Herbal Alchemy: Plant Remedies for July!

Hey there, Magical Be-ings!

As we journey through July, the energy of Cancer invites us to nurture our bodies and souls. The Cancer-water connection makes it a great time to focus on hydration and cooling remedies. Think of it as a cosmic reminder to care for yourself holistically.

The nurturing water sign of Cancer is governed by the Moon. This month, we are all about embracing our emotions and finding comfort in our cozy, yet hella hot spaces. As we dive into the months of sweltering Phoenician heat, the Moon's influence continues to encourage us to connect with our inner most being and the natural world around us, though it may be burnt to a crisp; it is the perfect time to delve into some cooling herbs and remedies to keep our spirits high, our bodies cool, and to keep our wits and sanity about us during this intense fiery month of July.

The heat of the summer and the flowy water of Cancer screams hydration! Complementing your liquid intake with herbal infusions may keep your body balanced and energized.  This is so important because the summer heat can really zap your energy and deplete the body of precious minerals like magnesium, calcium and potassium.  Why are these minerals so important? Because they are vital in the process for muscle function, heart rhythm, nerve signaling and energy function. So, nourishing our body with hydrating remedies gives us that much needed self love when we're sweatin' our buns off. 

July’s heat can be intense, but Pacha Mama, Mother Earth, has provided all of us with wonderful herbal remedies to feel and stay cool and refreshed. Cooling herbs are your absolute besties right now. Here are a few of my must-haves!

Peppermint: This invigorating herb helps cool you down and refreshes your mind. Enjoy it as a tea or add fresh leaves to your water. 

Element: Air
Associated Planet: Mercury
Mercury and Air imbue peppermint with qualities that enhance mental clarity, communication, adaptability, and a sense of refreshing renewal. It provides a cooling sensation due to it's menthol content with an immediate cooling effect, a perfect antidote for these sweltering summer days. It may also soothe digestive issues that can arise with the heat, keeping your tummy happy and cool.

Peppermint can help sharpen the mind, helping you stay focused and energized even in the hottest weather.

Lemon Balm: Known for its calming properties, lemon balm also helps reduce heat and stress and makes it a perfect and soothing cool tea. As the Arizona heat kicks into high gear, finding ways to keep cool and serene is an absolute must. When our body experiences heat we might tend to become angry, faster and Lemon balm rescues our internally freyed wires with it's smooth magic.

Lemon balm is associated with care and nurturing, reflecting the Moon's protective and comforting energy. It promotes emotional well-being much like the Moon's soothing presence. Lemon balm may enhance intuitive awareness and encourages a gentle flow of energy and emotions, promoting balance and tranquility.

Together, the Moon and Water influences of lemon balm provide qualities of nurturing, emotional balance, intuition, calmness, and healing.

Hibiscus: Mainly known for its vibrant color and tart flavor Hibiscus is also high in antioxidants and vitamins. With regular consumption Hibiscus may be supportive in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. It is a fantastic way to cool down and stay hydrated. Its cooling and hydrating properties align beautifully with Cancer's soothing, watery energy.

Associated Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Water is tied to emotions and healing and hibiscus helps us to soothe and calm emotional turbulence.  Hibiscus tea has a natural cooling effect, perfect for these sweltering summer days. Just as water flows smoothly, hibiscus aids in maintaining fluid balance in the body, especially during hot weather. Water's connection to intuition and inner peace aligns with the calming effects of hibiscus, helping you tune into your inner self.

Together, Venus and Water imbue hibiscus with qualities of love, beauty, emotional healing, harmony, and fluidity.

Other cooling herbs I like to use during the summer months are Aloe, Chia, Dandelion, Nettle leaf, Moringa and Rose petals.

Have fun with it! There are so many ways to use these wonderful refrigerant herbs.  You can create cool teas, add herbal syrups to your sparkling mineral water, freeze infusions into ice pops or add just a few drops of peppermint essential oil to a spray bottle of water, kept in the fridge and use it as refreshing mist.

I hope this helps you in achiving balance this summer by most importantly staying cool and hydrated, so you can continue to embrace the magical vibes, working with nature and digging in deeper to the lessons being taught. Mother Nature and Father God are always speaking to us and if we're quiet enough, we will hear them <3

-Merihelen