Written by Team NB Pure on July 11, 2022. Medical Data sourced by Pub Med with specific articles sourced.

Stress Relief

We often tell ourselves that a little bit of stress is good for us – but healthy challenges shouldn’t be confused with feeling stressed. When you successfully meet a challenge, you should feel satisfied and relaxed.

But if you feel exhausted, and like challenges just can’t be met, it’s more likely there’s a problem.

Stress Relief B Complex

There are eight different B Vitamins, all of which your body needs for general wellbeing. Each B vitamin serves a specific function in the body, from DNA repair to supporting blood production. 

The more simplified breakdown is that Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12 help to maintain a healthy nervous system. This is where stress relief comes in because a strong nervous system is essential to being able to fight off the symptoms of stress. 

Certain B vitamins are needed for energy production, which is going to help the bodily systems respond to stress.

Studies suggest there is a link between vitamin b and stress levels. In one study, 215 healthy males who took a B complex (a supplement containing a combination of the B vitamins) for 33 days. Participants reported significant improvements in self-perceived stress, general health and vigour.

In another trial, 60 participants took either a B complex or a placebo for three months. The group that took the B complex reported significantly lower personal strain and a reduction in confusion and dejected mood than the placebo group. 

Other studies suggest additional benefits that can be gained from vitamin supplementation. One found that B complex supplements are a good approach to preserving brain health in the absence of an optimal diet. Others point to links between vitamin supplementation, including B vitamins, and a healthy mood.

Our choice for the best Stress Relief Vitamin B Complex is Stress Away. Stress Away is here to lift you back up with what you need to restore and replenish: a robust Vitamin B complex that includes nutrients like Choline, PABA, and Inositol as well as Vitamin C and Zinc for adrenal support. 

Stress Relief Spray

The term aromatherapy is derived from the Latin aroma, meaning "pleasant scent," and therapy, meaning "treatment."

The ancient Egyptians and Greeks used essential oils to for a variety of ailments, and according to the history documented by the International Federation of Aromatherapists, early civilizations even used aromatherapy to ward off evil spirits.

The scents commonly used in aromatherapies are sourced from aromatic plants (think flowers, herbs, citrus fruits, etc.) and are used to promote mental and physical health through inhalation alone or topical application on the skin.

Try using some essential oils, mixed with another base like a neutral oil to create a spray for stress relief.

Our choices for the best oils to use are:

• Lavender. One of the main benefits of lavender is that it can calm without sedating.
• Grapefruit. Grapefruit essential oil helps everything from reducing blood pressure andproviding stress relief to treating and protecting your skin.
• Eucalyptus. A fan favorite for it's minty relief.
• Sandalwood. It can alleviate headaches, migraines, or mental fogginess and improve sleep quality, in addition to a range of other health benefits.
• Jasmine. Jasmine's scent directly impacts a brain/central nervous system chemical known as GABA, which results in the calming of the nerves, a soothing of anxiety/mild depression, and the facilitating of rest. 

Stress Relief IV

Some people enjoy getting IV's done for their stress relief. It's a pretty straight forward process of meeting with a physician and having a consultation, then the physician prescribes a dose of vitamins for intravenous injection based on their health history and health goals.

IV therapy sessions can be expected to last up to an hour, depending on the doses of nutrients prescribed, and patients are awake for the entire IV therapy session. Most patients choose to use this time to relax with a book or movie while others choose to catch up on work via cell phone or laptop. 

If you don't like needles, this may not be the choice for you.

Stress Relief Liquid

Consuming natural beverages like kava tea, green tea and warm milk or drink supplements in the market which have a calming effect on the body is becoming increasingly popular.

Here are our picks for the best liquids to consume:

• Chamomile Tea. Put a chamomile tea bag or chamomile flowers in hot water and steep for three to five minutes. Then, drink the infusion when it has cooled.
• Warm Milk. Drinking warm milk at night in order to get a good night’s sleep is an age old tradition.
• Tart Cherry Juice. Tart cherries are naturally rich in melatonin, a hormone which helps to regulate your sleep cycles.
• Kava Tea. The active chemical ingredients in Kava are compounds known as kavalactones. which affect brain chemistry in ways similar to antidepressants and anti anxiety drugs.
• Green Tea. It is is renowned for its numerous health benefits which are believed to be due to two substances found almost exclusively in green tea, EGCG [Epigallocatechin-3-gallate] and L-theanine. EGCG is rich in antioxidants and helps to minimize oxidative damage in cells and improve the functions of your body and brain.
• Oat Straw Tea. Regular consumption of Oats Straw helps to increase blood flow to the brain and helps you feel more alert. It has been used to support brain health, boost energy, lower the risk of cardiac disease, lower stress and reduce anxiety levels.

Stress Relief Powder

There are many herbal drink powders that can provide relaxing benefits. 

Here are our picks:

• Ashwagandha. The plant is classified as an adaptogen, which is a substance that's known to help the body cope with stress. It does this by reducing the stress hormone, cortisol, and working to block stress pathways in the brain.
• Ginger. It's know the carry many medicinal properties. It contains the antioxidant ginger, and helps fight off chemicals in the body that lead to stress and stress headaches.
• Lavender. It's known to work as an anxiety reliever and sedative, increasing relaxation and bringing about sleep. 
• Tulsi. AKA Holy Basil. The plant has good nutritional value containing vitamin A and C, calcium, zinc, and iron. 
• Valerian Root. It's used to calm anxiety and promote better sleep.
• Passionflower. The herb consists of 500 different species, but it's the Passiflora Incarnata that is piqued our interest. It's known to reduce stress and anxiety, but also soothe an upset stomach.

The Wrap Up

Although there are many ways to reduce stress on your own, it’s important to get help when you need it.

If you’re experiencing overwhelming stress or symptoms of anxiety and depression, consider making an appointment with a therapist or visiting a trusted healthcare professional to discuss ways to improve your mental health.