The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Filtered by body system:Nervous SystemClear

Several of these herbs can make you sleepy and add to the effects of alcohol and of sleep or anxiety medicines, so don't drive if they make you drowsy. Some, such as kava, have been linked to liver damage. For ongoing anxiety, low mood or sleep problems, talk to a health professional. These herbs are listed because of traditional use or research, not because they're proven treatments.

Results

36 herbs

No. 001Medicinal

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

A root from Ayurvedic medicine, traditionally used to help the body cope with stress.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress · Anxiety

No. 002Medicinal

Bai Zhi

Angelica dahurica

Angelica dahurica root, used in China, Korea and Japan for colds, headache, blocked sinuses, toothache and skin sores. Research is in the lab and in animals.

Headache

No. 003Medicinal

Bee Balm

Monarda didyma

A red-flowered North American mint, also called Oswego tea, used by the Cherokee as a tea and as a poultice for colds and headaches. Human research is very limited.

Headache

No. 004Medicinal

Brahmi

Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa, long used in Ayurvedic medicine for nerve and behavior problems. Reviews of trials suggest it may modestly improve memory and attention speed.

Memory and Thinking

No. 005Culinary

Butterfly Pea Flower

Clitoria ternatea

A vivid blue flower used as a colour-changing tea and food colouring, and traditionally in South Asia to boost memory and for headache and eye infections.

Memory and Thinking

No. 006Medicinal

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

A plant in the mint family traditionally used for colic, coughs, asthma and nervous upset. Its oil is also an effective mosquito repellent.

Stress

No. 007Medicinal

Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

A daisy-like flower, usually made into tea, traditionally used for relaxation and digestive comfort.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Anxiety

No. 008Medicinal

Devil's Horsewhip

Achyranthes aspera

Prickly chaff flower, a weedy plant used in folk medicine around the world, including for menstrual problems and fertility control. Research so far is in lab and animal studies.

Memory and Thinking

No. 009Medicinal

Evodia Fruit

Tetradium ruticarpum

Wu zhu yu, a Chinese medicine fruit used to dispel cold, relieve pain and stop vomiting and diarrhoea, including for headache and period pain. It's mildly toxic and has caused liver damage.

Headache

No. 010Medicinal

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium

A daisy-like herb recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy to help prevent migraines. Research results are mixed. Don't take it during pregnancy.

Headache

No. 011Medicinal

Gambir Hook Vine

Uncaria rhynchophylla

Gou teng, the hooked stems of a climbing shrub used in Chinese medicine for over 1,500 years for convulsions, tremors, and high blood pressure with headache and dizziness.

Headache

No. 012Medicinal

Gastrodia Elata Rhizome

Gastrodia elata

Tian ma, the tuber of an orchid recorded over 2,000 years ago and used in Chinese medicine for headache, dizziness, high blood pressure and stroke. Research is mostly in the lab and in animals.

Headache

No. 013Medicinal

Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

A plant used in traditional medicine for circulation, wounds and memory. Small studies suggest possible benefits for anxiety and thinking, but the evidence isn't strong.

Anxiety · Memory and Thinking

No. 014Medicinal

Gui Pi Wan

Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis and 9 other herbs

A classical 12-herb Chinese formula used to tonify qi and blood, for palpitations, forgetfulness, insomnia, poor appetite and tiredness. Small Chinese trials suggest it may help heart failure and anaemia alongside standard treatment.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia)

No. 015Medicinal

Holy Basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum

Tulsi, a highly revered plant in India used in Ayurveda for stress, coughs, asthma and many other conditions. Small studies suggest it may ease stress and anxiety.

Stress · Anxiety · Memory and Thinking

No. 016Medicinal

Hops

Humulus lupulus

The cone-like flowers of the hop vine, best known for flavoring beer. Recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress

No. 017Medicinal

Ju Hua

Chrysanthemum morifolium

Chrysanthemum flowers, drunk as tea in China for over 3,000 years and used in Chinese medicine for colds, dizziness, headaches and the eyes. It hasn't been tested on its own in clinical trials.

Headache

No. 018Medicinal

Kava

Piper methysticum

A root from the South Pacific, drunk in ceremonies for thousands of years. It may ease anxiety short term, but it has been linked to rare, sometimes fatal, liver damage.

Anxiety

No. 019Aromatic

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

A purple-flowered herb prized for its scent and traditionally used to relax.

Anxiety

No. 020Medicinal

Leaf of Life

Bryophyllum pinnatum

One of Jamaica's most popular bush medicines, used for colds and flu. In Switzerland, tablets made from its leaf juice have been studied for overactive bladder and sleep.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia)

No. 021Medicinal

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

A lemon-scented relative of mint, traditionally used to ease stress and help with sleep.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress · Anxiety · Memory and Thinking

No. 022Medicinal

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citrodora

A lemon-scented shrub whose leaves make a herbal tea. It's recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress, to help sleep, and for mild digestive complaints such as bloating and gas.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress

No. 023Culinary

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

A lemon-scented grass, called fever grass in Jamaica, brewed as a tea for colds and flu and used in cooking. In a Brazilian study, lemongrass tea didn't help people sleep or feel less anxious.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Anxiety

No. 024Medicinal

Linden

Tilia cordata

Flowers of the lime (linden) tree, traditionally made into tea for colds, stress and nervous heart complaints.

Stress

No. 025Medicinal

Lion's Mane

Hericium erinaceus

An edible mushroom studied for memory and mood. Small trials suggest it may help thinking in older adults with mild memory problems.

Anxiety · Memory and Thinking

No. 026Medicinal

Milky Oats

Avena sativa

The green oat plant, sold as milky oats or oat herb. Oat herb harvested before flowering is recognised in Europe as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress

No. 027Medicinal

Passion Flower

Passiflora incarnata

A climbing vine from the Americas, used as a calming herb since at least the 1500s. It is recognized in Europe for mild stress and to help sleep, and small studies suggest it may ease anxiety.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress · Anxiety

No. 028Medicinal

Pepper Elder

Piper amalago

A plant in the pepper family whose leaves are made into a Jamaican bush tea for colds and flu. Research so far is mostly in rats.

Anxiety

No. 029Medicinal

Poppy

Papaver rhoeas

The red corn poppy, a common field weed, used in folk medicine for coughs, sleep problems, diarrhea and pain, and eaten in salads. Eating it has poisoned adults, causing seizures and loss of consciousness. It's a different plant from the opium poppy.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia)

No. 030Medicinal

Poria Cocos

Wolfiporia cocos

Fu ling, an edible fungus used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years to promote urination, reduce swelling, aid digestion and calm the mind. It's in nearly 15% of Chinese Pharmacopoeia preparations.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia)

No. 031Medicinal

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea

Golden root, recognised in the EU as a traditional herbal medicine for stress symptoms such as tiredness and exhaustion. Small trials suggest it may help exercise performance.

Stress

No. 032Medicinal

Sceletium Tortuosum

Sceletium tortuosum

A South African succulent, known as kanna, chewed for centuries by the San and Khoi peoples to ease hunger, thirst and tiredness and to lift mood. Small trials of an extract found it well tolerated.

Stress · Memory and Thinking

No. 033Medicinal

Siamese Cassia

Senna siamea

A tree whose leaves are eaten in Thailand, where it is called khi lek and traditionally used for sleep. A calming product made from it caused cases of hepatitis.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Anxiety

No. 034Medicinal

Skullcap

Scutellaria lateriflora

A North American mint-family herb, taken as a tea or extract for anxiety, stress and sleep. It has been linked to rare cases of liver injury, often in mixed products.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Stress · Anxiety

No. 035Medicinal

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

A root traditionally used to help with sleep.

Sleep Problems (Insomnia) · Anxiety

No. 036Medicinal

White Willow

Salix alba

Willow bark, a natural source of salicin, a relative of aspirin. Recognized in Europe for short-term lower back pain, and traditionally for joint pain, fever and headache.

Headache