Stay Warm Herbally:Comforting, Warming Herbs to Use This Winter

Cold, gray, rainy days feel colder to me than 2 feet of snow, and we have a lot of the former type of days here in East Tennessee. This time of year when fall is slipping into winter lets us know cold days are ahead. Lots of people fix themselves a hot cup of tea to warm up after being outside but did you know there are some herbs you can use in your tea that actually do warm you from the inside out?

Ginger is a good choice for a warming herb. Ginger will also help an upset stomach, ward off colds and flu, stimulate circulation, and cleanse your lymph nodes. It tastes good, too. Using fresh ginger is best. Just grate half a finger's length of fresh ginger into a pot of water, boil it for about 15 minutes, then let it steep for 10 or 15 minutes. You can add lemon, honey, or sugar, or you can try to it straight. Let it stimulate your circulation and warm you all the way down to your toes.
Ginger has a citrusy spicy taste that livens up cookies, muffins, and other baked goods as well as making a delicious tea.

Cayenne is the spice that warms everything up, including Texas chili and hot Thai food. I don't know if I would use it in a tea, but a pinch in some of your favorite foods will warm you from head to toe. We put a little in spaghetti sauce, dash some into meatloaf, and sprinkle just a touch on hashbrowns and eggs.

Cayenne can also relieve pain in spite of its burning heat. Rubbed on the skin, it acts as a counter irritant. This means that it distracts a person from the focus of their pain, such as arthritic joints. Cayenne contains a substance called capsaicin that relieves pain and itching by affecting sensory nerves. Capsaicin overwhelms the nerves so they are unable to send sensations of pain, but the effect is temporary.

Cayenne is also credited with improving circulation, and alleviating stomach ailments such as gas or cramping. The good news is, cayenne is sold in capsule form, so you can reap the many benefits of this warming herb even if you don't like spicy food or drinks.

Cinnamon is a sweet spice and one of the world's favorites. Egyptians even used cinnamon as an embalming aid. In addition to adding that sweet, homey taste to our baked goods and other foods, cinnamon helps to warm cold hands and feet by gently stimulating the circulation system.

Cinnamon is also credited with relieving nausea and upset stomach. Cinnamon comes in a capsule as a supplement, but the powder can be used in so many foods as well. I often add a teaspoon to my coffee grounds before brewing coffee for a gourmet flavor I didn't pay much for.

The spicy, lingering smell of cinnamon is one of winter's most popular scents.I feel warmer sometimes just smelling baking cinnamon. I know people who boil a cinnamon stick before having company to add a festive scent. Realtors often tell sellers to use a cinnamon scent by baking an apple pie liberally laced with cinnamon or burning cinnamon scented candles to sell their house faster.

And if that isn't enough, there is some exciting research showing that cinnamon capsules may lower blood sugar. I do know that I tend to use less sugar when I have a spicey addition like cinnamon in my food or drink.

Cloves are another sweet spice that is traditionally used in winter baking. Cloves have also been used for centuries as a local anesthetic. Clove oil is even used to alleviate the pain of toothaches. Cloves help to improve digestion and kills bacteria. And their strong, pungent, sweet taste and aroma taste great in spice cakes and cookies.

So there you have it: four great-tasting ways to stay warm this winter. You might want to try some chai tea as it usually contains cinnamon, ginger, cloves and other sweet and warming herbs. Some of these spices can be simmered in apple cider for the fall and winter treat of hot spiced cider. And Celestial Seasonings holiday herbal tea blend, Gingerbread Spice, contains ginger and cinnamon along with other spices.