I start every day with a healing herbal tea. I rarely use t-bags; I use dried herbs and make up my tea blend depending on what I need for the day ahead, what season we are in, where I am in my cycle and what the weather is doing.
Herbs that I use if I am feeling anxious:
Lemon balm, chamomile, passion flower, lavender, oat straw, tulsi (also known as Holy Basil), rose, hawthorn flowers
Herbs I use for digestion:
Dandelion, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, liquorice, ginger
Herbs I use in the week leading up to and throughout my period
Yarrow, rose, tulsi , chamomile, raspberry leaf, oat straw, red clover, cinnamon, sage
Herbs I use throughout the summer
Nettle, hawthorn flower, red clover, meadow-sweet, elderflower, rose, comfrey, dandelion
Herbs I use for hay-fever/allergies
Nettle, elderflower, rosemary, chamomile
I love to forage as many of my own herbs as I can – NEVER forage plants you are unsure of! You could die… Learn from an experienced forager and don’t rely on photo apps, so many plants look similar. If you would like to learn from an experienced forager, I strongly recommend my good friend Vicky from The Little Foragers Kitchen, we have a couple of forage and movement events coming up:
Sunday 11th Aug 1030am-230pm Coastal Forage & Mindful Movement at Lunderston Bay Gourock https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/911579768627?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sunday 1st Sept 3-7pm Late summer forage & mindful movement at Cader Wharf, Bishopbriggs https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/911906546027?aff=oddtdtcreator
AND we have our 2025 retreat (9-12May 2025) in New Luce now open for bookings (half the rooms are already gone with this year’s guests re-booking! If you would like more information, reply to this email and I will send you over the info.
Herbs are medicinal, and many of the pharmaceuticals today are derived from herb compounds (it’s how they can cash in!) so, it’s important, especially if you are on medication that you check each herb to make sure that they are not potentially harmful; for example, liquorice root shouldn’t be used if you are on cortisone steroids like prednisone as it will make the medication much stronger. Aspirin comes from meadow-sweet so if you are on blood thinners or other blood meds that could be a problem. Other herbs can inhibit medications. Always check your information leaflet and with the pharmacist if you are not sure.
