Stress and anxiety are on the rise; we live in a busy-busy world so it’s no wonder. And more and more people are looking for help coping with the extra stress. It used to be that prescription drugs were the first choice because they produced such fast results. But their side-effects and addictive qualities have cause natural stress relief alternatives to become more popular.

Natural stress relief remedies are nothing new. They’ve been around for centuries and are what our modern pharmaceutical drugs are based on. They’re made from non-addictive, herbal and botanical ingredients and for that reason, they come with virtually no side-effects. They’re less expensive too. But they also differ from prescription meds in another very important way.

Natural remedies work at a more basic level in your body than drugs do. They work in concert with the body’s nervous system to assist its normal functioning. That means they help your body maintain its chemical harmony and balance which makes you more capable of coping with your stress both now and in the future. Drugs merely take away your symptoms; they produce no real long-term benefits.

Herbal remedies are much easier on your body than prescription drugs. Their effects are cumulative not abrupt. This means it will take longer for you to see their effects but those effects will also be longer lasting. That’s a small price to pay for a supplement that’s non-addictive.

Scientific research has proven the effectiveness of these natural remedies too. Study after study has validated their effects with not only anxiety or panic, but other maladies as well. Herbal and botanical supplements work.

If you’re looking for specific herbs, here’s a brief list. Lemon Balm from Southern Europe was known to the ancient Greeks as a medicinal agent. Valerian from Europe and Asia has active calming qualities. Kava from Polynesia can soothe your nerves while still keeping your mind alert. And the list goes on.

You can find nearly all of these supplements fairly easily at your health food store. And you’ll also find that they come in different varieties and formulations. Take Valerian for instance. You can usually find it sold as a tea, a tincture, or even in capsule form. There’s a lot of variety to choose from.

When searching for a real stress relief supplement, take a look at natural remedies. They’ve been working for literally centuries and they’re still working today. They’re a very positive alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.

All of us know that laughter is good for us. We’ve heard it being repeated over and over again about how laughter promotes good health, emotional well being etc. But do we actually know how laughter specifically benefits us?

Two of the most significant benefits of laughter are through inducing positive chemical and hormonal effects in the body, and by re-framing our experiences.

MEDICAL BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER – There have been various medical studies made on the benefits of laughter. In fact, many doctors around the world encourage patients to rent funny movies, cartoons, listen to jokes etc to help in their recovery. Laughter is not just an external display of happiness, but within the body there are stuff happening too. This is how it affects ones health;

i. Blood Pressure – Laughter helps lower our blood pressure by naturally making us breathe deeper and fuller after a good bout of laughter.

ii. Good Exercise – When we laugh, we exercise various muscle groups in our body including the face, chest, back, abdomen and diaphragm. This good work-out can help burn calories and improves the digestion process.

iii. Endorphins – When we laugh, a type of hormone called endorphin is released into the body. The release of this hormone makes us feel good and it is also a natural pain reliever.

iv. Brain Power – When you’re laughing, it involves both hemispheres of the brain. This encourages a more balanced mental process especially in creativity and problem solving.

LAUGHTER CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE AND STATE – When you laugh, what you’re doing is telling yourself that you can handle the situation. Unconsciously that’s what you are telling your brain. This way we re-frame our experience quickly. Instead of automatically labeling a situation a crisis, were calling it a laughing matter.

After all many things are not worth getting worried and upset over. Its just part of life. It’s not the end of the world. By responding to challenges with laughter you are putting yourself in an empowered state to tackle whatever issues you are facing.

When feeling stressed, angry etc, our judgment will often lack of accuracy and objectivity. We will tend to perceive things as being worse than it actually is. Laughter brings things back into perspective.

There is absolutely no reason at all for us not to smile and laugh more often throughout the day. Make it a point to cultivate this habit. The more you laugh, the more it becomes a habit.