Recipes: Tea of the Feminine with Free + Native

Posted by Claire Ragozzino

One of the greatest parts of food blogging is being able to connect with incredible artisans, makers and culinary creators  from around the world.  And if there’s one thing I’ve seen in this community – there are some seriously talented women out there shaping the way we eat, think, and feel about food! This year, I decided to launch a new series on the Vidya blog to highlight some of the kitchen goddesses out there who inspire me each day with their ingenuity of ingredients and artful presentation of nourishing cuisine.  This monthly “Seasonal Recipe Share” series will give us a peek inside each bloggers home recipe box and the many ways they each connect with their health through seasonal eating and living.

This month I bring to you a lady after my own heart, herbal goddess Lacy Phillips of the ever chic Free + Native. I first met Lacy at Moon Juice in LA last summer, where we took liquid ormus shots and chatted everything under the Silver Lake sun –  from conscious pregnancy and herbal remedies, to wanderlust trips and life as blogger/business owner. On Free + Native, Lacy’s daily curations revive the art of natural living. Where folk wisdom meets modern application, her gorgeous recipes, lifestyle tips and product shares serve as a source for returning to way we all aim to be – free and native. This week, she’s crafted a healing herbal tonic using some of my favorite nutritive herbs. Here’s Lacy with her “Tea of the Feminine”….

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There is so much wisdom in the world being unlocked right now. A vibrant movement back toward a native and intuitive way of living. Everywhere I look a baby is coming into the world to grace us with their energy and their own wisdom that will help shift to a more enlightened place to reside. This is why I’ve been given the message that one of the most important tasks women and men—especially women—can do right now is nourish their womb (literal or creatively) and vessel as much as possible. Whether it be prepping the body for pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, or correcting cycles and hormones, this is my most popular herbal blend.

As an incredibly mineral deficient society, I put most of my clients on this universal blend (with a couple of additions to suit their individual needs). This particular blend supplies deep mineralization, chlorophyll, nervous system support, and so much more. I deem this Tea of The Feminine. Feminine as in the matriarch of nourishment, for it is wonderful for any women in her childbearing years. And men can benefit from this tea just as well.

Give this herbal ritual a chance, and watch some profound shifts happen—noticeably, thick, shiny, and long luscious hair.

TEA OF THE FEMININE

Two Parts Nettle Leaf | abundantly nutritive, nettles also strengthen the body against environmental pollutants, and combat seasonal allergies. Nettles contain vitamin B, C, E, K, beta-carotene, calcium, silica, and more—providing energy. They also improve circulation and tone muscles, tissues, arteries, and skin.

Two Parts Red Raspberry leaf | a highly nourishing reproductive tonic providing nutrients that tone the entire genitourinary system. Rich source of iron, manganese, niacin, and a wonderful endocrine tonic when energy is low.

Two Parts Alfalfa | aids in the body’s assimilation of nutrients. Contains vitamins C and K, folic acid, iron, manganese, zinc, digestive enzymes, and is very rich in chlorophyll.

One Part Oats | nourishes hair, skin, and nails with its high silica content. Calming and nutritive for our overstressed and overworked world. And oats also help to relieve insomnia.

One Part lemon balm | an herb that helps the mind, body, and spirit adapt to change. Lemon Balm relieves nervousness, improves concentration, and lightens the mood.

PROCESS | source these dried herbs from fresh organic local retailers or Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com). Part can equal a tablespoon all the way up to a cups. It’s based on proportions to your mug or storage jar of choice. If desired, mix these into a large blend in a jar, and use 1 tablespoon of your herbal blend per each cup you are drinking.

To make a tea, simply steep for twenty minutes. To make a very dense water-soluble infusion (which I recommend), pick your jar of choice. Add 1 tablespoon of blend per cups the jar holds. Pour boiling water, cap, and steep for 4 hours.

Enjoy 2-3 cups of either your tea or infusion daily, and be an active part in this wonderful shift on a very deep and nourished level.