How do you respond to stress?

It’s interesting that for all of us, stress can be a different experience. Some notice physical symptoms such as sweaty palms and increased heart rate, while for others it’s more an internal response, becoming quieter, more withdrawn and with increased levels of anxiety.

No matter how you respond to stress, know there are many practical ways to help reduce the impact of stress and bring greater relaxation back to both your mind and body.   

It might sound cliché but being outdoors is one of the most effective ways to manage stress. While a variety of clinical studies have investigated the advantages of being in nature to help reduce stress, up until recently, exactly how long you needed to be in nature was unknown. This question may have been solved with a study published as recent as 2019 proving connecting with nature for a mere 20 minutes a day can be enough to lower stress hormones in the body[1].

The good news is with the weather warming up, nature is literally calling us to come and be less stressed.

Herbs and nutrients can also be helpful in nourishing the body’s response to stress - when we can’t be in nature as often as we’d like.

Herbs such as Rhodiola, Ashwagandha and Licorice can all be used to support a healthy stress response in the body while Rhodiola is also helpful in supporting both physical and mental endurance and stamina.

Herbs of Gold Stress Ease features Rhodiola, traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to relieve symptoms of stress. This comprehensive formula is also supported by Rehmannia and Licorice and the king of Ayurvedic herbs, Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha has a long history of traditional use in Ayurvedic medicine not only as an adaptogen, but also for increasing vitality and relieving general debility.

[1] Hunter, M.C.R., Gillespie, B.W., & Chen, S, Y. P. (2019). Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 722.