The Nervous System

Our body is made up of fifty trillion self organizing cells and it is the job of the nervous system to oversee this community of cells. It does this by perceiving the environment and then coordinating the behaviors. 

Our nervous system is our primary connection to universal consciousness. 

It can be divided into categories. There is the central nervous system which is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. Then there is the peripheral nervous system which is made up of the nerves, a main communication highway of the body. 

From here we have the autonomic nervous system which is made up of our sympathetic nervous system ( fight or flight ) and parasympathetic ( rest and digest ). 

Lastly is the somatic nervous system which is a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. This system delivers messages from our senses to our brain and then from our brain to our muscles so we are able to move around. 

While this system as a whole can seem quite complex, treating it from a holistic lens can actually be quite simple. You see, the goal of our body is to stay in homeostasis, a balanced place where the body is working at optimal levels. And we achieve this by being able to move from sympathetic to parasympathetic easily. The goal isn’t to alway be in a parasympathetic state, that’s actually quite impossible and we need our stress response daily to support us in certain tasks. However, the goal is actually to be in parasympathetic more times than not and to be able to move between the two easily. We want a flexible and resilient nervous system. Not one that is easily spooked when someone walks up behind you. 

So why is this so important? Cortisol is the main hormone of the sympathetic nervous system. While cortisol is a very important hormone, that allows us to literally wake up every morning and get out of bed, too much cortisol is really hard on the body. Cortisol is a tier one hormone, meaning it has a top down effect on all other hormones. Also, when we are in a consistent state of fight or flight, the body also releases stored glucose so we have the energy needed to fight or flee. At which point the body will also release insulin levels to unlock our cells, allowing the glucose in. Insulin is also an extremely necessary hormone but the same thing applies. Too much has a lot of dangerous effects because it too is a tier one hormone, having a top down effect on all other hormones. 

These tier one hormones have the ability to throw off many of our necessary daily functions when left at extremely high levels. And the truth is, most people in today’s world are in a constant state of stress. Common culprits of stress include: work, money, relationships, family, health, sleep deprivation, poor diet, and media overload. 

So what do the symptoms of an overly stressed body look like? While it differs from person to person, the key symptoms you might be seeing are: cognition and memory issues, insomnia, fatigue and/or feeling wired, depression and/or anxiety, increased systemic inflammation, poor metabolism, slow / painful digestion, indigestion, gas, bloating, IBS, or constipation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, decreased libido, hormonal imbalance, PMS, infertility, decreased immune function, and slower and less effective wound healing. 

Are you getting the picture now? Can you see why, as an herbalist, I always treat the nervous system first and foremost? It has the ability to affect almost every single necessary system of the body. It’s incredibly powerful and incredibly important. So… how do we go about treating our nervous system? 

Like I mentioned earlier, the goal is to build a resilient and flexible nervous system that is able to handle stress when stress is necessary and then easily move back into a state of relaxation. One of the absolute best ways to do this is with a class of herbs called adaptogens. 

Adaptogens work by supporting our stress response, our HPA - Axis ( Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis ) keeping cortisol levels in check when we move into stress and supporting us in building that resilience we are looking for. Soviet researcher, Nikolai Vasilyevich, coined the term in the mid-1940s, and the concept was researched heavily at the time. Adaptogen are not bound to a particular plant family or categorized by a specific group of plant chemicals but are defined by their action in the body. These herbs have long been known to improve vitality, longevity, and energy. Side benefits include improved brain function, better thyroid health, increased fertility and libido, improved immune function, decreased inflammation and pain and enhanced detoxification. An adaptogenic herb you may have heard of is Ashwagahnha, as it became pretty popular a few years back. However there are many others and they each have their own unique way of supporting us. Some others include: schizandra berries, rhodiola, tulsi, eleuthero, gotu kola, and astragalus. Also most mushrooms like: reishi, lion's mane, turkey tail, and chaga are adaptogenic as well. 

Another class of herbs that support our nervous system are nervines. Nervines encourage proper nervous system function and help calm the body without being overly sedative. While you could drink them before bed to assist in falling asleep, they aren’t going to make you “sleepy” if you drink them during the day. They are just going to support in calming “frayed” nerves so you are able to tackle your daily tasks from a place of peace. They are also a good option for those that may be dealing with depression, as they create a balanced state rather than a sedated state. Some nervines are: milky oat tops, St. John’s wort, lemon balm, mimosa flower, skullcap, passion flower, and motherwort. 

Another extremely powerful tool we have for regulating and balancing the nervous system is one we have with us at all times, the breath!!! We have the ability to move from sympathetic to parasympathetic using only the breath. It is truly one of our most powerful tools and it is always with us. Taking long deep inhales and exhales, where the exhale is actually longer than the inhale, can calm the body and the mind within just a few short minutes. If you have never done any breath work, I highly recommend you try it out. Stevie Wright has a wonderful membership program called The Breath Channel and it is very reasonably priced. There are also many free guided breathwork videos on YouTube you could try. Whichever you decide to do, the important thing is you do it. Taking five minutes out of your day to just breathe intentionally is a game changer in nervous system regulation. 

Lastly, one of the best ways to set yourself and your nervous system up for success is to eat a high protein breakfast, within one hour of waking up! Remember how insulin is also a tier one hormone? When we skip over breakfast and just go for a coffee instead, we set ourselves up to ride the blood sugar roller coaster all day long and let me tell you friends, this shit aint fun! It affects our hormones which affects our mood. It also causes us to reach for unhealthy snack options throughout the day. So do yourself a favor and eat a breakfast with at least 30 grams of protein first thing in the morning. Your nervous system will thank you! 

Interested in trying out some adaptogenic herbs? I have formulated an elixir called the Adapt Elixir, which is a blend of powerful adaptogens like ashwagandha, astragalus, tulsi, eleuthero, and schizandra berries. You can find it here, in the online shop.