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Restore balance and clarity this festive season
Christmas is meant to feel joyful. Instead, for many people it brings a familiar mix of tension, exhaustion and emotional overload. Your nervous system has been running on high alert for weeks, maybe months. Deadlines, social pressure, family dynamics, financial stress… too much to do, too many expectations and too little time to rest.
By mid-December, it’s common to feel wired but tired, snappy with loved ones, struggling to sleep, or overwhelmed by even small decisions. The nervous system is under constant pressure – and coffee, sugar and late nights only add fuel to the fire.
This is where herbal medicine truly shines. Used for centuries, calming herbs gently support the nervous system, helping your body shift out of stress mode and back into balance, without numbing you or knocking you out.
Here are five trusted herbs that can help you feel calmer, steadier and more resilient this Christmas.
Got a health issue you want to resolve? Ready to take charge of your family’s health or explore a career change?
Herbs to relieve Christmas overwhelm
Chamomile – for frazzled nerves and digestive stress
Stress rarely stays in the mind; it drops straight into the stomach. Tightness, bloating, nausea or that ‘knotted’ feeling are all signs your nervous system is overwhelmed.
Chamomile works on the gut-brain axis, calming both digestion and emotions at the same time.
Why it’s helpful:
- Calms anxious, overactive nerves
- Relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract
- Eases stress-related bloating, cramping and discomfort
- Supports deeper, more restful sleep
How to take it:
Drink as a tea 1-3 times daily, especially after meals or before bed.
Lemon Balm – for overwhelm, irritability and mental overload
If your mind feels busy, scattered or emotionally sensitive, lemon balm brings gentle clarity and calm. It’s particularly beneficial when stress shows up as snappiness, worry or emotional ups and downs which is common during the festive season.
Why it’s helpful:
- Soothes anxious or racing thoughts
- Gently lifts low mood and promotes calm focus
- Supports digestion during stress
- Helps you feel more emotionally balanced and steady
How to take it
Sip as a calming tea throughout the day or take 1-2 ml of a tincture up to three times daily for faster, targeted support.
Lavender – for tension, sleep issues and emotional strain
Lavender helps release physical stress in the body – tight shoulders, headaches, shallow breathing, poor sleep. It’s calming without being sedating, making it ideal when you need to unwind but still function.
Why it’s helpful:
- Unwinds a tense mind and body, easing irritability
- Helps the body relax into sleep
- Relieves stress-related headaches and tightness
- Supports emotional balance and resilience
How to take it:
Enjoy as a soothing tea before bed, add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath or diffuser, or apply diluted to your pulse points.
Ashwagandha – for burnout and long-term stress
If Christmas exhaustion is layered on top of ongoing stress, ashwagandha offers deeper support. As an adaptogen, it helps regulate the stress response system, supporting energy, mood and sleep over time.
Why it’s helpful:
- Supports resilience to chronic stress
- Reduce fatigue and burnout
- Helps balance stress hormones
- Improves sleep quality without sedation
How to take it:
Take 1-2 ml of a tincture or follow the recommended dose of a capsule daily, ideally in the evening to support relaxation and recovery.
Skullcap – for a racing mind that won’t switch off
Skullcap is one of the most underrated calming herbs, and one of the most powerful for modern life. It’s ideal when you feel wired, overstimulated or emotionally overloaded, helping to quiet mental chatter and deeply relax the nervous system.
Why it’s helpful:
- Quietly settles the nervous system
- Relieves mental agitation, irritation and restlessness
- Encourages truly restorative sleep
- Promotes a sense of calm and balance throughout the body
How to take it:
Best taken as a tincture in the evening or during periods of high stress (around 2-3 ml). It’s often combined with the herb oats to nourish and rebuild the nervous system.
Sourcing quality herbs
To get the best results, it’s important to choose high-quality herbs:
- Only buy organic dried herbs to avoid pesticides and contaminants.
- Storage matters: Keep herbs in airtight glass jars, away from heat, light and moisture to preserve their potency and prevent mould
- Be cautious with tea bags: Some contain plastics or low-quality fillers that can leach into your drink. Loose-leaf herbs are a safer choice.
- Purchase herbal tinctures from reputable suppliers or CNM-trained herbal practitioners to ensure correct extraction and dosage.
A calmer Christmas starts with your nervous system
Stress and overwhelm aren’t weaknesses – they’re your body asking for support.
Herbs don’t suppress symptoms; they teach the nervous system to settle again, helping you feel calmer, clearer and more grounded – not just at Christmas, but long after the decorations come down.
Ready to use herbs with confidence?
If you want to understand which herbs to use, when to use them, and how to combine them safely, our Herbs for Everyday Living course is the perfect place to start.
You’ll learn:
- How herbs work in the body
- How to support stress, sleep, digestion and immunity naturally
- How to prepare teas, tinctures and home remedies
- How to make confident, informed choices for everyday health
Support your nervous system this Christmas and step into the new year calmer, stronger and more in control.
