5 Herbs to Balance Fall Energy

COMMON THEMES AND AILMENTS

Below are some common themes we see in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

• Letting go emotionally and spiritually

• Supporting the bodies ability to relax 

• Gentle transition into the dark season of the year

• Allowing the process of turning inwards and getting slower to take hold without resistance

• Renewing our structure, stability, and sense of routine

Both Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine recognize common ailments in autumn that are listed below.

• Upper respiratory tract infections especially ones that are viral in nature

• Sore throat

• Coughs

• Dryness in the skin, digestive system, etc. 

• Seasonal allergies

• Dehydration

• Anxiety

• Stress

So, let's go over a few herbs that can support us during this time! 

There are a few classes of herbs that we want to pay attention to which are

• Moist herbs to combat the dryness

• Warming herbs that combat the coolness of the season

• Grounding herbs that have an effect on the nervous system and lend themselves towards stress relief

• Antivirals to boost the immune system

LINDEN
Tilia Platyphyllos

Our first fall herb is Linden. Linden is a common herb that shows up across a lot of cultures including Eastern Europe, Western Folk Medicine, and in Latin American communities as a supportive herb for cardiovascular health and nervous system tension. 

It is considered a nervine, an antispasmodic, and it is also hypotensive, meaning that it can lower blood pressure. Due to its significant effects on the cardiovascular system, it is also considered a cardio tonic, relaxing the heart and the blood vessels which can help prevent arteriosclerosis and hypertension. 

Linden helps with migraines because it is an antispasmodic. As a nervine, it is hypnotic, meaning that it can support the transition towards relaxation. It might not make you sleepy, but it can make you feel very relaxed.

It is also antiviral, adding an effective immune system support at this time of the year and is high in antioxidants which can bolster the system in general. 

I also really love linden because energetically and psycho-spiritually, I think of linden as a HEART herb, as in it relaxes a layer of emotional, mental and physical tension so that we can get to the HEART of the matter in our lives. 

It makes a valuable herb to work with after a traumatic event because it helps us let grief move through us since it supports systemic relaxation. I find it to be an incredibly valuable herb for emotional and spiritual work as well.

If you recall from last weeks episode, the fall is associated with the emotion of grief and letting go in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Because of this association, Linden is an effective herbal ally for this time of the year. 

I suggest working with it as a nice strong daily tea!

ELDERBERRY
Sambucus Nigra

Our next herb is everyone’s favorite fall herb: elderberry! If elderberry isn’t a gateway herb, then I don’t know what is. 

Elderberry makes the list because it is delicious and impactful as an antiviral herb, helping us to defend ourselves and fight off the cold season cooties! 

This herb is an expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic, and an antiviral.

In particular, elderberry works by increasing cytokine production and strengthening the cell membranes to prevent viral penetration so that viruses can’t reproduce. 

Elderberry makes a powerful anti-viral for ailments like flus, colds, herpes, shingles, and upper respiratory tract infections, and it contains high amounts of vitamin C and Vitamin A! 

It also makes a great tonic that can be used everyday during cold and flu season or when you are sick and need extra help to fight off colds. 

You can take elderberry as a tea, tincture, or syrup! Elderberry is a versatile herb because you can reap its benefits in various methods of consumption.

MARSHMALLOW
Althaea Officinalis

Our third herb for fall wellness is Marshmallow Root. I add marshmallow to this list because it makes a fantastic ally for combating the dryness associated with the cooler seasons. 

Marshmallow is one of the primary demulcents in our Western Materia Medica. When you make a tea out of this, the liquid will come out a bit thicker than just normal water, and this is because marshmallow has a high starch content.

Marshmallow is an herb that is considered to be mucilaginous, meaning that it has a lot of mucilage. If you have ever made chia seed pudding and noticed how when exposed to water, chia gets kind of slimy and gummy, that is mucilage, and marshmallow root has that same quality. 

This demulcent quality means that marshmallow can be used to soothe raw and inflamed tissue and has a specific affinity for the digestive system and the urinary tract system. It is very soothing as well to the bladder, the kidneys, and the respiratory system. 

I often give marshmallow to my clients who hold a lot of tension in the digestive system that causes ulcers and heartburn because it can be very soothing. It also neutralizes excess acid in the stomach, so if you are feeling HOT in the stomach, drink marshmallow. 

It’s going to be best taken as a tea, but this is a special one because you will want to use a cold infusion instead of a hot infusion. This means that when you go to brew this tea, instead of adding hot water, you want to add cold water. This will pull the starches out better and make it more soothing for the digestive system. 

Alternatively, If you are adding marshmallow to a blend of herbs, sometimes I like to first brew it with hot water and then let it cool down and then put it in the fridge to pull out more of those starches. This is obviously if I am willing to wait a little bit longer to actually drink the tea, so it depends on what you are making the drink for.

In a pinch, a hot infusion is totally fine and you will still get good benefits from it!

CHAMOMILE
Matricaria Recutita

Chamomile is one of my introductory herbs that I love because it is widely available, and most people already know that it can be supportive for relaxation. If you are just getting into herbs, chamomile is a great place to start.

Remember that we love widely accessible herbs!

We use the flowers of chamomile in herbal medicine, and chamomile can be used for a wide variety of ailments.

Below are just some of chamomile’s uses.

• Mild cases of insomnia

• Anxiety

• Loss of appetite

• Gastric ulcers

• Diarrhea

• Colds

• Aches and pains

• Tension headaches 

• Colic in babies

• Managing inflammation

• Vertigo

• Managing tension headaches

I like chamomile as a fall herb specifically because it is a fast acting nervine that is warming and supports healthy digestion, and it meets a great deal of fall needs we might have. 

A nervine is an herb that affects the nervous system. It might be stimulating like coffee or tea, it can be regulating and toning like oatstraw and milky oats are, and it can be sedating like chamomile is.

Now, chamomile also has bitter properties. The bitter taste, by which we mean bitter compounds, stimulates the digestive system to secrete digestive fluids, including enzymes and bile from the gallbladder. They will also stimulate the liver into making bile which is an important part of the digestive process. 

Now, what is fascinating about chamomile is that it is also a sedative nervine, so it can be incredibly helpful in managing stress and supporting the downward movements of the digestive system because of how it affects the nervous system and how it stimulates the digestive process. 

If stress hits you with tension and IBS symptoms and the like, chamomile is a truly effective herb for these issues. 

Chamomile can be really soothing to the stomach when you have digestive inflammation. It is also an antispasmodic so it relaxes the whole body, and it can be good for sleep, stress, and gas.

GINGER
Zingiber Officinali

Our final herb is one that shows up in a lot of seasonal cuisine and is a warming antiviral: ginger!

Ginger is commonly used in asian dishes in my household and in immune boosting medicines in my apothecary. 

Ginger is my go to herbal catalyst in most formulations.

An herbal catalyst is an herb that increases movement in the systems because of its pungent taste and warming properties. A catalyst simply helps other herbs do their job because of how it moves energy in the body, perhaps by affecting the liver, the circulatory system, the digestive system, and so on. 

Ginger is an antiviral and is good for colds and flus, and it is often recommended topically for inflammation, muscle cramps, menstrual cramps, and soft tissue healing. Ginger can help to reduce inflammation and repair damaged joints, alleviate arthritis pain and reduce nausea as well.

We often hear about ginger being a first trimester herb because of its ability to soothe muscles, headache symptoms, and morning sickness. This is because ginger has a high essential oil content.

Like all essential oils, ginger soothes stomach cramps, indigestion, gas, and bloating. Remember, all essential oils will have an effect on the smooth muscle of the body, which is the organ tissue of the digestive system.

Because of its essential oil content, I most prefer ginger as a tea, fresh or dried. I do find that it is one of the rare herbs that translates well into pre-bagged tea. You can eat this plant, drink its tea, add it to your meals or desserts, and so much more.

You really can’t go wrong by adding ginger to your medicine or kitchen cabinet during the fall because it adds that warming flavor to fall soups and desserts.

IN CONCLUSION

So, there you have it! These are my top five herbs for balance in the fall season. 

Remember that when we are thinking about seasonal balance, there are overarching seasonal energetic themes, but balance will also be specific to you, your circumstances, your context, where you live, and so on.

We might not need to work towards balance so aggressively if we live in the subtropics compared to living in a more temperate climate where we see the seasons change so drastically. 

Hopefully these suggestions help you manage any uncomfortable aspects of the season and allow you to lean in and access the nectar of Autumn! 

Listen to this post on the Herbs + Ease Podcast for a more detailed educational experience!

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Kristen Prosen