Being Calm

Hypermobility and Anxiety

Most people who have hypermobile issues also seem to suffer from more than their share of anxiety. If anxiety is constant or occasional for you, consider a regular and thoughtful use of plants. I think of calming plants in three layers. There are the ones that tend to be quite gentle, those in the middle, and a few heavy hitters. If you really suffer from anxiety you may be tempted to go straight to those with more intense effects. I caution against this. Try a few of the most gentle herbs and use them regularly and then move up. We tend to be more sensitive to things so be gentle with yourself, use one plant for a month and notice how it affects you.

And as always, if you are pregnant, nursing or using any kind of blood thinner (including aspirin) talk to your doctor first. This information is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling, diagnosis and/or treatment by a trained physician. Herbs and other botanicals are presently classified by the Food and Drug Administration as foods, not as medicines.

Gentle Calming Plants

Chamomile Tea

In the children’s book, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” Peter gets a fright and is put to bed with a cup of chamomile tea to calm him down. I recommend starting with a cup of chamomile tea daily. Add some honey. Sip and enjoy. I prefer these gentle nervines in the late afternoon or early evening. If you are allergic to ragweed, chamomile might not be the right choice for you.

Lavender Tea, Salves, Cremes and Essential Oils

Lavender is used orally, in teas, creams, and even ice cream. Lavender essential oil is one of the most helpful oils for relaxation and sleep.1 I put lavender essential oil drops on my dryer balls when I dry sheets and towels. I have some lavender essential oil in a small roller-ball container that I sniff when upset. Lavender or lavender and chamomile is a nice tea mix and a cup later in each day can help you feel calmer.

One note about essential oils: they are strong! None of them are intended to be eaten. Most are not intended to be put directly on your skin. My lavender calming go-to is a small vial of witch hazel with a few drops of lavender essential oil (from a wonder herbal garden in Crete called Maravel Gardens).

Peppermint

Peppermint tea is said to be good for digestion and good for soothing nervous tension. If you feel anxiety and it affects your stomach, peppermint tea can be a great choice.

I would schedule a regular tea break with any or all three of these. While each can help with a more acute incident or upset, I believe that regular use really helps build stronger nerves.

Slightly Stronger Nervines

Lemon Balm

I am writing these posts during the “shelter-in-place” part of the pandemic and anxiety is very high. I have found that inactivity is my worst EDS-enemy and so try to take several walks per day and do some resistance exercise every other day. Otherwise I will just hurt. My mental health is good some days and not so good others. Once a week I take a “bed day,” and just chill. Every day I drink a pot of lemon balm tea and add a bit of honey and some lemon balm tincture. It is my go-to so far in the crisis and the reason I can sleep at night. I just buy lemon balm tea on Amazon but could get it at our local herb herb shop if I could go there.

Linden

Teas made from the flowers of the linden tree have a slightly floral flavor and are thought to help clear and calm the mind. It also makes a good iced tea. Linden tea bags can be found at most Mediterranean stores. There is a local deli at the Caspian Bistro & Marketplace in Minneapolis that carries it.

Motherwort

This beautiful prickly weed grows right outside my door. She is one of the first plants up in the spring and the last to die down in the fall. Motherwort is often used to help calm young women, especially young mothers. While it is available in tea form, motherwort has a bitter, dry taste. I prefer it in a tincture and make some each year with brandy. I have found motherwort good when taken regularly but very good in more acute situations like the dentist or airplanes (my two anxiety places). Motherwort has a slight blood thinning action. Take care with motherwort and get some professional advice about using it if you take blood thinners (even daily aspirin!)

I keep a bottle of motherwort tincture on my desk for two reasons. One is that it seems to help me focus on my work. The other is because of what I read about the blood clotting that Covid 19 can cause. To be clear, I HAVE NO IDEA if motherwort will help prevent that – but if it keeps me calm and my blood a little bit “slippery,” I think it is a win right now.

Stronger Medicines

If you are having any type of anesthesia, please stop using any of these nervines a week before. They can affect how the anesthesia works.

Valerian Root

Valerian root has long been used as a sedative and sleep aid. It can be a tea, a decoction or a tincture. Some people even use it as a foot soak. For me, this is one of those cases that prove the rule that you have to find the plants that work best for you and one size does not fit all. Valerian root, which I tried as a menopausal sleep aid, gives me three to four solid hours of sleep and then I am awake. Very awake! It is just too strong for me. My daughter reported that taking valerian root gives her some really intense dreams. I have made and used a valerian flower tincture and slept really well. Unfortunately, the flowers are hard to buy so I will be planting them in my garden this year. If you have real sleep issues, valerian may well help you.

Kava kava

I generally use kava kava as a tea. In my experience, it is more than a calmative, it is anti-spasmodic and when I have muscles spasms it has really helped. Kava is best used acutely, and has been said to help quit smoking. I do not drink it every day but do use it when my mini-seizures flare up or when I am in a lot of pain. I always have kava kava tea in my cupboard and use it a lot for neck spasms.

I hope you take the time to experiment with these plants and find the ones that help you. As you know, I am not a doctor, I am an herbalist. Please know this is not medical advice, but merely information and ideas that may be of help in living more comfortably in a hypermobile body. This information is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling, diagnosis and/or treatment by a trained physician. Herbs and other botanicals are presently classified by the Food and Drug Administration as foods, not as medicines.

1. Breus, Michael J. PhD. “The Relaxing, Self-Promoting, Health-Boosting Powers of Lavender.” Aug 7, 2018 on the Sleep Doctor blog.