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Nervous System Helpers Here are some herbal remedies that have been used as Nervous System helpers throughout history. Scroll down to find your ailment. Click on 'Fact Sheet' for more information. Depression Chocolate (Theobroma cacao) Part used: Seed History: Used by Central Americans for depression Science: Contains chemicals that increase sense of well being Practitioners opinion: Useful in dieting, depression, and chocolate bingeing Directions: Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 2.5 ml three times daily Have you ever noticed how eating a chocolate bar makes you feel happier, a little less depressed? This is because chocolate contains natural antidepressants. It is ideal for those that are really feeling down and blue, those on weight loss programs, and those trying to wean themselves off chocolate. Depression / Burnout Damiana (Turnera diffusa) Part used: Leaf History: Used by Native Americans for nervous exhaustion Science: Contains essential oils thought to improve nervous function Practitioners opinion: Extremely effective when used for periods of time Directions: Tincture (1:5, 60% alcohol): 2.5 ml three times daily Tablets: 2-200mg tablets 3 times daily. Damiana is known as an aphrodisiac, but, in fact, its primary use is as a tonic for the nerves. Damiana acts to support and build up the nerves so that one is better able to deal with a demanding schedule. A nerve tonic for people who are burned out, those who have been keeping a difficult schedule too long and have simply run out of steam. Migraine Relief Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) Part used: Aerial parts History: A traditional migraine cure Science: Clinical trials have proved its efficacy in migraine Practitioners opinion: One of the few medicines that actually works with migraine Directions: Tincture (2:5, 25% alcohol): 40 drops each morning Having a migraine is a special form of hell that only a migraine sufferer knows. Amazingly, with the daily use of this herb many migraine sufferers have lived migraine free for years on end. It works as long as it is used and therefore it is a long term proposition. Poor Memory Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) Part used: Leaf extract History: Used in recent days for poor memory Science: Proven to improve Alzheimer’s Disease Practitioners opinion: Works in most cases of senile dementia Directions: Tablets: 2 tablets 3 times daily Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 2.5 ml twice daily Ginkgo is a really popular herbal medicine and one that has received a lot of attention from the scientific community. In America, people are using it in senility and anti-senility programs and this seems reasonable. Research has shown that over time it improves delivery of the blood to the brain. If you are experiencing memory loss or fear memory loss, Ginkgo is a reasonable choice. Anxiety Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) Part used: Rhizome History: Chewed in the Pacific Islands for relaxation Science: Kavalactones act as powerful anxiety busters Practitioners opinion: Excellent option for anxiety sufferers Directions: Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 2.5 ml two times daily - Capsules: 500mg capsules daily This plant is native to the South East Pacific and is traditionally chewed for its relaxing effect. In recent days it has been used to excellent effect in a wide variety of anxiety disorders. Clinical trials show it is as effective as chemical anxiety drugs, minus the side effects. The underlying issues behind the anxiety must be examined, but, while the process of self discovery is underway, Kava Kava symptomatically relieves anxiety. Anxiety Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) Part used: Flowers History: Ancient anti-agitation medication Science: Contains powerful relaxant oils Practitioners opinion: An excellent and mild remedy safe for adults and children Directions: Tincture (1:5, 45% alcohol): 2.5ml three times a day; Essential Oil: A drop or two rubbed on the temples does wonders. It was an ancient practice to make herbal 'pillows' filled with calm-inducing herbs such as hops or lavender. This is an excellent way to relax as well as to freshen a room. For lavender, simply fill a small pillow case with lavender flowers and leave it on your bed, near your regular pillow. Alternatively, you can rub a few drops of the essential oil right on your pillow. For those people inclined to get themselves into a tight ball of nerves, there could be no better remedy. Whether the symptom is neck cramp or nervousness, lavender will bring on a quiet sense of calm. Whether anxiety is the usual state of being or something brought on by circumstance, the first relaxant to try is lavender, taken internally and applied externally. Insomnia Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata) Part used: Plant History: Native American treatment for insomnia and pain Science: Contains alkaloids active on the nervous system Practitioners opinion: Excellent when pain disturbs sleep Directions: Tincture (1:8, 25% alcohol): 5ml 30 minutes before bedtime Tablets: 2-200mg tablets before bedtime Passion Vine is a North American plant that was first used by the Native Americans to treat insomnia and pain. It is recommended for people who cannot fall asleep and also for people who are having trouble sleeping because of pain. Depression St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perfolatum) Part used: Flowering plant History: Traditional European treatment for depression Science: Contains hypericin a proven antidepressant Practitioners opinion: Effective in mild and moderate depression Directions: Tablets: 1-200mg tablet twice daily - Tincture (1:5, 45% alcohol): 2.5ml two times daily - Juice: 10ml twice daily with water before meals. St. John’s Wort is probably one of the most well researched medicinal plants in the world. Trial after trial has confirmed what the ancients knew; Saint John’s Wort relieves mild to moderate depression. This is especially true if the depression is of the seasonal variety, the kind which sets in as the days shorten and darken. It works and does not have the unpleasant side effects that many of the chemical antidepressants have. It takes upwards of six weeks to take effect. Mental Exhaustion Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Part used: Root & rhizome History: A traditional treatment for exhaustion and debility Science: Contains steroids that increase stamina and endurance Practitioners opinion: Excellent for exhaustion following illness Directions: Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): 2.5 ml three times daily Similar in action to its Chinese relation ginseng, Siberian Ginseng is safe for women and young men to use. When mental exhaustion sets in after a hard time or an illness and masquerades as ‘depression’, Siberian Ginseng is the ideal herbal medicine to gently build the body and energy levels back up. It improves health while specifically increasing energy. It should be used for a month before the effects are felt. Anxiety / Insomnia Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Part used: Root & rhizome History: Long used in Europe to calm people down Science: Contains several relaxing compounds Practitioners opinion: One of the most widely prescribed relaxants Directions: Tincture (1:5, 25% alcohol): For tenseness, restlessness and irritability, up to 2.5m three times daily. As an aid to sleep 5-10 ml 30 minutes before bedtime. Juice: 10ml twice daily with water before meals. Capsules: 500mg capsules daily If thoughts of elevators, planes and crowded underground trains are enough to set off a major anxiety attack, it’s time to call in Valerian. A common European plant, Valerian is ideal for those that suffer from anxiety. It is also perfect when nervous exhaustion manifests as fearfulness, anxiety and general nervousness. Valerian is known as an insomnia plant, ideal for the person who develops insomnia when the pressure is on. It is also good for people who fall asleep and wake up half an hour later to face a night of staring at the ceiling. Endurance Medicine Oat Straw (Avena sativa) Part used: Whole flowering plant History: European classic used to treat nervous collapse Science: Contains compounds similar to those found in ginseng Practitioners’ opinion: Excellent treatment for burnout Directions: Tincture (1:1, 25% alcohol): 2ml 3 times daily Oats are used to keep horses in prime shape for racing. The tincture made of the whole plant is used to keep contemporary people in the race. Modern life is hard, hectic, and harried. Oat straw tincture can be used by those suffering from stress, those teetering on the edge of burn out, or by those that have burned out to recover their strength and stamina. FACT SHEET (coming soon) |
