Mood boost for psychiatric nurse
By: Rhodiola Rosea

Increasing pressure in her demanding job as a psychiatric nurse found Mary Forrett, aged 41, of Fife in Scotland, feeling more and more depressed. The job was already very physically challenging with sometimes difficult patients, variable shift patterns and long hours. When additional pressure came from extra administrative responsibilities, she looked around for something to give her a boost. “At 41, I didn’t expect to have the energy of a teenager, but I was feeling terribly run down and just sad for no real reason. I had never had a problem getting up for work before, but I was feeling as though my body’s alarm clock had forgotten to be wound up. I knew I had to do something or my work and family life would suffer,” she said. A friend recommended a herb called Rhodiola. He had taken it following an article in the Daily Mail suggesting its use for energy, stamina and depression. He was so enthusiastic about it, Mary went along to her local health food store where they suggested a supplement of the B complex vitamins together with the Rhodiola. The primary organs in the body responsible for dealing with the effects of stress are the adrenal glands, which are situated just above the kidneys. If we are having to deal with chronic, on-going stress the adrenal glands eventually become exhausted and unable to produce sufficient amounts of the stress-reducing hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Researched in Russia since the 1930s, Rhodiola, is the king of all stress-busting herbs and researchers have found Rhodiola to go above and beyond ginseng in its scope and activity. Rhodiola, a native herb of Siberia, has been shown to enhance the systems that regulate stress and help the body maintain fuel reserves to cope. It is an effective anti-depressant and has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, probably due to its ability to lift mood and improve stamina. The B complex vitamins, particularly vitamin B5, are vital for the body’s conversion of food into energy and aid mood elevation. Vitamin B5 supports the function of the adrenal glands. Mary says: “I can’t say I feel like a teenager yet, but I do feel much more positive about life. My children say I’m I nicer mother and work has returned to being a pleasure for me instead of a chore.”
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