day 10 - 25 Days of wellness
Hi there! I’ve seen a couple of people I follow do Advent calendars for various things - 1000 Hours Outside has one for outdoor family activities, and Nutritious Movement has one for movement to create a “butt for the holidays” haha. So good.
So here we go - I’m going to drop a little post each day on a little Wellness tidbit for you to consider. Enjoy!
DAY 10 - herbal teas
Daily teas - teas (aka herbal infusions) provide nutrients straight to the blood stream. I like to make up a half gallon every day and drink it throughout the day.
Herbal teas are especially important for women looking to heal reproductive troubles, pregnant women whose digestion slows down, and nursing women with high nutrient demands, as the nutrients from the herbs dissolve in the water to become highly absorbable by the body. When we drink tea, the nutrients go straight into our bloodstream in the most natural way possible!
There are voices out there suggesting that red raspberry leaf, ginger, and a few other herbs that are highly beneficial to the reproductive organs, should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy. In my Master Herbalist education, this view was debunked. These herbs are extremely helpful, ESPECIALLY in the first trimester, to provide and deliver needed nutrients to a woman’s body and substantially reduce nausea and risk of miscarriage. The idea that these uterine tonic herbs would trigger a miscarriage, when used in a reasonable way such as part of an herbal formula in appropriate amounts, does not have good scientific evidence. There are a few herbs to avoid during pregnancy apart from the last 6 weeks prior to a woman’s birthing date -pennyroyal being the most notable. Generally we focus on wholesome, non-addictive, safe, and nourishing herbs in teas, tinctures, and/or capsules (not standardized extracts, not highly concentrated, not delivered thru an IV) for the expecting woman and save the hard-hitting cleansing herbs for another time.
Our “daughter” company Herbal Embrace makes and sells several loose-leaf herbal tea blends - including teas for pregnancy - that are great for restoring nutrition and taste lovely. You can check them out here.
How to make an herbal infusion: 1 tablespoon dry cut herbs for every pint of water. Boil water, let it rest for about 5 minutes, and then pour it over the herbs. Allow to steep for 5-20 minutes, or up to 8 hours. After that I strain and store in the refrigerator if I am not drinking it right away.
My favorite “multivitamin base” for teas is a combination of Red Raspberry Leaf, Alfalfa, and Nettles. After that it’s whatever I need that day.
Calming teas: chamomile, lemon balm, catnip, hops
Stimulating & tasty teas: peppermint, spearmint, lemongrass, hibiscus
Immunity teas: rose hips, elderberries, red rooibos, ginger
See you on Day 11!
