A Closer Look: What Are Tonic Herbs?
In herbalism there are three prominent schools of thought: Ayurvedic (originating from India), Traditional Chinese, and Western. In each there is a category of herbs that promote rejuvenation, regeneration and radiant health. In the Ayurvedic and Traditional schools of thought, this herbal family is known as the "tonic" group. In Western herbal medicine, this family is known as the "adaptive" group. Though a learned herbalist would make distinctions between these two groups (i.e. not all tonic herbs are Adaptogen herbs), here at the Nourishing Herbalist we consider the two groups for our purposes to be fairly synonymous.
Tonic herbs are holistic, nourishing plants that facilitate strength and wellness in the body. When used regularly they increase the body's ability to ward off disease and cope with stress while slowing the aging process and producing an all-encompassing state of energy, balance and health -- or, homeostasis. Simply put, they're "superfoods". And, tonic herbs make the best traveling companions on the journey to vitality. These medicines of nature aren't limited to any one task of healing, but rather they facilitate healing of the whole being, bolstering the immune-system and, consequently, the body's ability to heal itself. They will increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, emotional and environmental stressors and promote the return to a balanced state, eradicating the all-too-common symptoms of anxiety and fatigue. *It's important to note here that tonic herbs don’t take away the stresses found in our chosen lifestyle. That's our job! But they can improve our response to stress. Perhaps our favorite aspect of tonic herbs (other than the fact that they're tasty!) is that they're safe to use when nursing or pregnant, and for young children. Can I get a hallelujah?! If you haven't picked up on this already, an herb must meet three criteria in order to be classified as "tonic": 1) It must be non-toxic (that is, no side-effects or danger with long-term use); 2) It must promote wellness throughout the being, not just in one physical system (i.e. circulatory, respiratory, etc); and, 3) It must facilitate a state of "balance" or homeostasis. One last thing to note is that these herbs require repeated use to notice the benefits of their healing and strengthening qualities. If you're a tea drinker, a daily cup (or more!) of tea brewed with one or a combination of these herbs is an ideal way to ingest them. However, for children or fussy "I-don't-drink-pee-water" adults (read: non-tea drinking) the most nourishing and easy way to cash in on these beneficial herbs is to incorporate them into your daily diet. We will discuss many of these herbs over the coming months along with some simple tips and yummy recipes to jump-start your creativity. Here are some tonic herbs we'll be discussing at the Nourishing Herbalist in the upcoming months:
We hope that you'll try these life-giving, rejuvenating and regenerating botanicals and discover just how much they can pave your way to vitality! |
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