Nervous System

Applications

AngelicaAshwagandhaBacopaBasilBhringarajBlack CohoshBlue CohoshBlue VervainCatnipCelery SeedChamomileCoptis / GoldthreadCorianderDamianaDillGinkgoGotu KolaGreen TeaGuayusaHawthornHe Shou WuHemp / CBDHopsJiaogulanKannaLavenderLemon BalmLemon VerbenaLemongrassLinden / TiliaLion's ManeMacaMotherwortMugwortMulleinNutmegOat StrawOreganoPassionflowerReishi MushroomRhodiolaRooibosRosemarySchisandraShatavariSkullcapSpilanthes / Toothache PlantSt. John's WortThymeValerianVanillaVioletWild CherryWild YamWood Betony

Plants

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Digestive disorders and poor appetiteRespiratory conditions and bronchitisNervous exhaustion and anxiety

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

General tonic and rejuvenative (Rasayana in Ayurveda)Stress, anxiety, and nervous exhaustionInsomnia and sleep disorders

Bacopa

Bacopa monnieri

Ayurveda: classified as medhya rasayana (intellect-promoting rejuvenative); used in Charak Samhita for enhancing memory, learning, and intelligenceAyurveda: treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and psychological disorders; component of Brahmi ghrita formulation for mental healthTraditional use in India for asthma and bronchitis; expectorant and bronchodilator properties recorded

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Digestive disorders and stomach upsetRespiratory ailments including coughs and bronchitisNervous tension and stress relief

Bhringaraj

Eclipta prostrata

Ayurveda: primary herb for all hair conditions; stimulates hair growth, prevents premature graying, and strengthens hair follicles; Bhringaraj taila (oil) is cornerstone of Ayurvedic hair careAyurveda: liver tonic and treatment for jaundice, hepatitis, and liver enlargement; classified as hepatoprotective rasayanaTCM: Mo Han Lian — used for liver and kidney yin deficiency causing dizziness, blurred vision, premature graying; hemostatic herb

Black Cohosh

Cimicifuga racemosa

Menstrual irregularities and painful menstruationMenopause symptoms and hot flashesChildbirth facilitation and labor pains

Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Labor induction and facilitation of childbirthMenstrual regulation and relief of dysmenorrheaTreatment of rheumatism and arthritis

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Iroquois, Ojibwe, and other Algonquian peoples used blue vervain as a bitter tonic for digestive complaints and as a liver herbCherokee traditional medicine used root decoctions for stomach ailments, suppressed menstruation, and to expel wormsEastern Woodland tribes used blue vervain poultices for headaches, rheumatic joints, and skin eruptions

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Nervous tension and anxietyInsomnia and sleep disordersDigestive conditions and colic

Celery Seed

Apium graveolens

Ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine uses ajmod (celery seed) for gout, arthritis, rheumatism, kidney disease, and urinary disordersAncient Egyptian and Greco-Roman use: Dioscorides recommended celery seed as a diuretic, for urinary stones, and to regulate menstruationTraditional use throughout South Asia for hypertension, high uric acid, and as an anti-inflammatory

Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

European folk medicine for digestive disorders, insomnia, anxietyChildren's remedy for colic, teething pain, restlessnessWound healing and skin inflammation treatment

Coptis / Goldthread

Coptis chinensis

Traditional Chinese medicine: 'Huanglian' — one of the 50 fundamental herbs; used for over 2,000 years for dampness-heat conditions, dysentery, high fever with delirium, gastric ulcers, and inflammatory conditionsClassical TCM formula: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Detoxifying Decoction) — classic formula for fever, dysentery, and sepsis involving Coptis with three other bitter herbsHuang Lian Su (berberine) — isolated in 1930s China; used clinically for bacterial dysentery since then

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum

Digestive disorders and dyspepsiaUrinary tract infections and kidney stonesArthritis and joint inflammation

Damiana

Turnera diffusa

Nervous system support and mood enhancementTraditional aphrodisiac and libido enhancementDigestive stimulant and stomach tonic

Dill

Anethum graveolens

Ancient Egyptian medical texts (Ebers Papyrus, 1550 BCE) mention dill as a soothing herb for digestive painAncient Greek and Roman physicians used dill as a carminative, digestive aid, and galactagogue (to promote milk flow in nursing mothers)Traditional Ayurvedic use (shatapushpa) for digestive complaints, hiccups, flatulence, and to increase milk production in nursing women

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

Traditional Chinese Medicine for lung and kidney supportSeed used for respiratory conditions, urinary disordersMemory enhancement and cognitive support

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

Ayurveda: classified as medhya rasayana; used for improving memory, concentration, and intelligence; central to Brahmi ghrita formula (note: also used interchangeably with Bacopa monnieri as 'Brahmi')Traditional Southeast Asian medicine: wound healing and skin regeneration; leaves applied topically to cuts, burns, and ulcersTCM: Chi Xue Cao — diuretic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying; used for urinary tract infections and dysentery

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Chinese medicine (TCM) used green tea for over 4,000 years to sharpen mental clarity, reduce fatigue, and aid digestionShen Nong's Bencao Jing (c. 2700 BCE legend) records tea as antidote to poisoning from 72 toxic herbsJapanese Zen Buddhist tradition uses matcha in chado (tea ceremony) for meditative focus and spiritual clarity

Guayusa

Ilex guayusa

Kichwa people of Ecuador brew guayusa as a pre-dawn 'dreaming tea' consumed communally before 3 AM to interpret dreams and plan the dayShuar and Achuar peoples use guayusa to increase alertness and stamina for long hunting expeditionsTraditional emetic use: large quantities consumed to induce vomiting as ritual purification by Amazonian hunters

Hawthorn

Crataegus spp.

Heart conditions and cardiovascular supportHigh blood pressure and circulationAnxiety and nervous heart conditions

He Shou Wu

Reynoutria multiflora

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): tonifies Liver and Kidney yin; used for premature graying of hair and hair lossTCM: anti-aging tonic; associated with longevity in classical texts including Bencao Gangmu (Li Shizhen, 1578)TCM: nourishes blood and essence (jing); used for weakness, dizziness, soreness of lower back and knees

Hemp / CBD

Cannabis sativa

Ancient Chinese medicine (Shennong Bencao Jing): seeds used as tonic food and to treat constipation and wasting diseasesAyurvedic tradition: 'Vijaya' used to stimulate appetite, relieve pain, and as a sleep aidEuropean folk medicine: poultices of seeds and leaves applied for skin inflammation and joint pain

Hops

Humulus lupulus

European monastic brewing tradition used hops since 9th century CE to preserve beer and add bitterness; previously gruit herb blends were usedGerman folk medicine used hops in sleep pillows for insomnia since the Middle Ages; pickers noted somnolence from contact with lupulinEnglish herbalists including Nicholas Culpeper (1653) recommended hops for insomnia, nervous tension, and digestive complaints

Jiaogulan

Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Guizhou Province, China: consumed as daily tea by mountain populations with documented longevity and low rates of hypertension and cancerTCM (relatively recent adoption): adaptogenic, anti-fatigue, cardiovascular tonic; used since Ming Dynasty (15th century) in GuizhouJapanese traditional medicine (Amachazuru): fatigue remedy and longevity tea; widely sold as 'immortality herb' supplement

Kanna

Sceletium tortuosum

Mood enhancement and euphoriaAnxiety and stress reliefPain management and toothache

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

European folk medicine for nervous conditions, insomnia, headachesWound healing and antiseptic applicationsDigestive disorders and stomach upset

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Anxiety, stress, and nervous tensionInsomnia and sleep disordersDigestive disorders and stomach upset

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citrodora

Digestive ailments and stomach upsetNervous tension and anxietyInsomnia and sleep disorders

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Ayurvedic tradition uses lemongrass (bhustrina) for fever, respiratory infections, and digestive disorders; one of the classical fever herbsThai and Southeast Asian folk medicine uses lemongrass tea for colds, flu, stomach problems, and headachesBrazilian traditional medicine uses capim-limão (lemongrass) tea for anxiety, insomnia, and hypertension

Linden / Tilia

Tilia cordata

European folk medicine used linden flower tea for colds, flu, and fever since at least the Middle Ages; referenced in Hildegard von Bingen's writings (12th c.)French tisane de tilleul remains a bedtime relaxant and sleep aid in widespread popular useGerman Commission E-approved for use in cold and cough remedies

Lion's Mane

Hericium erinaceus

TCM: Hou Tou Gu (Monkey Head Mushroom) — stomach tonic, digestive aid, and general debility treatment; used since at least the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)Japanese traditional cuisine and medicine: Yamabushitake — named for the Yamabushi Buddhist monks who wore straw robes resembling lion's mane; used for digestive health and energyTraditional Chinese medicine for gastric ulcers, chronic gastritis, and digestive cancers

Maca

Lepidium meyenii

Andean tradition: consumed by Incan warriors before battle for energy and strengthPeruvian highland medicine: fertility enhancer for both men and women; root given to livestock to improve reproductionTraditional use for altitude sickness and fatigue at high elevation among Quechua peoples

Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Heart conditions and palpitationsAnxiety and nervous tensionMenstrual irregularities and menopause

Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris

Digestive disorders and appetite stimulationMenstrual irregularities and labor inductionNervous conditions and epilepsy

Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Scrophulariaceae

Respiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, asthma)Throat inflammation and laryngitisEar infections and earache

Nutmeg

Myristica fragrans

Digestive disorders and nauseaInsomnia and nervous disordersArthritis and joint pain

Oat Straw

Avena sativa

European folk medicine: oat preparations for nervous exhaustion, depression, and 'neurasthenia'British herbal tradition (Gerard, Culpeper): oat preparations for melancholy, wasting diseases, and convalescenceTraditional Scottish use: oatmeal and oat water as nourishing foods for the sick and convalescent

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Respiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, asthma)Digestive disorders and poor appetiteMenstrual irregularities and painful periods

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

Insomnia and sleep disordersAnxiety and nervous tensionEpilepsy and seizures

Reishi Mushroom

Ganoderma lucidum

Ganodermataceae

Spiritual enhancement and longevityRespiratory conditions and asthmaLiver protection and detoxification

Rhodiola

Rhodiola rosea

Physical and mental fatigue reductionHigh altitude adaptation and oxygen utilizationDepression and anxiety relief

Rooibos

Aspalathus linearis

Khoikhoi and San peoples: harvested wild rooibos as a beverage and medicine long before European contact; used as a digestive remedyAfrikaner farming communities: adopted as a tea substitute during WWII when imported teas were unavailableSouth African folk medicine: used for infantile colic, eczema, and skin allergies in babies — mothers added rooibos tea to infant formula

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Memory enhancement and cognitive functionCirculation problems and poor blood flowDigestive complaints and loss of appetite

Schisandra

Schisandra chinensis

Liver protection and regenerationLung disorders and chronic coughKidney weakness and frequent urination

Shatavari

Asparagus racemosus

Ayurveda: primary rasayana (rejuvenating tonic) for female reproductive system; used for menarche, fertility, pregnancy, lactation, and menopauseAyurveda: galactagogue to promote breast milk production in nursing mothersCharaka Samhita (ancient Ayurvedic text): recommended for conditions involving bleeding, inflammation, and nervous disorders

Skullcap

Scutellaria lateriflora

Nervous tension and anxietyInsomnia and sleep disordersSeizures and convulsions

Spilanthes / Toothache Plant

Acmella oleracea (syn. Spilanthes acmella, S. oleracea)

Brazilian indigenous use: fresh flower heads applied directly to teeth and gums for toothache — the most universal traditional useIndian Ayurvedic and folk medicine: treatment of toothache, gingivitis, and oral infections; used in traditional dentistryNepalese traditional medicine: treatment of malaria, fever, and stomach parasites

St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum

European folk medicine for melancholy, anxiety, nervous disordersWound healing and treatment of burns, cutsRespiratory conditions and bronchitis

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Respiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough)Digestive complaints and poor appetiteUrinary tract infections

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

Sleep aid and treatment for insomniaAnxiety and nervous tension reliefDigestive complaints and stomach spasms

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia

Totonac civilization of Veracruz (pre-Columbian): Tlilxochitl ('black flower') was a sacred plant used to flavor cacao drinks and as a medicinal aromaticAztec tradition: combined with cacao and chili in xocolatl; used as an aphrodisiac and tonic for fatigue and heart complaintsMesoamerican traditional medicine: vanilla pod smoke and preparations used for headaches, nausea, and fever

Violet

Viola odorata

Respiratory conditions and coughsSkin conditions and inflammationEye irritations and conjunctivitis

Wild Cherry

Prunus serotina

Coughs and respiratory ailmentsBronchitis and asthmaDigestive disorders and diarrhea

Wild Yam

Dioscorea villosa

Menstrual irregularities and uterine conditionsLabor pain and childbirth assistanceDigestive cramping and colic

Wood Betony

Stachys betonica

Nervous system disorders and anxietyHeadaches and migrainesDigestive weakness and poor appetite

Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.