The primary way I practice herbalism is through using everyday herbs in my everyday life – herbs that support my wellness in ways that ebb and flow with the seasons.
You see, late spring and early summer are Pitta season, according to Ayurveda (India’s herbal system), so my daily focus shifts to herbs that are cooling and moistening to the body.
As the days get longer, the temperatures get hotter, and energy levels continue to rise upward and outward, I find that staying hydrated is a top priority.
One of the things I’ve learned in my advanced herbal studies is that hydration isn’t water-specific. It can also apply to oil. Both water and oil are needed to hydrate our tissues, which brings me to two herbal recipes that I find myself using quite a bit during this transition period.
Herbal Recipes for Spring-to-Summer Transitions
The first recipe is for a hibiscus and raspberry leaf tea. This recipe comes directly from the Herbal Academy’s free ebook, Cooling Herbs for Hot Summer Days, and it’s one of my favorite iced herbal teas. I make a sizeable batch, put it in the fridge to cool, and enjoy it over ice throughout the day.
The second recipe is for a summer body oil recipe that’s infused with aromatic, cooling, moistening herbs, and follows a unique preparation method for making herb-infused oils with water. Stay tuned for an upcoming video showing how all of this is done over in the Inner Circle membership. Anyway, this summer body oil is something I use on an almost daily basis during this time of the year.
I hope you find these recipes inspiring. I hope you make a plan to make them by purchasing the herbs and oils you need. And I hope you make and use them over the coming month – not only as a way to do something good for your body but also to get into the practice of using herbs daily.
Hibiscus + Raspberry Leaf Iced Tea
Via Herbal Academy
Yields 4 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf
- 1⁄2 cup dried hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) calyx
- 1⁄2 cup dried rose (Rosa spp.) petal
- 1⁄2 cup dried marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) root
- 1⁄4 cup dried orange (Citrus spp.) peel
Directions:
- Mix the herbs and store them in a labeled, airtight container for up to 1 year.
- Add 1⁄2 cup of the herb blend to 4 cups of room temperature water in a glass canning jar and cap with a lid to make the tea.
- Let this sit for 4-8 hours. I like to make it before going to bed and let it sit overnight.
- Strain herbs through a layered cheesecloth—composting the herbs and reserving the liquid in a clean jar.
- Sweeten tea if desired and enjoy over ice! (Store extra tea in the refrigerator no longer than 24 hours.)
Summer Floral Body Oil
Yields 4-6 fl oz
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of equal parts hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flowers, lavender (Lavandula spp.) flowers, and rose (Rosa spp.) flowers
- 6 ounces of sunflower oil
- 8 ounces of water
Directions:
- Add water to a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from heat, add your herbs, cover the saucepan with a lid and let the mixture steep for 30-60 minutes.
- Add the oil to your saucepan along with the infusion/decoction and herbs.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat until the water and oil bubble, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
- Stir regularly to prevent the herbs from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Simmer until all the water has evaporated and only oil and herbs remain. You should see only tiny bubbles instead of more giant bubbles, and if you hold a dry glass plate over the pot, there should be no condensation on it.
- When the mixture is free of any remaining water, strain out the herbs by pouring the herbs through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a layered cheesecloth over a glass bowl. You should have approximately 4-6 ounces of liquid oil. If you end up with more, you’ll need to simmer it longer.
- Store your Summer Floral Body Oil in a capped glass jar or bottle out of direct sunlight and apply it to the skin daily—or as frequently as you like!
Alright, friends! I hope you’re feeling inspired by these two summer recipes. Definitely give them a try and let me know your thoughts in the comment section of this post. I’d love to know which one is your fave!
Love and light,
Meagan