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Winter cleanse
While I had some downtime at my farm, I decided to do a 24 hour fast. However, not eating at all makes me feel uncomfortable — so I made cleansing decoction and herbal bone broth. (Here is the broth recipe.) You could do this anytime, but I like it especially in winter. A cleanse from an herbal standpoint is about choosing herbs that will help support your body’s natural processes of elimination. It may also include herbs to eliminate pathogens and boost the immune system. We get rid of toxins through digestion (urination and defecation,) sweat, mucus, and other bodily secretions such as cysts. I would also add that we…
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Wild rose
I’ve been experimenting with creating woodcut inspired digital drawings of some of my favorite herbs, here’s wild rose. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about wild rose, of how she can teach us how to love our wild selves. ❤️ Many people think of romantic love when it comes to roses. As herbalists, we usually speak of wild rose as related to self-love. (Which of course spills over to others, as well!) I think of her blend of beauty and protection — flowers and thorns. She’s a boundary plant. In this vein, I remember Sleeping Beauty’s castle, surrounded by brambles. In some versions, the princess was even known as Briar…
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Herbal bone broth
There is nothing better than herbal bone broth on cold days! (You can also leave the bones out for a veggie version, of course!) I love making a big batch and keeping it in the fridge. After my morning tea, I heat up a cup of broth, add sea salt, and sip it through the morning. My whole body relaxes as the nutrients pour in. I find it extremely grounding. You can also use broth to add nutrients and depth of flavor to anything else you are cooking, for example, as a base for soups, rice, beans, or lentils. One easy idea is to save your kitchen scraps in a…
