- Maria's Farm Country Kitchen
Organic Whole Wheat Pasta Taste Test Results!
One of the most important things I try to do here at Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen is to make things like cooking, and organic living, simple and easy... Read More
Stress Home Remedies
Information
Stress. It really should be a four-letter word. Here in the 21st century, it's as pervasive as the air that we breathe and as contagious as the common cold.
Since stress is so difficult to avoid, why not make it work for you instead of against you? Stress is a force you can turn to your advantage. You don't have to run from it, and you don't have to go to a stress-management seminar to find out how to manage it. The following doctor-tested tips show you how to combat stress—and win. For relief when the world has you in a headlock, read on.
When to call a doctor
Too much stress can directly threaten your health.
If your symptoms are new and have no obvious cause, especially if they interfere with your quality of life, see a doctor, says Paul J. Rosch, M.D.
Any of the following stress-related symptoms may indicate that you should seek medical help promptly.
• Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
• Gritting or grinding teeth
• Stuttering or stammering
• Tremors, trembling of lips or hands
• Neck ache, back pain, or muscle spasms
• Light-headedness, faintness, or dizziness
• Ringing, buzzing, or "popping sounds"
• Frequent blushing or sweating
• Cold or sweaty hands and feet
• Dry mouth or problems swallowing
Panel of Advisors
Herbert Benson, M.D., is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute of Mind-Body Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Bradley W. Frederick, D.C., is a chiropractor and director of the International Institute of Sports Medicine in Los Angeles.
Emmett Miller, M.D., is co-founder of the groundbreaking Cancer Support and Education Center in Menlo Park, California. He is a nationally recognized expert on stress and mind-body medicine and publishes experiential CDs and books.
Ronald Nathan, Ph.D., is a clinical professor at Albany Medical College in New York and author of The Fast Technique™ for Stress Relief.
Paul J. Rosch, M.D., FACP, is a clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at New York Medical College in Valhalla, president of the American Institute of Stress, and honorary vice president of the International Stress Management Association. He has served as adjunct clinical professor of medicine in psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and on the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Douglas Schar, Dip.Phyt., M.C.C.P., M.N.I.M.H., is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the United Kingdom and an herbalist in Washington, D.C. He has a diploma in phytotherapy.
If You Do Just One Thing
RECOMMENDED BY THE EDITORS
Get a new attitude0 comments
"I think the single most important point you can make about stress is that in most cases it's not what's out there that's the problem, it's how you react to it," says Paul J. Rosch, M.D.
READ MORERemedies
SEE REMEDIES FROM:
Take a mental vacation
"Taking a mini-vacation in your mind is a very good way to relieve or manage stress," says Ronald Nathan, Ph.D."Imagine yourself lying in warm sand on a beach in the Bahamas, a gentle breeze
Take several deep breaths
Belly breathing is what some people call it. It's an old and useful trick for reducing anxiety and nervousness."The basic idea is act calm, be calm," says Bradley W. Frederick, D.C.
Massage your target muscles
"Most of us have particular muscles that knot up under stress," Dr. Miller says.
Press on your temples
This application of acupressure—the system that uses pressure points to relieve pain and treat a variety of ailments—works indirectly. Massaging nerves in your temples, says Dr.
Oust stress with oat straw
Oat straw is a traditional remedy for nervous exhaustion and depression.
Take a hot soak
Hot water works by defeating the stress response, says Dr. Frederick. When we're tense and anxious, bloodflow to our extremities is reduced.
Move around
Regular exercise, of course, builds stamina that can help anyone battle stress.
Get up and leave
"Take a pot off the burner, and it quits boiling," says Dr. Nathan. "Leaving the scene can also give you a fresh perspective."
Tune in the music
Relaxation cassettes work, but they aren't your only option. The right music soothes as perhaps nothing else does."Music is an enormously powerful tool for fighting stress," Dr.
RELATED AILMENTS
Top Remedies
MOST COMMENTS
Count to 10
Massage your target muscles
Think about something else