Mineral support
To give your nervous system a healthy boost and help muscles relax, add fruit-flavored Peter Gillham's Natural Vitality Natural Calm drink-mix magnesium supplement to your water bottle.
Herbs
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) may help the body cope with stress. Try Natural Factors Stress-Relax Serenity Formula, a combination of all of these herbs.
Homeopathy
Gently stimulate the body's natural stress defenses with remedies such as Argentum nitricum (for hurriedness), Gelsemium sempervirens (for nervous anticipation), and Ignatia amara (for irritability). The Boiron Stress CareKit includes all three. Or, if you're feeling a range of stress symptoms, try their Sedalia homeopathic combination remedy.
Flower essences
You may be familiar with the popular Bach Rescue Remedy tincture, which combines flower essences purported to calm the mind and body. For on-the-go relief, try Bach's new alcohol- and sugar-free Rescue Remedy Pastilles. Or pick up Elm, to help you prioritize; Beech, to soothe jangled nerves; or Mimulus, to alleviate money worries.
Essential oils
Bathe away fatigue and irritability with Aura Cacia's Natural Aromatherapy Bubble Bath. Try Tranquility (with lavender, patchouli, geranium, and chamomile essential oils) or Lavender Harvest (with lavender essential oil).
Mental release
Learn to curb everyday tension with the CD Relieve Anxiety with Medical Hypnosis (Sounds True, 2007), by Steven Gurgevich, PhD, who provides techniques to calm nervousness and induce the body's natural relaxation response.
Note: Always consult your health care provider about supplements and other natural remedies.
