Herbal Hug

The Wattle is starting to bloom

This burst of colour caught my eye on a gloomy Winter’s day. I Googled and I think it is Pycnoporus coccineus.

Other than when I buy them fresh from the grocery store, my preferred way to work with mushrooms is in powder form.

I buy them from Ninth Path, an Australian company. I really like their mushroom powders. I put them in tea blends, soup and casserole.

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Perhaps I’m getting swept up in the World Cup fever but today’s herbal tea blend is based on the idea that each herb in the blend contributes to the overall goal.

In this case, the goal is the calming of the vagus nerve specifically in the shoulder, neck, head region and reducing inflammation in that area.

This blend/ team started with Chamomile (Matricaria recutita). It is supported by:
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) to move in the direction of the head;
Ginger powder (Zingiber officinale) for warmth and movement;
Reishi powder (Ganoderma spp);for immune modulation; and
Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) for protecting inflamed tissues.

Winter Solstice tea

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Elder Flower (Sambucus nigra)
Golden Rod (Solidago canadensis)
Ginger (fresh)
St John wort (Hypericum perforatum)

This tea blend is in honour of the Winter Solstice and a celebration of the darkest, shortest day, or at least celebrating that we’ve reached this point.
The light will come back slowly and the days will gradually get longer.

I made herbal lozenges. The consistency is more like a pastille. Either way, 4 ingredients and it is on hand if needed. Made from honey, Marshmallow root powder (Althaea officinalis), Calendula tincture (Calendula officinalis) and Yarrow tincture (Achillea millefolium).

Rosemary flower and the bee

Rosemary features in many of my herbal tea blends. It grows really well in my part of the world. It flowers for months which is great because the bees love the flowers. I took lots of pictures. This is one of my favourites. The bee and the Rosemary flower. They are a perfect fit.

This herbal tea blend is for support when working through grief.

Rosemary- remembrance
Rose petals- heart healing
Calendula- letting the light shine in the darkness
Hawthorn berry- heart healing
Motherwort- heart healing

RIP Bec Collison.

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18 to 24 May 2026 is Botanic Gardens week.

https://www.bganz.org.au/news-events/botanic-gardens-week/

This is a picture I took at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney in April 2026.

What is the herbal tea blend that I am drinking and why?
Oats (Green plant), Linden flower and
Hawthorn berry.

I’m drinking this blend for nervous system and heart support.
I prefer whole Hawthorn berries. If I’m making a blend that is specifically for the heart I include both the whole berry and the crushed berry.

Because I included the whole berry I used a different brewing method. I put the dried herbs in a saucepan, added boiling water, let it simmer on the lowest heat for a couple of hours and then let it cool. I could have put in the fridge overnight but I really wanted to drink it, so it didn’t make it to the fridge!

The colour (from the berries) is a bioflavonoid so the more colour the better. When you see the colour from the berries you can literally see the healing compound.

What is the herbal tea blend that I am drinking and why?
Nettle leaf, Marshmallow root and Rosehips.
Nettle leaf is a nutritional powerhouse. However, it is a drying herb. My body type is already very dry so I combine the Nettle leaf with the moistening Marshmallow root. I include Rosehips for Vitamin C and flavour.
I make this blend using the long infusion method ie pour boiling water over, let cool, refrigerate overnight.
I’m not a fan of cold drinks so I warm up with boiling water. I drink it in my mug. The glass in the picture is for aesthetics!