Kitchen Medicine

This bitter herb is a powerful immunostimulant with antivaral properties. Its cooling energy makes it a good herb for calming or reducing pitta, while the pungent post digestive effect is supportive for kapha. If used in excess or not in balanced formulation, these same attributes could increase the light, dry, and rough qualities of vāta dosha. Andrographis can serve to enhance liver function, stimulate bile flow, and break up congestion in the lymphatic system. It can be used to help move constipated bowels, regulate irregular bowel movements, and clear toxins from the system (āma). Andrographis can also act as a cleansing and rejuvenating herb for the blood and skin (which is linked to liver function), and help with eczema, psoriasis and other forms of dermatitis or itch rashes.

The name brahmī refers to the feminine or lunar aspect of higher consciousness (cosmic consciousness, higher power, god, brahman, great spirit, etc.) It is pacifying to all three doshas and is said to kindle the flame of intelligence and inner knowing. There are two plants with very similar qualities that are both referred to as brahmī. The one I most often use is gotu kola/centella asiatica because it is more readily available in the western part of the earth. The other is bacopa/bacopa monniera, which is a bit stronger in action.

Cardamom has an affinity with the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems. It has the ability to decrease mucous, congestion, sticky sludge, and toxins in the lungs and stomach (decreasing excess kapha and āma). This quality makes it supportive for respiratory illness or disorders as well as digestive issues. It is a digestive stimulant, but gentle enough so as not to create excess heat or pitta in the system when used in moderation and in compatible combination with other herbs. It can be used to reduce nausea, indigestion, bloating, and upset stomach. The affinity for the respiratory system makes it a useful herb in relation to bronchitis, asthma, and cold and cough symptoms. Cardamom has a calm and clear energy (sattva), while also being somewhat aromatic and pungent. These qualities can help to regulate the body’s circulation and heart rhythm while also calming the nerves. 

Chamomile is well known as a gentle, relaxing herbs and is often used in bed time or relaxing tea blends. It had a mild sedative effect and can help melt tension in the body-mind-spirit. It is calming for pitta and kapha dosha, and generally the same is true for vāta. Due to its’ bitter quality, it can be aggravating to vāta, but only if used in excess without combination. It is a great herb for calming stress, anxiety, and restlessness in adults and children alike. Chamomile can help to sooth colic, gas, and flatulence. It can be ingested as a tea by nursing parents or given directly to young children for this purpose. Referring back to the bitter quality of chamomile, it can be helpful to sooth inflammation and draw out impurities. It is often used externally and internally for this purpose.

As a common kitchen spice, the medicinal power of cinnamon is often overlooked. But I could the same for most fresh food items found in one’s kitchen….. The warming and stimulating properties of cinnamon promote digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients in food and herbal compounds. Cinnamon is a wonderful herb to add to heavier foods, such as rice, potato, dairy, or meat in order to balance out those heavy qualities. Likewise it is useful to balance out an otherwise heavy or cold herbal compound. Due to the hot and pungent qualities, it is pacifying to vāta and kapha and should be used with awareness and in appropriate combination so as not to aggravate pitta. Cinnamon can act as an expectorant, making it useful in alleviating sinus or chest congestion and is often used to treat colds, coughs, and the flu acting to burn toxins within the body.

The only product I am currently making with eucalyptus is the Nasya Herbal Nose Oil. Using it in this way, as a steam, or other method of inhalation, eucalyptus can help to cleanse and “disinfect” the respiratory tract, open the bronchi, and free up blocked energy so that prāna (life force energy) can flow. It is effective in alleviating symptoms of cold, flu, sinus infection, and upper respiratory infection. The antiseptic and astringent qualities of eucalyptus make it useful as a topical medicine for mild to moderate wounds and skin sores as well as the treatment of scabies, bed bugs, and fleas. It is also helpful in alleviating inflammation, muscular pain, and arthritis when used topically.

Fennel is one of my favorite herbs. It is good medicine for me in all of its’ forms. I was so expressive about my deep affinity and affection for this plant during a class session once, that one of the students felt moved to send me a one pound bag of fennel seed powder. A gift that touched my heart and made me laugh. Fennel is considered to be a tridoshic herb, meaning that is can pacify all three of the doshas, which makes it a supportive herb for all constitutions or body types. It has calming, clarifying, refreshing, gentle, and peaceful qualities (sattva). Fennel has affinity for the nervous and digestive systems and supports plasma, blood, and muscle tissue.

I use licorice, in varying quantities, in many of the products I offer. So much so, that I have to intentionally leave it out of some teas and compound formulas in order to accommodate folks who have an aversion to this sweet yet bitter herb. When used in appropriate combination, even a small amount can act as a harmonizing agent and enhance the overall effects of whatever it is mixed with. Licorice can help to soften and balance the dry or rough qualities of other herbs in a formula while adding some needed sweetness, making harsh tasting herbs more palatable.

Motherwort offers a special kind of embrace and can impart a stable fierceness that allows us to step into our authentic selves. With a nourishing coolness this herb can help us tune into the rhythms of the moon and how those rhythms move within our own bodies. Whatever kind of relationship we may have with our own mothers or parental figures, motherwort offers a pure form of mothering we can all benefit from.

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, reduces toxins, improves digestion, strengthens joints and tendons, improves circulation.

Stimulates digestion, reduces gas, purifies blood, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, eases menstrual cramps, anti-nausea.

Digestive aid, relieves gas, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, flushes out toxins, contains antioxidants and iron.

Relieves gas, diuretic, soothes nausea, aids in treatment of urinary tract, anti-parasitic, calms muscle spasms.

Stimulates digestion, loosens mucus, improves bioavailability of other herbs, stimulates sweat.

Aids digestion, soothes diarrhea and colitis, analgesic, anti-convulsant, sedative, stimulates menstruation, liver tonic.

Aids digestion, analgesic, aphrodisiac, eases cough, asthma, and hiccups.