Thyme is anti-viral and anti-bacterial, great for coughs that are ‘wet’ (think mucous) head colds, flu and low fevers. It contains high levels of a very active essential oil thymol. Mixed with other herbs it helps acute bronchitis.. This wonderful herb has so many benefits, why not add more into your cooking?
Yes, that delicious rosemary which is oh-so-good atop potatoes, squash and all manner of root vegetables is seriously good for you.
Sage is antiseptic and one of my favorite medicines for swollen glands. The tea by itself tastes acrid but with honey it has a lovely taste. I will even gargle with it when I know my glands and immunity needs some extra love.
Let’s start with parsley, which honestly is way too much of a rockstar to be relegated to the role of a lowly garnish. Parsley is loaded with carotenoids (Lutein, Lycopene), folic acid, Vitamins A,C, & K, plus iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese.
Motherwort is great for stress and anxiety, especially if it is related to hormonal shifts and cycles. It is excellent support for PMS and would be great for births where a laboring mom’s hormones are shifting like crazy. These dramatic hormonal shifts can affect those around the woman. Keeping yourself calm and your own cortisol levels down is quite a task! Motherwort may be just what you need.
I love recommending hibiscus to birth workers, especially those who work in hospitals. Afterall, the most virulent, hard to kill germs and viruses live in hospitals. Bring on the vitamin C! And if it’s delivered in a delicious tea after hours of a labor and birth? All the better.
I often use Rose Petals for my clients, whether they are birth workers or not. Roses are good for the heart, and excellent to support the nervous system and for grief and depression. In this world, and with birth the way it is, who couldn’t use a little Rose Petal?
Self-care is crucially important for all people, but I feel birth workers are more susceptible to putting their own needs on the backburner while we take care of others. But you have to take care of yourself first to ensure you’re doing the best work you can possibly do under all that stress.
Schisandra has many uses, memory and brain function among them. Specifically it improves concentration and helps calm the mind - something we could all use some help with these days! It is also used for certain types of asthma, night sweats, and urinary frequency.
It is most known for helping with any cause of brain fog, particularly menopausal brain fog, brain fog associated with overuse of cannabis, brain fog due to anxiety. It is also good for what one wise herbalist calls “stagnant depression”, which can cause lowered mental acuity. Holy Basil can be also be used for ADHD, and even can help brain injuries.