A category such as food herbs is deeply rooted. These herbs are an important part of the herbal medicine community and your body will thank you for incorporating them into your routine.
What is a nutritious herb and how are they different from any other herb? The answer is simple: nutritional herbs contain large amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Believe it or not, dietary spices can also contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates; the daily necessities that our body needs. There are so many wonderful food herbs to choose from, but I’ll highlight a few of my favorites.
Nettle
Nettle (Urtica Dioica) is a nutritious herbal powerhouse. For some it can be an eyesore as it looks a bit like a weed. Many people would pass by Nettle without realizing the beauty, qualities and benefits this herb has to offer. Nettle is rich in vitamins A, B, C and K. It is also a source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. This mineral-rich herb has an affinity with our nervous system and can help us stay calm in hectic times. Moreover, Nettle comes to the rescue in times of seasonal change. It is known to support a healthy histamine response. Histamine is responsible for communicating when an outside irritant causes an imbalance in our body. When our histamine response is triggered, we may experience watery/itchy eyes, runny/stuffy noses, sneezing, etc. Seasonal stressors like pollen, cotton, pet hair and dander can make it really hard to want to be outside. At these times, taking nettle can be helpful in supporting our body’s healthier response to outside irritants so we can enjoy the outdoors with ease.
One of the best ways to consume nettle is through tincture, as our bodies will absorb the plant compounds more quickly and we may feel relief faster. WishGarden includes Nettle in our Deep Stress Adrenal Rescue with Ashwagandha and Kick-Ass Allergy Seasonal Rescue formulas.
Red clover
As part of the Pea family, Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) is known to work its magic in a variety of needs, taking into account all its nutritional values. Red Clover has been available as animal feed for years. From a spiritual perspective, Red Clover is known among Druids to help ward off evil spirits. Traditionally it has also been used for respiratory health for many years. It has an expectorant effect and helps the body remove excess mucus from the bronchioles. It also supports detoxification and helps your body retain fluid.
Red Clover can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, whether as capsules, tea or tinctures. You’ll find Red Clover in our Respiratory Tonic formula, which can be incorporated into your daily routine to promote healthy oxygenation and respiratory function.
An important note to make when harvesting the herb is to make sure you avoid any plant material that appears brown. This is an indication that the plant material has oxidized and lost its nutritional value.
Oat straw
Oat straw has been a popular grain for 3,000 years.Avena Sativa) is best known for its use as a seed for horses. However, as time travels, the medicinal benefits of oat straw have become widely known. Today, oat straw is valued for its amazing restorative properties. In fact, this herb contains vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as B vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium. In herbal medicine, oat straw is believed to support mood, healthy sleep patterns, and times of worry. The herb is most effective when used as a tonic, or in other words, regularly over a period of time. Oat straw helps nourish our nervous system, especially those severely depleted by stress and exhaustion. Oat straw has many advantages. In some cases, you can even use oat straw for your skin, which is found in many body care products.
A great way to get the minerals and nutrients from oat straw is to prepare a nutritious tea. Nutritional tea should be steeped for approximately eight hours to ensure the minerals are fully extracted.
Here is one of my favorite recipes for nutritious tea:
- Add equal parts dried oat straw, nettle, red clover, Reishi mushroom, hawthorn berries and a dash of dried Stevia leaf to a French press.
- Pour in hot water and leave it on the counter overnight.
- Drink warm or iced upon waking for a flood of minerals, nutrients, and heart and immune support to start your day right!
Taylor Marie Fleshman is an aspiring herbalist. She is currently taking courses at Herbalism Roots in Denver, Colorado. Her goal is to educate her community about the power behind medicinal herbs and the importance of staying connected to Mother Nature. She works as a Customer Journey Representative here at WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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