I write this in the early morning, while the baby still sleeps, while the fog is still thick on the ground, and the earliest commuters glide by on the train outside. Being a new mother, I take every opportunity I can get to do things for my business and myself, early in the morning, nap times, or while the precious little one is happily occupied for a few moments. As of today, she is already nine months old, and it seems so cliché, but I wonder, “Where has this year gone?”
This time of year, I feel very reflective, which is fitting since we now find ourselves in the gateway of Autumn. It’s the beginning of the rest of the year (if you can think of it like that), a distinct shift between the busy-ness, and sometimes lolling, of summer, to a crisp, (hopefully) moist time of falling leaves, pumpkins, and an entering into the time of the Holidays. Yesterday marked the Autumn Equinox, one of two days each year (the other in March at the Spring Equinox/Beginning of Spring) when day and night are of equal length. In many cultures around the world, and in the past, this day was marked with festivities and harvest – one of 3 major harvest festivals celebrated in the old European agrarian calendar. Abundance, feasting, and looking at all that has been produced from a long year of tending the fields are some of the ways, I imagine, peoples of old would mark this day.
During this time of year, I encourage you also to take stock – look back at the year so far, reflect on where you have been, and where you still have left to go. What things have you accomplished this year? Pat yourself on the back for that, no easy feat in these wild and crazy times! What things are you still hoping to create, explore, do in the time we have left (only a few months!)? Or are you really needing to settle into the Winter rest time early, take a break, take off, and simply soak in whatever has come to be this year? I ask you to take a few moments to be in that reflective space, a space in between planning and doing, to glance back, glance around, and simply be in whatever place that finds you in to shift into this next season. In this way, you shift a bit more informed, ready, and recollected into this new refreshing season.
As the wind swirls, and the rain begins to softly fall on the Earth, enjoy a moment of pause before we enter into the next phase.
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It’s Tea Season, Folks!
In my mind, and body, Autumn marks the official beginning to Tea Season. It’s a time to dive into some new herbal blends, or relish in old favorites. I like to look at my herb books for ideas, or even some of the boxes of tea in my cupboard for inspiration.
Teas was the original “people’s medicine,” being nothing more than plants and hot or cold water, it was very accessible to ancient peoples, and also very effective. Even though in my practice I often recommend tinctures, capsules, or supplements, when I see a client who is willing to make tea regularly, I love to use tea blends in their protocols, as they are extremely good at supporting the body. In herbal medicinal theory, the body is supported by herbs by being continually bathed in the herbal remedy, and there is nothing more absorbable and “bathing” than a medicine-packed beverage. The idea is to drink small amounts of a potent brew over the course of each day, steeping ourselves in what the herbs have to offer.
A “medicinal” tea is much stronger than a simple tea bag in some hot water enjoyed as a drink. I think of a medicinal-strength tea to be alchemy suspended in water. I use 1/4-1/2 cup of herbs per 4 cups of water (in a handy 4 cup mason jar), steeped with hot water (just prior to boiling) for 30 minutes minimum, to as long as over night.
There are many nuances to tea making, but these are the basics for making a strong infusion. Other forms of tea making are decocting (simmering), cold infusions (with cold water), and sun teas (infusing the teas in cool water in the sun). Below is a lovely tea blend to start off Fall with, and enjoy all season long.
Immune-Tonic Tea Blend
This tea blend is a take on my Elderberry Syrup recipe, but here formulated as a tea.
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2 parts Elderberries
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2 parts Rose hips
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1 part Lemon Balm
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½ part Ginger Root
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¼ part Cinnamon Chips
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¼ part Clove buds
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Honey to sweeten (optional)
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Directions: Mix herbs together, and use 1/4-1/2 cup of herbs per one quart of hot water. Steep for 20-30 minutes, and drink throughout the day. Or enjoy a cup at a time, using about 1 tablespoon of herbs per 8 oz of water.
It’s Tune-Up Time!
Fall is a really great time of year to tune up your health. Have you been on a protocol most of the year, or this summer? This is a great time of year to re-evaluate and generally switch it up if so, as we don’t want to be taking the same herbal formula(s) on-going.
Or, are you ready to dive in, commit to yourself in the coming season, and work on improving your health? If so, this is also a great time of year (so you can get some momentum before the holidays really set in!) to make the commitment to feeling better.
Are you interested in herbal medicine, but not sure what it can really offer you?
Schedule a Free Discovery Call with me; I would be happy to answer any of your questions or concerns about herbs and their uses.
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Featured Plant: Elder — Sambucus spp.
A majestic, sacred plant, this plant has been honored as a true Elder since ancient times. It is associated with faeries and little people, and offerings are given to it in spring and fall. Always bring an offering when harvesting from this tree, as it is said that it can retaliate if it feels disrespected. It has many uses aside from being used as an agent for healing: it was used as a musical instrument (it has hollow stems) by Native North Americans, eaten as a food for humans as well as animals, and fermented into wine.
As a medicinal herb, it has a special affinity for both the Respiratory + Immune systems, generally supporting of pathways of elimination (as in, allowing toxins to escape the body in times of illness), as well as building resilience.
History and Traditional Use: Flowers well known for use in fevers. Berries are traditionally made into a syrup and given as a preventative to colds and flus. Leaves and flowers topically for inflammation of the eyes, skin disorders, wounds and burns.
Indications/Common Uses*:
Flowers: conditions needing diaphoresis, such as fevers and influenza, common cold; acute and chronic sinusitis, hay fever; also pleurisy, bronchitis, sore throat, measles (3)
Berries: Many of the same properties as the flowers, but as a tonic and blood builder; used as an immunity booster, to prevent or treat colds, sore throats, flus, also anemia. Conditions where there is both stagnant fluid and blood: pale, blue swellings.
Both: Intestinal colic and constipation, congestion of the respiratory tract with restriction of breathing, post nasal drip; edema in the elderly: swollen blue ankles; menstruation problems and fibroids; poison oak and ivy.
Young Leaves: Tinea, ringworm, rashes, scabies; bruises, sprains, wounds, and chilblains, possibly tumors
*For educational purposes only. Please consult a qualified health care practitioner before beginning any herb or herbal regimen.