Stimulants

Contents:

1. What are Stimulants?
2. Building Natural Stamina with Herbs
3. Top 10 Natural Ways to Stay Energized

What are Stimulants?

Stimulants, or energizers, are psychoactive drugs that create a temporary improvement to cognitive and/or physical function. For example, common sensations include alertness, extra bursts of energy and wakefulness. For this reason they are often referred to as “uppers”.

The majority of stimulants work by interacting with the central and peripheral nervous system, each substance having a different signature effect. Some stimulants also cause euphoria, with makes it a euphoriant. There are many legal and widely available stimulants available, with nicotine and caffeine being the most common.

Nicotine

Thanks to the tobacco industry and the historical fashionable significance of smoking, nicotine is one of the most used stimulants in the world. Nicotine works by releasing neurotransmitters and hormones, which in turn produces the enhancement of concentration and alertness.

Caffeine

Caffeine is hands down the most used stimulant on the globe. It‘s the everyday fuel that keeps businesses running, and individuals buzzing along the day. Caffeine‘s most common form is in coffee, but it can also be found in energy drinks and caffeine pills as well as many other products. It naturally appears in a number of plants, most notably in Tea, Guarana and Yerba Mate. Caffeine creates a feeling of increased energy and alertness. Due to its unprecedented popularity, there is a constant stream of research being done into the effects of caffeine - with many varying and contradictory positives and negatives of its long term use being found.

View Top 15 Natural Stimulants

Building Natural Stamina with Herbs

Feeling energetic and alive is fundamental to lead life to its fullest. Money comes and goes, circumstances change, but the potential of our body and creative mind is the only thing you can rely on. But building and maintaining solid physical and mental stamina is a delicate balance, and if you feel tired or exhausted, have trouble getting up, or staying awake, there‘s a lot you can do. A few simple steps can make a big change.

Step 1: Sleep more

Simply sleeping more is such an obvious thing to do, yet it‘s also one of the harder things to actually put into practice. If you‘re used to stay up late and can‘t sleep out, there‘s naturally a sleep deficiency going to develop.

In such cases, sleep-promoting herbs can do wonders:

• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Hops (Humulus lupulus)
• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
• Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

Both tinctures or teas work fine.

Step 2: Break the cycle of Stimulants

The temptation is big to just go on another coffee binge. We‘ve gotten very used to short bursts of energy, delivered by sugar, caffeine, tobacco and synthetic uppers. But quick stimulants will leave you feeling depleted over time, as the energy is not replenished. Caffeine is the world‘s most popular psychoactive drug, but over time leads to adrenal exhaustion, as it overtaxes the system. This is quite a challenge, but to restore a natural energy balance, you have to cut out the caffeine - or at least reduce to a minimum.

Step 3: Re-vitalise with Herbs

Here‘s where herbal tonics really shine, along with the adaptogenic herbs. As the name implies, adaptogenic herbs adapt to the needs of the body, but more precisely they restore normal function of a system. There are many herbs in this category, and some naturally fit one person better than another. Prominent herbs in this class are:

• Ginseng (Panax Ginseng)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)
• Maca (Lepidium meyenii)
• Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
• Suma (Pfaffia paniculata)
• Catuaba (Erythroxylum catuaba)

It is important to take herbs over a period of time, as their effect gradually builds up.

Step 4: Nourish the Nervous System

There is indeed a connection between the saying „to have nerves of steel“ and the actual nervous system, which is the great connector of our body. The Central Nervous System (CNS) is a delicate system that not only links every organ, but also connects the physiological and psychological aspects.

In western herbalism, nervine herbs are used to attune the nervous system. Of these, nervine tonics in particular tend to strengthen and rebuild the CNS. Herbs in this category:

• Oat (Avena Sativa)
• St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
• Blue skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
• Chamomille (Matricaria chamomilla)
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Hops (Humulus lupulus)
• Catuaba (Erythroxylum catuaba)
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
• Betony (Stachys officinalis)
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Over time, the regular use of a selection of these herbs can contribute to a healthy nervous system. But restoring lost balance encompasses more than just herbs, namely changes in lifestyle, bodywork, spiritual practices and most importantly - determination.

Top 10 Natural Ways to Stay Energized

With the pressures of modern society, many people have come to rely on strong stimulants such as caffeine, to get themselves through the day and elevate both energy and mood. Whilst this is not harmful in short run, over a period of time too much coffee and other stimulants can make you feel run down and out of energy, but that energy makes all the difference. When energised, days can be productive and meaningful; when exhausted it‘s like a slow motion endurance test.

The following ten points outline ways in which it is possible to boost natural energy levels, helping to feel more active and to elevate the mood.

1. Sleep

Without a doubt, one of the most important things to stay naturally energised is to maintain a healthy sleep regime.

The first tip is to have a consistent sleeping schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. It may be tempting to go to bed later at the weekends and stay in bed longer in the mornings, but have a set timeframe can work wonders for your energy levels. There is also a general consensus that 6-8 hours sleep is what should be aimed for.

If possible, consider using a dawn simulation alarm clock. These are alarm clocks that have a light on them and gradually begin to light up half an hour before you wake. This simulation of dawn signals to your biological clock that it is nearly time to wake up, allowing bodily processes to slowly start up before you actually wake. This results in often feeling wide awake when the alarm sound actually goes off. It is a much more peaceful and healthy way to wake then a sudden loud noise in the dark that jolts you into action – often leaving you feeling groggy and half asleep.

Once awake it is important to get out of bed straight away. This movement further tells the body that it is time to get up and active. If a dawn simulator has been used then melatonin should be fairly suppressed within the body, allowing it to further energise itself for the day.

Melatonin in a chemical regulated by light. It is a chemical that makes us feel sleepy and is our way of telling us it is time to lie down and recharge. Light suppresses it, so if you wake up in the dark you will find it much harder to get into action. For this reason light is a very important part of maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. By ensuring you get as much light as you can during the day you will ensure melatonin production is suppressed, helping you feel energised; whereas keeping light to a minimum before sleep will encourage the body to produce it and drift off.

2. A healthy diet

Food is one of the finer things in life and enjoyed by many, but for some it may be the wrong things that are enjoyed too much. It is completely natural, we have an instinctive drive to seek out fatty foods as a survival technique. What our instincts do not take into account is that the human race is much less active as a whole compared to a few thousand years ago. This natural drive for fatty foods is further enhanced by the fast-food industry, whose food is full of preservatives and flavourings. The effects of all of this can have us feeling lethargic and demotivated.

The preservatives and chemicals that can be found in many of today’s foods can also effect mood. By steering clear of them, and eating fresh produce such as vegetables, fruits, and nuts. It is also worth noting that some fat is good too for a healthy balanced diet, but it is finding that balance that is key. Not only does this cleanse the body of these preservatives, elevating mood, but also helps us feel more energised and active. Also, maintaining a healthy diet has further health implications into many other areas of health and wellbeing.

A good way to restart a clogged digestive system is through a juice fast. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a fantastic method to clean out the intestine, and deliver much needed enzymes and vitamins to our body.

Store bought, bottled juices are all pasteurised, as most countries don‘t allow the sale of raw products such as fresh juice. But the heat destroys the enzymes that make juice so healthy in the first place. This is why store bought juice doesn‘t compare with fresh, homemade juice. Also, greens and vegetables contain more nutritional value than fruits, although the latter tastes sweeter and contains more sugars. A mix of fruits and greens is often the healthiest and tastiest combination.

When it comes to juicers, make sure to get a slow mastication juicer, not one of those high speed turbo juicers. The speed of the blade oxidises much of the juice before it‘s even in your cup.

3. Avoid a stimulant cycle

Stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, tobacco and alcohol give only momentary boosts of energy without actually „nourishing Qi“, as the Chinese would say. This means that their use only releases stored up energy, without replenishing and nourishing new energy. It‘s life on borrowed time, as when the stimulants run out, there is no natural energy to pick up the slack.

The crash between the levels of this temporary energy to the levels of natural energy can cause a psychological dependence on them to see the day through. Not only this, but stimulants blunt the effectiveness of some hormones, making it much harder to maintain natural energy. By reducing the use of strong stimulants to a minimum, or staying away from them, it is possible to build up natural energy levels, maintaining a much better feeling of health.

4. Exercise daily

Exercising daily is not only good for your physical health, it can create an enormous sense of wellbeing when done regularly. Preforming regular exercise increases the production of both serotonin and dopamine, often making the experience not only feel rewarding, but also having positive long term effects on the mood.

Exercise does not need to be intensive or long; whatever fits into your schedule can help the body feel much more energised. Be it marital arts, a long walk, a jog round the block or even a few sit ups and push ups. Recent findings suggest that just 7 minutes a day of exercise can have a positive effect – there are many apps available on smartphones now that can help you go through this daily regime in the comfort of your own home, helping to keep you motivated.

5. Water - Stay hydrated

Our bodies are made up of 65% water on average (this can vary a lot person to person). Just 3% dehydration has shown to hinder brain functioning, making us feel fatigued and unresponsive. For this reason it is extremely important to stay hydrated. The U.S. National Research Council suggests that we should drink 1ml of water for ever calorie we ingest, meaning the average person should be consuming 2-3 litres of water a day to stay healthy and energised.

6. Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises can be used to energise, calm and centre the mind. The peace they can bring is a perfect way to help regulate mood, get extra oxygen to the brain and induce a feeling of control. It is through this control and extra oxygen that can make one feel energised. The breathing exercises can be anything from full on meditation and diaphragmatic breathing techniques such as breath of fire and alternate nostril breathing, to simply sitting down for a few minutes, closing your eyes and concentrating on regulating a set deep breathing pattern.

7. Yoga and meditation

Following on from point 6, yoga postures and sitting meditation can be used to relax, create focus and clarity. As part of a regular regime, hey can help elevate mood and make one feel much more energised. There are hundreds of techniques, all varying in how advanced they are. A very simple technique is to sit down take any breathing exercise, close your eyes and count on every inhalation, clearing your mind of all other thoughts. You will find that your mind begins to relax and your body feels revitalised.

8. Herbs and supplements

There are many herbs and supplements out there that can be used to boost natural energy levels, herbs and supplements that do not rely on caffeine or quick sugar rushes.

A good few examples of herbal remedies that energise and nourish are Betel nut, Kola nut and Ginkgo biloba. These herbs all have natural energy boosting qualities as well as acting to improve the mood. The large benefit is that as they work in tandem with your natural energy, they do not cause a crash or psychological dependence the way some stimulants do.

Supplements can also be used to keep the body a well-oiled machine, maintaining a healthy and active brain. Good examples of this are hemp oil or flax oil supplements that contain Omega oils and other fatty acids that are essential to the regulation of the mood. Another good example is vitamin B6, which is used by the body to maintain and regulate brain function. By ensuring your body has all of the vitamins, minerals and natural chemicals it needs, you are much more likely to maintain a natural level of energy.

9. Take a break

The human attention span only really lasts a few hours, after this energy and will for the task at hand will begin to wane. Take a break from what you are doing every few hours for 5 minutes or so. Take a quick walk, get some fresh air and change what you were doing. This change will help you feel refreshed and reenergised when you go back to your task. The same applies for longer periods of time. That‘s why holidays increase productivity so much.

10. One day juice fasts

As mentioned above, juicing is a great way to clean out the system and provide fresh nutrition. One particular spin on this is the one day juice fast. The idea is that you spend one day a week consuming nothing but fresh juice. It rids the body of toxins, promoting a sense of wellbeing and it gives the digestive organs a much needed break. It‘s a good idea to break the juice fast with a light meal the first day, as to ease back in again. By doing this once a week, the body gets into a rhythm and becomes more and more efficient at flushing toxins and waste.