Botanical Medicine in a Time of Anxiety

 

I love plants.  I live in a temperate zone with four seasons, so I am fascinated to see and experience the emergence of green and multicolored plant life from the grays and browns of winter.  I love closing my eyes and hearing the sound of wind rushing through the leaf canopy overhead in the woods in the summer.  I love watching seeds sprout out of the ground and become garden plants, bearing squash, tomatoes and beans.  The color of a daisy stops me in my tracks.  Plants are magical. So it’s no surprise that I would be drawn to the wonders of botanical (herbal) medicine.

For centuries in western civilization, and to this day in many areas of the world, botanical medicine was the primary source of medicines taken by people to prevent or treat disease. The wisdom of these practices passed down over generations leaves us with a rich legacy of traditional medicine that has been proven by the test of time.  Plant medicine that had no effect would not be passed from generation to generation, but abandoned by societies that needed good medicines. In many cases, traditional uses are sufficient for me to recommend an herbal medicine, but also in many cases we have modern science that has looked into how and why these traditional remedies work.  Could they work for you?

In my medical practice, I see many people who are stressed, anxious, and on edge.  Whether it’s bills to pay, rumors of war in the news, family squabbles, or workplace stresses, life can

put us on edge.  Feeling frazzled and anxious doesn’t necessarily mean you have a mental disorder, it may simply be a symptom of the time in which we live. It’s for that scenario exactly that a class of botanical medicines called “nervines” are perfect.  These are plant medicines that can be stimulating (coffee and tea are examples of plant medicine nervines that are stimulants), or calming and soothing, and are all effective to different degrees, and have individual profiles that make them uniquely suited for particular people.

So for example, a person who has anxiety coupled with tummy pain or indigestion may want to use chamomile and/or lemon balm, or in combination.  Chamomile improves digestion, relieves gas and cramping, helps calm the mind, and is safe even for children and teens.  Lemon balm also decreases gas and bloating, and is somewhat stronger than chamomile for its soothing and calming effect.  One of my colleagues likes to recommend combining chamomile, lemon balm, and passion flower bulk herbs in equal parts, making a tea that can be consumed gradually over the day, soothing stressed out teens or young adults, without being sedating, and still keeping the mind sharp. And if you choose to grow these plants yourself, in pots, a greenhouse, or your garden, you will know exactly where your medicine comes from, and will appreciate their beauty as well.

Chamomile flowers and tea

I would love to hear from you when you give these a try.  Tell me about your experience! And share what you know with your friends.  We will all be better off when we trust the gentle natural medicines from the earth that have been with us for centuries.

 

To your good health,

 

Robert Pendergrast, MD, MPH