Definition
In the most general sense, a nervine can be considered any herb which has a pronounced (and generally positive) effect upon the nervous system. They are often currently thought of simply as calmatives or even sedatives, but this is inaccurate and belies the complexity and diversity of the uses nervines are capable of. The truth is that Skullcap, Damiana, Wild Lettuce and Coffee are all nervines, although they may effect the nervous system in vastly different ways. As such, there are a great many secondary actions under the primary heading of nervine, including everything from hypnotic to stimulant to the potentially narcotic. We will only be discussing the more important of these sub-headings in this post in order to focus on the most essential and core elements of the nervine action.
Below are the three most easily understood categories of nervines with appropriate herbs under each heading. The herbs listed are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a small sampling of those plants with which I have the most clinical and personal experience. The botanical name given is usually the species with which I am most familiar (often native to New Mexico or common to Southwestern gardens) but I try to indicate allied species where I am aware of them. When this piece is ready for my upcoming book (and student curriculum) it will be expanded upon and profiles of each herb in regards to their nervine action will be added.
Relaxant Nervine
A relaxant nervine are those herbs that relax constricted or contracted tissues in relation to the nervous system. It does not imply sedation in any way. These herbs may well allow a sense of calmness or even sleepiness through the way they allow vital energy to freely flow through the body in its natural manner, but they are not suppressive in nature. In essence, they enhance the vitality of life rather than diminishing it (as many overt sedatives do).
When vital energy is blocked or constricted in the body, it can created irritation and resistance that may manifest as insomnia, muscle spasms or tics, agitation or manic behavior (although these symptoms can easily be due to other underlying issues as well), or may eventually result in depression or a sense of constant fatigue. By relaxing barriers to the flow of vital energy, the body is more able to maintain emotional and physical equilibrium. This may manifest as increased energy or an easier time relaxing or getting to sleep, or all of the above.
They are appropriate where there is blocked, constricted or contracted tissues.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Vervain - Verbena and Glandularia spp.
Beebalm/Wild Bergemot - Monarda spp.
Skullcap/Blisswort - Scutellaria spp.
Lavender - Lavendula spp.
Rose - Rosa spp
Peach - Prunus persica
Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana and allied spp.
California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica and allied spp.
Desert Anemona/Pulsatilla - Anemone tuberosa and allied Pulsatilla spp.
Western Mugwort/Moonwort - Artemisia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp.
Elderflower - Sambucus nigra and allied spp.
Peppermint - Mentha x piperita
Monkeyflower - Mimulus spp.
Violet - Viola canadensis and allied spp.
Sage - Salvia spp.
Bleeding Heart/Golden Smoke - Dicentra formosa, Corydalis aurea and allied spp).
Stimulant Nervine
A stimulant nervine is that which stimulates lax or stagnant tissues in relation to the nervous system. It does not necessarily imply overt nervous system stimulation as in the case of methamphetamines or even coffee, but may simply refer to a gentle herb such as Peppermint and their ability to stimulate the vital energy into depressed tissues.
They are appropriate where there is atonic, overly relaxed tissues.
It should be noted that some nervines are both stimulant and relaxant at once. Stimulant and relaxant should not be thought of opposite ends in a bisected polarity, but rather complementary and often overlapping actions within the whole. Michigan herbalist Jim McDonald says to think of it as “stimulating activity while relaxing resistance to that activity” and I find that a very useful (and accurate) way of looking at it.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Western Mugwort/Moonwort - Artemisia spp.
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
Peppermint - Mentha x piperita
Sage - Salvia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp.
Coffee - Coffea arabica and allied spp.
Yerba Maté - Ilex paraguariensis and allied spp.
Tonic/TrophorestorativeNervines
We’ve previously discussed the general meaning of Trophorestorative in this series, but here it specifically refers to those herbs which act as nutritive restoratives for the nervous system. They feed the nerves and help to restore functionality and resiliency often in addition to their stimulating and/or relaxing properties. This is an extremely important class of herbs, given how burnt out, brittle and emotionally fragile the citizens of the modern industrial world tend to be. When there is great tension and stress, there can be a tendency to simply want to relax and calm (which in itself can be very healing) or to stimulate the body back up to functioning speed, but signs of nervous system fatigue and malnourishment should be carefully watched for and treated with specifically nutritive herbs. Applicable minerals and vitamins should not be overlooked either, as nutrition plays a primary part in emotional health and the ability to appropriately deal with with stress.
Again, it is possible (and common) to have overlap between this category and the others. This is not a contradiction, but rather a wonderful illustration of how dynamic herbal medicines can be.
Skullcap/Blisswort - Scutellaria spp.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Vervain - Verbena and Glandularia spp
Sage - Salvia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp
Rose - Rosa spp.
More about the general nature of the terms Relaxant and Stimulant as applied to herbal medicine and energetics is forthcoming (hopefully soon). I will also be talking about tissue states in the near future, since they are very much connected to understanding herbal actions and energetics in the Traditional Western Herbalism.
References:
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann
Personal Correspondence with Jim McDonald
Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine by Jeremy Ross
~~~
Photos (c) 2009 Kiva Rose
In the most general sense, a nervine can be considered any herb which has a pronounced (and generally positive) effect upon the nervous system. They are often currently thought of simply as calmatives or even sedatives, but this is inaccurate and belies the complexity and diversity of the uses nervines are capable of. The truth is that Skullcap, Damiana, Wild Lettuce and Coffee are all nervines, although they may effect the nervous system in vastly different ways. As such, there are a great many secondary actions under the primary heading of nervine, including everything from hypnotic to stimulant to the potentially narcotic. We will only be discussing the more important of these sub-headings in this post in order to focus on the most essential and core elements of the nervine action.
Below are the three most easily understood categories of nervines with appropriate herbs under each heading. The herbs listed are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a small sampling of those plants with which I have the most clinical and personal experience. The botanical name given is usually the species with which I am most familiar (often native to New Mexico or common to Southwestern gardens) but I try to indicate allied species where I am aware of them. When this piece is ready for my upcoming book (and student curriculum) it will be expanded upon and profiles of each herb in regards to their nervine action will be added.
Relaxant Nervine
A relaxant nervine are those herbs that relax constricted or contracted tissues in relation to the nervous system. It does not imply sedation in any way. These herbs may well allow a sense of calmness or even sleepiness through the way they allow vital energy to freely flow through the body in its natural manner, but they are not suppressive in nature. In essence, they enhance the vitality of life rather than diminishing it (as many overt sedatives do).
When vital energy is blocked or constricted in the body, it can created irritation and resistance that may manifest as insomnia, muscle spasms or tics, agitation or manic behavior (although these symptoms can easily be due to other underlying issues as well), or may eventually result in depression or a sense of constant fatigue. By relaxing barriers to the flow of vital energy, the body is more able to maintain emotional and physical equilibrium. This may manifest as increased energy or an easier time relaxing or getting to sleep, or all of the above.
They are appropriate where there is blocked, constricted or contracted tissues.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Vervain - Verbena and Glandularia spp.
Beebalm/Wild Bergemot - Monarda spp.
Skullcap/Blisswort - Scutellaria spp.
Lavender - Lavendula spp.
Rose - Rosa spp
Peach - Prunus persica
Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana and allied spp.
California Poppy - Eschscholzia californica and allied spp.
Desert Anemona/Pulsatilla - Anemone tuberosa and allied Pulsatilla spp.
Western Mugwort/Moonwort - Artemisia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp.
Elderflower - Sambucus nigra and allied spp.
Peppermint - Mentha x piperita
Monkeyflower - Mimulus spp.
Violet - Viola canadensis and allied spp.
Sage - Salvia spp.
Bleeding Heart/Golden Smoke - Dicentra formosa, Corydalis aurea and allied spp).
Stimulant Nervine
A stimulant nervine is that which stimulates lax or stagnant tissues in relation to the nervous system. It does not necessarily imply overt nervous system stimulation as in the case of methamphetamines or even coffee, but may simply refer to a gentle herb such as Peppermint and their ability to stimulate the vital energy into depressed tissues.
They are appropriate where there is atonic, overly relaxed tissues.
It should be noted that some nervines are both stimulant and relaxant at once. Stimulant and relaxant should not be thought of opposite ends in a bisected polarity, but rather complementary and often overlapping actions within the whole. Michigan herbalist Jim McDonald says to think of it as “stimulating activity while relaxing resistance to that activity” and I find that a very useful (and accurate) way of looking at it.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Western Mugwort/Moonwort - Artemisia spp.
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
Peppermint - Mentha x piperita
Sage - Salvia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp.
Coffee - Coffea arabica and allied spp.
Yerba Maté - Ilex paraguariensis and allied spp.
Tonic/TrophorestorativeNervines
We’ve previously discussed the general meaning of Trophorestorative in this series, but here it specifically refers to those herbs which act as nutritive restoratives for the nervous system. They feed the nerves and help to restore functionality and resiliency often in addition to their stimulating and/or relaxing properties. This is an extremely important class of herbs, given how burnt out, brittle and emotionally fragile the citizens of the modern industrial world tend to be. When there is great tension and stress, there can be a tendency to simply want to relax and calm (which in itself can be very healing) or to stimulate the body back up to functioning speed, but signs of nervous system fatigue and malnourishment should be carefully watched for and treated with specifically nutritive herbs. Applicable minerals and vitamins should not be overlooked either, as nutrition plays a primary part in emotional health and the ability to appropriately deal with with stress.
Again, it is possible (and common) to have overlap between this category and the others. This is not a contradiction, but rather a wonderful illustration of how dynamic herbal medicines can be.
Skullcap/Blisswort - Scutellaria spp.
Milky Oats - Avena fatua and sativa
Vervain - Verbena and Glandularia spp
Sage - Salvia spp.
Damiana - Turnera difusa and allied spp
Rose - Rosa spp.
More about the general nature of the terms Relaxant and Stimulant as applied to herbal medicine and energetics is forthcoming (hopefully soon). I will also be talking about tissue states in the near future, since they are very much connected to understanding herbal actions and energetics in the Traditional Western Herbalism.
References:
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann
Personal Correspondence with Jim McDonald
Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine by Jeremy Ross
~~~
Photos (c) 2009 Kiva Rose