Herbal Tricks & Treats: How to stay warm this Autumn with Rosemary
As the days begin to shorten and the temperature drops here up North, many of us may begin to experience a physical and mental slowing down. While Autumn is a season that teaches us how to transition towards intentional rest, we still have our daily to-do lists that need to get done. Incorporating herbal support into daily life is a core tenet of traditional herbal practices; this concept of finding small, accessible, ways to utilize herbs consistently mirrors the idea of daily self-care practices for our mental and physical health. Pairing accessibility with consistency is a great strategy to keep in mind as we begin to change our self-care routines in preparation for the colder months.
Rosemary is an aromatic herb from the Mint family that targets the digestive and nervous systems of the body. Since these two physical systems play such a large role in maintaining our mental health, Rosemary doubles down on working beautifully to support our mind-body system. Although not one of the more obvious herbs to choose for mental health, the physical benefits of Rosemary are what make it a great herb for the autumn months and transition into winter. As an aromatic its herbal qualities include warming and stimulating the digestive and nervous systems; this means that when we begin to feel tired and drained, Rosemary can offer us an invigorating boost to keep us feeling energized. As a warming stimulant Rosemary works on the nervous system to soothe reactivity and bring us back to a state of mental clarity. For those of us who need it, Rosemary can be utilized as an uplifting support as we move slowly through the colder seasons.
Herbal support can be made more accessible (and therefore used more consistently) so that we can reap the benefits in many different ways! Rosemary is the perfect herbal example, not only can it be used topically, it can be safely incorporated into our daily diet, and paired with an aromatherapy practice. In order to experience the warming benefits of Rosemary consistent, low-dose, dietary uses could include: Rosemary tea, dried Rosemary seasoning on meat, vegetables, or salads (think of the autumn cooking possibilities!), or Rosemary tinctures or capsules. Rosemary shampoos, conditioners, or body washes can help topically reinvigorate the skin; salves incorporating Rosemary can help soothe joint pain, body inflammation, and headaches or colds and assist us on the way to feeling physically healthier. Finally, Rosemary essential oil in a diffuser or dried Rosemary in a sachet can be used aromatically to help stimulate the respiratory system, calm the nervous system, and clear the mind. Ultimately, the plethora of options that are available to utilize Rosemary for make it an easy one to reach for when we need extra support!
As we begin to notice the changing seasons I’d encourage you to start to notice where physical and mental routines need to change as well. Perhaps adjusting what supports we reach for and incorporate on a daily basis may need to be adjusted to make maintaining our wellbeing more accessible. Consider adding in a warming spice such as Rosemary and allow for the stimulating benefits to help carry us through the season!
Blog by: Hannah Gallucci, MA LMFT, RYT-200, Herbalist
Photo credit: Uriel Mont from Pexels