Five stress relief products

Acute stress, in which short episodes of stress occur, elicits what is known as the "fight or flight" response. During episodes of acute stress, the body produces adrenaline and cortisol, which cause the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, and an increased state of alertness. After the stress incident is over, the body returns to its normal state. Today, acute stress has evolved into chronic stress, in which there is no recovery or "down" time and stress hormones circulating in the body remain elevated.

Chronic stress can cause physical changes in the human body and affect general health and well being. Studies have shown that people with elevated cortisol levels are more likely to gain weight, leading to obesity. Other physical effects of elevated stress hormones include insomnia, stomachache, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and other types of heart disease. The immune system is also negatively affected from elevated cortisol levels.

There are several ways to manage chronic stress. First and foremost, try to avoid situations that trigger stress. Also, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly go a long way towards relieving stress levels and enabling the body to recover. Another way to cope with stress is to set aside time to relax each day.

People handle stress differently. Some are able to let situations and events roll off them without having any impact. Others are bothered by everything and suffer from chronic stress. If you are one of the latter types, try these five products to help you relax and provide relief from stress.

1. White Noise Machine

A white noise machine can help you sleep if you are affected by insomnia. It drowns out the sounds of honking cars or chirping birds at 3 am by providing a steady static type noise. Many machines have settings that allow you to listen to a babbling brook, the waves of the ocean, or a steady rainfall.

2. Essential Oils

Aromatherapy products such as essential oils help you to relax by focusing on the sense of smell, which triggers pleasant sensations in the brain. Add a few drops of essential oil to some jojoba oil and massage into your skin. Or, add a few drops to your bath. Spend at least 15 minutes soaking away tension. The best essential oils for anxiety and stress are bergamot, clary sage, geranium, lavender, bitter orange (neroli), patchouli, Roman chamomile, rose, and sandalwood.

3. Herbal Teas

Sitting down with a cup of chamomile, passion flower, or valerian root tea for 10 minutes before bed or first thing in the morning before you start the day, can help you relax and regroup. Although undocumented in humans, animal studies have verified that chamomile is effective in lower doses for relaxation and in higher doses for sleep. Passion flower contains compounds that promote relaxation and is used to treat insomnia. Valerian root promotes a calming effect and reduces symptoms caused by anxiety such as headache or stomachache. It is also used to treat insomnia.

4. Warm/Cold Shoulder Wrap

Many of us hold tension in our neck and shoulders, hunching them up all day and even at night while sleeping. Strategically placed weights inside the shoulder wrap to allow it to rest on your shoulders in a comfortable way to relieve tension. Many shoulder wraps can be heated in the microwave or cooled in the refrigerator. They are often filled with an herbal mixture to provide aromatherapy benefits.

5. Herbal Eye Pillow

Herbal eye pillows filled with aromatic herbs are a wonderful way to soothe tired, itchy, and irritated eyes, as well as relieve tension in the muscles surrounding the eyes. Used either warm or cool, they visually block out the world. Herbal eye pillows are made with natural fabrics such as silk or cotton and weighted with flax seeds. They are available in several sizes. Some cover just the eyes others are larger to cover more of the forehead or sides of face.