Three Part Series on Nourishing Herbal Infusions
PART TWO - Other Herbs Useful to put in Nourishing Herbal Infusions
OK, now that we know how to make a simple Nourishing Herbal Infusion with one herb, let’s take it to the next step. It is actually ideal to get to know one herb at a time and study the plant, harvest it, draw it, look at it, read about it, consume it over a period of time before you put it into blends. Then you get to know its action in your body and then you are ready to add it to combination blends. You can get to know its taste, smell, action in your body (read “Weeds Heal, A Working Herbal” by Isla Burgess for more).
Nourishing infusions can be tweaked for many different constitutions (hot/cold, dry/damp, tense/lax) - occasionally Nettles doesn’t suit someone so either for that reason or just for variety here are some other options great as the base of a nourishing herbal infusion blend:
Violet odorata
~ Violet Leaf (Viola odorata) - try this especially if you have a dry constitution - Violet is a more muscilagenous plant than nettles (also easy to wildcraft)
~ Oatstraw (Avena sativia) - wonderful addition to a blend - great for stress and nerves (which of us can’t use that!!!)
~ Raspberry Leaves (Rubus idaeus) - another excellent daily nourishing infusion (and not just for pregnant and nursing moms - good for men and women of all ages).
These are also found easily and are very plentiful in my region.
Here’s my favorite blend at present (I tweak it regularly based on my needs/ailments - but Nettles and Oatstraw is often the foundation for me). I have also sent this blend to friends and family going through an especially stressful time (a child with cancer, a traumatic move or heartache) --- this is a very nourishing blend that will help support your body during a crisis. But feed your body this great nourishment in the calm times as well!
~ Nettles
~ Oatstraw
~ Rosehips (great vitamin C)
~ Hawthorne Berries (great for your heart - emotional and physical)
~ Rose Petals (great for your heart - emotional and physical)
~ Burdock Root (great for skin ailments like eczema and just overall really nourishing)
Also consider adding some mint, lemon balm, orange peel, honey, or hibiscus if you want to make it more tasty and palatable.
References & Resources:
Beautiful Improvement with my allergies after taking nettles!!!
jim mcdonald - Herbal Intensive
Matthew Wood - “The Earthwise Herbal, A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants”
Isla Burgess - “Weeds Heal, A Working Herbal”
Kiva Rose - class correspondence
John Gallagher - herbmentor.com and learningherbs.com
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