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Herbs for Everyday Stress, Extreme Stress, and Emergency Stress



" I am convinced, I know now, that God will ask, asks us now, not what we label ourselves, but what we are i.e. what we do. With Him deed is everything, belief without deed is nothing. With Him doing is believing"



Mahatma Gandhi

Collected Works p86. Poona 1924



"Observe the lilies of the field, they toil not neither do they spin,

Yet Solomon in all his glory, did not approach their being"



Jesus: Sermon on the Mount



"Silence is to the mind what sleep is to the Body"



William Penn 1680



I am writing this article from the Pitt Theological Library at Emory University, an amazing collection of writings about God/Spirit from around the world. I am told it is the second largest collection of religious books in the USA. I just finished perusing the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi in which he states one solution for some of today's stress "I have no hesitation in regarding the Qur'an as revealed, as I have none regarding the Bible, the Avesta's the Sikh scriptures. Revelation is the exclusive property of no nation, no tribe. If belief in one God and the many prophets in a never-ending chain is sufficient for Islam, then we are all Muslims, but we are also all Christians and Hindus. Truth is the exclusive property of no single scripture". However, as we all know so painfully these days, this oneness of spirit has taken a beating, causing us all to live in a more stressful world than we enjoyed before September 11th.



This article breaks stress down into three levels so we can healthily break stress down when we inevitable find it an unwelcome visitor in our daily lives. Herbs are great tools for relieving stress by understanding how to heal it, and how to prevent it. The three levels of stress discussed in this article are everyday stress, extreme stress and emergency stress. Each of these levels of stress needs a different approach with herbs. So, since the age we live in has just taken a turn for the darkness and its stress, lets get started with how herbs can keep us centered in the storm when and if it comes.



To begin, let me start with a concept I believe to have great merit in understanding stress. That is the idea that we need to know ourselves well enough to have what I call a "herbal baseline of being", by which we measure stress. Without a conscious awareness of our own balanced energy, and what "feeling whole" energetically feels like, we can accumulate huge amounts of unbalanced stress and not even be aware of it. With this sense of our own being we have the experience of a natural goal of health to which we know we can return with herbs. The idea is that by living a conscious life, we are aware of the principles and practices that keep us whole and can therefore tell how far stressors have taken us from our natural state of centered wholeness.



The use of herbs is one of the best ways to develop this sense of one's own being. As we experience with herbs our own energy healing within whatever spiritual system we use we become more and more conscious of our own experience. The reality of the different states of the Spirit within our inner life then become consciously available to us and we can slowly learn mental control and mental mastery of our own inner life. Two things happen when this is true. First, we begin ahead of time to be aware of and protect that centered place in the Light that does not change with the times, no matter how stressful they might be. Secondly, we know well the herbs that bring us back to wholeness beforehand so we have our strategy and support systems set up at the ready before stress occurs. This article will provide 10 different herbs and herbal products to provide for just this type of purposeful and mindful approach to stress. So, let us begin with herbs for everyday stress, and then move on to the greater challenges of extreme stress and emergency stress.



I have found everyday stress best treated using the action category of herbs called alteratives, cooked as fresh as possible. This is in keeping with the observation of Ayurveda that a substance called Rasa Dhatu is the precursor to all seven forms of tissue and structure in the human body. Alteratives are another name for herbs to build Rasa. Rasa Dhatu is a bit difficult to translate into western terms but basically it is a fluid substance similar to plasma. The category of herbs named alteratives if used properly, directly heal Rasa Dhatu and thus create the foundation for healing first our bloodstream and then all of the five other tissues and structures that are built from this fluid. Healthy Rasa replenishes the body's ability to rebuild from stress, and removes toxins and metabolic wastes from the bloodstream. My pick for the herbs best for protecting the body from stress by keeping Rasa happy are the following:



Rasa Protecting Herbs (Rasayanas)

Nettles

Lemon Balm

Passionflower

Holy Basil which is new to the USA marketplace



Digestive Protecting Herbs (Carminatives and Anti-Inflammatories)

Ginger

Turmeric

Haritaki

Triphala



Other Herbs for Stress (Relaxant Nervines and Stress Specific Combinations)

Kava Kava

Neurozyme, a combination of herbs from the New Chapter company



Baseline starting point for dosing for everyday stress:

4-6 cups of tea daily

5-7ml of tincture

6-8 capsules of bulk herbs or 2-3 capsules of Neurozyme



First let me state my belief based on experience that the keys to an effective stress reduction program using the herbal category of alteratives is based on two very important concepts. One is consistency and the other is quantity. I am sure most herbalists would agree with me that the reason many folks fail with herbs is very simple…they don't use enough and are not consistent enough in their use of herbs to get a comprehensive result.



For this approach to stress using alteratives I would suggest 4-6 cups of tea daily, 5ml of tincture or 6-8 capsules of these bulk herbs. In Ayurveda, to fully manage stress one has to get to the cellular level and keep the "building blocks" free of the waste products generated by digestion and metabolism. This requires a slightly larger amount of herbs than folks are used to using, but who wants to carry around stress and its byproducts, which hold the seeds of our destruction? Give these alteratives and other herbs a chance in the proper quantity and they will be good friends to thee.



Nettles is to my mind and heart the queen of herbs for everyday stress. Nettles gives the stressed individual two great gifts, strength and cleansing. As an alterative, Nettles gently yet deeply cleans and rebuilds Rasa, Blood and the Liver. Also since it is very high in minerals Nettles keeps the constitution strong which is always of benefit in stressful situations.



Lemon Balm is specific to the nerve endings that line the digestive tract, and an approved monograph in the German Commission E Monographs. Lemon Balm is the most specific herb for Rasa that I have experience of that is easily grown in this area. Lemon balm calms the digestion as it heals the effects of stress.



Passionflower I compare to a full body massage in its effects. Passionflower leaves make one of the most fully relaxing beverages, while the flowers help promote dreaming and mental creativity which often "dries up" in times of stress.



Holy Basil or Tulsi is only recently available in the USA. Tulsi is sacred to Hindus and can be found in many Hindu households where it is considered sacred to Rama. I have seen Tulsi plants 8 feet high in India, but here they grow to about three feet. I consider Tulsi specific to kidney function, and have used it to great effect since September 11th.



Ginger is the man! Ginger is the best herb in any period of extensive change. Ginger is mentioned in the Qur'an as giving the strength to climb mountains. Ginger primarily protects the digestive system while acting as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger is now available in 120:1 strength full spectrum extract which is a more medical level dose which is not intended for everyday stress, but is appropriate in treating the effects of high stress.



Turmeric is the golden wonder, which acts as a digestive tonic soothing the entire intestinal tract and as an anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is now available in a 120:1 full plant extract.



Triphala or "three fruits" is one of the most popular herbal products of India. It is designed to treat all three of the digestive organs: the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. In stressful times Triphala keeps our digestive system function at a high level yet does not overstimulate. The best way to take Triphala is just before bedtime.



Haritaki is one of the three fruits in Triphala, and is specific to the large intestine.



Kava Kava relaxes without reducing concentration, but should not be continuously relied on for relaxation. Kava is now available mixed with chocolate which can in small dosages be very comforting to a highly stressed individual.



Neurozyme I compare to a magnifying glass in its effects on mental clarity which is so helpful in stressful situations. A combination of about twenty herbs including Holy Basil, Ginger, Turmeric, Clove oil, DHA from fish oil, and Lemon Balm, Neurozyme has been a good friend to me since September 11th. I have alternated Holy Bail, Turmeric and Neurozyme every ten days or so, to great effect.



Herbs for extreme stress are the same actions and herbs just in larger quantities. I would recommend upping the herbal quantities to the following using the same herbs as everyday stress:



Baseline starting point for dosing for Extreme stress:

One gallon of Alterative (Rasa promoting) tea daily,

10-15 ml of tincture

10-12 capsules of bulk herbs or 6-10 capsules of Neurozyme



For extreme stress, the herbal regimen is in combination with other practices. An extremely stressful situation calls for taking and allowing yourself to task non-urgent time to heal. Extreme stress calls for practices that relieve the stress, rebuild the physical and emotional body, and bring us back to our baseline of being. Another herbal practice available is hot bathing with 10-20 drops of essential oils added to the water. Lavender oil is my favorite, with Lemonbalm and Camomille a close second.



Some non herbal practices that are available beyond the length allotted to this article are Pranayama, the breathing disciplines of Ayurveda, Full Body Massage, Yoga asanas (positions), Yoga stretching, and physically being with the five elements in nature (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Air).



Herbs in use for emergency stress need to be combined with other practices and a complete program generally involving medical professionals. Ayurveda has an elegant cleansing program known as Panchakarma, or five actions, that is very effective in rebuilding from emergency stress levels. The three that are appropriate for this article are Nasya, herbal medicated oils taken nasally, Basti, herbal medicated enemas that can be easily given at home, and Virechena, herbal internal cleansing focussed on the small intestine. I have also found small-scale agriculture, particularly with fragrant herbs, a specific for recovery from emergency stress levels. God willing the new war will not bring too many people to these needs.





Green Immune Boosters

The immune system has become a crucial issue in our culture in recent years. We are faced with the limitations of modern medical science as it struggles to respond to the diseases of weakened immunity. A potential part of the solution is offered by the most ancient of medical approaches, herbalism!



To see the possibilities offered by herbs it is important to have a grasp of the biological basis of immunity, but at least as importantly is a comprehension of the role it plays in human life. The new, though still incomplete, understanding that immunology grants us illuminates its profound complexity, but there is much more involved.



Biologically human immunity includes everything involved in recognizing foreign substances and neutralize them. It is a wonderfully complex and integrated set of processes that has only recently begun to be understood by medical science. There are two types of immunity, innate and acquired. Innate immunity is present from before birth, consisting of blood based components from the mother, physical barriers such as the skin and chemical barriers within the body.



Acquired immunity, on the other hand, results from encountering a new substance that is recognized as foreign. This induces a immune response which is specific to that substance, be it a bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite or material. There is also the development of a rapid, and long-lasting immune response after the initial exposure to a pathogen, or initial development of cancerous tissue.



Acquired immunity produces antibodies, stimulates the cells which destroy the organisms and neutralize their toxic products. If this becomes too active, however, the result may be undesirable, such as allergic reactions. On the other hand, when the immune response is deficient we become susceptible to repeated infections. Another activity is the removal of damaged or dying cells and the elimination of any cancer cells that arise within the body. Unfortunately this may result in an immune response against the body’s own tissues, producing autoimmune disease.



Acquired immunity involves white blood cells which are constantly circulating in the blood stream. There are a variety of these cells but of especial are the lymphocytes. There are two groups, B and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes (B-cells) manufacture antibodies, are produced in bone marrow and distributed to tissue around the body such as the lymph nodes. When B-cells come into contact with some foreign material, or antigen, they transform into cells which produce vast amounts of the specific antibody. Other B-cells transform into memory cells which circulate throughout the body preparing it for any future encounter with this antigen.



T lymphocytes (T-cells) originate in the thymus and are active against pathogens, cancerous or wounded cells, transplanted tissue. Their activity requires some direct physical contact with antigens, called cell-mediated immunity. A range of T-cells have been identified including ‘Killer T-cells’ that attack antigens directly; ‘Helper T-cells’ that enable the other T and B cells to perform their functions; and ‘Suppressor T-cells’ which monitor and adjust the level of antibodies and counteract the action of Helper T-cells.



The Herbal possibilities



Herbal support of immune activity is an example of where traditional knowledge is being confirmed by modern research, with many remedies showing immunological effects in both laboratory and clinic.



These herbs are described as ‘immuno-modulators’ because they support natural responses to be more flexible in the face of disease. They provide a potential alternative to conventional chemotherapy of infections, especially with people having an impaired immune response. As they support the bodies own immune mechanisms there is also the possibility of preventing opportunistic infections. The treatment of cancer may also benefit from their use as it is well known that tumor growth can be inhibited by stimulating components of the immune system, such T-killer cells.



Research by Chinese and Japanese scientists on their traditional remedies is revealing much of importance to immunology. Similar studies are rarely done on traditional western herbs and too often lack of research is taken to mean that the herb in question has no value. lack of research is because of a lack of grants, not because of the plants lack of value. Important Asian herbs being introduced into western herbalism that are effective immune boosters including Astragalus, Chinese Privet, Shiitake mushrooms, Schizandra, Rheishi mushroom, Codonopsis, Ginseng and Siberian Ginseng. There are many equally useful herbs from the west including Burdock, Blue Flag, Cleavers, Chaparral, Mistletoe, Nettles, Red Clover, Yellow Dock. Mushrooms, from Kambucha to Rheishi are showing themselves to be especially important immune boosters.[i]



Infections



We live in constant contact with vast numbers of bacteria, viruses and fungi and the immune system ensures that this interaction is only occasionally a problem. In fact our well-being is dependent on healthy relationships with a range of organisms that live within and on us. The bacterial flora of the intestines and the micro-organisms on the skin are examples of this.



There are a range of ways herbal treatment help immunity cope with infection. Most important is boosting the immune response with immunomodulators to help the body rid itself of the pathogen. Another way is using herbs that directly kill the offending organism. This involves some plant constituent reaching the site of infection which is not always easy, but anti-microbial plants will often do the job.



Both traditional herbalism and pharmacological journals abound in reports of plants having anti-microbial effects. Examples include Bearberry, Echinacea, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Golden Seal, Myrrh, Osha, Rosemary, St. John’s Wort, Sage, Thyme, Usnea and Wild Indigo.[ii] How they work is not always clear, but in the case of Echinacea research has provided some insights. Its actions relate to immunity by preventing and curing various pathogenic infections by activating the t cells that destroy pathogens, also raising levels of circulating white blood cells such as the neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and B lymphocytes.[iii]



Cancer



Herbal remedies have a long and honorable history in the treatment of cancer, an immunological disease, and are still at the core of modern medicine’s response to this intransigent disease. Cancer is a number of diseases which may affect different parts of the body, characterized by an uncontrolled formation of abnormal cells which may form a tumor, or proliferate throughout the body.



As a component of a treatment program constructed to address the individual with cancer in a holistic way, herbs demonstrate their relevance and efficacy by boosting the immune system response to the presence of cancer cells rather than trying to use herbs to kill the cells directly.[iv] Research is revealing a sound pharmacological basis for the role of herbs in cancer therapy. Effects on phagocytosis, interferon levels and others factors have been found.[v] As brief examples of properties identified by modern research consider these herbs. Amongst other actions ReishiCodonopsis counteracts the reduction in white blood cells induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. American Ginseng promotes lymphocyte transformation and restores blood cell development function of bone marrow following chemotherapy. Similarly Siberian Ginseng can counteract x-ray radiation damage, and inhibits metastasis. Reishi is an example of a herb shown to inhibit the growth of tumor cells.[vi]



Another exciting possibility is using herbs to influence the bodies production of interferon. Interferon’s are proteins generated by cells when infected by viruses, and they appear to be part of the bodies ‘broad-spectrum’ anti-viral responses. They can also stimulate natural killer cell activity and other anti-tumor activity. Medical applications are limited by the toxicity associated with their use as drugs. Another approach is to promote or stimulate the natural cellular sources and some herbs do this. Plants that stimulate interferon production in laboratory tests include Astragalus, Burdock, Echinacea, Ginger and Nettles.[ix]



Holistic medicine shows us that the best way to treat an illness is to prevent it developing, and an essential component of prevention is to ensure that our diet and lifestyle are healthy. A holistic approach to boosting immunity must take into account many things and not just what herbs we might use. Herbs offer most benefit if used in a context that looks at the body, heart, mind and soul. An immune boosting program would address bodily health & wholeness, ensuring that the body gets the correct nutrition and appropriate healing support for any ills it may be experiencing; emotional well being, nurturing our feeling life, through both the joy and the pain of human life; mental vision & perspective, helping create a mind set within which one can find their place, and make choices from our center, not from the stance of the victim; and of course spiritual openness & vitality in what ever form that takes for the person involved.



Some exciting insights emerge when immunology is placed in an ecological perspective and not simply a biochemical one, as human immunity is a vital component of the interface between the individual and their world. Human activity is not simply that of resisting a dangerous environment; it is a complex, beautiful dance flowing to and fro within the world. So from a holistic perspective immunity is about harmony and not simply resistance, a dynamic dance with the environment and not merely a series of barriers to it.