Herbs for Depression: What People Have Turned To for Centuries
Everyone has days when the heart feels heavy. And most of us have learned it isn't only "in your head." It shows up in how you sleep, how your stomach feels, how much energy you have, and whether you feel like you have a purpose to get up for.
A lot of people are searching for herbs for depression, and that is a completely understandable thing to do. So here is a warm, honest look at the herbs people have turned to for centuries, what history and folklore say about them, and the bigger picture that most of those lists leave out.*
Herbs People Have Turned To for Low Mood
A quick note on how to read this section. Some of these herbs have real research behind them, some have centuries of traditional use, and some have a bit of folklore mixed in. We'll tell you which is which as we go.*
St. John's Wort
This is the herb most people think of first. Greek physicians wrote about it more than two thousand years ago. Dioscorides described several kinds of Hypericum (its botanical family) and recommended them for sciatic pain and burns, and Galen used it on wounds. Over the centuries, European folk herbalism came to link it with the nerves and low spirits, and today it is widely used in Europe, especially in Germany.*
It is one of the most studied herbs in this area, though results have been mixed.*
Gotu Kola
In Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from India that goes back thousands of years, gotu kola is counted among the Medhya Rasayana, the herbs traditionally valued for the mind and memory. It is said that Buddhist monks used it to settle the mind for meditation, and in Bali it has a reputation as "the student herb." There is even a folk legend that elephants eat it, which is supposed to explain their famous memories. That one is folklore, but it tells you how highly people thought of it. By the 1880s it was accepted as a drug in France.*
You'll find gotu kola in our Good Night Tea.*
Kava
Kava has one of the longest histories of any calming plant. It was first cultivated in northern Vanuatu about 3,000 years ago and spread across the Pacific islands. The root is pounded, mixed with water, and shared from a communal bowl. Village healers traditionally used it for fretfulness, troubled thoughts, and sleeplessness, and the sharing was as important as the drink. In Fiji, it is said that settling an argument meant bringing kava to the other person's home and drinking it together. Captain Cook's voyage was one of the first to record the ceremony in detail.*
Valerian Root
Valerian has been used for well over 2,000 years. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen prescribed it for insomnia. In 1597 the herbalist John Gerard noted that the poor in northern England and southern Scotland valued the dried root so much that no broth or stew was worth much without it. It is reported that the Italian botanist Columna used it for his own epilepsy, and the medieval abbess Hildegard of Bingen is often credited with praising it for "stormy thoughts." In Sweden, folklore says it was tucked into a groom's wedding clothes to keep the elves from envying the happy couple.*
Valerian is one of the herbs in our Blood LifeBoost Tea.*
Saffron
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and people have prized it for a very long time. An Egyptian papyrus from around 2000 BC mentions it. The ancient Persians cultivated it, and their threads were mixed into hot tea as a remedy for bouts of melancholy. The Phoenicians sold it for the same purpose. Researchers are currently studying saffron's effect on mood, but that research is still preliminary.*
Saffron is one of the botanicals in Isabelle's Digestive Tonic, a traditional Swedish bitters formula.*
Tulsi and Ashwagandha
These two come from Ayurveda and are often called adaptogens, a modern word for herbs traditionally used to help the body cope with stress. Tulsi (holy basil) is considered sacred across India and is often called "the queen of herbs." Ashwagandha root powder has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. Research on both is ongoing and the evidence so far is tentative.*
Both are in our Immune LifeBoost Tea.*
Chamomile, Lavender, and Lion's Mane
Chamomile and lavender are the old evening favorites. Chamomile has been a bedtime tea in Europe for generations, and lavender has long been used for its calming scent. Both are in our Good Night Tea alongside gotu kola.* Lion's Mane is a mushroom that has drawn a lot of interest for focus and nerve health, and early research is under way. We carry it as a tincture and in a mushroom coffee.*
A note on the research: much of the modern work on these herbs has been done in laboratories, in small studies, or in other countries, and has not been confirmed in large human clinical trials. Traditional use tells us how people have used a plant, not that it works for any particular condition. A few practical notes: St. John's wort can interact with many medications, including prescription antidepressants and birth control. Kava has been linked to rare but severe liver injury (the FDA issued a warning in 2002, and the EU temporarily banned kava medicines that year before a German court overturned the ban in 2014), which is one reason we don't sell it. Ashwagandha has also been linked to liver injury in some people and should be avoided during pregnancy. If you take medication or have a health condition, check with your pharmacist or healthcare provider before adding any herb.
Your Body and Your Mind Are Not Separate
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: how you feel emotionally is tied to how your whole body is doing. A few places worth looking:
- Sleep. A few bad nights can color everything. A calming evening ritual, like a cup of Good Night Tea, is a gentle place to start.*
- Your gut. The gut has its own network of nerves, and a large share of the body's serotonin is made there. When digestion is quietly sluggish, mood can follow. This is exactly why Europeans have drunk digestive bitters for centuries. Read what Swedish bitters are and why they have been used for so long, or take a look at Isabelle's Digestive Tonic.*
- Your liver. Traditional Chinese medicine has long connected the liver with irritability and emotional tension. Whether or not you buy that framework, a sluggish, run-down feeling is often what pushes people toward a liver reset. See our Liver LifeBoost Tea.*
- Things nobody has looked into. Low thyroid, nutrient gaps, and other undiagnosed problems can drag on mood for years. If you've felt off for a while, it is worth getting checked so you aren't guessing.
Feeling Good About Yourself Matters More Than You Think
When you take care of your body, it changes how you see yourself. Drinking water, getting outside, moving a little, going to bed on time, and making yourself a proper cup of tea are small acts, but they tell your mind, "I'm worth looking after." Small wins add up, and feeling a bit better about yourself tends to make the next good choice easier.
The Part Most Lists Leave Out: Spiritual Health
We'll say this plainly, because we believe it is probably the biggest factor of all: a person was not made to carry life alone, and the health of the soul has a lot to do with the health of the mind.
For Christians, that starts with knowing you are loved and held by God. The Bible is honest about low seasons. David poured out his heart in the Psalms, Elijah sat under a tree and asked to die, and Job wrestled with despair. Faith is not a quick fix, and it doesn't mean a believer will never struggle. But it gives you somewhere to bring the heaviness.
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18, KJV)
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 42:11, KJV)
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7, KJV)
Notice that phrase in Psalm 42: God is "the health of my countenance." Faith and wellbeing were never meant to be separate subjects. Prayer, scripture, a church family who shows up with a casserole, gratitude, and serving someone else all give a person something steady to hold onto, and they pull you out of your own head.*
Research has often found that regular faith practice and being part of a faith community are associated with better reported wellbeing. These are observational findings, and they don't mean faith replaces other care.
Where to Start
You don't need to do everything at once. Pick one thing for this week: a better evening routine, a gentler gut, a walk outside, or a conversation with someone you trust. If you'd like a tea in your hands while you do it, our Good Night Tea and Immune LifeBoost Tea are two easy places to begin.*
And if you're in a dark place right now, please don't wait. Reach out to someone today. In the US you can call or text 988 at any hour.
Common Questions
Which herbs have people traditionally used for low mood?
St. John's wort, gotu kola, kava, valerian, saffron, tulsi, ashwagandha, chamomile, and lavender all have long histories of traditional use for calm, rest, and a lifted mood. Research on several of them is ongoing.*
Do daily habits really affect mood?
Sleep, digestion, movement, time outdoors, and connection with other people all play a part in how a person feels, which is why a whole-person approach makes sense.
What does faith have to do with wellbeing?
Many people find that prayer, scripture, gratitude, and a church community give them purpose and steadiness. Studies have often found an association between regular faith practice and better reported wellbeing.
Related Reading
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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