Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

While for some the holiday season conjures up images of festive gatherings, feasts, gifts, and warm family get-togethers, for others, it's a time of intense time- and stress-management. Well, for those wringing their hands in anticipation of the dreaded Yuletide, sit down, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and get ready to take some notes. The Health and Body Care department's shelves are filled with products that support and nurture!

Herbalist Bridgette Mars has formulated two excellent Bulk Herb combinations that any stressed-out celebrant should keep handy throughout the holidays:

Serenitea: a combination of relaxing, soothing herbs such as chamomile, oatstraw, lemon balm, kava kava, skullcap, etc.

Immunitea: a mixture to drink when you're a bit run down, over-tired, and more vulnerable to illness.

Run a bath while that tea is brewing, and pour into it one of the following bath products: Aubrey's Relax-R-Bath (very pure and made with real ginger); Bellamira's Herbaflor Chamomile Bath (this one will bring on the deep sighing that brings one back into one's body); Kiss My Face Peaceful Patchouli (okay, it's far-out!).

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said that "the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day." Every home should have a bottle of lavender, because it's so effective in treatment of burns and scalds; lavender oil also is a mild anti-depressant and sedative, and stimulates the immune system. Ylang ylang, one of my favorites, is used for sedation and for relieving anxiety-a pleasant mood elevator. Lemon oil is an adaptogen; in other words, it will instigate a reaction in the body that is appropriate to achieve balance. So while acting as a sedative when needed, lemon oil also will work as a tonic.

Aromaland makes three essential oil blends that are worth noting here: Relaxing; Calming; and Meditative. Historical Remedies brings together the best of both words in an essential oil and homeopathic blend called "Stress Comfort," which you can massage into pulse points, the back of your neck and onto your temples for relief. They also just introduced "New York Stress Tabs," a unique homeopathic lozenge to minimize the impact of stress.

Bach Flower Rescue Remedy is for all stress, crisis, and trauma situations-for humans AND their pets! Elm is another essence, indicated for those feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities or life in general.

Some herbal extracts that work well for stress-related conditions include Herb Pharm's feverfew-lavender compound or Herbal Ed's Headache and Migraine remedy. Both contain feverfew. According to the British Medical Journal (Volume 291, August 1985), "Medical researchers have proven that the daily intake of feverfew can successfully decrease the frequency of migraine attacks or cause them to be less painful."

Herb Pharm and Zand both make valerian/passion flower compounds that gently but effectively act as sedative nervines and sleep tonics.

Anmien Pien, or "Peaceful Sleep Tablet," is used for insomnia and restlessness. Or, if you've overindulged in too much holiday cheer, keep that Chinese Curing Pill handy. I've heard it referred to as the "morning after" pill, but it's good for any digestive disturbances.

In general, try to keep your strength up. Holidays are laced with sugar, and it takes a strong will to resist overdoing it. But sugar is weakening and must be balanced with lots of warm root vegetables, brown rice, and millet. Take your basic vitamin and mineral supplement, and don't forget those B vitamins-your stress vitamins. If you feel over-tired, under the weather, or have been exposed to sickness, take aconite, the homeopathic preventive remedy.