milk thistle, and many other natural remedies for anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. It's more than a listing of suggested herbs, though, and includes a natural self-healing program of mental and physical exercises meant to reduce stress and ease anxiety, tension, and anger and their requisite physical manifestations: rapid heartbeat, sweating, hyperventilation, dizziness, panic attacks, cigarette cravings, and more. Bloomfield encourages readers to try breathing exercises, visualization, mediation, music therapy, and anger therapy, and includes an extensive list of Internet resources, mental health associations, and self-help groups. --Erica Jorgensen

More than 65 million Americans suffer annually from anxiety and insomnia, and one out of every two people will experience some form of mild to moderate anxiety for at least a two-week period during their lifetime. More people suffer from anxiety than any other mental health problem, yet fewer than than 25 percent of them receive adequate help. Until recently, the only choice for many was to suffer in silence or take synthetic, often addictive, tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

Finally, there is an alternative. In Healing Anxiety with Herbs, leading psychiatrist and bestselling author Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., presents a revolutionary approach that is safe, natural and medically proven. Dr. Bloomfield begins by explaining what anxiety is an exaggerated stress response stemming from the brain's alarm system and the many forms it can take, from muscle aches and nausea to chronic worry, persistent insomnia and even depression. He provides dozens of quick, easy-to-follow exercises along with his own proven Natural Self-Healing program to help individuals evaluate their own level of anxiety and discover the best way to treat it.

As Dr. Bloomfield shows, in many cases the best and safest remedies are natural herbs. Medical studies have shown that kava can relieve mild to moderate anxiety as effectively as Valium-like tranquilizers but without sedation, memory impairment or threat of addiction. Hypericum (Saint-John's-wort), which can be just as effective as synthetic antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, can also be used to alleviate anxiety. Valerian extract can provide a good night's sleep without the morning hangover or rebound insomnia of prescription sleeping pills. Gingko biloba is a "brain booster" that is useful as a daily supplement for anyone over the age of 40 who is dealing with the angst of aging. The ginsengs and ashwaganda can help to strengthen the nervous sytem and protect against stress. Hospitals in Britain are using lavender oil aromatherapy to calm patients before surgery. Evening primrose oil and Traditional Chinese Medicinal herbs can help to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Recommended dosages of herbal extracts for anxiety relief are presented. Why go on suffering when you can put an end to your troubles the right way now? Clear, informative and based on the most up-to-date scientific findings, Healing Anxiety with Herbs offers an eye-opening program that will help you overcome anxiety, insomnia and stress so you can start to live naturally and feel healthy today.

The Art of Aromatherapy: A Guide to Using Essential Oils for Health and Relaxation

Books on aromatherapy are plentiful, but finding the right one for your needs is not necessarily simple. Consider The Art of Aromatherapy an introduction into the world of essential oils. This attractive, easy-to-read reference contains many of the basics you'll need to start incorporating aromatherapy into your daily routine. After a brief but informative introduction to the medicinal and therapeutic uses of plant essences, this little book gets down to business. Thirty of the most popular essential oils are presented, first with a brief description and place in history, then moving into the practical and medicinal realm. Although most of the names will probably be familiar (basil, clove, cinnamon, lavender) many of their therapeutic uses might offer some surprises. Lavender oil, for example, is not only a calming sleep aid (just leave a drop on your pillow), but it can also be a soothing rub for patients suffering from arthritis. The fact-packed text, complemented by colorful illustrations, offers straightforward, useful information for aromatherapy beginners. --Sara Nickerson

Basic Health Publications User's Guide to Stress-Busting Nutrients: Learn How Vitamins and Other Supplements Can Help You Fight Stress (Basic Health Publications User's Guide)

In this User's Guide, nutrition author RoseMarie Gionta Alfieri describes the most important supplements for improving mood, reducing irritability, and preventing depression. Among these supplements are the B-complex vitamins, GABA, and St. John's wort. These and other nutrients have been shown scientifically to help people deal effectively with stress.

Stress & Natural Healing: Herbal Medicines and Natural Therapies

From stomach ulcers to insomnia, depression to stroke, stress-related illnesses have become a big concern in today's society. Now Christopher Hobbs has compiled a comprehensive, all-natural guide to stress management, helping readers discover healthy ways to treat the underlying causes of stress before serious health problems occur. Determining your best diet; employing herbs that promote relaxation; and developing techniques for improving mental attitude are among Hobbs's methods for relieving stress.