Every year around the holidays I see some version of the Ram Dass quote, “If you think you are enlightened, go and spend a week with your family,” meming its way around the internet. And for good reason.

While some folks have sweet and easeful times with family, relatives, and group gatherings, from what I’ve seen in my 47 years, the holidays bring up at least some level of stress and anxiety for most people. There’s meals to plan and cook, gifts to buy, homes to clean and make presentable, children to tend to, conversation topics to avoid, and the squeeze of darkness of either side of the day.

Not to mention, alcohol and food choices to make. Maybe it’s my age, or the era I’m living in, or the circles I am a part of, but there are a lot of people in my life who have complicated relationships with food and alcohol. Perhaps you can relate.

Maybe gluten and nightshades and cheese cause the inflammation that makes your joints ache and exacerbate your headaches. Maybe you’re newly sober and about to go through your first holiday season with the intention to stay that way. Maybe you love the traditional spiked punch, but know it will throw your nervous system out of whack and you don’t want to pay the price.

The front-and-center role of rich, glutenous, cheesy, inflammatory, DELICIOUS food and alcoholic drinks during the holidays can contribute to both psychological stress (How do I say no to champagne without telling everyone I’m coming to terms with my addiction?) and physical stress (Ooooh, I just couldn’t resist that baked brie wrapped in pastry dough and now I’m hurting!).

The FIRST medicine to reach for in these moments is self-compassion. You’re human. You get to choose the people you share your vulnerabilities with, and your body evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to crave rich food, so be kind to yourself if you deviate from your plan. AND pick a go-to phrase before your gatherings so when your second cousin chides you for not keeping up with her at the bar, you don’t have to think about it in the moment. A self-effacing laugh and, “Yah, I’m just on a health kick right now,” may do the trick.

Next—and you’ve probably already figured this one out, but just in case you haven’t—bring dishes and beverages that you know you love and will feel good in your body. Other people will be grateful for the massaged kale salad with pomegranate and gluten-free chocolate torte and the roasted sweet potatoes without marshmallows too! And who doesn’t love drinking all things sparkly, spiked or not?

This is where Nymph and Woodsman comes in. We’ve got you. Below I’ll list a bunch of herbal extracts that can support your psycho/emotional and digestive wellbeing, but for now I want to talk about your ideal ally for the coming months: Root of Wellness Drinking Bitters. Ta dah! These drinking bitters are a blend of Oregon Grape Root, Lemon Balm, Tulsi, and Goldenrod.

These herbs have traditionally been used to prime the body for effective digestion; cleanse the blood and liver for detoxification; minimize hangover impacts; prevent food-born illness; ease nausea; help with both diarrhea and constipation; modulate blood sugar; support the immune system; clear the sinuses; calm and uplift the nervous system; and help the body deal with daily stressors.

This holiday season, we’d love to share Root of Wellness’s gifts with you. You can take a squirt or three in a little water before eating to get your digestive juices flowing and your nervous system ready for the hubub. And, because it’s also a delicious drinking bitters, it can be your go-to drink mixer! Add a few squirts to a glass of sparkle water and a splash of apple cider vinegar, and you have yourself a simple, tasty drink. Or, make it more exciting by using some of my mocktail ideas below.

Precautions: Root of Wellness is not recommended for folks on liver medication or who are allergic to plants in the asteraceae family.

Mocktail Ideas

Rootsy Hot Toddy: Fill a mug with three droppersfull of Root of Wellness, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a couple pinches of cardamom and/or cinnamon, a splash of maple syrup, and steaming hot water.

Ginger-Cranberry Sparkle: Add three droppersfull of Root of Wellness and a tablespoon of unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate (or more of juice) to a glass with ice. Fill your glass with ginger ale, the spicier the better! Better yet, use a tablespoon of freshly juiced ginger and top off the glass with sparkles.

New-Fashioned: Add two tablespoons of unsweetened tart cherry juice, three or more droppersfull of Root of Wellness, and a splash of maple syrup to rocks glass. Fill glass halfway with orange juice (fresh-squeezed!) and top off with sparkle water. Add more bitters and orange peel to taste.

Getting to know Oregon Grape Root

According to naturopathic doctor JJ Purcell, Oregon Grape Root improves digestion, assimilation, and metabolism (Purcell, 2015). Oregon Grape is also considered a blood purifier. According to Purcell, Oregon Grape helps the liver do its work, “liberat[ing] iron from the liver to enter the bloodstream to boost hemoglobin levels” (2015).

Because of all of the support Oregon Grape offers our digestion, blood, and metabolism, it also promotes skin health by eliminating toxins before they are forced to exit through the skin. Folks with dry, itchy skin conditions may benefit from regular use of Oregon Grape’s magic (Kloos, 2017).

Oregon Grape has also traditionally been used to address diarrhea. Its antimicrobial properties may help solve the problem quickly, especially if it is the result of a bacterial infection. In addition, Kloos recommends Oregon Grape root tincture or tea if you have “food sensitivities or allergies, are prone to constipation, wake up feeling groggy and listless in the morning, have bad breath with a coated tongue, and/or have chronic itchy skin conditions” (2017).

Getting to know Goldenrod

Goldenrod may be best known for its role in supporting the urinary tract, but it has so much more to offer! According to herbalist Scott Kloos in Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants, Goldenrod “increases urine output, strengthens the bladder, and speeds the healing of urinary tract infections.” It is has also been traditionally used to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

As a bitter plant, Goldenrod tea or tincture is great for digestion. It can stimulate digestive juices and help relieve gas and belly stagnation. Its drying nature also makes it a good remedy for diarrhea.

As an astringent plant, Goldenrod works as an excellent expectorant and decongestant for your upper respiratory system. It can be taken to clear up congestion caused by allergies, colds, or flu. We put it in our Breathe Easy tincture for this reason.

Goldenrod has been used to reduce inflammation and, taken internally, may help the body cleanse itself of waste products that lead to skin issues like acne, psoriasis, or eczema. Used externally as a wash made from tea or a salve, Goldenrod can help heal wounds, burns, and cuts.

Goldenrod also has antispasmodic qualities, so it has been used to help relieve pain, including arthritic, menstrual, and headache pain. Rich in antioxidants, it makes a good tonic herb to take throughout the year.

Getting to know Tulsi

Tulsi grows wild all over India and has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic Medicine. Beloved as an adaptogen, Tulsi helps the body respond to daily physical, chemical, metabolic, and psychological stressors and helps restore vitality and renew energy. It is also a powerful nervine that can help soothe frazzled nerves and emotions.

According to Sajah Popam from the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, Tulsi “benefit(s) the insulin receptors on the cells by increasing insulin sensitivity.” In other words, it can help maintain blood sugar balance. It is also particularly helpful at clearing brain fog caused by digestive issues.

Tulsi tastes sweet and slightly peppery as a looseleaf tea or tincture dropped in hot water, and it can support healthy digestion. It has also traditionally been used as a tonic for the upper respiratory system and lungs, asthmatic conditions, for immune system support, and for spiritual and emotional growth. Some folks like to take it to prepare for meditation and other practices that expand the mind. We include Tulsi in our Mellow Mood Calming Blend, Dragon Tamer Mouthwash, and Root of Wellness Bitters.

Getting to know Lemon Balm

Oh, Lemon Balm! I cannot begin to exalt this fragrant, delicious herb enough. A member of the mint family, Lemon Balm lacks the bite of peppermint but carries with it the brightness of lemon and slightly floral notes. Once Lemon Balm establishes itself, it doesn’t stop. Its enthusiasm for LIVING and sharing its aroma with anyone lucky enough to brush against it mirrors its ability to bring the vibrance out in us while offering a sweet sort of calm.

Lemon Balm is one of the most accessible, delicious, and effective nerve nourishers we know. If it’s growing near you, make yourself a cup of Lemon Balm tea with the fresh leaves for a calming but uplifting pick-me-up. We make large amount of Lemon Balm tincture every year because it is supportive in so many ways and like to put it directly in hot water for an easy cup of tea.

Not only is it excellent for the nervous system, Lemon Balm has been widely used to settle nauseous and gassy bellies, ease digestion, and as an anti-viral immune support. It has traditionally been used for the herpes virus, specifically. When combined with Motherwort, it can be especially effective at calming an agitated heart. It also goes well with California Poppy and CBD for sleep support, and bitter herbs for easy digestion.

We sell Lemon Balm on its own and use it in our Mellow Mood Daily Calming Tonic, and The Root of Wellness.

Other Herbs for Digestive and Nervous System Support

In addition to the herbs in our Root of Wellness blend, we have a wide selection of allies to support your nerves and belly throughout the year. Here’s a list of our faves. You can follow the links for more information.

Single Herb Extractions:

Pedicularis (muscular and emotional tension), St. John’s Wort (depression and anxiety), Motherwort (heartache, anxiety, digestion), CBD (anxiety, depression, digestion, inflammation), Red-Belted Conk (intestinal inflammation), Black Walnut (parasites, gentle laxative, digestion), Wormwood (digestion— especially fats, parasites), California Poppy (stress + anxiety), Ponderosa Pine Pollen (hormone + mood balance)

Blends:

Mellow Mood Blend (calming + uplifting, digestion, nausea), Woodland Warrior (digestion, hormone balance, immune support), Dragon Tamer (digestive bitters, blood sugar moderation, lymph support, mouthwash)

Resources

Kloos, Scott. 2017. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

Purcell, JJ. 2015. The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon.

de la Foret, Rosalee. Information about Goldenrod. https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/information-about-goldenrod.html

Popham, Sajah. Holy Basil: The Sacred Herb of Ayurveda. https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/2023/07/18/holy-basil/

Disclaimer

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.