In the wake of the continuously growing opioid crisis, more people are trying to find healthier ways to relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and manage their overall wellbeing. Even commercial pain-killers the likes of Tramadol can lead to addiction or dependence, and it poses a serious problem in rural areas where proper medical care is not available to all. In urban, well-developed areas, people often turn to illicit drugs for stress relief, alcohol consumption, and other unhealthy practices to manage their pain. So, with so many widely-available options with negative effects, people need healthier alternatives that can be safely consumed, in moderation, and safe practices that can become reliable stress-management strategies over time. To find your own Zen, here are a few natural remedies and tactics you can use in your own search for inner peace and stability and to protect your long-term health and wellbeing. Infuse your life with essential oilsAlthough far from a novel concept, aromatherapy has become increasingly popular all over the world as a method to reduce stress, improve the quality of sleep, and help us deal with our everyday troubles. Thanks to various innovative options, you can now implement aromatherapy into your daily schedule in a range of different ways, from utilizing scented candles infused with essential oils known to soothe the mind and body, all the way to relying on diffusers. It all depends on your preference, but certain fragrances such as lavender have shown the best results in stress relief.Whether you’re about to take a shower or you have time for a bubble bath, adding a scented candle or a bath bomb with essential oils of your choosing can be exceptionally relaxing for your body. This is a great way to prepare yourself for sleep, as the calming scent has the potential to help you fall asleep faster and with greater ease. Try CBD to reduce stressEver since cannabis has become legal in various countries over the world, the notion of using CBD-infused products has become a more accepted way to deal with stress and anxiety. You already know that medical use of cannabis is far from a new concept, but few people have had the luxury to prescribe the remedy for themselves legally up until recently.

Woman holding small, brown, glass bottle; image by Kelly Sikkema, via Unsplash.com.

If you’re new to the practice and you’ve checked if the plant is legal in your place of residence, you can talk to your doctor in order to establish the right dosage. Keep in mind that CBD is not a hallucinogenic substance like THC, so it has a relaxing, stress-relieving effect without the “buzz”. This helpful substance has yet to be researched to a greater extent, but in case you have legal access and your doctor can help you determine the right dosage and the most appropriate form of cannabis for you to try, perhaps it can be one of your natural remedies to reduce stress and introduce more serenity to your life. The little-known plant called kratomIt seems that so many of our natural remedies stem from plants that have been known and used for hundreds of years in certain regions, and kratom is no different. This unusual, exotic plant is native to South Asia, and it has been used as an alternative form of treatment for chronic pain. Much like cannabis, kratom still needs more contemporary research to ascertain its effectiveness and its application for pain and stress, so it’s always best to be cautious.The active ingredient found in the leaves of the kratom tree is called mitragynine, and it’s the key element responsible for its potential pain-relieving and calming effects. In case the substance is legal in your country, you can look for the best kratom strains available so that you can introduce it into your diet in the form of a supplement. Whether you opt for capsules or powder, make sure to choose the strain and the form that is the most optimal for you, so it’s also advisable to talk to your doctor about this option before adding it to your routine. Add a tea ritual to your dayYou’re more inclined to try some traditional, well-known plant remedies in your day? Then a simple tea-drinking ritual could be the perfect solution for your stress troubles. The very process of preparing tea is soothing and it serves as a form of active meditation. However, it’s the tea itself that will help you reap its many potential relaxing benefits when you select the right flavor. Certain teas, such as chamomile or peppermint tea, have a greater potential to help put your mind at ease, due to their low dose of caffeine as well as that calming fragrance. Adding a spoonful of honey into tea is a great way to infuse it with flavor, but also to give your immune system a boost. Of course, you can also opt for valerian tea, a stronger relaxant known to many medical professionals and sometimes used when treating insomnia due to its potent calming effect. Just make sure that you consult your doctor first, as mixing valerian with anxiety medication might lead to unwanted side effects.Although we often find ourselves feeling desperate when we want to get rid of stress, with little time and patience on our hands to tackle yet another problem, it pays to do some research and find a solution that will be optimal for our health. Look into these and other natural remedies and perhaps the stress you feel will be reduced with the help of a few healthy rituals added to your day.Editor’s note: This article is for informative purposes and is not meant to substitute the advice of your physician or healthcare provider. Both the author and Legal Reader disclaim all liability.