Summertime and the energy of the Fire element are all about stimulating growth for all sentient beings on our planet. If we get too much of this sunshine fueled energy, we can burn (and easily burnout.) If we don’t get enough, we can find ourselves more prone to getting really sick. Fire element energy also represents connecting with those that bring you joy on a deeper level and having a good time doing it.
This can be a slippery slope with the urges and social influences to consume more alcohol and drugs during the warmer months of being outside, on vacation, and aiming to kick back and relax. Having summertime party herbs in your medicine cabinet is a great way to enjoy yourself without the consequence of drugs or alcohol. These herbs work by stirring the energy around the Heart, increasing the fire energy within, boosting your confidence, and giving you a little courageous social nudge – if you need it!
Here are a few of my favorite “Party Herbs”:
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate is an herb that has spiritual significance and cultural importance in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. It is often consumed during ceremonies. It has made its way to many other countries around the world.
Yerba Mate has made itself known to those that are looking for a boost of energy (and for good reason!) due to the caffeine. Yerba Mate contains roughly 80mg of caffeine – equivalent to a cup of coffee – and really uplifts and stirs the energy around the heart (usually making it beat a little faster!). This gets our blood moving and provides us with an herbal boost of energy making it a go-to for many athletes before performances. It also has other health benefits working as an astringent by breaking through mucus and drying up dampness). Being cool in its nature, Yerba Mate is packed with antioxidants (even more than green tea!) and can help with focus and constipation, too.
This herb can be consumed as a steeped warm tea or as a cold beverage, but be conscious of how much cold-natured food and drink you’re consuming throughout the summer to find a healthy balance for digestion and immunity boosting properties.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
Damiana
Damiana is a passionate herb that boosts creativity, maintains our energy levels, and helps to stimulate sensuality. This ancient aphrodisiac is supportive during times of stress and gives you the added boost of motivational will to move forward – especially when it comes to our libido. It is widely known that stress impacts our health in a number of ways (libido included) and when we find ourselves stressed and our fiery energy is either burning too hot or not enough, the last thing on our minds (or our hormones for that matter) is turning up the heat in the bedroom by stimulating our sexual fluids.
This herb is best consumed as a decoction (either simmered or boiled in hot water) – anywhere from 6 to 12 grams per day, and can also be taken via a capsule or in a liquid extract form.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
Angelica
Angelica is a sweet and bitter herb to have in your summertime medicine cabinet for a number of reasons. It works its magic with the heart and through tonifying and building the nutrient density of our blood – both of which help keep us at our peak energy for the Fire element season. Angelica not only supports our digestive system by entering the liver and spleen meridians and promotes healthy circulation, but assists with anti-anxiety and anti-microbial functions as well.
This herb is best consumed as a decoction (either simmered or boiled in hot water) – anywhere from 4.5 to 15 grams per day for supporting the digestive system, blood, and heart.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
Reishi
Mushrooms are one of nature’s magical mysteries that offer a plethora of health and wellness benefits. The reishi mushroom, in particular, is world famous and one of the most highly prized mushrooms in traditional Chinese medicine for its sacred, divine, and auspicious levels of support. In ancient Chinese culture, reishi mushrooms were associated with the spiritual and referred to as ‘lingzhi’ – ling meaning “spirit, soul, miraculous, sacred, divine, auspicious”, and zhi translating to the “mushroom of longevity or immortality.”
This immune boosting herb supports the heart, lungs, respiratory system, and liver while also helping to reduce anxiety, promotes healthy cell function, and protects our skin from potential sun damage – all crucial for a fun and healthy summer! It is best consumed as a decoction (simmered or boiled in hot water) anywhere from 3 to 15 grams a day, or in capsule form.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
Kava Kava
During the summer months, we’re more prone to drinking alcohol as a social or refreshing engagement to make us feel cool, calm, and collected. Kava Kava is an herb that can often mimic how alcohol feels to your brain – making you feel calm, relaxed, and happy. On the topic of alcohol, Kava Kava also has evidence supporting its benefits with addiction support, as well as decreasing anxiety, assisting with sleep imbalances, acute pain, and trauma. All of which can find their way into our lives leading to more imbalance during the Fire element season.
Kava Kava has a variety of consumption methods – all of which should be followed per the instructions on the product itself. A nice, relaxing way to include this herb into your summertime medicine cabinet is to add it to a bath for a calming soak.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
Lavender
One of the most popular herbs out there for calming the mind and the spirit (and promoting quite a lovely scent!) is lavender. Another heart-nourishing herb, it is most widely known for its energetic grounding benefits in reducing anxiety, high stress levels, and assisting with struggles of insomnia. Lavender is a wonderful herb to have in your summertime medicinal cabinet for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can also come in handy for skin irritations such as bee stings and sunburns!
Lavender can be used topically as an essential oil, added to a diffuser for adding a calming aromatic scent to a room, and is often found in skin care products such as bath soaks, lotions, roll-on perfumes, and more. If you prefer to consume lavender in a hot infusion, 1-3 grams is a great place to start. Lavender can also be added to 8 oz. of water using about 1-4 drops of the essential oil.
*Disclaimer: Always consult with a practitioner before consuming any herbs – especially with prescription drugs.
What party herbs are you going to be adding to your summertime medicinal cabinet!? I’d love to know which ones you’ve tried! If you haven’t taken one of my Five Element quizzes designed to support and guide you on the journey to learning more about yourself, your needs, desires, and where imbalances could be stemming from throughout your life – you can do that, here! Enjoy!