Natural Support for Grief: Healing the Emotional Heart

Unfortunately, grief is a universal experience. While we often associate it only with death, it can also arise from unmet expectations, broken relationships, the loss of a dream, or any significant life change.

Rather than rushing through the grieving process, we should allow ourselves space and time to process and heal. Thankfully there are a number of herbs that can help us do that, but first we need to understand how grief affects us not only emotionally, but also physically.

The Emotional Heart and the Mind-Body Connection

The heart does more than just pump blood—it communicates with the body through neurotransmitters, hormones, and electromagnetic activity. Research shows us that negative emotions like grief, anger, and sadness can have a direct negative impact on cardiovascular health, while positive emotions such as joy and compassion can boost immunity and promote healing. In fact, laughter has been found to improve blood flow by 20%.

Traditional Chinese Medicine describes the heart as the seat of spirit and consciousness. Scripture also often depicts the heart as the center of human emotion, thought, and will. Even our language reflects this connection: "heartbroken," "with all my heart," and "follow your heart" all point to the deep relationship between our emotions and our physical heart.

Grief, like all emotions, doesn’t just stay in the mind—it impacts the entire body, most especially the cardiovascular system. Symptoms such as chest tightness, heart palpitations, a feeling of weight on the chest, and even panic attacks that can feel like a heart attack are common physical manifestations of deep emotional pain.

Moving Through Grief: Tools for Healing With Natural Support

Grief is a process, not a linear path with a set timeline. The five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—outlined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross are a helpful framework, but everyone moves through them differently. David Kessler has also introduced a sixth stage: finding meaning, which can be a powerful way to integrate loss and continue forward.

Support is essential when processing grief. Isolating yourself can intensify the pain, so finding healthy ways to express emotions is key:

• Journaling – Writing down your feelings can help process and release them.

• Support groups or forums – Talking with others who understand can be deeply healing.

• Speaking with a spiritual leader or counselor – Faith and guidance can provide comfort.

• Reading books or devotionals on grief – Understanding the process helps normalize the experience.

• Movement and bodywork – Gentle exercise and massage can help release stored grief.

• Rituals – Lighting a candle, creating a memorial, or finding a way to honor your loss can help with acceptance.

Natural Support for the Grieving Heart

Plants have long been allies in times of sorrow and grief, offering natural support for both the emotional and physical heart. Herbal categories that help with grief include:

• Adaptogens – Help the body adapt to stress (e.g., Tulsi, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola).

• Nervines – Support the nervous system and ease emotional distress (e.g., Lemon Balm, Skullcap, Passionflower).

• Heart Gladdeners – Traditionally used to lift the spirit (e.g., Hawthorn, Mimosa, Rose, Linden).

• Liver & Gallbladder Herbs – Help process emotions and release stagnant grief (e.g., Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Burdock).

Flower Essences are simple, safe and effective homeopathic remedies that can be useful for grief.

• Star of Bethlehem – provides comfort from trauma and helps relieve shock in the initial stages of grief.

• Bleeding Heart – for heartbreak and an inability to move forward emotionally.

• Rescue Remedy – for severe trauma and stress.

Essential oils can also be incredibly supportive, though sustainability and ethical sourcing should be considered. It’s also extremely important to make sure you’re getting pure essential oils. Rose and Melissa in particular are very expensive oils; if they are inexpensive they are very likely adulterated. 

Some of the most heart-supportive essential oils include:

• Rose – Opens the heart and brings comfort.

• Melissa (Lemon Balm) – Uplifts the spirit and eases sadness.

• Frankincense – Grounds and soothes deep grief.

• Sandalwood – Provides emotional and spiritual balance.

• Palo Santo – Clears heavy energy and encourages peace.

Final Thoughts

Grief is a journey. We don’t “move on” from grief—we move forward with it, integrating the loss into our lives in a way that allows us to heal. Finding meaning, reaching out for support, and utilizing holistic tools like herbs, aromatherapy, and finding support can provide comfort and help us navigate the waves of sorrow.

Above all, let’s normalize grief. It is not something to suppress or rush through, but rather a process that honors our love, our losses, and our capacity to heal.