3 Sep 2021

Nerve Tea With Oatstraw and Skullcap

Tagsmarshmallow, nerve tea, oatstraw, skullcap, tulsi, violet

This herbal nerve tea recipe combines skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), a superior relaxing nervine, oatstraw (Avena sativa), a nervous system trophorestorative, and violet (Viola odorata), an overall nerve restorative, to simultaneously soothe agitation and strengthen the overall function of the nervous system (Holmes, 1989a; Holmes, 1989b).

Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is another go-to herb for nerve support since it functions as a mild adaptogen, helping guide the body to a state of stress resiliency instead of reactivity (Cohen, 2014). Its mixed stimulant and relaxant properties help make this tea a more balanced blend for enjoying anytime throughout the day.

Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) root lends its moistening and mucilaginous nature to balance the more dry components of the other herbs in this recipe, while providing a secondary action of soothing the gut (Holmes, 1989a). Since the gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system), it’s equally as important to support healthy gut function while focusing on our nervous system overall.

tea ball with dried herbs spilling out

Nerve Tea with Oatstraw and Skullcap

The onslaught of traffic, bright fluorescent lights at all hours, and navigating through a sea of people to get to work every day can start to make your nervous system feel a bit “frayed” over time. Integrating a daily herbal tea, like my Nerve Nourishing Tea recipe below, can help nourish and restore a frayed nervous system while soothing the effects of constant nervous system stimulus.

Ingredients

0.3 part dried skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) leaf
0.5 part dried tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) leaf
1 part dried oat (Avena sativa) straw
0.5 part dried violet (Viola odorata) leaf
0.5 part dried marshmallow (Althea officinalis) root
1 cup boiling water

Directions

Add all herbs to a jar and mix well to combine.
Cover the jar with a lid and store in a cool, dark place until ready to use.
When ready to prepare the tea, add 1 heaping tablespoon of dried herbs from the jar into a heat-safe mug or container.
Pour the boiling water on top of the herbs and stir to combine.
Allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes or longer.
Strain the herbs from the tea and discard.
Add raw honey to taste if additional sweetness is desired. Take a deep breath, sip, and enjoy!

In Closing,

With all of the constant stimulus that urban environments constantly throw at you, it’s no wonder many city dwellers suffer from nervous system-related issues and imbalances. An essential part of my urban herbalism protocol is introducing herbs for daily nerve support.

REFERENCES

Cohen, M.M. (2014). Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 5(4), 251-259. http://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.146554

Holmes, P. (1989a). The energetics of western herbs (Vol. 1). Coati, CA: Snow Lotus Press.

Holmes, P. (1989b). The energetics of western herbs (Vol. 2). Coati, CA: Snow Lotus Press.