Has anxiety got you wound up to the point of nervous exhaustion? Are you up late stressing about your ever growing to-do list? Perplexed and worried about the state of the world? Perhaps even a panic attack or complete sensory overwhelm ruining your day? Or just generally feeling anxious or unable to rest to the point of being in a perpetual state of being wired and tired?
I feel you, I've been there.
The sleepless nights, the avoiding social situations and even full blown panic attacks that take days to recover from. In the heat of these moments I find the herbs pack a powerful punch, and quickly get the body to calm down. Release tension, slow breathing and the heart rate. There's no amount of mindfulness or deep breaths to take you out of these states sometimes. Unwind is my go to ally for any and all things nervous system related.
What's Wired & Tired?
The wired and tired feeling comes from a combination of an overactive stress response and tension in the nervous system. Often these are busy "type A" people who work really hard and possibly over commit. In an ideal world our energy comes from a place of deep nourishment and internal vitality; where we have a balance of Yin (nourishing) and Yang (activation) from different sources. Unfortunately we live in a very Yang or action / production centric world; where resting and nourishing is less prioritized and seen as a luxury.
Over time this tip in the scales of bodily balance will cause the wired and tired picture; where you are often feeling unrested, tired and foggy in the day time; but when it comes time to sleep, ping! The brain is on and the thoughts are racing. Sound familiar?
Over time this tip in the scales of bodily balance will cause the wired and tired picture; where you are often feeling unrested, tired and foggy in the day time; but when it comes time to sleep, ping! The brain is on and the thoughts are racing. Sound familiar?
Prolonged stress and inadequate sleep can lead to a HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis imbalance. Ultimately disturbing cortisol levels and creating a dependance on the sympathetic stress cycle for energy. When we are here the body has stopped getting its energy from a place of nourishment; and relies on aspects of the stress response to keep you alert and functioning throughout the day.
How to calm those nerves
How to calm those nerves
Learning how to nourish yourself and relax sounds simple right? In theory it is; but in practice it's a different story. Adding something to your routine or starting a new practice can be overwhelming, especially if you already feel depleted. You also need to take time and seek professional help when necessary, to understand how or why your HPA axis is off. See our medical herbalist Lux if you would like any guidance. That being said, there are little things you can do to greatly help calm those frayed nerves and tip the scales into nourishment.
We created the Unwind tincture as a simple low stress solution to insomnia and anxiety. One of the beautiful aspects of herbal medicine is the versatility, and how one herb can be used for multiple issues in the daytime AND the nighttime. The secret is in the dosage.
Use smaller doses of Unwind in the daytime; anywhere from a few drops to 2 full droppers. If you are a very high strung anxious person, or having a panic attack, you can likely tolerate the higher end of the dosage range without getting sleepy.
For insomnia you can dose higher to get more of those nervine and sedative qualities, anywhere from 1-7 full droppers before bed. Yes i said full droppers, people are often surprised to hear that you can dose that much safely. And I am here to assure you that this is well within the therapeutic range.
You can also dose again in the night if you wake up. Some people with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, while others have an issue staying asleep. If the latter describes you, measure out a dose and lease it on your nightstand. IF you find yourself waking in the night, take a dose and drift right off to sleep again.
One thing I love about this formula in comparison to other herbs or even medications, is there is no drowsiness in the morning.
This is one of the strengths of the Unwind formula. It has two functions, reducing anxiety & helping you sleep and wake up feeling rested.
"I love the Unwind tincture because its easy to pop in my purse and use on the go. Its also an essential while travelling"
Unwind with us HERE & Read our stellar reviews
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Thats why we created this multifaceted tincture to restore balance to the nervous system. One tincture for anxiety and insomnia.
Passion flower, Blue Lotus, Lavender, Skullcap & Vervain
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A full does of this formula is used for sedation and sleep. Useful for those who have issues falling asleep and staying asleep. We also find it useful is drop doses for anxiety and panic disorders. We have found this formula to be extremely useful in moments of overwhelm, panic attacks and in quitting smoking.
Blue Lotus: A relaxing nervine, melting tension away from the body. Energetically this plant connects us to our strength and spirit. With mood enhancing properties Blue Lotus makes us feel good in our body and mind. The Egyptians revered this plant for millennia because of its ability to increase the vividness of dreams and dream recall.
Lavender: Lavender is relaxing to the nervous system and gently sedative. She is antispasmodic to nerves and muscles. Great for the overachievers, those with high standards of themselves and overthinking.
Skullcap: A bitter mint with cooling and sedative properties. This is a go to remedy for mild and chronic nerve issues from insomnia to fear and anxiety. Skullcap calms overactive senses that cause insomnia and anxiety.
Vervain: One of the most important plants to the Druids, is associated with Venus and Jupiter. Specific indications for Vervain are: anxiety, type A personality, making lists, neck and shoulder tension; a feeling of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, and digestive troubles disruption caused by stress from the gut-brain axis.
Passion flower: Associated with Venus and Neptune, this plant is calming to the nerves and sedative. Passion flower is excellent at adjusting thought patterns and indicated for those who have a hard time sleeping due to a busy mind or circling thoughts. Passionflower brings tranquility into our body and mind, creating an internal environment to get high quality rest.
Passion flower: Associated with Venus and Neptune, this plant is calming to the nerves and sedative. Passion flower is excellent at adjusting thought patterns and indicated for those who have a hard time sleeping due to a busy mind or circling thoughts. Passionflower brings tranquility into our body and mind, creating an internal environment to get high quality rest.
Refrences
Bone, K. (2007). The ultimate herbal compendium: A desktop guide for herbal prescribers. Phytotherapy Press.
Hoffmann, D. (2017). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.
Hunter, C. (2008, October 17). Raspberry history, folklore, myth, and Magic. The Practical Herbalist. Retrieved January 13, 2023, from https://thepracticalherbalist.com/advanced-herbalism/raspberry-myth-and-magic/
Pojar, J., & MacKinnon, A. (2016). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Lone Pine Publishing.
Popham , S. (n.d.). School Of Evolutionary Herbalism . Lecture.
Tobyn, G., Denham, A., & Whitelegg, M. (2016). The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge. Singing Dragon.
Wood, M. (2009). The Earthwise Herbal. North Atlantic Books.
Wood, M. (2009). The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants. North Atlantic Books.
Zalewski, C. L. (1991). Herbs in magic and alchemy: Techniques from ancient herbal lore. Unity Press.
