Herbs That Hold You

Herbs That Hold You

The Healing Plants Behind Every Luna & Lavender™ Product

By Claudia Barton
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) • Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)

When I create products for Luna & Lavender™, I think about your nervous system first.

I don’t just ask: What feels good?
I ask: What supports emotional rest? What helps you slow down? What creates a cue of safety in the body?

That’s why I hand-select herbs with deep, generational wisdom — botanicals that do more than nourish the skin. These herbs regulate, soften, and rebuild from the inside out.

Whether you’re navigating burnout, hormonal changes, sensory overwhelm, or simply seeking to reconnect with yourself, the herbs in Luna & Lavender™ were chosen to hold you there — gently, patiently, and with intention.

A Look at the Plants That Power Our Formulas

This list includes some of the key herbs used in infusions, balms, body butters, sprays, and salves in your Luna & Lavender™ collection. It’s a growing guide — and a glimpse into the heart behind the formulation.

(Downloadable reference below!)

Passionflower – The Gentle Unwinder

  • Eases racing thoughts, tension, and emotional agitation

  • Found in bedtime balms and hormone-support blends

Skullcap – The Overthinking Softener

  • Supports nervous system recovery and mental calm

  • Found in nervous system oils and hormone-balancing salves

Hibiscus – The Radiance Restorer

  • Brightens skin, supports detox, uplifts mood

  • Found in brightening spot balms and hormone-phase support

Dandelion – The Liver Lover

  • Supports hormone processing and skin clarity

  • Found in stress-release salves and hormone-support blends

Red Clover Blossoms – The Feminine Balancer

  • Rich in phytoestrogens, supports hormonal transitions

  • Found in perimenopause support balms

Willow Bark – The Natural Soother

  • Reduces inflammation, helps with aches and hormonal tension

  • Found in joint/muscle balms and face masks for breakouts

Ashwagandha – The Resilience Root

  • Adaptogen for adrenal health and emotional steadiness

  • Found in hormone-support balms and foot soaks

Gotu Kola – The Mind-Body Connector

  • Calms skin and enhances mental clarity

  • Found in scar salves, facial healing balms

Turmeric – The Inflammation Fighter

  • Brightens skin, soothes joints, supports hormone balance

  • Found in brightening spot balms and anti-inflammatory oils

Plus More Herbal Allies in Luna & Lavender™:

  • Chamomile – soothes skin + nervous system

  • Lavender – regulates overstimulation + improves sleep

  • Calendula – supports healing + sensitive skin

  • Valerian – deep rest + nighttime grounding

  • Lemon Balm – calms cortisol + digestive upset

  • Comfrey – promotes skin regeneration + cellular healing

  • Marshmallow Root – hydrates + softens skin

  • Rose Petal Powder – soothes heart + restores skin tone

  • Licorice Root – brightens skin + supports adrenal health

  • Elderflower – tones skin + offers antimicrobial protection

  • Yarrow – skin repair + energetic boundaries

  • Nettle – strengthens skin + supports hormonal skin

  • Oat Straw – rebuilds calm after burnout

  • Matcha – energizes skin + calms inflammation

Why It Matters

When you apply a balm, light a candle, or press oil into your skin — that’s not just skincare. It’s a reinforcer. A moment of self-trust. A sensory anchor for slowing down.

In behavioral wellness, we call this shaping — reinforcing small moments of change until the whole system transforms.

That’s what these herbs do.
They don’t rush. They don’t force.
They simply support you in remembering that your body deserves kindness.

 

With kindness,
Claudia 

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The Science Behind Health & Wellness

Why behavior matters. Why healing is possible. Why small steps work.

When we think of health and wellness, we often think of the body — nutrition, sleep, hydration, movement. But at the core of every lasting change is something deeper: behavior.

As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP), I view health and wellness through a scientific and compassionate lens. I don’t just ask what someone is doing — I ask why.

That’s where the real healing starts.

Why Behavior Matters in Wellness

Every time you choose to care for yourself — by applying a salve, setting down your phone, or pausing to breathe — you’re engaging in a behavior. These actions might seem small, but over time, they shape patterns. Patterns become habits. Habits become a lifestyle.

Behavior analysis teaches us that change doesn’t happen all at once — it happens one moment at a time, with reinforcement, consistency, and care.

The Nervous System & Trauma-Informed Support

For many of us, especially those with trauma histories, even the simplest self-care routines can feel overwhelming or unfamiliar. That’s why trauma-informed care matters. It reminds us that healing isn’t just about doing more — it’s about feeling safe enough to begin.

Behavioral wellness honors the body’s signals, works with the nervous system, and builds safety through predictable, gentle routines. When we approach wellness with compassion and structure, we help the body and mind slowly unlearn survival and relearn connection.

The Foundation of Behavior-Based Wellness

In behavior science, we use tools like:

  • Reinforcement to encourage healthy habits (rewarding what we want to see more of)
  • Prompting and shaping to help build routines gradually
  • Environmental design to make wellness easier and more accessible
  • Data and reflection to track what’s working — and why

These aren’t just clinical strategies. They can show up in your daily life as:

  • A lavender roller next to your bed to signal rest
  • A gentle balm you use after brushing your teeth to mark the end of your day
  • A sensory spray that helps your child transition more smoothly
  • A mantra you whisper each morning as a private moment of grounding

Why This Matters

Because true wellness isn't about extremes.
It’s about repeatable, nourishing actions that help you feel more like yourself.

And the science is clear: when we build wellness routines around behavior, not pressure, we make healing more accessible — for children, for parents, for everyone.

This is the foundation of my work and the intention behind every product I create. I want to help you feel safe in your routines, confident in your care, and connected to the deeper why behind the choices you make.

Mini Mantra:

“Small acts. Safe patterns. Lasting change.”

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