Cooling Summer Herbs

Firstly, Happy Summer SOLstice my loves !!!

Summer, for us in New England comes with an abundance of local Veggies, Fruit, Wildflowers and Herbs, so be sure to visit your local Farmers Market! . It is truly one of the most fruitful times of the year with so many things growing and the Earth is lush and filled with so much nutrients. This upcoming weekend though, A Heat wave is expected and I have Just the thing!

So, in preparation for the Heat wave; I want to share with you some Herbs that can help cool you down a bit; as well as provide additional health benefits and Hydration. You can use these herbs to make an iced tea or lemonade and stay hydrated with it all weekend! Iknow I will be!

Calendula

Calendula is an annual herb native to south central Europe and North Africa. Today, calendula is planted throughout the world. It has sunny yellow and orange flowers that open in the morning when the sun rises and close as it sets, inspiring Culpeper to call it “an herb of the sun” Indeed, calendula holds the spirit of the sun in its flowers. Note that calendula is sometimes called marigold, or pot marigold because it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages; however, it is a different species than the marigold in the genus Tagetes that is commonly sold in garden nurseries today.

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, hemostatic, lymphatic, vulnerary.

Uses: Externally, calendula has long been used to soothe and mend cuts, burns, bites, sprains, bruises, rashes, sunburns, and abrasions due to its anti- microbial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and vulnerary actions. You’ll often see calendula included as an ingredient in herb-infused oils that serve as the base for first-aid and wound salves.

Internally, calendula is taken to soothe inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, such as ulcers, esophageal irritation from gastric reflux, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a herbaceous shrub in the Malvaceae (mallow) family. It is native to North Africa and Southeast Asia and is cultivated as a perennial throughout tropical and subtropical regions and as an annual in temperate regions. There are hundreds of species of hibiscus, including the many ornamental garden hibiscus species with large, colorful blossoms. Hibiscus tea is a beloved drink in many cultures throughout the world, often prepared sweetened and with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, lemon juice, or mint. It is called “sorrel” in the Caribbean, “agua de Jamaica’ in Latin America, “karkade” in north Africa, Italy, and Russia, “arhul ka phool” in India, and “sour tea” in Iran.

Actions: Anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, hepatic, immune stimulant, refrigerant, reproductive tonic.

Uses: The sour, astringent, cooling nature of hibiscus helps to cool and regulate the body’s temperature, as well as tone and cool irritated tissue and mucous membranes throughout the digestive tract and genitourinary system. This is particularly indicated in the case of overheated states and inflammation in the body, such as irritation in the liver, stomach, bladder, urinary tract, uterus, or colon. Hibiscus is also clearing, helping to move stuck mucus in the lungs and energy in the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and reproductive systems.

On an energetic level, hibiscus is a very sensual, pleasureful plant. Its diuretic properties encourage movement and release in the sacral region while its pleasurable nature encourages receptivity and helps one open to intimate connection.

Plantain

Plantain has literally followed on the heels of colonization around the world, earning common names such as Englishman’s foot or white man’s footsteps, owing to its broad dispersal and naturalization concurrent with colonization, as well as its resilient ability to thrive despite being downtrodden. There are more than 250 species within the Plantago genus around the world, and all are said to be edible or safe for consumption if not always palatable

Actions: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, astringent, demulcent, vulnerary

Uses:

Plantain is a premiere vulnerary herb valuable for soothing both internal and external tissues of the body. It is a must-have for any herbal first-aid kit for its use in cooling the inflammation and sting of bites, cuts, and scrapes, as well as to help to draw out slivers, splinters, and stingers. Plantain may also be used to soothe and cool the pain, itching, or burning symptoms of poison ivy, nettle stings, and sunburn. The young flower stalks are also sometimes sautéed and eaten, and the seeds from mature seed stalks are edible as well, either raw, ground into flour and baked, or prepared as a beverage or porridge.

Try Out my SOL TEA Recipe this weekend and let me know in the comments how it is!

SOL TEA RECIPE

Ingredients

1 cup dried red raspberry leaf 1⁄2 cup dried hibiscus 1⁄2 cup dried rose petal 1⁄4 cup dried orange peel

A sprinkle of Calendula Flowers

Directions

• Mix the herbs together and store in a labeled, airtight container for up to 1 year.

• To make herbal sun tea, add 1⁄2-1 cup of the herb blend to a 1-quart glass canning jar.

• Add room-temperature water, covering the herbs and filling the jar to the top. Cap the jar and let it sit in the sun from morning until late afternoon.

• Strain herbs through a layered cheesecloth—composting the herbs and reserving the liquid in a clean jar.

• Sweeten tea if desired and enjoy! (Extra sun tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.)