Five Ways to Fight Stress

This month’s Millie’s Musings picks up from last month‘s focus on chamomile tea and vitamin C with five additional ways to fight stress, which can weaken our immune systems. We do not want weak immune systems!

I always like to learn new things and delving a little more into my mother’s stress reduction notes that’s what happened, as usual, as I read about a centuries old tea and a biochemical touted as a super supplement.

The tea – Valerian Tea – has been trusted to relieve tension for centuries. It’s also a super sleep aid with no side effects. (I know at least a handful of people who should try it!) To make valerian tea, add1 tsp of the dried root to a cup of hot water. Or you can take take 3 – 475 mg capsules 3 times a day (that sounds like kind of a lot to me so if you are going to try it, be sure to check for yourself). If you want to read more about valerian, this article has some good info.

The second stress fighter is Ginseng – If you take ginseng along with a multivitamin you may recharge your adrenal glands and cope with stress better. Used in the far east for thousands of years this healing root also boosts energy and concentration. Ginseng is available in several forms: capsules, teas, soft drinks (I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this form! Will have to look for it and give it a try.), dried root and even chewing gum (I have seen this).

Magnesium offers another way to combat stress by inducing relaxation (which I have heard before) – Get plenty of this mineral, especially during stressful times. Eat beans, oatmeal, shrimp & skim milk … (not sure if the shrimp and skim milk have to be eaten together, but that’s how it was written) brown rice, popcorn, nuts, spinach, peas, corn, potatoes. Supplements are also available. Too much can be dangerous … (So be careful! … again, be sure to do your own research.)

The fourth way, which I found the most interesting is a manmade form of a chemical found naturally in the body, S-ame (Sammy) biochemical (full name is S- adenosylmethionine). This has been in Europe and used for decades. Shows promise as an arthritis treatment. Also, may treat depression and anxiety. A super supplement! Look it up!

And, of course, EXERCISE! Take a walk, do some stretching or practice a bit of yoga. The note even provides a suggested breathing exercise to relax…Put 1 hand on your stomach, then inhale slowly and deeply while counting from 1 to 4. Then exhale as you count backward from 4 to 1. This mini meditation reduces stress, blood pressure and heart rate.

So, I hope you find these ways to fight stress (to protect and strengthen your immune system!) useful and interesting.