With the holiday season upon us, we have Christmas parties, family dinners, nights out with friends, and lots of Christmas shopping to look forward to. We also have some overeating, hangovers, stress, and exhaustion coming our way though…if we can’t help it. So here’s a few herbal tinctures that I’m going to be keeping in my Christmas care package, whether I’m staying close to home, or away on a vacation.
Herbal tinctures are one of my favorite therapeutic methods to improve whatever health situation you have going on. On average, I like to choose 4-5 different herbs to combine in a single formula. Each herb has a set of unique constituents, that are responsible for specific actions. Formulating a tincture is amazing in that you can really tailor them to suit your exact health goals. Tinctures are made by using different percentages of alcohol as solvents, in order to extract specific plant constituents chosen for their actions in the body. So here are a few of the tinctures in my care pack!
First of all, I seem to always come down with a cold as soon as there’s some time off- my body finally crashes, and the cold and flu bugs finally win the fight. I’m never happy having to spend my precious time off, hermit-ing in my house with a mean headache, runny nose, and sore throat. So naturally I want to move through it, letting it run its course, only on fast forward. To do this, I like to make a tincture using herbs that will support my immune system, act as antimicrobials, promote lymphatic flow and detoxification, and help stimulate the lung tissue to be able to get rid of any mucous trying to hide out in there. In my immune tincture this year, I used the following herbs:
Echinacea root
Thymus vulgaris (Thyme)
Lomatium dissecta (Desert parsley root)
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice root)
Phytolacca decadra (Pokeroot)
My second essential is a tincture to hold my hand while I suffer through a hangover. I usually have good intentions when I go out… and these good intentions are pretty much entirely motivated by the dread of the following day’s hangover. Every hangover I get makes me want to swear off of alcohol forever, but then a few days pass, and the anticipation of a fun night out with friends erases all negative memories. Once I’m out, I’m generally in a pretty great mood, and that leads to later nights and more time to drink additional unnecessary drinks. As evil as the hangover is, I wouldn’t trade those nights in. What I would do ... is try to seek a magic fix, so that the punishment of the last night’s events aren’t as crippling, AND remind myself not to feel guilty because those nights don't happen all that often anymore (except…. at Christmas). The herbs I chose for this tincture have constituents that act as moderate analgesics, mood lifters, cognitive enhancers, and liver supporters.
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Piscidia erythrina (Jamaican dogwood)
Hypericum perforatum (St. Johns Wort)
Camelia sinensis (Green tea)
Piper methysticum (Kava-kava)
Lastly, and probably the most essential over the holidays, is some digestive support! With all the amazing foods and treats that we are so lucky to be surrounded by, I know I myself, make fast enemies with the top button of my pants. After most meals, I feel like there isn’t a single digestive enzyme that hasn't been abused, leaving me feeling bloated, and ready to spend an hour (or two) uncomfortably shifting around on the couch. Bitter herbs help to stimulate the production and release of digestive enzymes, helping to better break down foods, and absorb nutrients from everything you’ve thrown at your mouth. Here are the herbs in the Digestive Bitters formula that I bought:
Taraxacum officinalis (Dandelion root)
Cynara scolymus (Artichoke)
Gentiana lutea (Gentian root)
Mentha piperita (Peppermint)
Angelica archangelica
Citrus spp.
The holidays are magic for the energy and excitement they bring. It’s an indulgent time - indulging in time spent, in foods eaten, in treats relished, in late nights dancing, and in gifts given (to others, and... yourself). There's much more to look forward to then to dread, especially with some potent helpers at your side! These are just a few of the key players in my Botanical Christmas First Aid Pack this year, to get through the season a little more unscathed!
Happy Holidays!!
