A prime example...March 2026

So I didn't plan on a second post for March, but I just came across the perfect example from my last post.

I had alot of outreach all of a sudden for valerian root extract. Too many enquires for it to be a coincidence.

One of my clients said that a major media news channel had mentioned valerian as an alternative to Valium/Xanax medication.

So before you run to the local health food store to purchase it I would suggest reading further.

Once again I say..."Not all herbs are meant for all people".

Yes, valerian has been used for centuries to relax the body, help with insomnia, calm the mind, BUT, it can have the complete opposite affect on a person.

It can keep them awake, make them agitated, and irritable. This is what's known as a paradoxical reaction.

There isn't alot of research as to why this happens. There can be many factors, right down to a genetic component.

Like I said, we are all different in our chemistries, which in turn is why its best to consult your health practitioner and do your research before spending the money on the latest and greatest remedy.

Most of us in practice have become our own test subjects. I don't know anyone in this field that hasn't tried the "controversial" herbs on ourselves just to see what would happen.

Valerian and I are not in sink. It makes me "wired- tired."

Where as I have clients that can take it, and it puts them right to sleep.

Sadly, I don't use it in my formula's unless someone has used it before and had a good experience with it. I've made it a "upon request" ingredient.

For folks that have had my experience with it and have trouble taking it, I find skullcap (Scutellaria) can be a lovely alternative, unless of course your allergic to plants in the Lamiaceae/ mint family.

There are so many alternatives that can work for YOUR special chemistry, and specific condition.

I always encourage folks not to just keep switching from one remedy to another, allopathic or natural. Look into whats causing the problem in the first place.

Find the root cause.

Yes, its great to get on the natural course if you can, but don't replace one bandaid with another.

Work with your practitioner , whether they be of the natural path or the western/allopathic one.

Don't just settle for another pill, or tonic.

If your currently taking something for anxiety and a distressed nervous system, fine, but don't you want to find out why that's happening to you? What and where the problem lies in your body? What the trigger is.

With today's busy lifestyle folks are so quick to take whatever their healthcare professional

provides for them, as long as it brings instant relief.

That choice can become a lifetime of reliance, and expense.

Don't get me wrong, with all that's going on in the world over the last 5 years, who couldn't use a little "nervine" love? There are plenty of them out there to try when needed.

I can't express this enough... learn to know your body, and what works with and against it.

With today's resources you can research until your heart's content.

• Nervine- medicinal action used to calm the nerves.

There are natural nervines for just about ever situation:

*Overwhelm and burnout

*Depression

*Overactive mind ( one of my friends use to call this "monkey mind")

*Grief

*Anxiety

*Insomnia and restless sleep

*Panic attacks/ Fear

*Exhaustion-Physical and emotional

*PTSD

*Irritability/Agitation

...and the list goes on.

A word of advice from personal experience. If you are having an issue with any of the above,

check out your vitamin levels and make sure they're where they need to be.

When there is a deficiency of nutrients in the body, it can show in the nervous system very quickly, as it can affect production of our happy hormones, like serotonin and dopamine.

There can also be a trickle down affect if your vitamin D deficient. One vitamin will affect how another works, and that one will affect another's action...and so on.

By balancing nutrient deficiency your need for a nervine may just fade away, but

that's a story for next month's entry.

Blessings!

-Kat

Weather yesterday: 80 degrees with sunshine

Weather today: Expecting rain with snow flurries this afternoon.

Don't like the weather in NJ, just wait 15 minutes.