Cooling Herbs & Tips for Summertime
We are in the midst of summertime in the northern hemisphere, and here in the Bay Area, we are just starting to feel an increase in temperatures, although our heat waves tend to arrive later in the summer months. A mix of sunshine, warmer weather, summertime adventures, and pregnancy and/or postpartum means we could all use some tips for staying hydrated and cool.
As an herbalist and full-spectrum doula on the Birth Realm team, I love offering our clients the following recipes and tricks for drinking, spritzing, and generally maintaining a sense of chill, if you will, even when the going gets hot.
First things first, stay hydrated. The recommendation is to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, more if you are sweating a lot. Adding a squeeze of lemon, a few slices of cucumber, or cut-up melon into your water bottle can add a cooling effect and entice you to drink more water. The addition of a pinch of salt adds minerals and electrolytes to help maintain a healthy mineral balance in the body and support adequate hydration.
Herbal sprays with flower waters, known as hydrosols, can be cooling and refreshing on hot days. One of my favorites is rose water hydrosol which supports glowing healthy skin and can be sprayed on the body after sun exposure to cool and hydrate from the outside in. Mountain Rose Herbs has a lovely variety of flower hydrosols including rose, rose geranium, spearmint, and lavender. Keep a bottle by your nursing station, in your bag or car, or in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation. Hydrosols are generally considered external remedies due to their content of essential oils that should not be ingested.
Cooling herbal infusions. When we think of hot weather we may not think of making a nice hot cup of tea however many herbs that are supportive during pregnancy and postpartum are considered cooling energetically, meaning they may calm inflammation, cool excess heat in the body, or, may have a physically cooling sensation, like spearmint.
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus): This classic pregnancy tonic is abundant in vitamins and minerals that support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum including calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and trace minerals. Both the leaf and fruit are considered cooling energetically.
Strawberry leaf (Fragraria vesca): Similar to red raspberry leaf in constituents and properties with a slightly different flavor.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): Known as the “gladdening herb” lemon balm is a favorite for uplifting the spirits and for adding a lovely lemony flavor to tea blends. Lemon balm is considered a nervine due to its calming effect on the nervous system.
Rosehip (Rosa spp.): The tart and wonderful fruit of the rose plant. Rosehips are rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids that support glowing skin and a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. They have a slightly sour flavor that is considered cooling energetically.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata): Plants in the mint family have properties that support the digestive system. Spearmint is known as a carminative and can calm digestive upset, gas, and bloating. The cooling mint flavor adds a nice touch to tea blends and the hydrosol feels good on the skin and smells amazing.
The herbs above can be made into a lovely tasting infusion that can be drunk hot or iced, or, for a fun alternative, herbal infusion ice cubes or popsicles that can be stored in the freezer to have on hand any time. To make the infusion iced, or to make ice cubes or popsicles, simply double the amount of herbal blend added to water and add honey or another sweetener.
Cooling Herbal Infusion
(Recipe based on dried herbs)
2 parts red raspberry leaf
2 parts strawberry leaf
1 lemon balm leaf
1 part rosehips
1 part spearmint
Blend them all together and store your blend in an airtight container.
To make 1 quart (4 cups) of infusion use 1 heaping tablespoon of herbal blend per cup of hot water. Cover and let steep for 15-30 minutes.
To make iced tea, ice cubes, or popsicles, double the amount of herbal mix. For example, to make 1 quart (4 cups) of infusion, add 2 tablespoons of herbs per cup of water. Cover and let steep for 15-30 minutes. Optionally, add honey or another sweetener to taste before freezing in ice cube trays or popsicle molds. Get creative and add some fruit to your popsicles for additional texture, sweetness, and beauty!
Enjoy these tips and stay cool this summer!
Written by Whitney Staeb
