How to Use Herbal Powders (with Free Recipes!)

I began using herbal powders early on in my practice as an easy and alcohol-free alternative to tinctures.

Herbal powders can be added to juices, smoothies, honey or your milk of choice for internal use or quickly mixed with oil, water or honey for external application. My two favorite ways to use herbal powders are either in smoothies where I just add them in and blend or as herbal milks (recipe below). One of the things I love about herbal powders is that they are a form of whole plant medicine! When I have been traveling or have limited supplies on hand, I'll just mix an herbal powder with an ounce of water and down it like the magickal tonic that it is!

Topically, herbal powders can be used to quickly create a compress. Mix the powdered herbs with a little bit of water, oil or honey to form a paste. Rub it on the affected body part and cover with a cloth. For example, you might use Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum) for lower back pain whether from strain or menstruation.

General Guidelines for Using Herbal Powders

• Make sure that your herbal powders are medicinally potent by using them within six to nine months of when they were ground up. Some herbal powders degrade much quicker and all will last better when stored in an air-tight container in a cold and dark place (like a refrigerator).
• Start with single powders before moving onto blends. I recommend this all the time, not just for herbal powders. If you really want to track and understand how an herb is affecting you, using them one at a time is one of the clearest ways of achieving this. 
• Dosage varies widely depending on a person constitution as well as condition. 1/4 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon (or roughly 1 to 4 grams) 1 to 3 times a day is a relatively standard dose. It’s always best to consult your materia medica and/or herbal practitioner for dosage guidelines as well as listening to your body. 

Nearly any herb can be powdered, so the possibilities for using herbal powders in your practice are practically endless. Below I’ve listed three of my favorite herbal powders of the moment with brief descriptions of their healing benefits.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

Let’s start with a spice that is easy to find! Cinnamon has been in use since at least ancient Egypt (where it’s use was first recorded) and probably much longer than that. It’s a warming herb which stimulates digestion, helps regulate blood sugar, and increases vitality. Cinnamon improves memory while uplifting the spirits (which makes it a great herb for students). It protects against and clears up colds and ‘flus as well as being stimulating to the circulatory system. If you’re struggling with low energy, mental fatigue, and anxiousness, especially when mixed with sugar cravings, Cinnamon might be a great ally for you. The herb can be added to a variety of dishes to enhance flavor which makes itsuch an easy herb to incorporate into your herbal practice. 

Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum)

Ashwagandha is known as a rasayana or a rejuvenative herb in Ayurveda and it’s classified as an adaptogen in western herbalism. It is the adaptogen that I reach for most regularly and my absolute favorite way to prepare it is as a milky evening drink (recipe below). Ashwagandha nourishes the brain and neural pathways of the body while restoring strength after a period of stress or illness. Use for cases of auto-immune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, brain fog, as well as insomnia, anxiety, nervous exhaustion, and stress. It’s a wonderful addition to your diet if you’re an athlete or work out regularly - you can use it as part of your pre-work-out snack. Topically, it also assists with alleviating muscle pain. Ashwaghanda has a mild, slightly bittersweet taste which is one reason that it’s so easy to add to beverages and food. 

Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

I met Moringa a few years back when I received some tea as part of an herbal swap. The leaves of the Moringa tree are nutrient dense and a great source of protein. It’s a brain and liver tonic, anti-arsenic, antioxidant-rich, and a source of stress-reducing magnesium. Moringa helps to lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, and there have been hopeful studies done regarding it’s anti-cancer capabilities. The herb also helps to increase milk-supply for breastfeeding folks and because it is so nutrient dense and stress-alleviating I like to recommend it as a postpartum herb. Moringa is mild in flavor and I usually add it to my morning smoothie. 

Other herbs that I often use in powdered form include: Nettles (Urtica dioica), Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Spirulina, Chlorella, Astragalus, Chicory (Cichorium intybus), and Eleuthero.

Herbal Powder Milk Tea

I like to prepare this in the evening about an hour before bed as a sweet treat to end my day and begin to prepare myself for the next.

Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered herb to 1 cup of your milk of choice. Bring the milk to almost boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add sweetener of choice (honey is traditional, but coconut sugar is another good option). If you use brown rice milk, which is naturally sweet, you don’t need to add any extra sweetener.  If I’m making this with Ashwagandha, I’ll add a dash of Cinnamon at the end. Drink and enjoy!

Golden Herbal Powder

Golden Powder Blend is a wonderful daily remedy for those wanting to help rebuild adrenal strength. You can read all about it here.

To make your own Golden Herbal Powder mix together the following powdered herbs:

• 2 parts Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) 
• 1 part Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 
• 1/4 part Pine Pollen (Pinus massoniana)

Recommended dosage is 1/2 - 1 teaspoon up to three times daily. You can mix Golden into water, juice, smoothie or your food of choice.

Yum! Pow! Herbal Cacao

Yup, Cacao powder is medicinal. (You're welcome.) For those who need a bit of pep in the morning, which usually requires us to release tension in order to use our energy more wisely, I like creating a brew with adaptogen herbs. I really like adaptogens and Cacao working together and when you add in a spice or two, clever one, you're on a roll to kickstarting your morning! Yum! Pow! contains Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus) which works with Cacao's heart enhancing gifts as well as improve the function of the immune system as an immunostimulating herb. Read more about the benefits of Cacao here.

To create Yum! Pow! combine the following powdered herbs:

• 4 parts Raw Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
• 4 parts Roasted Chicory Root (Cichorium intybus)
• 1 part Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)
• 1/4 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)
• Optional: 1 part Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) for natural sweetness, but it does have a slightly grainier texture.

To brew, add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon to your milk of choice and gently warm. Add sweetener (or not!) to taste. You can also add Yum! Pow! to your smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder

The original Worts + Cunning Apothecary green powder was one of my best sellers when I ran my remedy shop. If you want the recipe, it's yours! Just sign-up for my free Magick Mail newsletter and you'll not only get Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder recipe but other exclusive content. But it's only available until the end of May 2017 (so sign-up to get it quick!).

Go forth and make your herbal powders! And make sure to let me know what your favorite herbal powders are in the comments below. 

Shine Bright! Golden Herbal Powder Recipe

My Golden Herbal Powder will have you shining bright! 

Dispel the clouds of fatigue, the fog of exhaustion, and the overcast humdrum of dull living! Live with shine, I say, and strengthen your adrenals with our sunny tonic. Golden Powder Blend is a wonderful daily remedy for those wanting to help rebuild adrenal strength and is beneficial for those with hypothyroid conditions. 

So, what makes Golden shine so bright?

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 

Maca is the strong foundation of our adrenal tonic, addressing issues of adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue, and having a balancing affect for those with hypothyroid conditions. Maca is also a good reproductive tonic, as it has aphrodisiac affects and improves the quality of sperm. As an adaptogen, Maca helps us adapt to stress.

Pine Pollen (Pinus massoniana)

Pine Pollen is a golden sunbeam of nutrition! Full of vitamins and minerals, Pine Pollen contains 20 amino acids, including the 8 essential amino acids and minerals such as Calcium, Iron and Zinc. Pine Pollen helps to regulate metabolism, increase energy and dispel brain fog. A friend to the prostate, Pine Pollen is a wonderful wellness ally in preventing prostate disease.

Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) 

A wonderful, sweet and low-glycemic food, Mesquite is a good source of fiber and easily digestible protein.

To make your own Golden Herbal Powder mix together the following powdered herbs:

• 2 parts Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) 
• 1 part Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 
• 1/4 part Pine Pollen (Pinus massoniana)

Recommended dosage is 1/2 - 1 teaspoon up to three times daily. You can mix Golden into water, juice, smoothie or your food of choice.  Enjoy!

Quickening: Herbs of Imbolc

Whenever I sit to think about a wheel of the year festival, nearly every time I'll find myself thinking, "Ah, [insert festival name] is one of my favorite festivals." Now, it is quite likely that all the festivals have been at one time or another my favorite - it is far more likely, if I'm honest, that they are simply all my favorite at once.

So, let me tell you why, right now, Imbolc is one of my favorite festivals of the year.

I begin dreaming about Imbolc around Samhain when, with my beloved community, I celebrate the new year. As part of my new year festivities I think of what I hope to learn and sink deep into with the coming year. I take these ideas with me down the inward spiral towards the Winter Solstice, shedding some, keeping others, realizing what my commitment my require and how I need to prepare myself. By the time Imbolc comes around my dreams are firmly stirring in my belly, my central core, and I am ready to make the vows of my practice for the coming year, until next Imbolc comes round. I love making vows - I do not make them often, nor lightly, but I find them freeing when I am able to speak of what I am seeking, who I wish to grow into, and how I am planning on remaining accountable - I get excited about the adventure ahead.

What about the plantfolk of Imbolc?

The word Imbolc is from the Gaelic for "in the belly" and speaks of the promise of spring, even when winter lingers. Think of the earth stretching before arising from her winter bed and her blood warming beneath her skin of soil. Astrologically, Imbolc marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox at 15 degrees Aquarius. In astroherbology, Aquarius guards body systems such as the lower legs, including calves and ankles, electrical impulses of the nervous system, the adrenal system, and the circulation of blood. We now have a few clues as to what plantfolk we might call upon around the time of Imbolc, including grounding nervines, nourishing adrenal tonics, and blood-strengthening herbs.

NETTLES (Urtica dioica) I came to know Nettles when living in Portland, ME (If you've never been, you should go. I'll wait here, no worries.). It was through Deb Soule of Avena Botanicals, both in her writings and meeting her in person, that I learned about these stinging jewels as a nourishing daily tonic. Nettles restore vitality, help us adapt to stress, lend their gentle cleansing quality to promote healthy hair and skin, and are useful for easing symptoms of seasonal allergies. I've found Nettles to be very strengthening to the adrenals, especially when burnout has already occurred or someone is on the verge of burnout. Kiva Rose specifically recommends Nettle Seeds as an adrenal tonic. Nettle leaf is particularly accessible with its mild taste, and who doesn't love a cup of beautifully green goodness? Nettles are drying, fiery, and help to build and cleanse the blood which is why, along with their adrenal tonic qualities, I find them to be a great herb for the Imbolc season. Sometimes Nettles are used in traditional sauna settings, where they are bundled into switches either alone or with other medicinal plants such as Birch, and hit on the body to invigorate the skin, bring blood to the surface, and transfer the greening vigor of the plant to the body of the person being whacked. And, yup, for those of you following along you'll see that I also recommend Nettles as a Spring Equinox herb - it's just that good. Magickally, Nettles add energy to ritual and spellwork, act as a protective barrier, can be used to bless ritual tools like the athame, and the herb is guarded by the planet Mars.

MACA (Lepidium Meyenii) I realize that Maca has appeared more than once as a recommended herb on our little blog and, guess what, we're talking about the tuber again for the season of Imbolc. Maca is excellent for the adrenals, helps the blood breathe, wakes up our metabolism, assists in mental clarity, and is one of my favorite adaptogens. The tuber is very nutritious containing an array of vitamins and minerals. Think about how you're feeding your body after the sojourn of winter - Imbolc calls us to cleanse, wake up mindfully, and give our bodies simple but strengthening food.  Some folks don't like the taste of Maca, but sometimes what has happened is that a Maca concoction, whether a hot chocolate with Maca in it or a raw chocolate bar containing Maca has been allowed to sit too long and the Maca has gone bitter and very drying. Maca concoctions should be consumed soon after they are prepared before the taste of the herb goes off.

GINGER (Zingiber officinalis) Imbolc is a fire festival, so we must have a fiery and warming herb (compared to our fiery but cooling herb, Nettles) such as Ginger as part of our festivities. Another sturdy root, Ginger warms where their is cold, from tense muscles to general chilliness. If you have chronic cold feet and hands, consider a hot foot and hand soak with fresh Ginger. Divine! Ginger moves the blood, stimulates digestion, and can be used as a fresh compress on cold muscles and on the chest in cases of stagnation, helping to break up mucus. Where sluggishness dwells, think of using Ginger, whether it is sluggishness in a specific organ or a general energetic slowness. Matthew Wood shares a piece of wisdom from Margi Flint about Ginger connecting birthing folks to their children and encourages those present at the labor to share in drinking Ginger tea to promote a sense of connection with the labor. At Imbolc we connect to the land in labor and a piece of Ginger on your Imbolc altar can symbolize the child of spring about to be born.

LEMON VERBENA (Aloysia citriodora) Flower Essence

I recommend Lemon Verbena to many folks who either have their Sun or Moon in Aquarius, however, it can be useful for many folks at Imbolc since it is an essence that brings out the best of our exuberance, vitality, and encourages us to live life with bucketloads of laughter. As an Aquarian plant, Lemon Verbena helps us to break through outmoded forms of thinking that have led to conflict, stagnation, and resistance in our lives. Medicinally, Lemon Verbena is antispasmodic and is especially useful for cramping stomachs brought on by emotional tension. It is cooling and calming, soothing both to the nerves and helpful in the dispersal of fevers.

MANZANITA (Arctostaphylos spp.) Flower Essence

A sturdy plant, Manzanita is an excellent essence of integration, specifically the the integration of spirit with matter. The dark half of the year can be very inward-focused and sometimes we travel so far inward we seem to flow beyond the material into the galactic. Imbolc calls us back out after the journey inward. Manzanita helps us to anchor back to the physicality of the present, the changing season, and the importance of giving our spirit a rooted compass so we don't lose our sense of self. Our friend Manzanita helps to restore faith in our body - so many of us struggle with disordered ways of understanding our body that can lead to self-loathing and low self-esteem. The plant is particular powerful when supporting those working through and recovering from eating disorders. Manzanita reminds us that we are not broken and while our bodies can feel challenging, we can reside in them on our terms, with beauty and purpose and compassion.

Evergreens such as Pine and Cedar are also welcome during the Imbolc season, helping us to release the last remnants of bronchial complaints, rebalance our nervous system, and bring warmth to our bones. Also, consider Flower Essences such as Snowdrop and Daffodil which both appear around Imbolc, harkening the early approach of spring.

I wish everyone a bright and blessed Imbolc! May your light be bright, may your community be strong, + may the promise of awakening earth enliven your spirit!

Source of Strength : Herbs for Birthworkers

As an herbologist who has been involved in the birthworker world for many years and is partnered with a midwifery student, I work with a lot of birthworkers in my practice. The needs of on-call birthworkers require herbs that hold a certain quality of flexibility and adaptability that reflect the often unpredictable hours and demands of the birth world. We need herbs to lend us strength when negotiating overculture systems of health that don’t always respect our holistic models of care. Or herbs that remind us to take care of ourselves in the same ways we compassionately tend to our clients. Herbs are excellent allies for birthworkers and when used conscientiously and consistently they can be very effective remedies.

First, a very quick breakdown of general self-care:

• Eat Well
• Sleep Well
• Love What You Do
• Love Who You You Do It With
• And Love All that is You 

Assess and redress any shortcomings on the list above – always strive for surplus love.

We’ll begin our series of Herbs for Birthworkers with a brilliant group of herbs that are known as adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbs that help us to adapt - especially to stressful situations. Birthworkers, at our best, could be called the adaptogens of the birth team.

Adaptogens are fantastic daily tonics as their healing qualities are best experienced over a long period of time helping the body to find balance and build up its reserves of strength and adaptability. For birthworkers, in particular, adaptogens help us to be present by supporting flexibility in all of our body systems, which is needed when you’ve had three hours of sleep in the past 24 hours and you’ve just been called to your next birth. And you can’t find your shoes. Or the car keys.

Let’s begin!

Part I : Adaptogens

YARROW Achillea millefolium

Yarrow is an exceptionally useful herb for healers. Known as the “Wounded Warrior, Wounded Healer,”[1] Yarrow is for those folks who are always on call – the ones who are the first in and the last out in any endeavor and who are prone to ignore health needs until they are lying flat on their backs.  The lesson of Yarrow is to follow our own good advice and health recommendations for vital living, healing, and resting that we share with so many others in our practices as birthworkers and healers.

If you generally present as the most strong and able in the room, but often feel the most sensitive and bruised, Yarrow is your ally. If you push yourself to the limit when it comes to serving others, Yarrow is a great herb to incorporate into your daily life. In and out of hospital settings filled with all sorts of viruses, intense chemicals, harsh lighting, and other environmental pollutants, Yarrow is for you. Find yourself missing meals or eating at odd hours of the night and early morning? Yarrow is a bitter herb that aids digestion and should be considered.

Yarrow is an everyday tonic with the skills of a crisis manager. It helps those who feel they must always be the strongest to be able to express their vulnerabilities in ways that restore true fortitude.

How To Use Yarrow:

As a bitter-tasting herb, I usually recommend Yarrow as a tincture, either extracted in alcohol or glycerine, for daily use. Consider 1 – 10 drops up to three times daily. For situations of acute indigestion or fever, a hot tea of Yarrow hourly is best. Learn how to make a medicinal cup of tea here.

MACA Lepidium meyenii

Maca is a generous little tuber native to the Andean Mountains of Bolivia and Peru. Thriving in such a high altitude and harsh climate, Maca is a tremendously sturdy plant that has adaptogenic, restorative, and aphrodisiac qualities.

Another herb for folks who work long (and odd) hours, Maca is an adrenal tonic, helping folks step back from the verge of burnout so many birthworkers find themselves looking at the edge of. Maca restores our vital reserves, supporting our adrenals with alkaloids that have a beneficial affect on our hypothalamus-pituitary axis, and feeds our bodies with multiple vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, iron, zinc, fatty acids, and amino acids.

Attending long births or have you been overdoing it for too long? Get yourself some Maca. Feeling weak and overexposed? Maca may be your mate. Are you exhausted? Hi there, my name is Maca.

On an emotional level, Maca reconnects our heart to our core strength, helping us to continue on as powerful, present, and compassionate in all we do.

How To Use Maca:

Maca has a malty taste that many folks find to be quite pleasant which is why I generally recommend it in powdered form for daily use. Simply mix 1 teaspoon – 1 tablespoon of Maca into your smoothies, juices, cereals or syrups and enjoy. Maca can also be taken as an extract, 1 – 10 drops daily up to three times a day. Alternatively, Maca is easy to find at health food stores in capsules and might be the most convenient way for some folks. The benefits of Maca are best experienced over long-term usage, so consistent use is important.

TULSI Ocimum sanctum

Tulsi, also known as Sacred Basil, is a no-nonsense, up-in-your-aura, fire-breather of an herb. Tulsi is dragon medicine, old world basilisk herbology and one of its greatest gifts is the relentless pursuit of what-is-good-for-you. So if you have a habit that’s not serving you (like eating mindlessly, talking mean to yourself or refusing to acknowledge the wisdom of what you have to offer the world), Tulsi’s going to burn it up and rebirth you from the ashes.

In addition to being an adaptogen, Tulsi is a digestive aid, stoking our inner digestive fires. The herb moves heat through the body, which if you find yourself often in cold, sterile hospitals, or are generally someone who tends to be colder, Tulsi is helpful. Tulsi is also gently detoxifying, helping to remove harmful substances from the body. As an incredibly intelligent herb, Tulsi relaxes when we need to be soothed and enlivens when we need stimulation. Clever herb, that Tulsi.

Find yourself feeling cold and sluggish after a birth? Try Tulsi. Feeling stagnant and lacking direction? Tell Tulsi about it. If you are a bit odd, spiritually-inclined, and worried that you may be slightly broken, Tulsi is an ally and will help you find strengths in the cracks and crevices.

Tulsi helps us release that which no longer serves us and take up only that which feeds our deepest needs.

How To Use Tulsi:

My absolute favorite way to experience Tulsi is as a glycerite. Tulsi tea is delicious, whether from the fresh or dried herb, and the herb can be incorporated into juices, smoothies, and general food preparations (it is a Basil, so use it as you would Basil in cooking). If taking as an extract, whether glycerite or alcohol-based, 1 – 3 drops up to three times daily is a great daily tonic.

Next time we’ll be exploring Nervines!

♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦ ☆ ♦

Interested in learning more about incorporating herbology into your daily life?

Check out my how-to section for more free tutorials and support the work of ecstatic herbology for the masses by purchasing a fine copy of my ebook, Morning Mischief: Fully Enchanted Herbal Recipes for Delicious Awakenings + Resolute Magnificence. Yup, it is chock-full of color, cleverness, unicorns, and it’ll inspire you to integrate herbal healing into your daily routine!

Contact me at wortsandcunning {at} gmail {dot} com for more information on private consulations, workshops, and teaching. Be sure to browse the shelves of my Apothecary at Poppy Swap or Etsy for remedies for you and your clients.

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[1] Wood, Matthew. The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2009.

Vitamin C for You + Me

Vitamin C plays an important role in the health of our bodies and is an essential ingredient in our body’s ability to heal, promote normal tissue growth, and healthy cell development.  Having a regular and easily absorbable form of vitamin C in our diet is very important and since vitamin C can be easily destroyed through the cooking process, it is important to include raw fruits and vegetables in your diet.  One easy way to do this is to include a raw herbal and food powder into your routine, like our new ‘C’ Powder!

Use our ‘C’ Powder daily to maintain happy levels of vitamin C in your gorgeous body and take larger (1 tablespoon 2 times daily) when avoiding unwanted colds and the ‘flu.  In addition to being delicious mixed with water, juices, and smoothies, 'C' Powder is a treat on its own taken directly from the bottle.  It is sweet, tangy, and very pleasing to the  taste buds!

Learn more about the convenience of herbal powders and why we like them here.  Read about 'C' Powder's ingredients below:

POMEGRANATE Punica granatum: High in vitamin C, Pomegranate also contains antioxidants and helps to inhibit the powers of free radicals which play a role in causing disease.  Pomegranate is also anti-inflammatory, reduces blood pressure, and supports cardiovascular health.

HIBISCUS Hibiscus sabdariffa: Another great source of vitamin C, Hibiscus also contains vitamin A, beta-carotene boosting its antioxidant abilities.  Hibiscus reduces high blood pressure and high cholesterol while supporting general heart health.  Good also for the treatment of colds and flu.

GOJI BERRY Lycium barbarum: Vitamin C, B1, B2, iron, selenium, zinc, and a variety of amino acids are just some of the constituents you will find in this mighty red berry.  Nourishing to the liver and kidney, Goji Berries are said not only to be a longevity tonic, but also able to promote a cheerful disposition to those taking it.  Builds up the bodies resources of hormones, white blood cells, and life-creating enzymes.

MACA Lepidium meyenii: An adaptogenic herb, Maca is also an immune tonic.  Nutrient rich, Maca contains vitamin C and E, calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, phosphorus and amino acids.  Regulates energy levels without overstimulating.

LUCUMA Pouteria lucuma: A natural sweetener that is high in antioxidants, contains beta-carotene, niacin, iron, B vitamins, dietary fiber, and small levels of vitamin C.  Lucuma is very, very yummy.

'C' Powder is available in our 1 ounce and 3 ounce sizes in our S H O P.