🌿 Natural Remedies for Stress, Sleep & Hormone Balance with Sara Chana Silverstein
Midlife can bring plenty of curveballs—stress, sleepless nights, hot flashes, brain fog, and hormone chaos. If you’ve ever wished for natural, affordable ways to feel calmer and more balanced, this episode of The Midlife Makeover Show is for you.
I sat down with Sara Chana Silverstein, a master herbalist, classical homeopath, and author of MOODTOPIA. With over 30 years of experience, she’s helped women and families use herbal remedies to navigate everything from anxiety and insomnia to perimenopause and menopause symptoms. And here’s the best part—these remedies are simple, safe, and easy to start using right now.
💫 What You’ll Learn:
- 🌿 How skullcap, motherwort, and lemon balm help calm anxiety and stress
- 🌙 Why tinctures are more effective (and last up to 10 years!) than capsules
- 🔥 The best herbs for hot flashes and night sweats (hint: sage + soy)
- 🧠 How rosemary boosts circulation and clears midlife brain fog
- 🍵 Teas vs. tinctures—what’s best for your lifestyle and consistency
- 💡 How to safely combine herbs with conventional medicine for best results
Why Herbs Matter in Midlife
Midlife is often when women experience mood swings, sleep struggles, hormone imbalances, and stress overload. While conventional medicine is valuable, herbs fill the gap between “doing nothing” and “going on prescriptions.”
Sara Chana reminds us: “You’re never going to be perfect emotionally, but herbs can really help bring more calm into your everyday life.”
The Calm-Your-Nerves Trio
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is what I like to call the Calm-Your-Nerves Trio:
- Skullcap → eases anxiety and nervous tension without brain fog
- Motherwort → helps with gloominess, sadness, and hormone-related mood swings
- Lemon Balm → gentle relaxation for adults and kids, plus antiviral support
These herbs are especially helpful if you deal with stress at work, anxiety before social events, or those unpredictable hormonal mood shifts.
Herbs for Hot Flashes & Hormone Balance
Midlife and menopause often mean night sweats, hot flashes, and restless nights. Instead of suffering through, Sara Chana recommends:
- Sage tincture → powerful for hot flashes and night sweats
- Soy products (tofu, miso, edamame) → contain plant compounds similar to estrogen, which may ease symptoms (unless you’re blood type B)
- Black Cohosh → best for moodiness, gloominess, and hormone-related aches
Hot flashes don’t just affect your body—they affect your sleep and your mood. Adding these herbs can make a noticeable difference.
Boosting Brain Power Naturally
Brain fog is real in midlife. Sara Chana swears by rosemary as a natural way to increase circulation and bring blood flow to the brain.
Herbalists recommend daily rosemary tincture after age 40 to support memory, focus, and energy. As Sara Chana says, “Rosemary is the herb that keeps your brain sharp without the caffeine jitters.”
Tinctures vs. Teas: What Works Best
While teas are soothing and enjoyable, tinctures are often the most effective way to get consistent results. Here’s why:
- Long shelf life (up to 10 years)
- Easy to carry (yes, Sara Chana keeps hers in her bra strap!)
- Quick absorption into the bloodstream
- No need to boil water or steep
If you’re new to herbal remedies, tinctures are a great place to start.
Safe + Practical Herbal Wisdom
Sara Chana emphasizes that herbs and conventional medicine can work together. She’s not anti-medication—she’s pro-options. Herbs are perfect for the in-between moments when you’re not “sick enough” for prescriptions but not feeling your best either.
Important: Always buy from reputable herbal companies like Herbalist & Alchemist, Herb Pharm, or WishGarden Herbs. Quality matters.
Final Thoughts
Midlife doesn’t have to mean living in a constant state of stress, sleeplessness, and hormonal chaos. With simple herbs like skullcap, sage, rosemary, and lemon balm, you can support your body naturally and feel more calm, energized, and balanced.
As Sara Chana says: “Herbs aren’t just for the elite—they’re for everyone. A few simple remedies can change how you handle stress, sadness, and anxiety.”
So, whether you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or just midlife stress, now is the time to explore these powerful plant allies.
👉 Connect with Sara!
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