Back-to-School! Managing Stress and Improving Focus
By Jhoane Robinson, Herbalist
Our kids face many challenges when they get back in school and we want to help them navigate through them as best we can. How can we do that? By being there for them, listening to their concerns, and supporting their health on a daily basis.
STRESS AND KIDS
So, let’s talk about stress and kids. Stress can negatively affect physical, mental, and emotional health, even in kids. In fact, stress may affect kids even more than adults! While today’s kids don’t have to flee “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”, they do have to deal with their own social pressures like trying to fit in, dealing with teasing and bullying, performance pressures at school and home, the rush of getting out the door and to class on time, social media, etc.! These stressors do stress their health and suppress their digestive systems and immune systems – part of why kids often complain of tummy aches and get sick so easily. Stress also negatively effects kids’ ability to focus and do well in school.
SIGNS OF STRESS
Signs of stress can be stomachaches and other physical complaints, problems sleeping, excess worrying, crying, moodiness, irritability, struggling with concentrating, acting out, difficulty with maintaining friendships, etc., etc.
Stress can even affect a child’s cognitive function and mental clarity and cause difficulty with focusing and school performance.
Here are some suggestions to help your kids with both stress and focus. Now, while I’m not an education or healthcare professional, I have raised a large family of five of my own combined with my husband Carl’s six kids, so I do have a bit of experience with this subject!
There are steps you can take to help your kids be less stressed and be able to focus better. These include setting the stage for them at home with good scheduling, sleep, mealtime habits, and believe it or not, herbs!
HERBS FOR STRESS, FOCUS & COGNITIVE FUNCTION
There are herbs that help the body deal with stress, herbs that help soothe and calm the nervous system, herbs for general nutrition, (very important for dealing with back-to-school stress), AND herbs that support brain function and promote mental clarity, helping oxygenate the brain so it can do its job better! All these benefits from Nature, without resorting to medications that can cause side effects and adverse effects on health! Because of this, many people are turning to alternative medicine and herbal supplements to support their family’s health. We’ll go into greater detail shortly.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR KIDS’ HEALTH, REDUCE STRESS, AND INCREASE ABILITY TO FOCUS:
BE A CHEERLEADER
First, your kids need to know you have their backs. As parents, we can cheer them up and cheer them on, encouraging them to handle the “lions and tigers and bears” in their lives. Secondly, (while no one can be perfect at this), set meal and bedtime schedules.
SLEEP
Adequate sleep, generally 10 hours per night, (12 for younger children), is essential for young people’s health and brain function. A little lavender essential oil on a pillow and Chamomile Calmer TincTract® can relax nerves and help with sleep.
HEALTHY DIET AND EATING HABITS
Having regular mealtimes with wholesome foods for breakfast and dinner helps build a solid foundation for good health habits. (By the way, as the parent, please be the one in charge of what you buy at the grocery store, not the kids, who love all things sugar!)
Make sure your kids get plenty of water each day to support their health. Avoid soda pops that are poor substitutes for good ol’ water.
Use health supporting fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and rosemary in your cooking. Rosemary has rosmarinic acid, which has powerful antioxidant properties. Also, essential fatty acids build brain and immune health.
HERBS FOR KIDS’ HEALTH FROM CEDAR BEAR®
As parents and Cedar Bear’s Founders, our company is totally committed and dedicated to producing the highest quality herbal products possible.
When my husband Carl, a Clinical Herbalist trained in phytopharmacology, first began formulating alcohol-free liquid herbal products with his revolutionary TincTract® process, his first formulas were for kids. Kids can’t swallow pills and won’t take things that taste yucky (at least willingly). Back then, there weren’t any liquid herbal formulas available as true alcohol-free dietary supplement for kids that were gentle and effective. TincTract® processed herbs taste great and are concentrated, yet gentle, and so Cedar Bear Naturales® was born!
Herbs can play an important role in handling stress, supporting the immune system, and benefitting focus. At Cedar Bear®, with Carl’s amazing formulations, we have a full range of health support for all ages. Whatever your health need is, we probably have something that will address it.
By the way, those first formulas for kids were created over 35 years ago, as a first ever in the industry, with countless satisfied parents and kids (including our own) who have been raised on Cedar Bear herbs. While in the United States we can’t cite clinical studies or even systematic review to support with scientific evidence the effectiveness of herbal medicines due to our being ‘dietary supplements,’ we can say that the beneficial effects and health benefits that so many have had over the years attest that the “proof is in the pudding!”
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ON THESE WONDERFUL HERBS AVAILABLE FROM CEDAR BEAR:
ADAPTOGENS – STRESS SUPPORT
Astragalus, Eleuthero, Rhodiola, and Licorice roots strengthen the immune system, support energy levels, concentration, and ability to focus.
Turmeric Root (Curcuma longa), used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for many centuries, helps protect against general stress, oxidative stress (low antioxidant levels), supports immune function and brain function.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), India’s primary adaptogenic herb in Ayurvedic Medicine, is revitalizing, calms nerves, relieves stress and fatigue, improves mental function and is a great herb for all ages, including children and older adults.
Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Eleuthero Root (formerly known as Siberian ginseng) are important health strengtheners.
NERVOUS SYSTEM SUPPORT
Calming herbs like Chamomile, Lavender, and Holy Basil can be taken as herbal tea.
Cedar Bear formulas for nervous system support include the Chamomile Calmer and Brainy & Bright.
FOCUS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION SUPPORT
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) Helps your body handle stress and supports brain health by promoting brain oxygenation, which supports mental alertness, clear thinking, and memory. Brainy & Bright
Ginkgo Leaf (Ginkgo biloba), known as the “brain herb” for its ability to support healthy brain function, memory, concentration and helps lift energy and mood. Helps increase blood oxygenation so the brain gets the nutrients it needs to support cognitive health.
These herbs are found in Cedar Bear's Brainy and Bright formula.
CEDAR BEAR HERBAL FORMULAS TO THE RESCUE!
BRAINY & BRIGHT
Helps kids be more focused and attentive and helps reduce impulsive and overactive behavior. Has adaptogenic, nervous system, and brain building herbs. Helps high-energy kids be calmer, helps reduce stress, calms nerves, and supports mental focus.
BRAIN BOOSTER
Supports memory, cognitive functions, and brain function with herbs that enhance energy levels and memory function. (For older kids/teens.)
CHAMOMILE CALMER
A parent’s best friend, helps calm cranky kids any time of day, helpful as a soothing bedtime sleep aid, and helps calm tense tummies and nerves.
HERBAL MINERALS
Kids grow fast and need good nutrients to have strong, healthy bones, teeth, hair and skin. Helps kids’ bodies assimilate nutrients, especially minerals, from the foods they eat.
IODINE – AN ESSENTIAL MINERAL!
All of us need iodine, as stress, the environment, and many of our dietary choices knock iodine out of our bodies. Iodine is essential for the thyroid, the master gland for regulating all metabolic activity in a growing body. Iodine is essential for brain function and immune function. Iodine supplementing is recommended for everyone of all ages and is especially important while during pregnancy, nursing, for infants and young children. Knowing this, Carl and our R&D team created an alcohol-free mono-element triiodide of iodine that is very gentle on the body and can be taken by children and pregnant women.
HEALTH SUPPORT & HERBS – BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME, AND ANYTIME!
Your child’s health and wellbeing can be greatly benefitted by managing stress and maintaining focus during the back-to-school season, as well as throughout the year.
Explore the full offerings of Cedar Bear® herbal supplements for effective, natural health support for yourself and your family members to build healthy children AND healthy adults. (And don’t forget your fur kids, Cedar Bear has herbs for pets, too!)
Try our Cedar Bear® herbal remedies and experience for yourself the potential health benefits they can bring. Because they taste so good, you will enjoy using them, but even more, you will appreciate how effective they are at building, balancing, and supporting your health!
NOTE: Consult with your medical professional before using herbal supplements if your child is on medications, as there can be potential drug-herb interactions.
(These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)
