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extract twice daily saw their stress levels drop significantly.

So, why does it work? There are a number of reasons: First, the compounds in this clinically studied lemon balm, including rosmarinic, usolic, and oleanolic acids,

strengthening your ability to deal with stress and anxiety can take time and a lot of self-training. Fortunately, there are botanicals that can help make the journey much faster and easier.

Lemon Balm—Nature’s De-StressorLemon balm, also known as Melissa because of its official name, Melissa officinalis L., has been cultivated for over 2,000 years. In the Middle Ages, monks grew the plant as a treatment for wounds, stomach disorders, and anxiety.

I have found two forms of lemon balm that give excellent results—a clinically studied extract of lemon balm and a supercritical extract of lemon balm. Both work extremely well to reduce stress and insomnia.

The clinically studied extract I recommend has been shown to have pretty amazing benefits. In just two weeks, volunteers between the ages of 18 and 70 who were provided with this special lemon balm

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Have too much to do on your “to-do” list? It may feel normal by now, but stress puts your health at great risk: it boosts blood pressure, causes weight gain (or unhealthy loss), zaps libido, exhausts the immune system, and causes cognitive impairments that affect our jobs and leisure time. Under chronic stress, we lose refreshing sleep, diminish our chances for career advancement through unfounded anxieties, put our heart, arteries, and brain at risk of permanent damage, and miss out on the beauty and joy of being alive.

In a recent national survey about stress, the bulk of responses were related to personal or family health problems or the death of a loved one—very time-specific stresses. Compounded with that, the survey found that everyday stresses, including juggling schedules (48 percent), the antics of politicians (44 percent), or watching or listening to the news (40 percent), were major detractors adding stress and anxiety to life. Running closely behind was household chores, at 39 percent.

Dealing with daily stress is critical to our good health to reach our full potential.For many reasons, people feel overwhelmed by daily stress. In this chronic state, the ability to overcome even basic challenges gets more compromised every day. Part of this is due to the “fuse-shortening” effect of stress on our systems: the more stress you deal with, the more your adrenal glands react, the more cortisol that surges through your system, and the more difficult you find it to recharge and refresh enough to keep perspective.

The big things that we can’t control will always be a part of our lives. But de-stressing is critically important – it’s not negotiable. While many of the stress triggers in your life may remain, there are things you can do to change the way you react to stress, which is really the key to staying healthy. It’s a journey, though, not a sprint, and

Everyone deals with some stress, but for many Americans, demanding schedules, health concerns, or financial difficulties create an overwhelming sense of fear and dread that is tough to beat. I believe there are ways we can train ourselves to keep stressful situations in perspective—or do away with them altogether—but I also recognize that you may need a boost in the right direction.

Fortunately, a combination of herbal ingredients—including a clinically studied lemon balm extract—can help you deal with stress in a much more productive way.

• Stay calm and focused • Avoid the physical effects of stress • Get restful sleep at night • React to stress more positively

HERE IS THE FORMULA I SUGGEST:Proprietary Formula 375 mg Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Leaf and Stem Extract, Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Leaf Oil, Organic Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Leaf CO2 Extract

Stop Stress Every DaySTRESS

REDUCED STRESS

STRESS-FREE

LESS INSOMNIA

LESS STRESS& INSOMNIA

REDUCED STRESS

STRESS-FREE

LESS INSOMNIA

LESS STRESS& INSOMNIA

LEMON BALMSTOPS STRESSLEMON BALMSTOPS STRESS

Source: Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillère N, Roller M, Sukkar SG. Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Med J Nutrition Metab. 2011 Dec;4(3):211-218. Epub 2010 Dec 17.

Participants using lemon balm in an open label clinical study noticed significant reductions in stress-related concerns:

All with NO SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS, unlike prescription drugs!

95%

70%

85%

70%

2©2016

When in doubt, always consult your physician or healthcare practitioner. This article is intended to

provide you with information to maintain your health.

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Stop Stress Every Dayinhibit an enzyme that reduces the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the body. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps stop anxiety and sleeplessness. When it gets quashed by this overzealous enzyme (called GABA-transaminase), our stress levels ratchet up considerably. This lemon balm extract gets that whole process back into balance again.

Now, aside from this particular lemon balm, I think it’s a good idea to include another lemon balm that is extracted using a supercritical CO2 method. Supercritical CO2 uses carbon dioxide in liquid form, which is odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic. It works at extremely low temperatures to preserve sensitive plant constituents and avoid the risk of biologically active components being destroyed by oxidation. It is a 100 percent natural way to keep highly-concentrated, active constituents in the extract, and makes them a very effective ingredient.

This additional lemon balm extract provides synergistic benefits and provides a bit more backup power to stop stress. An interesting side note: an Australian study found that lemon balm extract in a water-based drink improved mood and cognitive function in volunteers performing multiple tasks. The researchers pointed to rosmarinic acid in the lemon balm as the prime cause of the effects. Since having multiple tasks each day pretty much defines life for most of us, I think this study’s results are quite impressive.

Holy Basil—Another Natural Stress-StopperHoly basil (Ocimum sanctum) is another wonderful botanical for stress relief, and one that I recommend with lemon balm for a well-rounded approach. An Australian review of the herb mentions that, according to Ayurvedic tradition, holy basil was known as “the Queen of Herbs” and “The Incomparable One” and was considered an “elixir of life.”

Like lemon balm, holy basil contains a number of natural compounds that alleviate stress, normalize blood sugar and

corticosterone levels, and moderate adrenal reactions. This may explain why the herb helps stop that “on alert” feeling and keeps you from feeling exhausted at the same time. Research has shown that phenolics and flavonoids in holy basil inhibit damage in the brain produced by noise exposure. Other laboratory studies have shown that holy basil also reduces oxidative damage from physical and muscular stresses as well as cognitive stresses.

Start De-Stressing TodayChronic stress weakens your immune system, your heart, and ultimately, your resolve. Dealing with daily stress is critical. We need to constructively manage stress to be the best parents, spouses, and friends that we’re capable of being and to reach our full potential. I believe that by practicing stress reduction in our lives and supplementing those efforts with these amazing botanicals, saying goodbye to stress and its adverse effects is a very achievable goal.

TIPS FOR

De-Stressing Your LifeAvoid Inflammatory Foods Yes, these are many of the same foods that fall under the heading of “comfort foods.” The problem is, they really don’t bring comfort. Avoid pizza, sugar, refined grains, sodas, and deep-fried anything. Replace them with whole proteins, nuts, berries, and meals that help you feel mentally and physically alive.

Take A “News Break”The 24-hour news cycle makes everything a major crisis. Try turning off the news for three or four days and see how you feel.

Reduce Your Alcohol IntakeHaving a drink after a long day may feel relaxing initially, but if you find you are having additional drinks, it is probably interfering with your sleep cycles and robbing you of valuable rest.

List Your BlessingsMake a list—each day—of ten things for which you are grateful. They don’t have to be earth-shattering; maybe you’re simply thankful for your cup of coffee, the taste of blueberries, or the sound of robins singing outside. Try this for a month, and you’ll be surprised at how truly wonderful each day can be.

Source: NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/ Harvard School of Public Health Survey: The Burden of Stress in America, 2014.

FAMILY LIFE

75%

WORKLIFE

70%

HEALTH74%

SOCIALLIFE

68%

WHAT DOES

STRESS AFFECT?EVERYTHING!