Nervous System Regulation with a Tincture Formulation
Let’s make a tincture formulation that can help support your entire nervous system!
Nervous System Regulation with a Tincture Formulation
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Your nervous system has its hands in nearly every single bodily function, process & system within our bodies so it let’s talk a bit about the nervous system, ways you can tell if your nervous system is in a state of dysregulation as well as some tips you can use to help shift your body out a state of fight or flight & into a state of rest & digest.
Be sure to read to the end of this post as I do have a tincture formulation that you can use to help ease your nervous system back into a state of regulation.
Let’s address a few questions first
How do you know if you have a dysregulated nervous system?
There are a many ways & this is by no means an exhaustive list but it you find yourself experiencing some of these symptoms then you may be in a state of dysregulation
Heightened anxiety → constantly feeling on edge
Panic attacks
Digestive issues
Sleep disturbances & fatigue regardless of how much sleep you get
Emotional dysregulation → frequently being snappy, irritable & reactive
Frequent headaches
Chronic pain
Chronic illness
Chronic attention or concentration problems
Sensory overload & being highly sensitive to sensory stimuli
There is one more way to tell if you are potentially dysregulated, please don’t shoot the messenger, if you are neurodivergent chances are you have a nervous system that is more sensitive & can therefore be thrown into a state of dysregulation quite easily.
I am in the neurospicy club myself so if you find yourself here you are in good company! We do just process information differently & at times it is a lot of information which can definitely contribute to throwing us in that dysregulated state.
What are some of the causes of nervous system dysregulation?
Chronic stress is the number one cause
Trauma—> physical or emotional
Adverse childhood experiences
Genetics
Lifestyle factors
Underlying health conditions such as autoimmune or hormonal imbalances
Nutritional deficiencies like vitamin B or Magnesium
Environmental factors such as exposure to toxins such as heavy metals or mold
However we are not jars with labels, we're people with individual needs, wants & desires. Maybe you find yourself dysregulated for reasons not on this list, & really those reasons don’t even matter.
What does matter is what are some things we can do to help shift this state.
Tips to regulate the nervous system
Physiological sigh —> You can do this by inhaling & then letting out a loud long sigh at the end of the exhale. Animals do this all the time to help shift themselves out of fight or flight (sympathetic) into rest & digest (parasympathetic)
Breathwork —> Process 1: Box breathing where the inhale, hold, exhale & hold are all the same amount of time.
Example: Inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4, repeat as many times as desired.
Process 2: Rectangle breathing where your exhale is twice as long as your inhale. By lengthening the exhalation breath you are also slowing down your heart rate.
Example: Inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 8, hold 8, repeat as many times as desired
If you are having a hard time with the hold you can skip it, just be sure your exhale is still twice as long as the inhale.
Movement by going for a walk.
Weighted blankets & deep pressure touches
Meditation & mindfulness practices. Learn more about that HERE
Grounding. Learn how to make a grounding spray HERE
Connecting with nature & working with plant allies
Nervous System Regulation with a Tincture Formulation
So let’s now talk a bit about some of the plant allies that I have chosen to go into this formulation.
Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris
Taste
Bitter
Pungent
Fragrant
Herbal Actions & Affinities
Nervine relaxant working to gently unwind states of tension in both the body & the mind. This property is gentle & it won’t necessarily make you sleepy but be sure to test this out for yourself.
Bitter tonic to help support digestion as this is generally the first thing that can be affected. Our body can not digest if we are hanging out in the sympathetic branch of our nervous system.
Energetic
Warming
Drying
Relaxing
Contraindication
Avoid during pregnancy & lactation due to emmenagogue effects (the ability to stimulate menses)
Avoid if you are allergic to anything in the Asteraceae family of plants
Ruling Planet
Venus
Ruling Element
Water
Learn more about ruling Planet & Element HERE
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Taste
Bitter
Aromatic
Herbal Actions & Affinities
Nervine relaxant helping with states of anxiety, burnout, depression & mental hyperactivity. It works by calming down a hyperactive sympathetic (fight or flight) & strengthening the parasympathetic (rest & digest)
Spasmolytic (antispasmodic) helping to reduce spasm of the smooth muscles of the body
Cardiovascular diffusive opening up peripheral circulation which is something you might want if you’re experiencing any anxiety induced hypertension. This action helps improve the health of our capillaries & veins
Bitter tonic helping to support digestion
Energetic
Warming (when taken internally)
Drying
Relaxing
Contraindication
Avoid consuming large amount if you are pregnant
Ruling Planet
Mercury
Ruling Element
Air
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Taste
Bitter
Acrid (the taste of bile in the back of your throat after you’ve been sick)
Herbal Actions & Affinities
Bitter tonic & is considered to be a nauseating bitter which means it has the potential to induce nausea & vomiting if taken in large doses. This action does help move stuck energy in the liver which can be the cause of some of our anxiety & depression. The bitter flavor drives the vital force down when it’s stuck in your head.
Nervine sedative helping to uplift the spirit & can treat various nervous system disorders such as anxiety, nervousness, stress, irritability, depression, insomnia & epilepsy.
Energetic
Cooling
Drying
Relaxing
Contraindication
Kidney disease
In children
In pregnancy & breastfeeding
Ruling Planet
Venus
Ruling Element
Water
Nervous System Regulation with a Tincture Formulation
Recipe:
2 part Mugwort
2 part Lavender
1 part Blue Vervain
100 proof/50% vodka
Instructions:
Grind herbs with mortar & pestle or an herb grinder
Put the herbs in a mason jar
Cover by 2 fingers with alcohol
Put wax paper to cover the jar & secure the lid
Put in a dark place for 6 weeks, shaking daily
Once 6 weeks is up strain through cheesecloth
Place in a amber colored dropper bottle & label
Dosage:
1-2 dropperfuls up to 3 times a day as needed
Comment down below & let me know how do you like to support your nervous system?
Be sure to come back next week where I’ll be sharing a recipe for tea blend to relieve any stomach upset that may be caused by stress.
Until next time, may you find Peace wherever you are!
