PRIME LIVING
Spring into action: herbs for energy & vitality
C arissa W ills D e M ello
Spring: the time when everything is green and growing. You too may soon feel your “sap rising!” When the temperatures start to lift and the days begin to lengthen, so too does our desire to move, create, grow, and play.
Herbs are well-suited to support your transition into the season of rebirth. Humans have long leaned on our plant neighbors to help our bodies and minds adjust from winter stagnation to spring movement. And of course, the energy to engage with an awakening world is on all of our minds! There are a plethora of stimulating herbs that we can turn to in such times. Herbs generally work to increase our energy by activating the inner vitality of our body, through nourishment, warmth, and circulation. This is quite unlike the common cultural concept of “stimulation,” the forcing of energy expenditure that we may not have to begin with! This type of stimulation (read: coffee) can actually quickly deplete, exhaust, and even extinguish our inner vitality. We’ve all been there!
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But have no fear: there are many gently energizing herbs that do in fact cultivate vitality naturally, restoring our energy reserves and cultivating resilience over time! So which herbs can we turn to, to energize our bodies and boost our minds? Here are a few easy to access favorites:
Nettles (Urtica dioica) Most of us know nettles by their itchy sting. This native weed grows wild along old fields, paths, and abandoned farms, which means that it is abundant here
M arch /A pr il 2021
in New England, and quite easy to get your hands on! Nettles are a nutrient powerhouse, containing vitamins (A, B, C, K), minerals (iron, calcium, silicon, potassium), flavanoids, and even proteins! Tradition and science alike point to nettles for their value in relieving musculoskeletal inflammation and providing valuable nutrition as a wild food. By deeply nourishing our bodies (everything from our bones to our livers), nettles over time can play an important role in building our overall energy levels. A nourished body is an energized body! Enjoy nettles daily as a rich tea – steep 4 tbsp (dried or fresh) in a quart of hot water and let it steep overnight. Just make sure to wear gloves while harvesting nettles – that is unless you want to give “urtification” a shot. It’s an old practice of relying on the Nettles sting itself to stimulate blood flow and clear congestion. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!
Sassafras This iconic mittenleaved tree has long been utilized as a “spring tonic” for
