May 28th, 2013 
Nyomi Graef 
Is jasmine the next Valium substitute? Perhaps. Recent research has discovered that the scent of jasmine has the same effect on the brain and is as strong as barbiturates and the anesthetic propofol. Jasmine calms, relieves anxiety and promotes sleep. Researchers Professor Hanns Hatt and his team in Germany tested hundreds of fragrances and found jasmine and one other plant fragrance are especially good relaxants.
Other studies have found that the use of fragrant plant oils (essential oils), such as rose, lemon and lavender oil, can reduce stress, and the symptoms of anxiety, depression and more. This is no surprise considering the fragrant parts of plants have been used for health and healing throughout history all over the world, including China, India, North America, the Far East and the Middle East.
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Did you know that the herbal remedy hops is related to marijuana and is legally sold in supermarkets, drugstores and health food stores across the world?
Feel sick in the stomach after talking with someone? Or like you’ve been hit by a hurricane? Perhaps exhausted, stressed-out or overwhelmed? Sounds like you’re the victim of an energy vampire attack. Energy vampires don’t suck our blood – they “suck” the life force out of us. They feed off our energy during social interactions, so we feel drained as a result. Energy vampires might not even be aware that they sap our energy, but do so regardless. 
This week it was reported in the news that the Australian police said they believed a road rage incident and the stabbing of two men in Sydney’s south-west are related. Road rage incidents like this are common around the world, and are increasing as the number of cars on the road increases each year. To make matters worse, more cars means more bad drivers. The insurance company AAMI said Australian drivers are becoming more selfish, aggressive and dangerous.
The pretty little flowers of the chamomile plant have been used to treat many health problems for thousands of years. Today chamomile is popular in many countries, including Europe. In the United States and Australia, chamomile is best known as a relaxing tea. Other common uses of chamomile are to help treat anxiety, sleeplessness, stomach pain, and gas. Some beauty products, healing creams and ointments also have chamomile added.
From before the Middle Ages the delicious herb lemon balm has been used to improve mood, help heal wounds, and treat insect bites. Today lemon balm is still used for health, especially stress, anxiety, relaxation, insomnia, cold sores, shingles, and digestive problems. Lemon balm is grown in herb gardens, and in crops for medicine, cosmetics, and making furniture polish. The herb is generally considered safe, with few side effects.
Nutritionist Patrick Holford says that most people with intense or constant anxiety either self-medicate with alcohol or cannabis, or see their doctor, possibly to be given a prescription for a tranquiliser. “In one week in Britain, we pop 10 million tranquillisers, puff 10 million cannabis joints and drink 120 million alcoholic drinks”, says Holford, in his book Optimum Nutrition for the Mind. “The choice of these three drugs – alcohol, cannabis and tranquillisers – is no coincidence. They all promote the neurotransmitter GABA, which is the brain’s peacemaker, helping to turn off excess adrenalin and calm you down.”
Want to be happier and healthier? Be hopeful. Dr. Allan K. Chalmers was on the right track when he said: “The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for”, as studies have found that hope is a key to good health, a predictor of a meaningful existence, an indicator of athletic and academic performance and more. Those of us with high hope are likely to be happier, healthier and more successful than those of us with less hope.
Kava has been a drink for thousands of years in the Pacific Islands. Its effects are similar to alcohol. People use kava for many reasons, in particular stress, anxiety, insomnia (sleeplessness), relaxation, improving mood, and as a social and ceremonial drink.
Most of us have suffered from stress at some time in our lives. In fact stress is such a huge problem that the American Medical Association says it’s a factor in more than 75% of illnesses.
Sick of work? Worn out? Feel trapped? You might have burnout. What causes it? The main cause is long-term stress.
The herb valerian – often called ‘nature’s Valium’ – is a popular natural treatment in Europe, North America and Japan for insomnia and anxiety.
Did you know that doing some simple eye movements can stop the emotional pain from bad memories? Called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), it’s a key treatment for trauma used all over the world by thousands of trained therapists.
I’ve been interested in having hypnosis for years but, for various reasons, I put it off. Earlier this year I decided to have weekly clinical hypnotherapy sessions with a trained psychologist. I’m glad I went. I found that it helped me achieve some of my goals, and it was very relaxing – just what I needed.
Did you know that St John’s wort is one of the most popular natural antidepressants in the United States and Canada?
Passion flower is a native plant of North America, where it has been used for centuries as a mild sedative. It was later used in Europe and adopted by herbalists to treat insomnia, hysteria and epilepsy, and used as a painkiller.
Can popping a vitamin pill help cure mental health problems? For people who lack vitamin B and show symptoms of mental illness as a result, this may be the case.
Stress. Who wants it? Not me. Well, just a bit, because experts say a small amount of stress is good for us. It helps prevent boredom, makes us feel motivated and enhances happiness. They call it positive stress because it leads to positive results. 
