NERVINE AND ANTISPASMODIC HERBS

Nervines are herbs that strengthen the functional activity of the nervous
system. They may be stimulants or sedatives and can be used to correct
excesses or deficiencies of nervous function. They have a strong action
on the mind and are useful in promoting mental health and clarity as
well as aiding in the treatment of psychological imbalances and mental
diseases.
Most nervines are also antispasmodics; herbs that relieve spasms of the
voluntary or involuntary muscles and thereby relieve cramps, stop
tremors and convulsions. They may also serve as broncho-dilators,
stopping spasms in the bronchial tubes, thus proving effective for
respiratory afflictions. Others may help relieve menstrual cramping and
headaches.
Many of these herbs are fragrant, aromatic herbs like mint or valerian.
This is because aromatic herbs work directly on Prana, the prime energy
of the nervous system, as they are themselves substances that contain
much Prana (the air element). Such aromatic herbs open the mind and
senses,
clear the channels (srotas), relieve congestion, stop pain and restore the
smooth flow of energy in the body-mind system.
Aromatic nervines are often also carminative and stomachic herbs, herbs
that dispel intestinal gas and cramping. The basis for this can be seen in
light of Ayurvedic physiology. Vata, the Dosha that governs the nervous
system, accumulates in the colon, from which it invades the tissue-
elements of the body. It is also in the colon that the assimilation of
nutrients, mainly oils, occurs for the sustenance of nerve and bone
tissue. Hence the treatment of Vata in the colon is often a root treatment
for Vata in the nervous system; V&ta-relieving herbs can treat both.
Generally speaking, in Ayurveda we think of nervousness as Vata or as
the mark of a Vata constitution, for Vata governs nerve responses and,
by nature as air or wind, it is impulsive, vaccillatory, hypersensitive.
Most diseases of the nervous system are diseases of Vata. Hence, in
treating nervous disorders, we must first consider Vata. Most nerve pain,
lumbago, sciatica, paralysis and degenerative nervous disorders are Vata
diseases.
Yet many emotional or nervous disorders may be caused by the other
Doshas, as those due to anger which would be a Pitta condition. Or Vata
may be blocked or aggravated by the other Doshas, in which case an
apparant Vata disorder would be due to an underlying excess of Pitta or
Kapha. So, again, we must locate primary causes rather than evident
effects.
Vata-emotions, like fear and anxiety, weaken the kidneys and adrenals.
They damage the nerves and cause insomnia, mental instability, nerve
pain, cramping and numbness, which may
lead eventually to the wasting away of nerve tissue. Most nervines,
particularly those which are aromatic, move Vata, and so help remove
the obstructed Vata or life-energy behind these disorders.
A few herbs are not only aromatic, but possess tamasic, heavy or dulling
properties. These are particularly good for both moving and grounding
Vata, which suffers from ungroundednessfrom an excess of air
andether. Such herbs include asafoetida, garlic and valerian.
Yet where there is a deficiency of nerve tissues, often due to poor
nutrition, nutritive herbs are neededashwagattdha or licorice (see
tonics). Excessive use of aromatic nervines may further weaken the
nerves by their drying action; they may also be over-stimulating.
Pitta-type emotions, anger, envy, hatred and so on, heat up the blood, the
liver and the heart, creating internal fire. Thereby they can cause
hypertension, insomnia, irritability and other mental and nervous
imbalances. They can also burn out the nerves, a condition of the high-
Pitta, aggressive, business executives life style.
Pirw-caused nervous disorders can often be treated with general anti-
Pitta herbs (see management of Pitta) like bitter tonics or purgatives,
without having to resort to any specific nervine herbs at all.
Yet many, perhaps most, of the herbs that act upon the mind are cooling
in energy. This is because the mind is unbalanced largely by negative
emotions, which are like Pitta and create heat. A calm and clear mind is
usually a cool mind. Hence many herbs for the mind, like gotu kola, are
good anti-Pitta herbs.
Kapha nervous conditions are more a matter of dullness, lethargy,
hypoactivity of the nervous system. Psychologically, Kapha suffers from
greed, desire, attachment, clinging to the past. In terms of the mind and
nerves, Kapha requires stimulation. Nervines that are aromatic, stimulant
and decongestant are best for Kapha, and most aromatics, by their drying
nature, are good for Kapha.
Herbs that put Vata or Pitta to sleep may keep Kapha awakeskullcap,
for example. Herbs affect different Doshas differently. What sedates one
Dosha may stimulate another.
Many herbs that calm the mind tend to have a positive effect on all three
Doshas, as it is in the balance of the Doshas that the mind is calm.
Hence, some nervines may be good for all three Doshas {tridosha
herbs), particularly in small amounts or short term usage. Such cooling
aromatics as mint, chamomile or fennel can be widely used as mild
nervines. Their drying nature relieves Kapha; their cooling energy
relieves Pitta; and their aromatic property removes obstructed Vata.
Like other herbal categories, nervines can be divided into heating and
cooling types. Cooling nervines are generally better for Pitta, heating for
Vata and Kapha (though both kinds reduce Kapha and move
obstructedVata to some degree).
Typical heating nervine and antispasmodic herbs: asafoetida, basil,
bayberry calamus, camphor, eucalyptus, garlic, guggul,
ladys slipper, mug-wort, myrrh, nutmeg, pennyroyal, poppy seeds, sage,
valerian.
Typical cooling nervine and antispasmodic herbs: betony bhringaraj,
catnip, chamomile, gotu kola, hops, jasmine, jatamamsi, motherwort,
mullein, oatstraw, passion flower, peppermint, sandalwood, skullcap,
spearmint, St. Johns Wort, vervain, wild yam.
There are other special nervine herbs that are more like drugs and from
which many drugs have been derived. They contain certain chemicals or
alkaloids on which their action depends. Such special effects of minute
chemicals that transcend the energetics of taste are regarded as examples
of Prabhava. Their action is strong and their side effects cause paralysis.
Most are poisons, severely aggravate Pitta, and should be used with care.
They are outside the scope of this book, but some are used traditionally
in Ayurveda for these special effects. Examples include dhatura
(jimsonweed), digitalis, marijuana, opium.
Metals, minerals and gems have special action on the mind and nervous
system. Ayurveda includes within its scope special preparations of these,
made non-toxic to the human body. Such compounds relate back to the
old alchemical tradition and are called Siddha yoga compounds. Many
are traceable to the great Buddhist sage Nagarjuna, who was also a great
Ayurvedic doctor, said to have lived for many centuries. These
compounds also relate to longevity therapy (see rejuvenatives, under
tonics) and are another special feature of Ayurveda.