A large percentage of Americans are reported by The American Psychology Association to be experiencing chronic stress or symptoms of it; a survey revealed that 44% of respondents suffered more levels of stress than they did the previous year, with common causing being employment, economy, and finances. The American Psychology Association cautions that chronic stress can’t be ignored as it can result in far reaching consequences leading to disruption of brain function, confusion, depression, and anxiety among others. Stress also affect the body as well as the mind causing body pain, rapid or difficulty breathing, irregular menstruation, erectile dysfunction, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Chronic stress also affects younger people, the survey noted close to one third of children had experienced physical stress related symptoms including headaches, difficulty sleeping, and stomach troubles. Researchers noted of particular concern stress and being overweight had bidirectional relationships in overweight children, meaning that either could be cause and effect of the other.
A study investigating destressing abilities of carnosol found it to be abundant within rosemary, and focused on the antioxidant ability to protect the brain from damage using induced stress in rats by keeping them in plexiglass restrainers for an hour a day for 21 days, after which the animals were injected with a carnosol or vehicle for 21 days. Animals were taken out of enclosures after experiment and subjected to behavioral testing to assess stress levels which included open field and free swimming tests. Biochemical analysis was then conducted to assess oxidative stress parameters such as activities of MDA, reduced GSH, as well as superoxide dismutase, GPx, GR, and CAT in the brain.
Upon examination animals showed signs of chronic stress in behavioral testing specifically increased mobility in free swimming and decreased tendency to cross the open field test. Levels of malondialdehyde increased marking heightened oxidative stress, finding which were supported by reductions in glutathione and antioxidant enzymes in the stressed animals.
Carnosol treatment was discovered to ameliorate these changes and effect compared to certain chemical antidepressants. Researchers concluded the effects make carnosol effective in enhancing antioxidant defenses against stress and reducing oxidative injury.
Antidepressants are known for adverse side effects such as headaches, trouble sleeping, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain, some patients report experiencing heightened suicidal tendencies. There are natural ways to help combat stress without adverse side effects:
- Lavender has a light lovely soothing scent that can help calm nerves, reduce blood pressure, and help make it easier to sleep.
- Strawberries and chocolate combined can provide vitamin C to help fight free radicals and compounds to help fight off cortisol stress hormones. Sugar is good for stress, but keep in mind too much sugar is a bad thing and not at all good for the body.
- A nice warm bath can have soothing effects on the mind and body, for even better results try infusing some lavender essential oils to maximize relaxation, with a nice warm cup of lavender or rosemary tea.
- Scalp massages or gentle strokes work wonders for releasing stress in the body, adding aromatherapy to this can provide added benefits.
- Chamomile tea has been shown to help reduce anxiety and stress.
- Saunas heat up the body helping muscle tension, stress, and anxiety subside,as an added benefit that nice feeling of warmth can alter neural circuits to improve moods. Alternatively exercise has same effects.
- Reflexology can help to ease stress and help migraines, simply rubbing your big toes releases soothing endorphins which help to calm and relax the body.
