Unlock herbs for grounding – which means, in plain English – getting you to a place of clarity and control in times of stress.
🌱 Read on!
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Keeping ourselves grounded and focused can be hard in today’s world of endless to-do lists and responsibilities.
Yet the good news is there are many solutions to that problem.
One solution is herbs – which, to me, are one of my favorite things in the entire world.
So many herbs help us find balance and clarity in life.
From herbal teas and adaptogenic herbs that help promote overall body health to herbal supplements that enhance the immune system, the natural world provides countless options for grounding ourselves.
In this blog, you’ll read about wonderful medicinal herbs like Holy Basil, Damiana’s Gift, Yerba Santa, Lemon Balm, and essential oils.
Dive on to discover how to use herbs to reduce stress levels, regain clarity of mind, and win your day.
Note: I am not an herbalist, but I use herbs in my life and love them! All views are my personal opinion.
Herbs For Grounding
Herbs have been used to promote mental clarity and wellness for centuries, with many cultures around the world believing in the power of herbs to heal and nourish our inner being (some call it the soul.)
To get straight to the point, these are my all-time favorite herbs for their positive ‘grounding effect’, which in plain English means getting you back in the present and away from a busy, scattered mind.
Holy Basil
Holy basil, or Tulsi as it’s otherwise known, is a plant often used in Ayurvedic medicine for its balancing properties.
It has a calming effect on the nervous system, helping reduce stress and nourish overall health. Holy basil also helps to boost cognitive function, aiding concentration and alertness while promoting mental clarity.
You can make an herbal infusion out of holy basil, which is a popular way to use the herb for health purposes. It takes great and can be sweetened with a little honey if you like.
Damiana
Damiana is an herb with a history of being used as an aphrodisiac.
In men, it can increase sexual arousal, and in women, it helps regulate menstruation. This herb also has stress-relieving abilities, helping you find inner peace by calming the mind and releasing unwanted energy.
Damiana contains essential nutrients such as amino acids, vitamin C, B vitamins, and more, which also provide numerous benefits for physical health.
Lavender
Lavender is so versatile, being used in many different ways, making it an all-time top herb for many people.
You can use it fresh to decorate a table for dinner, dry it for a natural fragrance in your home, or pop the buds in a teapot and make yourself lavender tea.
It’s a calming herb, and I find it works pretty quickly – even a lavender rollerball on my wrists is a winner to bring my stress right down.
And don’t forget the essential oil uses – I love popping a few drops in my burner with some water and diffusing lavender in the home.
It’s a wonderful relaxant, and in doing so, the mind slows down, bringing the present moment into focus.
Lemon Balm
Dates back to the Middle Ages, believe it or not, when it was thought to bring good luck when placed under a pillow at night.
Lemon Balm has real calming properties that make it great for reducing stress as soon as you take it – either as a tea, a salve, or a tincture.
So, too, is lemon balm said to balance out the energy ‘centers’ in the body, which helps you ground yourself in the present moment. Using a lemon balm lotion or salve is great on the pulse points for this exact purpose.
Benefits of Herbs
For centuries, herbs have been used to treat afflictions related to the nervous system and digestive system in most cases.
Long before modern medicine came on the scene, that’s for sure; Herbalists and Ayurvedic practitioners have long touted herbs’ benefits for calming our nerves and restoring balance when we need it most.
But why do herbs work? What makes them so special?
Here’s why (but certainly not an exhaustive list)
- Many herbs have medicinal properties (of which scientists are still uncertain about the properties.)
- Herbs can be used as a culinary herb in cooking, which act on the digestive system
- Herbs help clear mental fog, likely due to their often pungent aromas.
- Herbs can be made into a cup of tea simply by stewing them for a few minutes in hot water. This is a healthy form of hydration and taking in herbal properties.
Herbal Teas
One of the easiest ways to bring herbs into your day is through drinking herbal teas.
Herbal teas are super popular to help boost overall health, and adaptogenic herbs are some of the most powerful players in this realm.
From Holy Basil to Black Pepper, Thyme, and Mint – these medicinal herbs can be consumed as tea infusions or added to smoke, or diffuser blends to improve mood and lower stress and anxiety.
Ashwagandha and Garden Sage too are examples of herbs that are particularly beneficial when supporting the body during fatigue and distress.
Here’s a simple method to make a herbal tea at home:
1. Invest in a tea strainer. I use this one
2. Take a teaspoon per cup of fresh or dry herbs and put them into a tea strainer, then sit the strainer on top of a mug or cup. You might want to add more fresh herbs if you like a stronger taste.
3. Pour on hot water (just off the boil) over the herbs. You can put water up to the rim, as usually you don’t add milk to organic herbs.
4. Steep for up to 10 minutes, then drink! Add honey if you like it sweeter.
Herbal teas offer an easy way to benefit from these plants without having to resort to supplements or tinctures – plus, they taste so good!
Whether you prefer ready-made tea bags or herbal infusions from your garden made from fresh or dried roots & leaves, there are infinite options available when it comes to incorporating herbal remedies into your daily routine.
They provide peace of mind and essential nutrients our bodies need – making them a cornerstone for good health.
Herbal Remedies For Stress Management
Reducing our stress levels doesn’t need to be complicated.
There are tons of natural, holistic remedies out there that can help us relax and unwind without the need for harsh chemicals or medications.
Herbal lattes, ground herbs in cooking, aromatics, essential oils, and herbal teas are just a few options available for naturally achieving stress relief. And the great thing is they work almost instantly in many cases.
Say you make a fresh cup of Thyme tea – one or two sips in, and you can feel that grounding effect kicking in.
As a side note, Thyme is a wonderful herb that activates the nervous system if you’re feeling sleepy or low in mood.
I make fresh thyme tea for my husband regularly – he’s recovering from a spinal cord injury and swears by the stuff for reducing spasms!
Here are even more ways you can use herbs to ground yourself:
- Herbal baths
- Herbal shower steams
- Herbal salad dressings
- Herb-infused scrambled eggs
- Herbal oil blend (mix dried herbs in olive oil and leave to infuse…)
- Herbal hair oils and shampoos
- Herbal body moisturisers
- Herbal Potpourri
Best Herbs For Brain Fog
Click to find out which herbs work best to reduce brain fog.
Summary
So there you have it!
Herbs for grounding – in a really whirlwind way, I know (with a slight bias toward herbal teas, haha)
The question is, do you feel ready to get on the herbal action wavelength?
If so, remember to start with gentle herbs first, the mints, lavenders, thymes, sages, etc, as herbs vary in potency and usage.
If you’re ever in doubt, consult an herbalist or get a good herbal medicine book and watch the doses you take.
As a finishing note, I don’t take anything in pill form when it comes to herbs simply because I don’t feel the need to.
Herbal teas work well enough for me, and I feel the benefits of those, probably due to the extra hydration but for sure also from the herbs themselves.
If you want a simple way into herbs, try making yourself a fresh mint tea by popping some mint leaves in a cup and topping it up with hot water. Mint is fabulous for the digestive tract and also to wake up the body if you’re feeling sluggish.
Let me know if you have any questions by popping a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
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