Physical wellbeing – You are what you drink – Wonderful water
Pimping My Water
I always pimp my water with wild plants, herbs and flowers. Not only does they look beautiful, which is great for mental wellbeing, they add gorgeous flavour and improve physical and wellbeing.
They are also a hit on the spiritual wellbeing front to, because you are working in symphony with the plants energies when you pick it and appreciate it.
This is such a simple hack that has a big impact, for little cost and great taste. What’s not to love?
Reusable plastic water bottles
For those possessing consideration for the health and wealth of future generations, it’s on point to drink your daily ration of water from a ‘reusable’ plastic bottle. This helps, not only the long suffering, plastically-abused natural World, but also your overloaded memory to keep a visual tally on what you’ve actually imbibed.
Daily Water Intake
According to legend, you should be drinking around 2 litres/1/2 a gallon of water per day. Some (my Husband and Father) like to confuse this with any old fluid, like alcohol and/or coffee, which is NOT the same.
Diuretics don’t count
Alcohol, coffee and standard tea carry properties which are adverse to good health and actually act as diuretics, thus voiding the 2 litre intake?!
Yes, you can kid yourself, and the media regularly gives it a good go (financed by the producers, of course), that there are health benefits to drinking these beverages but NOT to the extent that they replace the need for good old fashioned water!
No body compromise
The magic of water, especially served at room temperature, is that it doesn’t compromise the body in any way shape or form. Iced up, it requires our systems to warm it up and vice versa with cooling it down, thus using calories.
Nature’s answer to constipation
But this is of little consequence when compared to the benefits of drinking it. Plus, it’s FREE in the UK, well not if you count your monthly water bills, but almost! NB. Warm water is extremely useful in aiding constipation in all ages!
Healing herbal water
I’ve taken my water consumption to another level, as a Green Witch I like to enhance my physical wellbeing wherever possible. I add fresh or frozen (picked in season and stored in my freezer) garden herbs to my daily dose.
Over the course of the day, they gently flavour my water and nourish me with their healing properties. At my age I need to capitalize on anything that facilitates a smoother ride down the rapids!
I’ve written a blog on the health and wellbeing benefits of herbal tea, which can also be enjoyed cold.
Flavoured water is a con
I found the introduction of flavored water drinks, very amusing! Whilst I applaud the good commercial sense of those manufacturers, I deplore the lazy consumers who haven’t fathomed this isn’t a real alternative to plain water. Here are some of the ingredients of flavoured water to prove my point:
Water, sucrose from corn syrup, natural lemon flavor with other natural flavors, citric acid, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sucralose, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E acetate, niacinamide (vitamin B3), calcium disodium EDTA (protects freshness), calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) pyridoxine …WTF…Ask yourself, do you really need more sugar in your Life?
FREE water purification
Bottled water, whilst purifying adds ingredients too! There really is no alternative to plain water, if you don’t like the taste of or trust the contents of your mains water, then using herbs to purify and enhance is a great way to solve these problems. The general rule is, if it smells good to you it’s an affirmation it’s right for you.
Or buy a water filter with all the money you’ve saved on not buying other pointless, harmful drinks.
How to make herbal water
It’s nice and easy, like all my recipes. To make this wonderful concoction, takes just 5 minutes out of my crazy, screamey, jam-packed morning routine.
It’s very spiritually mediative, leaving the kitchen for unsolicited peace whilst I forage my herbs. I grow mine in my garden, I leave kids and animals in the kitchen eating their breakfasts!
Once foraged, I give the herbs a quick rinse with cold water and put into a fresh re-usage bottle, adding a third of the previous night’s infusion and filling up with council pop.
Making it happen
I am now going to run through a few of my staple ingredients, to demonstrate how easy this is and ideally motivate you into making it happen…it’s within your power! Make a window box if you don’t have a garden to nurture…..or use the kitchen window sill….my indoor herbs seem to thrive on mine because although south-facing it’s in the shadows.
Herbs I recommend and their impact on physical wellbeing
Mint
Mint for physical wellbeing is excellent for the digestion, relaxes the muscles, is anti-flatulent and stimulates digestive juices.
Mint is also good for sore throats and nasal congestion, helping to keep the mind alert and clear; fundamental at my age!
Mint grows like wildfire, smell heavenly and can also be added to the bath, cocktails, food and hot water for tea. It’s so gentle you can use it on children!
Rose
Rose for physical wellbeing helps the reproductive system, treating infertility, impotence and low sperm count.
Rose balances the hormonal functions, encourages a regular menstrual cycle and eases painful periods.
Rose for mental wellbeing is a soothing remedy for emotional difficulties caused by menopause, like not feeling sexy or confident anymore.
Rose for spiritual wellbeing calms anger and irritability, nurtures feelings of inner peace and is a stabilisers or grounder, if you need earthing.
Lavender
My absolute favourite herb, which I value for her amazing versatility and smell.
Lavender for physical wellbeing stimulates, restores concentration, removes headaches, fatigue and exhaustion.
Lavender for mental wellbeing helps with calming, relieving anxiety, irritability, restlessness and muscular tension.
Lavender for spiritual wellbeing is a harmoniser, she brings emotional comfort revives your spirits and consciousness, all depending on what you need…she takes care of you.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm is ideal for mental wellbeing because it counteracts melancholy. It’s cooling and soothing to the benefit of the heart, easing restlessness, insomnia and nervous agitation.
Lemon balm improves our spiritual wellbeing by helping to clear feelings of being ‘stuck’. It gently rocks your qi to remove the energetic blockage, re-harmonising your soul.
Lemon balm takes the edge off strong emotions, returning clarity and inner knowing.
It’s also really easy to grow and smells delish.
Sage
Sage is ideal for physical wellbeing because it’s deep-acting, enhancing immunity, restoring balance to our nervous system and mental functioning.
Sage is useful for long-term fatigue, excessive sweating (menopause), dizziness, forgetfulness and depression.
Sage is also antiseptic and antibacterial, fighting off skin conditions, sore throats, oral issues, insect stings and bites.
Again, sage is super easy to grow.
Rosemary
Rosemary, another spiritual wellbeing herb, warms the spirit and makes us bold by empowering us and reinforcing our hearts desire.
Rosemary for remembrance, is also good for physical wellbeing, she’s a great memory enhancer. She stimulates the circulatory and nervous systems, which increases blood flow to the brain.
Rosemary also improve the physical wellbeing of the digestive system by calming and toning it. I like her for removing colds, headaches and colic. Rosemary is a good end of day wellbeing herb, after a heavy work out or for easing tired muscles.
Conclusion
I could carry on, there is not enough to say on the virtues of using herbs for physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. All of these are edible too, so your investment is multi-faceted. Everyone is different, and you will need to establish what you need to add to your water, which I can help you with a Bespoke Wellbeing Consultation. Using herbs this way is easy, creative, heath enhancing and affordable.
Let’s not forget healthy body = healthy spirit = healthy mind…physician heal thyself!
No access to fresh herbs
I would recommend using essential oils, which usually involves a single drop or two per day of the correct one. All the herbs I have mentioned can be bought as edible essential oils from me, just get in touch to buy.
Self health workshops
If you like what you’ve learnt and wish to take your knowledge of using herbs to improve your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing deeper, I run a series of self health workshops, which can be done online or face to face one to one or in a small group of friends.
Useful link
A useful website is https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/water-filters.html
He sells some interesting UK-based products and water pH testers.
