2. Bergamot
Bergamot is a variety of orange that grows primarily in Italy. The fruit is said to be too bitter to eat, but the peel is used to create bergamot oil, which is the key ingredient that gives Earl Grey tea its distinct flavor.
The authors of a 2011 Taiwanese study selected elementary school teachers, who are known to constantly work under significant stress, and used an inhalation of bergamot C. Aurantium var. Bergamia essential oil as the method of administration.
Results showed that there were significant decreases in blood pressure and heart rate as well as the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the rest and digest system (10).
3. Sage
Sage is one of the basic herbs in European cooking. Not only does it have a wonderful, woody taste and smell, it also has antidepressant effects.
A controlled trial in 2013 suggested that clary sage S. Sclarea essential oil may be useful—more so than lavender Lavandula angustifolia [Mill.]—in reducing stress for female patients undergoing urodynamic assessments (12).
Sage oil can be difficult to find in natural health food stores, but you can easily order it online or grow your own plant and rub the leaves between your fingers to release their oil.
4. Valerian Root for Anxiety
Valerian is a pink-flowered plant once used in ancient Greece and Rome to cure insomnia, nervousness, trembling, and headache. It’s also one of the best essential oils for stress (13). Best of all, it’s incredibly accessible: the plant grows wild in North America, Asia, and Europe.
The medical community believes that the plant’s benefits come from its ability to boost the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The chemical has a calming effect on patients suffering from anxiety. In fact, anti-anxiety medications like alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) work by increasing your GABA levels.
A study on 36 patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder proved that taking 50 mg of valerian root extract 3 times a day for as little as four weeks improved anxiety. And it’s far from the only study on the herb, although others have studied slightly higher doses.
A few precautions: inhaling or ingesting large quantities of valerian can cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, upset stomach, and restlessness. You should also avoid using the herb in combination with alcohol, antidepressants, sleep aids, or sedatives. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, children under the age of 3, or anyone about to have surgery should also avoid the plant.