Hildegard of Bingen's View on Stress and the Importance of Rest

In a time when exhaustion is almost considered a status symbol and rest is often mistaken for laziness, Hildegard of Bingen’s teachings sound like a gentle yet firm admonition from another world. The medieval abbess, naturalist, and mystic who lived and worked in the Rhineland in the 12th century knew nothing of smartphones, shift work, or constant digital stress—and yet she described conditions that sound familiar to us today: inner restlessness, physical exhaustion, a mind that cannot find peace. Her holistic worldview, which regarded body, soul, and spirit as an inseparable unity, offers surprisingly contemporary perspectives even in the 21st century—especially for those seeking natural ways to find their center again. Hildegard von Bingen products

What Hildegard Understood by Stress – A Medieval Diagnosis

Hildegard of Bingen, of course, did not know the term “stress”—it comes from modern 20th-century physiology. However, what she described hits the core of what we understand today: a disturbance of inner balance, which she called the loss of “Viriditas” in her teachings. Viriditas—the “greening power” or life force—was for Hildegard the central principle that permeates and sustains all living things. When this power diminishes due to external burdens, inner turmoil, or lack of rest, a person begins to wither, much like a plant without water.

In her main work “Causae et Curae,” Hildegard describes conditions we would today recognize as stress-related complaints: insomnia, lack of drive, a mind plagued by worries, physical heaviness, and a general feeling of emptiness. She did not see these states as isolated physical symptoms but as expressions of a deeper imbalance—a life that had strayed too far from natural order. Three factors played a central role for her: the quality of food, the care of the inner life, and above all: the conscious practice of rest.

Particularly insightful is Hildegard’s concept of “melancholy,” which she viewed not purely psychologically but as a physical-spiritual phenomenon. Chronic overload, excessive brooding, and loss of joy belonged together for her—she described how a life marked by inner restlessness disrupts the natural bodily fluids and impairs overall well-being. This connection between psychological and physical levels is today a fundamental principle of modern psychosomatics—and Hildegard formulated it nearly 900 years ago.

“A person who does not care for their soul is like a tree without roots—they may stand for a while, but the first storm will topple them.” – paraphrased from Hildegard of Bingen, Causae et Curae (12th century)

Hildegard of Bingen regarded inner restlessness and chronic exhaustion as expressions of lost balance—not as signs of weakness, but as messages from the body that want to be heard.

The Art of Rest: How Hildegard Understood Recovery as Medicine

For Hildegard, rest was not a passive state, not mere idleness. Rest was an active, conscious act—a form of self-care she considered as important as food and exercise. In her monastic daily life, the alternation of work, prayer, silence, and communal living was firmly established. This interplay corresponded to her conviction that humans need rhythm: tension and relaxation, activity and rest, social engagement and withdrawal. Those who permanently disrupt this rhythm risk the drying up of Viriditas.

Hildegard especially emphasized the importance of sleep. For her, nighttime sleep was not lost time but a phase of deep regeneration—for body, mind, and soul alike. She recommended sleeping before midnight and waking with natural light, warning against a life that sacrifices nighttime rest for work or distraction. Sleep and relaxation products One could summarize her teaching as: those who do not honor the night rob themselves of their deepest healing resource.

Moreover, Hildegard valued conscious silence as a space for inner reflection. Meditation as we know it today was not part of her terminology—but what she described as contemplative retreat comes very close. Regular moments of silence, in which the mind neither plans, judges, nor is busy, were for her prerequisites for maintaining mental health. Modern stress research would call this the “activation of the parasympathetic nervous system”—Hildegard simply called it: the return to oneself.

Rest was for Hildegard of Bingen not a luxury but a necessity—she regarded sufficient sleep and conscious silence as fundamental pillars of a healthy life.

Hildegard’s Herbs Against Inner Restlessness – Traditional Plant Knowledge of Monastic Medicine

Hildegard of Bingen was not only a mystic and theologian—she was also an exceptionally knowledgeable herbalist. Her work “Physica” contains detailed descriptions of medicinal plants, stones, animals, and metals, which she compiled from her own observations, monastic tradition, and an extraordinary synthesis of knowledge and intuition for her time. Many of the plants she recommended are still traditionally used in naturopathy today and have been part of European herbal knowledge for centuries. Hildegard von Bingen products

For states of inner restlessness, overwork, and general exhaustion, Hildegard named a number of plants she considered particularly valuable. Her approach was always holistic: she recommended herbs not in isolation but as part of a lifestyle that equally considers nutrition, sleep, exercise, and soul care. The plant was for her a gift of nature that serves humans—but can only truly unfold its potential if the person also does their part.

Especially interesting is Hildegard’s affinity for bitter plants. In her teachings, bitters played an important role: they were regarded as plants that “cleanse” the person and rekindle the inner fire—concepts that align with the traditional use of bitters in European monastic medicine. Bitter herbs have been valued in monasteries since the early Middle Ages as general tonics and appear in countless historical recipes. BitterKraft Original

What lies behind Hildegard’s herbal knowledge?

Hildegard’s plant recommendations did not arise in a vacuum—they were based on a centuries-old monastic medical tradition that linked ancient knowledge (including Dioscorides and Galen) with local herbal knowledge. Many of her recommendations were passed down through generations and remain alive today in European folk medicine and naturopathy. The traditional use of these plants is well documented culturally and historically—they are part of the heritage of European healing arts.

These medicinal herbs were traditionally valued in monastic medicine for inner restlessness and exhaustion:

• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Known and valued for centuries in European monastic medicine—Hildegard described the plant as useful for states of restlessness. It is still traditionally used today and considered part of the European herbal heritage.
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): Widely grown in medieval monastery gardens and historically associated with the well-being of monks and nuns. Hildegard valued its aromatic character and recommended it for general care of mind and senses.
• Hops (Humulus lupulus): Cultivated in monasteries since the Middle Ages—initially for brewing beer but also known as a medicinal plant. Traditionally valued in monastic medicine for insomnia and inner restlessness.
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): One of the most popular monastery plants—Hildegard described it as especially valuable for the mood. Used for centuries in European herbal medicine for nervousness and restlessness.
• Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): Mentioned in Hildegard’s “Physica” and valued as a medicinal plant since antiquity. Traditionally a staple of European monastic medicine and still regarded as a symbol of natural healing.
• Galangal root (Alpinia officinarum): Hildegard’s personal favorite herb—she recommended it for a variety of complaints and valued it as a general tonic. Traditionally used as a warming and invigorating herb in medieval monastic medicine. Hildegard von Bingen products

Everyday Practices According to Hildegard – Living Rest and Rhythm Consciously

Hildegard’s teaching is not a theory to be read and then forgotten—it is an invitation to lived practice. And the beautiful thing is: many of her recommendations can be integrated into modern everyday life without much effort. It is not about completely turning life upside down but about giving daily rhythm structure and awareness again—and giving rest the place it deserves.

A central aspect of Hildegard’s everyday teaching is the importance of fixed times of day. She recommended linking meals, work, rest, and sleep to natural rhythms—the cycle of light and dark, seasons, and bodily needs. What is today called chronobiology essentially describes the same: that our bodies have internal clocks that require external rhythms. Those who live against these clocks pay a price—in the form of exhaustion, mood swings, and reduced overall well-being. Sleep and relaxation products

Hildegard also recommended movement in nature as an essential counterbalance to mental work. Walks—preferably in gardens or forests—were for her a means to awaken the life spirits and clear the mind. Here again, her intuition aligns with modern findings: nature exposure has been studied internationally for years in the context of general well-being. For Hildegard, nature was simply the place where a person finds themselves again—because they are part of it.

Historical sources show that monastery gardens in the Middle Ages were not only used for food production but were consciously designed as places of rest and inner reflection. Hildegard of Bingen described the monastery garden as a space where body and soul are nourished equally—an early concept of therapeutic nature experience. (Cf. Strehlow/Hertzka: “Great Hildegard Pharmacy,” 1998)

Finally, community played an essential role in Hildegard’s daily life. Isolation and social loneliness were for her breeding grounds for melancholy and inner exhaustion. Shared meals, conversation, communal singing—these were not only pleasant habits but necessary sources of nourishment for the soul. This is a message that, in a time when loneliness has become a central health issue, has lost none of its relevance.

Hildegard’s everyday philosophy can be summed up simply: those who integrate rhythm, nature, community, and conscious rest into their daily lives lay the foundation for lasting balanced well-being.

Hildegard’s Legacy Today – Why Her Wisdom Is More Relevant Than Ever

It is no coincidence that Hildegard of Bingen has experienced a renaissance in recent decades. In a world that has become faster, louder, and more connected than ever before, more and more people are searching for anchors—wisdom that does not come from an app but from lived experience and deep connection to nature. Hildegard’s work offers exactly that: a holistic, earth-bound life philosophy that does not see humans as machines to be optimized but as living beings who need care, rhythm, and love. Hildegard von Bingen products

Her understanding of stress and rest strikes a chord: the realization that exhaustion is not a personal failure but a signal—a call of nature to return. This perspective is not only encouraging but also liberating. Instead of feeling ashamed of tiredness, one can read it as information: a sign that something has fallen out of balance and needs to be restored. Not through more discipline, but through conscious pause. Through herbs, silence, sleep, and nature. Fasting products

Those who want to be inspired by Hildegard’s worldview do not have to live a monastic life. It begins in small ways: a cup of herbal tea in the morning, a walk without a smartphone, a mindful dinner without screens, a fixed bedtime that is truly kept. These small rituals—that is Hildegard’s real message—are not sacrifices. They are gifts we give ourselves. And perhaps that is the deepest thought this 12th-century woman has left us: that self-care is not weakness but the prerequisite for everything else.

Hildegard’s approach as a daily ritual:

In modern naturopathy, Hildegard’s holistic approach is often used as a guiding framework—not as a rigid prescription but as an invitation. Those who integrate traditional herbs into their daily lives, plan conscious rest breaks, and follow the natural rhythms of light and season are essentially following wisdom that has been lived in European monasteries for centuries. The goal is not perfection but a life that feels harmonious again.

Monastic medicine, of which Hildegard of Bingen is one of the most important representatives, is not a museum. It is a living heritage that wants to be carried forward, adapted, and newly interpreted—by people who have realized that the answers to many modern questions can sometimes be very old. Those who read Hildegard’s writings today do not encounter a world-forsaken mystic but a woman of extraordinary observational skill, wisdom, and humanity. A woman who reminds us: rest is not a pause from life. Rest is part of life. Perhaps even the most important part.