drink herbal infusions daily

I was super-stressed over this sudden moving situation – and then remembered that I had oatstraw in the freezer! Tincture of oats and oatstraw tea are prescribed by some herbalists as a remedy/support for nervous exhaustion and stress. I’d never tried it for that specific reason before, but thought I’d give it a shot.

Well…it worked pretty well! I can’t attribute my bounce-back 100% to oatstraw (that would be bad science; correlation != causation and all that), but I do think it is helping.

...but when I do it’s great. Just had a quart of nettles yesterday. While I had some coffee as well, it was AMAZING how energetic I felt. Definitely not all due to the caffeine.

Not that I got a lot DONE, but still.

The fresh herbs I ordered came in yesterday, so I made some nettle infusion last night, and drank it at work today. Delicious! Almost didn’t strain it, but that would’ve been dumb.

There is also a Mason jar of oatstraw/oattop infusion brewing at home, for me to drink with milk and honey this evening.

Decided to start working on this goal again, only to find that pantry moths had gotten into ALL of my nettles and oatstraw. Curses! One more item I must keep predominantly in the freezer, I suppose.

I have reordered these from Mountain Rose Herbs, and will be trying again as soon as they arrive.

I’m starting to get into the groove of drinking nettle infusion daily, and I think I’m noticing a difference in my overall well-being. Today was an exceptionally good day, which could have been due to any number of things, but I think the nettles helped. If nothing else, drinking infusions keeps me hydrated.

I’m drinking nettle infusion right now and had some nettles and oatstraw yesterday. One thing that’s great so far about working for a chiropractor is that I’m more motivated to take care of my own health. It’s a comforting ritual also to make the infusions in the evening and strain them in the morning.

Very tasty (a little tannic for some, I’m sure, but I like it – it’s almost like drinking regular tea in that way).

Not strictly an infusion, but I’ve also been enjoying rose petal tea the last few days. Again, not to everyone’s taste, I’m sure, but I find it lovely. One other thing I’ve tried: ice water with just a teaspoon or two of rose-petal infused apple cider vinegar. It sounds odd I know, but if you like rose-flavored things it’s well worth trying! There’s not enough vinegar for it to be noticably vinegar-y; it’s sort of like drinking water with lemon, but with a floral note.

It’s going to take a bit for me to get used to the taste again. It’s definitely a very GREEN flavor. Still, it feels good to be drinking them. Always gives me a surge of energy – not like caffeine, more sustainable.

I also ordered some new nettles (the ones I am drinking now are very old and almost gone) and some rose hips and rose petals, because I have read that roses are very good for a number of things I’m experiencing (including mopeyness and depression). Plus…I just love the taste in my “mind’s tongue” of tart rose hips plus a floral rosiness! With a touch of honey. Yum!

I need to experiment with ways of straining – it’s more of a pain to do this now that I don’t have a garbage disposal in my sink. I need a method that doesn’t create a big mess.

I’m trying something new: brewing my infusions in my French press. I know, you coffee fanatics probably think I’m nuts, but it’s honestly a pretty straightforward and uncluttered way to do this. At least compared to my old method of Mason jar, strainer, etc.

...but now I am back home and had about 3 c. of nettle infusion earlier today. I have some oatstraw brewing too, and will drink some of it tonight (very soothing, not so good for morning but great for evening relaxation…).