I am a BIG fan of herbal support to nourish my body, especially when it comes to my nervous system. In this blog, I’ll share my top 3 herbal allies for the path of trauma healing.

Let me add some transparency here before moving on, as a budding community herbalist, I can only make suggestions on what has worked for myself and loved ones in the past. When it comes to medicine of any kind, I recommend you do your own research to find the best fit for you. Maybe even consult your health care team (including your local clinical herbalist).

When it comes to soothing my system, I have been a long time fan of Passion Flower. Not only is this plant fantastical in expression (seriously, this flower is alien-like), they are such a tender care taker. When I work with passion flower I feel like I’m being held like a lil baby that just needs to take a nap already (and sometimes I do just that). I ingest this ally both during the day and before bed when I feel particularly fried and overstimulated.

Following my top choice, is a medicine derived from a common food source we might find in our kitchen: oats. While oatmeal and oat milk are a crowd favorite, I’m referring to oats in a different form. When the oat plant is still fresh and green, there is a milky substance that is extracted and simply named: Milky Oats. As an plant byproduct this ally just happens to be a strong nervine (nervous system aid), and is often sought out by people (me) experiencing depression, anxiety, and mood instability. What’s not to love?

Finally, a plant we all know and love: lavender. This herb is everywhere and there’s a reason for it. Lavender is a beautiful neural aid that invites us to sloooooowww dooooown (which is sometimes something we can do for ourselves and other times we just need a larger systemic upheaval). Anyway, when I have a moment for my-self I spray lavender hydrosol to assist in calming my system and returning to sensation.

Side Note: I highly recommend hydrosols as a gentler source of aromatherapy. Compared to essential oils, hydrosols are far less concentrated and easy on the respiratory system.

(HERE is my go-to lavender hydrosol)

There you have it folks, my top 3 choices for nervous system support. Check em out, notice how you feel when you work with them and take notes! Maybe you notice one works better at a different time of day or during a specific experience. Ultimately, it takes some time to get to know who you vibe with, the same goes with plants.

Take care, Y’all.