This time of the year has me shifting my wellness focus to new areas.
Spring is about growth, new life, and fresh starts.
It’s as if we’re taking the nourishment and rest we gained during winter, as well as all the gems we’ve mined out of last year’s life experiences, and we’re using those things to fuel us here at the beginning of a new year.
Side note: Did you know that many cultures around the world consider spring (March/April) to be the start of the new year, not January 1st? I can totally relate to that!
In spring, that means tending to the waters of our body, as I mentioned last week.
You see, if the lymphatic system isn’t functioning properly, excess fluids, toxins, and waste products will accumulate in tissues causing the body to become stagnant. Over time, this will negatively affect our health, which is why it’s important to show our lymph some love in spring when so many lymphatic plants are available. In herbalism, lymphatics are a subcategory of alteratives (plants that have an affinity for channels of elimination in the body).
Spring also signals us to show our liver some love as well. The liver is a very important organ in our body, and we must not ignore it, even if we think it’s functioning properly. The liver cleans our blood (converting nutrients into usable forms, converting toxins into harmless substances, processing waste products, etc.) and plays a huge role in metabolism, immunity, and overall health.
In spring, we also find many bitter plants growing that have an affinity for the liver, such as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaf, chicory (Cichorium intybus) leaf, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) leaf, bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and yellow dock (Rumex crispus) leaf, mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) leaf, and more. In herbalism, these are called hepatics, and they are a subcategory of alteratives as well.
Inflammation-Modulating Herbal Smoothie Mix
Today I wanted to share a new recipe that I’ve been using to support my liver this spring. This is a powdered smoothie blend that I add to my morning smoothies each day. It supports inflammation modulation throughout the body, and one way it does that is by supporting liver function. I’ve been combining this with the Spring Digestive Bitters recipe in my book, Nature’s Medicine Cabinet, before each meal, as it supports liver function (not just digestion) too. (Click here for my favorite places to source herbs online.)
Inflammation-Modulating Herbal Smoothie Mix
Ingredients
- 1 part turmeric (Curcuma longa) root powder
- 1 part cinnamon (Cinnamon spp.) bark powder
- ½ part ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome powder
- ½ part alma (Phyllanthus emblica) berry powder
- ¼ part black pepper (Piper nigrum) seed powder
Directions
- A “part” can be any unit of measurement you’d like, such as a teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, handful, or scoop. Just make sure you use the same “part” consistently for each ingredient.
- Combine powders, mix well, and transfer to a labeled storage container.
- Add 1 tbsp to daily smoothie or yogurt.
- Sweeten to taste and enjoy!
And that’s it my friend — an inflammation-modulating smoothie addition that will give your liver a bit more support this season.
Love and light,
Meagan