MAMA NOURISH ELIXIR
Erin Lovell Verinder is a herbalist, nutritionist, energetic healer and plant whisperer. Her unique way of working with the plants is nothing short of inspiring, and will soon have you yearning to grow, make or eat one plant filled creation or another.
Her career has spanned nearly two decades, and she has recently distilled her vast knowledge into two books - first releasing the modern day materia medica of our dreams Plants For The People, and recently following it up with The Plant Clinic.
The Plant Clinic is a beautifully designed, easy to use reference that enables its readers to connect with their innate healing abilities, while being guided by Erin’s expert hand as to which herbal remedies to use in bringing health and vitality back into balance.
Below, Erin shares a restorative recipe for tired, depleted Mothers (and indeed, for anyone tired or depleted!) as well as shares some of her knowledge on how new Mothers can best take care of their bodies and beings.
Can you tell us about your latest book The Plant Clinic and what we can expect to find inside?
The Plant Clinic is an accessible resource for supporting your body and being with the power of the plants! It was created to guide people through tapping into the rich wisdom of healing with medicinal plants, to cover your needs in a deep and whole way. As citizens of this great green earth, we have the opportunity to learn the remedies that nature offers us.
It is such a chunky book with 150+ recipes for over 100 health concerns and is brimming at the seams with supportive information. We journey through different sections of concern throughout the book, from the gut to immunity, hormone health, to mums and bub support, emotions mind spirit, hair and skin, vitality, detoxification and more. These sections are the backbone of the book, and there are protocols in each section to guide you through how to support yourself. Such as in the immunity section there are protocols for a cold, or the flu, or in the vitality section there is a protocol for burn out or low libido, each of these daily protocols link to the recipes in each section. These recipes guide you on how to make the herbal medicines needed! But it is also as simple as choosing a recipe that resonates.
I hope readers feel inspired to connect to nature through plant medicine, to listen to their body and beings and learn the remedies that support them when most needed!
Why do you think it's important for people to create and use herbal remedies at home?
On so many levels herbalism is an empowering ethos, there is this inherent grass roots DIY spirit in herbalism. I feel that in these wild modern times we are all moving through, it is so important to learn ways to support our body and beings. Learning how to support you and your families health with medicinal plants is an incredible skillset to have for the health of your home and community. It is also a way to reconnect to the healing well of nature, herbs are pure earth energy and we simple are a part of nature too.
What are some of the most common health issues you see in your clients who are mothers?
Depletion is by far the most common reoccurring theme I see in my clinic with mama’s. There is often an underlying burn out present, nutritional deficiencies alongside exhaustion and fatigue all combine and often result in a deep feeling of depletion.
What are some of your top herbs and/or remedies for mothers?
I like to keep it simple and accessible with herbal teas as the main method or syrups (like the Mama Nourish Elixir below)
I love suggesting Nettle leaf, alfalfa and oat straw for their nutritive and restorative elements, and elderberries to keep immunity robust.
MAMA NOURISH ELIXIR
This syrupy, herb-infused treacle is a true delight for any mama in need of a nourishing lift. Safety considerations around lactation need not prevent you bringing this plant-rich elixir on board postpartum to rebuild innate strength and fortification. Deeply nutritive and gently sweet, it is an ally for all who need it (not just mamas!)
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons dried elderberries
4 tablespoons dried oat straw or milky oat tops
3 tablespoons dried rosehips
4 tablespoons dried nettle leaf
2 tablespoons dried horsetail aerial parts
2 tablespoons dried alfalfa leaf
2 tablespoons dried red clover flowers
2 tablespoons dried raspberry leaf
1 cup raw honey
Method:
Make a strong medicinal tea with the herbal ingredients listed using 2 cups water, infusing the tea for at least 20 minutes before straining through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl.
Add 1 cup raw honey to the bowl and mix gently with a wooden spoon until the honey melts through. As the infusion will be only mildly warm at this point, the beneficial enzymes in the raw honey will be unaffected by the heat.
Pour the syrup into sterilised bottles, allowing it to cool completely before sealing. Label, noting the ingredients, remedy recipe name and date made, and store in the fridge for 1–2 months.
Take one teaspoon, three times a day, or drop dose as needed.
You can purchase The Plant Clinic here
You can find out more about Erin at the links below
Website: Erin Lovell Verinder
Instagram: @erinlovellverinder