Licorice is seem as warming in ayurveda medicine, which is primarily where its used stemmed from.
Lavender and Shatavari are suggested to modulate GABAergic neurotransmission, especially onGABA A receptors - similar to how benzodiazapines work - hence the calming affect. Although they classed as relaxing, they are actually stimulating to the adrenal system - most relaxants are in fact stimulates - sounds strange but its true as the body had to 'make' hormones and neurotransmitters to create that relaxed feeling, and most of those are made partly with the help of the adrenals.
I find Gaba stuff really helpful (NOT benzos though), I prefer Theanine myself but it does just help symptoms and mask them, it isn't a cure unfortunately, but by calming the HPA, it can promote healing - or so thats the theory