Four Friends for Fall
Friends and allies abound everywhere in shamanic living but in the fall harvest season their invitation to play is all the more pressing. In San Francisco, the seasons are quite muted to the in-your-face flashiness of the New England turn-of-clock. Here you feel a noticeable sensation of dryness (as if we needed more of that with our historic drought), a lifting of the fog and a slanting of the light. Days are warmer but nights feel cooler. The leaves in coastal California may stay about 95% evergreen but it's hard to ignore these other manifestations.
With the change in seasons, we've been scoring some real gems in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box like sweet potatoes, squash gourds, chicory and swiss chard. Occasionally our farmers will pack fresh basil and fennel. For reliable herbal assistance, though, it's best to visit Rainbow Grocery, a cooperative market between the Mission and Soma neighborhoods. Rainbow does not just stock organic herbs and spices of the culinary variety but hundreds of different ones for medicinal purposes as well.
Here are four friends for fall that everyone should have in your spice cabinet:
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
The Test Taker
A member of the mint family, this hearty evergreen has a stimulating and strengthening character. Best used in the morning to rouse yourself into your workday, rosemary is a great herb to be added to potato, egg and tomato dishes. British scientists in 2013 discovered that "rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic." To stimulate memory, simply take a whiff from any Rosemary essential oil or from a plastic spice container of the dried herb. Rosemary, also a mild anti-depressant and circulatory and nervive stimulant, is one of the few herbs whose properties are stronger in her fresh state rather than dried.
Herbs can have many external uses, of course, and one popular way is as an addition to baths. To do this, it's best to put about a half cup of (ideally) dried herbs into a tube sock, tie it up and let it soak under the running water. For relaxing baths, you would be wise to add lavender or chamomile to the steaming waters and secure a good night's sleep. But it's rosemary to the rescue when you need to take a stimulating bath and feel fresh on a Friday night before hanging with your human friends.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus Rubra)
The Jelly Mover
Slippery Elm is hands down the best demulcent on the herbal market. A demulcent is a soother of mucous membranes especially as related to digestion. In my herbal class from this summer, our teacher said that about 70% of all illness can be traced to digestive problems. In this fall season of processed candies and heavy turkey dinners, many of us can get quite, ahem, backed up. Slippery Elm is the best rescue remedy for any digestive ailments, including constipation. The magic of slippery elm is that it works as an astringent or an agent that contracts tissue by precipitating "proteins and thus reducing secretions and discharges," as noted by David Hoffman in The Complete Herbs Sourcebook. Thus, paradoxically, slippery elm can help with diarrhea too. These dual roles of herbs reinforces the idea that there is a potent and inherent intuition and knowledge in all of Gaia's gifts.
It's a lot less messy to purchase and make Slippery Elm bark powder instead of Slippery Elm bark in its raw form. The powder is able to be mixed into warm to hot water but you have to boil down (or decoct) the raw bark for a good ten minutes to get results. Slippery Elm has a thick, gelatinous texture with a not-unpleasant taste. It's not only a great remedy for constipation but can aid in any dry, scratchy conditions like sore throats (internally) or even eczema (externally).
Dandelion Root Tea
The Liver Cleanser
A daily hot caffeinated beverage is something I've foresworn and replaced with dandelion root tea. It has a smoky, earthy, nutty, bitter chocolate flavor and I've found that light amounts of milk, honey and cinnamon help it extensively. The taste and ritual scream 'autumn' and it's widely known as a bitter. All bitters are appropriate for digestion but dandelion root is especially beneficial for the liver and kidneys. Instead of needing a drug in the morning like caffeine, it's better to clean the liver system and get the rest of your juices flowing. Sluggishness and fatigue can be traced to an overworked liver so this is a perfect morning companion. According to the site Herb Wisdom, dandelion "contains substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, B-complex, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, choline, calcium and boron." The roasted Traditional Medicines variety is the one that I enjoy. If you want to taste autumn in all its deliciousness, this is the one product I highly recommend.
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
The Sandman Staple
However suggestive its name, Passion Flower is NOT an aphrodisiac. On the contrary, Passion Flower is the best hypnotic (or sleep inducer) on the planet. Every since my bout with cancer and chemotherapy in 2007, I've struggled with insomnia, having taken everything from ativan and trazodone to valerian and melatonin. After much research I was able to give up nightly use of the aforementioned and shift my focus towards exercising during the day and improving sleep hygiene. For the occasional bout of sleeplessness, my first line of defense is now a Passion Flower tea (although I am certain a tincture can work just as well). Passion Flower is free of any hangovers the following day or grogginess in the morning. It gently lifts you down to sleep without producing any anxiety of how you will get there.
Aroma-wise, Passion Flower is reminiscent of cut grass in the fall. A little goes a long way. My Sandman Special Tea includes the following:
*a teaspoon of dried passion flower
*a half teaspoon of dried Skullcap (a sedative of medium strength)
*and a teaspoon of dried Holy Basil (a well-being tonic that brings a lime flavor into the mix)
* immerse all herbs in a tea strainer for at least 10 minutes in a cup of boiled water. Sip this up to four hours before bedtime and you will see results. Passion Flower is The Sandman Staple in this potion and you'll never be at a loss of REM again.
Humans wouldn't have evolved without the knowledge and generosity of the plants. Try these four herbs and contact me to know how you've fared!
With the change in seasons, we've been scoring some real gems in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box like sweet potatoes, squash gourds, chicory and swiss chard. Occasionally our farmers will pack fresh basil and fennel. For reliable herbal assistance, though, it's best to visit Rainbow Grocery, a cooperative market between the Mission and Soma neighborhoods. Rainbow does not just stock organic herbs and spices of the culinary variety but hundreds of different ones for medicinal purposes as well.
Here are four friends for fall that everyone should have in your spice cabinet:
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
The Test Taker
A member of the mint family, this hearty evergreen has a stimulating and strengthening character. Best used in the morning to rouse yourself into your workday, rosemary is a great herb to be added to potato, egg and tomato dishes. British scientists in 2013 discovered that "rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic." To stimulate memory, simply take a whiff from any Rosemary essential oil or from a plastic spice container of the dried herb. Rosemary, also a mild anti-depressant and circulatory and nervive stimulant, is one of the few herbs whose properties are stronger in her fresh state rather than dried.
Herbs can have many external uses, of course, and one popular way is as an addition to baths. To do this, it's best to put about a half cup of (ideally) dried herbs into a tube sock, tie it up and let it soak under the running water. For relaxing baths, you would be wise to add lavender or chamomile to the steaming waters and secure a good night's sleep. But it's rosemary to the rescue when you need to take a stimulating bath and feel fresh on a Friday night before hanging with your human friends.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus Rubra)
The Jelly Mover
Slippery Elm is hands down the best demulcent on the herbal market. A demulcent is a soother of mucous membranes especially as related to digestion. In my herbal class from this summer, our teacher said that about 70% of all illness can be traced to digestive problems. In this fall season of processed candies and heavy turkey dinners, many of us can get quite, ahem, backed up. Slippery Elm is the best rescue remedy for any digestive ailments, including constipation. The magic of slippery elm is that it works as an astringent or an agent that contracts tissue by precipitating "proteins and thus reducing secretions and discharges," as noted by David Hoffman in The Complete Herbs Sourcebook. Thus, paradoxically, slippery elm can help with diarrhea too. These dual roles of herbs reinforces the idea that there is a potent and inherent intuition and knowledge in all of Gaia's gifts.
It's a lot less messy to purchase and make Slippery Elm bark powder instead of Slippery Elm bark in its raw form. The powder is able to be mixed into warm to hot water but you have to boil down (or decoct) the raw bark for a good ten minutes to get results. Slippery Elm has a thick, gelatinous texture with a not-unpleasant taste. It's not only a great remedy for constipation but can aid in any dry, scratchy conditions like sore throats (internally) or even eczema (externally).
Dandelion Root Tea
The Liver Cleanser
A daily hot caffeinated beverage is something I've foresworn and replaced with dandelion root tea. It has a smoky, earthy, nutty, bitter chocolate flavor and I've found that light amounts of milk, honey and cinnamon help it extensively. The taste and ritual scream 'autumn' and it's widely known as a bitter. All bitters are appropriate for digestion but dandelion root is especially beneficial for the liver and kidneys. Instead of needing a drug in the morning like caffeine, it's better to clean the liver system and get the rest of your juices flowing. Sluggishness and fatigue can be traced to an overworked liver so this is a perfect morning companion. According to the site Herb Wisdom, dandelion "contains substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, B-complex, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, choline, calcium and boron." The roasted Traditional Medicines variety is the one that I enjoy. If you want to taste autumn in all its deliciousness, this is the one product I highly recommend.
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
The Sandman Staple
However suggestive its name, Passion Flower is NOT an aphrodisiac. On the contrary, Passion Flower is the best hypnotic (or sleep inducer) on the planet. Every since my bout with cancer and chemotherapy in 2007, I've struggled with insomnia, having taken everything from ativan and trazodone to valerian and melatonin. After much research I was able to give up nightly use of the aforementioned and shift my focus towards exercising during the day and improving sleep hygiene. For the occasional bout of sleeplessness, my first line of defense is now a Passion Flower tea (although I am certain a tincture can work just as well). Passion Flower is free of any hangovers the following day or grogginess in the morning. It gently lifts you down to sleep without producing any anxiety of how you will get there.
Aroma-wise, Passion Flower is reminiscent of cut grass in the fall. A little goes a long way. My Sandman Special Tea includes the following:
*a teaspoon of dried passion flower
*a half teaspoon of dried Skullcap (a sedative of medium strength)
*and a teaspoon of dried Holy Basil (a well-being tonic that brings a lime flavor into the mix)
* immerse all herbs in a tea strainer for at least 10 minutes in a cup of boiled water. Sip this up to four hours before bedtime and you will see results. Passion Flower is The Sandman Staple in this potion and you'll never be at a loss of REM again.
Humans wouldn't have evolved without the knowledge and generosity of the plants. Try these four herbs and contact me to know how you've fared!
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