Botanical Ingredients Help Manage Stress Naturally

This is the best time to take advantage of the wisdom and science of medicinal plants. One of the benefits of some of them is the ability to...

This is the best time to take advantage of the wisdom and science of medicinal plants. One of the benefits of some of them is the ability to reduce stress and anxiety. The plant extracts that you can find in specialized stores and herbalists are an increasingly widespread and healthy alternative.

There are many stressful factors that we experience on a daily basis and can have a negative impact on our health: the constant use of screens, the work hustle, family burdens, etc. The constant barrages that high cortisol levels inflict on us, poor digestion, inadequate sleep, and the release of catecholamines are just some of the manifestations that stress can trigger in our bodies.

How to prevent anxiety and stress

For the first time in more than a decade, preventing anxiety and stress has risen to the top as Americans' top health concerns, according to findings reported in The Hartman Group's Health and Wellness Report. Mental and emotional health is gaining importance, serving as key indicators of how well-being is understood by consumers.

Fortunately, significant research has been done in the area of ​​stress and possible natural solutions to control its effects. In many of these studies, medicinal plants have been used to determine their action on the mental health of the patient. Its properties provide mechanisms that help reduce stress and even prevent anxiety.

For example, resveratrol is a polyphenol synthesized by grapes. It stands out for its activity when it comes to protecting against pathogens that could otherwise lead to its disappearance. The knowledge we have gained from investigating these types of mitigating compounds can provide many benefits in human applications.

Botanical extracts to improve mood

Resveratrol is just one sample from the long list of medicinal plants, herbs, and mushrooms that serve to elevate mood and lower stress levels. All the ingredients that we analyze below are based on scientific evidence, which supports the proper functioning of the central nervous system and the possible reduction of fatigue.

Rhodiola Rosea

Support your mood and contribute to improving the quality of sleep. It is a botanical that has been used for centuries in traditional therapies, but currently, science continues to validate its effectiveness and discover some of its action mechanisms. One of the active components found in Rhodiola is a glycoside called rosavin. The anti-stress properties of rosavin, as well as another component called salidroside, have been attributed to the ability of these compounds to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and act as stress mediators.

Magnolia bark

The extract of this plant shows promise as a sleep aid and has also been shown to work as an anxiolytic; it may also provide neuroprotective benefits. Phenols from magnolia tree bark, in the form of honokiol and magnolol, have an affinity for CB1 and CB2 receptor sites in the body. These receptors are part of the body's own endocannabinoid system that helps facilitate homeostasis within all metabolic processes that occur in the body.

Hemp extracts

These phytocannabinoids are gaining a reputation for their ability to promote sleep, reduce anxiety, improve joint mobility, and boost the immune system. Terpenes such as beta-caryophyllene and the flavonoid kaempferol, along with other minor cannabinoids contained in hemp, work together to support and optimize the endocannabinoid system to help us maintain balance and allow us to deal with stress and anxiety in a more effective way. more holistic.

Manage stress naturally

By aligning ourselves more with nature and using the tools that plants use as part of their own metabolic processes and defense systems, we can be better equipped to deal with stress on a daily basis. Botanical products are not a panacea, although there is plenty of evidence backed by science that encourages using them in the form of food supplements, always accompanying them with a healthy diet and exercise.

References

Zhu X, Li W, Li Y, Xu W, Yuan Y, Zheng V, Zhang H, O'Donnell JM, Xu Y, Yin X. The antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of resveratrol: Involvement of phosphodiesterase-4D inhibition. Neuropharmacology. 2019 Jul 15;153:20-31.

Anghelescu IG, Edwards D, Seifritz E, Kasper S. Stress management and the role of Rhodiola rosea: a review. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2018 Nov;22(4):242-252.

Rempel V, Fuchs A, Hinz S, Karcz T, Lehr M, Koetter U, Müller CE. Magnolia Extract, Magnolol, and Metabolites: Activation of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors and Blockade of the Related GPR55. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2012 Nov 14;4(1):41-5.