A Plant Pharmacy to Support Your Wellbeing this Season

Relaxation and carefree days are meant to be the essential ingredients of a welcome summer holiday but in the midst of a pandemic, additional time and forced rest can provoke even greater anxiety as people step off the hustle treadmill and come to terms with the fallout from a year turned upside down. Free of distractions from work, many people start to freefall emotionally.

The holidays are well known for provoking increased anxiety around family issues but this year the spotlight is well and truly on our individual and collective vulnerability as Covid-19 continues to derail plans and destabilise economies.

Doctors are reporting a huge spike in patients seeking medication for anxiety. Already in October 2020, South Africa’s Daily Maverick reported that the South African Depression and Anxiety Group SADAG’s (a call centre for people battling with depression and anxiety) call volume increased from 600 calls per day pre-Covid to around 1200-1400 a day in 2020; a number which is likely to be growing. The majority of callers to the Sadag hotline are between 18 and 35, making this increasingly a crisis of young adulthood.

GlobeNewswire reports that as Covid-related mental health issues continue to impact the world population, the global antidepressants market is expected to grow from $14.3 billion in 2019 to about $28.6 billion in 2020.

In many instances, anti-depressants are life-saving but concerns have been raised about over-prescription and some of the long term side-effects of continued use of anti-depressants. For many people who are experiencing functional anxiety or depression, a lifestyle adjustment can work wonders but it is important to make the commitment and stick with it. The age old rules apply: get enough sleep, exercise daily and manage the chatter in your mind with positive experiences and thinking. Spending time in nature or with caring friends and relatives, away from the media and negative talk can do wonders. There is also a natural pharmacy available to us; plant medicines that have been used for centuries to help manage anxiety and low mood.

If you think you need some additional support these holidays, why not try one of these remedies from Mother Nature that can help you create a mental health toolbox. Some of them can even be used in combination but check with your doctor or pharmacist first, and do ask about their interactions with any prescription medicine you may be taking.

CBD

Always top of our list! CBD has been proven to reduce anxiety and has many users singing it’s benefits – why else would everyone be making drops, capsules, gummies, chocolates, drinks and just about anything else with CBD in it. CBD works with the body’s own cannabinoid receptors to regulate mood and temper anxiety. It is also helps with focus which can help you feel more productive and energetic too.

Sceletium

This South African plant medicine is calming and can help induce peaceful sleep. It has been used by the indigenous peoples of Southern Africa to assist with relaxation and even euphoria. In times gone by, it was also used to help control appetite and thirst on hunting trips. Taken in tablet form, it can also be enjoyed as a tea. So make it your holiday nightcap and enjoy a great night’s rest courtesy of nature.

L-theanine

Speaking of tea, the amino acid L-theanine is naturally found in black and green tea and has been found to affect the levels of some chemicals in the brain associated with mood. These include serotonin and dopamine. So the old saying that it will all be better after a cup of tea may actually be rooted in science. Remember that tea does also contain caffeine which can exacerbate anxiety. If you are caffeine sensitive or it’s close to bedtime, consider trying L-theanine extract in capsule form.

Valerian

A key ingredient in many health store anxiety and sleep supplements, Valerian is often dubbed ‘nature’s valium’ and for good reason. It helps reduce stress by calming the nervous system and is a trusted support for inducing sleep or maintaining a deep, unbroken sleep. It can be taken at intervals as needed but do know that it can make you sleepy if you take a large dose in the daytime which may make driving more dangerous. Menopausal women may also want to try Valerian to help with those uncomfortable hot flashes too.

These are just a few of the many helping herbs and flowers that have formed the basis of remedies throughout time. Remember, plant medicines are your health partners; make the lifestyle choices and changes that support your wellbeing and state of mind to see the benefits really unfold. Here’s to a bit of time for you.