Spring Flow

Hello Friends!

Spring is here, yes even though for those of us who live in the Northern part of Upper Michigan the snow is still falling. This is a time of year where Nature is chronically in flux, as winter/spring darkness/light are at their peak of duality, yet the earth adapts to the exterior chaos and seeds still germinate.  The bipolar weather and budding plants challenges our inner environment, and we find things like our digestive and immune systems also in flux as we try to adapt.  Learning to lean into the seasons changing by modulating our diet and lifestyle, along with proper herb support, we are able to smoothly transition and less likely to experience function disruption. TCM, Ayurveda and other ancient practices support cleansing the body to support the transition from winter to spring.

Spring is a season of birth and renewal, and this requires an element of cleansing and clearing to make room for vibrant new energy to carry us throughout the year. Spring is a time where we innately start craving lighter things, our bodies always seeking balance will try to clear out any heaviness accrued over the winter that is no longer needed.  Just as the earth is about to burst into life, you may also find pressure building within as your body seeks to move out of the more Yin, quiet, reserved, into a more Yang, expansive, growth.  This is where conscious moderation is key, for jumping too much into the Yang/Pitta/Vata, such as taking in too many raw foods and excessive exercise, can make any current issues worse, or bring on new imbalances.  This is where physical symptoms can be harsh and vary, from seasonal allergies, irritations, tension, irritability, to sluggish lethargy.

So how can herbs help here?  Herbs are a bit of a kingpin for the season changes, as they aid in removing excess, restoring function and balance.  Considering the modern American diet and lifestyle, the current state of our environment, there are very FEW people who WOULD NOT benefit from utilizing herbs during this time.  You will hear myself and other herbalists/natural & alternative practitioners vocalize the need for bitter, astringent, and pungent plants during this time.  In your diet you want to consider dark leafy greens, roots like dandelion, ginger, turmeric & burdock (gobo), as well as citrus+peels.  Bitter, pungent, and astringent are considered herbal actions, and play a vital role in how herbalists work with and create medicines, and they are vital for anyone to understand who is taking the herbs to have basic knowledge of.

Herbs have actions but Herbs are NONSPECIFIC meaning they do not operate within the constructs of western pharmaceuticals and do not have one sole intended effect, say do not force or override the bodies natural signals and functions.  So while herbs may contain anti histamine, antibiotic or anodyne (pain relieving) properties, they are much gentler, and have many other actions, as plants contain a vast diverse amount of constituents, by design to work synchronistically with other natural beings (us).  

Here are my top four herbs/herbal actions for support in the spring

*Adaptogens- As the name suggests, they help the body to adapt in demand to the various stressors of the environment.  Nature’s thermostat, the herbs modulate, turn up and down as needed.  +Ashwaghanda, Schisandra, Cordyceps, Eleuthero, Ginseng, 

*Alteratives- Support a healthy digestion, processing, and elimination.  Altering excessive or sluggish functions.  +Burdock, Cleavers, Nettles, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla,

*Astringents- Pucker up, these herbs will dry, tonify, and shrink lax, leaky tissues.  +Yarrow, Witch Hazel, Green & Black Tea, Rose Family (Raspberry Leaf, Hawthorn, Rose Hips/Flowers/leaves)

*Bitters-Rest and Digest, bitters can trigger a vagal response, meaning time to shift into parasympathetic where our body is hungry and ready for the food we are about to eat.  Bitters aid in everything from gastric secretions, to proper digestion and assimilation of nutrition, to encouraging healthy elimination by supporting the liver, kidneys and the bodies natural detoxification process and more.  +Dandelion, Burdock, Wormwood, Hops, Black Walnut, Oregon Grape, Orange Peel, Mugwort.

Some Roots Revival products for spring support: Digestive Bitters, Cleanse & Clear, Adapt Elixir, Allergy Ease, Immune Elixir, Rest & Digest tea, & Breathe Easy tea.

Get outside with proper layers, soak in the spring sunshine, notice what plants are popping up, and see how incorporating some changes, perhaps a spring cleanse can help you transition!

We had a wonderful class last weekend where we made a fun Spring Oxymel and spoke of safely and holistically cleansing to support detoxification pathways and organs. Stay tuned for future classes and opportunities to connect with me and likeminded individuals in our community.

In Light,

Melanie

Intuitive Herbalist, Holistic Health Guide

Founder, Roots Revival Herbals

B.S. Alternative Medicine