December 2024

ROOTS

• Roots For Stoking The Digestive Fire
• Nourishing Roots
• Roots That Boost The Immune System
• Roots For Unwinding

We are at the point when fall turns into winter, the temperatures are below freezing, and all you want to do is snuggle under a blanket.

Roots for stoking the digestive fire

Aromatic plants

Scent is carried by air. Therefore, aromatic herbs were associated with the air element in the body. The respiratory system is related to the element of air, but so is the digestive system, when air gets trapped in the small intestines, leading to bloating and gas.

Incense medicine

The presence of aroma in plants signifies the presence of volatile oils. Volatile oils developed as a language for plants to exchange information. When you brush your hand on the lavender bush, it lets all neighboring plants know that you are visiting.

Volatile oils also protect plants by boasting antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal compounds. Our ancestors learned to use aromatic plants to cleanse and purify their temples and homes. Aromatic herbs were used as traditional herbal medicine worldwide.

The vagus nerve

The vagus nerve, named from the Latin word for wandering, is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It is the main nerve of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The vagus nerve manages blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune functions, and mood. It transfers information from the brain to the gut and from the gut to the brain.

Aromatic herbs activate the vagus nerve, slowing heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and promoting deep breathing and blood flow to the digestive system. When we diffuse them into the air or ingest them, they stimulate the vagus nerve and spread their volatile oils throughout the body.

The “wind” element typical of aromatic herbs can help move the body from the tension associated with the stress response to a more relaxed mode that promotes better digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Pungent herbs

Pungent herbs are a subtype of aromatic herbs that are warming and drying. Their spicy taste is created by the presence of aromatic volatile oils, resins, and mustard glycosides, which stimulate the tissues and nerve endings of the mouth with a sensation of sharp and fiery heat.

In fall and winter, when the flow of Qi in the body slows down and life processes, including digestion, tend to become stagnant, pungent herbs can light a fire under our inner cauldron, aiding digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and elimination of toxins.

Ginger

Ginger, a warm, spicy, almost fruity root, has been used for centuries to treat digestive complaints. It is a warming, drying herb that stimulates blood flow and relaxes muscles and nerves.

 It  primarily stimulates blood flow to the GI tract and the pelvic bowl. It acts as a carminative, increasing the heat of the digestive fire, improving sluggish and incomplete digestion, and relaxing muscle cramps.

Ginger has a long history of use as a remedy to decrease nausea and vomiting associated with several conditions, including motion sickness, post-surgery nausea, and morning sickness in pregnant women.  

Although mostly safe to use, but as with all pungent herbs, ginger, should be used in moderation. A high dosage may cause heartburn, diarrhea, and mouth irritation.

 In the Ayurvedic tradition, Agni represents the fire’s transformative force and digestive aspect. Our strength, health, and life depend on Agni. Without a strong digestive fire, balanced gut health isn’t possible.

 Aromatic and pungent herbs can stoke the fire of digestion in fall and winter to allow a better flow of energy. At the same time, the warming energy of aromatic and pungent herbs can be drying. Since fall and winter are dry seasons, it is crucial to balance the drying effect of aromatic and pungent herbs with demulcent herbs.