18/07/2021
Heath Tip of The Week
Cooling herbs
As summer comes around again, many of us are looking for ways to keep cool while enjoying the sun. A sweltering day may have us longing for ice cream and cold drinks, but these treats provide only temporary relief.
Looking for a way to cool down from the inside out? Cue herbs.
You may not have considered medicinal herbs as an option for cooling down on a hot day, but there are plenty of plant companions that may help you kick the heat.
Herbs aren’t regulated. That means it’s important to do your research to ensure the herbs you buy are high quality and unadulterated.
Some herbs can interact with prescribed medications or cause allergic reactions. Be sure to rule out possible interactions and allergies with the help of your doctor and a qualified herbalist.
Always talk with a healthcare professional before you begin taking herbs, especially If you’re pregnant, nursing, living with preexisting conditions, or giving herbs to children.
Understanding ‘cooling’ herbs
Most herbal traditions classify herbs as either heating, cooling, or neutral. So, if the heat’s got you down, focus on herbs that are known for their cooling properties.
According to Benjamin Zappin, LAc, herbalist, and co-founder of Five Flavours Herbs says cooling herbs may fall into one or both of the following categories: refrigerants and diaphoretics.
Refrigerants work by lowering your body’s temperature and cooling its tissues. They include:
lemongrass
chrysanthemum
lemon balm
lavender
spearmint
peppermint
chamomile
Diaphoretics encourage perspiration, or sweating. They include:
peppermint
lemon balm
catnip
elderflower
chamomile
It may feel counterintuitive to use an herb that encourages sweating. But Zappin notes that many cultures in hot climates throughout the world use chili products to work up a sweat, since sweating is basically your body’s version of air conditioning.
Still, don’t worry about dripping with sweat after using herbs. The effect of diaphoretics is much more subtle.
According to classical Ayurvedic medicine, it classifies foods and herbs according to six “tastes.” These are:
sweet
sour
salty
bitter
astringent
pungent
Similarly, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classifies five tastes for foods and herbs. They are:
sweet
sour
salty
acrid
bitter
The tastes of a herb or food determine what kind of action they’ll have in your body. According to an Ayurvedic expert, sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes all have cooling actions.
“The most heating taste is salty, then sour, then pungent,” she says.
Chilies, for example, are considered both pungent and astringent in Ayurveda, says the expert. This means that though they taste hot and are heating to the tissues, they do have some cooling qualities.
While sweet taste is also cooling, it’s important to choose foods that are mildly sweet, like melon, peeled almonds, or milk if you’re able to digest it. This ensures that you’re not offsetting the benefit of the cooling quality with too much sugar.
The ‘action’ of herbs
She emphasizes that there’s a big difference between something that’s cool to the touch or taste buds and something that actually cools your body down.
The latter refers to the “action” the herb has on the body, known as “vīrya” in Ayurveda.
“Most of us are deceived by all the ways that we try to achieve cooling,” Mannur says. “We try to achieve cooling by cool temperature, which only remains cool for a while. Once it interacts with the body temperature and the digestive fire acts on it, that cooling temperature is gone.”
And while the sensation of cold foods, like ice cream, may provide temporary psychological relief, it doesn’t actually do anything to lower your overall body temperature.
“The effect of that cooling temperature remains only while it’s in the mouth. The body doesn’t receive any cooling, but it keeps on asking, keeps on asking,” says Mannur. “So no matter how much ice cream you eat, you’re not going to feel a cooling effect in the body.”
On the other hand, cooling herbs act on your body’s tissues, not just your taste buds.
The subtle effects of heat
Herbal traditions say heat goes deeper than just the weather. According to Zappin, external expressions of heat can be physical as well as mental or emotional.
They may include:
pain
redness
swelling
agitation
aggression
anger
recklessness
racing thoughts
worry
“Our modern life and emphasis on productivity, rapid mentation, and technology inherently draws people from a state of quietude to a heated state of consciousness,” says Zappin.
In addition, some people may benefit from heat while others don’t.
“The body may have different metabolic needs in response to heat. Some respond well and need it to feel more alive and experience more vitality. For some people, it’s oppressive,” Zappin says.
Because herbal systems like Ayurveda and TCM approach healing from a whole-person perspective, the cooling herbs below can help bring balance to heat-induced issues that run deeper than just a day spent in the sun.
Cooling herbs: Benefits and uses
Try the herbs below to bring the temperature down.
Coriander (or cilantro in Spanish)
Coriander is considered a cooling herb. One study noted that coriander may have antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. It’s also been shown to have a positive effect on blood sugar on rats, though more studies including humans are needed.
How to use it: Coriander makes a great addition to soups, sauces, and salads. It’s a popular staple in guacamole.
Mint
Mint is well-known for its cooling sensation, and it’s often used in lip balms, cough syrups, and even alcoholic drinks (mojito, anyone?). Just a few varieties of mint include spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal.
Peppermint oil is used widely in herbal medicine for gastrointestinal issues.
According to a 2018 survey, peppermint oil may aid in abdominal muscle relaxation. A small 2020 study found that peppermint oil released in the small intestine, but not the colon, significantly reduced abdominal pain, discomfort, and irritable bowl syndrome severity.
It also has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and nerve-calming effects.
How to use it: Drink it as a tea, take it in capsules, or make a spritzer to spray on your body for instant relief.
Rose
Though technically not an herb, rose is a popular and versatile plant in traditional herbal medicine, with anti-inflammatory properties.
A 2017 review indicated that rose can:
ease pain
soothe burns
reduce depression
calm anxiety
improve sexual dysfunction
Still, most of these studies were conducted on animals. More conclusive results with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the benefits in humans.
How to use it: Rose is extremely versatile and can be used in aromatherapy or rose water or ingested as a tea.
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Lavender
This popular aromatherapy ingredient is commonly used in cosmetics and soaps. According to 2013 study, human studies indicate that lavender may be beneficial for:
anxiety
depression
insomnia
migraine headaches
How to use it: Diffuse it; apply it topically and you can add it to baths, cosmetics and beverages.
Dill
Dill is a culinary herb that’s been shown in traditional medicine to have antioxidant, antiprotozoal, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. A 2016 study noted that dill may be useful in soothing stomach upset and diabetes.
How to use it: Use dill to add flavor to soups, stews, sauces, dressings, and dips. It makes a great garnish for potatoes, goes well in omelets, and is commonly used to flavor pickles.
Pro tip: Because they’re fermented and sour, pickles are typically considered a heating food, so you might want to avoid eating them when you’re trying to cool down.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea is well known traditionally for its ability to soothe digestion, calm the nerves, and encourage sound sleep. This gentle herb packs a surprising punch.
According to a 2017 review, it may offer relief for an extensive number of maladies, including:
wounds, skin irritations, eczema, bruises, burns, and rashes
nerve conditions like neuralgia and sciatica
rheumatic pain and gout
ulcers, canker sores, and hemorrhoids
headache and migraine
mastitis and cracked ni***es
eye infections, blocked tear ducts, and conjunctivitis
Still, it’s important to note that there is a need for more human studies to confirm these findings.
How to use it: In addition to drinking tea, you can use chamomile oil topically to ease rashes, eczema, arthritis, and back pain.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus trees produce beautiful ornamental flowers that can be used to make a variety of remedies.
According to a 2020 study, the positive phytonutrient profile in hibiscus tea may have benefits for:
cardiovascular well-being
inflammation
oxidative stress
insulin resistance
Still, longer and larger human trials are needed.
How to use it: Hibiscus flowers make a lovely red-coloured tea and can also be used in relishes, jams, or salads.
I bought a bag of hibiscus powder from Holland and Barrett recently as had read it was good for digestion so I’ve been adding a teaspoon to water every few days for a drink.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend in the sunshine. Yippee on the weather at last.
Big hugs
Xx
