Nourishing Herbal Infusions
What are nourishing herbs?
Nourishing herbs have been providing a powerhouse of nutrition and healing to both humans and nature for millennia. Nourishing herbs are people plants and can be found on every continent that people live, evidence of our long history of evolving together. Wherever our ancestors went, they brought nourishing herbs with them. Nourishing herbs are arguably the safest herbs to ingest because they are typically free of alkaloids and aromatic essential oils that may cause harm if used incorrectly. Their gentle nature sets them apart from strong medicinal herbs which are often technically controlled poisons. Nourishing herbs have very few interactions so they are generally safe to take with medication, health conditions, and even while pregnant. That said, too much of anything (even water) can cause problems and I recommend working with an herbalist or taking a class taught by an herbalist to get acquainted, especially if you have any serious health concerns.
I believe that health is everyone’s birthright and that we are born into this beautiful, biodiverse planet with mother earth providing all that we need to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, our society and culture is quite sick, we’ve fallen out of touch with our plant kin, and we often overlook the gifts of nature growing all around us. Most nourishing herbs are considered discarded as “weeds” and many people don’t know about their nutritional and health-building value. For this article I’ll be focusing on the biological aspects of nourishing herbs, but they have a long history of spiritual history as well.
Treating Illness vs. Nourishing Health
There are two approaches to healthcare: treating illness and nourishing health. Taking valerian root because you’re having trouble sleeping may address the symptoms and help you fall asleep. In some people, valerian actually makes insomnia worse. People taking valerian root may develop a dependency and its not meant to be taken long-term as it can cause liver damage. Valerian doesn’t treat the underlying cause of trouble sleeping and over time takes away from health, potentially causing new problems. Most medications work in a similar fashion and unfortunately treating illness is the main form of healthcare across the world.
Nourishing herbs take a different approach. They are gentle tonics that support life-sustaining systems. They are great as preventative medicine and also quite impactful in treating illness by supporting our body’s innate wisdom. If you have a dry cough and take cough medicine or an antispasmodic medicinal herb, your cough will be suppressed. This may make you feel more comfortable to an extent, but the virus causing your cough can now run wild. An alternative or complementary route would be to support your immune system by taking a mix of linden flower to produce more antibody-rich mucus with red clover to gently stimulate the lymphatic system. This nourishing herb duo would fight the virus and clear it out of your body, helping you heal from the underlying cause of your cough sooner.
Nourishment for Life
There is a nourishing herb that supports just about every organ and system in our bodies. They build health cumulatively and over time, so are meant to be taken long-term. Nourishing herbs support us during seasonal changes and many phases of our lives. They are great allies in aging men and women and some of the best pregnancy and menopause tonics. Nourishing herbs are full of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and prebiotics. Humans used to get way more nourishment from water when it came from natural springs that delivered dissolved minerals. Brewing nourishing herbal infusions greatly increases our nutrient intake and can even replace multivitamins with more bioavailable nourishment. A cup of stinging nettle leaf infusion has more than double the amount of calcium than a glass of milk! You can cycle through nourishing herbs for the rest of your life to support health and longevity.
Preparation
To get the most out of these plant allies, its best to prepare them as a nourishing herbal infusion. This method is different than steeping tea. Teas are herbs that contain volatile organic compounds like essential oils and/or alkaloids (e.g. rosemary, mint). These types of strong medicinal herbs should only be steeped at lower temperatures for short periods of time (less than 15 mins). Nourishing herbs on the other hand can and should be steeped for long periods of time to optimize the nutrient extraction.
To prepare nourishing herbs, mix 1oz weight of dried herb (about 1 cup volume for the leaf and flower herbs, less for roots) with 1 quart of hot (boiled) water in a 1 quart mason jar. Be sure you have a heat-tempered glass by buying a name brand. Cover tightly with the lid and steep for 4-12 hours. Strain well, getting all the liquid out of the herbs and enjoy within 24-48 hours. Leftovers are great for watering plants or for rinsing your hair or skin. I find it easiest to steep them overnight, drain in the morning, then enjoy throughout my day.
Nourishing herbs intricately support the health of so many bodily systems. Formulations can be even more powerful for treating specific health concerns. Working with a trained herbalist can really make a difference so please reach out if you’d like support. That said, these herbs are quite safe and can be compared to other herbs like spinach. If working with an herbalist is a barrier for you, please consider starting the nourishing herbs yourself. Preparing single nourishing herbs and consuming for 6+ weeks will teach you a lot about the herb and about yourself. Blending the nourishing herbs can even out qualities without knowing a ton about formulation technique.
Where to Get Nourishing Herbs
The best medicine comes from the same land you live on. Taking a foraging class and learning how to ethically and safely harvest your own nourishing herbs is ideal. The sheer volume of nourishing herbs you may utilize may may have you seeking to supplement your stock. The second best option is sourcing already harvested and dried herbs from a local organic farm. Herbs really only maintain their potency for a year, so the fresher the better. It’s sometimes difficult to find a local bulk supplier, so the next best and most common option is sourcing from a reputable online source. Frontier coop is the cheapest organic bulk source I know of and you can save 10% on each order by becoming a lifetime member for just $10. Mountain Rose Herbs has great quality as well but stiffer shipping prices. Unfortunately, many brick and mortar herb retailers source from shady sources and supply very old, stale, questionable herbs. If you incorporate nourishing herbs into your daily routine, you'll go through a lot, so I recommend buying at least 1LB increments to get the best price. If you do things right, you’ll spend just about $1-2 a day for this advanced nutrition.
Nourishing Herbs and Their Associations
Each herb has unique energetics that drive their impact on specific body systems. The descriptions below are not full monographs for each herb but paint a picture of their broad associations. I could (and probably someday will) write a book about each! I’d like to note that each is FULL of vitamins and minerals and even deliver some essential fatty acids and protein.
Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica): Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. Alleviates food and seasonal allergies. Nourishes and rebuilds the kidneys, adrenal glands, and blood vessels.
Oatstraw (Avena sativa): Packed with vitamins, minerals, and silica. Prized for its ability to nourish the nervous system, support bone health, and promote relaxation. Steroidal saponins nourish the pancreas and liver which improves digestion and stabilizes moods.
Red Clover Blossom and Leaf (Trifolium pratense): A nutrient-dense herb rich in isoflavones, red clover is valued for its hormone-balancing properties. Prevents cancer and promotes healthy lymphatic function. Ally for fertility, menopausal symptoms, and promoting overall vitality.
Linden flowers and leaf (Tillia americana): Supports lung and gut health by promoting healthy mucus secretion. Mood booster rich in Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Phosphorus.
Hawthorne leaf and flower (Crataegus spp): A restorative tonic for the heart that nourishes the entire cardiovascular system. Regulates blood pressure, improves circulation, and optimizes heart function.
Comfrey Leaf (Symphytum officinale): Known as a "knit bone" herb, comfrey leaf is abundant in calcium, potassium, and allantoin, supporting bone and tissue health, and aiding in wound healing. The leaves don’t contain the controversial alkaloid the root does; four generations of people have eaten cooked comfrey leaves as a regular vegetable at Henry Doubleday Research Foundation with no adverse effects.
Cleavers (Galium aparine): Lymphatic cleanser and antispasmodic, especially in the urinary and digestive systems (great for IBS). Relieves PMS and tender breasts. Calms the mind and helps eliminate toxins from the body.
Chickweed (Stellaria media): Nourishes the joints, dissolves and breaks down cysts, benign tumors, thick mucus and bacterial plaques in the respiratory and digestive systems, and excess fat cells. Supports thyroid health.
Mullein stalk and leaf (Verbascum thapsus): Lung tonic, softens what has become rigid, promotes proper healing of bones, shrinks varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
Raspberry leaf (Ideaus sp.): Tones the digestive system, reproductive system, and uterus. Helps heal from leaky gut syndrome.
Hawthorn berries, leaves, and flowers (Crateagus sp.): Heart tonic that strengthens the blood vessels and regulates blood pressure.
Elder berries or flowers (Sambucus canadensis): Ramps up the immune system to fight infection, helps fight of viral and bacterial infections.
Burdock root (Arctium lappa): Blood purifier and tonic for liver and gallbladder. Alterative that promotes healthy detoxification pathways of the body including extracellular fluid. Promotes skin health.
Dandelion leaf and root (Taraxacum officinale): Another blood purifier and liver/gallbladder tonic. Leaves contain high amounts of Vitamin C.
Alfalfa leaf (Medicago sativa): Nutrient powerhouse and supports kidney, bladder, and prostate health.
Violet leaves (Viola sp.): Treats, eczema, varicose veins, hemorrhoids. Has an affinity for the breasts, dissolving fibrous tissue, hardened calcium deposits, and other breast lumps and swelling.
Plantain leaves (Plantago sp.): Nourishes the lungs, gut, and sinuses.
Marshmallow root (Althea off.): Increases the mucus secretions in the gut and respiratory system.
I hope this article inspires you to incorporate nourishing herbal infusions into your wellness routine so you can build health from the inside out. If this article was helpful to you, please consider donating some money so I can continue to produce content like this. My Venmo is Ventyler and my Cashapp is $theherbwise
