There’s nothing more soothing and safe to us as humans than a well-regulated nervous system. We feel a lot via our nervous system, it helps us read the energy in the room, and when we are coordinated with it, it becomes an informational barometer that informs our decision-making.

A dysregulated nervous system, on the other hand, can be crippling. Not only can it overstimulate our energy systems, but it can freeze or corrupt our decision-making process. It can also lead to various forms of chronic disease, burnout, and systemic failures in the body.

It’s not too ambitious to say that the nervous system is the foundation for how we experience life. Taking care of our nervous system is therefore crucial to our long-term health. It has a staggering impact on our relationships and a cascading effect on our overall physical well-being.

Ways the Nervous System Becomes Dysregulated

We have a tendency to unwittingly overload our nervous systems with a constant whir of background noise and stimulation in the form of low-level non-lethal stress. The incredible devices in the palm of our hands, for example, can be a source of nervous system dysregulation when we use them to scroll social media constantly.

This nonstop conveyor belt of information and stimulation is exhausting for any nervous system. And that’s often when we’re ‘resting’, add a cauldron of other low-level or sometimes high-level stress such as commuting, work issues, taxes, financial pressures, and marital flare-ups, and it’s easy to see that our nervous systems are in overdrive most of the time.

We spend over extended periods of time in our sympathetic nervous system, also known as fight or flight, and not enough time in the parasympathetic nervous system, known as rest and digest. Both are branches of the autonomic nervous system, and when in regulation, we move effortlessly between the two. Overstaying in our sympathetic nervous system, also known as sympathetic dominance, is problematic, particularly long term.

As mentioned before, when we are doing what we consider resting, it usually involves some kind of entertainment or stimulation, further hindering us from dropping fully into rest and digesting states of full relaxation.

When Stress is Not Longer Natural

It’s not that we’re not built to handle waves of stress. In many cases, stress can be a good thing. It can drive us into action to make necessary changes—especially when there’s an imminent threat to ourselves or someone close to us. In the right dose, it can strengthen our resolve and push us to do great things. If, however, we’re living there full-time, then it’s not going to end well.

A healthy nervous system ebbs and flows like the tide or a sine wave, never straying too far from the baseline and never staying in one place for too long. This is what regulation looks like. For example, you may have felt a moment of anger at getting cut off in traffic, but by the time you get home, it’s forgotten about. It’s not that we don’t get angry; it’s only when we stay there for too long the damage occurs.

This is particularly problematic when people don’t know what a healthy baseline is or, indeed, have never experienced it. People who grew up in abusive, stressful environments often and unknowingly have a different definition of normal built into their nervous system. Living like this can lead to chronic fatigue and an array of other diseases.

The Underestimated Potency of Trauma

Where trauma, either big T or little t, has impacted an individual, a whole host of adaptive responses occur in the nervous system, which doesn’t always mean an individual is in fight or flight. There are also freeze or fawn responses that occur within the nervous system when our fight or flight fails us or feels inadequate. The freeze and fawn response can be much harder to recognize, particularly the fawn response.

I’ve used the terms big T and little t to describe different kinds of trauma. Trauma has become such a hot topic with many psychologists beginning attempts to define what is and isn’t trauma, inferring that the term is vastly overused. I am not interested in making trauma some kind of competition with gated entry points, although I would recognize there are levels.

If it impacts the way the nervous system functions, bringing it into dysregulation, then it is trauma stored in the body. The event or gravity of the event is not the focus when looking at a trauma response. Healing the body’s circuitry and assisting it with discharging and regulating is the focus. If you feel that you are carrying trauma, then we recommend finding a trauma-trained specialist to assist you.

When taken in context, we have no doubt all experienced difficulties with our nervous system and have been impacted by testing stressful times at varying levels. We’ve also no doubt had traumatic experiences, which can range from physical/verbal abuse to the death of a loved one. It’s during these times we can lean on the plants to support us. Master plant dietas are a great way to connect and heal with the plants.

Types of Nervine Plants

Nervines are a particular kind of plant that work to tonify and soothe the nervous system.

Some examples of plant medicines that fall under the nervine category and act as relaxants are:

Chamomile
Passionflower
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Valerian
Skullcap
Kava Kava

Nervines that actively restore and strengthen the tissues include:

Tulsi Brahmi
Borage
Gotu Kola
Milky Oats
Blue Vervain
St Johns Wort

When and How to Use Nervines

Usually, we consume these plants as teas or tinctures, and when added strategically into our weekly lives, they can be hugely supportive and effective. Depending on each plant, they can be used to strengthen and support us, relax us, or straight up put us to sleep.

As we’ve already discovered, stress is not necessarily a bad thing. There are times in our lives that require us to be fully alert and ready to deal with the situations that life levels at us. If, however, we recognize that we have stayed in this state for extended periods of time and we’re struggling to relax and sleep if we’re also feeling regular sensations of overwhelm, which can involve breathlessness, dizziness, and feelings of panic. Then it’s time to consider partnering with a nervine to bring us back to rest.

Even better is when we have an awareness that our nervous system is heading in this direction, and we take proactive action to bring ourselves back to baseline. Prevention is always better than cure. This takes time and work to attune to our nervous system and learn the language it speaks.

The Importance of Rest with Nervine Plants

It’s important to note here that rest is not the opposite of work. Rest is the precursor to our best work. When we’re in a state of burnout, our body is in survival mode. Our decision-making is jaded with urgency, and our creativity is stifled; our thinking becomes tunneled, and we become cut off from possibilities.

When fully rested, we are able to work to our fullest potential, using all the knowledge, tools, and experience we have at our disposal. The likelihood of poor decision-making, irrational behavior, and careless mistakes is greatly reduced.

In a culture that adores coffee (also a nervine that acts as a stimulant) and stimulation to create burnt-out worker drones, nervines offer an alternative path to a different world. A balance of yin to yang. Neither is right or wrong when they are balanced and harmonized.

How to Partner with a Nervine

That balance is our own personal responsibility, informed by the individual makeup of our life experiences and our own personal biology. If you’re feeling unsure about working with nervines, it’s wise to seek assistance from a herbalist, naturopath, or plant medicine expert, such as the team at Plant Medicine People.

And if you feel it’s time to partner with a nervine, then join me and others as we embark on a master plant dieta with Passionflower. An opportunity to be guided by a plant into the depths of your nervous system. We’d be honored to have you join us.

Alternatively, if this article has touched you in a way that has brought discomfort and concern, then we recommend seeking a trauma-trained therapist in addition to working with plants. A holistic approach is usually the most effective in treating our ailments. Whilst plants that are nervines won’t necessarily heal our trauma, they can certainly play a soothing and supportive role that will help us on our way

If you are wanting to learn more about the healing of nervines, check out this blog, “Lavender: The Story of A Master Plant Dieta“ by Laura Shapiro.

About the Author

Neil Kirwan has many years of experience behind and in front of the altar, apprenticing with Ayahuasca in the Shipibo-Conibo and Huni Kuin traditions. He has completed multiple Master Plant Dietas, including work with the potent, transformative Noya Rao tree. Neil is a trauma-informed, highly compassionate shamanic coach and guide, with expertise in helping folks prepare for and integrate challenging Plant Medicine ceremonies, as well as leading Master Plant Dietas with dreamy, psychically connected Mugwort.

How Plant Medicines Heal Trauma Stored in our Nervous Systems