A herb a day helps you, work, rest and play
Between the demands of work, the need for rest, and the remaining time to participate in recreational activities and engage with family and friends, many of us are seeking ways to optimise our energy and find balance between work and leisure. Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick fix to finding balance in life. However, incorporating a daily herb into your life could be a step in the right direction for achieving balance through improving energy, concentration, sleep and general well-being.
Herbs that help you work, rest and play
Today we are busier than ever before, we are always available to take phone calls and respond to emails, it’s hard to keep focused, alert and productive without burning out. Some herbal considerations to help support cognition, memory, productivity while supporting sleep and the nervous system include:
Bacopa
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) also commonly referred to as ‘Brahmi’ in Ayurveda and has long been utilised for cognitive-enhancing, helping to act as a rejuvenator and improve longevity.1 Research highlights that Bacopa has the ability to enhance memory, focus, and information processing speed, which may lead to better productivity and efficiency in work-related tasks.1 Its neuroprotective effects help mitigate cognitive fatigue and promote mental clarity by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation within the brain.2 Interestingly, Bacopa has further therapeutic actions that help to reduce anxiety and perceived stress levels, this has the ability to contribute to improved sleep quality and potentially reduce symptoms of insomnia.3 Through enhancing cognitive function and promoting relaxation, Bacopa supports both effective work performance and restful sleep, fostering overall mental well-being and more time to play.
Siberian ginseng
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), is an adaptogen, helping to support our response to stress and it has the ability to improve work related performance.4 Research indicates that Siberian ginseng can enhance cognitive function and physical endurance, reduce fatigue and improve productivity at work.4 Its adaptogenic properties help regulate the body's stress response, which can lead to a calmer mental state and better focus during work tasks.4 Additionally, Siberian ginseng has been shown to improve sleep quality through regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reducing stress-induced sleep disturbances.5 This dual impact on both stress support and sleep improvement has the ability to help us maintain higher levels of productivity while also achieving more restful and restorative sleep.
Schisandra
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), has a history of use in Traditional Chinese medicine, with actions to help support fatigue, irritability, poor memory and insomnia which can help aid work performance and improve the quality of our rest.6 Studies show that Schisandra has the ability to improve cognitive function, including concentration which may help increase productivity and efficiency in work related tasks.6 It further supports the body’s response to stress by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which may lead to enhanced mental clarity and reduced fatigue.7 As a bonus, Schisandra has also been found to improve sleep quality by regulating cortisol levels and promoting a sense of calm, which helps alleviate stress-induced sleep disturbances.7
Withania
Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, has been shown to support our stress response, improve our general well-being, reduce fatigue and sleeplessness and aid in healthy cognitive function.8-10 Studies have highlighted that Withania has the ability to regulate cortisol levels, which may help with supporting our stress response and improving cognitive function, which may enhance productivity at work.8 Additionally, it may contribute to better sleep quality through increasing sleep efficiency and total sleep time, and reducing wakefulness after sleep onset.9 The multiple benefits of Withania in regulating stress and improving sleep may help to create a positive feedback loop, where improved rest enhances work performance, and reduced work-related stress leads to better sleep.10
Selecting a herb a day definitely has the potential to help you work, rest and play!
Reach out and talk to your natural health care practitioner if you need additional support and guidance.
