How herbal medicine can repair the physiological damage caused by systemic threat and restore the biological capacity required for long-term endurance.
I'm particularly interested in learning about the 2nd category - the nervines. I haven't found adaptogens to have any effect on me. But your description of the nervines, gives me hope.
I'm also interested in herbs for us seniors. I used to harvest fresh red clover blossoms straight off my lawn, in Texas. Now, I'm in an area where they don't grow. And the dried versions help, but don't have near the potency. I also don't have a Chinese market at which to shop. So my Dong Qaui, too, is dried, and thereby, less potent.
I will certainly cover nervines for you, but don't give up hope on adaptogens Aleithia. Some adaptogens fail to balance us because they work with our unique energetic constitution, or "Dosha", as it is understood in Ayurvedic tradition. If a person with a naturally fiery or Vata-dominant temperament takes Ashwagandha, they may inadvertently cause overstimulation. In the same way, Shatavari might be too heavy for someone struggling with sluggish Kapha-type stagnation. Western practitioners and researchers often don't understand that these plants don't work like simple on-off switches for our stress response. They are intelligent biological messengers that need to be aligned with our specific constitution to be effective.
Also, it's true that when a plant is fresh, it retains its full spectrum of volatile oils and cellular fluids. However, the drying process involves the removal of water, which then naturally concentrates many of the plant’s other chemical constituents. By weight, dried herbs are typically much more concentrated than their fresh counterparts. This is why, when we are measuring herbs for a restorative infusion, we generally use about one tablespoon of dried herb for every three tablespoons of fresh. The drying process breaks down the plant’s cell walls, often making the minerals and more robust compounds more accessible to the hot water.
There is also the practical element of stability. Fresh herbs have a very high water content, which means they can spoil or lose their therapeutic value rapidly if not used immediately or preserved in a tincture. Dried herbs allow us to keep an apothecary throughout the seasons, ensuring we have access to grounding roots and barks even in the depths of winter.
PS. Great minds — I pick my own fresh red clover locally, too.
I too am very interested in nervines but I'm also grateful that I've have had great success recently with adaptogens. My sleep is so much better since introducing ashwaganda into my nighttime routine, and I have used rhodiola for many years off and on for daytime energy and clarity. I've also been taking holy basil and ginseng in the morning but not sure if they really are having an effect.
What does dong qaui do for us senior women? I found an old box of tea in my cabinet and thought it was only for pre-menopausal women. It's probably too old to be useful, but I'm interested in knowing as I did really like it when I was younger.
It is wonderful to hear that adaptogens have already been providing you with such clear support, Wendymae. Finding that ashwagandha has improved your sleep is a significant step — when we can finally find restorative rest, everything else becomes much easier to manage. Rhodiola is also an excellent companion for maintaining that steady daytime focus without the sharp peaks and crashes we sometimes get from other stimulants.
Regarding the holy basil and ginseng you are taking in the morning, these plants often work subtly over time to build up our underlying resilience rather than providing a sudden jolt. Holy basil, in particular, is very much about "smoothing out" the stress response, so its effects are sometimes more noticeable by the absence of agitation rather than a dramatic shift in energy.
As for the Dong Quai, you are right that it is most used as a support in the reproductive years, but it still holds a valued place for us as senior women. In herbal tradition, it is often used as a "blood tonic" to support systemic circulation and vitality, which can be particularly helpful if you ever feel a sense of physical stagnation or coldness. However, as that tea has been tucked away for a while, its potency will have likely faded. It might be a lovely moment to treat yourself to a fresh supply if you remember enjoying it so much in the past.
Thank you for your response, Lori! I am experiencing much lower stress levels but I don't know if it's all from my move from semi-urban FL to rural VA, which may prove to be the best decision I've ever made lol. I will get myself some fresh Dong Quai and see how it goes.
BTW all the herbs except the rhodiola I am taking as liquid extracts. I've tried a couple different brands of ashwaganda, and they were equally effective. I'm really grateful for how well they are working for me. FWIW I believe I've got the pitta constitution.
Well done Wendymae! I'm so happy to read that you looked at your Ayurvedic constitution — taking your dosha into account is such an important part of making these medicines work for your own needs.
Ashwagandha is a warming herb, and for those with a strong Pitta nature, it can sometimes be a little too heating if used in high doses over a long period. If you ever find yourself feeling unusually irritable or physically over-warm, it might be a sign to balance it with something more cooling. However, since you have already found it so helpful for your sleep, it is clearly providing the grounding support you need right now.
That move to rural Virginia sounds like a wonderful shift for your system — sometimes a change in environment does more to lower our baseline stress than any supplement ever could. It is lovely to hear you are feeling so much more settled. ☺️
Thank you so much, I'll keep monitoring to see if the ashwaganda starts to heat me up too much! I actually wasn't clear about my dosha for years so I just googled after reading your other response and the description I randomly clicked on described me really accurately.
thank you for sharing this information. i was familiar with several of the categories you mentioned but you provided much more in depth information and i appreciate you!
i would love to see a post with recommendations for each category! however, i understand if that’s only available to paid subscribers. you worked hard to gain that knowledge and everyone needs to earn a living. 🫶
Thank you for such a gracious and understanding response, lunafaer — I deeply appreciate your care.
My thought was to offer an insight into one specific herb each week. These are powerful allies, so it’s important we properly understand how best to prepare them, dose, and any potential dangers associated with each plant. Also, by focusing on one at a time, we won’t become overwhelmed by too much information.
We are living through a period that asks a great deal of our bodies and our minds, and I want us to have tools to stay steady and resilient without financial barriers getting in the way. So no — I don’t intend to make this information only available to paid subscribers. 🫶
Lori, it's embarrassing to say that I was not even able to read and comprehend this long article. My heart is broken and my brain feels broken. If there are herbs that can help my nervous system, I'd be so happy if you would list them and recommend companies if you know some that are better than others. I'm going to grief counseling but That's not enough. I can barely eat anything but I'm gaining weight. How does that make sense. The good news for me is that I have many friends and someone just called and invited me to go for a walk. I'm not suicidal but I am not looking forward to a single thing. Thank you for your help.
Another frustration I have, is that yams DO grow locally. But they are not available in stores, here. The closest thing one can get, are sweet potatoes, which have to get on a barge, all the way from Africa. And that's not factoring in the volatile tariff problem. That was true before 2016. And sweet potatoes don't have the phytoestrogens of yams. Frustrating!
I would love to hear more about natural ways to get through these rough times. I do use herbs in my daily life and have for the past 30 years. It is good to be reminded of all the different natural ways to get through life. Some of us, including myself, get stuck in a rut and can't remember all of these ways and reminders are welcomed. Thank you Lori for all you do for me and my family 💟. Much love from Nebraska, USA.
It is a pleasure to hear from you, Anne. When we are navigating particularly heavy seas, it is so easy for our existing knowledge to slip into the background — our brains are so busy managing the immediate stress that they simply forget the tools we have gathered over the decades. I know how it is; I’m finding researching these reminders as helpful for me personally, as I hope they will be for you.
I am pleased to help you find a way back toward the practices you already know and love. Sometimes all we need is a little outside perspective to help us remember the wisdom we already carry within us.
Thank you for sending love. I send mine back to you and your family in Nebraska. Stay strong. 💟
Of course, Ken. I’ve shared the first 10 studies that came to hand. There are many others available as well if you’d like to explore further with a quick search. I hope you find them interesting and helpful.
I am so glad you are here, Alex. We are all finding our way through this, and there is strength to be found in simply not doing it alone. And there is such a wide range of herbal medicines that support the nervous system — I am sure you will find something of benefit to you.
I'm particularly interested in learning about the 2nd category - the nervines. I haven't found adaptogens to have any effect on me. But your description of the nervines, gives me hope.
I'm also interested in herbs for us seniors. I used to harvest fresh red clover blossoms straight off my lawn, in Texas. Now, I'm in an area where they don't grow. And the dried versions help, but don't have near the potency. I also don't have a Chinese market at which to shop. So my Dong Qaui, too, is dried, and thereby, less potent.
I will certainly cover nervines for you, but don't give up hope on adaptogens Aleithia. Some adaptogens fail to balance us because they work with our unique energetic constitution, or "Dosha", as it is understood in Ayurvedic tradition. If a person with a naturally fiery or Vata-dominant temperament takes Ashwagandha, they may inadvertently cause overstimulation. In the same way, Shatavari might be too heavy for someone struggling with sluggish Kapha-type stagnation. Western practitioners and researchers often don't understand that these plants don't work like simple on-off switches for our stress response. They are intelligent biological messengers that need to be aligned with our specific constitution to be effective.
Also, it's true that when a plant is fresh, it retains its full spectrum of volatile oils and cellular fluids. However, the drying process involves the removal of water, which then naturally concentrates many of the plant’s other chemical constituents. By weight, dried herbs are typically much more concentrated than their fresh counterparts. This is why, when we are measuring herbs for a restorative infusion, we generally use about one tablespoon of dried herb for every three tablespoons of fresh. The drying process breaks down the plant’s cell walls, often making the minerals and more robust compounds more accessible to the hot water.
There is also the practical element of stability. Fresh herbs have a very high water content, which means they can spoil or lose their therapeutic value rapidly if not used immediately or preserved in a tincture. Dried herbs allow us to keep an apothecary throughout the seasons, ensuring we have access to grounding roots and barks even in the depths of winter.
PS. Great minds — I pick my own fresh red clover locally, too.
I too am very interested in nervines but I'm also grateful that I've have had great success recently with adaptogens. My sleep is so much better since introducing ashwaganda into my nighttime routine, and I have used rhodiola for many years off and on for daytime energy and clarity. I've also been taking holy basil and ginseng in the morning but not sure if they really are having an effect.
What does dong qaui do for us senior women? I found an old box of tea in my cabinet and thought it was only for pre-menopausal women. It's probably too old to be useful, but I'm interested in knowing as I did really like it when I was younger.
It is wonderful to hear that adaptogens have already been providing you with such clear support, Wendymae. Finding that ashwagandha has improved your sleep is a significant step — when we can finally find restorative rest, everything else becomes much easier to manage. Rhodiola is also an excellent companion for maintaining that steady daytime focus without the sharp peaks and crashes we sometimes get from other stimulants.
Regarding the holy basil and ginseng you are taking in the morning, these plants often work subtly over time to build up our underlying resilience rather than providing a sudden jolt. Holy basil, in particular, is very much about "smoothing out" the stress response, so its effects are sometimes more noticeable by the absence of agitation rather than a dramatic shift in energy.
As for the Dong Quai, you are right that it is most used as a support in the reproductive years, but it still holds a valued place for us as senior women. In herbal tradition, it is often used as a "blood tonic" to support systemic circulation and vitality, which can be particularly helpful if you ever feel a sense of physical stagnation or coldness. However, as that tea has been tucked away for a while, its potency will have likely faded. It might be a lovely moment to treat yourself to a fresh supply if you remember enjoying it so much in the past.
Thank you for your response, Lori! I am experiencing much lower stress levels but I don't know if it's all from my move from semi-urban FL to rural VA, which may prove to be the best decision I've ever made lol. I will get myself some fresh Dong Quai and see how it goes.
BTW all the herbs except the rhodiola I am taking as liquid extracts. I've tried a couple different brands of ashwaganda, and they were equally effective. I'm really grateful for how well they are working for me. FWIW I believe I've got the pitta constitution.
Well done Wendymae! I'm so happy to read that you looked at your Ayurvedic constitution — taking your dosha into account is such an important part of making these medicines work for your own needs.
Ashwagandha is a warming herb, and for those with a strong Pitta nature, it can sometimes be a little too heating if used in high doses over a long period. If you ever find yourself feeling unusually irritable or physically over-warm, it might be a sign to balance it with something more cooling. However, since you have already found it so helpful for your sleep, it is clearly providing the grounding support you need right now.
That move to rural Virginia sounds like a wonderful shift for your system — sometimes a change in environment does more to lower our baseline stress than any supplement ever could. It is lovely to hear you are feeling so much more settled. ☺️
Thank you so much, I'll keep monitoring to see if the ashwaganda starts to heat me up too much! I actually wasn't clear about my dosha for years so I just googled after reading your other response and the description I randomly clicked on described me really accurately.
thank you for sharing this information. i was familiar with several of the categories you mentioned but you provided much more in depth information and i appreciate you!
i would love to see a post with recommendations for each category! however, i understand if that’s only available to paid subscribers. you worked hard to gain that knowledge and everyone needs to earn a living. 🫶
Thank you for such a gracious and understanding response, lunafaer — I deeply appreciate your care.
My thought was to offer an insight into one specific herb each week. These are powerful allies, so it’s important we properly understand how best to prepare them, dose, and any potential dangers associated with each plant. Also, by focusing on one at a time, we won’t become overwhelmed by too much information.
We are living through a period that asks a great deal of our bodies and our minds, and I want us to have tools to stay steady and resilient without financial barriers getting in the way. So no — I don’t intend to make this information only available to paid subscribers. 🫶
Ditto!
Thank you so much for all of this, Lori. I'm also appreciating the interactions in the comments. Thank you again.
You’re very welcome Ann, good to have you here.
This was huge. Thank you Beautiful.
You’re very welcome Pasqual.
Thank you Beautiful. Great stuff as always. Appreciate you.
Thank you Pasqual
You’re welcome beautiful.
Lori, it's embarrassing to say that I was not even able to read and comprehend this long article. My heart is broken and my brain feels broken. If there are herbs that can help my nervous system, I'd be so happy if you would list them and recommend companies if you know some that are better than others. I'm going to grief counseling but That's not enough. I can barely eat anything but I'm gaining weight. How does that make sense. The good news for me is that I have many friends and someone just called and invited me to go for a walk. I'm not suicidal but I am not looking forward to a single thing. Thank you for your help.
My dear friend, I am so sorry to read of your struggle. I have emailed my response to you direct.
Another frustration I have, is that yams DO grow locally. But they are not available in stores, here. The closest thing one can get, are sweet potatoes, which have to get on a barge, all the way from Africa. And that's not factoring in the volatile tariff problem. That was true before 2016. And sweet potatoes don't have the phytoestrogens of yams. Frustrating!
I share your frustration, Aleithia — I can't get yams here either!
I would love to hear more about natural ways to get through these rough times. I do use herbs in my daily life and have for the past 30 years. It is good to be reminded of all the different natural ways to get through life. Some of us, including myself, get stuck in a rut and can't remember all of these ways and reminders are welcomed. Thank you Lori for all you do for me and my family 💟. Much love from Nebraska, USA.
It is a pleasure to hear from you, Anne. When we are navigating particularly heavy seas, it is so easy for our existing knowledge to slip into the background — our brains are so busy managing the immediate stress that they simply forget the tools we have gathered over the decades. I know how it is; I’m finding researching these reminders as helpful for me personally, as I hope they will be for you.
I am pleased to help you find a way back toward the practices you already know and love. Sometimes all we need is a little outside perspective to help us remember the wisdom we already carry within us.
Thank you for sending love. I send mine back to you and your family in Nebraska. Stay strong. 💟
Love you and your beautiful heart-- generous ❤️ 💕.
The energies of joie de vivre are about to give you, dear Lori, a standing ovation
Thank you dear Zsanan 🙏🏼💗
I am very interested in all of this. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
You’re welcome Katrina, I’m glad it’s of interest to you!
Only if you've got sources to back up those claims.
Of course, Ken. I’ve shared the first 10 studies that came to hand. There are many others available as well if you’d like to explore further with a quick search. I hope you find them interesting and helpful.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/QEEHYBDHVMGPHV8PCDEF?target=10.1155/agm3/3675425
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1089/act.2018.29153.eya
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5402
https://openpublichealthjournal.com/VOLUME/17/ELOCATOR/e18749445342434/FULLTEXT/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405452622000994
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/18/6021
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5036551/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/med.21743
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1234701/full
https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2835-6357/FIM-2023-00086
And an interesting article from WHO, reminding us that ~40% of pharmaceuticals draw from traditional knowledge. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/traditional-medicine-has-a-long-history-of-contributing-to-conventional-medicine-and-continues-to-hold-promise
I know nothing about herbs or their effects. I would like to know—anything will help!
I am so glad you are here, Alex. We are all finding our way through this, and there is strength to be found in simply not doing it alone. And there is such a wide range of herbal medicines that support the nervous system — I am sure you will find something of benefit to you.