If you were to ask me what one of the most important herbal actions was, I would likely say the nervines.
Why? Because our modern world is incredibly taxing on the health of our nerves!! With stress, fatigue, anxiety, tension, nervousness, insomnia, etc. being some of the most common complaints these days it’s become super clear to me that tending to the nervous system is a critical clinical skill.
Interestingly enough though, many of those common symptoms are treated using adaptogens. Don’t get me wrong, these plants are very powerful and beneficial in a lot of ways- but too often our nervines are overlooked in their benefit for not only acutely calming and sedating the nervous system, but also in regards to their power at directly restoring, strengthening, and nourishing this all important organ system.
Here’s that formula:
Avena sativa (Milky Oats seed) 20%
Scutellaria lateriflora (Skullcap) 20%
Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) 20%
Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) 10%
Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil/Tulsi) 10%
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) 10%
Turnera diffusa (Damiana) 10%
The dosage and frequency is usually dependent on the person and their unique situation, but I’ll usually start off at a dosage of 1-3 mL up to 5x a day if needed. A good gentle place to start though is 1 mL 3x a day (about a dropperful).
What herbs have you used for the nervous system? What kind of results did you get? Post a comment below and let me know!
