In a former life, I was a psychiatric nurse, working in a local hospital handing out medicine that didn’t work.
With any condition you must address the root cause of the problem, yet in my experience as a psychiatric nurse and as a herbalist, modern medication may treat symptoms of mental issues, but not the root cause. You can, however, boost your mental health through food and herbs.
Golden Root (Rhodiola Rosea) is an adaptogenic herb which helps you adapt to the various stresses of modern life – the physical, mental, and environmental stresses that can play havoc with mental health. Golden root balances the endocrine system, which is responsible for everything from energy and mood to weight and bowel habits. Its antidepressant effects are due to an active compound that improves the passage of serotonin precursors, crucial in the protection against depression.
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in the UK and a great herbal remedy is skullcap, excellent in calming nervous stress and treating mental exhaustion. We include it in our anxiety complex.
Chamomile is also a remedy for anxiety, though the tea you find in supermarkets probably doesn’t provide the required dosage or consistency to be truly effective as a form of treatment.
We do suggest chamomile for children or adults who have a very sensitive system, but for most people, you need something stronger.
Herbalist and iridologist Nik Imrye is at 21st Century Herbs, Market Street, Hexham Northumberland NE46 3NU
tel 0844 846 0481
