Support Your Adrenals for Optimal Summertime Fun!

Quite apparently, many of you are hungry for more information on herbal medicine, a wonderful thing for sure! I have received more comments on my article “How to Make Herbal Infusions” than any other I’ve written. So here you are, plant lovers, some herbal goodness….

The sun is shining and warming us all to the core, inspiring a full fledged summer fever! People everywhere are crawling out of their winter caves, and socializing in high gear. Let’s support this bounty of energy with some basic lifestyle guidelines and some herbal adrenal support, so we can keep playing without exhausting ourselves.

The adrenal glands are the powerhouses of our nervous system, responsible for making and storing certain hormones involved in our bodies stress response. In our modern day society, we are assaulted with an abundance of stimulation from the moment our loud alarm clocks jolt us out of slumber, to the minute our heads hit the pillow to retire. This low (or sometimes high) level of stimulation results in chronic stress, which eventually weakens the adrenal gland function leaving us with an inability to properly handle stressful situations. Whether the stress comes from disease, injury or emotional trauma, we find ourselves in this depleted state and even a small stressor can feel like a disaster.

So, how do we strengthen adrenal function?

  1. Eat – a nutrient dense diet, suited to our individual needs.
  2. Rest – well.
  3. Move – the body.
  4. Take – adrenal supportive herbs.

Herbs! One category of herbs that are heavy hitters in the adrenal support world is called adaptogens. Adapatogens are herbs that help our bodies adapt. They guide our bodies to react properly to stressful situations. Instead of automatically going into flight or fight mode, at the drop of a hat, adaptogens invite our adrenals and other body systems to stay cool and collected. Thus we waste less energy, and experience less stress and anxiety.

Some of my favorite adaptogen herbs include: Holy Basil Leaf, Oat seed, Rhodiola Root, Ginseng (Asian and American) Root, Eleuthero Root, Licorice Root, and Schizandra Berry. These plants can be taken in a liquid alcohol or glycerite extract (tincture), a water extract (infusion or decoction), or as capsules. Depending on the plant as well as the part used, one form may be superior to the others. While all of these herbs fall into the adaptogen category, they also have other properties as well, and to choose the best option, it’s advisable to consult with a practitioner before taking a new supplement.
Call or email me (971-313-4747) to set up a consultation to learn how to optimize your adrenal function, and your fun-in-the-summer-time.
Be well,
Emily Light

Springtime Digestion and Detox Organ Support

Spring is in the air, whether it’s a brief ray of sun carrying with it the promise of warmth, or a breeze with a lingering hope of a lazy afternoon picnic, the season is shifting, and the body is following suit.

Springtime is optimal for supporting the body’s detox organs and giving the digestive system a bit of a break. The colder months are fading away, as is our need to insulate and hibernate. The body is built in a way that allows for natural cleansing to take place continually, however, these processes can be enhanced through proper food and herb choices. An intelligently designed, gentle program to inspire thorough elimination of wastes, resting and rebuilding can be just the thing that’s needed to rouse you from your hibernation and invite your bright and sunny self to shine. For individual guidance, please contact me to set up an appointment.

Even though every body is unique, there are some general guidelines and considerations for spring time support. Think green, think bitter, and think lighter.

GREEN: Spring greens such as swiss chard, beet greens and dandelion greens are jam packed with essential nutrients such as beta-carotene, calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamin C, as well as chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plant cells. Chlorophyll is considered a “blood builder” and “blood oxygenator” as it contains a similar structure to hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying protein found in blood.

BITTER: The bitter flavor is a useful stimulator of the digestive tract, inviting more digestive fluid secretions, balanced peristalsis, and encouragement of downward flowing energy, which is a good thing when it comes to digestion! The bitter flavor is also an effective liver supporter, one of our major detox organs. Herbs such as Dandelion root, Burdock root, Yellowdock root, and Milk Thistle seed are tonics best taken daily to enhance liver function. Burdock and Dandelion roots are also used as kidney medicine, and Yellowdock root for colon health.

LIGHTER: By consuming less food overall, coupled with an increase in consumption of more fruits and veggies, and depending on one’s constitution, perhaps more raw, the digestive system can take some much needed R & R. As the colder months fade away, so does our need for our wintertime diet of rich, and warming foods.

As the days grow longer and the diet transitions, pay attention to the qualities of the mind and subtle, or energetic body. When we tune in and appreciate the gifts of each season, we can find an easy rhythm of living throughout the entire year.

As always, please check with your practitioner or with me to consider any possible contraindications before beginning a new diet, supplement or herb protocol. For more information regarding the best diet or herb choice for you, contact me via email to set up an appointment for a consultation.

The Power Of Herbal Infusions

It’s that time again, where the air turns crisp, and then very crisp and damp if you live in the Northwest! What a wonderful inspiration to find nourishment through our green friends, in the form of a warm cup of tea.

The art of tea preparation can be a simple pleasure to engage the senses and the mind in a ritual of nurturance. When using the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, such as white, green, or fermented (black) tea, a short steep is required ranging from seconds to several minutes. Proper water temperature is another factor to consider. I will dive into the specifics of this another time. When using an herb to make tea, a short steep of 15 minutes in a covered vessel, will allow only some of the constituents in the plant material to be released into the water. A short steep works best with volatile oil rich plants such as peppermint or chamomile. This is the most gentle form of herbal medicine. Other options for preparing herbs in a water extraction include infusions (long steep) and decoctions (gently simmered). These are great preparation methods to allow more constituents to be extracted into the water menstruum.

Herbs can be a dense source of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and infusions and decoctions are perfect choices if you want these goodies in your tea. To make an infusion, place one ounce of herb in a quart jar, boil water, pour over the herb, and then cover the jar and let sit on the counter overnight. Strain in the morning and store in the refrigerator for up to two days, drinking a cup at a time, preferably warmed. To make a decoction, take an ounce of herb, place in a glass or stainless steel pot, pour one quart of water over the top, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and enjoy! This tea can also be stored for up to two days in the refrigerator.
Some of my favorite mineral rich daily tonic herbs include Stinging Nettle, Oatstraw Green Tops, Red Raspberry Leaves, Red Clover, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, and Licorice Root. Leaves, flowers, stems and seeds can be infused, whereas roots and barks can be decocted, generally speaking.

As always, please check with your practitioner or with me to consider any possible contraindications before beginning a new supplement or herb protocol. For more information regarding the best herb choice or formula for you, contact me via email and set up an appointment for a consultation.

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