.herbs || lemon balm.

 The days are still hot here but getting shorter and shorter. I always find myself holding onto August, not wanting summer to be over just yet, but it feels like this year and this summer have flown by. The best part of late August is the bounty! It feels like everything in my family's gardens is overflowing! I tried a new nectarine jam recipes this weekend and have started preserving our herbs to enjoy in the fall and winter in a cup of tea. Yesterday, I cut some lemon balm and tied it up to dry.

Lemon balm is such a special herb! Not only does it grow very easily, it's a part of the mint family so if you're familiar with how mint grows then you know it's doesn't hold back, but it also has a lot of wonderful properties that we could all benefit from during this time! In April, I attended a virtual course with one of my favorite herbalist, Steph Zabel of Flowerfolk Herbs that focused on herbs for navigating uncertain times. One of the herbs she highlighted was lemon balm! Some of the wonderful properties of lemon balm she mentioned were:

1. It calms + relaxes - soothes social nerves
2. It's a gentle sedative - this makes it great for a bedtime tea
3. Its lifts spirits - traditional herbalist says that it brings joy
4. It's kid safe - it's a part of the mint family so it's gentle enough for anyone to consume
5. It has anti-viral properties

If you want to learn more about it's history, Steph wrote up an interesting blog post here or keep scrolling to find some yummy lemon balm tea recipes!

Lemon balm can be enjoyed fresh or dried as a single herb tea or as a blend. 

Lemon Balm Tea

1 heaping tbsp dried leaves or 2 heaping tbsp fresh leaves (with fresh leaves I like to muddle or chop them to get the yummy bright essential oils to release)

1 cup of boil water

Steep leaves for 10 mins or more. The longer you brew the more properties of healing herbs will be available, unlike black or green tea that have shorter brew times. 

Anxiety Releasing Tea recipe by Steph Zabel

2 tbsp oat straw

1.5 tbsp skullcap

1.5 tbsp lemon balm (double if using fresh)

2 tsp rose petals 

Steep tea for 10 mins or more and enjoy!

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Have you tried lemon balm before? What herbs are growing in your garden?

 

.full moon in aries tea.

Words, Recipe + Inspiration from Steph Zabel:

"I trust that I know the truth for myself."

Trusting ourselves involves connecting in to our own power and taking action with confidence. But before there can be trust there must be truth. Trust -- above all -- involves truth, honesty and integrity.
It can be challenging to trust in the external world as there are many illusions that surround us -- many people and situations certainly prove themselves to be untrustworthy.

But despite what happens in the external world we can always cultivate a deep trust in ourselves. And if we all work on trusting ourselves then the world becomes a more truthful and trustworthy place.
Just as you can only trust another person when you know they are telling the truth, you can only trust yourself when you are completely honest with yourself.

When you doubt yourself you move around in confusion and shadows; when you trust in yourself you clearly see what is right and true for you. 

With this moon tea you can affirm: 

I trust that I am exactly where I am meant to be. I trust that life -- my life and all of life -- is unfolding exactly as it should.

 I trust that I make the best decisions for myself. 

I trust that I know the truth. 

Keep these statements in mind as you make the tea, and especially as you drink it...

CALENDULA
(Calendula officinalis)
~ to center us in our power ~

HAWTHORN
(Crataegus spp.)
~ to offer support & comfort when we feel self-doubt ~

FENNEL SEED
(Foeniculum vulgare)
~ to help us clearly see what is true ~

ROSEMARY
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
~ to remember who we really are ~

HOW TO MAKE THE MOON TEA:

~ Take the herbs above and place as much or as little of them as you feel is the right amount into a clean glass jar. (As a starting point I usually use anywhere from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of dried herbs per 1 cup of water.)

~ If you don't have all of these herbs, it's ok. Use what you have. You can used dried or fresh herbs. Everyone's moon tea will be a little different. 

~ In the evening pour pure, room-temperature water over the herbs then let your covered jar sit in the light of the full moon overnight.

~ Your tea can steep anywhere the moonlight will touch it. This can be in a backyard, on a balcony, or on a windowsill. Try to place it somewhere elevated and with a clear view of the sky so it can catch as many moonbeams as possible.

~ If moonlight is not able to reach the steeping jar (as when it's cloudy or rainy) that's ok -- the intent behind the moon tea will still be strong, and that's where much of the transformative power of this tea resides.

~ Remember that other readers are placing their tea jars out to steep on the same evening, and send them telepathic greetings and well-wishes. Keep the intent in mind as you do so. 

~ The next morning strain out the herbs (and compost them, if possible).

~ You can drink this brew throughout the whole next day or all at once. Remember to keep the intention in mind as you drink:

"I trust that I know the truth for myself."

.recipe: snooze tea.

A few years ago I found a curiosity to grow my knowledge about herbs and how to make delicious and beneficial tea blends. This lead me taking a herbal class a few years ago and learned how to make a yummy calm tea for the winter months. I loved the process of blending and drinking the tea. It's also a wonderful gift to give to loved ones! I have continued to try and experiment with herbs and tea blends then a few weeks ago I found a new herbal tea book that is overflowing with wonderful blends and recipes from PNW Herbalist Sarah Farr. I want to try all of these recipes but the first one I tried was snooze tea. It's a perfect tea for bedtime, the blend includes valerian and kava kava which are deeply relaxing herbs (note: some people do have different experiences with kava kava best to research more information if you have any medical concerns. And you shouldn't consume this tea if you are pregnant or breastfeed). 

If you need a little help to unwind and relax at night this might be a nice tea to try. Find the recipe and infusion instructions below!

Snooze Tea

Recipe by: Sarah Farr

from Healing Herbal Teas: Learn to Blend 101 Specially Formulated Teas for Stress Management, Common Ailments, Seasonal Health, and Immune Support

2 parts Valerian

1 part Kava

1 part Linden

1 part mint

1 part passionflower

0.25 part hops

0.25 part nutmeg

Hot: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 1 to 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 5 to 10 mins.

Cold: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons of tea in lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or cool place for at least 2 hours.

.cultivating calmness.

S L O W Sunday/// I attended a wonderful herb class yesterday called cultivating calmness. The class introduced me to  calming - grounding herbs: milky oats - hawthorn - tulsi - lavender. The herbalist talked about the need for our bodies to slow down during this holiday and winter season. To find out natural rhythm, which is to turn inwards this time of year. Just like the trees are dropping leaves - no longer putting their energy outwards but instead redirecting their energy inwards, down to their roots. I resist winter, always. I am quick to move, curious to try something new, hungry for change - slowing down is something I don't know how to do. I really felt the need to start incorporating these herbs into my daily life - my self-care routine. So today on this beautiful slow sun drenched Sunday afternoon I am taking time to blend calm teas.

Here is a little recipe of the tea I made:

Cultivating Calmness Tea
recipe via Steph Zabel

2      tablespoons milky oat tops
1.5   tablespoons tulsi (holy basil)
1      tablespoon lemon balm
.5    teaspoon lavender

Use one heaping spoonful for every 8-12oz of hot water. Allow to steep for at least 10-15 minutes in order to get all the wonderful properties of the herbs.

Drink this tea daily to help nourish your nervous system, support adrenal fatigue and ground your energy. Take time this season to practice more self-care!! xx

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You can find these herbs at most natural foods stores in the bulk herb sections or a great online source is Mountain Rose Herbs.

static

So much static in my head - 

waiting for the dust to settle - 

seems like the studio is the only place to move my mind these days -

so grateful for this space

drinking copious amounts of lemon ginger tea with raw honey-

not finding many words -

interested in seeing the finished pieces?

be sure to stop on by the etsy shop, licho.etsy.com for the latest creations

love to you and yours.

stay warm.

well woman tea

It differentiates for every woman, the first day of your menstruation. Sometimes cycles can even alternate with the month - this awareness aids us to better understand the process of our fertility and better care for our bodies. This month I'm feeling a little extra sleepy, achy, anxious, and emotional so I made myself a well woman tea and found it to be just what I needed.

.well woman tea.

2 tablespoons Raspberry Leaf  - helps support the female reproductive organs

2 teaspoons    Nettle Leaf - helps regulate the menstrual cycle, great source of iron.

1 teaspoon   Skullcap              - a mild relaxant to ease tension.

This makes a pot of tea. 

Brew for at least 10 mins to get all the benefits of the herbs!

note: I like to add a little bit of honey to mine.

wholistic woman: herbal teas

I've always been fascinated by herbs and natural healing and even more so after my natural medicine training in Malawi. Herbs can be digested in many forms, but mostly I love making teas!! (note to reader: always consult with your doctor to know if something is right for you. all our bodies digest, absorb, and process herbs/food/medicine differently and herbs are powerful!). 

How to make herbal teas:

-8 oz of boling water

-1-2 teaspoons of selected herb (some ideas below)

-honey or your favorite sweetener (optional)

-your favorite mug

*let steep for about 5 mins and enjoy*

wholistic herbs for women

raspberry leaves:

"Raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. Commentators frequently state that recent scientific research found no benefit in raspberry tea for expectant mothers, but this is not correct. The study published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health in 2001 found that women who drank raspberry leaf tea had shorter labor, and fewer of their babies were delivered by forceps."* It's also just a great overall regulator of female reproductive organs!

nettle leaves:

"Nettle leaf is among the most valuable herbal remedies.  Because of its many nutrients, it is a slow-acting nutritive herb that gently cleanses the body of metabolic wastes.  It has a gentle, stimulating effect on the lymphatic system, enhancing the excretion of wastes through the kidneys.  

Nettle’s iron content makes it a wonderful blood builder, and the presence of vitamin C aids in the iron absorption.  As a hemetic (an herb rich in iron), this is an excellent herb for anemia and fatigue, especially in women.

Stinging nettle is beneficial during pregnancy due to its rich mineral value and vitamin K, which guards against excessive bleeding.  It is also a good supplement to strengthen the fetus.  It is used during labor to ease the pains, and will increase milk production in lactating women. Stinging nettle is often recommended for pre-menstrual syndrome because of its toxin-ridding activity.  When the liver is sluggish, it processes estrogen slowly, contributing to the high levels that cause or aggravate PMS.  It acts as a restorative remedy during menopause, and the astringency of the herb helps in excessive menstrual flow. "

I like mixing nettle leaves with my favorite black tea (irish breakfast), a teaspoon of honey, and a drop of milk! yum.

skullcap:
"It was highly valued by the Cherokee and other tribes as an emmenagogue and female medicinal herb, sometimes used as a ceremonial plant to introduce young girls into womanhood. This plant has considerable value as a sedative. Skullcap reduces stress, anxiety and nervous tension, promotes inner calm, and counteracts insomnia. Because of its antispasmodic action, it may also be helpful in treating menstrual cramps, childbirth pains, and convulsions."



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all this wonderful herbalicous info is brought to you by http://www.mountainroseherbs.com it's also a great supplier of bulk organic herbs!!http://aliciaelizabeth.blogspot.com/2012/04/blessing.html