What an absolute treat to use warming herbs in the winter! They provide aromatherapy, nourishment, medicinal qualities and get our circulation moving as well. In this article we will choose a few of these herbs to honor and appreciate. If you haven’t used them before, give ‘em a try and if you do know them as old friends, breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for these amazing allies that help us experience richness and warmth in the winter season.
I will start with Ginger (zingiberis officinalis) a powerful all around healer that eases aches and pains, helps dispel nausea, aids digestion, increases circulation, is a major anti-inflammatory… actually, we could go on for the entire article about this one root! Ginger is a carrier herb, which means that when you include it in your formulas, it will bind their actions together and carry them where they need go. This is why you see ginger (cayenne too) at the end of the list of most formulas. The turpines and oleo-resins in Ginger provide antiseptic lymph cleansing and perspiration-inducing qualities that help the body to detoxify. Ginger can be added to food to spice things up. Chopped fine, it can be added in small amounts to give a little zing to salads, soups and stews. I do not peel mine, but if you want to, use a spoon to scrape off the paper thin skin. My favorite tea is a big root chopped with a 3 finger pinch of licorice root to sweeten, 2 finger pinch of clove, 7 cardamom pods, and a cinnamon stick in 3 qts of water. Bring to a boil, let it simmer for 20 min then cover for 15 min. You can keep the tea in the ‘fridge and re-warm it for a week, sometimes I keep the pot on the stove and just keep adding water and re-boiling. The herbs will make tea for you several times over, you can save them in the refrigerator for quite some time. It is an excellent digestive tea after a meal and can also move out potential illness if you take it when you notice your energy is getting low.
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