We live in an age of vaccinations, over-the-counter painkillers and antibiotics – luckily so. Scientific discoveries in the field of medicine have improved our lives and lengthened our lifespans, and continue to do so as new discoveries are being made. In this post, however, I want to focus on another type of treatment – natural remedies.
Before penicillin or paracetamol were discovered, people relied on natural recources to cure their ailments. Although it is not recommendable to use these remedies as a replacement for scientifically researched modern medicine, they might be a good boost for your everyday well-being.
You Are What You Eat
Your local grocery store is full of ingredients beneficial for your health!
Ginger has traditionally been used to ease nausea, loss of appetite, and an upset stomach. Ginger tea is great for the common cold, because this spicy drink will help you clear your stuffy nose. Using ginger is not recommended for people with bleeding disorders or for those taking blood-thinning medicine such as aspirin.
Green tea is incredibly rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory effects. Consuming this super-beverage can help prevent cell damage, heart-related diseases, and even Alzheimer’s. Sipping on green tea may also reduce your stress levels, as it contains amino acids called theanines that have a calming effect.
Mint tea is also a great treatment for stress and anxiety, and can relieve an upset stomach. Peppermint tea can be beneficial if you’re suffering from problems with sleeping: it can relax your muscles and calm your mind.
Bananas contain a lot of vitamin B6, which is is an important building block for the serotonin in your body. Serotonin takes care of your mental well-being – if you need a mood booster, grab a banana!
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Meditation has been proven to effectively reduce stress and anxiety – on a biological level too: it has concrete effects on brain activity, blood pressure, and even genes.
Find a quiet, peaceful place in your home or somewhere outside in the nature and get into a comfortable position. Sitting with your back straight and legs crossed is not an obligation, although it helps you to breathe more easily! Close your eyes and and focus on your breath flowing in and out. Try to bring your full attention to your breathing pattern, and let go of all other thoughts that pop into your mind. This will be difficult at first, but it will get easier the more you meditate. Let your body relax and be mindfully present in the moment.
Meditating even just for 15 minutes a day can have a huge impact on your well-being – and on the well-being of the people around you, too: a study by Social Cognitive and Affective Neurosience suggests that meditation can increase the neural activity of brain areas that play a key role in empathy and emotional intelligence. By investing very little time and effort on this relaxing routine can really make a difference – why not give it a try?
Sources:
Compassion meditationBenefits of Ginger and Ginger as a Cold RemedyBananas Help Battle DepressionBenefits of Peppermint, Mint tea and Green Tea