If you follow the natural living and health community online chances are that you know of the potent healing properties that herbs offer, however for most of us we don’t reach for these magical plants until sickness arises. What if instead of only reaching for remedies in acute situations we found ways to incorporate herbal remedies into our rituals as preventative care? Here are four easy ways to incorporate herbs into your everyday rituals.
Before we jump into examples we should first talk about the most common forms that herbal remedies can come in:
Capsules – capsules are a great option for people who are sensitive to the strong tastes and smells that can sometimes accompany herbs. Herbal capsules contain herbs that have been ground into a fine powder and encapsulated making it easy for the body to absorb once the casing has dissolved. Capsules are great because they contain the whole plant with all its compounds intact.
Tinctures – tinctures are super concentrated plant extracts in a base of alcohol or glycerin. Tinctures are the most potent and powerful way to receive active plant properties because the base extracts the active medicinal properties rather than the nutritive/mineral content. Tincture come into immediate contact with the digestive tract after consumption making it quick to absorb and great for acute situations.
Herbal infusions – herbal infusions are similar to your regular pot of tea, except it has been left to steep for an extended period of time. The longer you leave the tea to infuse the more nutrients are extracted from the plant material. Typically herbal infusions are left to steep all day or overnight before consuming.
Salves and creams – Herbal salves and creams are an excellent way to use herbs topically. The herbs are typically infused in oils to extract the medicinal properties and then mixed with other nourishing ingredients such as fats and beeswax.
Now that we’ve explored some common forms of herbal remedies here are four ways you can incorporate healing plants into your daily rituals:
1. Make a mineral rich herbal infusion the night before to bring with you throughout the day. A personal favourite mix I have on repeat these days is an alfalfa, red raspberry leaf, oatstraw, rosehip and nettle infusion.
2. Add in a few drops of a calming tincture before starting your workday. Herbs such as skullcap or valerian in tincture form give a quick calming boost to the nervous system, helping to relieve tension throughout the day.
3. Try our Ease muscle cream after your workout to soothe those sore muscles. Arnica is a main ingredient in Ease and has been show to aid in muscle recovery when used topically due to its potent anti inflammatory properties.
4. Take some ginseng capsules for a mid day energy and focus boost. Ginseng has been shown to have beneficial effects on energy levels, concentration, and mood in adults.
These are just a few examples of how to incorporate herbs into your daily rituals, have you found any other unique ways? Let us know in the comments below!