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	<title>herbal remedies Archives - Everyday Empowered</title>
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	<title>herbal remedies Archives - Everyday Empowered</title>
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	<item>
		<title>Breathe Easy bushfire smoke exposure tea recipe</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/breathe-easy-bushfire-smoke-exposure-tea-recipe/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:15:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal tea]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=21703</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This delicious tea features herbs for bushfire smoke exposure. It directly supports your lungs, sinuses and whole respiratory tract when exposed to fine particulate matter that’s a common feature of bushfire smoke. &#x1f33f;Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a standout lung herb, improving overall function of the lungs. Your body creates mucous to trap and expel bushfire smoke particles. Mullein helps by thinning this mucous which makes it easier for your body to get rid of, whilst also soothes irritation and moistens as it does so. Mullein is a common weed in southern Australia, or you can grow it in well draining soil in the subtropics (sorry, don&#8217;t know about tropics). If wildcrafting, make sure you&#8217;re not collecting from contaminated land because mullein bioaccumulates heavy metals. &#x1f33f;Plantain (Plantago sp) is a wild weedy friend, with a special affinity for the respiratory tract. It will help moisten dry tissues, calm inflammation, and help you cough up or expel excess mucous from your lungs and sinuses. &#x1f33f;Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) is in this blend to support your body’s lymphatic system. This system helps to clear up and remove rubbish that accumulates in your body. It’s also got inflammation-modulating properties. &#x1f33f;The mucous membranes of your respiratory [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/breathe-easy-bushfire-smoke-exposure-tea-recipe/">Breathe Easy bushfire smoke exposure tea recipe</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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<p>This delicious tea features herbs for bushfire smoke exposure. It directly supports your lungs, sinuses and whole respiratory tract when exposed to fine particulate matter that’s a common feature of bushfire smoke.</p>



<p><strong>&#x1f33f;Mullein</strong> (<em>Verbascum thapsus</em>) is a standout lung herb, improving overall function of the lungs. Your body creates mucous to trap and expel bushfire smoke particles. Mullein helps by thinning this mucous which makes it easier for your body to get rid of, whilst also soothes irritation and moistens as it does so.</p>



<p>Mullein is a common weed in southern Australia, or you can grow it in well draining soil in the subtropics (sorry, don&#8217;t know about tropics). If wildcrafting, make sure you&#8217;re not collecting from contaminated land because mullein bioaccumulates heavy metals.</p>



<p><strong>&#x1f33f;Plantain</strong> (<em>Plantago sp</em>) is a wild weedy friend, with a special affinity for the respiratory tract. It will help moisten dry tissues, calm inflammation, and help you cough up or expel excess mucous from your lungs and sinuses.</p>



<p>&#x1f33f;<strong>Calendula</strong>  (<em>Calendula Officinalis</em>) is in this blend to support your body’s lymphatic system. This system helps to clear up and remove rubbish that accumulates in your body. It’s also got inflammation-modulating properties.</p>



<p>&#x1f33f;The mucous membranes of your respiratory tract don’t work optimally when dried out, so <strong>linden</strong> (<em>Tillia sp</em>) comes in to soothe, soften and moisten, which helps them work their best to trap particles and pathogens before they can get inside the body.</p>



<p>Linden is also delicious and has the dual function of calming stress and anxiety around bushfires.</p>



<p>Like all herbs, these plants are high in antioxidants, which support your body respond to the oxidative stress created by exposure to bushfire smoke.</p>



<p></p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Breathe Easy bushfire smoke exposure tea recipe</strong></p>



<p>Blend equal parts mullein, plantain, calendula and linden together.</p>



<p>Use 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon / mug boiling water. Steep covered for 10 &#8211; 15 minutes. Strain using a fine sieve.</p>



<p>Note &#8211; many people say to strain mullein teas with cheesecloth, because of the fine hairs on mullein leaves. I&#8217;ve personally never experienced a problem, so I&#8217;m not sure how necessary that is, but I wanted to mention it in case you find the tea irritating to drink &#8211; it might be that it&#8217;s not strained well enough for you.</p>



<p></p>



<p>If you don&#8217;t love the taste of the tea, sweeten with honey or maple syrup. You could also double the amount of linden used, or add another yummy herb like licorice, peppermint or lemon balm.</p>



<p></p>



<p>*Note, whilst I&#8217;ve specifically formulated this for bushfires, it&#8217;s actually just an all-round beautiful respiratory formula for:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>dry, lingering cough that doesn&#8217;t clear up</li>



<li>people regularly exposed to fine particulate matter, like smokers, chippies etc.</li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Be prepared</strong></p>



<p>When I was evacuated due to a bushfire, I had all my herbs on hand, but not blended, and I couldn&#8217;t take my home apothecary with me in the middle of the night! I definitely learnt it&#8217;s best to have this smoke exposure blend (and any other herbal remedies you want), ready and waiting in your stay/go kit.</p>



<p>Even if you&#8217;re not directly affected by bushfires, smoke can be blown over large distances. It&#8217;s good to have this blend on hand.</p>



<p>Learn more &#8211; here&#8217;s an article on the<a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/best-herbs-for-bushfires/"> Best Herbs for Bushfires</a></p>



<p></p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Love making your own teas but not sure exactly how? I&#8217;ve got you covered in my self-paced <a href="https://learn.everydayempowered.com.au/mastering-herbal-tea-in-5-minutes-a-day">Mastering Herbal Teas in 5 minutes a day</a>.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Full of easily-digestible video lessons, printable cheat sheets and my personal tea-blending method &#8211; you&#8217;ll be whipping up tea like a pro in no time! Shows you how to make your own teas for digestion, immunity, calm and vitality. <a href="https://learn.everydayempowered.com.au/mastering-herbal-tea-in-5-minutes-a-day">Get started today!</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/breathe-easy-bushfire-smoke-exposure-tea-recipe/">Breathe Easy bushfire smoke exposure tea recipe</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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		<title>Herbal Bitters Blend recipe for better digestion</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/herbal-bitters-blend-recipe/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Feb 2025 02:32:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Food and Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal medicine-making]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home herbalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kitchen medicine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=20788</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Bitters &#38; Digestion are like PB&#38;J or ham and cheese or lentils and rice! They belong together. You can eat bitter foods as part of your meals, to get this forgotten flavour into your life. OR you can make herbal digestive bitters blends, like this one. They’re easily customisable, delicious and optimise digestion in a tonne of ways, such as: Bitters, through helping us properly break down our food, actually help us better absorb nutrients and get more out of the food we&#8217;re eating! What are herbal bitters? Bitters are both an action and a taste in herbal medicine. Herbal bitter blends are traditionally a combination of cooling bitter herbs and warming aromatic ones (although yes, you can get warming bitters and cooling aromatics!). In this recipe, I’m turning to the bitter powers of gentian (Gentiana lutea), arguably one of our most straight-up bitter herbs in our western materia medica. So we don’t overly cool our digestive systems (we don’t want to put out our digestive fires after all), we blend gentian with warming herbs. Gentian and ginger is a classic Western herbal combo and works well. I personally find ginger too spicy sometimes and I wanted a herbal bitter [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/herbal-bitters-blend-recipe/">Herbal Bitters Blend recipe for better digestion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Bitters &amp; Digestion are like PB&amp;J or ham and cheese or lentils and rice!</p>



<p>They belong together.</p>



<p>You can eat bitter foods as part of your meals, to get this forgotten flavour into your life.</p>



<p>OR you can make herbal digestive bitters blends, like this one.</p>



<p>They’re easily customisable, delicious and optimise digestion in a tonne of ways, such as:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>increasing secretions of saliva, gastrin, mucous to line the digestive tract, digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, bile production and secretion</li>



<li>increase circulation to gut</li>



<li>regulating gut motility and digestive sphincters </li>



<li>tonfiying smooth muscles of digestive tract, notably the stomach </li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p>Bitters, through helping us properly break down our food, actually help us better absorb nutrients and get more out of the food we&#8217;re eating!</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">What are herbal bitters?</p>



<p>Bitters are both an action and a taste in herbal medicine. Herbal bitter blends are traditionally a combination of cooling bitter herbs and warming aromatic ones (although yes, you can get warming bitters and cooling aromatics!).</p>



<p></p>



<p>In this recipe, I’m turning to the bitter powers of gentian (<em>Gentiana lutea)</em>, arguably one of our most straight-up bitter herbs in our western materia medica.</p>



<p>So we don’t overly cool our digestive systems (we don’t want to put out our digestive fires after all), we blend gentian with warming herbs.</p>



<p>Gentian and ginger is a classic Western herbal combo and works well.</p>



<p>I personally find ginger too spicy sometimes and I wanted a herbal bitter blend that was delicious and works with carminative herbs to support digestion as well.</p>



<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="649" height="1024" src="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/479513259_1134875828133640_5332726380315580893_n-649x1024.jpg" alt="Making a herbal bitters blend recipe - rosy bitters for better digestive functioning." class="wp-image-20791" style="width:237px;height:auto" srcset="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/479513259_1134875828133640_5332726380315580893_n-649x1024.jpg 649w, https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/479513259_1134875828133640_5332726380315580893_n-480x757.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 649px, 100vw" /></figure>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Herbal bitters blend recipe</p>



<p>Most of these herbs are tinctures I’ve made or bought and I’m blending together, although I&#8217;m also using rose glycetract in the blend. I love this for its nervous system support and its floral sweet taste balances the flavours in the recipe.</p>



<p>There&#8217;s two versions of the recipe &#8211; the first is in parts, so you can make it whatever size you want, keeping the same ratio. I’ve also then given some more directions in millimetres for a 100ml bottle (roughly).</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Rosy Bitters recipe:</p>



<p>2 parts gentian (<em>Gentiana lutea</em>) tincture</p>



<p>1.5 parts orange peel (<em>Citrus sinensis</em>) tincture</p>



<p>1 part rose (<em>Rosa sp.</em>) glycetract </p>



<p>1 part fennel (<em>Foeniculum vulgare)</em> tincture</p>



<p>(could add 1/8 – 1/4 part ginger) <em>(Zingiber officinale</em>)</p>



<p></p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Rosy Bitters Recipe in ml</p>



<p>30ml gentian tincture</p>



<p>22 ml orange peel tincture</p>



<p>15 ml rose glycetract</p>



<p>15ml fennel tincture</p>



<p>Mix tinctures in glass dropper bottle.</p>



<p>Label your bottle with ingredients and date made.</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>To use:</strong></p>



<p>Shake bottle before using to make sure all mixed well.</p>



<p>Use 20 drops (roughly 1 ml) diluted in 30ml water to stimulate digestion before meals.</p>



<p>Some people take the dropper straight on their tongue but I prefer to dilute mine with water – although you still need to be able to taste the bitter flavour.</p>



<p></p>



<p></p>



<p>I personally find this combo delicious, but if you’re really un-used to bitter-flavoured foods and herbs you might not. Try it for a few weeks and see if your taste buds adapt, or if you notice improvements in your digestive functioning.</p>



<p>If not, try another blend &#8211; there are so many bitter and carminative herbs!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/herbal-bitters-blend-recipe/">Herbal Bitters Blend recipe for better digestion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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		<title>Unlocking the Power of Bitters: Why Your Digestion Needs This Forgotten Flavor</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/how-bitters-support-digestion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:21:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kitchen medicine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=17701</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Humans evolved with natural inputs like sunlight, movement and bitter plants, amongst others. But these are largely absent in our modern lives. Increasingly though, we’re finding these ‘lifestyle remedies’ help many common health complaints, from mild depression and anxiety to type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease and more. You could say sunlight, movement and bitter plants are medicine. Or we could flip it, and say we say we have all these health concerns because of lack of them. Which would mean, similar to the nutrient deficiencies we’re familiar with, we have a sunlight deficiency, movement deficiency or bitter deficiency. I find this distinction so fascinating because it points to the importance of bitters (and sunlight, movement) to the proper functioning of being human. As James Green says: “It is my opinion that the nearly complete lack of bitter flavored foods in the overall U.S. and Canadian diet is a major contributing factor to common cultural health imbalances such as PMS, other female and male sexual organ dysfunctions, hormonal imbalances, migraine headache, indigestion, liver and gall bladder dysfunction, abnormal metabolism, hypoglycemia, diabetes, etc.” And that’s why James Green coined the phrase ‘Bitter Deficiency Syndrome’. Now I’m not super into calling things [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/how-bitters-support-digestion/">Unlocking the Power of Bitters: Why Your Digestion Needs This Forgotten Flavor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Humans evolved with natural inputs like sunlight, movement and bitter plants, amongst others. But these are largely absent in our modern lives. Increasingly though, we’re finding these ‘lifestyle remedies’ help many common health complaints, from mild depression and anxiety to type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease and more.</p>



<p>You could say sunlight, movement and bitter plants are medicine.</p>



<p>Or we could flip it, and say we say we have all these health concerns because of lack of them.</p>



<p>Which would mean, similar to the nutrient deficiencies we’re familiar with, we have a sunlight deficiency, movement deficiency or bitter deficiency.</p>



<p>I find this distinction so fascinating because it points to the importance of bitters (and sunlight, movement) to the proper functioning of being human. As James Green says:</p>



<p><em>“It is my opinion that the nearly complete lack of bitter flavored foods in the overall U.S. and Canadian diet is a major contributing factor to common cultural health imbalances such as PMS, other female and male sexual organ dysfunctions, hormonal imbalances, migraine headache, indigestion, liver and gall bladder dysfunction, abnormal metabolism, hypoglycemia, diabetes, etc.”</em></p>



<p>And that’s why James Green coined the phrase ‘Bitter Deficiency Syndrome’.</p>



<p>Now I’m not super into calling things syndromes, but to me, it highlights the importance of regularly including bitters in our diet for proper functioning of the body!</p>



<p></p>



<p>At this point, it’s really helpful to know, that bitters exist on a continuum from mild, (like chamomile and raddiccio), to strong (like gentian) to poison. Probably because of this range, and the risk of poisoning, our body’s actually have really sophisticated bitter receptors, and interestingly enough – they don’t just occur on our tongues! We’ve got bitter receptors all through the digestive tract and in other areas, like the lungs, heart etc! Fascinating right!?</p>



<p>You can see why I can <s>rave</s> talk for 2 hours about bitters in my <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/embodied-herbalism-herbal-tastes/">Embodied Herbalism: Herbal Tastes course (click here) –</a> they offer our body so much and are super fascinating!</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>How do Bitters support digestion?</strong></p>



<p>We’re talking about how bitters support digestion in this article, let’s take a deeper look at what they do.</p>



<p>Bitter is both a taste and a herbal action in herbal medicine. One of the rockstar actions of bitters is in the body is the range of ways bitters support digestion.</p>



<p>In a nutshell, bitters help us to more effectively break down food, absorb the nutrients from our food and clear away metabolic wastes created during digestion.</p>



<p>Thought to work through a nerve reflex that is triggered by the taste of bitters (mediated through the vagus nerve and parasympathetic system), bitters optimise a huge range of digestive processes, including:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stimulating secretions of saliva, gastrin, mucous to line the digestive tract, digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, bile production and secretion</li>



<li>regulating peristalsis</li>



<li>strengthening digestive sphincters &#8211; including helping them to open and close at the right time</li>



<li>and heaps of others ways!</li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>How to use bitters to support digestion at home</strong></p>



<p>To support digestive functioning, you can regularly incorporate bitter leafy greens or other bitter foods like bitter black coffee or dark chocolate.</p>



<p>You can also take bitters before meals. You might already be familiar with some classic bitter appertifs, such as &nbsp;You can also regularly like Campari or Amaro.</p>



<p>Here’s a small list of common mild bitters you could work with at home:</p>



<p><strong>Mild:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>chamomile (mixed bitter/ aromatic)</li>



<li>dandelion root and leaf</li>



<li>burdock</li>



<li>mugwort  (mixed bitter/ aromatic)</li>



<li>yarrow</li>



<li>dandelion</li>



<li>lavender (mixed bitter/ aromatic)</li>



<li>turmeric (aromatic bitter)</li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Contraindications and Safety</strong></p>



<p>Mild, food bitters are typically safe – although I always advocate for personal responsibility and awareness. Care must be taken when using strong bitters if someone has gallstones or kidney stones or is pregnant. Be careful to formulate with warming and moistening herbs &nbsp;if someone’s got a cold, dry constitution and will be taking strong bitters regularly.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Curious!? Go grab yourself some bitter foods or herbs! or come get first-hand experience of bitters in my <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/embodied-herbalism-herbal-tastes/">Embodied Herbalism: Herbal Tastes course &#8211; both online and in-person options (click here).</a> I also go into way more detail about how bitters work in the body and we talk more about the continuum of bitters from mild to strong.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/how-bitters-support-digestion/">Unlocking the Power of Bitters: Why Your Digestion Needs This Forgotten Flavor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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		<title>Rose Medicine</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/rose-medicine/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2024 21:04:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Food and Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home herbalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kitchen medicine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=13045</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Rose (rosa sp) medicine is support for the physical and emotional heart &#8211; specifically indicated for grief, loss, shock and hard times. Her medicine is twofold, protecting us and creating a safe container with her thorny embrace, yet offering such grace and spaciousness to feel vulnerable with her tender petals. Her scent uplifts our spirits and soothe our soul. We are safe, we are held, we are ok to just be exactly as we are. Rose reminds us, deep in our bones, that we can ride out the shock waves and tumult of our inner and outer worlds. And when we experience emotional stress, this has an impact on our physical body (and vice versa), so I like that rose, and other heart-centred herbs like hibiscus, linden and hawthorn support both our physical and emotional hearts. Rose has other properties as well, and as a cooling herb, is great at sedating heat in our body, with a wide variety of uses. Read on for some rose recipes to include this gorgeous rose medicine in daily life, but here&#8217;s some quick herbal info: Rose at a Glance Botanical Name: Rosa Sp &#124; Family: Roseaceae &#124; Parts Used: Flower petals, buds, rosehips [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/rose-medicine/">Rose Medicine</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Rose (rosa sp) medicine is support for the physical and emotional heart &#8211; specifically indicated for grief, loss, shock and hard times.</p>



<p>Her medicine is twofold, protecting us and creating a safe container with her thorny embrace, yet offering such grace and spaciousness to feel vulnerable with her tender petals.</p>



<p>Her scent uplifts our spirits and soothe our soul. We are safe, we are held, we are ok to just be exactly as we are.</p>



<p>Rose reminds us, deep in our bones, that we can ride out the shock waves and tumult of our inner and outer worlds.</p>



<p>And when we experience emotional stress, this has an impact on our physical body (and vice versa), so I like that rose, and other heart-centred herbs like hibiscus, linden and hawthorn support both our physical and emotional hearts.</p>



<p>Rose has other properties as well, and as a cooling herb, is great at sedating heat in our body, with a wide variety of uses.</p>



<p>Read on for some rose recipes to include this gorgeous rose medicine in daily life, but here&#8217;s some quick herbal info:</p>



<p><strong>Rose at a Glance</strong></p>



<p><strong>Botanical Name: </strong>Rosa Sp | <strong>Family</strong>: Roseaceae | <strong>Parts Used:</strong> Flower petals, buds, rosehips (fruit)</p>



<p><strong>Energetics:</strong> Cooling, Drying | <strong>Taste</strong>: Sour, Astringent</p>



<p><strong>Safety: </strong>If using rose in therapeutic doses (not just culinary amounts) caution during kidney disease, breastfeeding &amp; pregnancy, and if you&#8217;re a cool constitution, can be cooling over time.</p>



<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wild-rose-1024x1024.png" alt="Wild Rose. Rosa sp. Rose medicine for the heart" class="wp-image-13048" srcset="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wild-rose-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wild-rose-980x980.png 980w, https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wild-rose-480x480.png 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw" /></figure>



<p><strong>Rose-Hearted Tea</strong></p>



<p>This is a heart-centred hug in a mug. Rose gently protects our heart as we navigate challenging times, and tulsi helps us cope with the stress that accompanies emotional upheaval. Hibiscus and linden both specifically support the physical and emotional heart and cardiovascular system as well as rounding out the blend to create this delicious, soothing tea.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>1 teaspoon rose (<em>rosa sp</em>)</li>



<li>1 teaspoon tulsi (<em>ocimum sanctum</em>)</li>



<li>1 teaspoon hibiscus (<em>hibiscus sabdariffa</em>)</li>



<li>1 teaspoon linden (<em>tilia sp</em>)</li>
</ul>



<p>Put herbs in teapot or heatsafe jar. Pour boiling water over herbs, and cover with a lid. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink. Sweeten with honey if desired.</p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>Rose bliss balls</strong></p>



<p>Transform a simple snack into a heart-opening embrace. Turn to rose medicine in times of needing extra emotional support, or also times when you want to cultivate more feelings of love, compassion and openness.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>1.5 cups sunflower seeds</li>



<li>½ &#8211; ¾ cup cashew nuts</li>



<li>4 (heaping) tablespoons cacao powder</li>



<li>¼ cup sweetener (honey, maple syrup)</li>



<li>¼ &#8211; ½ cup organic dried rose petals*</li>



<li>2-3 tablespoons coconut oil (if required to bind other ingredients)</li>
</ul>



<p>Method –</p>



<p>Add everything to a food processor and process till can make a ball with your hands. If it’s too dry, add the coconut oil.</p>



<p>*Note – roses are typically a heavily sprayed crop so it’s important to use organic rose petals where possible. Petals with a strong delightful scent are best here.</p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>Rose Glycetract</strong></p>



<p>This is one of my all-time favourite rose recipes. The sweet taste of glycerine pairs beautifully with rose to make a liquid Turkish delight. It’s&nbsp; sweetness is soothing in times of stress and emotional upheaval. nd the red colour is medicine in itself.</p>



<p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>organic dried roses</li>



<li>glycerine</li>



<li>water</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Method</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>half fill a jar with organic dried rose petals</li>



<li>fill the jar up ¾ way with glycerine</li>



<li>fill the rest of the jar up with water</li>



<li>use a spoon to mix</li>



<li>cover with a lid, then macerate on a shelf for 2 – 4 weeks. Shake a few times a week.</li>



<li>Strain through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cloth.</li>



<li>Store in a bottle and label</li>
</ul>



<p>Use 1 teaspoon plain or mixed in water.</p>



<p></p>



<p></p>



<p>I’ve got a few more rose medicine recipes I love, and I know at the moment, the more ways we have to work with rose the better. Not that we necessarily need to use them all at once, but I find when we want to work with a plant consistently, it can be easier to have a variety of preparations so we can find a way to incorporate that herb one way or another every day.</p>



<p>I’ll write them up in another post soon!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/rose-medicine/">Rose Medicine</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to make foraged wild weed pesto</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/foraged-wild-weed-pesto-medicinal-plant-kitchen-medicine/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2024 07:47:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Food and Herbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kitchen medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winter wellness]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=8494</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Pesto and foraged wild medicinal plants really are a match made in heaven. Benefits of this foraged wild weed pesto are that you can: So what weeds can you use in foraged wild weed pesto? In my subtropical area, it depends which season it is. I recommend nibbling the plants so you get a feel for their flavour. They all mix well together, but some will be milder and balance out the more bitter herbs. Helpful hint, young leaves will often have a milder taste. Coming into winter, great herbs you might forage are As with all foraging, make sure each herb is safe for you to consume &#8211; check for any safety and contraindications. &#160;There will be others as well, start by getting to know the plants that grow near you, might include nettle, purslane or plantain (although I never find these growing near me, so I haven’t much experience with them). You can also mix with other kitchen greens like spinach, rocket or celery leaves &#x1f449; Make sure you forage ethically and safely, only taking what you can 100% accurately ID; not harvesting where it’s sprayed or near main roads; only taking what you&#160; need and leaving more [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/foraged-wild-weed-pesto-medicinal-plant-kitchen-medicine/">How to make foraged wild weed pesto</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Pesto and foraged wild medicinal plants really are a match made in heaven.</p>



<p>Benefits of this foraged wild weed pesto are that you can:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>use whatever you’ve got on hand,</li>



<li>wild plants have are nutrient dense sources of a variety of vitamins and minerals &#8211; depending which wild plants you end up using.</li>



<li>bitter flavours are deliciously hidden</li>



<li>easy to get into a regular rhythm of making this simple kitchen medicine, which lets face it, is half the battle</li>



<li>Easy for kids to help you make and forage. The more kids can be involved in making food and medicine, the more likely they are to eat it and learn these useful life skills</li>
</ul>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>So what weeds can you use in foraged wild weed pesto?</strong></p>



<p>In my subtropical area, it depends which season it is. I recommend nibbling the plants so you get a feel for their flavour. They all mix well together, but some will be milder and balance out the more bitter herbs. Helpful hint, young leaves will often have a milder taste.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Coming into winter, great herbs you might forage are</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Cobblers pegs</li>



<li>&nbsp;Nodding top</li>



<li>Tulsi</li>



<li>Chickweed</li>



<li>Gotu kola</li>



<li>Catsear</li>



<li>Dandelion</li>



<li>native violets</li>



<li> Stuff in the garden such as basil, parsley, rosemary, sage or nasturtium</li>
</ul>



<p>As with all foraging, make sure each herb is safe for you to consume &#8211; check for any safety and contraindications.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="480" height="270" src="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/holy-basil-smaller.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8496" style="width:480px;height:auto" srcset="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/holy-basil-smaller.png 480w, https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/holy-basil-smaller-300x169.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></figure>



<p>&nbsp;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="17" height="17" src="" alt="&#x1f449;">There will be others as well, start by getting to know the plants that grow near you, might include nettle, purslane or plantain (although I never find these growing near me, so I haven’t much experience with them). </p>



<p>You can also mix with other kitchen greens like spinach, rocket or celery leaves</p>



<p>&#x1f449; Make sure you forage ethically and safely, only taking what you can 100% accurately ID; not harvesting where it’s sprayed or near main roads; only taking what you&nbsp; need and leaving more of the plants than you take.</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>To make the wild weed pesto:</strong></p>



<p>I personally don’t measure anymore (if I ever did), so the measurements are guides for when you’re starting out. <strong>I think pesto is the kind of recipe where every family should have its own ‘secret family recipe’ </strong>– ie your fav combos of herbs, nuts, ratio of oil and cheese etc.</p>



<p>You can also make smaller or larger pesto batches, depending what you’re using it for and what herbs you’ve got available, so that as your guide and just generally keep the ratios the same.</p>



<p>You’ll develop this over time, but to start off, use:</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ingredients for foraged wild weed pesto</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Handful of herbs (mix of any of above) &nbsp;&#8211; up to 3 cups</li>



<li>Handful of nuts (I like cashews and almonds, but could use any nuts or seeds on hand – around ½ cup nuts</li>



<li>Chunk Parmesan (1/4 cup) or 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast and salt for vegan version</li>



<li>olive oil, to make a paste, can add more to make it saucier (probably around ½ cup)</li>
</ul>



<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="17" height="17" src="" alt="&#x1f9c4;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="17" height="17" src="" alt="&#x1f34b;">&nbsp;optional: add lemon juice (1/4 lemon) or a clove of raw garlic to taste. The raw garlic acts as a great immune stimulant to ward off colds/flu and fresh lemon juice adds a lovely hit of vitamin c and bioflavonoids.</p>



<p></p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size">Method</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Start by blitzing the nuts in a food processor to small chunks. </li>



<li>Add the green leaves, parmesan (or nutritional yeast and salt), garlic and lemon juice if using and blitz until leaves are reduced. Can add half the olive oil here (or all of it if you&#8217;d rather just do it all at once)</li>



<li>Add remaining olive oil to the consistency you desire &#8211; you can make it chunkier or smoother, thicker or more oily. The choice is yours!</li>
</ol>



<p>Don&#8217;t have a food, go old school &#8216;Nonna style&#8217; in a mortar and pestle or using a knife and chopping board.</p>



<p><strong>How to use</strong></p>



<p>&nbsp;You can use the wild weed pesto as a dip, part of a salad dressing, pasta sauce, on pizza, on toast, in wraps</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/foraged-wild-weed-pesto-medicinal-plant-kitchen-medicine/">How to make foraged wild weed pesto</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>5 top tips to practice herbalism on a budget</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/5-top-tips-to-practice-herbalism-on-a-budget/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Apr 2024 23:14:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal medicine-making]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home herbalism]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=7521</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Want to make your own herbal medicine at home but don’t want to break the bank to do it?! This is my first post in a 3 part series on how to practice herbalism on budget. I&#8217;ve left some of the more obvious tips for now &#8211; so some of these might surprise you. Here’s my top 5 places to start: Fear often drives our decisions, but this can lead us to make impulsive purchases which stretch our budgets. This is easier said than done, as I know from personal experience. When I was in the thick of a really challenging health issue, I was desperate for anything that’d help me get better – but so much of it I didn’t need and didn’t help. It is a journey though, to figure out what helps and not, but if you need to practice herbalism on a budget, I really recommend getting familiar with your inner world and making friends with fear, or grief (and hope) or whatever else you might find. 2. Don’t mistake common for ineffective We’re awash with information on fabulous, and often exotic herbs. This is a blessing, but they can come with a hefty price tag. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/5-top-tips-to-practice-herbalism-on-a-budget/">5 top tips to practice herbalism on a budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Want to make your own herbal medicine at home but don’t want to break the bank to do it?! This is my first post in a 3 part series on how to practice herbalism on budget. I&#8217;ve left some of the more obvious tips for now &#8211; so some of these might surprise you. Here’s my top 5 places to start:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Get to know your fear</strong></li>
</ol>



<p>Fear often drives our decisions, but this can lead us to make impulsive purchases which stretch our budgets. This is easier said than done, as I know from personal experience. When I was in the thick of a really challenging health issue, I was desperate for anything that’d help me get better – but so much of it I didn’t need and didn’t help. It is a journey though, to figure out what helps and not, but if you need to practice herbalism on a budget, I really recommend getting familiar with your inner world and making friends with fear, or grief (and hope) or whatever else you might find.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2. Don’t mistake common for ineffective</strong></p>



<p>We’re awash with information on fabulous, and often exotic herbs. This is a blessing, but they can come with a hefty price tag. Don’t forget, our bog standard, common herbs are very powerful medicine, ones that have stood the test of time which is why they’re so culturally familiar. Thyme, rosemary, sage, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper. They’re affordable, many are easy to grow and can support many everyday health issues that crop up in our homes.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>3. Needs vs wants</strong></p>



<p>I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to health, this can be very hard. In our modern consumer wellness environment, luxuries seem to have been reassigned as basic needs – basic human rights almost. When we through our fears on top, we’ve got a perfect storm creating an endless spending vortex that can subsume our incomes.</p>



<p>But, if we want to practice herbalism on a budget, being able to distinguish needs from wants is a crucial skill that can lead to greater financial stability and overall well-being. Needs are <strong>essential</strong> for survival. Distinguishing needs from wants involves recognizing the difference between what is necessary for our basic needs and what is simply desired or preferred.</p>



<p>Please know – this will look different for everyone. What’s a want for someone, will be necessary to someone else because we’ve all got different constitutions, health histories, personalities etc. With health and wellness, especially when practicing herbalism on a budget, we really need to pay attention to ourselves and what WE need, not what someone else does.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>4. Community is your superpower</strong></p>



<p>Whilst I generally don’t like mega corporations and big factories, they’ve at least highlighted how to gain efficiencies – that’s making the same thing over and over again. We can adopt this on a small scale to help us make herbalism more affordable on a budget.</p>



<p>Rather than each of us having to stock up on everything individually, I can ‘specialise’ in a certain remedy or grow a certain herb and then swap with friends who grow and make other things. ie. making a big batch of elderberry syrup takes the same amount of time as a batch just for my family. And my patch of catnip has plenty to share, and perhaps then I can swap for lemon balm (which somehow never grows well for me!)</p>



<p>This approach saves time, money and encourages community and deeper, mutual relationships – which is win-win-win in my book.</p>



<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>5. Work out what’s more affordable for you</strong></p>



<p>I wanted to give a list of the cheaper remedies to make, but honestly, it in part depends what you have access to, and what you need. So rather than being another online herbalist who gives out generic lists, I encourage you to reflect on what you’ve got access to and crunch the numbers on what’s cheapest for you.</p>



<p>For example, I’m a home beekeeper, so making remedies with honey is economical for me. If you’ve got to buy your own local raw honey however, that might make it more expensive. BUT, if you’re already using honey in your life, maybe supercharging it with herbs makes it work double – both as your preferred sweetener and as your herbal medicine.</p>



<p>AS a general rule, water is known as the “universal solvent” – meaning it’s really effective for a wide variety of herbs and constituents. So the humble old pot of tea might really be your most affordable and effective solution.</p>



<p>Tinctures in general are really expensive to make at home because of the alcohol (and depending on the herb can be less effective at extracting the medicinal constituents if a particular herb needs a higher concentration of ethanol than you’ll find in a regular vodka). Perhaps you’ll swap expensive tinctures for teas, or you might find vinegar is more affordable for you – especially if you’re a bit of a homesteader and want to make your own apple cider vinegar from apple scraps!</p>



<p>These are just a few ideas for how you can start to practice herbalism on a budget. I’d love to know if you’ve found them useful, or any of them have stood out to you.</p>



<p>I&#8217;ve got plenty more practical tips coming in part 2. Stay tuned!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/5-top-tips-to-practice-herbalism-on-a-budget/">5 top tips to practice herbalism on a budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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			</item>
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		<title>7 reasons your herbal remedies aren’t working.</title>
		<link>https://everydayempowered.com.au/7-reasons-your-herbal-remedies-arent-working/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cat Green]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:25:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Herbal medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal medicine-making]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[herbal remedies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holistic herbalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home herbalism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning herbal medicine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://everydayempowered.com.au/?p=4046</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>If you’re making herbal medicine at home and your herbal remedies aren&#8217;t working, here’s a handy checklist to go through: Are your herbs vibrantly coloured and smell good (or what they’re supposed to smell like, which sometimes isn’t “good” &#x1f602;). When you taste them, do they have flavour (whether that’s pungent, sour, bitter etc)? Are there signs of spoiling? If you’re storing herbs at home, I recommend keeping them in an airtight glass container and keep in mind, dry herbs are usually only really fresh for a year (or as short as 6 months and up to 2 years). They’re best kept in a dark cupboard that’s relatively temperature stable (but do your best and use your common sense, you also want them accessible to use, not locked up in a dungeon). It sucks to have to throw herbs out (and by that I mean compost them), but if your herbs aren’t good quality, neither are your remedies and they won’t work as effectively. 2. Are you using the right dosage? Higher doses aren’t necessarily better, but if your herbal remedies aren’t working, this might be a factor. With tinctures, it can be relatively straightforward to increase the dose by [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/7-reasons-your-herbal-remedies-arent-working/">7 reasons your herbal remedies aren’t working.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>If you’re making herbal medicine at home and your herbal remedies aren&#8217;t working, here’s a handy checklist to go through:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list" type="1">
<li><strong>Are the herbs good quality?</strong></li>
</ol>



<p>Are your herbs vibrantly coloured and smell good (or what they’re supposed to smell like, which sometimes isn’t “good” &#x1f602;). When you taste them, do they have flavour (whether that’s pungent, sour, bitter etc)? Are there signs of spoiling?</p>



<p>If you’re storing herbs at home, I recommend keeping them in an airtight glass container and keep in mind, dry herbs are usually only really fresh for a year (or as short as 6 months and up to 2 years). They’re best kept in a dark cupboard that’s relatively temperature stable (but do your best and use your common sense, you also want them accessible to use, not locked up in a dungeon).</p>



<p>It sucks to have to throw herbs out (and by that I mean compost them), but if your herbs aren’t good quality, neither are your remedies and they won’t work as effectively.</p>



<p></p>



<p>2. <strong>Are you using the right dosage?</strong></p>



<p>Higher doses aren’t necessarily better, but if your herbal remedies aren’t working, this might be a factor. With tinctures, it can be relatively straightforward to increase the dose by a few drops, to mls until you reach the higher suggested dosage range. But there are two other elements to consider:</p>



<p>The first is using enough herb material. Oftentimes you’re just not getting enough herb to make effective remedies, and this can be with a variety of preparations, such as teas, infused oils, vinegars or tinctures.</p>



<p>The second thing to think about is steep time. Chamomile can make a delightful beverage tea with a 5 minute steep, but if you really want its strong antispasmodic effects to help with period pain, you might need a 20 minute steep with up to ¼ cup of herb material.</p>



<p>Always check with a trusted herbal reference to see the safe, suggested dosage range for each herb. Keep in mind, some herbs are only to be used in low doses (although you’ll generally know that because these will often be given from a practitioner).</p>



<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="200" class="wp-image-3345" style="width: 300px;" src="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hands-mug.png" alt="hands holding ceramic mug. Why aren't your herbal remedies working? Consider timing and dosage."></p>



<p><strong>3. Are you taking the herbs regularly enough?</strong></p>



<p>Often <em>(*not always*- really depends what you’re using them for</em>) small doses of herbs taken regularly is more effective that large doses less often. For example, at the very first sign of a cold (ie within first 24 hours), I use elderberry syrup every hour before tapering off to 3-4 times day (<a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/how-to-use-elderberry-syrup/">learn more about how to use elderberry syrup effectively</a>)</p>



<p>Most remedies don’t need to be taken hourly, but this is really the art of home herbalism, and you’ll find your rhythm over time.</p>



<p>Sometimes it’s not about regularly through the day, but regularly over time. For example, many adaptogenic and immunomodulating herbs, such as astragalus or withania, have cumulative effects, meaning you need to take them regularly over time for them to be effective.</p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>4. Is this the right preparation for this herb?</strong></p>



<p>We have a wide variety of ways to work with herbs – in water, alcohol, vinegar, glycerine, honey, whole powdered herbs, in oil etc. Whilst some of these are just personal preference and what’s available, often it’s because certain chemical constituents extract better in different preparations.</p>



<p>If your herbal remedies aren&#8217;t working, then it&#8217;s really important to consider if you&#8217;re making the right preparation.</p>



<p>Even when working with the same herb, you might work with it in different ways to extract different constituents. For example &#8211; you might have heard nettle is an amazing source of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, but these minerals don’t extract well into alcohol. So if you’re using a nettle tincture you won’t get these benefits (but you’ll still get the anti-histamine actions for example). If you want the nourishing components, these extract better into vinegar or water.</p>



<p>So then you decide to make a nettle tea. Going back to the second point however, quantity of herb and steep time are both really important here.</p>



<p>Steeping a teaspoon of nettle for 5 minutes won’t give you the nutrient-dense punch you’re looking for, compared with a traditional nourishing infusion, which uses 30g of herb (per litre) with an 8 – 12 hour steep time.</p>



<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="173" class="wp-image-1994" style="width: 300px;" src="https://everydayempowered.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Cat-Green-straining-tea-in-kitchen-with-Herbal-Starter-Kit-smaller-crop.png" alt="Cat Green straining tea in kitchen. Making herbal remedy from the Herbal Starter Kit. Herbal medicine making is simple but here are 7 reasons your remedies aren't working  | Everyday Empowered"></p>



<p><strong>5. Is this the right herb for this condition or person?</strong></p>



<p>We are all different and herbs are all different. Respecting this, it doesn’t make sense that there’s JUST ONE HERB that will suit every person and every condition.</p>



<p>This nuance can be challenging when we’re used to the modern medicine take-this-pill-for-this-disease mentality. But it means we can get much more specific, personalised and effective support from our herbal remedies.</p>



<p>If your herbal remedies aren’t working, it’s important to consider the person’s constitution, the season, and herbal energetics of the both the tissue state and herb.</p>



<p>Simply put, energetics refer to whether a herb and tissue state is dry or moist, hot or cold. In general, our goal in herbal medicine is to create balance. For example &#8211; for a wet hacking cough, we’d use drying herbs, but those same drying herbs might not help, and might even aggravate, an already dry, unproductive cough.</p>



<p>Depending what’s going on, choosing the right herb for the right person might also refer to the psychological indications for particular herbs, or the overall symptoms pattern.</p>



<p>If you’re new to herbs and this seems confusing, take heart! You don’t need to know it all, or do it alone. You’ll pick things up over time, and can always work with skilled practitioners or take courses to learn. &nbsp;</p>



<p>This is really why I emphasise learning the basic pillars of herbalism so you’ve got a good baseline understanding of what to think about. It’s also why I suggest learning fewer herbs more in depth. You’ll be more likely to understand this nuance related to the particular herb and you’ve got a higher chance of using it effectively and confidently at home! (<em>Like the sound of this? <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/courses/">This is what our courses are all about &#8211; join us</a>, we&#8217;d love to support you!</em>)</p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>6. Are you addressing the root cause?</strong></p>



<p>Depending on the issue, this might be something you work with a skilled practitioner to work out, then you can continue to care for at home. Oftentime we can get caught up treating the symptoms but not the root cause. Sometimes there’s even layers to root causes. If you’re not seeing results with your home remedies, or even with practitioner-prescribed remedies, keep searching till you find what works for you!</p>



<p>Keep in mind as well, that different modalities and herbal traditions describe root causes differently.</p>



<p></p>



<p><strong>7. Herbs aren’t magic bullets and work best in tandem with core lifestyle pillars</strong></p>



<p>Herbs are incredible but they’re not magic bullets and they really do work best with a solid life-nourishing lifestyle, such as movement, laughter, enough sunlight and fresh air.</p>



<p>Sometimes the herbs are effective, but they simply need more time to work, or give our bodies more time to rest.</p>



<p>A simple example of this and the previous point about root causes is we might get caught in that recurrent cold spiral. We might find ourselves regularly reaching for our cough syrup or elderberry syrup. But in this case, you might actually need deeper immune system support, or have a vitamin/mineral deficiency you need to address. You might need a week to just sleep or perhaps you’re too socially isolated and need to make time to build stronger relationships. Health if multi-layered, and herbs work most effectively in tandem with core lifestyle pillars and addressing the root cause.</p>



<p></p>



<p>To make it easy for you, here’s your quick checklist in condensed form. If you’ve got a little herb nook in your home, feel free to write these down, so you can return to it if you need it,</p>



<p>7 reasons your herbal remedies aren&#8217;t working:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list" type="1">
<li><strong>Are the herbs good quality?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Are you using the right dosage?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Are you taking the herbs regularly enough?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Is this the right preparation for this herb?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Is this the right herb for this condition or person?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Are you addressing the root cause?</strong></li>



<li><strong>Herbs aren’t magic bullets and work best in tandem with core lifestyle pillars</strong></li>
</ol>



<p></p>



<p>Keen to make your own herbal remedies but want a bit of extra support? It&#8217;s really simple with our <strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-green-cyan-color"><a href="/herbal-starter-kits/">DIY Remedy Kits</a>. </mark></em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au/7-reasons-your-herbal-remedies-arent-working/">7 reasons your herbal remedies aren’t working.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://everydayempowered.com.au">Everyday Empowered</a>.</p>
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