Four Holistic Methods to Release Anger

Anger-although a normal emotion that can be a powerful signal that something is wrong--can be a very uncomfortable feeling. By developing skills that will enable you to express your needs and desires in a manner that displays respect for yourself and for others, you'll be managing your anger effectively. In addition, by lessening the intensity of your anger through holistic methods, you'll be able to calm yourself down so that you can be tranquil and relaxed when you communicate your feelings to others.

Here are four holistic methods you can use to help you release anger:

1. Join a Yoga Class. Yoga involves stretching, a set of physical postures, and breath-control exercises. The fluid, methodic movements of yoga will help you to purposely slow down a frantic mind and stressed body. In addition, by focusing on precise movements and controlled breathing, you stay in the moment rather than obsess about whatever is making your angry.

2. Use Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the practice of enhancing health and mood through the use of concentrated plant extracts. The oils stimulate the olfactory nerves, which link directly to the brain and can ease anxiety and help you regulate your moods.

Essential oils can be found in health food stores, as well as holistic shops, and can be rubbed on the body, added to a bath or foot soak, or simply placed on a cotton ball and inhaled deeply. You can also get scented candles or a scented oil diffuser. Some of the essential oils that are known to help alleviate anger and anxiety are the following: lavender, chamomile, jasmine, and ylang-ylang.

3. Use Bach Rescue Remedy. In Bach flower therapy, developed over 60 years ago by the English homeopathic practitioner Edward Bach, 38 individual distilled flower essences are used to affect mental and emotional states. Of these flower essences, Rescue Remedy will help you restore a sense of calm when you feel your emotions are getting out of control.

Every day our emotions are put to the test; whether it's heavy traffic, problems with a co-worker, or the thousands of things that need to get done each day. Whatever the situation, Rescue Remedy can help. It's natural and can be taken at any time.

Rescue Remedy contains five of the 38 Bach Flower Essences: Rock Rose for terror and panic, Impatiens for irritation and impatience, Clematis for inattentiveness, Star of Bethlehem for shock and Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts. Just place a few drops of Rescue Remedy in a glass of water and drink the water.

4. Open Up Channels to the Right Brain. Vasant Lad, director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, suggests putting a cotton ball in the right nostril and breathing only through the left nostril for about an hour. Another alternative is to try plugging your right ear with cotton and hearing only through the left ear for several hours. According to Dr. Lad, these techniques will help open up channels to the right brain, which will help you in cooling down anger.