Holiday Stress Busters

Are the holidays a tad less joyful than they used to be?

Once upon a time this was a season for enjoying good company and experiencing gratitude, but nowadays the holidays, for many, are just a source of stress. Because whether it’s seasonal gifts putting a strain on your wallet, insufferable in-laws, or the pressure to be the perfect host, with so much going on, “the most wonderful time of the year” is sometimes exactly the opposite.

Fortunately, Mother Nature offers remedies to transform stress—even during the holidays—and make space for joy.

Holiday Stress Isn’t Normal Stress

Dr. Eugene Zampieron knows a thing or two about stress. A naturopathic doctor for almost 25 years, Dr. Zampieron, otherwise known as Dr. Z on his radio show, practices at the University of Bridgeport’s Naturopathic Medicine Clinic. As he sees it, the problem of stress during the holidays is that it’s not just short term, it’s chronic, so while quick fixes can help, they don’t ultimately resolve the problem.

During brief periods of stress—like that holiday party you planned all year—the body floods the system with stress hormones from the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys. That’s a normal response, he says, and the body quickly returns to homeostasis.

Problems arise, however, when stress becomes a way of life.

“In chronic stress—which is what we see when the holidays come and we already have a full plate with work and family life—the body continues to flood the system with these hormones, and that creates damage over time,” Zampieron says.

So how do we stop the cycle?

Find Your Passion for Passionflower

“The most important herb to prevent stress from mounting up in the body would be passionflower,” says Zampieron.

Used by early Native Americans, passionflower helps calm the nervous system by facilitating the brain’s reception of GABA—a neurotransmitter that induces relaxation. It functions in much the same way as a drug like valium, helping you chill out in stressful situations.

To enjoy it at home, try steeping one teaspoon each of passionflower and mint leaves in hot water to make a relaxing tea, which you can enjoy three to four times per day. Drink it before and after a hectic day of shopping or merrymaking, and you might be surprised by the difference in your mood.

Rebuild with Rehmannia

After relaxing the system with passionflower, it’s still necessary to rebuild the adrenals for long-term systemic wellness.

“You can only rob from Peter to pay Paul for so long,” Dr. Z quips, indicating the need for addressing the underlying problem in chronic stress—exhausted adrenals.

Research suggests that iridoid glycosides in rehmannia, also known as Chinese Foxglove, stimulate the production of stress hormones in the adrenal cortex, although the link is not definitive. The herb, however, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries.

“It makes the body feel like there’s some hope in replenishing the adrenal hormones,” Zampieron explains. And we all need hope, especially as we go into the darkest time of the year.

Adapt for Life with Adaptogens

Once you’ve treated your stress with rehmannia and passionflower, a special group of herbs known as adaptogens can give ongoing support for healthy adrenals. Although there are many adaptogens, Zampieron cites just four: ginseng, Siberian ginseng, ashwaghanda and rhodiola.

Ginseng has proven effects on the adrenals. It contains compounds called ginsenosides, some of which bind to stress-hormone receptors, supplementing adrenal stress hormones when they’re too low, or blocking the body’s more powerful stress hormones when they’re too high.

This kind of dual function is a characteristic of many adaptogens, notes Zampieron, as they create balance not just in the body, but in a patient’s overall wellbeing. That balance, he says, is the key to life and stress.

For a medicinal dose of ginseng, take one to two grams of the dried herb daily, remembering to cycle on and off—taking ginseng daily for a few weeks, then taking a week off. You can also sip ginseng extract in a few ounces of water. To make it enjoyable, try a bowl of hot ginseng soup. Boil ginseng root with vegetables and spices, adding chicken if that’s part of your diet, for a tasty anti-stress entrée. For fun, add goji berries, which taste great in savory dishes.

Siberian ginseng is not really ginseng, but an herb also known as eleuthero, which contains eleutherosid compounds instead of ginsenosides. It is less potent than other varieties but has energy boosting properties.

Ashwagandha contains chemicals said to stimulate the brain, reduce inflammation, decrease stress and support the immune system, and rhodiola has been used for centuries in Russia for general strength, mental stimulation and vitality.

This year if the holidays seem to be spinning out of control, why not let herbs help you maintain balance? Because even when stress keeps mounting, holistic methods for preserving your health and sanity are readily available, and unlike some other forms of “self-medication,” this one won’t give you a hangover.

Isn’t that a cause for joy this holiday season?