Anxiety and a racing mind
Five quiet practices people turn to when thoughts will not slow down.
If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor.
Sit upright. Breathe in for 4, out for 6 to 8, for three minutes. Let the out-breath be the long one.
Slow breathing with a long exhale sits at the heart of pranayama, and many people report a calmer mind within minutes.
Take care Stop if you feel light-headed and breathe normally.
Steep half a teaspoon of dried brahmi leaf in hot water for 5 minutes. One cup in the afternoon or evening.
Brahmi is traditionally used in Ayurveda for a clear, steady mind, and has been a household herb for generations.
Take care Ask a Vaidya or doctor first if you are pregnant or on medication, especially for thyroid, mood or sleep.
Steep 5 to 6 fresh tulsi leaves, or a teaspoon of dried, in hot water for 5 minutes.
Tulsi grows in many Indian courtyards; a warm cup is a traditional way to pause and reset during the day.
Take care Ask a doctor first if you are pregnant or on blood thinners or diabetes medication.
Massage a teaspoon of warm sesame or coconut oil into the crown and temples for five minutes, then rest.
Shiro abhyanga, the head massage, is traditionally used to soothe an overworked mind; families often do it on weekends.
Sit quietly and repeat a simple mantra, like Om, slowly with a mala or on your fingers for five minutes.
Japa, repeating a sound with attention, is a traditional practice for giving a busy mind one thing to hold.
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Traditional home practices, not medical advice. See a doctor for symptoms that persist or worsen.