When it comes to your health and energy level, it’s important to maintain a calm, relaxed state during the day as much as possible. This isn’t always so easy, especially during the holidays, when your stress levels can soar because of overloaded schedules. Stress can wreck havoc on your health—it can cause gastrointestinal problems…increase risk for cardiovascular disease…and weaken immune response. Here are three different daytime remedies that can help you stay on an even, upbeat course—whether you have ongoing stress…bouts of worry…or mind-racing. Try only one of these remedies at a time…

For ongoing stress or anxiety…

Calm Natural Mind. Created by natural physician Hyla Cass, MD, this remedy contains gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which increases levels of the calming neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, and L-theanine, a substance in tea leaves that has been shown to increase brain waves associated with a relaxed state. Take as recommended on the label during stressful or anxious periods. It helps some people within a day or two. Try for at least five days, and see if you have any improvement. There are no side effects, and it is safe for everyone except those on antipsychotic medications. To order, visit www.CassMD.com.

For quick relief of bouts of anxiety…

Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. If you find yourself in a stressful situation during the day, this homeopathic formula, available in health-food stores, can provide relief in about 10 seconds to a few minutes. (It is not as strong or long-lasting as Calm Natural Mind, mentioned above.) Take four drops in a glass of water. It also can be a “back to sleep” aid when you wake up in the middle of the night.

For compulsive or extreme worrying or mind-racing…

Coffea cruda.This is an excellent homeopathic calming therapy. Take two pellets of a 30C potency when your mind goes into overdrive. It’s also a sleep aid when you can’t sleep because of mind-racing.

Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. Dr. Stengler is author of the Health Revelations newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. http://MarkStengler.com