the herbalist corner 12/13:

Are you ready for that holiday feast? Those decadent foods, rowdy conversations, and luxurious desserts- it all sounds great in theory, but what about that mid-meal heartburn or grumbles that have you running for the bathroom? We have all been there before, that uncomfortable urgency, when our digestion is just out of whack. This very normal occurrence can be attributed to so many things from the physical food we are consuming, to the emotions we are experiencing as we eat our meal. Each of these details plays a key role in our body's overall ability to metabolize nutrients and utilize them for our general well-being. 

Myself, I live with chronic digestive ailments, so this blog post is near to my heart. A practice that has resonated with me personally is before I begin eating, I take a solid, one-minute moment to close my eyes and be grateful- it can be for the food on my plate, my health, my loved ones, and so on. I find that this practice not only allows me to tap into a more uplifted emotional state, but also provides me with a moment to check in with entire body on an anatomic level- how hungry am I, what will support me most on my plate, what am I craving? All of these observations provide keen insight into how we are each uniquely wired, how we require completely different approaches to our diets and cultural practices around food. 

There is another, very researched reasoning behind my mealtime ritual, and that is the basis of the gut-brain connection. The intimate relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system is providing much insight and explanation into the occurrence of digestive upsets while eating when stressed or depressed, or the more long term effects of recurrent negative eating experiences. The research provided by Harvard Medical School delves deeper into this fascinating connection, and possible ways to identify stress before it affects your overall health. 

There are many other ways to support the digestive system, and of course a favorite of ours is with the power of herbs. There are so many bioregional offerings that can support both our digestion and our stress response, supporting a healthy digestive process. Botanicals such as Dandelion leaves and root and Burdock root are both nourishing and stimulating to the digestive system, providing both intestinal and liver support. Saint John's Wort and Lemon Balm both provide thymoleptic and adaptogenic effects, meaning they help to increase the mood and decrease feelings of nervous tension, and also help us to adjust to changing situations by stabilizing nervous system. Here at Breeze Botanicals we carry products compounded with these, and other supportive herbs, that are specifically formulated to help you break stressful eating patterns, cultivate a more peaceful space during mealtimes, and overall nourish our systems to allow them to work at their full potential. Please stop by either store location to speak with one of our trained staff members, or for more complex inquiries, we provide one-on-one consultations with our clinical herbalist- reserve your appointment today! ​