Grief -- What Herbs to use
“Grief is the last act of love we give to our loved one. Where there is deep grief there is great love. Grief is a great rite of passage, it is a hero's journey of courage, of sacred battles, sorrow, love, joy and loss. Through the darkness of grief we can see the light of love which transcends death." - Chaplin Robert Orr
Today, I am writing this post from a place of very raw grief. This week I have lost three family members. While grief is never easy, having three people you love die at once makes the grief heavier. So while I am going through this personally, I wanted to share a few things that may lighten the load we carry when death comes.
Linden; is native to Eastern North America.
This herb is known for calming the heart. It is also calming, comforting, softens tension, and lowers an anxious state. Linden has a sweet aromatic taste. You can drink this as a cold infusion, or mixed with other herbs in a hot tea. However you get this herb in, you will begin feeling its benefits when you most need them.
St. John's Wort; is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.
This herb is known as "sunshine is a bottle" and is used to help ease anxiety and tension. If you are feeling worn down during the grieving process, St. John's wort may be the one for you. This herb has a slight bitter taste and has been compared to the taste of black tea.
Lemon Balm; is native to Europe
This herb is known for lifting sadness and depression. Lemon balm can help with anxiety, and sleeplessness as well. The taste of lemon balm is lemony (surprise) with a hint of mint as lemon balm is in the mint family.
Motherwort; is native to Central Asia
Some say this herb is perfect for mothers who have lost a maternal figure or a mother who may have lost a child. This herb helps strengthen the heart and may get rid of any restlessness you may feel. This herb has a bitter taste, so you will want to blend it with herbs that are on the sweeter side to balance the flavours.
So there you have it, four herbs that you can add to your rotation for when grief strikes unexpectedly, or even when it is expected. If you give any of these herbs a try, send me a message and let me know how it works for you!
*This is not medical advice and you should consult with your doctor when starting something new.*
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