Image courtesy Pixabay/szjeno09190
Every six weeks I welcome two pharmacy students to my drug information center.
Yesterday, two new girls ended their first week of this clinical clerkship. Both are excited to learn about pharmacy and all it has to offer.
I surprised them two days ago by asking to bring little bags and scissors with them.
At the end of the day we went harvesting linden blossoms. The girls didn’t expect to find an amazing medicine growing right outside the door.
Whether you live in the Northeast of the United States or in Europe, undoubtedly you have experienced the intoxicating smell of linden trees.
Sweet, heady, completely overwhelming with its aroma, these majestic trees usually blossom at the end of June.
This is my second year harvesting the blossoms from the trees near my office.
Every June on the way work I smell the flowers and get filled with happiness and gratitude.
If medicine can taste or smell this good, we live in a pretty amazing place.
Linden also goes by its Latin name – Tilia cordata or sometimes called Lime flowers.
Linden blossoms are traditionally used in Europe for their mild effects on depression, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
My teacher, David Winston, recommends using linden as a mild antihypertensive agent and additive to regimens for kids with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
Linden can even be used for gas and nausea.
Linden makes a lovely fragrant tea, and since it’s blooming right now, you should seize the opportunity to harvest some. You can also purchase them in your favorite herbal store.
I recently came across a really gorgeous and useful book written by Emily Han called Wild Drinks & Cocktails: Handcrafted Squashes, Shrubs, Switchels, Tonics and Infusions to Mix at Home.
Whether you get a colorful hard copy or a Kindle version, the recipes are outstanding.
Emily recommends mixing 1 teaspoon of dried (or wilted) linden leaves/flowers with the same amount of dried lemon balm leaves and lavender buds in 1 cup of boiling water. Add a bit of honey for sweetness and enjoy this yummy tea for stress relief now or later during the year.
Questions: Were you familiar with Linden tree and what it offers medicinally? Do you know how to wildcraft plants responsibly? What are your favorite calming teas?
Please let me know in the comments and feel free to share with your friends.