Adaptogens and Nervines: Herbs for the Nervous System
Imagine your body as a bustling, vibrant universe unto itself, teeming with activity and life.
Within this universe, the pathways of energy resemble an intricate network of nerves, with countless messages zipping back and forth, delivering instructions, sensations, and reactions at lightning speed.
In this metaphor, stress works like a sudden traffic jam, clogging up these pathways, causing frustration and delays in communication, and even illness.
It's here that nature steps in, offering its wisdom through the gifts of nervines and adaptogens. Acting as nature's urban planners and traffic controllers, they help relieve the buildup of stress in our bodies and make us more resilient to future disruptions.
These herbs, deeply rooted in traditional wisdom from Asia, Africa, Turtle Island, Abya Yala, and more, have been used for centuries to soothe and relieve anxiety and stress. They remind us of a fundamental truth: the natural world is ingeniously built to support us, offering remedies and resources to help us get through all the complexities of life.
Nervines
Nervines are herbs that specialize in supporting the nervous system’s flow.
You can think of them as your personal, botanical therapists. Each herb comes with its unique approach to calming your nerves, easing stress, and restoring peace. They can offer a comforting hand or a voice of reason amidst the chaos of daily life.
Nervines can be relaxants, gently soothing your frazzled nerves after a long day, or stimulants, cutting through the noise of anxiety to bring clarity and focus.
Nervine Relaxants
These are herbs that calm and soothe the nervous system, helping us feel relaxed and get better sleep.
They’re associated in ancestral stories with water and the moon, known for their connection to emotional depth and our need for nurturing and relaxation. They contain compounds that interact with neurotransmitters — the body's chemical messengers.
A great example of this mechanism is in the bio-active compounds in Chamomile. They can bind to GABA receptors, much like the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which plays a critical role in calming nervous activity. This action helps our body and mind reduce anxiety, ease tension, and get a good night’s sleep.
In other words, these plant guides can help our body care for us naturally by mimicking our own processes.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Skullcap is celebrated for its ability to soothe the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation without drowsiness. Traditionally, Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island used it to treat all kinds of conditions, including insomnia and nervous tension.
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
Kava Kava is known for its potent calming effects, helping to alleviate anxiety, stress, and insomnia through its muscle-relaxing and mood-enhancing properties. In Pacific Islander cultures, it has been used ceremonially for centuries to help with social bonding and as a remedy for anxiety.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower acts as a mild sedative, helping to ease our anxiety, insomnia, and even reduce symptoms of menopause like hot flashes. It has a long history of use among tribes of Turtle Island as a calming agent for nervous disorders and sleep problems.
Albizzia (Albizzia julibrissin)
Often referred to as the "tree of happiness," Albizzia has mood-enhancing and calming effects, making it useful for anxiety and depression. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been used to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, treating mood disorders and insomnia.
Milky Oats (Avena sativa)
Milky Oats are highly regarded for their ability to nourish and strengthen the nervous system, making them ideal for those dealing with stress, exhaustion, and nervous debility. Traditionally, they have been used as a restorative tonic in Western herbalism to support mental clarity and emotional resilience. They are very mild and safe for just about anyone.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile is renowned for its gentle sedative properties, helping to ease anxiety, improve sleep quality, and soothe digestive complaints. It has been used in traditional medicine systems, including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman practices, for its calming and healing properties.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender is widely used for its calming and relaxing effects on the body and mind, helping relieve anxiety, insomnia, and even mild pain. Historically, it has been used in folk medicine around the world for its antiseptic and soothing properties, including in Roman bathing rituals.
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)
Also known as Holy Basil, Tulsi is revered for its adaptogenic and anti-stress effects, offering profound emotional clarity and relaxation. In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been traditionally used to help us feel emotionally well, balance stress levels, and support the immune system.
Nervine Stimulants
Not all nervines are about slowing down however; some are about finding balance through action.
Nervine Stimulants can breath life into us, as herbs that energize and stimulate the nervous system. They can help improve focus, energy, and alertness. These plants are often associated with the element of fire, reflecting its qualities of drive, motivation, and vitality. They also tend to be rich in caffeine and L-theanine.
This combo is great for enhancing focus while keeping the jitteriness often associated with caffeine when taken alone, at bay. L-theanine, in particular, promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain, associated with a state of "alert relaxation" — where the mind is both relaxed and sharp.
Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea)
This beautiful flower is known for its calming and euphoric effects, which help alleviate stress and improve sleep quality. Traditionally used in ancient Egyptian ceremonies, Blue Lotus was consumed in teas, wines, or directly as an extract for its psychoactive properties, believed to promote higher consciousness and spiritual enlightenment.
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Rich in antioxidants and L-theanine, this herb can improve cognitive function and reduce physical and mental stress. It also supports heart health and metabolism. In Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, green tea has been consumed for thousands of years for its health-promoting properties, including longevity, digestion, and detoxification.
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
This berry is celebrated for its ability to enhance mental clarity, increase stamina, and support the body's stress response systems. It also has liver-protective qualities, and has been used in TCM to promote Qi energy, improve kidney function, and as a remedy for insomnia and nervous exhaustion.
Rhodiola Rosea
This herb was traditionally used by the Vikings for strength and endurance, and in Siberian culture to increase physical and mental stamina, especially during harsh winters. It also enhances mental performance.
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
This leaf supports cognitive function, promotes wound healing, and enhances our mood. It is often used to treat anxiety and improve memory. In Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gotu Kola has been used to help us live longer, meditate better, and balance the mind; gifts from the elephants who also love to snack on the plant.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Used traditionally in Russia and Asia to increase vitality, reduce fatigue, and prevent colds and flu, this root naturally boosts our energy levels, enhances stamina, and improves the body's resistance to stress. It also supports immune system function.
Adaptogens
Adaptogens are the architects of our nervous system; they help the body adapt to stress, mitigate the harmful effects we can experience from being stressed over long periods of time, and help us restore our balance.
They work by regulating the body's stress response systems, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathoadrenal system, which are central to our body's response to stress.
This allows adaptogens to strengthen our capacity to withstand physical, emotional, and environmental stress, without giving in to dysfunction. They are the wise old sages of the botanical world, teaching our bodies how to keep ourselves calm and collected, despite the anything life throws our way.
These herbs and roots have been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions for centuries. Many of these plants have evolved in harsh environments, learning to thrive in conditions of extreme cold, heat, or at high altitudes where other plants might falter. This resilience is thought to translate into their therapeutic effects on the human body.
Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera)
Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha has been a staple herb for over 3,000 years in India, used to rejuvenate the body, as a general health tonic, and to improve longevity. It also supports cognitive function and can help improve concentration and memory.
Cordyceps
These fungi are known for their ability to increase energy and stamina, improve athletic performance, and support respiratory health by enhancing oxygen utilization in the body. They also have antioxidant properties that help protect cells from damage. In Traditional Chinese medicine, Cordyceps have been used for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney diseases, and to enhance libido and sexual function, especially at high altitudes in Tibet.
Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii)
Indigenous to the Andes mountains of Peru, Maca has been cultivated as a vegetable crop for at least 3000 years. It was traditionally used by ancient Incan warriors to boost strength and stamina before battles. It also supports mood regulation and can help reduce symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and interrupted sleep.
Cacao
The Maya and Aztec have long revered cacao as a divine food, using it in rituals, as a currency, and consuming it for its rejuvenative properties. Cacao is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, which can improve heart health by enhancing blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
Goji Berries
Goji berries are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, supporting immune function, protecting against aging, and promoting eye health. They also help stabilize blood sugar and improve energy levels. They have been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years to protect the liver, improve vision, boost immune function, and help us live long healthy lives.
Seaweed
Seaweed is a rich source of iodine, essential for thyroid health, and contains a plethora of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy digestion.
REMEMBER: Incorporating these adaptogenic herbs and foods into your diet can be a natural way to enhance your body's resilience to stress. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking medications, as adaptogens can interact with some medications and may not be suitable for everyone.
