Summer Digestive Tea Recipe

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, late summer is the related to the Earth element. 

Although summer is not over, the transition of summer to fall, yang energy to yin energy, has begun.

The Earth element is about digestion.

Not only physical digestion of food, but also the digestion and reflection of experiences for mental-emotional nourishment.

 

Do you feel sluggish at the end of Summer? In TCM the earth element’s main imbalance is dampness. You may feel this in your digestive system, urinary system or lungs.

This can look like loose stool, urinary tract infections and/or a chronic cough. It’s even more common when you live in a damp environment like the west coast (hello Vancouver Island!) Dampness can also show up as chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Fungal infections and candida are also symptoms of dampness.

Some conditions associated to dampness can be acute, but most are chronic and should be treated by a licensed professional.

Try: Getting outside and into the forest, take off your shoes and initiate Earth connection mode! 

Eat: Fresh seasonal foods! This is the harvest season, and eating inline with the season is very good for balancing the bodily systems. Healthy digestion comes easier when eating is done mindfully and at consistent times of the day.

Drink: Lots of water! Try herbal teas like this simple tea recipe below.

It is great for sluggish, weak digestion with gas and bloating. These culinary seeds are slightly spicy and warming. Not only are they tasty, they are carminatives - meaning they help soothe and expel gas. The warming effect of these herbs will help your stomach digest food more efficiently.

The lemon helps aid digestion through supporting liver function and the sweetener of choice is up to you! 

 

Simple Digestive Tea

 

Steep all ingredients into your favourite teapot with boiling water for at least 10 minutes.

Strain and serve!

Additional helpful herbs: 

• Dandelion root
• Nettle
• Green tea
• Sage
• Thyme
• Chamomile