
Summer Blues: Herbs for That Weird Anxious Feeling
Summer is supposed to feel light and joyful, but for many of us, it brings something... weird. Maybe you feel wired but tired, on edge for no reason, or like your nervous system is one iced coffee away from short circuiting. If you're feeling emotionally crispy, you're not alone- and the plants are here to help.
Your nervous system may feel fried in the summer but read on for how to support it naturally with calming herbs like Blue Vervain, Milky Oat Tops, Skullcap, Tulsi, and Chamomile, and how to make a refreshing herbal iced tea using our Stress Less Tea Blend, perfect for sipping our way back to center.
Why Summer Feels Anxious (Even If You're "Supposed" to Be Happy)
While winter is often linked to seasonal depression, summer anxiety is a real thing. The heat, longer days, disrupted sleep, social overload, and overstimulation can rev up your nervous system and leave you feeling drained or ungrounded.
Signs your nervous system might be overstimulated:
- Trouble sleeping or falling asleep
- Racing thoughts or "buzzing" under the skin
- sensory overwhelm (sounds, light, touch)
- Digestive upset related to stress
- Feeling anxious for no clear reason
- Snapping at small things or withdrawing socially
This fried feeling isn't a personal failure; it's your body trying to adapt to an intense environment. And that's where herbs can step in and gently regulate, restore, and cool your nervous system.
Herbal Allies for the Summer Blues
Here are some of the key nervines and adaptogens featured in our Stress Less Tea Blend and other Root to Bone Herbal offerings that can soothe your system and lift the fog of summer anxiety.
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)- The Tension Tamer
Best for: People who carry stress in their neck, shoulders, and jaw.
Blue Vervain is a cooling nervine known for releasing muscular tension and quelling obsessive, overactive thoughts. If you're the type that can't stop over processing (even when lying in bed), this bitter, grounding herb helps pull you out of your head and back into your body.
Milky Oat Tops (Avena sativa)- Nervous System Nourisher
Best for: long term stress, burnout, emotional fragility.
Milky oats are like food for your frazzled nerves. They don't sedate; they rebuild and restore. If you're running on empty or feeling like your emotional edges are raw, Milky oats can help you recover your resilience over time.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)- The Gentle Quiet
Best for: racing thoughts, insomnia, nervous irritability.
Skullcap is a gentle but effective herb for nervous system regulation. particularly when you feel anxious, overstimulated, or quick to anger. It's great for people who feel emotionally reactive or have trouble letting go of tension at the end of the day.
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)- The Adaptogenic Uplifter
Best for: mood support, immune stress, emotional clarity.
Also known as Holy Basil, Tulsi is a revered adaptogen that calms the nerves while uplifting the spirit. It helps the body adapt to stress without sedating, making it perfect for those who need to stay clear and energized but less emotionally reactive.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)- The Nervous System Softener
Best for: sensitive stomach, emotional overwhelm, gentle grounding.
Chamomile is more than just sleepy time tea, it's a powerful nervine for digestion, emotional tension, and sensory overload. It's especially helpful if your anxiety shows up as stomachaches or tightness in the gut.
Bonus Allies from Root to Bone Herbal
You'll also find Lemon Balm (uplifting and antiviral), Passionflower (helpful for circular thoughts), and Rose (soothing to the emotional heart) in Root to Bone Herbal stress support formulas.
Each herb is chosen not just for its physical effects, but for its emotional and energetic gifts- helping you come back to yourself, one sip at a time.
Make a Delicious Herbal Iced Tea with Stress Less Blend
A refreshing way to bring these nervines into your daily rhythm is with an iced infusion of our Stress Less Tea Blend.
How to Brew It Cold-Infused (Sun Tea or Fridge Method)
What you need:
- 1/4 cup Stress Less Tea Blend
- 32 oz filtered water
- A quart mason jar or French press
- Optional: slice of lemon, splash of honey, or lavender sprig
Instructions:
- Add 1/4 cup tea blend to your jar
- Fill with cold or room temp water
- Let steep 4-8 hours on the counter or in the fridge (overnight is best) or let steep in the sun
- Strain, chill, and serve over ice
- Sweeten or add lemon or lavender sprig if desired
It's cooling, calming, and naturally caffeine free, a perfect replacement for your afternoon iced coffee when your body needs a break, not a jolt.
Supporting Your Nervous System This Summer
Your body is wise. If you're feeling anxious, burnt out, or emotionally tangled this season, you don't need to push through, you need replenishment. The herbs in our Stress Less Tea and other Root to Bone Herbal blends aren't magic bullets- they're gentle guides helping you regulate, restore, and return to balance.
Let summer be a time not of pressure to perform, but of permission to soften.
Try our Stress Less Tea Blend
Sip your way to calm with a soothing mix of Skullcap, Tulsi, Milky oat tops, and Lemon balm and more
Try Stress Less Tea
Try Feminine Restore
Try Sleep Easy Tea
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