Hambone's Mercantile

Sometimes I think that the reason humans tend to fall ill more frequently in autumn and winter is because we are ignoring the rhythms of the season. While all the other mammals are winding down and resting, humans trudge on as if nothing has changed. Nothing else in nature seems to press on at the same intensity season after season like humans do. Even my self-proclaimed guard dogs lay like stones by the hearth hour after hour this time of year. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Each year, when the days get short and the dark comes too soon, I turn to herbal teas for their soothing, comfortable character. Even more-so when I feel that quite, persistent pull telling me I am about to be under the weather. I’ve learned for my own body, over the years, that if I listen to that pull, and I do something, quickly, I can either vastly shorten that miserable down-time, or I can side-step it all together. If I listen to my body quickly. If I support it and take a moment to breath. One of the main ways I do this, is herbal teas. Frequently and consistently.

I started with little cardboard boxes of tea bags I picked up from the grocer, but they always felt like they were missing a little something…that they could be more well-rounded, stronger maybe? That is until I came across a tea by Good Earth. It was simply called “Tea for Colds”. It was mater-of-fact, the packaging wasn’t flashy. I tried it. It had that strange sweet flavor you get in the back of your throat from the licorice root. It smelled slightly sweet, and brewed to a pretty golden color. It felt well-rounded, soothing, and approachable when I was feeling ill. It quickly became my go-to tea when I felt like I needed to give myself a little extra support.

Eventually, I stopped being able to find that tea, and it seems as if the company no longer makes it. So, I decided I would make my own tea blend to turn to. I shared it with others, and they asked for the tea often. So, I have begun to offer it through my Etsy storefront. You can get yours here.

I still haven’t found a solution to reconciling our modern life style with how my biological body thinks I should be responding to the seasons, but at least our herbal allies can make the season seem a little brighter and a little lighter. Here’s to the season of rest and recuperation.