We live in a society
full of hurry. Our accelerated pace of life means that we are subdued, almost second
by second, to clock hands. However, that agitation isn’t harmless at all: it
can exhaust us both physically and mentally, which obviously entails a
worsening in our life quality.
The nervous system is a complex
and sophisticated system, and regulates and coordinates body functions and
activities. If our body doesn’t have the necessary time to recover, its physical
and mental energies run out, which can take its toll and cause us anxiety,
stress, depression, and insomnia episodes, among others.
Overcoming these increasingly
frequent situations not only requires habits change, but also personal
resources and abilities to know how to manage both our minds and will.
Nature offers us a wide variety
of plants that, for their relaxant and sedative action on the nervous system,
contribute to overcoming our accelerated rhythm of life. Advantageously, most
of them aren’t additive and have no side effects, such as a residual somnolence
state the next morning, quite common when using synthetic preparations. We
highlight the following plants:
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha L): it is a very well-known plant for its
sedative properties, being quite useful to relieve anxiety-related disorders. Moreover,
it is extremely beneficial for our heart, since the plant tones it, helps to normalize
arterial blood pressure, and improves blood flow.
Orange
blossom (Citrus aurantium L): orange tree flowers, known as orange
blossom, contain an aromatic essence with sedative properties. It is a highly
used plant for nervousness and insomnia conditions.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L): the combined action of the
different components of this plant (valepotriates and essential oil mainly) lend
it relaxing and sedative effects.
Linden (Tilia platyphyllos Scop): this plant’s varied uses are related
to its sedative and relaxant effects. Hot baths with a linden infusion have a calming
and relaxing effect.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L): its flowers and leaves contain
flavonoids, sterols, small amounts of indole alkaloids, and pectin. It’s a
beneficial plant for anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia states. For its muscle
relaxant properties, it’s useful for muscle cramps.
Oat (Avena sativa L): it is recommended for stress, physical
and mental exhaustion, nervousness, insomnia, and mild depression, due to its
balancing properties of the nervous system. It is a quite nutritive plant that
contains carbohydrates, proteins, unsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals, and
fiber, the reason why it is useful for convalescence, athletes, or students in
exam periods.
