Slip into relax mode

Slip into relax mode

So many formulas, which one is right for me?

Stress, nervous tension, anxiety, mild depression, palpitations, insomnia, irritable bowel, muscle cramping and twitching are generally indications that our nervous system is not in good working order. With so many ‘nervine’ formulas available, it’s often difficult to determine which one to buy. In this issue of Sunshine Today we’ve endeavoured to help you identify the difference between NSP’s Nervine formulas and determine which one is right for you. Remember, always read the label and should symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional.

Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are involuntary contractions of a muscle in the leg or foot and most commonly occur at night when the limbs are cool, particularly after a day of unusual exertion. They frequently occur in the young, the elderly and in more serious diseases such as those persons suffering with atherosclerosis. If a cramp occurs whilst walking, it may indicate seriously impaired circulation and medical advice should be sought. Generally speaking though, a cramp that occurs while a person is resting does not indicate this severity and can be easily addressed with mineral supplementation.

In the elderly, the most common reason for cramping is caused by a lack of Magnesium which may signify low nutritional deficiencies which are generally associated to poor assimilation of food due to digestive weaknesses or because of the consumption of a highly refined diet. In children, the most common cause of cramping is caused by a lack of calcium which is necessary for normal muscle contraction. If the child consumes a highly refined diet and has adequate calcium supplies it is more likely to be a problem of magnesium deficiency and should be addressed with magnesium supplementation.

Muscle Tremors & Twitches

Muscle twitches and tremors are often caused by an imbalance of minerals in the body with the most common cause being a deficiency in Magnesium. This mineral is essential for the conduction of nerve impulses that pass to the muscle and as such control its movement. Where there is a deficiency of Magnesium in the diet, it is not uncommon for persons to suffer from these symptoms.

Nature’s Sunshine New ‘Magnesium Complex with Vitamin B6’ capsule contains 75mg of Elemental Magnesium from Magnesiums - Orotate, Amino Acid Chelate and Aspartate, Vitamin B6 10mg from Pyridoxine Hydrochloride and Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate and Boron 1.5mg (as Borax) and can assist the body when there is a magnesium deficiency and relieve muscular cramps and spasms.

Insomnia

Considering that we all do it, it’s surprising how little we know about sleep. There’s a vast range of theories, but whatever the real reason is for sleep, we do know a lot about sleep deprivation and how it causes us to suffer the next day. Irritability, work performance, poor concentration or inability to focus can all be signs that we’ve not had enough sleep. Exactly how much sleep do we need? This seems to vary from one person to another and also decreases as we age. Newborn babies for instance sleep for as many as 20 hours per day but by the age of four need only 12 hours of sleep. Typically the average adult requires seven to nine hours each night but as we age we can seem to get by perfectly with only six or seven hours of sleep.

The single symptom that most often marks the onset of insomnia is difficulty in falling asleep. The most common cause of sleeplessness is mental tension brought about by anxiety, worries, overwork and overexcitement. Suppressed feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness may also cause insomnia. Constipation, dyspepsia, overeating at night, excessive intake of tea or coffee, smoking and going to bed hungry are among other causes. Often worrying about falling asleep is enough to keep one awake.

The herbs in Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Sleep Well’ formula have been carefully selected for their calming and relaxing effects and to help relieve insomnia. Hops, Valerian and Passion Flower have been used in traditional western herbal medicine for centuries for their natural mild sedative action and in this formula 140mg of each herb is used. It is recommended to take 2-4 capsules one hour before retiring to help fight poor sleep and insomnia. The single herb ‘Valerian’ is also available in the NSP range for those preferring to take a specific, single herb approach.

Sleeplessness Associated with Pain

Aches and pain give everyone a sleepless night now and then, and it doesn’t take much – a pulled muscle from a workout or doing something where you’ve used muscles you haven’t used in ages. Next thing you know, you’re lying in bed and it’s 3a.m. and you’re staring at the ceiling above your bed, aching and praying for sleep.

While most aches fade fairly quickly, painful and sleepless nights are the norm for people living with chronic pain. It is estimated that between 50% and 90% of people with chronic pain say that they don’t sleep well. The good news is that with changes to lifestyle and possibly medication a good nights sleep is possible.

Depending on the severity of the pain, sometimes complementary medicines can help by supporting and calming the nervous system, relieving inflammation and providing an ‘analgesic’ effect, allowing you to get the good night’s sleep you crave.

Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Comfortable Sleep’ contains herbs that have traditionally been used to help calm the nerves and support a restful sleep. The herbs Valerian, Hops, Wood Betony and Black Cohosh contain sedative properties while the herbs White Willow, Devil’s Claw and Ginger contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which are useful for discomfort associated with pain. The inclusion of Capsicum helps to maintain peripheral circulation to the affected area. It is recommended to take two capsules with water and a meal three times daily or four capsules before retiring.

Nervous Tension & Anxiety

Anxiety is probably symptomatic of the age in which we live. So many diseases therefore are recognised as having this factor fundamentally associated with their aetiology for example, insomnia, reactive skin diseases and asthmatic episodes. In recent times so many drugs have been developed and prescribed in an attempt to limit the severity of anxiety but unfortunately associated with this process has come ‘addictiveness’. It’s understandable therefore that people are showing a growing interest in using herbs, vitamins and lifestyle modification as means of coping with anxiety.

Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Anti-Anx’ formula contains 85mg of each Hops, Passion Flower, Valerian and Rosemary. While similar to our ‘Sleep Well’ combination, this formula can be taken throughout the day to help relieve nervous tension, stress and mild anxiety. Also, the addition of the valuable herb Rosemary to the formula allows this combination to make a contribution to alleviating anxiety conditions where ‘spasm’ dominates, such as in dyspepsia and migraine. As with any sedative preparation, care should be taken throughout the day, especially when driving and operating machinery.

Palpitations Associated with Stress, Nervous Tension & Anxiety

Some of the more obvious effects of stress can include fatigue, chronic headaches, changes in appetite, memory loss, tooth grinding, gastrointestinal disturbances, irritability and anxiety which sometimes results in palpitations. Negative stress is also a perfect breeding ground for disease and illness of all kinds. Over time, if this stress response continues, the body eventually wears out. Digestive conditions such as ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome can occur, as well as ongoing fatigue to name but a few. It’s therefore important to ensure that the body is provided with support during periods of stress.

Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Nerve Control with Zizyphus’ combines a number of herbs that can provide a tonic effect to the nervous system. The herb Zizyphus has been found to have sedative and hypnotic properties and has been used in traditional chinese medicine to relieve sleeplessness, irritability and palpitations associated with anxiety and nervous exhaustion. In this formula a generous amount of Zizyphus has been included at 1,500mg along with Hops at 300mg which helps to calm and support the nerves. The herbs Schizandra 250mg, Vervain 250mg and Oats 150mg help to tonify and restore the nervous system.

Nervous Unrest, Low Spirits or Mild Depression

Depression is a common disorder worldwide. At least one out of every twenty Americans get clinically depressed each year and there’s no reason to suspect the same statistics don’t apply in Australia. While many medications exist that can dramatically reduce the symptoms of depression, the potential side effects limit their use.

In Germany, people are turning to natural alternatives to help them cope. They are using the herb St. John’s Wort (Hypericum) which is licensed in their country for use in anxiety, mild depression and sleep disorders. After years of being the secret weapon of herbalists and naturopaths, the general public have discovered the herb and have learnt that the herb has been the focus of numerous clinical studies testing its use as an antidepressant.

People who have been diagnosed as ‘clinically depressed’ should not stop taking their medication and take St. John’s Wort instead without consulting their Healthcare Practitioner. It’s also important to note that St. John’s Wort is seldom prescribed on it’s own, rather an ‘wholistic’ approach is the preferred option. For instance in cases of mild depression with insomnia, the need for other ‘calming’ herbs might be needed, or for a woman suffering from pre-menstrual problems, she might need to take something like Chaste Tree (Vitex) as well to ensure a good result. It’s also important to note that St. John’s Wort may interact with other medications and the contraceptive pill so it’s always a good idea to check with your Healthcare Practitioner before embarking on its use.

Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘St. John’s Wort has been combined with the herb Passion Flower’, which has a long history of supporting the nervous system. For those preferring to take St. John’s Wort on its own, Nature’s Sunshine’s St. John’s Wort in the Herbal Evolutions range is readily available.

Digestive Upsets & Muscle Spasms due to Nervous Tension and Anxiety

Before you read this article, think of someone you know who suffers from stress and anxiety associated with work, home or both. Now that you have that person in mind, or if it applies to you, think of Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Nerve Calm’ formula.

Nerve Calm contains the herbs Passion Flower, Chamomile, Marshmallow, Fennel, Feverfew and Hops and was formulated especially to address ‘spasm’ in the body due to its ‘calming’ properties. The herbs Chamomile, Marshmallow and Fennel in the formula help to soothe and calm an unsettled stomach when stress is the predominent factor. Following is a testimonial to Nerve Calm’s therapeutic benefits;

‘Nerve Calm is an important part of my life, I must take it first thing in the morning and 6-8 capsules at lunch. I don’t get colon spasms if I take my Nerve Calm before the stress begins. Sometimes my colon begins to really hurt and twist, especially under highly stressful situations. Taking 8 of the Nerve Calm capsules relaxes me within 20 minutes. Nothing works as well and it doesn’t make me sleepy, but yet taken at bed time, will relax me so that I can sleep well and not clench my teeth tight together so hard, that it makes my mouth sore. In fact, it makes me feel good when taken during the day and I have more energy as well as being totally calm so that nothing bothers me.’

And here’s another;

‘A lady complaining of severe shoulder tension was delighted when she took 4 capsules of Nerve Calm, the muscle tension was completely gone’.

So think of Nature’s Sunshine’s ‘Nerve Calm’ if you’re looking to relax and calm down.

BE CALM… BE HAPPY… B VITAMINS

The body needs plenty of B-complex vitamins to deal with the stress and complexities of modern living and are necessary for the production and metabolism of energy.

Nature’s Sunshine’s Vitamin B Complex contains plentiful amounts of Vitamins B1, B2, Nicotinamide, B5, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Biotin (Vitamin H), Inositol and Choline Bitartrate, and is formulated in NSP’s exclusive SynerSup cruciferous vegetable base. One capsule daily will give your nervous system the added support it might need, especially during times of stress.

Vitamins should never replace a balanced diet. This product contains an exipient of wheat germ flour so may not be suitable for those suffering Coeliac disease.