by Jersey Griggs

Are you normally hot or cold? Is your skin dry or moist? Are you more prone to anxiety or depression?

You may be asked these questions when you visit a clinical herbalist or an Ayurveda practitioner. Understanding your body’s tendencies is key to discovering your energetic constitution, or in the language of Ayurveda, your dosha.

Ayurveda — the ancient sister science of yoga —  does not subscribe to a one-size-fits-all attitude. Each dosha (vata, pitta, kapha) is comprised of different energetic forces that make up a person’s constitution, also known as prakriti. When a body is in balance, all three doshas are in equilibrium. When a body is out of balance, one or more of the doshas may be in excess.

In order to bring healing to the body, Ayurveda requires a balance of opposite energetics, which can be achieved through the use of herbs. A cup of chamomile tea might ground the anxious energy of vata, while peppermint can provide stimulation for a sluggish kapha.

Not sure which dosha(s) you are? Take a quiz and then read on to discover the best herbs for your dosha.

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VATA

Vata is the dosha of movement.  Do you have a friend who walks and talks fast, is a bit distracted and is always late? Chances are, your friend is vata. Vatas are creative and spontaneous, but they’re also plagued by anxiety and worry. As a result, they tend towards digestive upset, constipation, and bloating. As they’re typically cold and dry, vatas respond well to herbs that are warming and moistening.

Ginger
Ginger is a warming herb and perfect for the colder tendencies of vata. Fresh ginger promotes circulation and will warm a vata’s cold extremities. Dried ginger is also warming, but this action is directed toward’s the body’s core, thereby improving digestion. Regardless of whether it’s fresh or dried, the grounding energy of ginger is ideal for pacifying vata.

Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a unique herb in that it is both warming and cooling. Initially warming, it is excellent for a stagnant digestive system. It also works to calm the nervous system and gently sedates any anxiety that may be caused by excessive vata.

Chamomile
Chamomile is an excellent herb for all ages and doshas but is especially soothing for vatas. A natural relaxant, chamomile is an age-old remedy for calming the nerves. It also supports the digestive system and can relieve gas or bloating, both common ailments of the vata dosha.

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PITTA

Pitta is the dosha of transformation and is often represented by fire. While pittas have strong digestion, they are prone to heartburn, upset stomach, and skin problems. Do you have a type-A, super-smart, and organized friend who tends to be a bit competitive? Say hello to pitta. Pittas are hot, oily, and sharp and they benefit from cooling and drying herbs that calm their fire.

Rose
Rose is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for pitta and a lovely herb for bringing this dosha back into balance. The petals of a rose can be used to make teas and tinctures, and when used as an ingredient in skin care, rose tones the skin and alleviates redness. Rose is also a calming herb, both physically and emotionally, and can be used to support the circulation and cardiovascular system of an imbalanced pitta.

Linden
Linden is another wonderful herb to support cardiovascular health. As both a cooling and relaxing herb, it soothes the fires of pitta and is comforting for the emotional heart. When aggravated, a pitta may be plagued by perfectionism or competitiveness. Fortunately, the nervine action of linden helps to soothe any anxiety or agitation that may promote such behaviors.

Dandelion
Dandelion, a well-known liver tonic, is also ideal for the pitta dosha. Pitta governs the functioning of the liver. When your liver is overtaxed, your body may react with rashes, inflammation, and skin breakouts — all signs of excess pitta. In response, dandelion tones and rejuvenates the liver, and as both a cooling and drying herb, it is able to pacify pitta.



KAPHA

Kapha is the dosha of structure and stability. People with predominant kapha doshas are often very grounded and make for loyal friends and trusted confidantes. Do you have a friend who is stable and nurturing, who cares for you through thick and thin? That is the beauty of kapha. On the flip side, kaphas can be slow-moving and stubborn and tend towards weight gain, water retention, and congestion. As kaphas are moist and cold, they find balance in herbs that are drying, warming, and tonifying.

Peppermint
Peppermint is both a warming and cooling herb and surprisingly enough, kapha benefits from both of these actions. For sluggish and tired kaphas, peppermint is uplifting and stimulating. It also thins mucus and reduces phlegm in the body, thereby aiding the congestion brought on by excess kapha.

Tulsi
Also known as “Holy Basil,” tulsi is revered in Ayurveda, often being referred to as “the queen of herbs.” Indeed, tulsi can be an extremely effective herbal remedy and is ideal for kaphas who need stimulation. A mood elevator, a cup of tulsi tea will aid kaphas when they are feeling blue or particularly stagnant.

Sage
Warming, drying, and tonifying, sage is the perfect herb for kapha types. When excess kapha increases mucus, sage is an excellent decongestant for the lungs and sinus tracts. Plus, sage moves heat and blood throughout the body, which can motivate the sluggishness brought on by too much kapha.

Jersey Griggs is a freelance writer and editor for hire. A student of both Ayurveda and herbalism, Jersey was first introduced to these concepts when she received her 200-hour yoga certification in 2015. Since then, she has used both modalities as a way to achieve wellness in body and mind and has developed a particular interest in growing her own herbs for healing. She currently lives in Portland, Maine with her husband and pup. To learn more about Jersey, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.

​Patrice Green is the founder of Green Aromatics, a holistic practice offering education and consultations in many healing modalities. Certified as both a clinical herbalist and aromatherapist, Patrice is also passionate about Reiki and the healing properties of flower essences.  She incorporates energy healing and shamanic techniques in her session work with clients and is also an Animal Reiki practitioner.  Patrice maintains a mentorship practice with master healer Catherine Miller, which began in 2010.  Available for workshops or consultations, she is also a regular contributor to the Herbstalk blog and volunteers at Wolf Hollow in Ipswich, an educational sanctuary dedicated to the preservation of the wolf in the wild through education and exposure.

What is Nettle?

The arrival of spring calls the lovely rebirth of the Nettle plant. This abundant (and edible!) herb
is a member of the Urticaceae plant family. Nettle grows widely in nitrogen rich soils -- found in
both the United States and dispersed throughout Europe. Although painful to the touch, when
used internally, nettle is a gentle healer for various ailments.

What are the benefits of Nettle?

Nettle has a plethora of vitamins and minerals housed within its green leaves. It’s commonly
known to herbalists as a revitalizing plant -- used to “revive” the entire body and increase organ
functionality. In particular, nettle works to improve daily kidney, liver, and stomach functions.

For many, nettle has been used as an essential herb for stress, fatigue, and burnout. Herbalists
recommend nettle for prolonged stress since the plant works profoundly on the adrenal system.
Nettle is also the perfect herb for treating seasonal allergy symptoms - such as runny nose,
itching, and allergy-related headaches due to its natural anti-histamine property.

Nettle is known as a “super herb” regarding its ability to help women at every stage of life.
Specifically, it helps women combat fatigue caused by low iron. For expecting mothers, nettles
provide high amounts of Vitamin K to prevent blood clots from pregnancy. Once the child is
born, taking nettle supplements increases the supply of a mother’s breast milk. The plant
provides deep nutrition for both the newborn baby and the mother’s health.

How do you take Nettle?

The way nettle is taken depends on personal preference. The most common ways are teas,
tinctures, and herbal capsules. Many herbalists will also incorporate nettle into their daily meals
(via soups, sauces, or infused vinegars) for the best assimilation of the plant’s vitamin and
mineral content. As a food-grade plant, nettle is gentle enough for people of all ages and
constitutions to use in moderation.

Note: Fresh nettle leaves will sting upon contact. This property is deactivated with drying or
cooking, so have no fear!

If you are feeling adventurous and want to make a healthy green smoothie with foraged nettle,
try this recipe during the upcoming spring months:  
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• Half a cup of fresh nettle leaves (you’ll need to wear gloves to harvest them!)
• Half of an organic cucumber
• One large banana
• Half cup of organic sliced pineapple
• Two cups of organic coconut water (or regular water)
• Half an avocado
  
  

After carefully collecting your fresh nettle leaves, you’ll need to blanch them quickly in hot water
to deactivate the sting in their leaf hairs. Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop the clean leaves
in, allowing them to cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir frequently. Strain out the leaves and add them,
along with the rest of the ingredients, to the blender. Puree and drink!

Marissa has been drawn to the world of aromatics and plants since she was a child. Certified in aromatherapy, Reiki, and meditation, she actively changes lives using these healing practices. Additionally, she is a holistic life coach, and works towards helping others heal while simultaneously getting in touch with their spiritual side. As Herbstalk's Marketing Manager, Marissa draws upon years of experience to oversee vendor relations, event management, and marketing campaigns. As a longtime attendee and member of the Herbstalk community, she is beyond thrilled to be a part of the team! 

Rachel Delphine Berndt is a Bioregional Clinical Herbalist in Des Moines, Iowa. She is the owner of The Potager, an herbalism practice that offers hands-on workshops and intensive herbalism courses, educational wellness consultations and high-quality bioregional remedies. Rachel is sincerely passionate about teaching herbalism to others and has had the great honor of presenting at the Good Medicine Confluence and the Midwest Women's Herbal Conference. She also loves to write and you can find her herbal musings featured in publications such as Plant Healer Magazine.  ​

This time of year can be both so fun, and so stressful. We might feel really excited about gifts for loved ones, and seeing friends, and celebrations -- but there's also the stress of the hustle and bustle, and the sometimes complicated emotions that can go along with complicated family relationships.

Fortunately, there's a sweet herbal remedy for both of those things!

Elixirs are a blend of something sweet plus a tincture. You can use any sweet thing, be it a plain simple sugar syrup, maple syrup, honey, or glycerin -- but my favorite is herbal infused honey. They're easy to make, they're easy to keep with you on the go, and they even make great gifts -- you can make one big batch and presto! You've got a gift everyone will love, and an ally to lean on when you're feeling stressed!

To make an elixir, you'll first need to choose the herbs you want to work with. You can choose any of your favorites -- nearly any herb goes well with a bit of honey! -- but here are some suggestions:

• Chamomile, Sage, and Tulsi: to keep you calm and positive even when your schedule feels completely overwhelming
  
  
• Lemonbalm, Hawthorn, and Basil: to help you stay calm and cool even if you have conflicting emotions or sadness about your relationships with family members or loved ones
  
  
• Sage, Tarragon, and Catnip if nervousness and anxiety in social situations makes you want to just pretend you're sick and stay home
  
  
• St. Johnswort, Orange Peel, and Ginger if you need a little help digesting rich holiday meals or complex emotions

Once you've chosen a formula, you need to figure out which is the tincture part, and which is the honey part. This is pretty easy, especially this time of year, because in order to make infused honey, you must use fresh herbs -- honey won't extract dry herbs. But Sage, Tarragon, Ginger root, and Basil are easy to get your hands on at your local health food store, and you will probably find others there to choose from as well.

To make an infused honey, just fill a jar at least half full with the fresh herb of your choice. (If you choose Ginger or other roots, make sure to chop them up or slice them first.) Pour honey in to cover them, and put the lid on. Now just wait for one to two weeks - you'll see the plant matter sort of wilt in the honey, and you'll notice that the honey becomes thinner - that's because it's absorbing the water from the plants, and all the goodness that comes with it. When you remove the herbs from the honey, you can use them in a cup of tea - anything left in them will come out in the tea water, plus the honey still clinging to them will sweeten your drink!

Next, you'll need a tincture. It's not cheating to purchase a tincture ready made! And especially because tincturing usually takes a month, you might need your tincture to be ready faster than that. No problem! Check out the Herbstalk vendors list for some great product makers, or order it from Mountain Rose or HerbPharm -- it's totally ok!
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But if you have the time to make it yourself, it's easy: just fill a jar with the dry or fresh herb you want to tincture, and then pour in enough vodka or brandy to completely cover the herb. Cover it, and shake it once or twice a day for a month - presto! A tincture! You can get fancy and use rum if you prefer, especially if you're going for heavier flavors like Cardamom or Cinnamon - really any 80 proof alcohol will do! But vodka is flavor-neutral, so it's usually our standard: that way you all the plant flavor comes through. If you prefer not to work with alcohol, you can tincture in vinegar instead. (When you blend vinegar and honey together, it's not called an elixir anymore, it's called an oxymel, which is also fun to say!)

Once you have your infused honey and your tincture(s), the last step is to simply mix them together! I like to put in equal parts alcohol and honey, but if that is too sweet for your taste, you can use less honey. 

So if, for example, you have a tincture of Chamomile, a tincture of Tulsi, and a Sage infused honey, you could put in 50% honey, 25% Chamomile, and 25% Tulsi. Or go crazy and put 33% of each one! The beauty of herbalism is that there's plenty of room for experimentation. 

And if that feels a little too free-form, don't worry - there's an app for that! We teach herbalism online by video, so that you can learn when it's convenient for you. The Herbalism 101 bundle includes videos covering more than 85 different herbs close-up and in-depth, as well as step-by-step instructions showing you how to make all the different kinds of herbal products and remedies. You can watch it anytime, on any device connected to the internet - you can even watch it in your kitchen while you make your herbal goodies right along with us! And there are weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask us all your herby questions, plus a discussion thread you can type your questions into next to every video. 

Happy elixir creating!

Katja Swift has been teaching herbalism and practicing as a clinical herbalist since 1996. In 2011, she and her husband Ryn Midura founded the CommonWealth Center for Holistic Herbalism, a vitalist school with a three-year clinical training program. In addition to this program, they offer a one-year community herbalist program and community classes and workshops. Katja serves as adjunct faculty at MCPHS University and Northeastern University, and is also trained as a street medic and Wilderness First Responder. Learn more about her work and online herbal classes here.

by Josia DeChiara

Back in September 2017, I decided to do some googling to find out what other organizations around the Somerville area were involved in urban farming and gardening work. I stumbled upon the Herbstalk website, began talking to Steph about various ways the two organizations could work together, and the rest is history!

Groundwork Somerville is an environmental justice nonprofit based out of Union Square, whose mission is to create a cleaner, greener, healthier, more equitable Somerville. Our programs fall into three main categories: Youth Programs, Food and Farms, and Sustainable Environment. Within the Youth Programs, we have our Green Team and the Schoolyard Gardens.

The Green Team works on projects in urban agriculture, environmental justice, and civic engagement. Green Team Members develop leadership and job skills while building a team and serving their community. The Green Team grows the leadership potential of Somerville youth to work for environmental and social justice.

​Our Schoolyard Gardens program brings year-round garden-based education to children from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Groundwork Somerville manages gardens at all nine of the city’s public elementary and middle schools, a public charter school, and a public library.  In both in-school and after-school programs, children learn to plan, plant, tend, harvest, and cook food from their own school gardens.

What is the main focus of your work within the realm of herbalism?

Wild plants found on our local landscapes. Teaching people to use what is in their place as opposed to importing non-native plants from around the world. Bringing in plants from around the world to use for healing is a step in the right direction but it is still imposing our will on the landscape and it is still a reliance on industry. I like to foster (to the extent possible) learning to use what grows in your bioregion.

What challenges did you face when you first started?

There were a lot of challenges discerning myth from lore from evidenced-based research and what the value of each was.  Finding mentors who could share their expertise and experience was also difficult.

Where do you see the future of herbalism going in the next few years?​

Highly regulated and likely prohibited in some realms with people becoming more and more afraid of allowing people to practice healing in their own families and communities.   This is not a vision I wish for, but based on my experiences, I am fearful of things continuing to trend in this direction.
 
​Do you have a favorite plant or two at the moment?

Whatever I am eating at the moment, so currently, wood nettle (Laportea canadensis). Or maybe black locust as two family members have bows made out of this tree.

What advice would you give to budding herbalists?

Practice the medicine on yourself.
 
Are there any non-herbal hobbies or interests that you love doing?

We practice herbalism to have medical sovereignty but we want sovereignty in all areas of our life … so we gather our own food, we make some of our own clothing, we craft our own hunting weapons, and so on. 
 
Any guilty pleasures you’d like to share?

I guess California bay laurel nuts because they come from across the continent.  But they are as close to chocolate as I have had from a wild plant in North America.
 
Finally, what would be your top five deserted island herbs? (the only herbs you could have around while stuck on a deserted island) 

Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), and hemlock reishi (Ganoderma tsugae).

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), is often called holy basil, an herb that has been used for thousands of years in India treating colds, coughs and flu. It cleanses the respiratory system, relieves gas and is a rich source of an essential oil that eliminates bacteria, fungi and parasites.

In Ayurvedic medicine, it is considered holy because the plant is an incarnation of the goddess Tulsi who offers divine protection. Many Indians have a home alter with worship ceremonies dedicated to holy basil, using tulsi with reverence and making meditation beads from the woody stalks. Tulsi is an essential element of the worship of Vishnu, Krishna, Rama and Lakshmi. It is often planted in the middle of the central courtyard of Hindu houses.

Now found growing worldwide, holy basil is a woody shrub about 18 inches high with oval, serrated leaves and colors ranging from light green to dark purple, depending on the variety. The flowers are lavender and the fruit is composed of rust colored nuts.

In traditional systems of medicine, different parts of tulsi — the leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even the whole plant — have been recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever, snake bites and scorpion stings.

​It’s also an adaptogenic herb that balances stress and many herbalists recommend it for daily consumption. In India it is often used as a substitute for coffee.
​
Tulsi can be used to garnish food and sauces, as a tea, powder, supplement, juice, or essential oil. Its leaves are used in many food recipes. It may slow blood clotting as a possible side effect.

I just had a cup of fragrant holy basil tea and it makes me feel wholesome. Why not take a break now and have a cup to relax yourself?

Learn what’s it like to be a peacemaker with strength!



References:
https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-holy-basil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocimum_tenuiflorum
https://draxe.com/holy-basil-benefits/