February begins today and with that I believe there is an “exhale” for many of us. January is often a month fueled by intention and a commitment to new beginnings that can be exhausting. It’s clear to me now that the intensity of January 2018 was to a higher degree due to the power of the moon. Not only did we have a blue moon, which means two full moons in one month, but the moons were closer to the earth than usual, making them “Super Moons”. As if that wasn’t enough, yesterday’s full moon was also a lunar eclipse, which turned the moon red for a little while. January’s moons held a lot of POWER.
Let’s harness this power and support ourselves in moving forward. The key word being “support” because it’s always good to stay juicy! Two good questions to ask every morning are “what juices me up?” and “how am I going to bring some of that into my life today?”. There are some things that we all share such as needing time to rest, good nourishment, positive relationships, and movement. Then there are those special things that bring us, as individuals, peace and joy. Maybe it’s that new Bjork album, connecting with your friend on the other side of the country or a batch of home- brew on the racks. Whatever it is I hope you’ll treat yourself to it while embracing those new intentions. Additionally, setting reasonable and attainable goals is an important part of change making and can help us find the rhythm to keeps the momentum going. I also want to acknowledge that many of you may be pleased with the balance of your lives right now. If so the herbs in this article will hold you with grace.
Herbs to Support “Change Making”
This weekend I had the pleasure of hosting a group of amazing women for a workshop pulling together herbs, art and meditation. We drank an herbal decoction (a simmered beverage of herbal roots, seeds and mushrooms in this case) and created herbal tea blends meant to be made as infusions (leaves and blossoms with boiling water poured over them and then steeped and strained). The focus of the workshop was to create space to support individual intentions for the year to come. With that in mind we worked with herbs that would best support our vision, in the more spiritual sense of the word. I’ve chosen a few to share with you here. Hopefully you’ll mix yourself up a pot of herbal magic!
Rose (Flowers and Hips)
Rose (Rosa spp) There are so many wonderful rose varieties in the world and the rose family is one of the largest including fruit trees such as apple, pear and peach to name a few. Medicinally I have two favorite roses to work with and they are Rosa rugosa and Rosa multiflora. Rosa rugosa is often found growing in the dunes at beaches, demonstrating its wild spirit and ability to weather tough terrain. The beach is a place of high winds, storms and thin soil. Yet it is here where this beauty thrives. I’ve finally added two to my garden this past year and hope that they will be happy in an environment that is much cushier than they would choose on their own. Rosa rugosa has large blossoms in pink and white with huge rose hips that develop in the late summer. The size and fragrance of this species make very sweet yet powerful medicine.
The second rose that I have come to love making medicine with is Rosa multiflora which is categorized as an “invasive” plant for the way it can make its home anywhere and spread with abundance. The whole native/invasive plant conversation is complex and I believe that each plant has a message to share. Let’s look at why that plant is growing where it is and what it’s work in the healing of the earth might be. Every year I make medicine from Rosa multiflora in June when the fragrance fills the air. Every part of the above ground plant is included in that medicine, for the rose has a message to share. Those gorgeous blossoms are so inviting and well tuned to our heart center, however the medicine of the thorns speak of safe boundaries (an important part of all relationships).
Rose has a cooling energy and is astringent which gives it the ability to help tone and tighten, think rose water on skin. For medicine I like to gather the buds, blossoms, stems and leaves in early summer and make elixirs and tinctures. I keep this in my apothecary for the year to come and reach for it when someone is needing support around feelings of grief and loss. It can also nudge us towards joy and romance when desired. Rose has always been known as heart medicine yet that is just one of its powers. The hips are gathered in late summer and can be chopped up and dried or made into jam or herbal honey (with the seeds removed). The hips contain vitamin C which can be called upon in the winter months if stored properly. Both the buds and hips were included in our herbal beverages for supporting our intentions. The energetic balance of the circle of life represented here, from seed (hips) to flower is a very nice combination and will lend support for some of the hurdles that can arise when trying out new ways of being in the world.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) Cinnamon bark is warming and has both the sweet and spicy flavor. It can be very stimulating to the circulatory system and to metabolism. It is wonderful winter medicine in that it supports those of us with cold extremities by getting the blood flowing. I like to sprinkle cinnamon on warm porridge in the morning and especially when someone has had a stomach bug and feels nauseous at the sight of food. It can help quell that queasy feeling and stimulate digestion. Cinnamon can act as a diuretic to help move retained water and as a carminative to relieve gas. It is astringent or tightening and can also relieve pain. With all these varied uses I’d definitely classify cinnamon as a magical plant. Yet the reason that I’ve chosen to work with cinnamon as an ally for bringing intentions into reality is more on a spiritual level. I’m going to quote the words of Michael Tierra and Candis Canton from their book “The Spirit of Herbs: A Guide to the Herbal Tarot” which accompanies their tarot deck. I’ve been working with this deck for almost fifteen years and absolutely adore it. Cinnamon represents the King of Wands and the affirmation associated with the card is “I acknowledge my inner fires and use my strength to direct my destiny.” I can’t imagine a better mantra for moving forward with clear intentions.
Holy Basil
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Sacred basil and tulsi are other names for this plant, a member of the mint family, kin to many of the plants that have an affinity for the nervous system. While many mints have a cooling energy holy basil is pungent, sweet and warm which makes it an ideal plant for winter. Holy basil is my favorite morning tea, and I’ll admit that I often use “Holy India” Tulsi tea in bags. I don’t always have time to make a fresh mug or pot of my home grown tea in the morning. Every time I drink holy basil I feel that I find the ability to breathe a little deeper, and find that extra bit of spaciousness. It brings me back into my body. It’s a plant that grows wildly happy in the garden and everyone can grow it. Just like its culinary cousin, genovese basil, holy basil grows happily in pots or directly in the ground. Holy basil can be harvested multiple times throughout the summer and easily made into tincture or dried for tea to be used in the non-growing season. Fresh holy basil makes a delicious infusion as well. As you prune the tops of your basil, to encourage it to grow bushier, take a handful to make an infusion. Simply put it in a mug, pour boiling water over it, cover to catch those aromatic oils and then steep, strain and enjoy. There’s nothing like the fragrance of fresh holy basil plant!
Holy Basil is also categorized as an adaptogen, or plant that helps us in times of change. Adaptogens help us to be more resilient by supporting our stress response system. Taken long term holy basil is an anti-oxidant, and has neuroprotective and radioprotective benefits. It can be very uplifting and can make a nice long term tonic to nourish those who are prone to depression in the winter. Adaptogens are one of my very favorite categories of herbal medicine and I’ve seen many of my clients benefit from bringing them into their daily rhythms. Adaptogens are often roots or mushrooms, making holy basil a very unique adaptogen in that its leaves and blossoms are where the health benefits reside. This makes it very accessible for medicine because it can be easily grown in one season. Holy basil is best avoided during pregnancy.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) There are so many reasons to love ashwagandha! The medicine of this plant resides in the roots, like many adaptogens. Ashwagandha is a warming plant, and can also be drying. It has a sweet flavor and I love to create decoctions using the dried and powdered root. Simply simmer one teaspoon of the powder into 8 ounces of your milk of choice (canned coconut milk has become my favorite), add a ¼ tsp of cinnamon and a sprinkle of ginger or nutmeg if you like those warming spices. Honey or maple syrup can be added to have a bit more sweetness. This is a wonderful nightcap as ashwagandha can help restore natural sleep rhythms and bring on a sense of peace and calm. Ashwagandha can also be taken in tincture form and is often part of the tonics that I craft for clients who are dealing with adrenal fatigue and anxiety. There are some contra-indications in regard to those with hyper-thyroidism in which case it is best to work with a clinical herbalist or botanically inclined doctor to find the right dose. Many studies show that ashwagandha is well suited for those with hypo-thyroidism.
I chose ashwagandha to be an ally for our “Visioning” retreat because it is calming and nourishing, both with immediate use and long term. It is one of the plants that I think of more as food, broth, ambrosia! My teacher, Dr. Aviva Romm, once said that if she could choose an herb to put in the public water supply system it would be this plant. I hope to introduce ashwagandha to my garden this summer. While the roots are what is needed for medicine they can be harvested from just one season of growth. I’ll let you know how it goes!
The cooling nature of the rose blossoms combine well with the warming holy basil to make a lovely infusion. Cinnamon can be added to taste. The rosehips, ashwagandha, and cinnamon (if you have it in rolled bark or chips) combine nicely for a decoction. Have fun embracing your inner alchemist and let’s share our stories next time we meet.
Many Blessings,
