Making herbal infusions is an easy, affordable, and fun way to infuse (get it? hehe!) your day with wellness!
Materials:
1 wide-mouthed quart-sized Mason jar
boiling water
herbs of your choice!
How to do it:
Place your chosen herbs into your Mason jar. Place up to a total of 1 cup of herbs in your jar. The more herbs you include, the stronger and possibly more bitter your brew will be, so start with smaller amounts and build until you have the right flavor and strength.
Pour the boiling water into the jar, covering the herbs and taking care not to burn yourself! Screw the lid on and let it steep overnight. Strain when you are ready to drink it, and add honey and/or lemon to taste. Enjoy throughout the following day!
Some herbs to consider in your infusions during the winter:
astragalus root: builds Qi and supports immunity
burdock root: has a wide variety of uses!
cinnamon sticks: promotes circulation, regulates blood sugar, tastes awesome, and can help fight off the early stages of a cold
clove: warms the interior, promotes circulation
ginger: promotes digestion, reduces nausea, can help fight off the early stages of a cold, warms the interior
roses buds: lifts the spirits, promotes compassion and self love
stinging nettle leaves: has a wide variety of uses!
And so many more!
Additional reading/considerations:
1. Check out this blog post from Susan Weed on making herbal infusions: http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm
2. HAVE FUN! Getting to know and live with herbs is a joyous and empowering process. Let your knowledge of herbs that work with your wellness goals build over time, like a friendship.
3. Get creative! Curious about an herb’s properties as they manifest in your body? Make an infusion! As you sip it throughout the day notice how your body responds. If you have any allergic or adverse reaction, discontinue use immediately.
4. Build community! Make and share your infusions with friends and and loved ones!
5. Source your herbs from a trusted place if you live in the city. Be very careful and consult a trusted human or written guide if you are foraging for your herbs. The folks at Sage love Mountain Rose Herbs for stuff we cannot find at the Dill Pickle or our local botanica.
6. Reach out! Email Sage if you have questions or want more suggestions and set up a herbal consultation for an in-depth strategy session.