Stress is a normal part of life. We all experience it at times, no matter how much we may try to avoid it. At best, stress can interfere with your happiness and productivity and at worst, it can disrupt your entire life.
Not only can stress be unpleasant, but it can also be a slow killer: It can adversely affect your immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and central nervous systems, especially when it is experienced chronically.
Avoiding the common symptoms of stress and stress itself is entirely impossible. Many of the ups and downs of everyday life are simply out of our control. Fortunately, Ready Nutrition now offers organic herbal tinctures, and five of them can help you reduce stress – naturally.
Let’s take a look at what herbal tinctures are, how they work, and how to use them. Then, we can explore herbal tinctures that can help relieve stress.
What are herbal tinctures?
A tincture is a concentrated liquid herbal extract made from herbs that are taken orally. Fresh or dried leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and berries may be used to make tinctures. They can be made from a single plant or a combination of plants and are made by soaking herbs in alcohol for several weeks to extract the active components (phytochemicals) of the plants.
After a few weeks, the herbal mixture is strained and the herb parts are removed, leaving behind the concentrated liquid. Alcohol is used because it is an excellent food-grade solvent and can extract herbal constituents (such as resins and alkaloids) that are poorly soluble in water. Another benefit of using alcohol as a solvent is that it is an excellent preservative that retains the freshness and potency of medicinal plants and greatly increases the shelf life of the tincture. Don’t worry – you won’t get intoxicated from the alcohol in tinctures.
How do herbal tinctures work?
Tinctures bypass the need to digest entire herbs in the gut and are easily absorbed by the body. Because they are concentrated, dosages are small and can be diluted in your favorite beverage. They are commonly made with the same plants as herbal teas, but tinctures are much stronger – a dropper of tincture is more potent than a cup of steeped tea. In fact, you can add Ready Nutrition tinctures to tea if you’d like.
Tinctures have a milder, more subtle effect than pharmaceutical drugs, so it is important to have realistic expectations if you are using them for a chronic condition. Some tinctures DO provide rapid relief of symptoms, but most do not offer a quick fix.
Some experimentation with dosages and frequency might be necessary to figure out what works best for you. Natural medicines like tinctures can be very effective and do have a long history of successful use, so be patient and consistent, and remember to make additional lifestyle changes to support good health and healing as well.
Here’s how to use herbal tinctures.
Tinctures can be taken straight or mixed with hot tea, water, or another beverage you enjoy. When mixed with hot tea, some of the alcohol content is “burned off” (without impacting the effectiveness of the herbs), which some people find more palatable.
Some herbalists recommend taking tinctures on an empty stomach, but that isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. While some natural remedies (like CBD oils) are often taken sublingually (drops are placed under the tongue), herbalists generally don’t recommend taking tinctures that way because the alcohol may cause an unpleasant burning sensation.
There’s a wide range of health concerns that tinctures can help manage.
Remember that with natural remedies, more isn’t always better. Follow the suggested dosage guidelines on your bottle’s label. If you have questions about which dosage is right for you, seek guidance from a trained professional.
These Ready Nutrition Herbal Tinctures may help you relieve stress.
California ChillCalifornia Poppy (Eschscholizia Californica) is regarded as a highly effective stress reducer, bringing calmness and serenity to its users. It is a non-narcotic natural sedative that is non-addictive and is not habit-forming.
The major health properties of this herb are sedative, analgesic, and antispasmodic in action.
The main active ingredients in the California poppy are alkaloids such as chelirubine, sanguinarine, and macarpine. There are other alkaloids present, although they minor by comparison. This herb has a natural and gentle effect on the human body. And don’t worry – while the California poppy herb contains some alkaloids that act as sedatives, it does not contain any opium and is only distantly related to the opium poppy. Further, California Chill Organic Herbal Tincture is made with a non-narcotic natural sedative that is non-addictive and not habit forming. (from California Chill article)
Safely relieve nervous tension, occasional anxiety, irritability, racing thoughts, and restless behavior caused by everyday stress with California Chill tincture.
St. John’s Wort Organic Herbal Tincture for Mood Balance & Positive Outlook
Also known as hypericum, Klamath weed, and goatweed, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a plant with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. The flowering tops of St. John’s wort are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. It is important to understand that St. John’s wort interacts with many medications, which can make those medications less effective.
St. John’s Wort is a neurotransmitter modulator that increases serotonin levels in the brain through a process called natural reuptake inhibition. Boost mood, promote a positive mood balance, improve day-to-day outlook, and increase daytime energy levels with this tincture.
Valerian Root Organic Herbal Tincture for Total Body Deep Relaxation
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) has a long history of use as a sedative – going back nearly 2,000 years! Compounds in the plant that may induce relaxation and sleep include valerenic acid, which binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and promotes calmness and relaxation, isovaleric acid, which can inhibit involuntary muscle contractions; and hesperidin and linarin, which are two antioxidants that possess sedative qualities.
This tincture can help relieve occasional anxiety or panic attacks, restless behavior, racing thoughts, nervous stomach, trouble sleeping, headache, and muscle spasms.
Passion Flower Organic Herbal Tincture
The aerial parts of passionflower plants (Passiflora Incarnata) have long been used to manage certain health challenges, including anxiety, restlessness, agitation, and insomnia.
Passionflower is a neurotransmitter modulator that acts on GABA-B receptor sites to slow down central nervous system activity, producing sedative effects. Relieve nervousness, nervous tension, occasional anxiety, restless or racing thoughts, hypervigilance, and trouble relaxing during the day with this herbal tincture.
Stress Relief w/ Arctic Root
Arctic root (Rhodiola Rosea) has a long history of use for anxiety, fatigue, anemia, infections, headache, and depression related to stress.
It is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the body — inside and out — so you are always ready to face everyday stress with your best foot forward. Arctic root can stimulate immune system function to shorten physical and mental recovery periods, support healthy neurotransmitter balance to improve mood and boost cognitive functions like mental sharpness and memory so you get more done in less time.
Do you use herbal tinctures?
If so, which ones are your favorites?
Be well!
*This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the creation or use of herbal tinctures. A person should speak to their doctor before using a tincture or any other herbal supplement, especially if they take medications.
