Lately I have been thinking a lot about nervines.
The world feels tense right now, and when everything outside is loud or uncertain, I find myself turning back to herbs that help soften the inner noise.
Nervines are a broad category of plants that support the nervous system, often helping with states of stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, or general overstimulation. Some are gentle tonics, nourishing the system over time. Others are acute allies, there when you need them most.
Among the nervines, skullcap has always held a special place for me. During my herbal mentorship, I was given a visual that has stayed with me to this day. We usually describe skullcap as supportive in anxious states, or when sleep is lost to restless and racing thoughts. Its common name, “skullcap,” does come from the resemblance of the plant’s blossoms to the helmets worn by…
