Natural Remedies for Seasonal Stress and Depression | How to Beat Seasonal Depression Naturally?

Holiday Season & Stress

We hope that everyone's holiday season set in to a great start! It is a fun season, but it is also the season of stress and food which in combination could affect the health of many. This Issue of our news letter includes some information on natural adaptogens and how they could be effectively used to handle stress.

Handling physical, mental and emotional stress is essential to balanced health and well-being. Body's first line of respond to stress is adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are designed primarily to resolve stress and reset the body to a state of ease.

Adrenal glands in human are in triangular shape and sit right on top of the kidneys. Adrenal includes two main distinct structures: the outer adrenal cortex and the inner medulla, both of which produce hormones. Cortex releases corticosteroid hormones like cortisol; while, Medulla produces adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

Cortisol is produced in response to stress and also it plays an important role in mobilizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Adrenaline function mainly affects the circulation system including constriction of small arteries, dilation of veins, and increasing the heart rate. In addition, the level of these hormones affects the production of the other.

Adrenal glands are the control center of our body’s stress modulation system. When adrenals are out of balance, a variety of symptoms may appear such as light-headedness, mild depression, food and/or inhalant allergies, lethargy and lack of energy, hair loss, PMS, and several autoimmune disorders.

Besides our genes, our lifestyles including diet, physical activities, sleep pattern, and our environment are important in the way to keep the body ready for life’s challenges and stress. 

Adaptogens are commonly used to naturally strengthen the body's ability against stressful situations. Adaptogens help to reduce the severity of the impacts from stress, they work to reduce or prevent the exhaustion or burnout condition while optimizing body's resistance, energy, and capacity to adapt.

Natural Therapeutic Action of Adaptogens

Rhodiola Rosea:

Several randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials on human documented that standardized Rhodiola enhances the body’s physical and mental work capacity and productivity under stressful conditions. These trials have also confirmed its general anti­-fatigue effects by improvements in results from specific tests for physical fitness, mental fatigue and neuro-motor function under stress.

Animal studies provided further information on Rhodiola's possible mechanism of action including effects on the serotoninergic system by increasing levels of dopamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine.

SiberianGinseng (Eleutherococcussenticosus):

Despite its common name, this herb is not a ginseng species at all. Clinical studies support its application to increase resistance to stress and modulate the immune system. Eleuthero may help with hypo-adrenalism, stress, depression, fatigue and poor concentration.

Comparative investigations and clinical experience shows its superiority over Panax ginseng. Eleutherococcus did not cause those side effects observed in some users of Panax ginseng and it showed to be more beneficial for the immune system than Panax ginseng.

Clinical studies also compared Eleutherococcus effects on the immune system with Echinacea and concluded that Eleuthero increases body's cellular defense much higher than Echinacea.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra):

Phytochemical glycyrrhizin from licorice can activate the receptors for key adrenal hormones (mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids; which its function is to increase blood glucose by releasing it from its storages in the liver and muscles to cope with stress). Moreover, glycyrrhizin helps body to keep these hormones in their more active forms by inhibiting their degradation into less active forms.

Ashawagandha (Withaniasomnifera):

Despite most adaptogens which primarily help the body to maintain the physiological response to stress, Ashwagandha works by reducing the excessive nervous system's respond caused by stress.

A double­ blind study showed that taking standardized Withania leads to Increase in red blood cell levels, better libido, improved mental clarity, and lower rate of ESR (a chronic inflammation indicator).

Holy Basil:

It has been used for the treatment of many different conditions, while no adverse side effects were found. Human studies are based on its benefits for glucose metabolism and anxiety management.

Several separate human studies support the fact that Holy Basil is effective to induce relaxation, promote a feeling of calm and reduce stress by 19.2%, and it lowers fast blood sugar in Diabetic Type 2 (non insulin independent) by 20.8%, also it's shown to lower LDL and triglycerides.

Other trials indicated Holy basil's benefits in inhibiting inflammatory Enzymes (Cox-2 & LOX) and treatment of peptic ulcers.

Holy Basil mechanism of action in animal based trail suggests that it helps to preserve the levels of adrenal's vitamin C and cortisol under induced stress conditions.

Pantethine (the bioavailable form of Vitamin B5):

Pantethine affects the production of CoA which is involved in stress respond and metabolizing hormones, amino acids, protein, fatty acids and energy production in every cell.

Pantethine deficiency causes to develop fatigue, depression, headache, sleep disturbances, low immune function leading to more frequent colds and other infections, high blood pressure, and hypoglycemia.

Vitamin C:

The level of Vitamin C in adrenal glands is the highest after the brain. Vitamin C is well known to be critical to the function of adrenals in respond to stress and biosynthesis of stress hormones. Exposure to stressors results in a quick depletion of Vitamin C more specifically in adrenal glands.

Adrenal Glandulars:

Glandulars provide specific peptides and nutrient co-factors found in the healthy gland itself. Some of the nutrients in glandular may be absorbed from digestive tract and help nourish the gland to optimize its function.

Adaptogens optimum performance just like many other medicinal herbs is obtained through specific extraction or preparation to contain effective amounts of active ingredients (phyto nutrients) that is suggested by human trials and studies. This is followed only by some manufacturers, so consult a practitioner to achieve the best result.

Articles and products featured by Health Palace are collected from a variety of sources and are provided as a service by Health Palace. These newsletters, while of potential interest to readers, do not necessarily represent the opinions nor constitute the advice of Health Palace. Presented materials are only for information purposes and do not intent to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

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