Under the pump: energy boosts for workaholics
Too many deadlines and not enough "zing"? Naturopath Lucy Cannings explains how to keep air in your tyres.
Attention all busy bees. Apart from tapping into obvious miracle-workers like holidays and meditation, have you considered clocking in with a naturopath to improve your energy levels? There's a host of great herbs to help support your body with stamina during cloudy periods of stress.
Wired upFor those who feel wired (like you're running on adrenalin), you can't go past the herb withania. The Indian name for this herb is ashwagandha and is said to refer to the strength of a horse. It's used by herbalists and naturopaths as an "adaptogenic" herb, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress. Withania will help to protect your body against the negative effects of stress and is ideal for nervous exhaustion.
Stamina boostersTwo major herbs for improved stamina are panax (Korean) ginseng and Siberian ginseng. "Gin" refers to "man", and "seng" refers to "essence" in Chinese and panax is derived from the Greek words "pan" (all) and "akos" (cure), referring to its use as a cure-all. Panax ginseng has been shown in studies to increase resistance to a wide variety of chemical, physical and biological stressors. It is important to note that panax can be too stimulating to some individuals. Siberian ginseng is often suited to exhausted types. Siberian ginseng is considered less stimulating that panax. Neither of these herbs are recommended when you have serious infections.
Energy assistant The B complex vitamins support healthy function of the nervous system and so they are an ideal support for a stressed body.