Five herbs for difficult times

For many of us, these are incredibly hard times.  The effects of climate change, political instability, financial worry, and the targeting and marginalizing of the more vulnerable members of society are all taking a toll.  And that’s just the short list.  In my own clinical practice, I’m seeing nearly everyone’s health being impacted by stress or anxiety in unprecedented ways in their lives right now.  The good news is, we can turn to the generous plant and fungi world to ask for help.

Not everyone is going to experience stress in the same way, which is why I like to make herbal formulas customized specifically to what each person actually needs.  Some people will experience anxiety and nervousness, which may lead to tension headaches and insomnia.  Others may become depressed and sluggish.  Some people feel grief and fear settle in their heart space.  It’s important to look at a person’s constitution, the patterns of imbalance in their body, and where their bodily strengths and weaknesses lie.

There are a few main categories of herbs I start from when dealing with stress: adaptogens, nervines, and anxiolytyics.   Adaptogens are herbal medicines that help mitigate the effects of stress on the body.  They work on multiple systems at once, with the primary benefit being that they help the body not be so reactive to the “fight-or-flight” instinct that gets triggered when we feel in danger. This will help everything from digestion to circulation to immunity to hormone regulation.  Nervines are plants that help nourish the nervous system and the effects of frayed nerves, such as stomachaches, headaches, and irritability.  Anxiolytics are herbs that can be more sedating and more directly quell anxiety.

The following five plant medicines are ones I use frequently, often combined with other herbs, to help people navigate times of greater stress with a little more ease and grace.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

The Reishi mushroom is an excellent adaptogen that covers a broad range of effects from stress.  It is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and also helps to modulate the immune system.  This means that if you pick up every little bug and need a boost in immunity, it will help; but it will also be useful if you have an over-active immune system and experience autoimmune conditions or frequent allergies.  For this reason, I like to use it as a starting point in a formula for people who are stressed out.  It helps to address someone’s symptoms from a deeper place, by making them more resilient to the stress they may not be able to avoid.

One of the unique properties of Reishi as an adaptogen is that it is very calming.  This makes it useful for people with anxiety, as well as people who are prone to insomnia or nightmares.  While all adaptogens are incredibly helpful in the long term for people experiencing chronic stress, I like the peaceful feeling that Reishi in particular promotes.

Reishi can sometimes be seen growing on large oak trees where I live in the southeast, but it is usually bought cultivated.  I typically use it as a tincture in a formula.  Caution should be used by people using blood thinners.

Skullcap (Scuttelaria lateriflora)

Skullcap is a beautiful purple flower in the mint family.  It is considered a nervine and has been used for hundreds of years to help with conditions that affect the nervous system.  It is a bitter herb, so it helps to support digestion, which is one of the first things to go haywire when you’re feeling stressed.  I find it very useful for the type of person who feels like they are overwhelmed by stimuli and “on their last nerve.” Those that are sensitive to their environment or their emotions greatly benefit from Skullcap.   It helps relax the muscular tension that comes from anxiety and stress, thus being helpful with headaches and tics.  I have also seen that it helps the agitation that comes from drug or alcohol withdrawal.

The Skullcap that I grow or buy is the Scuttelaria lateriflora species, but I often gather a species that grows abundantly and wildly in a field near my home called Scuttelaria integrifolia.  The properties seem to be the same and work interchangeably.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower appears to be a plant made for these times—-I can hardly keep it stocked on my shelves!  A native to where I live in North Carolina, it grows as a vine winding its way up trellises or taller plants, or through overgrown fields.  The flower itself is exotic and intricate looking, and the fruits of the passionflower—passion fruit—are a delicious treat.

Passionflower works remarkably as a gentle anxiolytic, meaning that it calms anxiety.  It increases the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, which promotes feelings of tranquility and rest.  I have had great results using this herb for panic attacks (combined with other plants), insomnia, and general anxiety.  It’s specifically indicated for the type of anxiety and worry that leaves a person ruminating, going over the same thoughts and worries and unable to break out of this loop.  Sleep comes sooner and lasts longer when one uses Passionflower.

It can be taken in smaller doses daily during times of increased stress and anxiety, or can be taken in a larger dose as needed to cope with an impending anxiety attack.  One of the things that I love about this plant is that it’s safe to use with children as well as adults.  If a child is too worried to fall asleep, a dropper of Passionflower will help ease their mind so they can relax.

Because of its mildly sedating and anxiolytic effects, caution should be used in combining Passionflower with pharmaceutical anti-anxiety medications, as it could increase their effects.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Motherwort is a favorite of many herbalists, and for good reason.  This nervine has a long history of being used for women’s health (hence the name), and works very well to reduce anxiety and stress, especially when associated with hormonal changes. This makes it a great choice for mood swings in PMS and perimenopause.  I also think of it when someone gets heart palpitations or a racing heart due to anxiety, or high blood pressure due to stress.  Motherwort pairs beautifully with Skullcap for nervous tension, and I especially think of Motherwort as helping with the irritability and lashing out that comes with being overwhelmed.  Many herbalists feel that the plant can help to energetically protect you, and to let the people around you know where your boundaries stand.  I think its Latin name, meaning “Lion Heart,” describes it beautifully.

Motherwort should be used with caution in pregnancy, and with people on blood thinning or thyroid medications.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm is a lovely plant to grow in a garden or pot, and use frequently for tea.  Being in the mint family, I like to combine it with other mints such as spearmint or catnip.  This herb has often been referred to as the “gladdening herb,” used to dispel melancholy or a sad mood.  One whiff of its bright, lemony scent will show you why!  It feels like drinking a mug of sunshine, and can actually be very useful in seasonal affect disorder, along with other mild depressions.  Lemon Balm is useful for digestive upsets associated with stress, as well as tension headaches.  It can also be combined with Chamomile to make a gentle but effective tea for insomnia.

I’ve found that Lemon Balm is a safe and healing choice for both children and the elderly; this is part of the reason I love herbal medicine—because we need these safe and gentle choices to help the more sensitive people in our communities with the stress they’re feeling as well. Because of its potential effect on the thyroid however, it should not be used with hypothyroid or thyroid medications.

It’s true there are many reasons to be stressed right now, and many ways to feel that stress.  But we can connect with the earth and the gifts the plants bring us to feel more grounded, peaceful, and healthy in ourselves—then hopefully be able to reciprocate that help back to the earth and others having a hard time as well.  These five herbs are a wonderful starting point to healing and coping, so choose one—or a few—and give them a try.