Whether it is the hectic holiday season or feeling overwhelmed by life, we all come to a point where we long for some peace. We need to feel hopeful and capable of being a part of life each day. I recently read a book called Switch on Your Brain, by Caroline Leaf. Her understanding of the body and mind was powerful and insightful. She says,  

“Our mind is designed to control the body, of which the brain is a part, not the other way around. Matter does not control us; we control matter through our thinking and choosing. We cannot control the events and circumstances of life but we can control our reactions. In fact, we can control our reactions to anything, and in doing so, we change our brains. It’s not easy; it is hard work, but it can be done through our thoughts and choices.”1 

As we face the demands of each day, our autonomic nervous system supplies appropriate nerve responses through our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic nervous system helps us maintain homeostasis, responding to stress through hormones that affect breathing, heart rate, and more. The parasympathetic nervous system helps us to maintain rest and functions like digestion, heart rate, sleep, breathing, reproductive health, creative thought, and social connections. If we stay in a stressful situation too long, we become exhausted and unwell, mentally, and physically. We cannot control life’s circumstances, but we can create peace and calm through our thoughts, habits, diet, and herbal supplementation. 

Thoughts- Dr. Christopher taught that our emotional habits are just as important as our diet. What thoughts are you feeding your brain? We have the power within us to make changes, to see the bigger picture of life, and have hope for change. If we do not hope, we will not see the good when it comes in front of us. Look for it! “Train yourself to live with an “attitude of gratitude”, live positively and generously, and be sure to nurture your spirituality, including prayer and meditation.”2 

Habits- One habit that Dr. Christopher taught that can make all the difference for us in stressful times is deep breathing. Deep breathing means filling our bellies and then our chest full of oxygen. Take 8-10 deep breaths in and out, then breath out and hold for 20 to 30 seconds. This simple practice can be done as a daily routine or during a stressful moment, you can excuse yourself for 5 minutes and quietly sit and do this routine, repeating 1-3 times. 3 

Diet- A nutrient rich diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds will supply us with the energy and materials we need to respond to stress. Adding these foods, while eliminating white sugar, excess meat, dairy products, and processed foods can have an immediate effect on how we feel. Find a way to make one change and love it. You can do this!  

Herbs- An exhausted nervous system needs nourishment and healing to support the changes that come through our new thoughts and habits we are creating. Some of my favorite herbs for soothing nerves are found in Dr. Christopher’s Relax Eze formula and here is why:  

• Valerian helps the nerves release GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid, an amino acid that inhibits the neurotransmission for the central nervous system), which helps slow nerve cell activity. 4 

• Scullcap is thought to interact with benzodiazepine receptors in the brain to modulate GABA in the nerves as well as increase chloride channels which reduces overall nerve firing activity.5 

• Mistletoe has an adaptogenic effect on the body as well as provide nerve growth factors to help prevent the breakdown of nerves, as well as protect them. 6 

• Cayenne brings tone to the circulatory system, opening cell structures for increased function, as well as affecting the cerebral opioid system, reducing pain, an analgesic affect in the central nervous system. 7 

Other herbs to support the nervous and endocrine system: Wood Betony, Blue Vervain, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Bugleweed, Hops, Lady’s Slipper, Gingko, Hemp. 

May peace and calm be a part of your holiday season as we all reach for greater health!

1. Leaf, C. (2009). Switch on Your Brain. Dallas, Tex.
2. Christopher, J. (2009). School of Natural Healing. Springville, Utah: Christopher Publications, pg. 528 
3. Ramacharaka, Y. (2020). The Science of Breath. [S.I.]: Duke Classics. 
4. Yuan, C. S., Mehendale, S., Xiao, Y., Aung, H. H., Xie, J. T., & Ang-Lee, M. K. (2004). The gamma-aminobutyric acidergic effects of valerian and valerenic acid on rat brainstem neuronal activity. Anesthesia and analgesia, 98(2), 353–358. https://doi.org/10.1213/01.ANE.0000096189.70405.A5 
5. Kapalka, G. (2010). Nutritional and Herbal Therapies for Children and Adolescents. Academic Press. 
6. Szurpnicka, A., Zjawiony, J. K., & Szterk, A. (2019). Therapeutic potential of mistletoe in CNS-related neurological disorders and the chemical composition of Viscum species. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 231, 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.11.025 
7. Lee, J. S., Kim, S. G., Kim, H. K., Baek, S. Y., & Kim, C. M. (2012). Acute effects of capsaicin on proopioimelanocortin mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychiatry investigation, 9(2), 187–190. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2012.9.2.187