12/22/2023
As we make our way through the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice, we slowly begin to lift as we move forward and will see that the days start to grow a little longer and a little brighter. Feeling less energetic is expected as these darker days envelop the skies. The daylight is minimal, and our bodies and minds pine for the longer hours of sunlight we are used to. Our biological system can overproduce melatonin, promoting rest, sleepiness, and more of a calm state.
Melatonin is a part of our body's inherent natural clock or circadian rhythm, which governs our sleep patterns; however, it can sometimes feel a bit overbearing and can leave us feeling a little heavier, dull, and for some folks, even manifest as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
It is perfectly normal to feel a bit sad during this time of year and to remember that the rhythms of Nature can mirror our inner emotional worlds. If you feel more inward, anti-social, or tired, give yourself the permission to lean into that, rest, and allow more downtime.
We must remember that life for most of us has changed drastically from the one we lived over 100 years ago. With the bustle of life (and the holidays), it is easy to forget that life only a century ago, when the seasons changed, so did our lives and our daily activities. We stopped when the sun went down—there was simply no light to work by. We spent more time at home with family, cooked meals on the fire, played indoor games with each other, and spent much time hibernating with books by candlelight. The winter season was a time that forced us to slow down, dream close to the warm fire, and set intentions for the following year.
Let us remind ourselves that this time is for introspection, nourishment, and hibernation, and where some of us may experience heavier bouts of depression, this is a time to be gentle with ourselves, and we do not necessarily have to be productive all the time, or to pack in that schedule just because you have the slot. Take time to rest if you feel down or tired because we are simply a part of the natural order of Nature and its rhythms, and it is okay to feel this.
If these long winter days have kindled a slight darkness in your world, and it does feel a little too heavy to carry, these herbs lift spirits and foster joy when life feels too complicated. Let this aid you, a loved one, or a friend and ignite a little spark of energy into your body to feel lighter and brighter during this time.
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
A cooling, bitter remedy with a long history in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. It is native to parts of Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and North and South America. This plant has been used for a long time in Asia for mental clarity, and it invokes a sense of mental sharpness coupled with a feeling of calm and stillness. This balancing tonic stimulates the brain through cerebral circulation, which helps lift those foggy mental states and helps you think more clearly. It's used to increase memory and is especially great for folks who feel agitated, as it also relaxes the nervous system. Gotu Kola is excellent for meditation and self-reflection, for it induces a state of calm and peaceful wakefulness.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Like a sunny day, Lemon Balm uplifts the spirit, bringing hope and happiness into the heart. It is a perfect remedy to have around in the depths of the winter blues when the sun has not reached your soul for ages when darkness and despair have clouded your days. Lemon Balm invokes the light within, revealing the innocence and sweetness of the inner child. Many of us do not allow ourselves to shine in our total capacity; we hold ourselves back and do not accept or love who we are now.
Lemon Balm assists us in looking beyond our flaws and conditionings to see the pure soul inside, the one that wants to be free and exuberant, the part of us that wants to have fun. This acceptance of the self opens the floodgates of love to pour into those forgotten or malnourished places within the soul. This plant's incredible purity and simplicity instill a sense of peace and contentment, inviting one to enjoy the nectar of their own heart.
Linden (Tilia spp.) is a tree with heart-shaped leaves (the morphology of a plant resembling various parts of the body that use the plant). This plant has a mild, sweet taste and helps to release tension in the musculature and circulatory realms of the body, specifically the heart, where it softens tension and uplifts worry. Linden flowers alleviate restlessness, improve sleep, and lower anxiety and depression. It is indicated explicitly for anxiety culminating in the heart as it physically supports the vasculature and circulatory system, gently widening blood vessels while lowering blood pressure. Linden reinstates a sense of calm and gladdens the heart with its sweet and aromatic blossoms.
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
It is a beautiful tree from China known for its predominant uplifting qualities, which is why it is called the "collective happiness tree." It has an astringent and somewhat acrid flavor. The blossoms shine pink and dangle like bright fireworks exploding mid-air. This flower offers relief when you feel burdened by continuous tears that wear down your heart. It allows you to breathe and feel peace roll into your heart. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this herb is considered a "Shen tonic" used to uplift the spirit and awaken a sense of happiness. You often feel its actions, so if you need a potent pick-me-up, Mimosa might do the trick.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
This culinary favorite introduces a warming, aromatic flavor into food and the home, especially during the dark winter months. Rosemary has an aromatic and spicy taste, which helps to improve mood and encourages circulation to the brain, clearing out brain fog and improving mental clarity. Having Rosemary around during this time of year can help uplift the heart and soothe the spirit— a rosemary tea is buttery and delicious; otherwise, be sure to cook with it at the very least.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola Rosea)
Used in Eastern Europe and Asian countries as a stimulating adaptogen, this wonderful bitter-tasting herb, when taken in smaller doses, will stimulate energy, lift depression, enhance work performance, eliminate fatigue, and elevate wakefulness and steady energy throughout the day. This is because it stimulates the production of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, all neurotransmitters involved in your circadian rhythm.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Regular Siberian ginseng increases longevity, improves general health and appetite, and restores memory. For someone who has been stressed or depressed and exhausted for a long time, this adaptogenic herb helps to increase mental alertness and physical endurance and reduces the effects of long-term exhaustion. Similar to Rhodiola, it can be dose-specific. While lower doses over the long term can assist in building and rejuvenating the neuroendocrine system, higher doses can be overtly stimulating and cause one to overextend themselves and burn out even more. Taking minor to moderate doses provides excellent results, especially when taken twice daily (morning and afternoon), since this works with the body's natural cortisol cycles.
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Classically known as "sunshine in a bottle," St. John's Wort is a nerve restorative. It works to tone and restore a nervous system weakened by long periods of stress, nervousness, tension, anxiety, or insomnia. This herb is commonly known to provide relief for those experiencing Seasonal affective disorder or mild to moderate depression. Unlike Mimosa, this herb does not offer instant results. When working with St. John's Wort, be patient and allow this gem a few weeks to take action. If you know that you are susceptible to the winter blues, consider using this remedy preventatively by taking it at the beginning of the cooler months to ease feelings of anxiety, tension, and depression.
Please take some extra time and care to do some further research to make sure that what you choose is suitable for the person you are thinking of, and if you do not know, reach out to an herbalist who does, as not every plant is ideal for everyone, especially if someone is taking medications.
In conjunction with these herbs, take a little outside time daily or implement some form of movement, breathwork, or exercise. Please note: It's essential to consult your doctor if you are taking pharmaceutical drugs before you consume any herbs, as there are many herb-drug interactions—please consult your health care practitioner or local herbalist to see what herbs suit you.
Below is a blend that may be formulated as a tea or compounded as a tincture. This formula brings energy up into the mind and stimulates circulation in the brain, providing both the body and mind a little boost when feeling low. This formula should also lift and calm the heart from feelings of grief or depression, pushing the heaviness out and elevating the mood. If you decide to make tea—add the Eleuthero root first and let it simmer on low for 20-30 mins, then turn off the stove and add the Linden flowers, Lemon Balm, Holy Basil, and Rose before leaving it to steep with the lid for another 15-20 minutes. Once complete, strain your blend and enjoy.
25% Linden flowers (Tilia spp.)
25% Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
25% Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
15% Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
10% Rose petals (Rosa spp.)
To conclude, find yourself a cozy spot to rest—light a few candles, turn off the lights, shut your screen off, sip a hot drink, and rest or read—and if you are sinking in and embracing this time, reflect on the year past and think about what has served you and what has not, what you want to bring forward into 2024 and what you want to let go.
You could even write this down in a journal. Creating and solidifying these intentions will plant seeds for the coming year, ultimately giving you a more fulfilling life connected to your innate dream and purpose. Embrace the dark time surrounding us outside so we all can receive the rest and recovery we need for the coming year.
A warm winter solstice holiday season, and may the plants shine a little light into your life.
