Stress

Stress is the term given to the difficulty that the body faces while combating a physical or emotional threat, be it actual or imagined. Some of the common symptoms of stress include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and accelerated heart rate. Stress is not always harmful. Sometimes, it helps a person perform better and achieve his/her goals. However, excess of stress can work negatively, hampering the work and lifestyle of a person. In the following lines, we have provided some home remedies for combating stress, with ease.

• Periods of irritability or anger
• Apathy or depression
• Constant anxiety
• Irrational behavior
• Loss of appetite
• Comfort eating
• Lack of concentration
• Loss of sex drive
• Increased smoking
• Excessive drinking
• Consumption of drugs
• Excessive tiredness
• Skin problems, such as eczema
• Aches and pains resulting from tense muscles, including neck ache, backache and tension headaches
• Increased pain from arthritis and other conditions
• Heart palpitations
• Feeling sick
• Stomach problems
• Missed periods

• Pressure to perform, at work or in school
• Threats of physical violence
• Financial problems
• Argument with someone
• Family conflicts
• Divorce
• Death or bereavement
• Unemployment
• Marriage
• Uncertainty of things
• Fear
• Cognitive dissonance
• Health
• Self-abuse
• Sexual problems
• Environment change, such as new place, new school, etc
• Increased responsibility
• Physical changes, such as lack of sleep, new work hours, etc
• Bullying
• Lack of feedback on performance
• Working long hours
• Boring and mundane work
• One-off incidents
• Uncomfortable workplace
• Lack of training
• Insecurity

• The most effective way to treat stress would be to chew 10-20 leaves of Holy Basil everyday.
• Another effective home remedy would be to prepare a decoction of Holy Basil leaves. For this, add 20 to 25 leaves in half a liter of water. Boil this decoction until it gets reduced to half. Strain the mixture and drink it while it's still warm.
• Prepare a paste with dry ginger and water/ milk. Apply this on your forehead. Its cooling properties will help ease off the stress a bit.
• Take some betel leaves and wash them in water. Place the leaves on the forehead and leave them there for sometime. This is likely to bring relief from stress.
• Bishop's Weeds (Ajwain) are effective in treating stress. Put a handful of the seeds in a handkerchief and sniff them for sometime.
• Exercise, yoga and meditation are likely to relieve a person from stress, provided you indulge in them on a regular basis.
• Include lots of green leafy vegetables, fruits, salads, whole wheat grains, beans, grams, sprouts, eggs, cheese, soybeans and fresh curd in your diet.
• Cut down on the consumption of junk foods, oily and over fried foods, sugar, sweets and alcohol.
• It is advisable to have 5 almonds, along with a glass of warm milk, every morning, to get relief from stress.
• Sage is valuable in the treatment of stress. In a cup of boiling water, add a tsp of dried sage leaves. Now, cover the cup with a lid and let the leaves steep for sometime. Strain the decoction and add honey to it. Drink this liquid while it's still warm.
• Have foods rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin B. They would provide your body the nutrients required to combat stress.