Our quarantine has been extended and along with this, the stress levels of people have increased. Different organizations such as the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Global Foundation for Healthy Living have voiced their concern about the population’s mental health.

The conditions under which this quarantine is putting people around the world such as: economic instability, a life-threatening virus and being away from the people we love the most can have a short and long-term effect on people´s emotional health. Various sources report that during this season we are more exposed to developing anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and acute stress… which is why during these difficult times we present to you the 3 best allies so that you can relax!

1. Aromatherapy.
   Aromatherapy began to be used in the Egyptian and Chinese culture as a treatment for diseases, and over the time it has become a discipline that, through essential oils, offers non-invasive solutions so that people can improve their psychological health and well-being in general. 
   
   Fun fact! Lavender is widely used in this discipline. Various studies indicate that it has the potential to decrease levels of anxiety and cortisol (a hormone released by the human body in stressful situations)
   
2. Natural Medicine
   This practice has been part of the Mexican culture for many years and it consists of taking advantage of the therapeutic properties of plants to treat diseases or health problems. In this case, medicinal herbs represent a natural alternative to stress and anxiety problems, since there are plants like Passiflora (Passion Flower), which has anxiolytic and sedative properties; Valerian which helps to treat sleeplessness and anxiety; and Ignatia, which serves as a support for those experiencing anxiety or very drastic mood swings.
   
3. Sweet Dreams!
   Sleeping for at least 7 hours has been a recurring general health tip! When you don’t get enough sleep, you are more likely to experience fatigue, mood swings, decreased alertness, attention problems and trouble processing information. That is why we recommend that you organize your time well so that you can ensure optimal rest in quantity and quality!

Stress is a natural response of the body that puts us on alert, however being stressed all the time reduces your immune system and can create health problems. Therefore, we advice you to identify it whenever it manifests itself more, and break that vicious cycle!

Love,

Nartex Labs USA.

Blog Editor: Valerie Llamosa
Author: Nerissa Álvarez
Revised by: Betzabe Guido

References:

Caballero-Domínguez, C. C., & Campo-Arias, A. (2020). Problemas de salud mental en la sociedad: Un acercamiento desde el impacto del COVID 19 y de la cuarentena. Duazary, 17(3), 1-3.

Huarcaya-Victoria, J. (2020). Consideraciones sobre la salud mental en la pandemia de COVID-19. Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública, 37(2).

Fernandez-Mendoza, J., & Vgontzas, A. N. (2013). Insomnia and its impact on physical and mental health. Current psychiatry reports, 15(12), 418.

Naismith, S. L., Rogers, N. L., Hickie, I. B., Mackenzie, J., Norrie, L. M., & Lewis, S. J. (2010). Sleep well, think well: sleep-wake disturbance in mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 23(2), 123-130.

Fajardo Hurtado, L. Y. (2018). Efecto de los aceites esenciales en los síntomas emocionales de la ansiedad, depresión y estrés una revisión literaria.

Watanabe, E., Kuchta, K., Kimura, M., Rauwald, H. W., Kamei, T., & Imanishi, J. (2015). Effects of bergamot (Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) essential oil aromatherapy on mood states, parasympathetic nervous system activity, and salivary cortisol levels in 41 healthy females. Complementary Medicine Research, 22(1), 43-49.

Jawna‐Zboińska, K., Blecharz‐Klin, K., Joniec‐Maciejak, I., Wawer, A., Pyrzanowska, J., Piechal, A., … & Widy‐Tyszkiewicz, E. (2016). Passiflora incarnata L. improves spatial memory, reduces stress, and affects neurotransmission in rats. Phytotherapy Research, 30(5), 781-789.

Murphy, K., Kubin, Z. J., Shepherd, J. N., & Ettinger, R. (2010). Valeriana officinalis root extracts have potent anxiolytic effects in laboratory rats. Phytomedicine, 17(8-9), 674-678.