Herbs, hot, warm or cold!
There is So much more to Herbal Knowledge!
Herbs always amaze me and it’s the one constant in my life that never lets me down, is not toxic or misleading and fills me with wonder. Well, nature does that too – but then, I would look at herbs as natures offering to us.
A gift for our well-being.
One of the things I wanted to mention about herbs is a little known fact that they act differently in different substances – of course, they can be infused in water to make a tea, alcohol to make a tincture, apple cider vinegar to make an decoction and so many other things.
Different properties and constituents of herbs are extracted into the medium or liquid depending on what they are infused in. Water being the Universal solvent, usually extracts the best properties, however precious volatile oils can be lost.
So, we use a variety of approaches to get the best benefits from using herbs.
For myself, I find it so easy to make a pot of herbal tea each evening, steep it overnight, pour it off in the morning and add in my apple cider vinegar and my tinctures for the day. That’s me sorted with my herbal medicines each morning. Because I drink so much herbal tea and share it with anyone who comes along LOL, I often make additional pots during the day.
I always feel good in my mind and soul – no matter if I have an ‘off the rails’ day on food, my constant is my herbal tea and apple cider vinegar to keep me grounded.
Herbs have long been my ‘thing’ and one of my earliest memories of being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up was of me closing my eyes and saying – I don’t know, all I see is a field of herbs.
At the time, I didn’t have the framework for what a herbalist was, my family referred to me as a psychic and I used the word Intuitive to describe my work and interests…..so it was a few years later before I realised there was such a thing as dedicating my life to herbal wisdom.
The more I study and learn, the more there seems be discovered.
Nature is a bit like the rabbit hole – one tiny key, a herb, can unlock knowledge and ancient secrets within your body organs, tissues and cells and help you move, shift or become unstuck in new and mysterious ways!
But I digress….back to the story!
Herbs also have varied actions when taken hot, warm or cold. So much to learn here – I am a person who is often too busy to drink hot cups of herbal tea. So, instead of throwing it away, I have a warm cup and then drink the rest cold.
I have done this for decades.
And I have noticed that for instance if I drink a cup of sage tea when hot, I will sweat. But if I drink the same cup of sage tea cold, it will stop sweating and is especially useful for night sweats and menopause.
And I have noticed that for instance if I drink a cup of sage tea when hot, I will sweat. But if I drink the same cup of sage tea cold, it will stop sweating and is especially useful for night sweats and menopause. The same goes for chamomile – drink it hot or warm with completely different actions in your body. A hot cup of chamomile tea is useful for fever and discomfort, however it’s a great tonic when taken cold.
The same goes for chamomile – drink it hot or warm with completely different actions in your body. A hot cup of chamomile tea is useful for fever and discomfort, however it’s a great tonic when taken cold.
Catnip works to quell a fever when taken warm, but when taken cold is will promote urination.
Thyme when used warm or hot is great for sore throats, while taken cold is an old-time stomach aid.
So, please do, open the press and boil the kettle – enjoy your herbal teas, hot, warm or cold. They are beneficial no matter what.
April
