Herbs for Stress and Anxiety

Ready to make a tea to calm your nerves? Check out my favorite stress relief tea blend.

There Are Calming AND Stimulating Adaptogens

This is where so many people get confused.

These tend to feel more grounding and stabilizing.

If you are already highly anxious, this is often where you want to start.

If you are already overstimulated, these may feel like too much.

That was my mistake early on — I tried rhodiola during a season when I was already anxious, and it didn’t feel supportive at all. It wasn’t that the herb was “bad.” It just wasn’t the right category for my body at that time.

How to Take Adaptogens

• Daily
• For at least 4–12 weeks
• Often as tinctures, capsules, powders, or decoctions
• One herb at a time when starting
  

Adaptogens are about consistency — not quick fixes.

What Are Nervines?

Nervines work more directly on the nervous system.

Unlike adaptogens, many nervines can offer more immediate calming effects.

Nervine Relaxants

These are helpful if you:

• Can’t turn off your brain at night
• Feel tense
• Have racing thoughts
• Experience muscle tension
• Need immediate calming support
  

Examples:

• Chamomile
• Lemon Balm
• Skullcap
• Passionflower
• Catnip (wonderful for kids)

These are often taken as teas or tinctures.

Nervine Tonics (Nourishing Nervines)

These are deeply nourishing and can be taken daily long-term.

They are helpful if you feel:

• Frazzled
• Drained
• Nervously exhausted
• In recovery from burnout

Examples:

• Oatstraw/Milky Oats
• Nettle
• Linden

These herbs build the nervous system back up over time while also offering immediate support.

What About Antidepressant or Mood-Supporting Herbs?

Sometimes what we’re experiencing isn’t just stress. Sometimes it’s low mood. Especially in winter. Mood-supporting herbs primarily help support emotional state and seasonal blues.

Examples include:

St. John’s Wort

• Traditionally used for mild to moderate depression
• Often used for seasonal affective disorder
• Must be used cautiously due to medication interactions (especially SSRIs)
  

Mimosa (Albizia)

• Often called the “Tree of Happiness”
• Traditionally used for grief and emotional heaviness
• Gentle mood support
  

Lemon Balm

• Technically a nervine
• Very helpful for anxious depression
• Beginner-friendly
• Often used as tea

These herbs can overlap categories, but their primary action is emotional support.

How Do You Know What You Need?

Here’s a simple way to think about it… If you say to yourself:

“I’m constantly stressed and depleted.”
→ Consider adaptogens.

“I can’t shut my brain off tonight.”
→ Consider a nervine relaxant.

“I’m frazzled and worn down long-term.”
→ Consider a nervine tonic.

“I feel heavy and low, especially in winter.”
→ Consider mood-supporting herbs.

If you feel severely depressed:
→ Seek professional support.

Herbs can be supportive tools, but they are not a replacement for medical care.

How to Start Taking These Herbs

Always remember:

• Introduce one herb at a time.
• Start with a low dose.
• Observe how your body responds.
  

Important Safety Notes

• Always check herb–drug interactions (especially St. John’s Wort).
• Use caution with adaptogens if you have autoimmune conditions.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding require additional research.
• Work with a healthcare provider when adjusting medications.
  

Modern medicine and herbal support can coexist.

You Don’t Need a Complicated Protocol

Sometimes what you need is 12 weeks of steady adaptogen support. Sometimes what you need is sunshine and movement. And sometimes what you need is a warm cup of chamomile before bed.

Herbalism doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Understanding the categories is often the missing piece. Because when something doesn’t work, it’s not always that herbs failed… It might just be that we were using the wrong category for the season we were in.