Actions: Relaxant, Soothing, Antispasmodic (Relaxes spasms & cramps), Nervine (calms nerves) Carminative (Relieving cramping and expelling gas), Anti-inflammatory, Anti-Fungal
Found In: Lights Out
The sweet, endearing, and familiar taste of chamomile alone can be calming. Known as Manzanilla aquí en Mexico City where we're based, chamomile is widely considered as one of the most ancestral medicinal herbs to humankind; commonly used for ailments like insomnia, muscle spasms, inflammation, gastrointestinal issues in the gut, and in some cases menstrual disorders [1][2].
Usually prepared as a tea in dried flowers form, chamomile contains nearly 28 terpenoids and 36 flavonoids in the biomass of its flowers and stems, contributing to the majority of its medicinal properties [3]. Yet, it is also a very promising ally when used topically. Studies show that it can beneficial on the skin for atopic eczema, hemorrhoids, and vaginitis often caused by lower levels of estrogen in menopausal bodies, and postpartum perineal healing from vaginal itching [4].
Energetics: Warming (increasing blood flow), Slightly Drying, Moving (due to aromatic compounds)
Actions: Sedative, Antispasmodic (Relaxes spasms & cramps), Nervine (Calms nervous system), Hypnotic (Sleep-inducing)
Found In: Lights Out
Also known as garden valerian, Mexican valerian, or Pacific valerian, this robust and tall plant has been traditionally used for centuries for insomnia and anxiety as it aids to induce sleep and relaxation of the mind and body [1]. Known by some as "nature's Valium," research shows that valerian has a mechanism of action that is similar to benzodiazepines because it can inhibit enzyme-induced breakdown of GABA in the brain resulting in sedation [2]. (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter for the central nervous system.
Human subject research shows that valerian is associated with the increase in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during the latter stages of sleep. REM sleep, or deep sleep is integral to restorative sleep, encourages better memory and learning capabilities [3][4].
Because of its warming, moving and relaxing properties, valerian too has been known by many herbalists to encourage the menstrual cycle when PMSing, and can aid with the feeling of sleeplessness or insomnia often related to the menstrual cycle [5].
Kiefer D. Valerian For Insomnia: The "Natural" Valium. Relias Media. 2007;10(10):109109-113.
Zahra B., Elham R.B., Roghaieh S. G.et al. The effect of Valerian root extract on the severity of pre menstrual syndrome symptoms J Tradit Complement Med. 2016 Jul; 6(3): 309 315.
Actions: Anti-fungal, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory
Found In: Lights out
Anise seed is a cousin to the carrots, celery, and parsley plant. It's infamously known for its acquired taste of licorice taste and thus sometimes used to add flavor to desserts elixirs and drinks. But many of us are ignorant of its potential of being health-promoting aid to a wide variety of ailments1.
Actions: Antioxidant, Helps Digestion, Hormone Balancer, Anti-bacterial, Stress Reducer
Found In: Calm + Clarity
Spearmint, also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint, and menta in Spanish, is a species of mint native to Asia and Europe. Yet you can easily find it in gardens on five continents around the globe.
Spearmint contains a large number of antioxidant compounds, including rosmarinic acid and flavonoids like limonene and menthol1. The compound (-)-carvone, which is naturally found in spearmint, has been shown to strongly inhibit muscle contractions in the digestive tract, which may explain how this herb helps to relieve upset digestive tracts. Spearmint is commonly used to help relieve symptoms of indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and gas and is the common ingredient of most household teas.
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Actions: Energizing, Clearing, Anti-inflamatory, Anti-fungal
Found In: mhm! (Moon + Mood), whew! (Moon-a-pause), uff! (Moon + Womb)
Lemon essential oil is extracted from the peel of fresh lemons using a “cold-pressing” process that pricks and rotates the peel as oil is released.
Lemon essential oil can be ingested1 diluted, applied topically to your skin, diffused into the air, and inhaled. Some people swear by lemon essential oil as an ingredient that could help with exhaustion, depression2, skin clarity, harmful bacteria, and the reduction of inflammation3.
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Anti-microbal
Found In: ah! (Calm + Clarity)
Rosemary is a perky evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and a woody and piney terpene profile. Though it's used most commonly in the food, it has become one of the most popular aromatic and medicinal plants worldwide1. The essential oil of rosemary holds the plant’s core components widely known in the medical world for their bioactive molecules and phytocompounds, responsible for implementing several pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antitumor, and protective characteristics2.
Due to rosemary oil’s use in folk medicine, many scientists are now testing its potential health benefits (4Trusted Source).
Though most of this research is just beginning, it supports some traditional uses of the oil and illustrates possible new uses.
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Actions: Heating, Stimulating, Repairing, Increases blood flow, Draws nutrients to skin cells
Found in: uff! (Touch + Soothe)
Cayenne comes from the same plant genus as bell peppers, chilies, paprikas, and habaneros, a species from the Americas that has been cultivated for at least 7,000 years. When used topically (in small safe amounts), cayenne may help to relieve aches and pains of the lower back1, menstruation discomforts in the abdomen, and may aid bruising and psoriasis. One of its active components, capsaicin, works through your nervous system by interacting with pain related transmitters.
There are known to be flavonoids found in cayenne that are beneficial to your heart. There are vitamins in cayenne pepper that will destroy bacteria and increase your immune system.
Actions: Warming, Stimulating, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic (Relaxes spasms & cramps)
Found In: uff! (Touch + Soothe)
Hyssop, not to be mistaken for Anise hyssop, is a shrub in the Lamiaceae or mint family native to Southern Europe and the Middle East. It's known to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory1 properties and thus used in traditional herbal medicine both topically and orally2.
The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects may make hyssop oil a treatment option for mild skin irritation. This includes minor burns, small cuts, and even frostbite. Eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin conditions could possibly benefit3.
Actions: Pain Relieving,
Found In: period daze (pre-rolls)
Cramp bark is a flowering shrub native to parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and grown a lot in North America. This herb has many names like corteza de calambre in Mexico, Guelder-Rose, and Cranberry bush. Yet the traditional use of the plant—no matter what you call it—has been used to relieve cramps.
The Native Meskwaki people of America have been known to use cramp bark to treat cramps and other bodily pains1, the Penobscot people have used cramp bark to treat mumps and swollen glands—while other Native Americans also have smoked cramp bark as a substitute for tobacco.
The bark of cramp bark is peeled off the tree during the spring and summer months. The bark should be peeled off in strips carefully in order not to kill the tree. The bark is chopped up and dried. Cramp bark can be made into a decoction (a water extract), a tincture (an alcoholic extract), or a topical cream balm or lotion.
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Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Restorative,
Found In: uff! (Touch + Soothe)
Comfrey is a pretty leafy shrub with mini clusters of purple, blue, and white flowers. It's native to parts of North America, Europe, and Asia—specifically Japan where the plant has been harvested as a traditional herbal treatment for over 2,000 years1. The root and leaves of the comfrey plant have been used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world. In Japan, comfrey, the plant has been harvested and used as a traditional treatment for over 2,000 years originally referred to as “knitbone”.
The roots of leaves of the comfrey plant contain chemical substances called allantoin and rosmarinic acid. Allantoin boosts the growth of new skin cells, while rosmarinic acid helps relieve pain and inflammation. Extracts are still made from the roots and leaves and turned into ointments, creams, or salves.
Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy. Comfrey ointments have been used to heal bruises as well as pulled muscles and ligaments, fractures, sprains, strains, and osteoarthritis2.
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Actions: Soothing, Moisturizing, Repairing, Nourishes skin, Boosts elasticity
Found in: Touch + Soothe
Mango is a tropical fruit widely known and wildly grown in warmer regions of the world like India, South Africa, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Its seed which is used to the create butter, is a super emilliant topical moisturizer. High in fatty acid (that are also good for the skin) contains antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds 1. Mango Butter is known to facilitate the process of eliminating toxins, dirt, pollution, and other impurities from the skin. Its soothing characteristic makes it ideal for use on skin afflicted by inflammation, itching, stinging, or burning 2. All the while, Ginger’s stimulating property helps to drive the medicinal constituents of other herbs throughout the body.
Actions: Hydrating, Skin Protecting, Softening
Found In: Touch + Soothe
Candelilla is a flowering plant favored by butterflies and native to Chihuahua, Coahuila, Hidalgo, and Querétaro States of Mexico, Texas and Southern New Mexico in the United States1.
The white sap of the plant has been historically used by indigenous peoples of Mexico for common skin ailments but in the early twentieth it became commercially harvested to make candelilla wax. Though it is still being mostly produced in Northern Mexico it is exported to other countries for its use in cosmetics and foods. Candelilla has been known as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for atopic eczema, herpes simplex, shingles, psoriasis, and other allergic skin reactions2.
Action: Moisturizing, Regenerative, Soothing
Found In: Touch + Soothe
Jojoba is a woody perennial bush native to northern Mexico, the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, and the arid regions of California.
Native Americans first made use of jojoba, by heating its seeds to soften them, and a mortar and pestle to create a salve or buttery substance. The latter was applied to the skin and hair to condition. The O'odham people of the Sonoran Desert were known to have treated burns with an antioxidant salve made from the jojoba nut paste1. The Indigenous peoples of the Americas also used the salve from jojoba to soften and preserve animal hides.
Jojoba oil has been known to stimulate wound healing. Preliminary research shows that jojoba oil encourages your skin cells to bind together after they’ve been separated by a scratch or cut2.
Actions: Anti-fungal, Anti-bacterial, Moisturizing
Found In: Calm + Clarity, Moon + Womb, Lights Out, Moon-a-pause, Touch + Soothe, Moon + Mood
MCT oil, the supplement we know and love. It can often be found in smoothies or even bulletproof coffee. The name (MCT) stands for medium-chain triglyceride. MCT oil contains medium-length chains of fats called triglycerides. Due to their shorter length, MCTs are easily digested and may have health benefits linked to the way the body processes these fats1.
MCT oil is most commonly extracted from coconut oil, and that's what is used in Xula formulas. Coconut oil is said to have a nearly endless list of benefits. From adding flavor to dishes, protecting against the sun, as a supplement, to moisturizing skin and hair.
The medium-chain fatty acid elements found in coconut are known to disrupt fungal, viral, and bacterial cell membranes, leading to cell death. These antifungal and antimicrobial2 properties are what set coconut oil apart from other oils3.
Our herbal index is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used to cure or treat any conditions. Please consult with your physician when seeking medical advice. The other articles and reading materials mentioned are unaffiliated with Xula and are for reference only.
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Toning
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Circulatory Stimulant (Increases blood flow), Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence)
Found in: Moon + Mood
Native to India and Southeast Asia, Turmeric is a medicinal herb whose use has been recorded as early as 600 B.C 1. This root has recently gained popularity in Western culture as well, especially for its pronounced anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric contains the antioxidant curcumin, which has been shown to be helpful to relieve pain in the body, especially in the joints and muscles2. In addition to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Turmeric also stimulates blood flow throughout the body with its warming, aromatic compounds3. This relieves numbness and cramping while also helping to drive nutrients and the medicinal compounds of other herbs throughout the body. With its pungent flavor, Turmeric is also renowned as a cooking herb common in curries and other Asian dishes. Not only does it bring delicious flavor, but it also helps to promote digestion and relieve flatulence with its carminative action.
Energetics: Warming, Moistening, Toning
Actions: Adaptogen (Helps body adapt to stresses), Demulcent (Soothes tissues), Aphrodisiac (Increases libido)
Found in: Moon-a-pause
Translating to “a woman with a thousand husbands”, Shatavari is a coveted herb in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is one of the most common herbs for women’s health, helping to promote sex drive and provide hormonal balance1. During menopause it proves to be especially helpful to counteract vaginal dryness and to reconnect a woman with her sexuality1. Soothing and demulcent, Shatavari helps to bring moisture to tissues and fascia throughout the body, especially in the digestive and reproductive systems. This sweet root is also deeply nourishing and restorative, offering support to immunity and soothing an exhausted nervous system2.
Energetics: Warming, Moistening, Toning
Actions: Adaptogen (Helps body adapt to stress), Aphrodisiac (Increase libido), Nervine (Supports the nervous system)
Found in: Moon-a-pause
Native to the Mongolian region of China and Eastern Russia, Schisandra has been used for centuries in Asian medicine as a tonic to promote longevity and to assist the body’s adaptive responses to stress1. Sometimes referred to as the “Five Flavor Fruit”, the medicinal berries of the Schisandra vine contain all 5 flavors (Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Sour, and Salty), thereby bringing balance and rejuvenation to the body. This herb promotes libido and is known to bring balance and reconnection to sexuality during menopause2. It also supports the immune system, acting as a tonic against illness when taking regularly. As it brings vital life force energy, it can also feel slightly stimulating to the nervous system, likened to the high from coffee without the jitteriness. This herb of longevity and beauty is a powerhouse definitely worth experiencing.
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Toning
Actions: Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence), Antibacterial, Nervine (Supports the nervous system)
Found in:
Moon-a-pauseMany people are familiar with Sage as a culinary spice. Most culinary spices are carminatives, meaning that they support digestion and aid in the relief of flatulence. With its warming, aromatic properties, Sage certainly does support digestive processes in this way. The herb also displays estrogenic properties, proving to be a helpful herb during menopause by calming hot flashes1. It is thought that it earned its name, Sage, since it was commonly recommended for longevity and to promote memory recall, especially for the elderly. This herb is also highly antibacterial and is commonly used to help maintain the health of the mouth and gums1.
Energetics: Cooling, Moistening, Toning
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Nervine (Supports nervous system), Tonic
Found in: Calm + Clarity
Roses are much more than an ornamental flower gifted between beloveds. One could say that their popularity as such may be due to their medicinal properties. When smelling the strong aroma of a rose, one feels uplifted and soothed. As we introduce these aromatic oils into our body, they affect the nervous system by relaxing it and releasing tension1. Rose proves especially helpful to calm the emotions and release stagnant resentment or grief. With their cooling property, Roses are anti-inflammatory for the digestive system, and they also help to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin, especially when applied topically2. While they soothe agitation and the emotions, they can also tone the tissues of cardiovascular and reproductive systems as well.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Toning
Actions: Uterine tonic (Supports uterine function), Nutritive, Galactagogue (Increases milk production)
Found in: Moon + Mood
While we know Raspberries as delicious fruit full of antioxidants, the leaves of the plant are highly medicinal as well. They are very rich in nutrients, especially in Magnesium and Calcium, which are essential to nourish the body; for female-bodied people, these nutrients prove essential for reducing PMS discomforts and contribute to healthy pregnancy1. Red Raspberry leaf especially helps tone the uterus, which can normalize contractions during menstruation and help encourage successful contractions during childbirth2. Regular use of Red Raspberry leaf can therefore be helpful to reduce PMS and menstrual cramps, and it is a premiere tonic to support pregnancy and return the healthy functioning of the uterus postpartum. It also shines postpartum by working as a galactagogue, where its nutrient density helps support the production of breast milk3.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (sedative), Antispasmodic, Hypnotic
Found in: zzz! Lights Out, ah! Calm + Clarity
A glance at the other-worldly Passionflower often leaves one hypnotized. Native to the tropical and semi-tropical areas of the Americas and Southeast Asia, the use of the leaves and flowers of this viney plant has been recorded as far back as the Aztecs1. The most pronounced effect of Passionflower is on the nervous system, where it is shown to calm stress, agitation, and anxiety2. This herb especially proves helpful when the same thoughts are circling around in one’s mind, preventing one from relaxation and sleep. With its antispasmodic effect, Passionflower helps to ease cramps and spasms in the musculature, proving helpful during painful menses3. Although it can be taken moderately throughout the day for anxiety without causing too much grogginess, Passionflower also helps to induce deep and successful sleep at night.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Emmenagogue (Encourages menses), Nervine (Supports nervous system), Hypotensive (Reduces blood pressure)
Found in: Happy Period
Motherwort’s latin name—Leonurus cardiaca—means “lion heart”. This name seems to come from courage that many feel this herb provides. As a nervine, Motherwort has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression1, and the herb is also known to support the cardiovascular system, helping to reduce blood pressure2. Above all, and perhaps a tribute to its English name, Motherwort is known to support the female body through all stages. The herb can balance irregular menses, encourage labor, and subside menopausal symptoms3,4,5. Its anti-anxiety effect also is known to make Motherwort a helpful plant ally throughout motherhood and other periods of life in which a courageous heart is needed.
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Emmenagogue (Encourages menses), Nervine (Supports nervous system), Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence)
Found in: Happy Period
If you look to the underside of this plant’s leaves, you will see a silvery shine. This is the signature for the moon, as Mugwort has a pronounced effect on the female reproductive system. It helps to promote menstruation and ease cramping in the womb1. This herb also has a gentle effect on the nervous system, helping to ease tension and counteract grogginess1. Most notably, this herb is known in modern times to promote vivid dreams. Though, the reason it is known as “Mugwort” is that it used to be used as a popular flavoring in beer instead of Hops2. Like Hops, Mugwort also stimulates digestion with its aromatic bitter properties.
Energetics: Cooling, Moistening, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (Supports Nervous System), Hypotensive (Reduces blood pressure), Demulcent (Soothes tissues)
Found in: Moon + Womb
Also known as Basswood, Lime tree, and the Peace Tree, Linden is a fast-growing tree that produces fragrant clusters of medicinal flowers in late Spring which are highly desirable to honey bees. These flowers and their adjacent bracts have been used for centuries as medicine1. Most notably, these blossoms bring calm to the nervous system and are especially helpful to ease unrest and anxiety in children2. Sweet and delicious, Linden also has a notable effect in releasing tension in the cardiovascular system, helping to mitigate hypertension3. All the while, the sweetness of Linden makes it one of the key demulcents in the herbal repertory, gently moistening the digestive tract and tissues.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Toning
Actions: Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence), Antispasmodic (Relaxes spasms & cramps), Anti-Inflammatory
Found in: Lights Out, Happy Period, Happy Hormones
Native to Chile, Argentina and Peru, Lemon verbena is an intensely-scented herb, whose aroma is both stimulating and relaxing. It traveled from Latin America in the 1700s, becoming known in the western world as a delicious tea, culinary spice, and element in perfumery1. Its fragrant oils help to aid concentration, while also calming and tonifying the nervous system1. Lemon verbena is also known to ease digestive unrest and flatulence, and the herb also provides relaxation to muscular tension1.
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (sedative) (Calms the nerves), Mild Antidepressant, Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence)
Melissa, this plant’s generic name, is the Greek word for honeybee - named due to the bee’s love of this fragrant, flowering herb1. Lemon balm is also known as the “gladdening herb”, helping to relieve nervousness, anxiety, and depressive tendencies1. Its bright, aromatic properties also prove helpful for the digestive system, aiding indigestion and flatulence1. With its heart-shaped leaves, it is also known to work as a tonic for the cardiovascular system, all while it lifts the mood and calms the mind2.
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (sedative) (Calms the nerves), Antispasmodic (Relaxes spasms & cramps), Hypnotic (Sleep-inducing)
Found in: Lights Out
Kava is a traditional and sacred herb of Polynesia, used for thousands of years. It continues to be cultivated and used there for ceremonial and social gatherings1. In modern times, Kava has become popular throughout the Western world due to its pronounced effects on the body, mind, and nervous system. A sip of Kava will bring about a sense of numbness to the tongue, which then expands to a sense of deep relaxation throughout the body and mind—muscles unwind and stresses subside. In this way, this root proves especially helpful to treat insomnia, anxiety, and muscle tension2.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (sedative) (Calms the nerves), Antispasmodic (Relax spasms & cramps), Hypnotic (Sleep-inducing)
Found in: Lights Out
Most well known as a popular and primary ingredient in beer, Hops have a pronounced effect on the nervous system. These flowers from the viney plant bring about a sense of relaxation and sedation, and they especially prove helpful to calm an anxious, racing mind1. All the while, they relax tense, cramping muscles. This sedating quality sets the stage to ward off insomnia2. Resinous and bitter, Hop strobiles also stimulate the liver to promote healthy digestion. They are also known to have estrogenic properties, which make them a helpful ally during menopause3.
Energetics: Cooling, Drying, Toning
Actions: Anti Inflammatory (Reduces inflammation), Antioxidant (Can protect against free radicals), Hypotensive (Lower blood pressure)
Found in: Moon-a-pause
There are over several hundred species of Hibiscus that grow in tropical environments throughout the world. The species used for teas and herbal supplements is what's known as rosella, jamaica sorrel, or java jute. The edible external portion or calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa has a deep crimson color. This part is used in Mexico for Jugo de Jamaica, Bissop tea in Senegal, and other parts of West and East Africa—where the plant originates. It was believed to have come over to Latin America (much like most of Africa's botanical legacy) during the late 1400s in the vile transatlantic slave trade1.
As a tea, the plant is energetically cooling, Hibiscus shows its strength on a summer day when someone may feel overheated and frazzled. All the while, this same property helps cool a hot flash experienced during menopause2. It is also shown to be helpful to reduce high blood pressure and hypertension while also calming other types of inflammation in the body3.
Actions:
Found In: happy hormones calm + clarity moon-a-pause, happy period, lights out.
Our purified full-spectrum extract comes from organically grown hemp in Southern Oregon. While the THC cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant is well known for the "high" it produces, CBD does not and is nonintoxicating. Most of the CBD used medicinally is found in the least processed form of the cannabis plant, known as hemp. Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, Cannabis sativa, but they are very different.
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