Spring
Tonics
by Jenny Boice
When we think of spring,
we think about the outdoor activities we enjoy, of what we will plant in our
gardens, of cleaning our houses and our salt covered cars.
But what many people don’t think about is cleansing their bodies.
Spring tonics are a wonderful way to rid your body of built up toxins and
start preparing for the active warm days ahead.
Cultures from all over
the world have created and used cleansing tonics for centuries, especially in
the spring. Spring tonics were
very popular back when our winter diets consisted of whatever stores we could
preserve in the fall. Spring tonics
were believed to remove impurities from our blood, purify the system and give us
more energy for the hard work to be done during growing season.
Each family had their own
recipe which could consist of one herb or a combination of roots and herbs.
Some families made their own herbal concoctions while others simply added
the fresh raw greens and tender roots directly to their kitchen tables.
Dandelion, burdock, nettles, and yellow dock are among the many herbs
used this way.
Most spring tonics have been traditionally
used to stimulate the kidney, liver and gall bladder since these organs tend to
accumulate a lot of waste during the winter from being so sedentary and eating a
heavy diet. A tonic herb is
focused on a particular part of the body and is used to bring it to a proper
balance for normal functioning. Below
are some popular spring tonics you can try for yourself.
Dandelion is one of the most popular spring
tonics because it is a natural diuretic, it’s a mild laxative and it
stimulates the function of the liver. You
can add fresh dandelion leaves to your salad, steam them or dry the leaves and
make them into a tea. Dandelion
roots have similar properties as the leaves.
The root can be cut into pieces, simmered in water and then enjoyed as a
tea as well.
Burdock root is often combined with
dandelion for a purifying spring tonic. The
two herbs have similar properties and work well together.
Burdock root is a wonderful blood purifier and cleansing tea.
It cleanses the liver by stimulating the flow of bile.
This herb has also been used to treat skin problems such as acne,
psoriasis and eczema which are possible signs of an imbalance in the liver.
Fresh burdock root can be eaten steamed, boiled or added to a soup with
other root vegetables. Burdock Root
can also be made into a tea.
Nettles is another popular spring tonic and
it’s a very nutritive choice. This
herb stimulates the kidneys, cleans the blood and is a great source of iron,
calcium, magnesium and potassium. Nettles
is a wonderful tonic for the whole body. Due to the stinging hairs of the
nettles plant, nettles should be steamed before eating.
In addition to these tonics it is a good
idea to drink plenty of water to flush your system.
If you take your weight in pounds and divide by two, you will have the
number of ounces of water you should consume each day.
For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of
water. Remember when our bodies are
dehydrated, they hold onto water so drink up!
If you pick your own herbs, be sure to
avoid plants growing near roadways. They will be contaminated with fuel
emissions. If you don’t feel
comfortable identifying these plants, you can always buy the dried herbs at your
local health food store. We have put
together some spring tonic combination teas and tinctures on our website.
You can also read about how to create
your own herbal infusions.
So check it out.
If you get started now, you’ll be amazed at how good you feel by
summer!
Disclaimer: This
article is for educational purposes only. You
should consult your health care provider before taking herbal formulas.
Jenny
is the owner of Divine Creationz. She
is a Clinical Master Herbalist. She
provides personal health consultations. She
specializes in making individualized herbal formulas.
Jenny is also a certified Reconnective Healing practitioner.
Jenny has been doing energy work for 3.5 years.
www.DivineCreationz.com