The Wonderful World of Nutritive Herbs

A category such as nutritive herbs runs deep into the soil. These herbs are staples in the herbalism community, and your body will thank you for incorporating them into your routine.

What is a nutritive herb and how are they different from any other herb? The answer is simple: nutritive herbs contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Believe it or not, nutritive herbs can also contain proteins, fats, and carbohydrates as well—the daily essentials our bodies need. There are so many wonderful nutritive herbs to choose from, but I will highlight a few of my favorites.

Nettle

Nettle (Urtica Dioica) is a nutritive herb powerhouse. It may look like an eyesore to some, as it looks somewhat like a weed. Many people would walk right past Nettle without realizing the beauties, qualities, and benefits this herb has to offer. Nettle is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and K. It is also a source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. This mineral-rich herb has an affinity for our nervous system and can help keep us calm in hectic times. Additionally, Nettle comes to the rescue in times of seasonal change. It is known to support a healthy histamine response. Histamine is in charge communicating when an outside irritant is causing an imbalance within our bodies. When our histamine response is activated, we may experience watery/itchy eyes, runny/stuffy noses, sneezing etc. Seasonal stressors like pollen, cotton, animal hair, and dander can really make it tough to want to be outside. In these moments, taking Nettle can be helpful to support a healthier response in our bodies to outside irritants so we may enjoy the outdoors with ease.

One of the best ways to consume Nettle is by tincture, as our bodies will absorb the plant constituents faster, and we may feel relief faster. WishGarden includes Nettle in our Deep Stress Daily Calm and Kick-Ass Allergy Seasonal Rescue formulas.

Red Clover

As a part of the Pea family, Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) has been known to work its magic amongst a variety of needs considering all of its nutritive qualities. For many years, red clover has been available as feed for livestock. From a spiritual perspective, amongst Druids, red clover has been known to help ward off evil spirits. Traditionally it has also been used for many years for respiratory health. It acts as an expectorant and helps the body to expel of any excess mucous from bronchioles. It also supports detoxification and helps your body retain moisture.

Red clover can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, whether it be capsules, teas, or tinctures. You can find red clover in our Respiratory Strength formula, which can be incorporated into your daily routine to promote healthy oxygenation and respiratory function.

One important note to take when harvesting the herb is to make sure that you avoid any plant material that appears to be brown. This is an indication that the plant material has oxidized and lost its nutritional value.

Oat Straw

A popular cereal grain for the last 3,000 years, Oat Straw (Avena Sativa) is most well known for its use as seed for horses. However, as time travels, the medicinal benefits of Oat Straw have become widely known. Nowadays, Oat Straw is valued for its amazing restorative qualities. In fact, this herb contains vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as B vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. In herbal medicine, it is believed that Oat Straw can support mood, healthy sleep patterns, and times of worry. The herb is most effective when used as a tonic, or in other words, regularly over a period time. Oat Straw helps nourish our nervous system, especially of those who have been heavily depleted by stress and exhaustion. Oat Straw comes with many perks. In some cases, you can even use Oat Straw for your skin, which is shy it is found in many body care products.

A great way to extract the minerals and nutrients from Oat Straw is by preparing a nutritive tea. Nutritive teas must be steeped for about eight hours to ensure the minerals are fully extracted.

Here's one of my favorite nutritive tea recipes:

• Add Equal parts of dried Oat Straw, Nettle, Red Clover, Reishi Mushroom, Hawthorne Berries, and a dash of dried Stevia Leaf to a French Press.
• Pour in hot water and leave out on the counter overnight.
• Drink hot or iced upon waking for a flood of minerals, nutrients, and heart and immune support to start out your day right!

Taylor Marie Fleshman is an aspiring herbalist. She is currently attending courses through Herbalism Roots in Denver, Colorado. Her goal is to teach her community about the power behind medicinal herbs and the importance in staying connected with Mother Nature. She works as a customer journey representative here at WishGarden Herbs.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.