Combat Anxiety with This Simple Breathing Technique

Combat anxiety with this simple breathing technique that claims to calm you down in SECONDS.

Whether it’s the thought of giving a presentation at an important office meeting or getting frustrated sat in a queue of traffic, stress has become an unwelcome part of every day life.

As the heart races, nerves tremble and palms of the hands become increasingly sweaty, increasing anxieties can result in a full-blown panic attack.

But a simple breathing technique could help calm the nerves in seconds – by ‘fooling’ the body into thinking it is relaxed. Read more

Kava Kava: A Natural Anxiety Reducer

Kava kava has been used as a ceremonial beverage in the Pacific Islands for thousands of years. It is believed to have originated in Melanesia, and been drunk for hundreds of years by native islanders. In addition to its ceremonial purposes, kava is perhaps best known for its relaxing qualities. Kava is said to elevate mood, well-being, and contentment, and produce a feeling of relaxation. Several studies have found that kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders.

Summer is coming to a close and September is the biggest month for going back to school, acquiring new projects at work, and no doubt a new set of things to be anxious about. Instead of popping prescription meds for that new bout of anxiety, stop it before it gets too far with a little bit of natural help. The Kava kava plant is here to help slow your mind and reduce your workday, school day, and dinner time anxieties.

Kava kava—or scientifically termed Piper methysticum—is native to many island nations in and around Polynesia (including Hawaii) where it has been used for centuries as a ceremonial herb to induce intoxication as a way to calm the patrons of celebrations. Although the kava plant has large, green leaves and stems, the actual root is the only part of the plant that is used for medicinal or recreational purposes. Read more

12 Massage Styles to Help You Conquer Tension

We know a massage feels good, but it can have a host of therapeutic benefits, too.

We all need to be kneaded. And in this time of economic stress, taking the time for self care is of utmost importance. Whether you choose to give your shoulders some shiatsu love or treat your feet to the pressure and release of reflexology, read through our list of hands-on bodywork techniques and figure out which one is for you. Cheaper--and faster--than a vacation, body work can quickly release your tension and leave you calm and refreshed. Indulge your muscles--they will be thankful! Read more

The Anti–Red Bull: A Drink to Calm You Down

There is a new beverage gaining popularity called Drank. Not content with following the herd of energy drinks, Drank is the antithesis of such products, claiming to be "the anti-energy drink," whose slogan is "slow your roll." This purple carbonated beverage is infused with melatonin, valerian root, and rose hips which give it a sedating effect.

... What the heck is this stuff? On its purple cans, Drank calls itself an "Extreme Relaxation Beverage." The drink's motto: "Slow your roll." [Peter] Bianchi, a former financier who started Innovative Beverage seven years ago and introduced Drank in early 2008, pitches his product as an alternative to alcohol. "We wanted to give the people on the go something to drink during the day which would help them relax, calm down, and not have to keep an old bottle of gin in their drawer," says Bianchi. You can also take a sip before bedtime and perhaps save yourself some cash the next day. "Something like this gives you a better night's sleep," says Bianchi. "You're going to wake up feeling better rested and less apt to get a double venti-venti-venti at Starbucks, then wash it down with a Red Bull just to get through your day." Read more

7 Ways to Slash Stress

We all experience stress from time to time. When stress gets to be too much, it can take a toll on our health and well-being. That's why effective stress relievers are essential in restoring inner peace and physical health. Anti-aging expert Dr. Maoshing Ni gives seven ways to reduce the stress in your life.

Chronic stress seems to be our national disease, especially these days. Millions suffer from symptoms of stress: nervous tension, restless sleep, difficulty focusing and remembering, irritability, and health complications. Generally speaking, stress speeds up aging. Learn the ways to manage stress, and you will look and feel younger. Read more

Instant Stress Blockers

Self.com says these activities can stop hormones that cause health problems and increase weight gain.

When I feel a tightening in my back or neck coming on, I cope by doing things I love, like going for a long, slow run in the park with my dog. Try a few of these instant soothers, and watch your own stress go from ARGH! to Ahhh.

Turn up the tunes. Listening to music that has a steady (not frenetic) beat may cause brain waves to keep time and relax you, research from a music symposium at Stanford University in California reports. Load your iPod with a playlist of the songs that make you happiest. Read more

Sex: The Natural Way to Stress Relief

When stress is at its worst, sex can stop you fretting. It reduces cortisol, lowers blood pressure, improves moods, and bonds people emotionally.

... Recessions cause high levels of stress, which reduces people’s sex hormones and lowers their libido. When a couple are lying in bed and the man is worrying about his job and the woman is fretting about her savings, neither of them is properly primed for sex.

It is a pity, because sex offers a host of beneficial effects. Read more

Intimacy Fights Stress

Researchers have found that the more physical affection couples engage in, the lower their level of the "stress" hormone cortisol.

Couples who hug, kiss and otherwise find ways to get close everyday may have fewer stress hormones coursing through their bodies, a new study suggests.

The findings, reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, point to one potential reason that close relationships -- and marriage, in particular -- have been linked to better health.

Researchers found that among 51 German couples they followed for one week, those who reported more physical contact during a given day -- whether it was sexual intercourse or just holding hands -- generally had lower levels of the "stress" hormone cortisol.

This was especially true of couples who reported more problems at work, suggesting that some physical affection between mates may be a buffer against work stress. Read more

2 Little Steps to Less Stress

Relief from stress doesn't have to mean downing a drink or popping a pill. It can be as safe and simple as taking a deep breath.

Inhale. Exhale. Ahhh…

“This is the first moment in weeks I’ve had to take a breath,” my sister declared the other day, exhaling loudly. She’s juggling an out-of-work husband, a job she hates, and the care of our 80-year-old mother. Her remark struck me so resoundingly, like a bell ringing to highlight something profoundly true for us all, perhaps, because a client had said something similar to me just a few hours earlier. “I just need some room to breathe,” said Jackie, a mother of three with a full-time job as a school principal.

Breathing room. It’s a metaphor for something we all could use more of: some space in our lives—space to catch up with ourselves, to regroup, to metabolize whatever we’ve been going through so we can know how we feel and what to do next.

Pausing to breathe is more than a metaphor, however. Consciously taking a few deep breaths is actually the quickest way to experience the body’s relaxation response. Read more

Natural Stress Relief with Epsom Salt

One way to relieve stress naturally is to use Epsom salt, which adds magnesium and sulfates to the body. These nutrients are difficult to get from modern diets, but are easily absorbed through the skin.

Epsom Salt is a natural stress reliever. Epsom Salt also relieves muscle and joint pain, flushes toxins out of your body, and much more. Just add two cups of Epsom Salt to your warm bath water to take advantage of the benefits of Epsom Salt. Read more

Use Herbs for Natural Stress Relief

Have you had it with being constantly stressed out? If you suffer from anxiety, then you know what it can do to your productivity, well-being, not to mention your mental state. While you're dealing with the causes of your stress, you can use herbal remedies to gain some short-term relief.

... The best thing you can do to deal with stress is to deal with the underlying cause of the stress, obviously. But often there is precious little to be done, especially if things are a bit outside of your control. Modern day life can certainly add a lot to family stress! In that case, it is wise to make use of the many herbs that are safe and effective for stress control.

I will only mention 3, since these are well-known and are sure to help you in numerous ways. A very good friend of mine is a natural healer and herbal therapist. She uses these on an almost daily basis in her practice. (I think her most favorite is cognac, but that is not supposed to be one of these! Really, she does use it very moderately to help very uptight men lighten up a bit.) Read more