Herbs for the Nervous System

by David Bunting

HERBS THAT TREAT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM REPRESENT A BROAD ARRAY OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS. Historically, some of our most powerful botanicals have been nervous system herbs including painkillers such as Opium Poppy and entheogens including Peyote. Gentler psychotropic herbs including Ginkgo have become prominent for their effects on cognition and memory. Still others are renowned for their calming and tonic action on the nervous system. These herbs are collectively known as nervines.

Of the various classes of herbs that affect the nervous system, the tonic and relaxing nervines are our main focus here. Tonic nervines are those that repair, build and tonify the nervous system. The tonic nervines are not overtly sedating or stimulating, although their affects may be perceived as calming or energizing by the user. These seemingly contradictory effects are due to the balancing action of the herbs that allow the nervous system to function more optimally. The sedating nervines include a number of important therapeutic subclasses, including the anxiolytics (reduce anxiety) and analgesics (pain relievers) along with more typical relaxing or sedating herbs. As is common when categorizing herbs in this way, therapeutic classes often overlap so that, for instance, a sedating herb may be a calmative and anxiolytic with tonic properties.

Popularized for the treatment of mild and moderate depression, St. John's Wort is one of our most important tonic nervines. It is used to aid nerve repair in cases of injury and in easing nerve inflammation and pain, especially in cases of sciatica and shingles. While extremely useful for nerves throughout the body, St. John's is specifically indicated for treatment of the spinal nerves. St. John's Wort is also anxiolytic and a mild calmative. The budded tops are harvested when the first flowers have opened and are extracted fresh as a tincture for internal use and an olive oil extract for external use.

Oat fresh milky seed and Skullcap fresh flowering herb are useful tonics for restoring the nervous system in cases of depletion, exhaustion and excessive work or stress. Both have calming effects and work to ease anxiety. Oat specifically aids in quieting worry and Skullcap in quieting anger. They also play positive roles in the agitation accompanying drug withdrawal. Both of these herbs are found together with St. John's Wort, Celery seed and Lavender flower in our Nervous System Tonic™.

Valerian fresh root and rhizome is a well- known relaxant, sedative and sleep aid. It allays nervous agitation and irritability allowing for greater relaxation and improved quality of sleep without an overt drug-like effect. Combined with other sleep-enhancing herbs including Hops and Passionflower, Valerian forms the basis of Relaxing Sleep Tonic™. Used as a general relaxant during the day, this tonic can be taken in two doses – one an hour before, and the other just at, going to bed – to promote a restful sleep.

In the herbal treatment of anxiety, Kava is without peer. It reduces both anxiety and associated conditions including stress, frustration and agitation. As these undesirable mental states fade, a sense of clarity and calm envelop the user. This newfound tranquility brings a more balanced and thoughtful perspective on one's surroundings rather than an anxiety-driven reaction. Kava is also a useful remedy for insomnia, nerve pain and tense muscles.

Due to the extensive regulating effect that the nervous system has throughout the body, nervines constitute some of our most important botanicals. From the mind and emotion, to peripheral nerve pain and irritation, nervines can bring relief from a myriad of conditions. They play a role in the treatment of numerous conditions either as primary therapies or as supportive adjuncts in broader formulas. It is important to re- member that the easing of stress, anxiety, pain and nervous irritation can oftentimes open the door to the healing process.