Nervines Unveiled: Ancient Herbal Solutions for Modern Stress and Anxiety

Ever wondered how ancient herbal practices could transform your modern-day stress and anxiety? Join me, Demetra Clark, on this enlightening journey through the world of herbal nervines, where we unlock the secrets of herbs that calm, invigorate, and nourish your nervous system. We'll delve into the rich history of nervines from ancient Greece to medieval Europe and beyond, and discover how classifications like Relaxants, Stimulants, and Tonics play essential roles in maintaining mental well-being. Get ready to uncover the wonders of valerian, an age-old remedy for sleep and anxiety, as we explore its active constituents, historical significance, and practical uses in everyday life.

In our second segment, we bring calming herbal remedies to the forefront, highlighting the benefits and precautions of chamomile, passionflower, and ashwagandha. Learn about chamomile's potential allergic reactions and its interactions with blood thinners, and dive into passionflower’s sedative effects on GABA levels for anxiety management. We also explore ashwagandha's adaptogenic properties that reduce stress and enhance cognitive function. With detailed consumption methods and necessary precautions, this episode is your guide to harnessing the power of nature for better mental and physical health. Tune in and let these herbs support your journey to wellness.

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The content provided in this podcast is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified healthcare professional

Chapters

• 0:00 Exploring Herbal Nervines for Wellness
• 17:08 Exploring Calming Herbal Remedies

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:37

Hi, this is Demetra Clark, and today on the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast, we're talking about herbal nervines. Check us out at heartofherbscom and always feel free to like, follow or submit any questions to us that you have that you'd like to have us answer for you. Herbal nervines. So nervines are a category of herbs that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Of herbs that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, they're widely used to manage stress, anxiety and insomnia, and they can help soothe nervous tension. The history of nervines is rich, with roots in various traditional healing systems around the world. Today we will explore some of the most well-known and commonly used nervenes. We'll have a little bit of information about their history, but we're also going to cover benefits and how to incorporate them into your wellness routine. So what are nervenes? Nerveins are herbs that help support and strengthen the nervous system. They can be classified into three main categories Nervine Relaxants, nervine Stimulants and Nervine Tonics. Nervine Relaxants help to calm and soothe the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. Nervine Stimulants invigorate and stimulate the nervous system, improving focus and energy. Nervine Tonics nourish and strengthen the nervous system over time, promoting overall resilience and health. So the history of nervines dates back thousands of years and spans across various cultures, so they were well documented in ancient Greece, herbs like chamomile and valerian for their calming effects. Herbs like chamomile and valerian for their calming effects. Traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, tibetan medicine and other healing systems throughout the world also have a rich history of using nervine herbs to treat nervous system disorders. For example, in traditional Chinese medicine, herbs like schizandra and reishi are used to calm the mind and nourish the spirit. In Ayurveda, herbs like ashwagandha and brahmi are revered for their ability to enhance mental clarity and reduce anxiety. And reduce anxiety. In medieval Europe, monastic gardens were filled with medicinal plants many were nervines, which were used by nuns and monks to create herbal remedies. The knowledge of these plants and their uses was meticulously documented and passed down through generations. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine also have very long historical documentation of use the benefits of nervines. So the primary benefits of nervines include reducing anxiety and stress, promoting relaxation, improving sleep quality and supporting overall nervous system health. By incorporating nervy nerves into your daily routine, you can help your body cope with the stresses of modern life and maintain a balanced state of mind. I know when I was a young parent, nervines were so like. I just love drinking lemon balm tea when I just needed to like calm and center myself. Nervines have a really powerful place in family life. So let's look a little bit deeper at some of the most popular and effective nervine herbs. We'll take a look at their botanical characteristics, historical uses, constituents and how they can benefit you.

Speaker 1: 4:19

So valerian is a really common nervine. It's one that you probably hear about all the time. It's also called garden valerian. Valerian has been used since the time of ancient Greece and Rome for its calming effects and it has well-documented history in those eras as a remedy for insomnia. The active constituent is found in the root valerianic acid, vilpotriates and various alkaloids which contribute to the sedative and anoxic anxiety effects. So some of the active constituents are valerianic acid, which is a key compound believed to contribute to valerian's sedative and anti-anxiety effects, vail potriates. These are iridoid esters and have a tranquilizing and antispasmodic effect. Flavonoids are very rich in this root Hesperidin and linarin. I'm going to screw some of these up and that is proof that says you can practice something for over 30 years and still stumble over words, and there's nothing wrong with that. Some of the alkaloids in valerian and it's really just a small amount is actinidine and chateninine, which contribute to its therapeutic properties. It also has gamma-ambuteric acid, which can influence GABA levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system. Valerian acts as a sleep aid and it's really common as a sleep aid. You can even find it now in a variety of places, so you used to be able to just find it in health food stores. Now you're finding valerian supplements and pills and capsules and combinations even in drug stores and in big box stores in the pharmacy section. So it really has been an herb that's reputation has really been embraced.

Speaker 1: 6:34

It helps to improve sleep quality and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep without the groggy feeling that's associated with some pharmaceutical sleep aids. It can also help with reducing anxiety and stress. It has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping to ease tension and promote relaxation. It's also an anti-spasmodic. It has very rich muscle relaxing properties, which can make it useful for cramps, muscle tension and spasms. It's often used for menstrual cramps and tension headaches. It does also work to support the nervous system. Because it's a nervine, it helps to strengthen and support the nervous system, making it useful for nervous exhaustion and overstimulation. It also has mild analgesic properties, making it great for mild pain relief.

Speaker 1: 7:31

You can use it as a tea, a tincture or a capsule. You can drink the tea about 30 minutes before bedtime. One teaspoon of dried valerian root in a cup of hot water. Allow it to steep for 15 to 20 minutes. It is generally considered safe, but long-term use is not recommended without talking with an herbalist or healthcare provider, because it can cause headaches or digestive upset in some people. Now that's not saying that'll happen to you, but it does happen in some people.

Speaker 1: 8:10

The next herb is lemon balm, melissa officinalis. It's also called balm, lemon balm, balm, mint and Melissa. Lemon balm has been used for over 2000 years to uplift the mood and calm the mind. It was a favorite of Pericles, a 16th century Swiss physician, who called it the elixir of life. It contains rosmaric acid, flavonoids and essential oils like citronellol and geranol which contribute to its calming effects. Lemon balm is used to reduce anxiety and improve mood and promote restful sleep. It also has minor, mild antiviral properties which can really be beneficial for digestive issues.

Speaker 1: 8:55

I love using lemon balm with children, so you can use it with a little bit of peppermint or spearmint if you want with children, so you can use it with a little bit of peppermint or spearmint if you want, but it's like a great herb for calming children. But it's also a great herb for things like tummy aches and not feeling good and it does work great for children who are anxious. So a lot of people they're like, oh, I'll just use valerian, it's a nervine and it'll be great for my kid. And I'll got to tell you some kids go bananas on valerian. They just go off the walls, they get really hyper. It just kind of works opposite for them. I actually have a child myself who is that way when they are on valerian. So he like, even to this day as an adult, that would not be an herb I would suggest for him to help him sleep because it just doesn't work that way for him.

Speaker 1: 9:47

So lemon balm can be a great alternative. It's great for anxiety and stress relief. It's widely recognized as anti-anxiety in its effects and it helps calm the mind and the body, making it useful for people experiencing stress, anxiety or nervousness. It's a sedative herb so it does work as a natural remedy for insomnia and other sleep disturbances. It is a sleep aid. It's also great for digestion. I mentioned how it's great for, you know, tummy aches, but it's also good for bloating, gas and indigestion and it's often used in combination with other herbs to support overall digestive health.

Speaker 1: 10:32

It is an antiviral. The herbs has shown potential in fighting certain viruses such as herpes simplex, by inhibiting the virus's ability to attach to host cells inhibiting the virus's ability to attach to host cells. So I think it's a great herb to use for chickenpox and shingles. So you can do compresses, you can drink the tea, you can take lemon balm baths. I know with shingles, lemon balm baths can be really and the compresses can be really really helpful. Shingles can be incredibly painful and lemon balm can help with that. It also may improve cognitive function and enhance mood, making it a valuable herb for mental clarity and focus. The most common applications are tea, so people will do tea two to three times a day. Tea two to three times a day. The tincture is also really popular. It should be made from fresh herb.

Speaker 1: 11:26

A lot of the volatile oils in lemon balm disappear when it's dried. It's just they just evaporate. They're just not present. Topical use lemon balm creams or salves can be applied to the skin to treat cold sores or herpes simplex outbreaks. So like chicken pox or other kinds of shingles, things like that Culinary use. They're great in salads, marinades or as a garnish for dessert. They add a refreshing lemon flavor to dishes.

Speaker 1: 11:54

Now, lemon balm is generally considered safe for most people when used appropriately. However, it can interact with thyroid medication because it can affect thyroid hormone levels. So here's the thing If someone is suffering from a thyroid issue, then they need to understand and know that they shouldn't be using lemon balm, or they need to talk to their care provider. It's also wise to start in small doses if you're new to using lemon balm, to see how your body will respond to it. And look, we're not getting any medical advice in this podcast. We're just talking about herbs. So use common sense when you approach anything you know. Just because you say, oh, that's sedative or oh, that can help with my anxiety, it doesn't mean to drink like 47 cups of it. Be reasonable with yourself and be smart.

Speaker 1: 12:46

The next herb is chamomile, matricaria chamomila, and that herb is also known as German chamomile or wild chamomile. It has a really super long history of use in Europe and Western Asia. The ancient Egyptians dedicated chamomile to their gods for its healing properties. It contains apigenin, bisabolol and chamomazoline, which provide its anti-inflammatory and calming effects. Chamomile has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The ancient Egyptians dedicated it to the sun god Ra, and it was used to treat fever as an offering to the gods. In Europe it is widely used during the Middle Ages to relieve digestive issues, soothe skin conditions and even as a remedy for the plague. Chamomile was also a popular medicine in early America, brought over by the Europeans, for its multitude of uses. So that's something to remember when we are talking about how the United States was colonized and settled.

Speaker 1: 13:49

A lot of herbs were here, of course, but there were also herbs that people they very limited use like baggage. Right, you're allowed to bring this much stuff. You know everyone's getting packed on a ship. There's only so much stuff that you can bring right, and these herb seeds, a lot of culinary herbs and a lot of other herbs that were brought over, were brought over because they were so useful. They weren't brought over because they just tasted good. You didn't have the luxury of just taste. So a lot of these culinary herbs could do two things they could preserve food, they can enhance the flavor of food, and they also had medicinal properties that could also be used at the same time and that's something that we need to think about. In a world that was settled, so we live in the United States, and the United States was discovered in the pursuit of herbs and spices right In pursuit of these other things it was really really important the work that people went and did to bring these herbs with them. So the active constituents right.

Speaker 1: 15:00

Apigenin is a flavonoid that has mildly sedative and anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Doesn't mean it's going to cure cancer. Bisabolol is an essential oil with soothing, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, so that's a constituent found in an essential oil found in an essential oil. And the camazulene, a compound that is released during the extraction process, has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's calming and relaxing, and chamomile is best known for its relaxing effects. It can ease anxiety, promote relaxation and is often used as a mild sedative to treat insomnia. It's great also with digestive health, so you could blend it with your lemon balm. It's great at treating issues like indigestion, gas and bloating. It can also help soothe the symptoms of IBS.

Speaker 1: 16:01

It has anti-inflammatory effects, so you can use it for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, skin irritations and gastrointestinal inflammations. It has antimicrobial effects. It can help fight infections. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, it's particularly effective in treating minor wounds and skin conditions. It's also great for menstrual health. You can use it to relieve menstrual cramps and discomfort, thanks to its muscle relaxant and anti-spasmodic effects. Often it's used as a tea or a tincture. You can also have chamomile cream, which is great for irritations, rashes and burns. You can also use it compresses, salve or baths. It can also be inhaled as an essential oil to relieve sinus congestion and respiratory issues. The essential oil is also used to calm the mind and promote relaxation, and it can also be added to baths or massages.

Speaker 1: 17:08

Chamomile is generally considered safe for most people when used appropriately, but if they are allergic to plants in the asterae family, such as ragweed, daisies, marigolds and chrysanthemums, they should use chamomile with caution, because that's the family it's from, because it can cause allergic reactions. It is considered safe for children and pregnant women, though it's always wise to consult a healthcare provider before using it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and that goes with any herb, because, guess what? We're not giving medical advice here, so get your medical information from a appropriate care provider. Chamomile can interact with some medications, particularly blood thinners, due to its mild anticoagulant effects, so those on those medicines should consult with their doctor before use. You can drink it as a tea or a tincture. We already talked about that. You can drink it as a tea or a tincture we already talked about that and it is something that is generally safe, though, for most people.

Speaker 1: 18:08

Passionflower, passiflora incarnata, so it's also called passionflower or maypop it's native to the southeastern United States and it was used by native indigenous tribes for sedative and calming properties. European settlers later adopted it for use. It contains flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides which contribute to its cetative and anti-anxiety effects. So the flavonoids include apigenin, lutalin and quercetin, which have anti-anxiety and antioxidant effects. Some of the alkaloids, such as harmin, harmaline and harmin, which contribute to its sedative effects, and glycosides, including pasiflurin, which has to its sedative effects, and glycosides, including pasiflurane, which has mildly sedative effects. So passionflower is widely used to reduce anxiety and stress.

Speaker 1: 19:27

It works by increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid, gaba, in the brain and helps to calm the nervous system. It also acts as a sleep aid and is effective in promoting restful sleep without the side effects often associated with pharmaceutical sleep aids. It can be particularly helpful for those who have difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts. So as we learn more about herbs, we learn more about herb specifics, right, and so this is good for people who cannot shut their mind off, who cannot stop racing. We've all had time periods in our lives when we've been like that. But I've got to tell you, at times that has been a serious issue for me because I have so much work to do, I have so many things I am like in charge of and you know I'm responsible for and like all this stuff, and it just gets like. And this is a great herb for that.

Speaker 1: 20:25

It helps to relieve nervous tension and irritability, making it useful for managing conditions like generalized anxiety disorder. It also has mild pain relieving effects, so it's good for minor pains and strains. So it can be really useful in that way or used with something else, and it's sometimes used to relieve menstrual cramps and discomfort due to its muscle relaxing effects. So you can drink it as a tea or you can take it as a tincture, or you can often find it also in capsules. It's generally safe for most people, but it may cause drowsiness and should not be combined with other sedative medications without consulting a healthcare provider. So do not take passion flower and hop in the car. Do not take passion flower and be like oh yeah, I'm going to take care of my friends like one week old baby, because you don't want to do it where you're going to be dozing off. So it's really used. It's really good for, you know, nighttime use when you're getting ready for bed or or you're going to be doing one of those lazy Sundays and you're not feeling great and you just want to sleep the day away or relax. It's really great for that.

Speaker 1: 21:36

The next is ashwagandha. We've been hearing tons and tons about ashwagandha. It's also called Indian ginseng and winter cherry. The last few years it's become increasingly popular. It's been used in Ayurveda for over 3,000 years. That's documented. It's not like, oh, it's been used since the beginning of time. This is documented use and it helps improve concentration, increase energy and reduce stress. So it has some really beneficial active constituents. So withanolides these are the main active compounds in ashwagandha, known for their adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It also has some alkaloid compounds which contribute to the plant's sedative and calming effects. It includes saponins, which have immune boosting and stress reducing effects, and steroidal lactones.

Speaker 1: 22:34

These contribute to the herb's adaptogenic properties, helping the body adapt to stress. We've all had a lot of stress in our lives and look, here's the thing. You know, with social media and all of these other kind of weird things out there, we're finding ourselves stressing about a lot of things that really don't matter, like we will spend all day fretting about something and it's like that's not even reality, that's not even worth stressing over, that isn't my life. Like, why am I letting this bug me so much? This is when this herb can really help you bring it back a notch.

Speaker 1: 23:09

It's an adaptogen and it's renowned for its adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps the body cope with stress and maintain balance. It reduces cortisol levels, which are often elevated in response to chronic stress, has anti-anxiety and stress relieving properties. It's used to alleviate anxiety and stress and has a calming effect on the nervous system without causing drowsiness. It can help to improve sleep for people with insomnia or sleep disturbances. It helps promote restful sleep and improve sleep quality. It enhances cognitive function, so in Ayurveda it's used to support brain health and enhance mental clarity. It also can help improve memory, attention and cognitive function.

Speaker 1: 23:56

It supports immune function Sorry about that. So ashwagandha strengthens the immune system, making it more resilient to infections and diseases. It's also a potent anti-inflammatory, resilient to infections and diseases. It's also a potent anti-inflammatory, making it useful for treating conditions that are inflammatory disorders. It boosts energy and stamina and supports thyroid function. So generally it's safe for most people. So you can do it in one to two teaspoons of root in a cup of hot water, make as a decoction, or you can take it in capsules or tinctures. It is, though, generally safe, though right, but if you have an autoimmune disease, you should talk to your healthcare provider before you use, because it can stimulate the immune system, which isn't something that you always want if you have an autoimmune disorder.

Speaker 1: 24:51

The next herb and the last one that we're going to talk about today, because we've already, like, talked about quite a few. Actually, I think I want to talk about two more, if that's all right, if you guys can hang on and be there with me, right? I know this is sounding a little bit luxury, and I wanted to throw some of these into the podcast because I think it's important just to also give you like, a educational component. That's fun if that's something that you're into. If not, you can skip and just listen to the interviews and the other stuff. So skullcap is the next one I'm going to talk about, and this herb is also called blue skullcap, mad dog skullcap.

Speaker 1: 25:34

It can be spelt with a, c or K. It's native to North America and it was used by indigenous tribes for its calming effects and to promote sleep. It contains flavonoids, which include bicalin, bisiantlin and scolarin, which have anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also has iridoids which is Skull Cup's better taste and nerving effects. Fenolic compounds these include tannins and other fenolic acids, which have antioxidant properties. It's also rich in volatile oils, so the volatile oils help contribute to its soothing and calming effects.

Speaker 1: 26:25

It's often used right for anxiety and stress. It helps to alleviate anxiety, stress and nervous tension without causing drowsiness. It is also a natural remedy for insomnia, especially when there are sleep disturbances due to anxiety and nervousness. I don't know about you, but I know when I'm anxious about something like I wake up like a gazillion times a night, like I know what's going on in my life based on how well I sleep. Some people, no matter what's going on. They can sleep, like you know, 10 hours and not wake up. I am not one of those people, so this herb is great for that. It also is good at supporting your nervous system. It's a nervine tonic, meaning it helps nourish and support the nervous system over time, improving its overall function and resilience. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation throughout the body and it's an antioxidant. Its antioxidant properties help protect the body from oxidative stress and free radical damage. It also works as a muscle relaxant, so you can do it again.

Speaker 1: 27:27

Tea tincture capsule, generally safe for most people. Now it may cause drowsiness, especially combined with other sedative medications and herbs. So talk to your healthcare provider before you use it, if you have to. You know, operate heavy machinery like look, any of these herbs can be potentially problematic If you have. You know I would not give these to my husband before he goes and hops out on the tractor. I would not. You know, I have a son who's firefighter. I would not say, hey, this will help you. You know, blah, blah, blah, deal with any of that kind of stuff because hey, that's not a good idea. He needs to be at the top of his game. So if you make the time to shut down, these are good herbs for that. Okay, so now we're going to talk about the superstar of this group.

Speaker 1: 28:15

This is probably an herb all of you have used or at least familiar with. It's very, very common and very popular, and if you know what it is, you can, you know, give yourself a gold star. So that's lavender, and it's also called English lavender true lavender. It's lavender and gustafolia lavandula sorry, and gustafolia. It's been used for centuries in Mediterranean countries for its calming and soothing properties. It was a favorite among the Romans, who used it in their baths and to scent their homes.

Speaker 1: 28:53

I know I use lavender for lots of different things and I always have, even though lavender isn't one of my favorite scents. It's funny, but it is so useful that you definitely will find yourself using it, even if it's not one of your favorites. I don't have a problem with lavender. I'm just saying like, I love citrus scents in my home and all the homemade cleansers that I make are, you know, full of citrus essential oils and citrus. It's just a preference of mine, but a lot of people love lavender and products that have natural lavender essential oils or they use lavender around the house, and that's because it just has this really deep calming effect and it's really a great anti-anxiety herb. And so the constituents that are common in lavender are linalool, linalool acetate, camphor and sineol, and so linalool is a terpene alcohol that has calming and anti-anxiety effects. The linalool acetate is an ester that contributes to the sedative and anti-inflammatory properties of lavender. Camphor, present in smaller amounts in english. Lavender contributes to its stimulating effects when inhaled, and cineole and oxide has antimicrobial and respiratory benefits.

Speaker 1: 30:08

Lavender is used for anxiety and stress relief and it is really really well known for that. I mean it is definitely the poster child for an herb that's used to calm and to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and alleviate stress. It's also commonly used to improve sleep quality and treat insomnia, so it can be used as an essential oil. It can be used as an herb, an herbal medicine. It's an antidepressant, so it has mild antidepressant effects, making it useful for those experiencing mild or moderate depression or a low mood. It is great for pain relief. It can be used topically to relieve headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is wonderful for the skin, so you will see there is never a shortage of skincare products that have lavender in it Anything from burns, insect bites, acne or other skin irritations. And it's good as a respiratory support herb and essential oil. It can relieve symptoms such as colds, flu and bronchitis by easing congestion and clearing pathways, so it's great for respiratory support.

Speaker 1: 31:25

You can use it as a tea, a tincture or an essential oil in aromatherapy. So when you use essential oils, make sure that you use them properly and look up how to use an essential oil in a diffuser properly. You don't want to have too much of an essential oil in a space because that can also have negative effects. So definitely look into that and maybe we'll add some you know podcasts with some more aromatherapists in here to really, you know, we can share our aromatherapy tips with you. Of course, there's lots and lots of information out there. So how to incorporate nervines into your routine. So one is a tea right Tinctures, yep Capsules, aromatherapy and topical applications those are all great ways to include nervines. Nervines are a valuable tool in natural health for supporting the nervous system, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. By incorporating these herbs into your daily routine, you can help your body cope with the stresses of modern life and maintain a balanced state of mind. So I hope that you enjoyed this and had fun listening. Thank you so much and have a great day.