Herbs for Stress: Adaptogens, Nervines + Hypnotics

Support your nervous system naturally by exploring herbs that help the body adapt to physical, mental, and emotional stress. Stress is an inevitable part of life, but our ability to adapt and recover is what determines our long-term health and resilience. In this workshop, we'll explore how herbal medicine has traditionally been used to support the nervous system, promote balance, and help the body adapt to periods of physical, mental, and emotional stress. Blending traditional herbalism with modern research, this class will provide a practical framework for understanding adaptogens, nervines, hypnotics, and herbal energetics, while emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting stress. We'll begin the class by understanding stress and how it impacts our minds and bodies. Before selecting herbs, it's important to understand what stress actually is. We'll begin by exploring: • Acute vs. chronic stress • The body's stress response and why it exists • The sympathetic ("fight or flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous systems • How chronic stress affects sleep, digestion, immunity, hormones, mood, and energy • Why restoring resilience is often more important than simply suppressing symptoms We'll examine the three primary groups of herbs commonly used to support the nervous system and discuss when each is most appropriate: adaptogens, nervines and hypnotics. We'll also look at individual herbs, and develop an understanding of their energetics and how to know which one will be best for you. You'll Leave With • A clear understanding of how adaptogens differ from nervines and hypnotics • Confidence recognizing common stress-supporting herbs • An introduction to herbal energetics and individualized herb selection • A foundational understanding of the body's stress physiology • Practical tools for building balanced herbal protocols using both traditional wisdom and modern insights Whether you're just beginning your herbal journey or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to one of herbal medicine's most valuable areas of practice.