Circular thinking is pretty common with stress. Circular thinking starts out as if there is a linear process going on, but there’s no real end. If a problem is settled, the person may go right back to the beginning and start all over again. It’s part of that cycle of starting to question why you did or said that stupid thing, and how it could have been different. Sometimes it can be one particular instance, but in really intense periods, it can involve almost every cringe-inducing interaction that’s ever taken place. It can be pretty awful.
When I originally made my Circular Thinking Blend, I was thinking about the saying, “You’ll feel better in the morning.” That’s great, but we have to get there first! I created this mixture by bringing together botanicals that would enable individuals to get beyond this moment. This particular blend of herbs is effective as both a tincture and a tea. One of the things I like most about this blend (aside from how well it works) is that it expresses a myriad of thought processes.
Passionflower grows with wild abandon, and the tendrils that help it climb are very strong and go around and around. They often run into other tendrils, and then get tangled up so that they form a mass of curls. If that isn’t a visual of circular thinking, I don’t know what is!
I added roots of valerian to connect us to Earth. It is calming and cooling; it is solid ground beneath our feet helping to provide a much needed anchor. It provides the ability to relax. Note however that a small percentage of people experience the opposite effect, with valerian keeping them awake, so if you haven’t used it, try it the first time during the day. I grow my own, and have been using just the flowers for the past decade or so because I am one of those people, and the flowers don’t have the same energizing effect. It kind of ruins the poetic point of using a root, but most people are very happy with the root.
The touch of lavender in this blend rinses away the debris of the day(s). The Latin root of “lavender” means “to wash”. A little lavender eases the way past this moment.
Makes about 2 oz.
Ingredients
Directions
To Use: Take 20 to 30 drops up to three times per day.
Ingredients
Directions: Steep a rounded teaspoon of the tea in a covered mug for at least 10 minutes.
This recipe is one of 300 that can be found in my newest book, Big Book of Herbal Medicine: 300 Natural Remedies for Health and Wellness. It's the book that I wish I had when I first started studying herbalism and I hope that this curation of my life's work helps to further support your herbal journey.
You may also enjoy:
Herbal Elixir for Stress
9 Best Essential Oils for Stress Relief
Understanding Nervines and Adaptogens
Topics: Recipes, Herbalism, Tea & Herbal Drinks
Tina Sams is the editor of "The Essential Herbal Magazine" and the author of several books on herbs, the most recent being "Herbal Medicine for Emotional Healing". Living in rural Pennsylvania, previously she co-owned an herb shop as well as an 'herb hovel' at a renaissance festival, facilitated and taught classes, learned distillation the hard way, and helped set up a soap making venture. Current adventures include writing, soapmaking, distillations, gardens, resin work, and eco-printing.
Circular thinking is pretty common with stress. Circular thinking starts out as if there is a linear process going on, but there’s no real end. If a problem is settled, the person may go right back to the beginning and start all over again. It’s part of that cycle of starting to question why you did or said that stupid thing, and how it could have been different. Sometimes it can be one particular instance, but in really intense periods, it can involve almost every cringe-inducing interaction that’s ever taken place. It can be pretty awful.
When I originally made my Circular Thinking Blend, I was thinking about the saying, “You’ll feel better in the morning.” That’s great, but we have to get there first! I created this mixture by bringing together botanicals that would enable individuals to get beyond this moment. This particular blend of herbs is effective as both a tincture and a tea. One of the things I like most about this blend (aside from how well it works) is that it expresses a myriad of thought processes.
Passionflower grows with wild abandon, and the tendrils that help it climb are very strong and go around and around. They often run into other tendrils, and then get tangled up so that they form a mass of curls. If that isn’t a visual of circular thinking, I don’t know what is!
I added roots of valerian to connect us to Earth. It is calming and cooling; it is solid ground beneath our feet helping to provide a much needed anchor. It provides the ability to relax. Note however that a small percentage of people experience the opposite effect, with valerian keeping them awake, so if you haven’t used it, try it the first time during the day. I grow my own, and have been using just the flowers for the past decade or so because I am one of those people, and the flowers don’t have the same energizing effect. It kind of ruins the poetic point of using a root, but most people are very happy with the root.
The touch of lavender in this blend rinses away the debris of the day(s). The Latin root of “lavender” means “to wash”. A little lavender eases the way past this moment.
Makes about 2 oz.
Ingredients
Directions
To Use: Take 20 to 30 drops up to three times per day.
Ingredients
Directions: Steep a rounded teaspoon of the tea in a covered mug for at least 10 minutes.
This recipe is one of 300 that can be found in my newest book, Big Book of Herbal Medicine: 300 Natural Remedies for Health and Wellness. It's the book that I wish I had when I first started studying herbalism and I hope that this curation of my life's work helps to further support your herbal journey.
You may also enjoy:
Herbal Elixir for Stress
9 Best Essential Oils for Stress Relief
Understanding Nervines and Adaptogens
Topics: Recipes, Herbalism, Tea & Herbal Drinks
Tina Sams is the editor of "The Essential Herbal Magazine" and the author of several books on herbs, the most recent being "Herbal Medicine for Emotional Healing". Living in rural Pennsylvania, previously she co-owned an herb shop as well as an 'herb hovel' at a renaissance festival, facilitated and taught classes, learned distillation the hard way, and helped set up a soap making venture. Current adventures include writing, soapmaking, distillations, gardens, resin work, and eco-printing.
