Is It Burnout or Just Late Capitalism? // Nervous System Repair with Herbal Adaptogens
You’re exhausted but can’t sleep.
You cry at stoplights but still answer emails.
Your to-do list keeps growing, your patience keeps shrinking, and somewhere deep down you’re wondering:
Is this just burnout - or is the entire system broken?
Spoiler: it’s both.
You are not lazy. You are not failing. You are not bad at being an adult. You’re just living in a world that rewards overwork, glorifies self sacrifice, and calls it productivity.
Let’s be clear: the problem isn’t your nervous system.
It’s what’s been demanded of it.
So what do we do? We begin with repair. Ritual. And a return to the body.
And we call on the plants for help.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are herbs that support your body’s ability to adapt to stress - physical, emotional, environmental, or spiritual. They don’t numb you out. They strengthen your resilience over time.
They work best when used consistently and with care. Think of them as allies, not quick fixes. This is a race, not a sprint. Your system needs nourishment, not just stimulation.
1. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Deeply grounding. Ashwagandha supports adrenal function, calms anxiety, improves sleep, and can help soothe frazzled nerves. Best for folks who feel wired, tired, and like their body forgot how to exhale.
Ashwagandha is the herbal equivalent of putting your phone on Do Not Disturb and finally resting.
2. Tulsi / Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Tulsi is sacred for a reason. This herb uplifts mood, balances cortisol, and restores a sense of inner calm without sedation. She’s a heart herb too - good for the burnout that makes you forget joy.
Tulsi is the spark when your light feels dim. She doesn’t hype you up - she brings you home.
3. Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
A classic for endurance and resilience. Eleuthero is especially helpful for mental fatigue, focus issues, and energy crashes. Best used when you still have to show up for life but need more inner reserves to do so.
Eleuthero is the steady drumbeat under your wild day - the herb of “yes, I can keep going.”
4. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Reishi is not your average mushroom. This adaptogen works on the immune and nervous system together. It’s soothing, grounding, heart-protective, and supportive of deep emotional processing.
Best taken as a decoction or in powder blends over time.
Reishi helps you remember that rest is holy - and so are you.
5. Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Known as the “five flavor berry,” Schisandra is an adaptogen with edge. She supports liver detox, sharpens focus, and tones the nervous system. She’s bright, balancing, and helpful for those trying to shift from burnout to clarity.
Schisandra is your herbal reset button - bittersweet, fierce, and full of life.
6. Milky Oats (Avena sativa [fresh tincture])
Milky oats are not technically an adaptogen - but they are nervous system gold. Think deep repair for the frazzled, the crispy, the ones who feel like their nerves are exposed. Especially good if you’re healing from long-term stress or trauma.
Milky oats is a hug for your myelin sheath. IYKYK.
Signs You Might Need Nervous System Support (AKA It’s Not Just You)
You feel tired and wired
You crave sugar, caffeine, or alcohol to feel “normal”
You can’t focus or get excited about things you used to love
You’re emotional, overwhelmed, or numb
You’ve stopped dreaming (literally or metaphorically)
You feel like something is… off—but you can’t name it
Sound familiar? You’re not broken. You’re burnt out. Let’s rebuild.
How to Work with Adaptogens
Tinctures – convenient, fast-absorbing, great for blending
Teas / Decoctions – especially for roots and mushrooms like reishi
Powder blends – add to smoothies, lattes, or moon milks
Capsules – great for consistency if taste is an issue
Daily rituals – pair with breathwork, journaling, or sacred rest
Awareness reminder: Adaptogens work best over time. Don’t expect instant results. Let them rebuild you gently.
My Favorite Adaptogen Ritual: Nervous System Nightcap
Warm oat or almond milk
Add:
1 tsp ashwagandha powder
1 tsp reishi extract
Cinnamon + cardamom to taste
A drizzle of honey
Stir and say (aloud or internally - do what feels good):
“I am safe. I am held. I am not meant to carry it all.”
Sip in silence or under moonlight - find your version of calm
Sleep like a goddess reclaiming her body
We were not made to live this way. Constantly plugged in. Constantly producing. Constantly proving our worth.
You don’t need to “get back to normal.”
You need to get back to yourself.
Let the herbs meet you there. Let them wrap around your tired nerves like wild vines reclaiming an old fence. Let your rest be revolutionary. Let your healing be sacred.
This is your reclamation.
This is your repair.
And I’ll be over here,
clutching my quartz, sipping on an adaptogen tea blend and taking belly breaths