Three Specific Herbs For Nerves

When you are having a hard time with anxiety, nerves, stress, and everything in between there are a few herbs out there that we have personally had a lot of success with.

***We highly recommend the daily use of Anxiety R&R herb mix as a base for system support. Once your system is supported by the deep nutrition this mix provides, then the three herbs referenced here are MUCH MORE effective.

Valerian Root:

Uses: Insomnia (without good sleep, you can't heal from anxiety), calming anxiety reactions, headaches. 

Valerian Root is a nervine tonic, very soothing and supportive for the nervous system and the signals that go on when high stress and anxiety reactions are involved. It needs the good support of deep nutrition, like what is provided by Anxiety R&R Herb Mix, and when supported with deep nutrition, it works WONDERS for your nervous system.

There is an excellent article put out by the University of Michigan about Valerian and findings involved. Here is a quote from that article,"...they believe it increases the amount of a chemical called gamma aminobutvric (GABA) in the brain. GABA helps to regulate nerve cells and has a calming effect on anxiety*."

Another excerpt from the article,"...by 28 days valerian had greatly improved sleep for those who were taking it. Some researches now think you may need to take valerian for a few weeks before it begins to work. However in another study, valerian was more effective then the placebo almost immediately*." 

All in all... all of us NMM's have taken Valerian Root for YEARS. We believe in it and we have felt and seen the amazing benefits of this miraculous herb for our family and many other families as well. If you decide to purchase Valerian Root, we first recommend finding a tincture before capsules. It doesn't smell very good, so prepare yourself for that! We recommend 1/2 teaspoon of tincture three times a day. If experiencing major anxiety reactions, 1/2 teaspoon every hour until your system calms down.

St. John's Wort:

Uses: Depression, lack of motivation, when you need a "happy" boost or when experiencing major mood swings.

St. John's Wort just works miracles for the "snap" days. That's what we call them. You know - they are the days when you feel like you are going to "snap" at any moment. Taking St. John's Wort is amazingly helpful for days like this! If you are experiencing the MAJORITY of your days like this, then you really need to support of deep nutrition from Anxiety R&R Herb Mix, combined with St. John's Wort.

An article in Medical New Today shared quite a few interesting things about some studies on St. John's Wort. "The available evidence suggests that the hypericum (St. John's Wort) extracts tested in the included trials are superior to placebo in patients with major depression, are similarly effective as standard antidepressants and have few side effects than standard antidepressants**."

PLEASE however, if you are any anti-depressants currently, ask your doctor before taking this herb. Make sure to keep open communication about herbal alternatives when you are on prescription medication.

Personally, we have seen an amazing difference using St. John's Wort as an additional anxiety and depression support. 

Gingko

Uses: Memory function, mental clarity and alertness, antioxidant.

Rosemary Gladstar (well-known herbalist and a favorite of ours) talks about how this is one of her favorite herbs. She says, "Gingko works as a memory enhancer by increasing circulation and vasodilation in the cerebral region. Regular use of ginkgo improves mental stability and memory function and increases mental vitality***."

Because of how anxiety reactions work (read about Anxiety Nitty-Gritty Here) in our brain, it is necessary to have herbs that support brain function. Gingko is one of the best for this. 

Concluding Thoughts...

In conclusion, truly there are A LOT of options out there to help with anxiety, depression, stress and those "snap days" when you feel like your body is taking over your emotions and brain!

First: Take the Anxiety R&R Herb Mix. This is what we use EVERYDAY for our daily up keep to stay on top of stress and anxiety in our lives. This is FOUNDATIONAL for supporting your system in healing and moving forward from living an anxiety filled life. Your system needs to be fed DEEP NUTRITION everyday. If there isn't daily upkeep, then your body won't have the ability to use anything else you give it!

Second: Evaluate what reactions are happening in your emotions and therefore, nervous system. After evaluating, then you will understand more if you need help with anxiety, or depression, or mental clarity, or sleep... etc. 

Third: Find an herb to support your needs. If it isn't one of these top THREE herbs recommended for anxiety support, then we can help you find what your body needs specifically! Write to us for help. naturalmedicinemamas@gmail.com

***Herbs For Reducing Stress and Anxiety by Rosemary Gladstar

**Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174928.php

*Source: Valerian | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/valerian#ixzz3Rs3mReZ7 

Herbal Infusions vs. Capsules

Why Herbal Infusions... aka Tea??

Our society is really stuck in the mindset of "popping the pill". Unfortunately, just because someone is trying to be more "natural", doesn't mean that this mindset is still not a huge part of their thinking.

Now before I go on, let me give a disclaimer: Yes, I have taken herbs in capsules for a long time. It has only been recently that I have "changed my tune" (so-to-speak) about why capsules are NOT the best way to introduce the nutrients found in herbs into the body. And yes, I will still recommend to someone to go get herbs in capsule form when needed.

BUT - Personally at NMM we believe there are more effective ways to get all the nutrients offered in the herbs and plants around us - mainly through herbal infusions (tea), tinctures, glycerides and syrups. (We will get into the excellent absorption of tinctures and such, but today we are just talking about teas.)

Let's talk about why.

What is the "road trip" a capsule takes? The main way our body absorbs nutrients is through digestion (for good reason!). To get to the small intestine, the capsule has to pass the mouth, the esophagus, and the harsh acids in the stomach. Most of the time this is where the capsule breaks and the herbs are released. Then the herbs have to go through digestive juices and enzymes coming from the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and spleen and then into the small intestines where the flora exists. The flora is ACTUALLY where the body will take those herbs and utilize them into the body.

Interestingly, medical research has shown that any substance that passes through the digestive tract whether vitamin, mineral or drug in route to the flora of the intestines (because of capsule form), will have a maximum absorption of between 12 and 18 percent. From the time it is put in the mouth until it actually reaches the flora of the intestine you will lose between 82 to 88 percent of what you originally consumed. The 12% to 18% that is left still after being absorbed through the flora in the intestines goes into the liver to be processed before being put into the blood stream. Consequently, when you think you are getting your recommended daily allowance you are really only absorbing somewhere around 15 percent of that substance.

Hmmmm...

Herbal Infusions (tea):
This is personally NMM's favorite way of ingesting the nutrients found in various herbs and plants for "Daily Up-Keep". We have tea's on a daily basis. Why?

There is a study by researchers at the University of Montreal (published online in the European Journal of Applied Physiology), that takes a very detailed look at the kinetics of water absorption and offers a lot of answers with the how's and why's of liquid absorption.

The study gave 36 volunteers 300 mL of ordinary bottled water with a specific label for tracking (for specifics, read the study... very interesting with charts and everything, I like stuff like that.). They found that the water started showing up in the bloodstream within FIVE MINUTES. Half the water was absorbed in 11-13 minutes and completely absorbed in 75-120 minutes.

Within 10 minutes fluid levels in our blood stream have risen enough to trigger the processes telling our body to go to the bathroom. That is why when you drink something, you need to go visit the restroom so quickly. You aren't eliminating the same liquid you just drank, you are getting rid of liquid that has been there previously, which you then replaced with new liquid.

So, unlike going through the ENTIRE digestive system, the tea infusions that we drink are absorbed more efficiently and quickly.

Now, that is talking about just water. But when you make an infusion with herbs, there are many nutrients that are absorbed into your body at the same time. An herbal infusion is when the leaves of the herb are soaked and allowed to steep in very warm water (When you make a tea, allow it to steep for at least 30 minutes). Nutrients from the plant are extracted and "infused" into the water.

Because of the absorption rate of water, the nutrients found in the plant are then absorbed into your body! It is a beautiful way of getting daily vitamins and minerals.

See Women's Anxiety Formula for an excellent source of nutrients.