HERBAL WISDOM to help you enjoy a calmer brighter new year

Ever made yourself a cup of soothing chamomile tea to help you sleep, or had fresh mint tea after a meal to aid digestion? If so, you're already familiar with the benefits of common herbal remedies.

- By EVA GIZOWSKA

With growing awareness of the potential side effects of prescription drugs, more people are turning to herbal remedies. Many women in midlife, in particular, are choosing gentler, more holistic options when dealing with emotional and psychological issues. A recent UK survey revealed that 80% used medicinal plants for health, with 51% feeling herbs were safer and had fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. ‘Midlife is often a time of reassessment, where priorities shift from external achievement to internal wellbeing,’ says clinical psychologist Dr Sheena Kumar.

‘Women in midlife tend to value balance, emotional stability, and self-compassion more than productivity. Stressors like caregiving, hormonal shifts, and loss, combined with a desire for authenticity, often lead to a need for greater emotional regulation and alignment.’

The psychology of ritual

The winter months naturally invite reflection and introspection. ‘At any time of year, plants remind us we're part of the natural world,’ says Corin Sadler, medical herbalist and senior nutritionist at Viridian. ‘In winter, they encourage us to slow down, conserve our energy, and recentre, helping us reconnect with ourselves and our natural rhythms.’ Creating rituals can help when making changes. ‘Rituals involving the senses anchor us,’ says Sadler. rituals can reduce anxiety by calming the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing emotions.’

‘Simple herbal practices complement psychological strategies like grounding exercises,’ adds Dr Kumar. ‘Starting and ending the day with rituals creates bookends that regulate mood and stress. Research shows routines reduce anxiety and improve sleep. A morning inhalation of rosemary for clarity or an evening cup of chamomile to unwind provides sensory cues that help the nervous system shift into the states we need — focused during the day and relaxed at night.’

Sadler recommends these mindful rituals: