Supporting our Nervous System with Plants

Herbal nervines are plants that have an effect on the nervous system!

Common herbal nervines include chamomile, lavender, passionflower, California poppy, lemon balm, milky oats, catnip, skullcap, kava, hops, valerian, and many more. Nervines can be gentle and calming, sedative, sleep inducing or nourishing and strengthening. They are often called upon to support stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues.

Our bodies are all highly unique and a nervine that works perfectly for one may do nothing for another. If at first you don’t succeed, try again! I find the best strategy in experimenting with nervines is to start with the gentle options: lemon balm, mimosa, chamomile to name a few. Likewise, start with the lowest doses, one cup of tea, a few drops of tincture. Observe the way they make you feel and adjust accordingly.

I was reminded of this recently when I was having a difficult time sleeping. I reached for my personal favorite nervine, California poppy which helped very quickly. I’ve tried many nervines, but California poppy and I had an instant connection. I knew intuitively that it was my plant…at least in the realm of nervous system support. Try finding yours!

And as a last note, know that nervines are different than adaptogens like the well known ashwagandha. Just about everything is being mislabeled as an adaptogen these days. Like nervines, adaptogens can support stress and soothe anxiety and depression, but they do so through regulating the HPA axis among other mechanisms. Some adaptogens are energizing and stimulating while others are more calming. Adaptogens and nervines in combination can be a powerful duo. The adaptogen taken daily to strengthen our response to stress, the nervines taken as needed and in the moment to quiet hyper-vigilance.