Hello Friends,
With the election in the rear view mirror and the holidays upon us, it feels like there is no better time to talk about how we can give our nervous systems some little extra support. For me personally I have intentionally been leaning into the herbs these past couple weeks that I know help me feel more balanced in my body and soothe my nervous system.
How to Holistically Support Your Nervous System
Predictability and Rhythms: With so much unpredictability in the world right now, and with the extra stress of the holiday season here. Adding more rhythm to our daily lives can help us feel less stressed and safe in our bodies. Giving yourself a daily routine tells the body, we are safe, I know what comes next. This could look like making sure you are eating meals around the same time each day, waking and going to sleep around the same time each day, exercising around the same, etc.
Movement and Nature: Getting in some sort of movement each day, whether that be going for a walk, to the gym, yoga, whatever you love to do. If this movement is in nature, even better. Plus the trees look so gorgeous this time of year. I truly think November might be one of the prettiest months in the Sacramento area. And getting out of our heads and into our body’s can be beneficial for us.
Get Cozy and Allow for Rest: I know this one can be hard for a lot of people, it seems like there is always a never ending list of things that need to be done. But making time for rest is so essential to our well being. We need it. And this time of year kinda makes it easy, it gets dark early, it's cold outside. It’s the perfect time to grab a warm cup of your favorite tea and a cozy blanket and watch a movie or read a book.
Reduce the Scroll: An easy way to try and numb out from the world is to scroll. It distracts us from whatever we need distracting from. And boy do those apps know how to pull us in. This might be a great time to take a break or set a social media limit on your phone. Use that time instead to do something else you enjoy. Maybe take a nice warm bath with a book, or cook a meal with your partner or bestie.
Spend time with People who Bring you Joy: The pandemic made hunkering down at home, or only seeing people on social media or zoom part of our new normal. And don’t get me wrong, staying cozy and safe at home is great. But we are social animals, we need in person connection to thrive. So maybe this is when you hit up one of your friends you haven’t seen in a while. Grab a bite to eat, take a trip, catch a movie. Or maybe you attend some in person classes or events and meet new like minded people!
Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine: I know, I know. These are the two no one wants to talk about. But both alcohol and caffeine are known to increase anxiety. Limiting our intake can have huge effects on our nervous systems and how we feel on the day to day.
Breathwork & Meditation: These might not be for everyone. But if you are open to it, they can be powerful tools in your toolkit. Both help to ease stress and anxiety and ultimately make us feel better connected to our bodies. There are some great free apps like Insight Timer or you can also find tons of videos on YouTube.
Eating Warm Nourishing Foods: Soups, stews, broths, oatmeal. These warm nourishing foods will not only bring us nourishment but also give us comfort and warm us up during the colder darker months. I recommended incorporating seasonal fruits and veggies, like pomegranates, squash, brussel sprouts, etc and warming spices cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove.
5 Herbs to Support the Nervous System
Chamomile: There’s nothing like a nice warm cup of chamomile tea. This herb has stood the test of time in society for a reason. Its fruity apple-like flavor and aroma please the senses while it supports our digestive and nervous systems. Making it a great after dinner tea to help relax your nervous system while supporting your digestive health.
Lemon Balm: Warm tea this time of year can be soothing in and of itself. Another herb that is wonderful as a tea is lemon balm. Its fruity lemony taste is delightful. Lemon Balm helps to soothe the nervous system and uplift the mood. Lemon balm is great to drink throughout the day.
Tulsi: This aromatic herb is perfect as a warm cup of tea, on a cold rainy day. Tulsi is one of those herbs that helps to lift the spirit and soothe the nervous system at the same time. It is also known as an adaptogen which means it works on the HPA axis and helps us adapt to stress over time, the longer you take it, the more you notice its effects. I love pairing this one with rose.
Skullcap: When it comes to herbs, I don’t like to pick favorites. But skullcap’s ability to soothe and restore our nervous system is unmatched in my opinion. Not only does it have an immediate response on the nervous system, helping to ease tension, anxiety and stress, but its trophorestorative action also nourishes our nervous system and we see the benefits of this when taking it for a longer period of time. I like to take skullcap in tincture form.
Passionflower: This one is for my overthinkers. Passionflower helps to calm the nervous system and the mind and to relax the muscles. Passionflower is a great one to take at night before bed to help you get to sleep, especially if you are someone who when your head hits the pillow, you go over everything you didn’t get done for the day or start thinking about all that needs to be done tomorrow. I like to take this one in tincture form and keep it on the nightstand.
I would love for you to think of these suggestions as a menu for you to choose from when you are feeling overwhelmed and needing a little extra support. I by no means want you to think you must do all these things, but instead choose what works for you and your life to bring you more ease and to nourish yourself. As always if you have any questions, feel free to reply and I will be happy to help!
Love,
Danielle
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