The crisp fall days seem to have arrived on winds of seasonal change.

People are gearing up for a new school season to begin.  Whether you are going to college, sending your kids to school, or schooling at home, schedules and routines are changing.

Change can be stressful and difficult, especially in times of upheaval and uncharted waters, so to speak.

What are you doing to help cope with the shifts in schedule, stress level, and weather?  

How are you supporting your health, to make this transition time as smooth as possible?

Herbs can help!  

This starts an "Herbs for Back to School Time" blog series.

Herbs that I am turning to right now and that I will be discussing in this series include:

1. The herbs of the forest ("forest bathing")

2. Astragalus root supports our immune system without stimulating it.  It is also an herb that is helpful for life transitions, by allowing us to handle stress more easily. 
 
3. Elderberry is a common anti-viral, offering immune support by inhibiting viral replication.  It also helps to support our lungs and ease coughs.

4. Nourishing herbal infusions are made with herbs that are full of minerals and other tonic phytonutrients.  They build strength, optimum nutrition, adapt to stress, and more.  I drink them daily, rotating through five herbs: comfrey leaf, linden flower, red clover blossom, oatstraw, and nettle leaf.

6. Tulsi, also known as holy basil, offers immune support and an ability to adapt to  stressful situations. It centers the mind and eases emotions.

7. Chamomille and catnip are soothing to digestion, nerves, and can ease us into a mood for getting a good night's sleep.  

8. Motherwort and lemon balm can help people who are prone to feel stress and react with anxiety.  These herbs can help in the moment, when the world feels overwhelming and it's hard to take a breath.  They will help us to stop, take that breath, and move forward with more calm.

Over the next few weeks, I will send out more information on each of the herbs listed above and how to best work with them.  So stock up your herb pantry and stay tuned.  They will provide you with the support you need to get through the back to school season!

Today I would like to talk a bit about forest bathing.

You have likely heard about forest bathing.  This does not refer to taking a bathtub into the woods and bathing.  It is more about going into the forest and breathing deeply.

It is about bathing our lungs and, therefore, our body and mind in the micro volatile oils and polyphenols the are found in the forest air. These come from living trees and the bacteria and fungus in the soil and the decaying process of the leaves and other plant matter.

It is that dank sweet smell that brings us joy and inner peace as we take a deep breath, while walking through a forest.  

If you are not in a forest, you can close your eyes and imagine taking a deep forest breath.  You will be transported, in your mind and being, back to the forest.  This can bring an immediate sense of peace and inner joy.

I get the same feeling when I am in the gardens. Inhaling the breath of the plants.  Grounding my being, as my hands dig in the dirt.  Feeling the sun and wind on my face.  When I pay attention to the moment, I feel an inner joy and sense of calm.  I can call back that moment, whenever I need to experience that feeling.

These simple pleasures, bring me great tranquility, that I can call on as needed.  
Not to mention, after a hike in the woods or a day gardening, I fall asleep easily and have a deep night's rest.  As we know, being well-rested is very important for our resilience to stress through out the following day.

So, when you have a spare moment, amidst the hectic times of back to school season, go outside, find some trees to walk in or a garden to sit in, and breathe deeply.