What an absolute treasure are warming herbs in the winter!  They gift us with aromatherapy, nourishment, medicinal qualities, better circulation and, well, warmth! In this article we will look at just a few of these herbs to honor and appreciate.   With Gratitude, we breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for these amazing allies that help us experience superior health, richness and warmth during the winter season.

Let’s 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!  Ginger is a carrier herb, which means that when you include it in your formulas, it binds herbal actions together and carries them where they need go in the body.  This is why you see Ginger (Cayenne too) at the end of the list in many formulas.  The turpines and oleo-resins in Ginger provide antiseptic lymph cleansing and perspiration-inducing qualities that help the body detoxify.  Ginger can be added to food to bring some zing.  Chopped finely, it can be added in small amounts to give a little pep 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 quarts of water.  Bring to a boil, let 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 if you want to spread out your tea production.  It is an excellent digestive tea after a meal and can also move out pathogens if you take it when you notice your energy is getting low.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Wonderfully warming, anti-bacterial and astringent, Cinnamon bark has been the object of  much research lately because of it’s ability to normalize blood sugar.  If you are having trouble with fluctuating blood sugar, try consistent intake of Cinnamon for several weeks and see what happens.  Blueberries and Cinnamon together are a great treat for those with diabetic tendencies. Its astringency helps control diarrhea and ease flatulence.   It is no surprise that it is such a powerful healer; we see it in so many recipes.  When we include Cinnamon in our diet, it brings warmth to all organs and extremities.  It is a great uterine warmer and brings circulation and healing there.  It will also help to ease menstrual cramps.  One of my favorite breakfasts to go is plain yoghurt, cinnamon, blueberries and chia and flax seeds with a little honey. 

Garlic  (Allium sativum)  The most amazing infection fighter and antibiotic on the planet,  Garlic is best when used fresh.  One way to reap the benefits of fresh Garlic without the ‘bite’ is to pickle it.  You can fill a jar with Garlic cloves and then with Apple Cider Vinegar.  Let it sit for at least 2 weeks…you can leave it for up to a year in the vinegar.   Then you have two medicinal treats…eating the cloves or using the vinegar on salads, greens or in soups.  Make your own Garlic oil the same way you make the vinegar.   If I feel energetically depleted, I start eating garlic cloves that day and usually, will nip early onset colds in the bud. Just chop the Garlic up finely and put in salads or soup raw.  Some people like to roll it up in buttered bread. If you feel that you are coming down with a serious cold, you can eat 2-3 cloves a day for a few days.

Clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus) An amazing pain reliever that might be living in your spice cabinet.  Clove is an herb that is paradoxically relaxing and stimulating at the same time –much like Peppermint.  It soothes and relaxes the nervous system while stimulating circulation.  It is an awesome tea to have before bedtime to gently encourage sleep.  If you have an herbal first aid kit, it is a good idea to have a vial of clove bud oil in there for toothaches and other topical pain relief uses.  The smell of cloves permeating the air is wonderfully soothing.  I always put a few tablespoons of cloves in the teapot on top of the woodstove.  You can do the same with an electric or gas stovetop, be sure to monitor liquid levels!   It really takes no time at all to add just a little extra spicy love in the air.  It is not only pleasant, it disinfects the air and can subtly heal your guests and loved ones from airborne pathogens.  

Cayenne (capsicum anuum)   This hot spice should be used only in it’s raw dried state for it to be an effective healer.  We want to first cook our food and add the cayenne last, just before serving.  If the temperature gets above 120 degrees, this healing herb can become a noxious toxic substance.  This little known fact is essential for proper use of cayenne.  It can actually heal ulcers used this way…cooked it makes them worse or causes them!  Cayenne stops bleeding, helps dispel shock, is effective for pain relief in liniments and aids circulation.  You can even put it in your socks to warm up cold feet …some sensitive people prefer putting thin cotton socks on, then the cayenne and  then another pair of socks.  Test it in small amounts if you are unsure.  Cayenne tincture can relieve heart palpitations and stabilize someone having a heart attack till medical help arrives.  A daily dose of powder, starting small and building up to a teaspoon can actually aid circulation and is a good wintertime internal warming tonic.

Another way to keep warm is to exercise regularly, especially outside.  After the initial shock of the cold, one builds resistance to temperature changes and the benefits last all day.  Try it and prove it to yourself, don’t just believe me…that goes for anything I write about! 

Be sure to experiment with new spices and tastes this season –maybe try a curry, some Thai spices, Rosemary, Sage and Tumeric.  It is nice to give ourselves the treat of exotic tastes and aromas during winter.  Enjoy expanding your spice repertoire and discover all the healing can be found right in your kitchen.  May you be blessed with abundance, gratitude and health!  May the New Year find you in Love and Appreciation of your life, inspiring an enriched inner and outer expression as well as deepening your  connection with the Harmony of nature.