Herbs for Stress and Anxiety

People have been using herbs for centuries. They use them to heal, for use in many beauty products and to complement their healthy routines in general, such as vitamins or tea. Despite the many benefits of herbs, they are not as popular as pharmaceutical drugs with Western doctors today. However, there is a shift happening once again where more people want natural remedies rather than chemical ones because they know that science cannot account for all healing.

Nervine herbs are a group of herbs which primarily affect the central nervous system. 

Nutritive herbs provide the body with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals.

Adaptogens help the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical or biological.

The 2 most common varieties are Roman chamomile or German chamomile. It was originally cultivated in Egypt but now grows all over Europe, Australia, Asia and North America. A member of the Asteraceae family, these aromatic herbaceous plants have white daisy-like flowers and scent reminiscent of apples or pineapple. Chamomile has been utilized extensively in Europe as a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. Native Americans have used this and related species since their introduction to the Americas, often utilizing the entire plant. Spiritually chamomile has magical implications for use in love, healing and has been used for attracting money. 

Preparations: Teas, baths, compresses, essential oil and steam inhalation. It is also commonly used in skin care products.

Uses for stress and anxiety: 

• Chamomile is a medicinal herb that can help to reduce anxiety and promote sleep. 
• A few small studies have supported the use of German chamomile for anxiety and insomnia. 
• This is a nervine herb.

Contraindications: Chamomile contains coumarin, a naturally-occurring compound with anticoagulant or blood-thinning effects. It should not be combined with Coumadin (warfarin) or other medications or supplements that have the same effect or be used by people with bleeding disorders without a doctor’s supervision. You’ll want to stay away from chamomile if you’re allergic to flowers in the daisy family.

Lavender is an aromatic perennial evergreen shrub. Its woody stems bear lavender or purple flowers from late spring to early autumn. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, but now cultivated in cool-winter, dry-summer areas in Europe and the Western United States. The use of Lavender goes back thousands of years, with the first recorded uses by the Egyptians during the mummification process. Both the Greeks and the Romans had many uses for it, the most popular being for bathing, cooking, and as an ingredient in perfume. Lavandula angustifolia is the classic lavender that most people are familiar with. It can also be found on the market as Common Lavender, French Lavender (when it comes from France). You may also see it labeled as Lavandula officinalis. It’s known for its sweet floral aroma. The genus Lavandula is in the mint family. Spiritually lavender flowers are commonly used for seeking love, healing, and inner calm.

Preparations: Teas, baths, essential oil and steam inhalation. It is also commonly used in skin care products. 

Uses for stress and anxiety:

• Lavender tea, on its own or with other calming herbs, will help with achieving a sense of calm.
• Lavender flowers can be used in neck pillows, herbal steams, and herbal baths. Lavender infused steam will help with relaxation and the respiratory system.
• It is also a nervine herb.

Contraindications: No known contraindications, but lavender essential oil is not meant to be ingested. Still test a small patch of skin if you plan to use it topically. Use caution if you are allergic to flowers, as lavender can irritate allergies, it is a flower after all.

Valerian is a perennial plant, native to Europe and parts of Asia. It grows in meadows and woodlands within moist, temperate climates and has since been naturalized in North America. Valeriana officinalis is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family. It has pleasant, sweet smelling flowers and pungently aromatic roots. Despite the strong odor, valerian root has been used since the times of ancient Greece and in traditional European folk practices. Commonly infused as valerian tea, the roots can also be mixed into herbal tea blends or tinctured. The tea is famous for its sleep-inducing effects. Spiritually it’s been used for reconciliation, love, and harmony. It is said that having Valerian nearby will settle an argument between a couple.

Preparations: Teas, tinctures, or supplement pill form. 

Uses for stress and anxiety: 

• It’s known for its sedative and antispasmodic effects worldwide.
• It acts more as a nervous system depressant than as a muscle relaxant to cause its sedative effect.
• This is also a nervine herb.

Contraindications: Although side effects are uncommon, valerian has been reported to cause headaches, stomach pain and dizziness in a few cases. Ironically, even insomnia has been reported, although this is rare. Use caution if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, consult with your healthcare provider. Valerian can interfere with some prescription medications.

Everyone is aware of lavender, chamomile and valerian as being the common relaxing herbs but there are lots of people out there who are allergic to them. So we’re going to talk about some alternative herbs that you can use for easing anxiety and relieving stress. 

These next three herbs may be helpful for a variety of health issues. All three herbs can help with anxiety, depression, and stress but they have other qualities as well. Agrimony has been used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, and helps when you’re feeling down or depressed, while hawthorn is great for heart related problems like irregular heartbeat or chest pain due to angina. It can also increase blood flow to the brain and decrease blood pressure too! Motherwort is one of the most common remedies for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes or nervousness during this time in life when your hormones get thrown off balance, it’s also been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, tension headaches, insomnia and restlessness.

Agrimonia eupatoria, also called church steeples, cocklebur, sticklewort. It is an herbaceous member of the rose family with a slender spike of yellow, sweetly scented flowers that turn into burr-like seed pods in the autumn. It’s a simple well known herb to all country folk, and abundant throughout England in the fields and woods, as a popular domestic medicinal herb. The Anglo-Saxons, who called it garclive, identified its healing properties and used it extensively for wounds, snake bites and warts. In later times it was used to treat gunshot wounds due to its coagulant effect. Also known as the “gunshot herb”, Agrimony has been used since medieval times to speed up wound healing and staunch bleeding. It is an excellent coagulant (a substance that causes blood or another liquid to coagulate), and as such was used to treat battlefield wounds. This effect makes Agrimony useful for reducing bleeding in the body, including heavy menstrual bleeding. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to alleviate menstrual discomfort caused by heavy periods. Spiritually it is used for overcoming fear & inner blockages; dispelling negative emotions.

Preparations: Teas, tinctures, infusions, extracts, and topical applications. 

Uses for stress and anxiety:  

• It is helpful for those who are inwardly troubled by fear and anxiety, and who may worry excessively about illness, finances, or problems with work or life, yet present a cheerful, carefree face. 
• It reduces sympathetic dominance. Agrimony can help those who hold emotions in their tummies or who habitually hold their breath when dealing with extreme stress or pain. Holding your breath during pain causes the release of natural endorphins that help suppress the pain; however, the repetitive patterning of such behavior results in a cascade of negative physical effects, including the inability to oxygenate the body fully, leading to more tension. 
• It is an astringent which improves tissue tone, but has also been used to relieve tension. One would think that as an astringent agrimony was purely for relaxation, and hence for diarrhea and excessive urination, as it has been traditionally used. However, for example, agrimony is suited to problems when they arise in children who are having trouble with toilet training. So there is tension combined with symptoms of relaxation. 

Contraindications: Because agrimony opens elimination pathways in the body and relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, taking it orally may increase the efficacy of prescribed medication. Consult with your doctor before using agrimony.

Also called English hawthorn, haw, May blossom, Maybush, quick-set, whitethorn family. It’s one of the most beloved herbs for cardiovascular support. A member of the rose family, hawthorn is a small tree with thorny branches that produces fragrant white flowers in late spring, followed by a bright red fleshy berry. The flowers, leaves and berries are all used medicinally. Energetically, hawthorn is cooling and moistening; the berries are slightly sweet while the leaves are slightly bitter. Hawthorn has been used since the Middle ages, with some accounts going back as far as the first century to Greek herbalist Dioscorides. It was later used by Swiss physician Paracelsus. Considered to be a particularly symbolic tree with many folktales and magical myths surrounding it, hawthorn was “sacred tree medicine” to the ancient Druids, and was said to house fairies, specifically when growing with oak and ash trees. However, it was unlucky to bring the flowers into the house, quite possibly because they would bring the fairy folk with them. Spiritually it’s associated with the fae and is considered a sacred herb to them. An infusion of the herb used to wash floors will remove negative vibrations.

Preparations: Tea, tinctures. 

Uses for stress and anxiety: 

• It helps relieve anxiety. 
• Consider using hawthorn any time mental stress, anxiety, or fear upsets the heart. 
• It calms the central nervous system, decreases agitation, and soothes heart palpitations.
• This is also a nervine herb.
• It soothes nervous tension that manifests as heart strain. 
• It calms palpitations that arise during acute stress, such as during the fight or flight response. In this vein, hawthorn promotes resilience and acts like a balm for anxiety, irritability, malaise and disturbed sleep.

Contraindications: Generally regarded as safe. Use caution during pregnancy because of potential uterine stimulation. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for further information.

Also called lion’s tail, Roman motherwort, lion’s ear, throwwort family. A member of the mint family, Leonurus cardiaca is an herbaceous perennial native to central Asia and southeast Europe. Now naturalized around the world. It has been used in traditional herbalism for its beneficial properties and is considered cooling and drying. These benefits have been confirmed by pharmacological studies, along with the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities of motherwort. Call on motherwort as a plant ally in instances where anxiety and/or tension are creating stagnancy in the menstrual cycle. Bring her in to consult on matters of the heart when strength and steadiness are needed. When you are feeling unsettled in your intuitive connection, or are having difficulty digesting the events of life, motherwort will soothe you and brighten your spirit. Spiritually it’s associated with building confidence. Keep some in a jar by family pictures to keep the family safe.

Preparations: Tea, tincture.

Uses for stress and anxiety: 

• Its calming properties can do much to strengthen both the physical and energetic heart. 
• Considered a tonic for both the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. 
• Can strengthen and steady the heart.

Contraindications: It is contraindicated for those taking pharmaceutical sedative prescriptions or heart medications. Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. As a note: The tincture of motherwort, both alcohol and glycerin, should be avoided during pregnancy, pregnant women can safely use the tea to treat anxiety.

I could go on forever talking about herbs, but we will get into more herbs in future blogs. I want to make a few more notable mentions before we finish up here. 

Salvia officinalis (Sage) has been used since the time of ancient Greeks for its medicinal properties. It has traditionally been used to calm overly excited states such as nervousness, anxiety, and tremors. It promotes a calming sensation to the brain, which is particularly helpful for overthinkers. Prunus serotina (Wild cherry) leaves were brewed into tea by Native Americans to treat coughs and colds. It also is good for cases of anxiety and nervous heart palpitations. Humulus lupulus (Hops) calms and relaxes nerves and organs. It’s a strong sedative that can calm an overactive central nervous system, symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, overthinking, and body twitches and depression. (Lady’s slipper) is used to treat anxiety and depression, and helps with insomnia. It possesses natural pain relieving properties, particularly when tension is causing obstruction through vessels and tissues. (Passionflower) is cooling to the body, calming to the mind, and soothing to the spirit. It quells disquietude, calms the ruminating mind, and can promote natural relaxation and helps in coping with stress. (Poplar) has been shown to help with respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis, and has a calming effect when the sympathetic nervous system is on overdrive, resulting in changes in physical function. (Cowslip) helps relax the tensions held in the central nervous system, heart, vascular system, and lungs, and can be helpful in treating skin infections and acne breakouts. These are just some of the benefits herbalists say that these plants provide!

I hope you learned about a new herb today and it sparks you to dive into the wonderful world of healing plants and herbs. Now let’s get into some tea!

** You should always consult with a medical professional before adding in new herbs to your diet or trying herbal remedies. Doses can vary between each individual. All herbs should still be used with caution. Some herbs can neutralize prescription medications. Some should not be used if you are pregnant. etc. Although herbs and plants have been around for centuries, there isn’t a lot of scientific research to support their benefits, in some cases yes, others no. Some great studies have been done with some valid evidence proven with many of the benefits, but there are others that are reported and not researched ones. There is still much to learn from our plant allies.**