An older woman was once brought to my office in an awful state of fear after a car ride. Her nerves were so fragile that a simple drive had her climbing up the panic scale. I offered her daughter a cup of tea made with this formula for her mother. She drank it, and within minutes she was sitting quietly, enjoying a lovely visit.
That’s this formula in a nutshell. It feeds a nervous system that’s too worn down to settle on its own. Of all the emotional support combinations I’ve ever worked with, this is one of the best, and it has helped with everything from panic attacks to insomnia. I’ve been truly impressed with it for well over thirty years.
What a Good Nerve Food Formula Contains
This is a nine-herb combination, and nearly all of it is in equal parts:
- Black Cohosh, 1 part. A traditional nerve-support herb with a long history of use for the nervous system and the female system alike.
- Hops Flowers, 1 part. A traditional calming herb, long used to ease nervous tension and encourage restful sleep.
- Passionflower, 1 part. A relaxing herb long used to quiet a restless mind and support sound sleep.
- Lobelia, 1 part. A relaxant and antispasmodic that helps calm and relax the whole nervous system.
- Skullcap, 1 part. One of the classic nerve-nourishing herbs, used to calm and restore a frazzled nervous system.
- Valerian Root, 1 part. A calming root long used to ease nervous tension and support restful sleep.
- Wood Betony, 1 part. A traditional nerve tonic, used to calm and strengthen the nervous system.
- Mistletoe, 1 part. Traditionally included to support healthy nerve and heart function.
- Cayenne, ¼ part. Just a small amount, to move the circulation and carry the rest of the herbs through the body.
“Parts” can be any measure you like, as long as you use the same one for every herb. By weight, that’s 1 ounce each of the first eight herbs and ¼ ounce of Cayenne.
How It Works
The old herbalists described this combination as feeding and revitalizing the motor nerve at the base of the skull, the medulla and upper cervical area, along with herbs that help rebuild and feed the spinal cord. It is used to rebuild the frayed nerve sheath, the nerve itself and its capillaries. It’s mildly stimulating, yet it lessens the irritability and excitability of the nervous system, and it eases pain.
Why It Helps People Sleep
When the nervous system is malnourished, it can’t relax enough to let the body do what it needs to do: settle, sleep, or simply cope with an overwhelming moment. Many people lean on this formula as a sleep aid for exactly this reason. Feed the nervous system through the day, and sleeping soundly through the night tends to follow.
Why Passionflower
The old formula used Lady’s Slipper Root. Lady’s Slipper has become endangered and is difficult to source responsibly, so Passionflower has taken its place at the same ratio. The two work in much the same way, both used to quiet a restless mind and calm the nervous system. I’d rather make a substitution like this openly than quietly draw down a plant that’s already struggling in the wild.
Putting It Together
Put the dry herbs in a glass jar and pour in 80-proof vodka. Once the herbs have settled, you want about 60% herb sediment on the bottom and 40% liquid on top. Shake the jar every day. The traditional timing follows the moon, from the new moon to the full moon, about two weeks. I prefer to let my extracts sit a full three months, which makes them good and strong. Then strain and bottle the liquid.
How Much and How Often
This is a low-dose formula. ½ teaspoon is usually very effective for steady support. Start there, and move up to a full teaspoon per dose only if the need arises. It can be taken in water or stirred into a cup of tea.
What I’ve Seen
- Facing the freeway again: A childhood friend of mine had developed a fear of driving on the freeway. After a week on this formula she was able to drive the freeway again, with no more panic attacks in traffic.
- Comfortable in company: A man dealing with social anxiety used it to face uncomfortable social situations. After a teaspoon, he was able to join in and take part comfortably.
- Emotional first aid: It’s an excellent support in times of extreme stress, and it supports the healing process through the long journey back to emotional health.
Choosing Among the Nerve Formulas
I keep several formulas for the nerves, and each has its own personality:
- The nerve food formula (this post): feeds and rebuilds a worn-out nervous system; my go-to for anxiety and panic.
- The general nervine: a strong calming and restorative formula for sleep, and for emotional crisis in lower daytime amounts.
- The two sleep formulas: one that lets the body grow drowsy, and one that calms the whole body, restless legs included.
This is shared for educational purposes, from my own study and experience. It is not medical advice.
