Autumn has arrived, time to HIBERNATE & CHILL
And just like that..Summer is over. Hello to the cooler months, perhaps a welcome relief for some.
As well as being confined to the indoors, which to be honest I think we are used to, sometimes it’s just relentless screen fatigue, the slow commute for those doing morning drop off or heading back to the office for the first time in two years that can be a bit of a drainer, and you know what? That’s ok.
We can ease ourselves into the shorter days, slower Sunday mornings, movie afternoons with a hot tea. There is a bigger picture here. We are conditioned now to appreciate going slow, and we have changed for the better because of it.
Staying in instead of pressuring ourselves to be social, marinating in the little moments Infront of us, or simply turning inward, there is much to be grateful for even though many of us have had the toughest times condensed into a very short period.
Many of us are potentially still feeling the effects from constantly being in fight or flight mode from the past two years, and we may not be fully aware of the impact that had on our nervous systems and adrenals.
With so much going on in the world, while its important to be aware it’s also important to take some time out so we don’t become consumed by it and give our body’s the love and care it needs whether its making to that yoga class you missed last week, or cancelling plans to relax instead, this is where Little Wilding Co HIBERNATE & CHILL and the beautiful health benefits of the ingredients can help:
Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Our adrenal loving Licorice really is a jack of all trades (hence why you’ll find it in so many of our blends) with its medicinal use of the ‘sweet root’ well documented since approximately 2500 BC.
The most studied of its active constituents are several triterpenoid saponins – glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and flavonoids and have demonstrated a laundry list therapeutic actions on several body systems such as endocrine, GIT, and immune systems.
Its particularly soothing to our digestive system thanks to the anti-inflammatory, mucoprotective qualities, it may also help with respiratory ailments, as well as having anticarcinogenic, anti-viral, anti-ulcer, immunomodulating actions.
Its specific indication is as an adrenal trophorestorative and therefore used in the treatment of Addison’s disease and adrenal fatigue in Western Herbal Medicine. Topically it has shown to have benefits for a variety of skin conditions including eczema.
Of course, it also makes everything taste amazing because of its naturally sweet flavour!
Marshmallow root – Althea officinalis
This soothing medicinal herb has been used since ancient times to heal and protect due to Marshmallow’s mucilage content. The demulcent effects seem to work across several body systems including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems. It’s also a used topically as a soothing emollient providing relief for dry and itchy skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Chamomile – Matricaria recutita
Chamomile is one of the most widely used and well documented medicinal plants worldwide, not only for its ability to bring the calm with its sedative action thanks to one of its key bioactive constituents - apigenin, but it also acts like a nice warm hug for your insides.
To break it down, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, healing and soothing affects may help improve conditions and their symptoms such as IBS, gastro-oesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer, as well as nausea and motion sickness, basically all aspects of digestive discomfort, this herb has it all covered.
Siberian ginseng – Eleutherococcus senticosus
Another member of the adrenal loving club, Siberian Ginseng has a party trick - it also doubles as a cognitive performance enhancer. It can basically help you through physical and mental stress while minimising the impact on the body. Its best used in times of chronic debility rather than acute phases of infection as it works to rebuild the body’s vitality over time, and its apoptogenic action means it has a balancing effect.
Turmeric root – Curcuma longa
Long before Turmeric lattes were trendy, this incredible vibrant yellow coloured cousin of ginger, was used in traditional Chinese and Ayurveda medicine to treat a wide variety of digestive, metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Studies have shown Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory, wound healing, antimicrobial activities. It was once believed that these activities were due to the isolated curcumin however, research beyond the early 2000’s identified numerous chemical entities and therefore deemed more viable therapeutically as a whole extract.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
When our nervous systems just need a big warm squeeze, or the perfect herb to round out the restorative yoga practice you just finished, that’s where our amazing Skullcap comes in.
We consider Skullcap to be our nervous system restorer, especially on those days where we have over done it and over activated our sympathetic responses. Skullcap has had notable outcomes in trials in reducing symptoms of anxiety and boosting mood via stimulating GABA. The perfect chill zone herb.