Mountain Rose Herbs
Now more than ever we need to learn that we can be empowered to heal our own bodies. One way to do this is through herbs. Tea is a great way to support your health. It is enjoyable and easy to incorporate into your home. One of my favorite brands is Mountain Rose Herbs. They are clean and ecologically conscious. You can read here a beautiful letter written by the owner that shares his mission and passion for what he brings forth.
Take precautions when using any herbs. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. At the end don’t miss the fun video showing you how you can grow ginger yourself to use medicinally or in the kitchen. Find your favorite herb and youtube it. There are so many great people sharing helpful information guiding us all to be more self-reliant.
Here are some of my favorite herbs I like to keep around.
Ashwagandha Root
Ashwagandha is a highly revered botanical used in Ayurveda and is praised for its adaptogenic and tonic properties. In many Asian countries, all parts of the plant are utilized, and the tender leaves are eaten as a gentle nourishing herb. It has been part of their repertoire for millennia. 'Ashwagandha' literally means 'smelling like a horse' which most likely refers to its actual scent.
In Ayurveda it is a helpful sleep aid and used to balance various conditions that arise from 'vata dosha' imbalances. It is believed to encourage youth and vitality. It is considered a grounding and nourishing herb and supportive to female well-being. Bitter, sweet, astringent in flavor and energetically warming (mildly).
Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine as an adaptogen and a nervine to help cope with stress and supports overall cognitive health*.
Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile is known to promote relaxation and supports digestive health.
Chamomile is a gentle herb known throughout most of the world which has been used continually for many centuries. It is often ingested as a tea for calming purposes and to soothe the digestive tract and is mild enough to be administered to babies. Chamomile is soothing to the skin and is often found in lotions and hair products.
Chamomile was used in ancient Egypt and was given as an offering to their gods. Chamomile has been utilized extensively in Europe as somewhat of a panacea which supported digestive health. Common preparations were teas, baths and sitzbaths, gargles, inhalations, and compresses. Germans refer to this herb as alles zutraut meaning 'capable of anything.' Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile are similar and have been traditionally used interchangeably to some degree, although differences in taste and action have been noted. In the Mexican folkloric tradition, manzanilla was used to support healthy respiratory function and for soothing the stomach and easing digestion. In the highlands of southern Mexico, the Tzeltal Maya make a chamomile tea containing an orange and a lime leaf to lift the mood.
Cinnamon Sweet Chips
In Ayurveda, cinnamon bark from Cinnamomum verum is considered a warming herb that is stimulating to the heart yet cooling to the digestive system.
Sweet cinnamon chips, also referred to as Ceylon cinnamon chips or “true cinnamon” chips, are perfectly steeped as a cinnamon tea or in your favorite tea blend.
Cinnamon Sweet Sticks
Cinnamon is considered to be a warming herb that is stimulating to the circulatory system and soothing to the digestive system.
Echinacea & Elder Tea
Elderberries and Echinacea purpurea are known to help to support immune health. Organic echinacea & elder tea is a wonderfully mild blend that includes raspberry leaf, rosehips, lemon, and a touch of ginger root. This tea has a smooth taste for soothing the senses and is great hot or iced. Brew up a cup of this gentle tea any time of the year to reap the benefits!
Hibiscus Flowers (Whole)
Love this one for bringing in the joy of Mother Nature. The color is beautiful!
Precautions: Hibiscus flowers are often intercropped with peanuts. Occasionally fragments of peanut shells are present. Caution for individuals with severe peanut allergies. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Nettle Leaf
The reputation of Nettle among herbalists is that it supports healthy urinary function and has mild diuretic action and helps to maintain upper respiratory health.
Nettle Leaf North American
Our North American nettle leaf produces a light infusion, with a mild flavor and grass-like undertones. This cultivated leaf does not brew as strong as the European nettle leaf that we offer.
Raspberry Leaf
In the lore of herbalism - and with many to agree - raspberry leaf aids in slowing down bleeding during a woman's cycle. With the addition of Primrose and Vitex, a wonderful recipe supporting your needs is created.
Raspberry leaves are among the most pleasant tasting of all the herbal remedies, with a taste much like black tea, without the caffeine. Raspberries were said to have been discovered by the Olympian gods themselves while searching for berries on Mount Ida. The first real records of domestication of raspberries comes from the writings of Palladius, a Roman agriculturist. By Medieval times it had a great many uses, including the juices which were used in paintings and illuminated manuscripts. King Edward the 1st (1272-1307) was said to be the first to call for mass cultivation of raspberries, whose popularity spread quickly throughout Europe. Teas of raspberry leaves were given to women of the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mohawk nations in North America, and have earned approval of the authoritative British Herbal Compendium.
Spearmint Leaf
Spearmint has served as an important medicinal herb for millennia. The Bible records that the ancient Pharisees paid tithes to their Temple in anise, cumin and spearmint. The sixteenth century English herbalist Gerard quotes the Roman historian Pliny, "The smell of Mint does stir up the minde and the taste to a greedy desire of meate." Beginning in about the fourteenth century, spearmint was used for whitening teeth, and its distilled oil is still used to flavor toothpaste and chewing gum, although it is not as commonly used as peppermint. Spearmint leaf is also used as a flavoring agent in culinary creations.
Artichoke Extract
Artichoke leaves contain many plant compounds and valuable nutrients which have been used for centuries in traditional European herbalism for their affinity for the liver. Artichoke leaf was also used for digestive support amongst its other beneficial qualities. Bitter artichoke leaves are typically employed in extracts, macerated in liqueurs, or infused as herbal tea.
Artichoke extract formulates well with other bitter and aromatic extracts such as dandelion root extract, chamomile extract, Oregon grape root extract, milk thistle extract, or fennel extract. Another popular method of taking artichoke tincture is adding it to water or fruit juice.
Tumeric Ginger
For thousands of years, turmeric root has been used in Ayurveda for its healthful properties.
Turmeric root’s main constituent, curcumin, is thought to be responsible for many of the rhizome’s wellness-supporting properties and results in its brilliant yellow color. Ginger root supports healthy digestion and helps relieve occasional upset stomach and nausea.
Hope you've enjoyed this read and remember: you can be your own healer!