Herbs for Nervous System Disorders

Nervous system disorders affect your central or peripheral nervous systems, including brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The FamilyDoctor website lists numerous nervous system disorders, including dementia, Parkinson's disease, migraines and tension headaches, epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, multiple sclerosis and restless leg syndrome. Herbal remedies may help treat nervous system disorders, although herbs are unlikely to cure these conditions. Discuss the risks and benefits of herbs for your ailment with your doctor before taking herbs.

Herbs that may treat neuralgia, or nerve pain, include valerian, meadowsweet and kava kava, notes Sharol Tilgner, a naturopath and author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth." These herbs possess analgesic, or pain-relieving, action. Herbs that may help treat multiple sclerosis include cordyceps, lobelia and skullcap. Cordyceps may help improve memory. Lobelia and skullcap may help relax your nervous system and prevent insomnia -- a common symptom associated with nervous system disorders. Herbs that treat epilepsy include lobelia, hyssop and black cohosh, which help control your central nervous system and produce a calming effect. Migraines often respond to cordyceps, feverfew and ginkgo.

Your nervous system is a complex system that governs and controls your body's functions. MedlinePlus reports that if something goes wrong with your nervous system, it may cause serious health problems, including problems regulating your blood pressure, heart problems, difficulty breathing and swallowing, motor dysfunction and erectile dysfunction in men. Some nervous system disorders may be temporary and self-resolve, while other nervous system problems are chronic, progressive and life-threatening. Some nervous system disorders, such as ALS, cause irreversible damage in your body.

Multiple sclerosis is a nervous system disorder that affects about 350,000 Americans, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable condition, causes mood disturbances, pain, numbness and tingling and numerous other symptoms. UMMC states that several herbal remedies may be helpful in treating MS, including ginkgo, green tea, rhodiola, milk thistle and bromelain.

Herbal remedies may be used in many different ways to improve your health and treat nervous system disorders. UMMC states that herbs may be used as dried extracts, capsules, teas and powders, or tinctures. You can also use certain herbs in teas. Herbal infusions involve steeping leaves for 5 to 10 minutes, while infusions using a plant's roots should steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Before using herbs to treat any condition, you should discuss the proper dosage and the most optimal ways to use herbs for your ailment with your physician or certified herbalist.