St.John's Wort

Let’s face it, the world we live in is stressful for most people. Our modern western society moves at lightning speed, people are sleeping less than ever before, consumption of caffeine containing plants is at an all time high, and the stresses of our culture are having a major impact upon the health of the human nervous system.

Nervine herbs are a type of herbs intended to nourish and support the central nervous system. They restore balance and restfulness in the body.

Nervine herbs is one of the most important categories of herbal medicines for today's times. With stress, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and tension being some of the most common complaints it is important that you understand how nervine herbs work so you can help yourself.

Within this category of nervine herbs you will see a subgroup of herbs called adaptagens, which are so named because they help the body adapt to stress.  While this is a critically important category of herbs, many of which have nothing short of remarkable effects on the human organism, they are oftentimes used out of context, as quick energy fixes, and can actually enable people to further their burnout symptoms. These popular remedies like Ashwaganda and Eleuthero are “the new Echinacea” and have become the most popular and discussed herbs in the natural products industry.  

In my humble opinion, in cases of nervous system burnout the nervine herbs are actually better suited than the adaptogen herbs. People tend to reach a certain degree of nervous system burnout before they reach true glanduar burnout- or what most people commonly refer to as “exhausted adrenals.” which is not a good place to be. 

What most people experience (especially younger folks) is nervous system exhaustion, and this is the place where the nervine herbs truly shine. 

Different Types of Nervine Herbs

A nervine is a plant remedy that has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way. This makes the word nervine into a bit of a catch-all expression, and to study them properly they must be differentiated into 3 major categories: nervine relaxants, nervine stimulants, and nervine tonics. Any successful treatment of nervous system problems with these herbs will involve treating the whole body and not simply the signs & symptoms. With life being such a stress and problem for humanity today these herbs can be of great use and importance.

1) Nervine Tonics are perhaps the most important contribution herbal medicine can make in the whole area of stress & anxiety, and in strengthening & “feeding” the nervous system. 

• Avena sativa (Oats)
• Bacopa monniera (Brahmi)
• Borago officinalis (Borage)
• Centella asiatica (Gotu kola)
• Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort)
• Verbena officinalis (Blue vervain)
• Vinca major/minor (Periwinkle)

2) Nervine Relaxants are a group that has become increasingly important in our times of stress and tension. They are the closest natural alternative for the orthodox nerve tranquilizers, but should always be used in a broad holistic way. Too much tranquilizing, even that achieved through herbal medication, can in time deplete and weigh heavily on the whole nervous system. However, the physical symptoms that can so often accompany the ill-ease of anxiety, may be well treated with herbs that work on the anxiety itself. When the physical body is at ease, ease in the psyche is promoted. Note: In high doses many of these herbs can act as sedatives or hypnotics. Some herbal examples include:

• California Poppy 
• Lavendula off. (Lavender)
• Humulus lupulus (Hops)
• Melissa off. (Lemon Balm)
• Matricaria recutita (Chamomile)
• Stachys off. (Wood Betony)
• Scutelleria lateriflora (Skullcap) 
• Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower)
• Tilia europea (Linden)
• Lactuca virosa (Wild Lettuce)
• Piper methysticum (Kava Kava)
• Valerian  

3) Nervine Stimulants cause a direct stimulation of the nervous system, and not often needed in our times of hyperactivity. We will not be using this category because our aim is to calm not stimulate. However is it useful to know what foods and herbs are nervine stimulants to avoid or reduce their use in your daily life. A problem with commonly used stimulants (such as coffee) is that they have a number of side effects and can themselves be involved in causing many problems such as anxiety and tension. Some herbal examples include:

• Cola vera (Kola)
• Coffea arabica (Coffee)
• Camellia sinensis (Green/Black Tea)

The Doctrine of Signatures is an old European methodology that has fallen out of favour in the last hundred years. This doctrine was used to determine if an herb could be used for medicinal purposes. The criteria were based on whether the plant resembled the body's organ that required assistance or if the colour matched the body fluids, i.e. red flowers for blood problems. In the case of nervous conditions, anxiety, depression and stress  the the aerial parts of the flowers and leaves were considered as they related to the upper part of the body encompassing the head and throat.  The colours on the herbs especially the flower colours of blue and purple were indicated for the head as well.  As you moved further down the body the roots were looked at for deep rooted physical issues.

Additionally, the environment the herb grew in may indicate how the plant may be used, i.e. a plant growing in a wet, swampy environment meant the herb might be helpful for a fluid imbalance of the body. Sometimes the herbs looked like the illness itself. The taste and smell were all considered, and all cultures used their senses to learn about the plants before scientific methodology came into practice.

The Doctrine of Signatures is no longer considered valid by the world of science, but that does not mean that the patterns and blueprints of nature cannot be observed and recorded. For example, the common names of many plants tell of their use, and remarkably many medicinal plants do follow the criteria of the Doctrine of Signatures.

There is a well-known herbalist called Mathew Wood, who still uses this methodology as well as more modern scientific research. I believe there is a place for the Doctrine of Signatures in learning about the plants if only to hone one's observations and as a memory tool. Just because something is old does not necessarily mean it does not bear looking at it. Besides, it is enjoyable and magical to view the plants as telling us how to work with them.

Let's look at what the Doctrine of Signatures applies to the group of herbs called nervines. 

Plant Environments

Where a plant naturally grows gives information as to its potential healing properties. Plants consist of the elements: earth, water, air, and fire, the latter being present as heat or sunshine. So, for example, a hot climate on a sunny day brings a lot of the fire element to the plant. So it follows each environment with its unique mixture of elements will produce different elemental properties.  

The influence of the environment on medicinal properties is well known. Plants grown in their ideal climate and soil will have the highest potency of their healing properties. Therefore lavender grown in the warm Mediterranean climate will be much more potent than lavender grown in a colder North American temperate climate. On the contrary, goldenseal will be at its highest potency in the same cooler climate and will not thrive in too much heat!

All of these factors can tell one of the internal temperatures of the plant itself: is it a hot herb or a cool herb depends on where it lives, as well as how much sunshine or shade it likes. As a point of interest, many of the nervine herbs enjoy sunny environments.  You can see how this will translate into bringing  light into a person's body. 

Compared to cultivated plants, wild plants also exhibit more potency as the wild plants are forced to adapt and adjust to adverse conditions compared to a pampered cultivated plant. All of these factors come into play when choosing the source of your plant materials and or essential oils. 

Another consideration is how the plant grows. Is the plant growing alone or in a group? Solitary plants tell you they are powerful and need to be treated with cautious respect. For example, you will often see fields of clover and dandelion but not yarrow. Plants that grow in masses, such as chamomile or lavender are gentler in action—compared to plants that grow in smaller clumps such as St. John's Wort. 

Does the plant grow near people or as far away as it can manage? Plants that grow on your doorstep, like dandelion and plantain, can be used safely for a long time. Plants that grow in the deep woods, such as goldenseal and blue cohosh, have more specialized uses and should only be used for a short time. Plants that grow in fields, the middle distance between house and forest, such as yarrow, california poppy and St. John's Wort, can be used for a while but only during particular seasons or a specific time.

Some of these sun-loving plants follow the sun as it moves from east to west because these plants have an internal clock, just as we have an internal clock, which tells us when to wake and when to sleep. This act of following the sun is called heliotropism.  

When one thinks of the sun and warm summer days, it puts a smile on all our faces!

Generally Yellow and yellow-orange foods help with digestion but some are also useful for calming and bringing light into the mind and body. For example St. John's Wort, California poppy and chamomile are all considered nervines.

These yellow nervine herbs are able to do double function is there is a digestive disturbance accompanying anxiety, stress or depression by calming the digestive system to allow for better digestive processes.   

Nervine herbs work on the nervous system with various results.  Some are calming, sedative, pain killing, muscle relaxing and more. Each nervine herbs  works differently on the nervous system. 

Herbs with a bitter taste will also timulate the body’s systems, especially the digestive system. As your mouth tastes the bitterness, it signals the nervous system to release digestive juices from the saliva to your stomach acids and to stimulate bile. (a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder)

In Summary

In summary, nervine herbs can be extremely helpful in times of stress and anxiety by nourishing and building the nervous system back up to a healthy state.  If you are considering getting some chemical help, try some herbs first.  Nervine herbs in conjunction with natural relaxation therapies and learning to work with your thought processes and emotions can be very powerful medicine indeed! 

I have written a self-help course for you to help. Check it out!  

Healing Anxiety Naturally- Self Help Course

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