Five common herbs and spices which help to keep you calm

Modern living can make us feel overwhelmed, alone, anxious and stressed. We have had to cope with a pandemic and now with a war which again may make us feel insecure and concerned with regards to the future.

Though if these feelings become too overwhelming, it's important to seek professional help. Having said that and gotten that out the way, there are certain natural substances that can help to relieve and reduce feelings of stress and boost your mood. 

1) The Basil Family

Basil is a natural immune system booster, but it is also very high in a number of nutrients that can help with performance, cognitive function, and anxiety. Basil is an antimicrobial and in research studies has shown broad spectrum antiviral activity. It is also rich in a type of antioxidant called flavonoids. Flavonoids have demonstrated the ability to improve mood within two hours of eating them!

Incorporate basil into your daily regime by preparing your own pesto, chopping up and adding some fresh basil to a salad, drinking it as a tea or making a delicious Italian sauce with garlic, basil and tomato ! You can even grow basil in your own home, if you have a sunny window sill and the time to water it on the regular.
  
2) Chamomile

Chamomile contains flavonoids and sesquiterpenes which exert a sedative effect on the body. According to Medical News Today, it's been tested as a long term treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and proved to help mitigate symptoms. It’s a wonderful tea to have to calm down before bedtime.

3) Nutmeg

Nutmeg has been used to treat anxiety and depression for years. It has also been shown to spice up your love life by increasing libido and sexual performance.. In addition to its sexy side, nutmeg is an antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-thrombotic, analgesic and antidepressant qualities. This spice can be sprinkled on oatmeal, fruit, added to smoothies, cookies and healthy cakes.

4) Turmeric

Turmeric is an easy, all-natural spice to incorporate into your cooking, and it has anti-inflammatory properties that apparently reduce feelings of stress and sadness. In research turmeric was found in research to be useful in treating depression, helping to optimize serotonin and dopamine, while reducing the stress hormone, cortisol.

Indian cuisine makes beautiful use of this root in powdered form for curries. I like to add it to everything I cook.

If you haven't already tried making a turmeric "golden milk" latte, it's tasty, will boost your digestion, and may help you relax, too.

5) Lavender

Which is incredible at helping to calm your nerves and reduce stress. You can brew tea using fresh lavender, or use lavender as an essential oil.

When inhaled as an essential oil, it decreases anxiety, depression and improves mood.

There are some products on the market that combine lavender with CBD for extra relaxation. A CBD balm infused with essential oils like lavender and calendula is a necessity in my bedtime routine. I’ll rub a little of it on my wrists just before I go to sleep.