So-called ‘Blue Monday’ (15th January) is nearly upon us and said to be “the most depressing day of the year”. Its timing is calculated by a combination of the winter weather, time since Christmas, the impact of Christmas credit card bills rolling in, and failed New Year’s resolutions. It’s enough to make anyone feel down in the dumps.
Whether Blue Monday really is gloomier than any other day is questionable. But it’s undeniable that this time of year can be particularly challenging for our good spirits. So, what can we do to beat the post-Christmas blues? Although seemingly esoteric, we can consider looking to natural herbs for help. Together with top London nutritionist, Cassandra Barns, here a 5 IDEAL herbs that can make you happy.
HOLY BASIL (TULSI)
Holy basil is a herb with a particular affinity for the brain and mood. It’s said to stimulate circulation to the brain to improve concentration and help clear brain fog. It also has a calming effect on the nerves and acts as an adaptogen – a herb that helps us cope with and adapt to stress. These different actions work in tandeml to help lift our mood, particularly when stress or anxiety are involved.
CHAMOMILE
Popular as a tea for aiding sleep, chamomile is an amazing ‘nervine’ – a herb that calms the nerves. It can also help relieve digestive cramps and spasms that accompany stress or anxiety. If you want to bring the zen, soothe frayed nerves and sleep better, then chamomile could be a great choice for you. Drink it as a herbal tea before bed, but also throughout the day to help calm you down.
ASHWAGANDHA
Like holy basil, ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen, helping to balance the effects of stress on our body and mind. It’s known for its calming, anti-anxiety effects, but also for helping to restore energy and vitality. So if you’re feeling tired or run down or suffering the winter blues, ashwagandha could be the herb for you. It can be good for libido, too, which often suffers when we’re feeling miserable.
MATCHA GREEN TEA
If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, turning to coffee for a boost may do more harm than good. High doses of caffeine and other stimulating substances in your ‘cuppa joe’ can cause your body to make more stress hormones, increasing the draining effects of stress on your mind and body.
Instead, try matcha green tea. Green tea contains a small amount of caffeine to give you an energy lift, but also contains theanine, which can have a relaxing effect on the mind, reduce anxiety and help with focus and concentration. Matcha green tea in particular is said to contain a high percentage of calming theanine.
TURMERIC
This golden super-spice is associated with a multitude of health benefits. These include helping to protect the brain and memory via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. But turmeric may also have a direct benefit for mood; because depression is thought to involve excessive inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric may help bring things back to normal.
