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Do you know that 90% of modern day ailments come from stress?
The common stressors for women living in this modern day can range from the commute to work, sales targets, meetings, playing different hats at home and at work, the incessant need to be ‘perfect’ and in control of every situation both at home and at work can throw us out of balance.
What are the common signs of imbalances due to a stressful lifestyle? The signs can vary for most of us - but sleeplessness, fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, imbalanced menstrual cycles (too light, too heavy, or irregular), compromised immunity (falling sick frequently), skin problems (rashes & breakouts) are common issues women may face.
When it comes to healing ourselves and bringing our body and spirit back into balance, I personally like to first turn to natural remedies. Our bodies when left alone to rest and recover, and given the proper nourishment (from what we drink and eat /feed ourselves to what we think and say, feel emotionally) would naturally help bring us back into balance.
For an example :
1.Slowing down our lifestyle (ie learning to say no, sufficient rest/sleep, taking a break from social media, allowing yourself to do nothing for once)
2. Meditation & breathing exercises
3. Moving our bodies as often as we can everyday (a quick run, walking to work, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, a home workout)
4. Incorporating the use of healing adaptogenic herbs into your lifestyle -an easy start would be herbal tea blends. Firstly what are adaptogens?
Adaptogens are a special class of herbs that help modulate our overall health, stress response & cortisol levels) in our daily life.
Especially in these days of the pandemic, turning to natural remedies would do us good, specifically with the use of adaptogens (such as reishi mushroom) in our herbal teas in helping to bring our cells/internal systems back into homeostasis.
While there is still much to learn about adaptogens, studies have indicated that adaptogenic herbs work to ‘speak’ with our personal systems and based on what we need, cushions our stress’ responses, and helps adjust our systems back into a state of balance. Plants are indeed magic
Note: If you are new to herbs/ have an existing medical condition/on medication/pregnant/nursing best to consult your doctor prior to consumption, always listen to your bodies & what it’s trying to tell you.
Illustration adapted from: “Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity”.