Spring Re-Set Tea: Detox and Nourish

Thank you to everyone who participated in Rootlight Collective's first ever Spring Re-Set Event, a one-day mini-retreat. I enjoyed meeting new friends and also the opportunity to teach about healing herbs. My session was a quick 40 minutes and it all went by in a flash. Below is an outline of the herbs I shared, but first, here is the recipe for the tea we sampled.

Spring ReSet Tea: Detox and Nourish

2 parts Lemonbalm

1 part Dandelion root

1 part Nettle leaf

1 part Oat straw

Cover 1 heaping tsp of herb mix with 1 cup boiling water. Steep covered for 10 minutes. Drink hot or room temperature. Drink one to three cups daily.

If you're ordering bulk herbs with which to make this tea, make sure they're "cut and sifted" because these herbs are also sold powdered. If you're buying locally, bulk herbs are available through me (email me becki@layerberia.com), at Natural Grocers on Morrison, and at Valley Star Fruit & Market. Remember, cut and sifted herbs! And organic is a good idea too.

For my presentation I selected herbs that matched the intention of our mini-retreat, "Let go of what's heavy so you can step into what's new." The first three herbs I introduced are herbs for detox and cleansing: Dandelion root, Schisandra berry and Sarsaparilla root.

1. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)

   Detoxifying to the liver, herbalism has varied uses for the root, leaf, flower and juice. Look to Dandelion root for improved bile flow, lowering liver enzymes and improving digestion.

   
   

2. Schisandra berry (Schisandra chinensis)

Called the 5-flavor berry (it tastes salty, sour, sweet, bitter and acrid) it is an excellent herb in seemingly unrelated conditions such as insomnia, liver disease, weakness, diarrhea, fatigue, depression and exhaustion.

3. Sarsaparilla root (Smilax ornata)

An alterative cleansing herb, it works by affecting three interrelated systems: immunity, lymph and skin and is often used in rebalancing hormones and reducing nerve pain.

The remaining herbs I spoke about circulate the heart energy, calm the spirit and relieve anxiety all while nourishing, relaxing and repairing the nervous system.

4. Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis)

   Promotes rest and clear thinking while calming and soothing frayed nerves. In this way it acts to help us birth our creativity and intentions.

   
   

5. Wild Oat straw (Avena fatua/Avena sativa)

   Oats in general, whether as a food or a tonic, help to nourish our endocrine system and feed our nervous tissue.

   
   

6. Nettles leaf (Urtica dioica)

   A wise herbalist once said, "When in doubt, use Nettles." It is the ultimate Spring tonic, filled with minerals, chlorophyll and all the green noise our systems crave.

Please feel free to reach out if you have questions. Email me at becki@layerberia.com.