Hey there Friends 🙂
Long before I took it over, I’ve loved the EZ Herbs line. It was often a recommendation when I worked as a wellness consultant, my favorite tincture blend being Peaceful Spirit as a calming formula to help an anxious mind. I recently picked this blend back up since it is not only calming to the spirit, but has anti-viral properties, deeming itself “essential” in my book a during these times. Since taking it, have been finding it easier to breathe deep, think clearly and feel less reactive. Almost like a bit of meditation in a bottle for me. It’s a combination of St. John’s Wort, Skull cap, Passionflower and Lemon Balm…ooooh Lemon Balm. Melissa officinalis, how I love thee. Freshly picked and infused in hot water with gathered rose petals, as I recently learned, is like a tickle to your taste buds and so relaxing. In addition to it’s calming support to the health of the nervous system, it has anti-viral properties that it is known for which makes it a perfect plant to utilize if you’re finding people are us are getting sick. From one of Ellen’s previous newsletters, ‘an Herbalist from medieval times said that Lemon Balm is distilled to strengthen the heart and lift the spirits.’ In the evenings I’ll compliment my Peaceful Spirit with EZ Relax Tea that I’ll even share with my toddler on nights when he is a little more wound up. I am pleased to be experiencing a noticeable change: Easier sleep, more relaxed shoulders and a more thoughtful mode as I move throughout my day.
In one quick conversation with Ellen recently, I mentioned that I was gifted a Motherwort plant at the beginning of this whole EZ herbs transition. It was perfect timing as I had become curious about it after being reminded of it’s Latin name Leonurus cardiaca : Lion’s heart. In Europe, it’s name is “Mother-Herb”, quite fitting as it’s known to be protective, and has been used as a heart tonic to help with physical and emotional ailments of the heart since Greek and Roman times. What caught my attention is its use for stress-induced anxious energy surrounding the heart. This is often where I feel nervousness and was instantly drawn to learning more. I said that I really wanted to make a formula with Motherwort and Lemon Balm and I wondered out loud what else might be complementary to these two?
Ellen instantly said “Rose.” She has recently been connecting with the wisdom and comfort that Rose can offer our hearts; a sweet combination of smooth yet strong support brought about by boundaries – the prickly thorns that protect the flower so it may fully and unabashedly bloom. We both agreed that a gentle and effective herb would be the rounding out of this formula – Holy Basil, an adaptogenic herb that helps tonify and create balance within our systems, offering broad-spectrum homeostasis. What a beautiful balance of herbs for uplifting, heart-opening, cardio-supportive action, available this weekend, just in time for a special Mother’s Day gift. I am hard at work in the apothecary restocking all of Ellen’s original formulas as well, so be sure you check back into the website if there’s a favorite that you’ve been missing. *Mullein & Horehound Tincture, anyone* Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for new products, information and sales.
Being a Texas gal AND an herbalist means a long-standing familiarity with the plants around me. The smells, especially after a rain, make my heart simultaneously jump and melt, reminding me of home and my childhood. As I get older, I find myself giddily matching names and healing properties to the plants that I grew up skipping alongside, offering the information to whoever might be strolling alongside me, whether they care to know or not. Ellen recently snapped this shot of me one evening while we chatted in her garden (which is absolutely magical and serene and wild with native flora). I wanted to collect some fresh yarrow for wound salve oil and the last bit of rose petals from her bountiful blooming bushes to put up one more batch of Rosewater before the season is up. I wandered a bit, admiring the hues of green and pops of flowers and asking the names of plants I recognized but haven’t become familiar with. I felt so rooted among the native plants and, as my toddler would say, the “happy happy flowers.” We chatted and brainstormed and giggled and connected, a rare occasion for the time being, and every minute of it was absorbed.
I am thankful to be where I am. To have access to areas where I can observe and connect to the land, and utilize abundant native growth. To be connected to the changing of the seasons by not just the temps but the plants. To be plugged into a community of knowledgeable herbalists and informed practitioners that offer guidance, share experiences and teach skills. I am in a place where I can share that abundance and long-standing wisdom with my loved ones and this herb-loving audience. I am so grateful. Thank you for your continued support and attention and I look forward to continue sharing what I learn and the experiences that I gain as I stroll down this path with the plants with you.
Sending Many Green Blessings, Corey G