Living in California, between fires and pandemics has definitely impacted my relationship with faith or emuna. Will my child be able to play outside tomorrow or will the air be too smoky? Will I be able to tell the difference between day and night? Will we be able to gather outdoors to pray? Seemingly simple joys of life  have transformed into questions.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur often are associated with what our fate will be in the coming year (will I make more money, have a child, experience illness etc.). We think about the BIG events and the BIG what ifs. This year I am more focused on the simple pleasures of life: being able to see my father, play outside, pray in community. What once was small is now big and what once was big now feels a bit irrelevant. 

May we be blessed to always see the small things as big and to cherish and nurture them. May we never take them for granted.

The tea for this month is nourishing and replenishing (perfect to drink during a holiday marathon month!)
It has: Raspberry leaf, Milky Oats (tops and straw), Nettle, Rose hips, Alfalfa, Spearmint, and Red clover.

Raspberry leaf | Rubus idaeus

Considered by many the “herb supreme” for pregnant women, raspberry leaf is a safe, nutritive, uterine tonic. It is generally recommended for use during the entire nine months of pregnancy. The presence of fragarine, an alkaloid found in rich concentrations in the leaf, contributes to the plant’s potency as a pregnancy tonic. Fragarine, in combination with several other of the plant’s constituents, serves to tone and relax the pelvic and uterine muscles. It is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals and is particularly high in calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins B, C, and E. Raspberry leaf also aids in cleansing the afterbirth from the system and is used to enrich and increase the flow of milk. Although we may not all be pregnant or breastfeeding during this time, we all are breastfeeding from Hashem and are pregnant ideas and projects that we hope to manifest this coming year.

How do you nourish your ideas? How do you feed your projects?

Milky Oats | Avena sativa

Oats are highly nourishing, revitalizing, restorative, and rejuvenating. All parts of this common plant nourish and tone the nervous system and are excellent allies when dealing with depression. Milky oats is an energizer, but it does this cumulatively, building energy slowly and consistently by deeply nourishing the entire body. It alleviates both physical and nervous fatigue, Taken before bed, milky oats infusion or tincture supports deep refreshing sleep. Offering the most magnesium of just about any plant, oats also contain abundant chromium, sodium, silicon, calcium, iron, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, and selenium. Oats are a source of vitamin B complex, including folic acid, plus vitamins E, K, A and C, potassium and protein.

Do you ever find that during this time of year, you put in a lot of effort asking people to forgive you and praying to G!d and going out of your way to be as “good” as possible and then once the high holidays pass, you just go on with life as usual? Instead of sprinting, we should power walk, like milky oats teaches us. slowly slowly. When you find yourself sprinting, how do you check in and remind yourself to walk?

Nettle | Urtica dioica

Nettles are quite possibly the most vitamin and mineral-dense plant in Western Herbalism. They are one of the highest known sources of iron and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is incredibly cooling and alkalizing to the body, and its high content in Nettle plays a role in its powerful anti-inflammatory action. Nettle leaves are mineral rich, particularly high in iron, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. For this reason, Nettles are always indicated for weak, listless, pasty, and/or anemic people. Nettles contain 2x more antioxidant-rich polyphenols than cranberry juice.  Protein, Vitamin C, fiber, and silica - important for bones! - are also exceptionally high in Nettle. As a nutritive tonic, Nettle works best when taken regularly. Folk herbalists munch on Nettle in a variety ways - sautéed with eggs and other veggies, stewed in soups and broths, or blended into a pesto or smoothie are great ways to eat Nettle. It also makes a tasty simple tea. Nettle’s rich mineral content means it is excellent at strengthening bones and connective tissue, enhancing protein metabolism, building the blood and nourishing the entire body on a cellular level.

The sense of this month is Touch. Nettles are a funny plant because although they are very prickly when you touch them, they have such amazing medicinal powers. Sometimes, our first interaction with something leaves us with either a good/bad taste in our mouths. How about giving someone or something a second chance? Seeing if something lies beneath the prickles? As the Lubavitcher Rebbe would say, "Where is G!d? Where G!d is allowed in." 

Rose Hips | Rosa canina

Rose hips are perhaps most known for their extremely high amount of vitamin C. Indeed, the fruit of the dog rose and the cinnamon rose have particularly rich Vitamin C content. Rose hips are also known to be rich in antioxidants like carotenoids, and studies have been done that have determined that daily consumption of rose hip powder can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk in obese people through a lowering of blood pressure. The planet Venus is associated with the month of Libra and is connected to our reproductive system and our ability to connect with others. The herbs of Venus are feminine, gentle, relaxing and balancing. Imagine eating your favorite food, or smelling a familiar scent or getting cozy and listening to a romantic song - this is the energy of Venus. It is no coincidence that during this time the first 2 people were created- Adam and Eve- and being in relationship was not so simple - it was hard work!

Whether it be an herb or some other healing modality, this is a time to ask ourselves: How do we receive love? How do we give love? Do I need more boundaries? Are there areas where I can be more vulnerable? Through the use of herbs or other means, we are able to tap into these questions and learn how to be our best selves in relationship. 

Alfafa | Medicago sativa

Alfalfa contains a high mineral and vitamin content, rich in protein, carotene, calcium, trace minerals and vitamins E and K as well as many water soluble vitamins. It has been shown to stimulate lactation and increase the quality of breast milk. It is used as a general tonic and in a variety of chronic degenerative diseases. Alfalfa has been shown to decrease cholesterol and cause regression of atherosclerosis.

Such a simple yet powerful plant. On the 10th of Tishrei, we received the new set of ten commandments and G!d forgave us for worshipping a golden calf. Often though we may recover from idol worship, smoking, alcoholism, social media addiction etc. they are often CHRONIC issues that we have to deal with. Giving something up is not enough, every day we have to work on whatever hole that item was trying to fill. How do you fill your holes?

Spearmint | Mentha spicata

There are hundreds of varieties of cultivars within the mint family, many of which are used for their pleasant taste and medicinal value. One such variety is spearmint; utilized for its stimulant, carminative, antimicrobial and antispasmodic properties, with a long history of use in soothing digestive upset (nausea, gas, bloating). Steven Foster states, “Spearmint…has a much longer history of medicinal use than peppermint. It was so commonly grown and used that it was rarely described in herbals; it is known to have been cultivated in every convent garden in Europe by the nineteenth century.” Spearmint is most commonly enjoyed as an infusion, but can also be prepared as a tincture (or glycerite, or syrup, get creative!)The leaf is the part utilized, both fresh and dry. It is best to gather the leaves before the plant sets to flower.

On Yom Kippur, we have to come to terms with the fact that we do not know what will happen to us in the upcoming year. After my mom died, for a few years every time I went to Shul for Yom Kippur, a way of anxiety came over me as I wondered who else would be taken from me this coming year. People who know grief find that during this time of year they make get a little anxious. Spearmint can help calm the digestive upset that tends to accompany worry and anxiety. What are other ways you tend to your anxiety?

Red Clover | Trifolium pratense

Red clover has become most famous likely due to the fact that it has been used in several different herbal cancer remedies for many centuries.Interestingly enough, it’s action as a blood-purifier (or alterative) is probably due to its high nutrient content. If you are giving your self high levels of nutrients, your body will be healthier and more likely to fight off whatever issues you may have going on. In addition to being highly nutritive, it is also very tasty, and an herb that is relatively safe to drink every day; both of these aspects, along with its potential cancer-fighting qualities, are reason enough to drink some Red Clover tea every day.Red Clover is also great for wet and mucousy coughs; it helps to expel the mucous more effectively as well as calming down the excessive cough reflex that happens when someone can’t get stuff out of their lungs.

Yes, as you may have noticed the theme for this month’s tea is: NUTRIENTS! Just like G!d put Adam and Eve in a Garden full of everything that they needed to sustain them, we have the honor to be around so many plants who can help to sustain and nourish us. Which plants will you pick this month?