Your nervous system plays a crucial role in maintaining your overall health, affecting everything from your mental clarity to how your body responds to stress. Honestly, it’s the most underrated way to improve your health overall, especially when you’ve experienced trauma. 

The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, along with the peripheral nervous system, and it works tirelessly to keep your body functioning optimally. It’s like the central operating system of a computer; it needs to work properly for the rest of the systems to have a chance. However, in today’s world, the nervous system is often overwhelmed by environmental toxins, chronic stress, and poor lifestyle habits. These harmful substances can lead to issues such as brain fog, high blood pressure, oxidative stress, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

Nervous system detox saved my life, and I don’t say that lightly. As someone who is highly sensitive and with a history of stress and trauma, my body was deteriorating under the pressure of the world. I was experiencing chronic pain, illness, and a list of autoimmune disorders, which I later found out could be tied to nervous system dysfunction—that’s how crucial your nervous system is to your overall health. 

Detoxing your nervous system naturally can support better brain health, improve the function of nerve cells, and help clear out waste products that can accumulate over time. By making simple lifestyle changes, you can reduce the impact of heavy metals, stress hormones, and toxic substances on your brain and body. Whether it’s through nutrition, mindfulness practices, or incorporating physical activity, detoxing is an essential part of maintaining a healthy nervous system and achieving overall well-being.

In this blog, we’ll explore the best ways to detox your nervous system naturally and support the central and peripheral systems in functioning at their best.

Jump to a section 10 Ways to Detox Your Nervous System Naturally

1. Support Your Glymphatic System for Brain Detox
2. Incorporate Adaptogenic Herbs and Herbal Teas
3. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory, Nutrient-Rich Diet
4. Practice Deep Breathing and Activate the Vagus Nerve
5. Physical Activity and Movement
6. Balance Your Endocrine System to Reduce Stress Hormones
7. Eliminate Harmful Toxins from Your Environment
8. Use Essential Oils for Relaxation and Nervous System Support
9. Improve Gut Health to Support Your Nervous System
10. Hydrate for Optimal Nervous System Function

1. Support Your Glymphatic System for Brain Detox

Your brain and body are models of efficiency when we support them properly. The glymphatic system is a crucial part of your brain’s natural detoxification process. It works to remove waste products, such as harmful toxins and byproducts, that can build up in the brain tissue. This system is especially active during sleep, a big reason why sleep is such a crucial part of your well-being. By optimizing glymphatic activity, you can help prevent issues like brain fog, free radical damage, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the best ways to support your glymphatic system is by getting enough high-quality sleep. What’s high-quality sleep? Isn’t all sleep the same? No. Not all sleep is high-quality because your brain needs time to enter deep sleep. 

When you enter deep sleep, the brain cells shrink, creating a higher volume of open space for waste to be flushed out. This process is part of the glymphatic system’s function, ensuring your brain stays clear of toxins that could interfere with cognitive function and overall mental health.

If you are tossing and turning all night, and your brain doesn’t have enough time to enter into a deep sleep phase, you are missing out on opportunities for your brain to detox.

In addition to prioritizing sleep, staying hydrated and consuming healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can support brain detoxification. These fats help protect brain cells and enhance the function of the glymphatic system. Incorporating simple lifestyle changes like regular hydration and adding foods rich in healthy fats can have a significant impact on maintaining your brain’s health and detoxifying your nervous system.

By supporting the glymphatic system, you can improve brain detox, boost mental clarity, and lower your risk of neurological diseases, allowing your entire body to function more optimally.

2. Incorporate Adaptogenic Herbs and Herbal Teas

Do you struggle to get decent sleep? One of the first things I did when working to heal my nervous system was creating a new sleep routine. I focused on improving sleep hygiene (I teach all about this in The Holistic Trauma Reset Program if you want step-by-step help through the process of healing your nervous system). Adding adaptogenic herbs and herbal teas to my nighttime routine was a soothing and fun way to feel like I was pampering myself. But just as importantly, Adaptogenic herbs and herbal teas offer a natural way to reduce stress and support your nervous system.

Chronic stress can overload your central and peripheral nervous systems, leading to imbalances in the body, such as elevated stress hormones, oxidative stress, and weakened immune function. Elevated hormones and oxidative stress create ripples of impact in your body. When your nervous system is constantly working to combat the internal environment of imbalance, it doesn’t leave much energy for anything else. Why do you think you are constantly tired?

Adaptogenic herbs can help your body manage stress more effectively and detox harmful substances that impact your nervous system. Think of it like giving your body a stress “shock absorber.” Just as a car’s shock absorbers smooth out bumps on a rough road, adaptogenic herbs help your body navigate life’s stressors with more ease, absorbing the pressure and helping you stay balanced, even when the road gets tough.

Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, holy basil, and rhodiola have been shown to regulate the adrenal glands, which produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. When these hormones are consistently high, they contribute to higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, and oxidative stress, all of which negatively affect your brain and body. By incorporating these herbs, you can lower stress levels, protect nerve cells, and support the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for relaxation and recovery.

Herbal teas, such as green tea, also play an important role in detoxifying your nervous system. Green tea is packed with antioxidants that fight free radical damage and reduce oxidative stress, both of which are linked to brain tissue damage and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, green tea supports glymphatic activity, further aiding in brain detox and improving cognitive function.

Choose High-Quality Teas to Avoid Toxins

While herbal teas can offer incredible benefits for your nervous system, it’s important to be mindful of the quality of the teas you consume. Many commercially available teas can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful substances that can end up doing more harm than good for your body. This is especially concerning when you’re trying to detox your nervous system, as these toxins can actually add to the burden on your brain, immune system, and overall health.

Low-quality teas, particularly those grown in regions with poor soil quality, can accumulate heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium. These metals are absorbed by the tea plants from the soil and can end up in your cup, potentially causing issues like oxidative stress, nerve cell damage, and an overload on your body’s detox systems. For people already dealing with chronic stress or nervous system issues, adding these harmful substances could worsen symptoms or lead to long-term health concerns, including neurological diseases.

To avoid these risks, always opt for high-quality, organic teas (click here for a list of non-toxic tea) that are free from pesticides and heavy metals. Look for reputable brands that test their products for harmful substances and avoid teas that come in plastic tea bags, as they can leach microplastics into the hot water. Choosing loose-leaf teas or brands that prioritize sustainability and toxin-free practices is a great way to protect your health.

Think of it like fueling your body with premium-grade gas instead of low-grade fuel. High-quality teas will nourish and support your nervous system, while low-quality teas may pollute your body with toxins. Making the switch to cleaner, organic teas is an easy yet impactful lifestyle change for protecting your overall health and promoting detoxification of your nervous system.

3. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory, Nutrient-Rich Diet

For most of my life, I underestimated how much diet played a part in my health. I assumed I was eating healthy enough by American standards. I limited junk food; I only ate fast food occasionally. The hard truth is that our modern diet (period) is not healthy. So, unfortunately, it takes more work to actually feed your body properly and avoid things that are creating damage. 

Processed foods, including anything that comes in a box, bag, or can, are often loaded with additives, preservatives, and unhealthy fats that contribute to inflammation in your body. These additives, such as artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, can disrupt your body’s natural detox processes and put a strain on your nervous system. While most people are aware that fast food isn’t the healthiest option, many don’t realize that even seemingly “better” options, like the chicken you order at a sit-down restaurant, can be just as problematic.

For most of us, it takes a lot of unlearning to truly understand what it means to eat an anti-inflammatory and nutrient-rich diet. We’ve been conditioned to believe that labels like “low-fat” and “sugar-free” are synonymous with healthy eating. In reality, many of these so-called “healthy” options are filled with artificial additives, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats that can trigger inflammation and disrupt our nervous system’s balance.

Your diet is key to supporting your nervous system and reducing the toxic load on your body. An anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich diet gives your body ammo to combat oxidative stress, regulate blood sugar, and reduce inflammation—key factors in promoting brain health and protecting nerve cells.

By choosing whole, organic foods, you can help detox your nervous system naturally while supporting better blood flow, brain detox, and overall health. Start by incorporating healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain tissue health and protecting the myelin sheath around your nerve cells. Foods such as avocados, fatty fish, and nuts are excellent sources of these fats. They help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, supporting brain detox and mental health.

Whole grains, leafy greens, and colorful vegetables are packed with antioxidants and B vitamins, which are vital for maintaining healthy nerve function and reducing free radical damage. B vitamins also help your body manage stress by supporting your adrenal glands and regulating your endocrine system, which controls the production of stress hormones. In contrast, foods high in refined sugars and processed ingredients, like junk food, contribute to chronic inflammation and can trigger blood sugar spikes that negatively affect both your central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. These foods can cause digestive issues and disrupt the gut-brain connection, which plays a significant role in your mental health and immune system.

Additionally, eating organic food helps reduce your exposure to pesticides and harmful chemicals that can impact your nervous system and cause oxidative stress. The fewer harmful substances your body has to detox, the better it can focus on maintaining a healthy nervous system. Think of an anti-inflammatory diet as providing your body with the best building blocks for long-term health. Just like you wouldn’t build a house with low-quality materials, you want to fuel your body with high-quality nutrients to support brain health, reduce inflammation, and enhance your nervous system’s natural detox processes.

4. Practice Deep Breathing and Activate the Vagus Nerve

Breathing is another practice that is deeply underrated. Many Eastern traditions understand the power of breathing, but it has been lost to us in the Western World.  One of the most powerful and natural ways to detox your nervous system is through deep breathing, particularly techniques that stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps your body enter a state of relaxation and recovery. Activating this nerve supports the reduction of stress hormones, lowers heart rate, improves blood pressure regulation, and promotes overall nervous system balance.

Deep breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing and alternate nostril breathing, are simple yet effective tools for calming the central nervous system. These breathing techniques activate the vagus nerve, helping to shift your body from a stress-induced state to a parasympathetic state, also known as the “rest and digest” mode. When this shift occurs, it signals your body to reduce the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can otherwise contribute to chronic stress and inflammation.

Practicing deep breaths on a daily basis can help regulate the autonomic nervous system, improve blood flow, and even support brain detox by increasing oxygen delivery to the brain tissue. This process helps protect against oxidative stress, improves brain health, and enhances mental clarity. Incorporating just a few minutes of deep breathing into your routine can have profound effects on your nervous system, reducing tension in the body and helping you better manage stress.

Think of deep breathing as a reset button for your nervous system. By taking intentional, deep breaths, you’re giving your body a moment to pause, slow down, and activate the natural processes that promote healing and relaxation. This simple practice not only supports mental health but also enhances your overall well-being by helping to keep your nervous system balanced and resilient.

5. Physical Activity and Movement

If you’re anything like me, seeing “exercise” on any list might make you want to scream. Or is that just me? I used to feel so frustrated when people casually suggested that I “just move more” while my body already felt like it was running on empty. “Just go for a walk,” my neighbor would say, as if it were that simple. But my body doesn’t work like everyone else’s. On the outside, I might look tall and lean like I’m doing fine, but what you can’t see is the constant fatigue, joint pain, and exhaustion I battle every day.

If you’re looking into ways to improve your nervous system health, chances are you’ve dealt with fatigue too. So when someone suggests more physical activity, it can feel disheartening—because it’s hard, and you’re already doing your best to get through the day. I get it. It’s not about lack of effort or motivation; it’s about finding ways to move that actually support your body, not exhaust it further.

When it comes to physical activity and movement, every body is different. The best way to move for you may be different from your neighbor’s. Your healthy lifestyle can look different and that’s okay. So yes, physical activity is one of the best ways to detox your body naturally and improve your overall health, so don’t let this one deter you. Regular movement might be easier to weave in than you think.

Set an alarm on your phone to get up and move at least once an hour if you can. If you can’t physically get up and walk around, simply doing some trunk rotations can help boost blood flow to the brain and spinal cord and it also helps reduce stress hormones, promote mental clarity, and protect nerve cells from oxidative stress. Engaging in physical activity doesn’t have to be intense to benefit your central and peripheral nervous systems. Even gentle movement can help your body function at its best by supporting natural detox processes and clearing out toxins. The key is finding activities that stimulate the body in a way that feels manageable, while still promoting optimal nervous system health.

6. Balance Your Endocrine System to Reduce Stress Hormones

Your endocrine system plays a vital role in regulating stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which directly impact your nervous system. When your body is under chronic stress, the adrenal glands release these hormones in excess, leading to imbalances that can cause fatigue, high blood pressure, and mental health challenges like anxiety. Over time, this can take a toll on both your central and peripheral nervous systems, making it harder for your body to detox and recover from stress.

To support your nervous system, it’s essential to balance your endocrine system, which includes the adrenal glands, thyroid, and other hormone-producing organs. One of the best ways to do this is by incorporating adaptogenic herbs, maintaining stable blood sugar levels, and focusing on stress-reducing practices like mindfulness and deep breathing.

Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha and rhodiola can help regulate cortisol production, reducing the constant flood of stress hormones. A nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet also plays a significant role in balancing your endocrine system. Ensuring that your blood sugar stays stable throughout the day helps prevent spikes in cortisol, which can occur when your body perceives low blood sugar as a stressor. Whole foods, healthy fats, and plenty of B vitamins are key for keeping your hormones in check.

Mindfulness practices, such as yoga or meditation, can also help reduce stress hormones by calming the mind and activating the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing your body to rest and reset. By focusing on these lifestyle changes, you can support your endocrine system, reduce stress levels, and promote a healthier nervous system overall.

Balancing your hormones is like tuning the engine of a car—when everything is in harmony, your body can run smoothly and efficiently, helping you navigate stress with greater ease and supporting better health across the board.

7. Eliminate Harmful Toxins from Your Environment

Detoxing your nervous system isn’t just about what you put into your body—it’s also about what you’re exposed to in your environment. Harmful toxins, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals found in cleaning products and plastics, can accumulate in your system and interfere with the proper functioning of both your central and peripheral nervous systems. These toxins contribute to oxidative stress, disrupt nerve cells, and can even lead to neurodegenerative diseases if exposure continues over time.

When I first started my journey of healing my nervous system, eliminating environmental toxins was the last thing I considered—honestly, I thought it was “junk science.” We live in a world where we’re constantly bombarded with conflicting information, even from reputable doctors, telling us what’s real and what’s not. So, I brushed it off, thinking that my focus should only be on what I was eating or how I was managing stress.

But as I dug deeper into my healing journey, I began to realize just how much our environment affects us. It wasn’t until I made some simple changes—like switching to natural cleaning products, filtering my water, and avoiding plastics—that I noticed a real difference. I’m talking about a REAL difference. My brain fog started to clear, I had more energy, and overall, I just felt lighter. It’s easy to underestimate how much our surroundings impact our nervous system, but when you consider how many toxins we’re exposed to daily, it makes sense that our bodies can get overwhelmed. Especially for those of us who are more sensitive and have experienced trauma.

Reducing your exposure to environmental toxins is a powerful step toward supporting your body’s natural detox processes. Start by evaluating the products you use every day—opt for organic food to minimize pesticide intake, switch to natural cleaning products, and avoid plastic containers that may leach harmful chemicals into your food and drink. Even seemingly small changes, like choosing glass or stainless steel water bottles, can make a significant difference.

If you want step-by-step help in learning how to detox your environment and diet, The Holistic Trauma Reset Program offers comprehensive guidance to support your journey. This program provides practical tools and strategies to help you reduce harmful toxins, improve your nervous system health, and create lasting changes for better overall well-being. You’ll learn how to make manageable lifestyle adjustments, from choosing the right foods to detoxing your home, so you can feel empowered in your healing process and start seeing real results.

Another source of toxins that many people overlook is indoor air quality. Pollutants from paints, furniture, and synthetic materials can affect your body over time. Airing out your living space regularly, using air purifiers, and introducing more plants that purify the air can help reduce your exposure to these harmful substances.

Think of it this way: Just like you wouldn’t want to fuel your body with junk food, you don’t want to fill your environment with harmful substances that overload your system. By eliminating these toxins, you’re giving your nervous system a chance to recover, reset, and function optimally.

8. Use Essential Oils for Relaxation and Nervous System Support

Essential oils were another one I ignored for a long time, largely because of the narrative I’d absorbed from modern news and mainstream culture. I spent two decades working in corporate America, grew up in the rural Midwest, and ate microwave dinners most of my childhood. Anything outside the mainstream—especially something with little “scientific backing”—just felt like fluff to me. Essential oils seemed like one of those trendy things that didn’t hold much weight. But over time, as I learned more about natural healing and how to support my nervous system, I realized that these oils weren’t just about nice smells—they had real therapeutic benefits when used properly.

One of the most powerful ways essential oils can support healing, especially from trauma, is through the olfactory system, which is directly linked to the brain’s limbic system—the area responsible for emotions, memory, and behavior. When we inhale essential oils, the scent can trigger new sensations in the body, creating new, positive associations that can help rewire the brain’s response to stress and trauma.

This process not only helps calm the nervous system but also enables the formation of new, healing memories that replace older, more traumatic ones. By engaging the sense of smell, essential oils can provide a gentle and natural way to support emotional and nervous system recovery.

Incorporating essential oils into your daily routine is easy and can be done in several ways. You can diffuse them in your home, add them to a relaxing bath, or apply them topically (diluted with a carrier oil) to help calm your nerves. These natural remedies can be a wonderful way to unwind at the end of the day, reduce stress hormones, and support better mental and emotional health.

Think of essential oils as a natural form of self-care for your nervous system, helping you reset and recharge without relying on synthetic solutions. By using essential oils regularly, you create a soothing environment that encourages relaxation and supports your body’s natural detox processes.

9. Improve Gut Health to Support Your Nervous System

Your gut and brain are deeply connected through the gut-brain axis, meaning that what happens in your digestive system has a direct impact on your nervous system. In fact, your gut is sometimes called your “second brain” because it plays such an important role in regulating mood, mental clarity, and overall nervous system function. Poor gut health can lead to inflammation, disrupt the balance of your nervous system, and even contribute to conditions like anxiety, depression, and brain fog.

To support your nervous system, it’s essential to maintain a healthy gut by nourishing your digestive system with whole, nutrient-dense foods. Eating a diet rich in fiber, whole grains, and probiotics—like those found in fermented foods. If your body responds well to these foods (mine doesn’t), you can try things like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut which can help balance the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. These good bacteria are key players in reducing inflammation and supporting a healthy immune system, which in turn promotes optimal brain health and nerve function.

Additionally, cutting out junk food, processed sugars, and inflammatory foods can prevent digestive issues that lead to an overactive stress response in the body. When the gut is in distress, it sends signals to the brain that can contribute to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, exacerbating the body’s stress response.

Think of gut health as the foundation for your nervous system. Just as a house needs a strong base to stand, your body needs a healthy gut to support clear communication between the brain and body, promoting better mental health and a balanced nervous system. By prioritizing gut-friendly foods and reducing inflammatory triggers, you can strengthen this critical connection and enhance your overall well-being.

10. Hydrate for Optimal Nervous System Function

We all know that we are supposed to drink enough water each day to be healthy, but how often do you prioritize it? While it may seem small, hydrating is key to making sure your body has what it needs to operate efficiently. When you don’t hydrate properly, it’s like driving your car around with the gas light on constantly. 

Staying properly hydrated is essential for maintaining the health and function of your nervous system, but it’s not just about drinking water—it’s also about ensuring your body has the right balance of electrolytes. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, help regulate nerve impulses and support the communication between your brain, spinal cord, and the rest of your body. When you’re dehydrated or lacking in electrolytes, your nervous system can’t function optimally, leading to symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and difficulty managing stress.

In addition to regular water, alkaline water can offer added benefits for nervous system health. Alkaline water, which has a higher pH level than regular water, helps neutralize acid in the body and can improve hydration at a cellular level.

This can be particularly helpful when dealing with oxidative stress, which contributes to inflammation and the wear and tear on nerve cells. By supporting a more balanced internal environment, alkaline water may help reduce stress on your nervous system and enhance its ability to detox and regenerate.

To make sure you’re getting the most out of your hydration, consider adding a pinch of sea salt or an electrolyte supplement to your water. This can help restore the minerals your body needs to maintain proper nerve function and stay hydrated. Especially after physical activity or on hot days, replenishing your electrolytes is crucial to ensuring your nervous system stays balanced and functional.

Think of water with electrolytes and alkaline properties as premium fuel for your nervous system. It doesn’t just quench your thirst; it helps your body stay in balance, supports nerve cell communication, and promotes overall nervous system health. Making hydration with the right balance of electrolytes a daily habit is a simple yet powerful way to protect your nervous system and boost your overall well-being.

Conclusion: Detox for Better Nervous System Health

Caring for your nervous system is essential to achieving long-term mental, emotional, and physical health. By making small, intentional lifestyle changes, you can significantly reduce the burden of toxins and stress on your central and peripheral nervous systems. From supporting your glymphatic system and improving gut health to incorporating adaptogenic herbs, essential oils, and staying properly hydrated, these are all effective ways to detox your nervous system naturally.