We are using this information TODAY in my house! Warming herbs help us battle colds, among many other things. My husband is battling something and the use of the warming herbs is keeping him from needing any over the counter drugs. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Talk about wild- dandelion defies all rules of gardening and thumbs its nose at the pesticides designed to kill it- THANK GOODNESS! What a powerful herb! In my region, zone 9b, the cool weather (what we call winter) has caused the dandelions to reemerge. They won't bloom much until spring, but the green plants have popped up all over my herb garden. I thought it fitting for today's focus. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Common names: Lion’s tooth, piss-a-bed Identification - Bright yellow composite flowers - Deeply toothed leaves in a rosette - Hollow milky stems - Globe seed head ("wish flower") Energetics - Bitter - Drying - Cooling Key Actions - Bitter digestive - Cholagogue (stimulates bile) - Diuretic - Hepatic - Nutritive tonic Chemical Constituents - Sesquiterpene lactones (bitters) - Inulin (prebiotic fiber) - Potassium (supports diuretic action) - Flavonoids - Triterpenoids Medicinal Uses - Liver & Gallbladder: improves bile flow, detoxification - Digestion: stimulates stomach acid, appetite, and digestion - Kidneys: strong yet safe diuretic without depleting potassium - Metabolic health: supports blood sugar regulation - Nutrition: vitamins A, C, K, iron, calcium Folklore A symbol of resilience; children’s “wish blowing” traditions date back over 300 years.

We are in the middle of a series about herbal energetics and this past Monday the class was all about warming herbs. It was fascinating! See a replay in the Monday Midday Medicine category. I thought a good due of herbs to talk about would be garlic and thyme. Both powerful and both complimentary of each other. This pairing is very common in the culinary world and works just as great in the medicinal world. Garlic (Allium sativum) Medicinal Actions - Warming immune stimulant - Antimicrobial (bacterial, viral, fungal) - Circulatory activator - Cardiovascular supportive (blood pressure + cholesterol balancing) - Expectorant - Digestive stimulant Garlic warms the body from the inside out. It activates immunity, moves stagnation, increases circulation, and clears mucus. It is one of the strongest herbal antimicrobials in nature. Key Chemical Constituents - Allicin – potent antimicrobial; produced when garlic is crushed - Sulfur compounds (ajoene, diallyl disulfide) – cardiovascular benefits - Alliin – precursor to allicin - Saponins – immune support Garlic is exceptionally rich in volatile sulfur compounds that create its heat and medicinal potency. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Medicinal Actions - Warming respiratory stimulant - Strong antimicrobial (bacterial, viral, fungal) - Expectorant—especially for damp, stuck mucus - Carminative - Immune stimulant Thyme is excellent for heavy, damp coughs, cold congestion, sluggish lung movement, and winter infections. It warms and clears while also disinfecting. Key Chemical Constituents - Thymol – powerful antimicrobial and expectorant - Carvacrol – antibacterial, antifungal - 1,8-cineole – loosens mucus - Rosmarinic acid – anti-inflammatory

I have been fascinated with what I have been learning about the energetics of herbs. When I first heard about this concept, I kind of blew it off. It sounded weird. BUT- when you get into what it means and what they do- it makes so much sense. This information will make your herbal journey simpler and help you choose which herbs you need and when.