In the delicate aftermath of a psychedelic journey, we often find ourselves between worlds—our spirits expanded, yet our bodies seeking the familiar pull of gravity. Sometimes this can feel more tenuous, requiring a rooted and familiar embrace to safely bring one home to ourselves. The return, or grounding, can be as profound as the journey itself, requiring deep support for the nervous system as it reorients from the ethereal to the tangible. Our Grounding formula is designed to offer gentle and effective guidance through this process, combining time-honored herbs known for their abilities to calm and anchor the body and spirit back into harmonious alignment, aiding in re-membering our body as well as restorative rest and sleep.
This one is powerful and so very supportive, for landing back in your body during or after a profound journey, after a hard or even traumatic event, or taken as a lighter dose for any heightened stress experience to be soothed.
So let’s get to know these potent plants: California Poppy, Wood Betony, Kava Kava, Rose, Western Pasqueflower, and Blue Vervain. These plants, steeped in both folk wisdom and modern research, offer vital support for the nervous system, particularly in moments of trauma, anxiety, and the delicate act of reintegrating after a profound experience.
California Poppy~ Eschscholzia californica
California poppy, with its delicate fiery petals, is a gentle but potent ally for soothing an overtaxed nervous system. Native to the western United States, this vibrant flower has been used traditionally by Indigenous tribes to calm anxiety, promote restful sleep, and ease physical discomfort. Unlike its more potent cousin, the opium poppy, California poppy works as a mild sedative, lulling the mind into a state of relaxation without any risk of addiction.
Renowned herbalist and author Stephen Harrod Buhner, notes the efficacy of this plant: "California poppy is one of the great calmers of the nervous system... its gentle nature soothes anxiety and the racing mind, helping people to relax into themselves, which is especially important when the psyche has been opened by intense experience."
From a scientific perspective, studies have shown that California poppy contains alkaloids that interact with the brain’s GABA receptors, the same receptors that benzodiazepines target, but in a much gentler fashion and without the risk of dependency. This makes it particularly effective for managing stress, easing the mind, and facilitating a smooth return to a calm baseline after the intensity of a psychedelic journey.
Wood Betony~ Stachys officinalis
Wood betony, an ancient herb once regarded as a panacea, was highly revered by the Druids and the early Anglo-Saxons, who believed it had the power to ward off evil spirits and nightmares. Its primary role was always in supporting the mind and spirit, helping to calm nervous energy and protect against emotional turbulence.
Michael Moore, a highly-regarded herbalist of the Southwest, speaks to the plant’s soothing abilities: "Wood betony has long been used to calm the anxious heart and soothe tension in both body and mind. It excels at helping people reorient themselves when overstimulation leaves them unmoored."
Scientifically speaking, wood betony is a nervine, known for its ability to tone the nervous system, helping to ease headaches, tension, and emotional overwhelm. It works by calming the mind and balancing the body’s stress response, making it particularly beneficial for those coming down from intense journeys, where overstimulation or emotional release may have left the nervous system frayed.
Kava Kava~ Piper methysticum
Kava kava, with its deep roots in the South Pacific, has been used for centuries in ceremonial contexts to calm the mind and ease transitions between different states of consciousness. In many Polynesian cultures, kava is used to facilitate connection—whether that be between individuals, communities, or the spiritual realms. Known for its ability to promote relaxation, euphoria, and clear communication, kava helps dissolve stress and physical tension, making it a powerful ally during the descent from altered states back into the body.
Kava’s effects are well-studied in modern science. Its active compounds, known as kavalactones, work on the brain’s limbic system, which regulates emotions. Activating GABA, serotonin and dopamine receptors and encouraging an alpha brain wave state, this plant brings a more calm, clear focus, and even bliss. We find Kava to be particularly supportive after a traumatic event, shock or shaken experience, with its capacity to deeply lovingly hold you as you move and release emotions of grief or fear from the body, calming your nervous system, easing tension, and breathing into the heart’s embrace.
Rose~ Rosa rugosa
The rose, revered across cultures as a symbol of love, beauty, and healing, offers a soft landing for the heart and spirit. In Greek mythology, the rose was born from the tears of Aphrodite, a symbol of both love and loss, connection and vulnerability. Throughout history, the rose has been used in rituals to open the heart, foster compassion, and soften emotional wounds.
Scientifically, rose gently soothes the nervous system via softening the heart and promoting a sense of peace. Its aromatic compounds are known to reduce stress and uplift the spirit, helping to bring the heart into a state of coherence, which is especially vital after the emotionally intense work that often accompanies psychedelic experiences.
As Buhner writes, "Rose opens the heart with a kind of medicinal grace. It allows us to face the pain within us with tenderness, supporting both the emotional body and the spirit in the difficult work of healing."
Western Pasqueflower~ Anemone occidentalis
Western pasqueflower, with its delicate, nodding blooms, has long been valued by folk healers for its ability to calm the nervous system and ease emotional distress. Traditionally used to bring balance to sleeplessness, profound states of excitation, and the aftermath of trauma, this plant gently brings the nervous system back into a state of equilibrium. It was also employed as a visionary herb, helping to open up communication with the spirit world and offering protection during spiritual journeys.
In modern herbalism, pasqueflower is recognized for its ability to quiet racing thoughts and soothe nervous tension. Western Pasqueflower is unique in its immediacy of ability to accelerate an individual to a place of centered calm. It acts as a sedative, but with a gentle touch, perfect for those needing to calm emotional turbulence or reintegrate during or after an intense psychedelic experience.
Blue Vervain~ Verbena hastata
Blue vervain, a sacred plant in many traditions, was revered by the ancient Druids and Native American tribes alike. Often called the “herb of enchantment,” it was used to calm the mind and body, particularly in times of emotional distress. Known for its ability to reduce anxious states and soothe the nervous system, blue vervain is a powerful ally when one is feeling emotionally overwhelmed or overstimulated after a deep journey.
Modern studies confirm vervain’s long-standing reputation as a nervine and antispasmodic. It works by relaxing tension in both the muscles and the mind, making it ideal for grounding back into the body after a period of emotional or spiritual expansion.
A Deeply Calming Embrace
Each plant in Grounding is a carefully chosen ally, offering its unique gifts to help soothe the nervous system, ease emotional turbulence, and guide the spirit back into the body. California poppy and western pasqueflower offer gentle calming and rest; wood betony and kava kava a sense of rooted safety, while rose and blue vervain tend to the heart and emotions, nourishing with love, tenderness, and peace. Together, these plants create a soft landing, a sanctuary to help you ground after a profound expansiveness, or even a relaxing embrace after a stressful day or experience.
Let the wisdom of these plants support you in your descent from the heights of transformation, easing you back into your body, your breath, and the sacredness of the present moment. In their care, you are held, grounded, and restored, ready to bring the lessons of the journey into the everyday. May you feel supported, held, and soothed from your journeys and beyond.
