Nervine

Nervine herbs work on the nervous system. Current living conditions require relaxing nervines more often than stimulating nervines. They can be herbs for acute or short-term issues to sedate to calm the nervous system and relieve stress and anxiety by soothing irritated nerve endings. Or they can be herbs taken over the longer term that act as a tonic to nourish nerve tissues and strengthen the nervous system. “Soporific” and “hypnotic” are terms that refer to herbs that induce sleep.

• Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) – long term improvement of nervous conditions
• Hops (Humulus lupulus) – short term use, estrogenic
• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – sedative and tonic
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – sedative
• Linden (Tilia cordata) – sedative
• Passionflower (Passiflora ) – sedative
• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) – sedative
• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – sedative
• California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) – sedative
• Milky oats (Avena sativa ) – tonic
• Damiana (Turnera diffusa) – tonic
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) – tonic