Plants are our oldest source of medicine, our allies, a wellspring of past and future cures. Plants are here to support us always, and especially in moments of vulnerability and upheaval.
Scroll for a modest introduction to 9 plants you can incorporate into your daily life to restore a sense of wellbeing during this time of grief and disaster.
Tonic and adaptogen that has 4,000 years of traditional use in its native India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Well studied and beloved for lowering cortisol levels and helping the body cope with stress. Rejuvenates and tonifies the entire system, especially the endocrine and immune systems.
Add the ground powder to tea or make a soothing latte with non-dairy milk, Turmeric, Ginger, Cardamom and ½ tsp of Ashwagandha.
Gentle and mild tonic for the nervous system when its stressed. Native American tribes from its native California used the plant for many traditional purposes- especially as a Nervine and Trophorestorative. The plant derives its sedative qualities from alkaloids, and is useful in dealing with many form of pain and anxiety, including difficulty sleeping.
Steep in hot water. Plays well with Lavender and Chamomile.
Gentle herb known throughout the world as a calmer of spirit, soother of the digestive tract, and friend to children. The Tzeltal Maya of Mexico make a chamomile tea containing orange and lime leaf to uplift the mood. Germans refer to chamomile as alles zutraut meaning `capable of anything.`
Make a tea from dried flowers before bed or anytime you need a mood lift. Plays well with Lavender, Oatstraw, and Skullcap.
Immune-supporting friend to all. Ginger is one of the most widely consumed aromatic spices on the planet so if you're not cooking with ginger and garlic wyd? The root is used medicinally to calm nausea, restore appetite, and aid in a healthy immune respiratory response.
Slice a palm-sized amount of fresh ginger root and steep it in boiling water for tea. Make a broth with Garlic, Ginger, carrots and chicken.
Ayurvedic texts describe Holy Basil as a pillar of holistic herbal medicine and a goddess incarnated in plant form. It is used to support a healthy response to stress, promote longevity, nourish the mind, and elevate the spirit.
Steep dried plant in hot water. Grow and cultivate a Holy Basil plant in your home or garden. Infuse dried plant with honey or ghee.
Popular herb for creating a sense of peace. Acts on the part of the brain (the amygdala) that regulates emotions and memory.
Shake a few drops of lavender oil onto a piece of cloth, close your eyes, and breathe in. Create a diy steam room by adding a few drops of oil to the floor of your shower. Make a sleep mask with dried flowers and organic linen. Steep dried flowers in hot water. Plays well with Chamomile, California Poppy, and Oatstraw.
Highly nutritive, containing minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamins and other constituents that can deeply nourish the entire body. Gentle and restorative, oatstraw is for those who are cold, depleted, or tired, or for the type of person who drinks too much coffee and is chronically burnt out.
Steep in hot water for tea. Mix Oatstraw and Rose as a soothing bath for tired feet.
Nervine particularly effective in supporting healthy reproductive function in women, especially those influenced by tension and stress. Used traditionally in many cultures for a variety of endocrine related issues, and as a tonic for women’s uterine health. Many herbalists consider this plant one of the best for “gladdening and strengthening the heart”.
Steep dried plant in hot water. Plays well with Sage.
Comforting herb that supports the health of the nervous system and promotes a healthy response to stress. Active compounds in skullcap bind to the same receptor sites in our brains as benzodiazepines (meaning, you can think of it as nature’s Xanax). While other comforting herbs like Chamomile may make you sleepy, skullcap soothes the nerves without slowing you down.
Steep dried plant in hot water.
