Ever find yourself realizing your shoulders are tense, your jaw is clenched, and your mind won't slow down?

In this episode of Womenfolk Revival, Meara and Maggie explore simple, traditional ways women have supported the nervous system for generations. From calming herbs known as nervines to humming, breathwork, grounding, and EFT tapping, they discuss practical tools that can be used throughout everyday life when stress begins to take over.

Meara shares her perspective as a nurse on why it's important not to dismiss physical symptoms as "just stress," while Maggie discusses breathwork, movement, and the small practices that help bring the body back into balance.

Whether you're navigating perimenopause, caregiving, a busy household, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this conversation offers gentle reminders that sometimes the smallest practices can make the biggest difference.

In This Episode

• What nervines are and why they've been used traditionally for nervous system support
• EFT tapping and how it may help interrupt racing thoughts
• Grounding and spending time outdoors
• Humming and the connection between breath, vibration, and relaxation
• Simple breathing techniques for stressful moments
• Why many women become shallow breathers over time
• The importance of knowing your health baseline and working with your healthcare provider
• Essential oils traditionally used to create a calming environment

Resources Mentioned

• EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
• Grounding / Earthing
• Breathwork and Box Breathing
• Vagus Nerve Support
• Edgar Cayce A.R.E.
• Mountain Rose Herbs

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another woman who may need a reminder to slow down, take a breath, and reconnect with herself.

Research & Resources

🌿 EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
Research reviews have found EFT may help reduce anxiety, stress, and symptoms of burnout in some individuals.

• NIH / PubMed Review on EFT & Anxiety
• NIH Review: Clinical EFT as an Evidence-Based Practice
  
  

🌿 Breathwork & Slow Breathing
Research suggests slow, controlled breathing may help regulate the autonomic nervous system and support relaxation responses.

• NIH: Respiratory Vagal Stimulation & Slow Breathing
• Cleveland Clinic: Using Breathwork to Support the Vagus Nerve
  
  

🌿 Humming & Vagus Nerve Support
Humming naturally lengthens the exhale and may stimulate areas connected to the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system.

• Cleveland Clinic: Understanding the Vagus Nerve
• Cleveland Clinic: The Vagus Nerve & Stress Regulation
  
  

🌿 Grounding / Earthing
Research on grounding is still emerging, but some studies suggest potential benefits related to stress, inflammation, sleep, and overall wellbeing.

• NIH: Earthing & Health Research Review
• NIH: Practical Applications of Grounding
  
  

🌿 The Edgar Cayce Association for Research & Enlightenment (A.R.E.)

• Edgar Cayce A.R.E.

🌿 Organic Herbs & Essential Oils

• Mountain Rose Herbs
  
  

Stay Rooted & Stay Wild!

Most tea bags contain plastic, many people are steeping tea incorrectly, and traditional cultures prepared tea completely differently than we do today.

In this episode, we dive into:
• loose leaf tea vs tea bags
• infusions vs decoctions
• tannins, oxalates, and milk tea
• herbal teas for calm and wellness
• traditional tea preparation methods
• the hidden problems with convenience culture

What started as a simple conversation about tea quickly turned into a full-on “tea identity crisis.”

We explore the surprising truth that green, black, oolong, and pu-erh teas all come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis), and how traditional cultures used different steeping methods to support the body in different ways.

We also break down:
• why adding milk to black tea was actually a smart traditional practice
• the concerns surrounding plastic-filled tea bags
• loose leaf tea and herbal infusions
• simple ways to return to slower, more intentional rhythms at home

Somewhere in the middle, this episode became less about tea and more about the overwhelm of modern life, the “microwave generation,” and the small practical ways we can start reclaiming old skills without burnout.

From calming overwhelmed kids to struggling through hand-crank grain mills, we’re talking about real-life slow living, intentional motherhood, natural wellness, and taking baby steps back toward the old ways.

Welcome to Womenfolk Revival, where we are deeply rooted and wildly intentional.

RESOURCES + TEA BRANDS MENTIONED

Traditional Medicinals
https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/

Numi Organic Tea
https://numitea.com/

Pukka Herbs
https://www.pukkaherbs.com/

Yogi Tea
https://yogiproducts.com/

Clipper Teas
https://www.clipper-teas.com/

Loose Leaf Tea Infuser Example
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stainless+steel+tea+infuser

Reusable Cloth Tea Bags
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=reusable+cloth+tea+bags

Research on Microplastics in Tea Bags
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540

Learn More About Herbal Infusions vs Decoctions
https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-infusions-and-decoctions

WHAT TO AVOID

• “Silky” pyramid tea bags unless clearly labeled plastic-free
• Heat-sealed or thermosealed tea bags without clarification
• Cheap generic tea bags that may contain polypropylene plastic

THE SIMPLEST PLASTIC-FREE OPTION

Switching to loose-leaf tea with a stainless steel infuser or reusable cloth tea bag is one of the easiest ways to reduce plastic exposure and reconnect with traditional preparation methods.

Stay Rooted + Stay Wild!

🌿 The Self-Sustained Medicine Cabinet | Traditional Herbal Remedies for Everyday Wellness

What happens when women begin reconnecting with the healing knowledge that once lived in kitchens, gardens, and family traditions for generations?

In today’s episode of Womenfolk Revival, we open up our personal home medicine cabinets and share the traditional herbal remedies and plant preparations we actually use in everyday life.

From soothing onion honey for nighttime coughs to tulsi infusions for nervous system support, we explore the beauty of simple ingredients, intentional living, and learning one plant at a time.

Inside this episode, we discuss:

🌿 Yarrow for traditional wound support
🌿 Garlic honey ferments & traditional oxymels
🌿 Tulsi (Holy Basil) for emotional grounding & perimenopause support
🌿 Herbal infused oils for tired joints & overworked hands
🌿 Red onion honey syrup for seasonal nighttime comfort
🌿 Plantain, calendula, elderberry, lavender & other traditional folk remedies
🌿 Building a slower, more intentional home apothecary

We also discuss herbal safety, foraging awareness, and working alongside qualified healthcare professionals when needed.

📚 Research & Educational Resources Mentioned:

Honey & Cough Support (Mayo Clinic)
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-can-honey-help-with-coughs/

Honey for Acute Cough in Children (Cochrane Review)
https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD007094_honey-acute-cough-children

American Botanical Council
https://www.herbalgram.org/

Tulsi Scientific Review
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11521583/

Mountain Rose Herbs Educational Library
https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/

🌿 Join the Womenfolk Revival Community:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16kyJfbcQC/

Important Reminder:
This podcast episode is intended for educational, historical, and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider before beginning herbal products, especially if pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing chronic health conditions.

Until next time…

Stay Rooted + Stay Wild