People often think healthy living is eating the right food, getting plenty of exercise and sleep. Some depend upon alcohol, tobacco, or “comfort food”—which don’t really help a body resist the stresses and strains, and in fact can contribute to issues like heart disease and digestive disorders. However, there are better supports, some even in your own back yard.
Life is tough, and herbs can help support a healthy lifestyle. A doctor can treat major ailments; herbs help you build resilience, reduce stress, and keep healthy. Before you need that trip to the doctor’s office, try a cup of tea. Herbal tea is closer to food than pharmaceuticals, but don’t confuse gentleness for weakness. Made right, herbal teas are deeply nourishing, nudging you to balance and health without harsh side effects. Herbal teas brew (or infuse, decoct, etc.) for minutes, or even boil or simmer, rather than steeping for a few seconds, adding gobs of sugar and milk, and downing it with sugary pastries.
Whether loose in a tea ball or ready-bagged—brew, steep and infuse your herbal tea for 5 to 8 minutes. Root-based teas, like dandelion or marshmallow, can be simmered for 10-15 minutes. This extra time in water is what makes the difference between tasty and truly nourishing tea. Add some honey if you like but be aware that lots of sugar will pretty much overwhelm the benefits of your herbal tea.
How and when to add these teas to your diet? For instance, if you are a bit anxious, experiencing wandering attention, finding it hard to focus, make yourself a small tea ceremony every day. Use a special cup, choose a certain time each day—maybe first thing in the morning, or in the afternoon when you get home—what works for you. What types of tea can help? Try lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a lovely lemony member of the mint family. It helps to focus attention and turn anxiety into a sense of calm.
Charlemagne started his day with a cup, calling it a cheering and gladdening herb. Tulsi or holy basil (Occimum sanctum) is another choice to soothe and smooth frayed nerves and sharpen the mind. What about bedtime? Have you tried a cup of tea in the evening? Turn off your electronics, sip your tea, gift your mind that quiet time. Herbs take time to work; be consistent and give yourself a couple of weeks to notice the differences.
Many herbs have a wide safety window, and most people have no issues using them. Here are just a few: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for stress, help with sleep; Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) for brain support; Chamomile (Chamomilia, Matricaria spp) for anxiety, digestion; Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) soothes anxiety, sharpens attention; Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) for indigestion; Tulsi (Occimum sanctum) for indigestion.
You can grow herbs in pots on your deck or in a garden. Fresh chamomile is a lovely tea warm or cold. Anxious stomachs love the apple-scented pale gold brew. Don’t overlook weeds and trees either! If you have nettle in your backyard, have a care for the stings and harvest a batch for a tasty all-over pick-me-up. Full of vitamins and trace nutrients, its stings fade when dried. Are you lucky to have hawthorn trees? The ripe berries make a lovely heart-helping tea or luscious jam; it’s popular in Europe as a heart helper for the aging. The wild roses may well produce bright red rose hips in the fall. Packed with vitamin C, they make an amazing tea and a tasty, tart jam. Check out the selections at your favorite health food or herb shop to expand your choices. Also, local shops may have other reference books and materials to help you grow and use herbs safely.
Take a class or a weed walk with a local herbalist; discover the joys of finding plant helpers in the wild or blending your own teas. From complex blends to single herbs, experiment and find what works best for you. Check out the local libraries and continuing ed classes. You can find short lectures or longer classes that can help you learn more about herbal helpers.
Sara Thornton is a dual-certified clinical herbalist with 40+ years’ experience in herbs. She can be found at her shop, Ravenswood Natural Health, in Simsbury.