Herbs in Daily Life

Herbalism is fascinating and fun but, in my experience, it can also be overwhelming to learn in the beginning. Especially if you’re being inundated with information from different sources and don’t know where to start using the things you learn. I’ve been studying herbs for years, including a 3-year intensive clinical program at Arbor Vitae, and in that time I’ve slowly incorporated herbs into many aspects of my day to day living. I the beginning I spent months taking in herbal content without doing anything because I felt frozen. The part of me that has a large collection of multi-colored highlighters and post it notes in every color, size, and shape imaginable thought I needed to learn so much before I had the “right” to use any of that knowledge. Guess what: that’s not the best approach! Studying has its place, and it’s important. But we humans learn really well by doing. My biggest piece of advice is to drop the expectations you have for yourself and start small. As in, really small, perhaps even really, really, really small! Pick one easy way to include a new herb or herbal preparation into your life. It doesn’t even have to be something you do every day. Starting small is a reminder that it’s possible. If you’re interested in herbalism, you’ll definitely grow from there!

I thought it might be fun and helpful to see a day-in-the-life of some the ways I sneak in herbs. Read on for ideas and maybe you’ll be inspired to try one (I said one, start teeny tiny!!) of them for yourself!

·      Herbal tooth powders can replace toothpaste and they’re easy to make at home. Currently I have myrrh, calendula, and cinnamon in mine.

·      I take a custom tincture blend first thing in the morning to help regulate my blood sugar among other things.

·      My breakfast smoothie incorporates herbal powders (right now it’s ashwagandha, reishi, and trikatu).

·      I bring a reusable water bottle around with me and in this hot weather I’ve been loving filling it up with herb waters. See my earlier blog post about making it!

·      When I’m feeling bloated or know I’m having a heavy meal I take a bitters blend tincture or make a digestive supporting tea.

·      Instead of buying face or body lotions, I use herbal infused oils or put a few drops of frankincense and helichrysum essential oil into a light facial oil. Creams are a combination of water + oil so by applying these when I’m still damp from the shower, I’m essentially make a lotion right there on my skin. I’m loving calendula for body oil.

·      I cook with lots of culinary herbs (that counts as herbalism, our Nonna’s knew a thing or two). Recently I’ve been able to grow thyme, sage, and oregano myself and it’s been so fun to cook with herbs I grew and dried at home.

·      In the warm months I keep fresh flowers around my home to smell lovely, add beauty, and remind me how much I appreciate all the plant life around me.

There are lots of ways to work with plant medicine in daily life, pick one and give it a try! If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to hear about it. You can email me at: invisiblestringwellness@gmail.com