The Effects of Stress on the Body and Holistic Practices to Release It
If you are alive in today's society, you have experienced some sort of trauma. There are varying degrees of trauma and stress depending on the type of experience had and the length of exposure to the stressful or traumatic event. Stress is the bodies way of coping with trauma.
Trauma isn’t just an emotional experience—it’s something the body remembers deeply. Whether caused by a single event or prolonged exposure to stress, trauma can profoundly impact physical health, nervous system function, and overall well-being. Understanding how trauma affects the body and learning ways to release it holistically can help you embark on a journey toward healing and wholeness.
How Trauma and Stress Affect the Body
The Nervous System: Trauma can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, keeping the body in a state of heightened alert (fight-or-flight) or shutdown (freeze). This can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and difficulty relaxing.
Stored Tension: The body often holds onto trauma in the form of muscle tension, particularly in areas like the shoulders, hips, and jaw. This tension can manifest as chronic pain or stiffness.
Digestive Health: The gut-brain connection means trauma can disrupt digestion, causing issues like bloating, nausea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Immune System: Prolonged trauma can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to illness.
Healing from trauma involves more than addressing the mind—it requires a body-centered approach. Here are three holistic practices that can help release trauma from the body.
1. Mindfulness and Breathwork
Mindfulness and intentional breathing are powerful tools for reconnecting with the body and calming the nervous system.
How It Helps: These practices increase awareness of bodily sensations, allowing you to process and release stored tension. Breathwork specifically helps regulate the nervous system, shifting the body out of a fight-or-flight state and into relaxation.
Try This: Practice deep diaphragmatic breathing—inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale through your mouth for a count of six. Pair this with mindfulness exercises like a body scan to bring awareness to areas of tension. Meditating, humming, or chanting outside in nature will help too.
2. Herbal Allies for Stress/Trauma Release
Certain herbs can support the body in releasing trauma and promoting nervous system health.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): An adaptogen that helps regulate cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and restore balance to the nervous system.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Known for its calming properties, it can ease tension and promote restful sleep.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) (Ocimum tenuiflorum): Traditionally used to lift mood and release emotional heaviness. Opens the heart chakra and helps regulate the stress response in the body.
Try all of these herbal allies in one of our extracts today, you can order yours today at our online shop here.
How to Use: Enjoy these herbs as teas, tinctures, or capsules. For example, a cup of Passionflower tea in the evening can help your body transition into relaxation.
3. Movement and Somatic Practices
Gentle movement and somatic exercises are effective for releasing stored trauma from the body.
How It Helps: Practices like yoga, tai chi, gi gong or NeuroSomatic Flow techniques are great somatic experiences focused on connecting movement with breath and sensation. They help release tension and restore a sense of safety in the body. Helping to assist in balancing the mind-body connection.
Learn more about NeuroSomatic Flow here.
Try This: A simple yoga pose like Child’s Pose or Cat-Cow stretch can help release tension in the spine and hips. Pair the movements with slow, steady breaths to deepen the effect. Try practicing yoga, neurosomatic Flow or your somatic practice outdoors for the added bonus of relaxation and nature connection.
Conclusion
Healing from trauma is a gradual process that involves compassion and patience with yourself. Incorporating mindfulness, herbal support, and somatic practices into your daily routine can create space for your body to release trauma, and stored stress in the body and move toward healing.
Your body is resilient and capable of profound healing when given the right tools and care.
Remember, seeking support from a therapist or holistic practitioner can further enhance your journey to wellness. Healing together is so much better!
If you are interested in diving deeper into learning more about this topic or experiencing how herbalism and somatic practices can assist you in releasing stress, trauma, and stagnant emotions in the body while healing together with other amazing woman, join us for our upcoming 'The Power of Nature to Heal Your Life' Transforming Stress into Vitality, a herbal wellness retreat in Sedona, AZ. Coming May 2025. Get all the details here.
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