Traditional Medicines to Help with the Stress and Anxiety of 2020 by Linda Black Elk

It’s a difficult time. Everyone is stressed, anxiety is common, depression even more so…and people of every political affiliation are on edge. We all know that the system is designed to keep us in a constant state of panic, worry, and fear. It is designed to divide us and keep us at each other’s throats...because we are stronger together and “they” fear that. Trump’s racist rhetoric and the ways he panders to the seedy, white supremacist underbelly of this nation make it even more frightening for those of us who are brown and our allies who see the Hiter-esque nature of his administration.

It is more important than ever that we break free of this corrupt system and the corrupt people who run it...and that we move forward with open hearts and open minds...but what do we do about all of this pent up rage? What do we do when we are too sad or too anxious to get up in the morning? How do we fight the depression that threatens to consume us?

First...remember that there is no shame in feeling the way you do. Talk about it...talk to someone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even if that includes western medication. I personally prefer other methods of treatment, but there is no shame in doing what is best for your well being.

Second, I realize that depression, anxiety, and stress have different mechanisms of action and different impacts of our mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual health. However, traditional medicines tend to have a more general action to combat these issues, so I will be writing about these illnesses fairly generally. (I’ll try to be as specific as possible in how the recommended plants work to help us.)

Third, depression and anxiety often manifest themselves physically. Have you been sore lately? Joints feel swollen? Have you recently been diagnosed with allergies, arthritis, or some other inflammatory issue? These issues can often be attributed to...DEPRESSION! It’s true...depression and anxiety often cause inflammation, which may lead to arthritis, gout, etc. Many of the people I work with have found relief of their arthritis by dealing with their depression first.

Here are some strategies and herbs that I recommend during these white times.

First of all...go outside. There is a well-documented link between Vitamin D deficiency and depression. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin...and it’s the only supplement I really use during the winter months to keep my immune system high and to keep anxiety and depression at bay. During the summer you can still take a Vitamin D supplement, but getting outside provides more than just Vitamin D. One of the most simple and effective ways to lift your mood is to go outdoors...we need vitamin D, we need physical activity, we need fresh air, and we need to be in touch with plants and soil.

Grow your own food, medicine, and flowers. Numerous studies have shown that getting in touch with plants and soil microbes is an effective way to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Plus, you will be growing real food...for free. Growing flowers (especially medicines like oregano, beebalm, goldenrod, sunflowers, echinacea, yarrow, and milkweed) make your surroundings beautiful, benefit native pollinating insects, and...you can harvest and dry all of these plants for use in salves, tinctures, elixers, snack mixes, and teas! Food is medicine!

Eat well. Highly processed foods that are high in preservatives, sodium, food colorings, sugar, and dairy have extremely depressing impacts on your mood, and also on your immune system, making you more susceptible to disease. If you need a sweet treat, try fruit, honey, or maple syrup. They’re better for your health overall, and they won’t depress your mood or your immune system. Plus, as I’ve said before, a healthy gut microbiome is one of the best ways to fight depression and anxiety. Adding fermented foods, fresh veggies, traditional foods, and lots of fresh fruits and herbs to your diet can go a long way towards alleviating all kinds of emotional issues.

Here are some herbs I use in alleviating stress, depression, and anxiety. I use all of these as a tea or as a tincture/glycerite. All of these herbs are quite safe, even for young people. I use a lot of these herbs in my everyday cooking! I’ve provided one recipe, but you should Google your own recipes and directions, and do lots of research. If you have questions or concerns, consult with someone you trust.

****Blue vervain - Verbena hastata:
Blue vervain is a wonderful “centering” plant. Anytime I am feeling out of sorts, sad, overly stressed, or just off balance, I will drink a cup or two of blue vervain tea and brings me right back to the center. Blue vervain is safe and effective, even for kids. It is calming and lifting, and it has a really nice flavor.
****Hops - Humulus lupulus:
Hops are mildly sedative, so if you’re having trouble sleeping, I recommend hops tea or tincture. Hops isn’t overwhelming, and it doesn’t cause the dependency issues that you might get from a herb like valerian. Although the sedative properties in hops are mild, I always start off with a really small dose and increase from there depending on how much sleep I’m losing. Also, hops are wonderful for bringing a sense of calm and decreasing feelings of stress and anxiety.
****Valerian - Valeriana officinalis:
Valerian root is a fairly powerful sleep aid. I don’t recommend using it every day or for extended periods, as there are some documented cases of a sort of ”dependency.” If I am having a lot of trouble sleeping and hops isn’t cutting it, I will add some valerian to my hops tea for five days and then stop...just enough to get back in to a routine.
****Rose - Rosa spp.: For myself, there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh roses to lift my mood. I use rose essential oil almost every day. Rose petal and rose hip tea have similar calming and mood lifting properties and they both taste amazing. Rose glycerite is also effective and, frankly, it tastes incredible. Don’t forget...rose hips are an important traditional food for many tribes, and can be used in muffins, breads, and other sweets.
****Linden flowers (aka basswood) - Tilia americana:
Have you ever smelled a basswood tree in bloom? The smell can only be described as intoxicating. These creamy white flowers also make a fragrant floral tea that relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety by regulating the nervous system.
****Chamomile/pineapple weed - Matricaria spp.:
Chamomile tea works well when anxiety and depression are co-present. It is a calming herb and it also helps to bring balance to the nervous system. I love to use the native chamomile known as pineappleweed....simply because I love the flavor and aroma.
****Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata:
Not only is passionflower a gorgeous Native vine with edible fruit, it is also an amazing tea for treating depression, anxiety, insomnia, and pain. Passionflower regulates brain chemistry and makes depression symptoms less severe.
****Mint - Mentha spp.:
I’ve lived on Standing Rock most of my life, and in that time I’ve drank “cheyaka” or mint tea a thousand times. It is probably the most common traditional beverage of the Lakota and it’s easy to see why. Mint tea is delicious, it is great for digestion, and it is effective in treating mood disorders and anxiety. Nothing is more calming and centering than a cup of mint tea with a sprinkle of maple sugar. You can use many different kinds of mint and even try various combinations (I love peppermint, spearmint, and holy basil) ... find a recipe that works for you.

Linda’s favorite anti-stress tea:
* 2 tsp peppermint
* 1 tsp spearmint
* 1 tsp holy basil
* 1 tsp dried chamomile
* 1/2 tsp passionflower
* 1/2 tsp linden

Add the above ingredients to a 16 ounce mason jar and fill the rest of the jar with hot water. Allow mixture to infuse for 20 min. Strain. Add honey, maple sugar, or stevia. Drink throughout the day.

I hope you all find this useful. I’m here for you and just trying to spread the love in the only way I know how.
#stress #anxiety #depression #plantmedicine #medicinalplants #2020

By Linda Black Elk

Linda Black Elk (Catawba) is an ethnobotanist specializing in teaching about culturally important plants and their uses as food and medicine. Linda works to protect food sovereignty, traditional plant knowledge, and environmental quality as an extension of the fight against hydraulic fracturing and the fossil fuels industry. She has written for numerous publications, and is the author of “Watoto Unyutapi”, a field guide to edible wild plants of the Dakota people.