Our nervous system evolved to help us survive immediate threats—finding food, escaping danger. Rest and repeat. But modern survival looks different: getting through work presentations, project deadlines, paying bills, parenting with minimal support, and on and on. The stress is chronic, the rest is minimal, and our fight-or-flight response, driven by the sympathetic nervous system, is often in overdrive.
To combat this, we meditate, exercise, and cold plunge. We try yoga. And sometimes, we turn to the healing power of plants.
Nervines are a category of botanicals that promote nervous system vitality, balance, and nourishment.
Here we’ll talk about what nervines are, how they work, and how to incorporate them into your wellness rituals.
Key Takeaways
- Nervines are herbs that support the nervous system—either calming, stimulating, or supporting nervous system resilience.
- Some herbal practices categorize nervines into stimulants, relaxants, or tonics.
- Nervines are recommended for sleep, anxiety, chronic stress, and fatigue
What are Nervines?
Nervines are medicinal botanicals that support the nervous system. Depending on the type of nervine, these unique plants can gently stimulate, calm, or support long-term nervous system resilience.
In herbalism, nervines are typically recommended for:
- Sleep
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Fatigue
The term nervine is rooted in Western and European herbalism, but other forms of traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine also recognize botanicals that promote nervous system healing.
Ayurvedic Medicine: In Ayurvedic medicine, restlessness, anxiety, and poor sleep are associated with an imbalance in Vata, one of the three foundational mind-body types or doshas. Practitioners will often recommend grounding herbs to support balance.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: In traditional Chinese medicine, nervous system imbalance is described as a disharmony of the yin and yang energies. Generally speaking, while yin calms, yang stimulates. Chronic stress is associated with an imbalance of yang energy. Treatment will vary significantly from person to person depending on the root cause of symptoms.
Unlike several other terms in herbalism like nootropics, there is no pharmacological equivalent to nervines. Most often, researchers will use terms like anxiolytic, sedative, and stimulant to describe nervine functions or to describe pharmaceuticals that carry similar functions.
Types of Nervines
Some herbal texts distinguish between different types of nervines; a nervine that calms the nervous system will act differently from one that stimulates it. Below are three types of nervines according to certain herbal practices:
Nervine tonic: Also called a trophorestorative, nervine tonics describes herbs that strengthen the nervous system and help restore homeostasis. Nervine tonics are meant to work over time rather than immediately.
Nervine relaxant: These herbs act on the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting rest, relaxation, and often sleepiness. These herbs act rather quickly, and nervine relaxants are often used in sleepy time teas or calming supplements.
Nervine stimulant: Nervines are often associated with calming aids, but some can act like stimulants. These include botanicals like green tea, which contain caffeine. Nervine stimulants are quick-acting, and herbalism practitioners will typically not recommend these for people experiencing anxiety.
Adaptogens vs Nervines
Adaptogens and nervines are used in herbalism to address similar symptoms like anxiety, chronic stress, and sleep issues, and while they are often used in tandem, they work differently and are considered two distinct categories of medicinal botanicals.
The main difference between adaptogens and nervines is how they work. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stress over time. Many adaptogens act as antioxidants or influence cortisol levels. Nervines primarily support the nervous system itself, influencing pathways involved in neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter signaling.
How do Nervines Work in the Body?
1. Neuroinflammation
Inflammation doesn’t look the same everywhere in the body. In the brain, some inflammation is important for keeping brain cells healthy and for supporting neuroplasticity (which is linked to positive mental health). Chronic or uncontrolled inflammation though, can damage cells and decrease neuroplasticity.
Scientists think that some herbs and botanicals may help balance neuroinflammation or mitigate some of the negative effects.
2. Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that play a role in mood regulation. Scientists think that some nervines may influence neurotransmitters, specifically a neurotransmitter called GABA. GABA is associated with promoting relaxation— its job is to slow down chemical signaling between brain cells and quiet the brain. In times of imbalance, more GABA signaling may help ease anxiety or mental chatter.
3. HPA Axis
The HPA axis is the system that coordinates your body's stress response, also known as ‘fight-or-flight.’ Three organs make up the HPA (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland) axis, and they act like a series of “on/off” switches for your nervous system.
During periods of stress, the adrenal gland releases cortisol, a stress hormone that speeds up your heart rate, spikes glucose, and dilates your blood vessels— all physiological responses to help you stay alert. As cortisol levels rise, they signal the brain to ease up the stress response, triggering ‘rest and digest’ or the parasympathetic nervous system. In physiology, this is called a negative feedback loop.
Importantly, this loop can become dysregulated. When cortisol is chronically high, the loop doesn’t respond as it should. This can lead to anxiety or other mood-related symptoms.
Scientists have noted that nervines may modulate the HPA axis, thereby easing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
Who Might Benefit from Nervines?
Daily stress, burnout, or even trauma can put your body into a constant state of stress.
Chronic stress can manifest into symptoms like:
- Trouble relaxing
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Overwhelm
Nervines may support a balanced nervous system, support emotional resilience, and help combat the negative effects of stress.
Nervines Found in Rasāsvāda
Lemongrass
Popular in teas or as a calming essential oil, lemongrass is thought to ease anxiety by regulating GABA— a neurotransmitter that turns on the “rest and digest” or parasympathetic nervous system.
One study found that women who were treated with lemongrass aromatherapy experienced less dental anxiety than those who didn’t receive the treatment.
Cardamom
Cardamom contains terpenes, beneficial phytochemicals that have been studied for their effect on depression and anxiety. Like other nervines, researchers think terpenes work by acting on the calming neurotransmitter GABA as well as serotonin.
One study found that rats had less sleep-induced anxiety after treatment with cardamom essential oil. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, its common to drink cardamom-infused milk or tea to support better sleep.
Hibiscus
Rich in flavonoids, this tropical flower is often used in traditional medicine for its calming effect and its positive effect on mood. Researchers speculate that the flavonoid compounds in hibiscus can promote GABA activity and possibly regulate other neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
Kurokoji Green Tea
Green tea naturally contains L-theanine, an amino acid studied for its possible calming properties. At the same time, green tea is also a natural source of caffeine. Researchers have found that the combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine can support energy and mental alertness without the jitters or anxiety often associated with caffeine alone.
Damiana Leaf
Damiana leaf is both an adaptogen and a nervine, making this botanical well suited to defend against stress. As an adaptogen, damiana leaf is used in traditional medicine to ease the negative effects of stress. And according to one animal study, it may also balance brain inflammation, a key factor for mood and nervous system health.
How to Drink Nervines
In traditional herbalism, nervines are most often used alongside other nervines, adaptogens, nootropics, or other types of medicinal botanicals. At Rasasvada, we’ve created three distinct functional spirits, each perfectly balanced with a blend of time-honored botanicals.
Ruby Artemisia: Contains two types of tea for a small amount of caffeine and l-theanine. Perfect for a focused morning.
Rose Bergamot: Hibiscus and lemongrass are two grounding nervines that work alongside adaptogen white ginseng, antioxidant-rich schisandra berry, and other beneficial botanicals. We recommend drinking this any time of day but especially as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Black Ginger: The perfect nightcap. Black ginger contains soothing nervines like cardamom and anti-inflammatory botanicals like turmeric root and black ginger.
Nervines in Rasāsvāda
We’ve created three distinct functional spirits, each perfectly balanced with a blend of time-honored botanicals.
- Ruby Artemisia: Contains two types of tea for a small amount of caffeine and l-theanine. Perfect for a focused morning.
- Rose Bergamot: Hibiscus and lemongrass are two grounding nervines that work alongside adaptogen white ginseng, antioxidant-rich schisandra berry, and other beneficial botanicals. We recommend drinking this any time of day but especially as an afternoon pick-me-up.
- Black Ginger: The perfect nightcap. Black ginger contains soothing nervines like cardamom and anti-inflammatory botanicals like turmeric root and black ginger.
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new herbal regimen, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, having existing medical conditions, or taking medication.
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Sources
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment | Herbal Medicines in the Management of Anxiety Disorders: An Updated Review
Nutrients | Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Pharmaceuticals | Herbal Medicinal Products as an Effective Alternative in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Herbal Reality | Nervous System Health: A Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective