As I get older and experience more, including the realms of birth and caring for a small child, my view of western medicine has been significantly impacted. While I’ve been interested in herbal remedies and nutrition as a way to maintain health for decades now, there was always a part of me that saw them as only effective, perhaps, in prevention. But if something really happened, then a prescription from the doctor was the “real” way to cure it.
These days, I’ve developed a kind of apprehension (and at seven months pregnant, a bit of fear, to be honest) of getting caught in the maze of the medical system. It’s a place that once you check in, or at least once you venture too far in after check-in, you can never leave. One doctor, isolated in her own silo, tells you take this pill; the other doctor, isolated in his silo, tells you to take this one. Complications arise, and your given yet another prescription to address them. It can become a spiral. Nutrition is rarely mentioned. Natural support like herbs, supplements, meditation, rest and time in nature are often off the table topics. Overtreatment—a take these antibiotics “just to be on the safe side” approach—is the knee-jerk solution, as if overtreatment is always and unquestionably safe. Your problem is treated in isolation, which can easily lead to complications in other parts of the body.
The truth is, many things can be addressed with herbs and supplements, as well as items that you have in your kitchen like cranberry, vinegar and baking soda. When we use these remedies, we’re not only treating a single symptom, we’re fortifying and nourishing our whole body (hence the term holistic.) Pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, treat a symptom, almost always at the risk of causing damage to other parts of our body, and without the added benefit of nourishment and strengthening that herbs provide. Side effects for most drugs are numerous and may not even show until a year or two down the line. Too often, we’re assured a drug prescribed is completely “safe,” only to learn years later that, in fact, it wasn’t and caused serious problems (see the opioid epidemic as merely one example.)
Healing with herbs is a way of slowing down. While a popped pill works quickly, herbs take time. They ask you to be conscious and intentional. You have to dose regularly throughout the day for acute symptoms. You have to grow the plant and create the extraction, wait for at least 30 days for it to be ready; or you have to invest in purchasing tinctures or teas already prepared, and then take the time to use them regularly if you want to see results. I’ve grown to like this aspect of working with plants. It makes taking care of my family and myself an act of beauty. My herbal cupboard has become my first defense when illness or issues arise.
With all that said, there are times, to be clear, when herbs won’t work: If you get into a car accident, you’re going to be grateful for western medicine; if you get shot, God forbid, you’re going to want a doctor, not a plant; if you need surgery, a doctor is your best bet, not a flower.
But in your recovery from any of those things, herbs and plants will help to support your body’s healing, build up your blood, strengthen your immune system, and help you heal. They also connect you to nature, the slower and deeper rhythms of life, and to your ancestors, who knew how to use herbs and home remedies out of necessity.
Below I’m sharing a few of the herbs that are currently a routine part of my days. These herbs will change as my needs change; for instance, as I move closer to full term with my second pregnancy, adding in red raspberry leaf to tone my uterus and prepare for birth will become a part of my routine. In preparation for breastfeeding, to enhance my milk supply, etc., I’ll add a whole host of new herbs like Goats Rue and Fennel Seed.
Some I grow, some I purchase as bulk dried herbs and then create the extractions or tinctures myself. Either way is fine; whatever suits your lifestyle. You can also buy all of these ready-made. If I’m not growing it myself, I like to shop from Mountain Rose Herbs, but there are also small artisans making great ready-made products, such as Arielle de Martinez, my guest for Season 4, Episode 4 on Bella Figura—The Tradition of Living Beautifully. If you’re not following her on IG, check her out here. I learn so much from her posts.
Other episodes of Bella Figura that focus on the topic of natural healing include:
Season 4, Episode 8 with Jill Winger
Season 4, Episode 6 with Emilie Toups
Season 4, Episode 3 with Kari Jansen
Season 4, Episode 1 with Shiva Rose
Season 1, Episode 8 with Aimee Raupp
Season 1, Episode 7 with Chloe Garcia Ponce
Just a reminder that I’m not a doctor, and this isn’t medical advice. Before adding any of these herbs to your routine, you should talk to your doctor. There can be contraindications with medications and certain conditions, so it’s important to be fully informed before jumping in.
My Herbal Cupboard:
To strengthen overall health—Nettle, Oatstraw
For nerves and overwhelm—Lemon Balm, Reishi, Lavender, Linden
To improve hair, skin and nails—Nettle, Dandelion, Lavender
For allergies—Elderberry, Nettle
For an immune boost and for colds and other ailments—Echinacea, Elderberry
I place the following dried herbs into a large gallon mason jar every night (four generous tablespoons of each), and then fill the jar with boiled water, place the cover back on and let steep overnight. This is called an herbal extraction.
Nettle: This is one of my favorite plants to work with. Nettle is good for hair growth, lowering inflammation and is even an excellent treatment for allergies like hay fever. I’ve used nettle to clear up a stuffy nose during allergy season to great effect. Because nettle plants are packed with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium and a range of vitamins and amino acids, it’s also a great tonic to fortify your overall health.
Oatstraw: Harvested from the same plant that brings you the morning oats in your oatmeal, oatstraw is considered a nervine, which are herbs and plants that support the nervous system. Because of this, oatstraw is excellent for grounding and to help improve our response to stress and anxiety, as well as aid in sleep. Oatstraw provides minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins to nourish the whole body. It’s used as a restorative herb when you’re burnt out or depleted and to help in the prevention of such symptoms.
Lemon Balm: This perennial, a member of the mint family, has been used for centuries to uplift spirits and calm stress and anxiety. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and can help encourage better sleep.
Linden: Linden helps with sleep, stress, anxiety, nervous heartbeat or panic. It’s also used for congestion, sore throat and as an aid in clearing phlegm. I began adding it to my tea extraction when nettle proved to be a bit too drying, helping to balance the elements.
I take the following as tinctures, either homemade or store bought. Dosage varies depending on your weight and what your needs are, so do some research before you begin, but in general I take 2 dropperfuls in a mug of water for support, and 2 dropperfuls in water every two hours for acute symptoms.
Reishi: This is actually a mushroom! Reishi has been used for centuries to help induce calm. Considered an adaptogen, part of the family of herbs, plants and mushrooms that help us “adapt” to stress, as well as recover from it. Reishi is a great medicine to strengthen your stress response system. It also offers immune boosting support and contributes to overall energy and vitality.
Lavender: This beautiful flower, one of my favorites to grow, dry and tincture, is used to soothe both nerves and inflamed skin. It’s known for its calming properties, often placed in small satchels underneath bed pillows to aid in sleep. The aromatics of lavender make it a great addition to laundry, cleaning products, as well as skin care (it also possess anti-bacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties.)
Elderberry: This is a perennial bush whose flowers and berries are used both medicinally and to make liqueurs and cordials, which also contain its medicinal benefits. Where echinacea is a great choice to reach for when you feel some type of illness coming on, elderberry is the tincture to use for continued immune support and fortification.
Dandelion: Dandelion extract is great for healing skin ailments like acne or eczema. I use the whole flower—roots, stems, leaves, and yellow tops—when making a tincture. I did a whole post on Dandelion, its benefits and how to make your own tincture, which you can read here. You can follow the steps outlined in that post to make a tincture using any flower or plant.
As always if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Thanks for being here with me, truly.
xoxo,
Dolores