“He who is of a calm & happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age.”
—Plato
The nervous system provides the means by which we can respond to stimuli, and it delivers a system of communication between the brain and all parts of the body. Nerves can become depleted through stress, tension, depression, insomnia, and various other stimuli that cause nervous imbalance. To stay healthy the body must remain in balance, and while this is difficult in our stress-filled world, luckily there are natural remedies available that help us chill out. Migraine and tension headaches come under this nervous system umbrella, and various herbal medicines exist that will calm and balance jangled nerves and soothe nervous headaches.
The following herbs have been well tried and tested by herbalists and they have stood the test of time. Migraine headaches, nervous tension, insomnia, depression, lack of motivation, fatigue, and lack of desire are all problems that emanate from the delicate nervous system, but fortunately, the following herbs can revivify the whole nervous system.
This sweet smelling herb was revered by the Ancient Egyptians for its curative powers and the astrologer priests dedicated it to the Sun. Today it is one of our most widely used herbs.
This small wild daisy has feathery leaves and a distinctive apple-like scent. Both German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) are suitable for use. The difference between German and Roman chamomile is that the former is stronger, while the Roman type is less bitter. Both have a gentle soothing action. Both German and Roman chamomile are widely used and their actions are similar, so herbalists choose whichever they consider most appropriate for the problem they wish to treat.
This aromatic herb is a well-known relaxant and sleep inducer due to its sedative and curative properties. It reduces nerve excitability, helps calm and soothe nervous tension, hyperactivity, sleeplessness, and irritability. Honey can be added to sweeten chamomile tea to male it more palatable.
An evergreen woody shrub, lavender is a highly aromatic plant that grows well in the United States and Britain. Dedicated to the Greek goddess Hecate, goddess of the underworld, lavender was used by women who were preparing for childbirth because of its relaxing properties. Known as a tonic herb, lavender has a well-established tradition as a folk remedy.
Containing flavonoids and volatile oils, lavender is used often in aromatherapy as an inhalant for nervous headache, to relieve stress and panic, to calm and relax the mind, and for insomnia. Grown in the garden, lavender is a magnet for honey bees and butterflies. The dried flowers can be used to make a soothing lavender tea to drink during a migraine attack and to calm anxiety, nervous exhaustion, and tension headaches. Commercially bought lavender tea bags are available in health stores and some supermarkets. The essential oil is available through health stores and aromatherapists.
Growing in mountainous regions as far north as the Arctic, this root has a long history stretching all the way back to ancient Greece. It was referred to as golden root because of its striking yellow flowers. It has a wide variety of uses, including use for long-term stress, as well as physical and mental fatigue. Used extensively in Russian folk medicine as an herbal tonic, this Arctic root is used today by herbal practitioners to aid their clients' physical and mental health when they are feeling low in energy. Rhodiola is also taken to relieve chronic fatigue, exhaustion, and anxiety.
Prolonged stress can deplete the body's defense mechanisms and rhodiola is thought to strengthen the immune system due to its adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens increase the body's resistance, normalize body functions, and restore balance. Rhodiola enhances stamina, improving tolerance to stress.
Oats are a foodstuff that have nourishing and restoring properties. Prescribed by herbalists for centuries to treat depression and nervous tension, oat extract is well known as a stimulating nerve tonic that is used for mental fatigue and anxiety. It also helps to promote restful sleep. When eaten regularly, oats help the individual to recover from exhaustion and general debility. Oats, with their health-giving properties, assist the nervous system by restoring the hormonal balance.
Avena sativa contains many steroid-like molecules that tone a debilitated nervous system. These chemicals help balance the hormone testosterone in both men and women. Testosterone is the primary sex-drive hormone in both sexes, which may account for the phrase “sowing your wild oats”! Oats are a powerful brain and nerve restorative, combatting nervous exhaustion and strain, and they are used to support over-stressed nerves. Oats restore the glandular systems of the body, and they are very rich in nutrients. Oat extract is a useful tonic for debilitated nervous conditions. It can be used in the form of a nutrient cereal (porridge or oatmeal) or as oat extract tincture. Oats are contraindicated for those who are gluten intolerant.
Olive trees grow in warmer climates, and the Mediterranean area is most usually associated with the olive tree. Cultivated for thousands of years, the health-promoting properties of olive leaf were recognized by many ancient cultures. The Goddess Athena was reputed to have planted the first olive tree, and in Greek culture, the olive branch symbolized peace. The Ancient Egyptians believed that olive leaf was a symbol of heavenly power.
Used to help with a wide variety of ailments, the active ingredient is oleuropein. Olive leaf has powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, and it is used to relieve the nerve pain of shingles, owing to its anti-inflammatory actions. It also acts as an antioxidant. Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the chicken pox virus (Herpes zoster), which is present since childhood in anyone who caught the virus when young. H. zoster is an acute inflammatory viral infection of one or more spinal nerves or of the largest cranial nerve and it can appear again later on in life. The pain is intense because of nerve involvement—and as anyone who has suffered from it knows, there is no pain like nerve pain. Shingles tends to flare up when a person feels run down, but this nasty virus can erupt when the immune system is weakened by poor diet, infection, stressful situations, or old age. Olive leaf tea has been found helpful for this debilitating condition.
Valerian has been widely used since antiquity; the Ancient Greeks treated many ailments using valerian. It has been an important herbal remedy in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. During the First World War, valerian was used to treat shell shock, and during the Second World War it was taken to ease the stress of continual bombing raids.
One of nature's most calming herbs, this powerful nervine promotes relaxation. Valerian's roots have a strongly unpleasant musky smell, a smell reminiscent of sweaty old socks! Today this herb's calming and tranquilizing actions are well known, and it continues to be in popular use as an herbal sedative, which is used to ease psychological stress. It is effective as a natural alternative to over-dependence on prescribed drugs (particularly tranquilizers), helping relieve tension, emotional strain, edginess, and nervous exhaustion—and it is non-addictive.
People suffering from sleep disturbances find that valerian offers an alternative way of getting a good night's sleep. This nerve relaxant's sedative and hypnotic action also provide mild pain relief during an attack of shingles. It is available as tablets, capsules, tinctures, and extracts, and valerian combines well with skullcap.
Growing wild along grassy banks and roadsides throughout Europe and the United States, this herb had a reputation as a protector against evil spirits. It was named after St. John the Baptist, as it was traditionally collected on his feast day, which is June 24th.
An ancient cure-all, St. John's wort is now popularly used as a nerve tonic. This species of Hypericum is easy to identify due to the many perforations that can be seen as dots when a leaf is held up to the light. Often referred to as the sunshine herb because of its attractive bright yellow flowers, this herb is used to calm nervous tension, anxiety, irritability, and depressed mood. Research has indicated that the chemical in the brain responsible for maintaining mood balance is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is involved in many functions including the regulation of emotion and behavior; a deficit of this brain chemical leads to depression. St. John's wort appears to acts as a serotonin balancer, and many people who have used this herb for low mood and a depression have derived benefit.
An infused oil made using St. John's wort can be used to treat neuralgia (nerve pain) which is caused by inflammation of the nerve fibers. Warmed up and massaged along the area of the pain, this oil is very therapeutic. Today this herb is taken for mild anxiety, depression, and seasonal affective disorder. It is helpful for emotional problems experienced during menopause, it is effective in moderate depression. St. John's wort is a natural anti-depressant and a course of three to four weeks is recommended in order to feel the benefit of this herb's mood lifting properties.
This bitter nervine had a reputation in folk medicine as a cure for hydrophobia (rabies) and is known in America as mad-dog! It is helpful for any disease of the nervous system, and is effective for tense, nervy headaches, anxiety, and stress. Skullcap's relaxing properties can also help balance disturbed sleep patterns. The name itself is descriptive. It is derived from its shape, which resembles a skullcap.
A widely used nerve tonic, its cooling properties are helpful for the treatment of an over worried mind, helping to relieve tension and migraine headaches. Inducing calmness, and of value if suffering from disturbed sleep, this supportive nervine can also help with mental exhaustion if you have been working too hard for too long, or have been under prolonged stress.
This herb belongs to the same family as chamomile, and it has a pungent camphor-like smell. Growing in wastelands throughout the United States and in central and southern Europe and Britain, this herb's leaves have been used therapeutically to alleviate the severity and frequency of migraine. A cooling, bitter herb it was once used to treat fever—hence its name. Due to its anti-inflammatory action, it can also be used in cases of swelling and pain from arthritis. Today people buy this very popular over the counter herb to relieve debilitating headaches and migraines. A good pain reliever, feverfew relaxes spasms and dilates blood vessels. It is best to take it as soon as a migraine starts, as feverfew is less effective if the migraine has already developed. If grown in an herb garden this plant is highly aromatic and easy to grow. It can be taken as tablets, capsules, or in the form of fresh leaves.