Butterfly in a field of wild Coyote Mint

Let’s face it, if you’re human, you know stress and anxiety. My number one remedy for stress relief is getting outside and moving my body through the landscape, the wilder the better. And if wild flowers in bloom, even better! I mean…. can anyone deny the soothing power of meadows filled with purple, pink, red, and gold blossoms shimmying in the wind under the weight of bees and other flying beauties?

Unfortunately, I can’t just up and go for a wildflower stroll every time my heart races from interpersonal strife or brain starts spinning under the weight of my to-do lists and perceived shortcomings (which it does at least once daily). But it just so happens that some of herbal medicine’s best remedies for stress and anxiety are the same cheerful wildflowers that grow in the meadows I seek out for mental health. So when I can’t get to the flowers I love for inner calm, I bring them into my body.

My favorite wildflowers for calming, grounding, and good cheer are California Poppy, St. John’s Wort, and Mugwort. At home, we also grow Motherwort, Chamomile, CBD Hemp, Lemon Balm, and Tulsi. We get our Lavender from a local organic farmer. While all of these plants can offer a sense of emotional wellbeing, they do so in different ways.

Keep reading to learn more about these magicians of love and inner peace. Or, head straight on over to our shop to get 15% off a selection of Herbal Remedies for Stress, Anxiety, and Inner Peace.

California Poppy in the Little Applegate Valley, Oregon.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California Poppy is the bright orange or yellow flower often growing on hillsides across the American West. It is California’s state flower and is beloved by many as a mild sedative and effective sleep aid suitable for children, yet strong enough for adults. It supports the nervous system by calming agitation and relaxing the nervous mind. Taken in larger quantities, California Poppy can bring relief from pain and muscle spasms.

We work with the whole plant, including root, leaves, stem, and flower. Try it alone or with Lemon Balm and Motherwort for a grounding and uplifting blend.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

St. John’s Wort almost always blooms during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, so it carries with it the life force energy of the sun at its most vibrant. Taking it internally can be like sipping sunshine for the soul, and it’s most effective when taken at least once daily over the course of a couple weeks or more.

St. John’s Wort is most famous for the emotional uplift it offers to folks suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and symptoms of depression, but it can support us in so many other ways!

St. John’s Wort is a powerful nervine (nervous system ally) that helps tone the nervous system, repair damaged nerves, and encourages the prolonged presence of “feel good” neurotransmitters like seratonin and dopamine in the body. As a result, it can be effective for nerve damage to the musculoskeletal system as well as an excellent tonic for emotional resilience. We take it daily to nourish our nervous systems.

For more information about its many offerings, visit St. John’s Wort Plant Profile.

Mugwort (Artemisia spp.)

Wildcrafted Mugwort in the early morning.

Mugwort may be best known for its mystical qualities, but that’s not all it it wants to share. A sage-smelling member of the Artemisia genus, Mugwort is associated with the hunter Artemis, the moon, and vivid—even lucid—dreams.

The first time we found it in the wilds, I put a huge handful of it in my small backpacking cook pot, poured hot water over it, and took a sip. Wheeew!!! I learned right quick that Mugwort is a highly pungent and bitter herb. And while a strong Mugwort tea is something I will not try again, it is exactly its bitter qualities that make Mugwort so grounding and calming.

Bitter herbs tend to drive the energy downward and can thus be stabilizing when the mind is spinning. Mugwort, like other bitter herbs, is also supportive of digestion, and anything that promotes balanced digestion promotes balanced moods. I take it when I feel frazzled and unfocused. It also can help promote sluggish menses and alleviate menstrual cramps. It is not recommended for pregnant folks.

For more information, check out Mugwort’s Plant Profile.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Motherwort’s scientific name reveals the essence of its magic. Leonurus cardiaca means “lionhearted,” and it speaks to Motherwort’s power as a heart tonic. In her book The Herbal Apothecary, Naturopath JJ Pursell describes Motherwort as a tonic traditionally used to “calm the heart and the nerves surrounding it.” It may help new blood vessels grow, and, when taken several times a day in tincture form, can “lower blood pressure, improve heart action, and strengthen electrical activity in the heart.”

Because it relaxes the heart muscle and nerves around it, Motherwort is an excellent herb to work when you feel stress and anxiety, particularly in your heartspace. It is also great place to turn when extra lionhearted courage is needed and it can be a soothing ally for grief.

Like Mugwort, Motherwort is a bitter herb, so it can be an effective digestive bitters and emotionally grounding herb. It blends well with other heart-opening and calming herbs like Hawthorn, Lemon Balm, and Lavender. People on heart medication or prescription sedatives are advised not to take Motherwort.

For more information, check out Motherwort’s Plant Profile.

Chamomile (Matricaria spp.)

Chamomile is so common and mild in flavor that it’s easily underestimated for the potent plant medicine it offers. While it’s best known as a calming after-dinner tea, Chamomile has been used for everything from fever to colds to menstrual cramps to sleep support, and almost everyone loves the way it tastes. It’s mild enough for babies, yet effective for adults. The herbalist Matthew Wood recommends taking it when you or a beloved are exhibiting baby-ish behaviors like whining, crankiness, or fussiness.

Chamomile also supports easy digestion, so a cup of chamomile tea any time can help bring you to a place of inner calm and physical ease. For this reason, we include Chamomile in our Mellow Mood Blend and several of our Soaking Blends.

CBD Hemp (Cannabis spp.)

Among its many incredible qualities, CBD Hemp can be a potent ally for mood support. We all produce our own internal cannabinoids—the active component in Cannabis. Cannabinoid receptors are thus found throughout the human body and play a significant role in our wellbeing by regulating inflammation, modulating pain, nourishing the nervous system, supporting the immune system, and much more.

While there is still much to learn, most researchers believe that CBD works by preventing our personal cannabinoids from being broken down. In particular, it supports the presence of Anandamide in our systems—an endogenous cannabinoid named after the Sanskrit word for “bliss.” This may explain why a dose of CBD—in our experience—makes everything feel a bit better. We take it daily for general wellbeing and at night for sleep support.

For more information, check out CBD Hemp’s Plant Profile.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender is a popular essential oil and potpourri herb for good reason. For most of us, the smell alone is enough to take the edge off a grumpy or melancholy spell. Taken as a tea, tincture, or full body bath, Lavender can calm, relax, and uplift from the inside out. Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar says that it is “… a favorite herb to strengthen the heart and mind in a stressful situation.” It’s also an antispasmodic that can be used to support digestion and calm stomach muscle spasms. Externally, it can be applied to burns for rapid support, and also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. We include Lavender in our Mellow Mood Daily Calming Blend and our Beloved Soaking Blend.

Tulsi/Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

Tulsi grows wild all over India and has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic Medicine. Beloved as an adaptogen, Tulsi helps the body respond to daily physical, chemical, metabolic, and psychological stressors and helps restore vitality and renew energy. It is also a powerful nervine that can help soothe frazzled nerves and emotions. Tulsi tastes sweet and slightly peppery as a looseleaf tea or tincture dropped in hot water, and it can support healthy digestion. Some folks like to take it to prepare for meditation and other practices that expand the mind.

We include Tulsi in our Mellow Mood Calming Blend, Dragon Tamer Mouthwash, and Root of Wellness Bitters.

Lemon Balm

Oh, Lemon Balm! I cannot begin to exalt this fragrant, delicious herb enough. A member of the mint family, Lemon Balm lacks the bite of peppermint but carries with it the brightness of lemon and slightly floral notes. Once Lemon Balm establishes itself, it doesn’t stop. Its enthusiasm for LIVING and sharing its aroma with anyone lucky enough to brush against it mirrors its ability to bring the vibrance out in us while offering a sweet sort of calm.

Lemon Balm is one of the most accessible, delicious, and effective nerve nourishers we know. If it’s growing near you, make yourself a cup of Lemon Balm tea with the fresh leaves for a calming but uplifting pick-me-up. We make large amount of Lemon Balm tincture every year because it is supportive in so many ways and like to put it directly in hot water for an easy cup of tea.

Not only is it excellent for the nervous system, Lemon Balm has been widely used to settle nauseous and gassy bellies, ease digestion, and for immune support. When combined with Motherwort, it can be especially effective at calming an agitated heart. It also goes well with California Poppy and CBD for sleep support, and bitter herbs for easy digestion.

We sell Lemon Balm on its own and use it in our Mellow Mood Daily Calming Tonic, The Root of Wellness, Porch Time, and Seasonal Resilience tincture blends.

Resources

Gladstar, Rosemary. 2012. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Storey Publishing.

The Herbal Academy. Website.

Kloos, Scott. 2017. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press.

Popham, Saja. Herbal Remedies for the Irritable Mind. The School of Evolutionary Herbalism. Website.

Disclaimer

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

NYMPH AND WOODSMAN WELLNESS BLOG: Herbs for Stress, Anxiety, and Inner Peace