Inflammation is a protective response from your immune system to injury or damage from sustained stress. In this day and age, there are plenty of things that can cause sustained stress in your body, from environmental pollution to consistent emotional turbulence, something that many of us are experiencing during the pandemic. The problem with inflammation, however, is that too much of it can cause serious damage to your body’s nervous system, which is responsible for controlling many mechanisms inside your body.
To reduce the impact of modern-day stressors and protect your nervous system, one not-so-common way is to include more herbs in your diet. Here are three herbs that the Chopra Center recommends you add to your smoothies in order to nourish your nerves. You can find them below.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
This ancient medicinal herb is classified as an adaptogen that can help support the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical, or biological. It’s a popular natural healing remedy in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine and packs many benefits. In order to create an Ashwagandha smoothie infusion, just add some Ashwagandha root in the form of dried powder to your smoothie.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties and is known as a Nervine herb, which is typically used to treat mild-to-moderate cases of anxiety and helps to reduce stress. Here’s one way to produce a chamomile-infused smoothie: Place 2 tablespoons of fresh flower heads into a teapot and pour 1/2 cup of boiling water over them. Then, cover the teapot and let it steep for 10 minutes. After that, let it cool and add 1/2 cup liquid into your smoothie.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis)
Few herbs have as many healing qualities as lavender. It’s been used to provide relief for a range of conditions—from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue, according to studies. On top of that, it’s used for induced relaxation, treating parasitic infections, and even helping to control spasms.
Similarly to the chamomile-infused smoothie, place teaspoons of chopped fresh lavender flowers in a teapot and pour 1/2 cup boiling water over it. Then, cover and steep for 15 minutes before adding the liquid in your smoothie.
Want some nourishing smoothie recipes to try out? Take a look here for the source article from Chopra.
