January 7th 2012
Relax Naturally
Its ironic, but the concept of holistic wellness isnt always popular with some of my clients Not everyone is interested in learning the root causes of their conditions or dis-eases and/or taking the necessary steps to address them through meaningful lifestyle changes Recently, a client wanted to know what simple steps he could take to help him through a particularly stressful time at work Options such as aerobic exercise, dietary adjustments and yoga were summarily dismissed by this Type-A personality due to time constraints What to do?
There are some natural remedies that can be used to assist you through times of anxiety and distress The alternatives listed below do not address the underlying issues that contribute to a stressful state of mind This is why I dont recommend them as long term solutions Nevertheless, theyre much safer when compared to destructive pacifiers such as cigarettes, drugs and excessive alcohol use
An extract of lemon balm Melissa officinalis was recently shown to reduce mild-to-moderate anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance in a group of stressed volunteers In the 15 day study, 600 mg/day of a patented lemon balm extract Cyracos ameliorated anxiety-associated symptoms by 15% and lowered insomnia by 42% Other current research points to the value of high dose B-complex vitamins and concentrated fish oil, providing 2,085 mg EPA and 348 mg DHA daily, in stressed students and workers All three of these supplements have a good safety record and numerous studies to back their use for promoting mental health
Two simple, mind-body approaches are always worth considering The first is the use of bergamot oil as an aromatherapeutic essence Current evidence reveals that a spray containing this citrus extract lowers anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate variability in anxious individuals Finally, meditation, even if its only practiced for 5 minutes a day, can significantly alter anxious feelings, perceived stress and improve quality of life Carrying around a small bottle or inhaler containing bergamot oil and/or meditating for a minimum of 5 minutes daily is feasible for just about everyone
Acute radiation exposure may seem like an intractable problem, quickly evolving and leading to an unpleasant end. Yet antibiotics have been known to help to ward off infections if neutropenia develops soon after exposure.