Functional & Herbal Medicine Support for Stress and Sleep
For many people, stress and sleep problems are deeply intertwined.
You may feel wired but exhausted, struggle to switch off at night, wake too early, or find that stress lingers in your body long after the day has ended. Over time, this can erode energy, mood, resilience and overall health.
At The Body Detective, I support stress and sleep issues using a functional and herbal medicine approach, focusing on how your nervous system, hormones, lifestyle and physiology are interacting — and why your body is finding it hard to settle.
When stress and sleep problems persist
Occasional stress or poor sleep is part of life.
But when problems become ongoing, they often reflect deeper patterns.
Common contributors include:
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Chronic nervous system activation
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Difficulty switching out of “fight or flight”
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Blood sugar instability
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Inflammatory load
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Mental and emotional over-stimulation
Over time, the body can lose its natural rhythm of activation and rest — leading to poor sleep, heightened stress responses, or both.
A functional medicine approach to stress and sleep
Functional medicine looks at why the nervous system is struggling to regulate, rather than treating stress or insomnia as isolated problems.
At The Body Detective, stress and sleep are explored by examining:
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Nervous system regulation
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Stress hormone patterns
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Sleep timing and quality
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Digestive and metabolic influences
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Lifestyle rhythms and recovery capacity
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Emotional and physical load over time
The aim is to help the body relearn safety, rhythm and restoration, rather than forcing sleep or suppressing stress responses.
How herbal medicine can support stress and sleep
Herbal medicine can be particularly effective for stress and sleep because it works gently with the nervous system.
Depending on the individual, herbs may be used to:
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Calm excessive nervous system activation
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Support stress resilience
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Improve sleep onset and sleep depth
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Reduce night-time waking
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Support emotional regulation
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Aid recovery rather than sedation
Herbs are prescribed individually, based on your symptoms, constitution, health history and current medication — not as one-size-fits-all sleep remedies.
Stress and sleep often overlap with other symptoms
Many people seeking support for stress or sleep also experience:
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Fatigue or burnout
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Brain fog or poor concentration
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Anxiety or low mood
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Digestive symptoms
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Hormonal symptoms
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Muscle tension or pain
Supporting stress and sleep often improves these alongside them.
Working with me for stress and sleep support
My work combines:
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Functional medicine assessment
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Individualised herbal medicine (where appropriate)
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Practical lifestyle and rhythm support
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An integrated understanding of how body systems interact
Where helpful, neuromuscular therapy may be used as an adjunct, particularly when physical tension or pain is contributing to nervous system overload or poor sleep.
This work is about restoring balance and capacity — not pushing through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stress and Sleep Support
What is functional medicine support for stress and sleep?
Functional medicine support for stress and sleep focuses on understanding why the nervous system is struggling to regulate. This includes exploring stress load, sleep quality, hormones, digestion and lifestyle rhythms, rather than treating insomnia or stress as isolated issues.
Can herbal medicine help with stress and poor sleep?
Yes. Herbal medicine can support stress and sleep by helping calm nervous system over-activation, improve sleep quality and support resilience. Herbs are selected based on individual patterns rather than used as sedatives.
Why do I feel exhausted but unable to sleep properly?
This pattern often reflects nervous system dysregulation, where the body remains in a heightened state of alert despite physical exhaustion. Functional medicine looks at what is keeping the system activated and how to restore balance.
Is this approach suitable if my sleep problems have been long-standing?
Yes. Many people seek support after months or years of disrupted sleep. Functional and herbal medicine are well suited to exploring long-term patterns and supporting gradual, sustainable change.
Can this work alongside conventional treatment or medication?
Yes. Functional and herbal medicine support can be used alongside conventional care. Any recommendations take into account your current treatments, medical history and overall health.
What happens in a stress or sleep consultation with The Body Detective?
A consultation involves a detailed discussion of your symptoms, sleep patterns, stress exposure, health history and lifestyle. This allows contributing factors to be identified and a personalised support plan to be developed.
Stress and poor sleep are signals, not flaws
Persistent stress and poor sleep are often signs that the body has lost its sense of rhythm and safety — not that something is “wrong” with you. If you are struggling with ongoing stress or sleep disruption and want to understand what is driving it, functional and herbal medicine may help uncover what your body needs to restore balance and rest.
Work with The Body Detective
If you’d like to explore functional and herbal medicine support for stress or sleep, you can book an initial consultation or get in touch to ask questions about how I work.
