The Wise Woman Way By Susun S. Weed
Herbs That Ease
Anxiety And Fear Nettle, Oatstraw,
Motherwort, And More....
Fear and anxiety are closely linked, but quite different. Fear is focused, anxiety is diffuse. Fear is health promoting and protective: it keeps us from jumping off cliffs. Anxiety can destroy health and increase our vulnerability: it shortens our breath, narrows our blood vessels, and interferes with the functioning of the immune system. Fear is useful energy; it calls to our courage. Anxiety is useless; it promotes feelings of insecurity, helpless- ness, weakness.
Notice the difference in yourself between fear and anxiety. Whenever possible, find the fear hidden in your anxiety and let it call forth your strength and power. The following remedies can help you make this transformation.
Bach flower remedies are easy to carry and use. A dose is 1-4 drops, taken as needed. One or more of the following may ease your anxiety:
• Aspen (anxious about the future) • Mimulus (anxious about the past) • Red Chestnut (anxious about the safety of others) • Elm (overwhelming anxiety) • Rock Rose (anxiety that escalates into panic)
The smell of roses has been used for centuries to ease anxiety. A touch of rose essential oil on the seam of your sleeve will wrap you in calming fragrance all day. To magnify the effect, have a
massage with rose-scented balms. Even one massage can cause a marked de- crease in anxiety for weeks afterwards.
Yoga postures, yoga breathing, and quiet, focused meditation are excellent ways to tonify (and soothe) the sympa- thetic nervous system. Regular practice alleviates anxiety, often permanently. If you feel so anxious you think you might burst, try the lion pose:
• Open your mouth very wide; even wider! • Stick your tongue out; even further. • Open your eyes really wide; bigger. • Rotate eyes left, then right. • Breathe deeply and exhale fully up to ten times. • Keep the shoulders and the forehead relaxed.
This pose unblocks the throat, releases facial tension, relaxes the breathing muscles, and relieves anxiety.
Stinging nettle infusion strengthens the adrenals: relieving anxiety and build- ing focused energy. Depleted adrenals often over-react, giving rise to sudden sensations of anxiety, fear, and nervous- ness. Use bulk herb, not tea bags, not capsules.
• Put one ounce by weight (about a cup by volume) of the dried nettle herb in a quart jar. • Fill the jar to the top with boiling water and cover tightly.
August/September 2012
• Let steep for at least four hours; overnight is fine. • Strain herb out and drink the remaining liquid.
Iced nettle infusion is particularly good. The taste is green, like spinach broth, and is better seasoned with salt than sugar or honey. Refrigerate your nettle infusion after straining it and drink it promptly as it is likely to ferment if kept for more than two days.
Oatstraw infusion is another favorite of those who want to feel less anxious. Preparation is the same as for nettle infusion; remember to avoid tea bags and capsules. The taste of oatstraw is softer and more mellow; you will enjoy it warm with a little honey. Green oat tincture is much more powerful than oatstraw infusion. It is especially useful for those whose anxiety is combined with exces- sive nervous energy. Or try a hot bath with lemon balm or oatstraw; an ancient remedy for bad cases of the “nerves.” Ahhhh...
Motherwort tincture is my favorite calmative. It is not sleep inducing nor mind numbing. A dose of 10-20 drops can safely be taken as often as every ten minutes if needed, to calm and soothe sore spirits. “Like sitting in my mother’s lap,” one satisfied user commented. Motherwort tea tastes terrible and is not very effective; likewise the capsules are not useful. Motherwort tincture can be
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