Herbs for Women's Wellness

This year, I’ve began to experience a deeply profound relationship with nature. The plants are calling. I can feel their radiant spirits whispering my name, asking me to slow down, pay attention, and play. It’s through this connection with nature that I’ve began to understand that we are the same. Just like us human beings, plants truly do have spirits, too! Each one holds a different personality and energetic qualities.

When it comes to holistic healing, we can apply this wisdom. Each plant’s constitution carries unique healing properties to support us throughout our life stages. Below, I’m sharing a selection of my most-loved herbs to support women’s wellness. Each of these plants offers specific nutrients and energetic qualities to nourish the body, rebalance the hormonal and nervous systems, and encourage fertility.

A note - before incorporating herbs into your lifestyle, I always recommended consulting with an herbalist or qualified healthcare practitioner, to ensure the plant’s properties are suitable for your unique constitution. The herbs I’m sharing below are generally safe when consumed in tea form, but I encourage you to do your own research first. You are responsible for your own body’s well-being.

Rose

Feminine essence, radiance

Awakens our feminine energy, rebalances menstrual flow, and restores radiance

Nettle

Building, restoring

Deeply nourishes the body by replenishing nutrients that are often depleted: b vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium

Shatavari

Yin energy, fertility

Known as the ‘queen of herbs’, deeply rejuvenating to the female systems throughout every life-stage

Vitex

Rebalancing, regulating

Known as ‘nature’s hormone balancer’, gently rebuilds low hormone levels, regulates the cycle, and eases PMS symptoms

Raspberry

Uterun toner, pain relief

Tonifies the uterus to ease menstrual cramping, reduce pain, and assist contractions

Oatstraw

Grounding, nutritive

Soothes the nervous system and grounds the body with nutrients such as b-vitamins, iron, magnesium, selenium

Passionflower

A beautiful luteal phase ally to assist in soothing anxiety and combatting pre-menstrual insomnia

Dandelion

Cleansing, detoxifying

Cleanses the body and supports liver detoxification to eliminate excess hormonal buildup

Incorporating your herbs

When first entering this magical plant world, I recommend incorporating herbs through teas and herbal infusions. Herbal teas are typically steeped for 5-10 minutes, covered to ensure the plant’s nutrients do not escape through the steam. Herbal infusions, however, are much more potent. Infusions are made by steeping your herbs for 4-12 hours, to create a medicinal dose. Play around, and see what feels good for you! Whichever method you choose, I encourage you to always use organic (and locally-grown, when possible) herbs. I like to source my herbs from local apothecaries or my own backyard, depending on the time of year. A beautiful local herbal online dispensary is Harmonic Arts. For those located in the States, Mountain Rose Herbs offers an incredible selection of organic, ethically sourced herbs in bulk.

To make a medicinal tea:

Add a small handful of loose-leaf herbs to a french press, glass tea-pot, or large mason jar. Add freshly boiled water, cover, and let steep for 5-10 minutes.

To make a herbal infusion:

To make an herbal infusion, add a heaped spoonful of dried herbs to a french press, glass tea-pot, or large mason jar. Add freshly boiled water, cover, and steep for 4-12 hours (I like to let mine sit overnight!). Strain and sip at room temperature throughout the day.