Essential Oil Treatments for Neurasthenia

Described by some as a general ‘weakness of the nerves’, symptoms of neurasthenia involve fatigue, headaches and emotional disturbance. Passionflower is an extremely effective anti-anxiety remedy, increasing the levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which is a primary relaxing neurotransmitter.

Lemon balm also increases GABA, and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, and has been used since the Middle Ages as a calming remedy. In the 20th century, Marguerite Maury became the first person to prescribe a combination of essential oils in a Tibetan back massage to treat nerve endings along the spine. Fennel was a popular Roman remedy for nervous disorders, as they believed it calmed the nerves.