AUTUMN SIT DOWN WITH THE AGONY PLANT
Words by Jessica Peace
It’s Autumn and we are being coughed all over on public transport again, time for a sit down and a herbal tea with G&T’s Agony Plant.
CREAKY KNEES AND UNSEXY HIPS
Arthritis kicking in? The flu got you feelin’ like you spent the weekend wrestling? Or maybe you have just spent the weekend wrestling? Try these...
BORAGE
Borage or the ‘beeflower’ has the fatty acid ‘gamma linolenic acid’ in it’s seed which blocks inflammatory cells. The seeds are pressed into an oil that can be rubbed into your rusty bits or knocked back in high strength capsules.
EVENING PRIMROSE
Although our Aunties and Nans have been telling us about this for our ‘monthly’ for years, Evening Primrose is right up there for soothing joint pain and minimising morning stiffness (say no more!).
SNOTTY NOSES
Red nose? No more clean tissues up your cardigan sleeve? F’in Nightmare.
MARSHMALLOW ROOT
Marshmallow root is loaded with ‘mucilage’ - sounds gross but is good for you promise, especially for soothing anything respiratory from a tickly cough to bronchitis. Get it down you in a hot tea or knock it back in a syrup Mary Poppins style.
THYME
Thyme is antibacterial, antifungal and spasmolytic (prevents muscle spasms), making it your best mate when it comes to fighting infection and stopping embarrassing coughing fits in the middle of that staff meeting, show or tube journey. To make a ‘thyme tea’ use a heaped teaspoon of leaves and mix it with mint for an extra bomb of soothingness.
NEED YOUR EYELIDS PROPPIN’ UP?
Can’t sleep? Can’t get enough it?
VALERIAN
Need to be knocked out? Naturally? Well with the nickname ‘Nature’s Valium’, valerian should do the trick. In a similar way to every Real Housewives’ favourites, valium and xanax, valerianic acid apparently frees up the movement of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain, allowing healthier working nerve impulses in your brainbox. Essentially, allowing you to relax enough for a good kip.
GINKGO
Ughh. This darkness weighs heavily upon me! And there is only so much that lightbox alarm clock can do! I am knackered all the… Shut up and get some ginkgo down ya!
Ginkgo, one of the first trees Mamma Earth put on our planet contains ‘terpenoids’; terpenoids dilate blood vessels and allow more blood to flow into your noggin and wake you the f’ck up.
Have a lovely day.
A Little Note from your Agony Plant...
If you do have a seeded bun in the oven or are taking any prescribed medications then have a sit down with your own GP. We all love the thought of a herbal tea or two to cure our ailments but go steady.
For an A-Z list of of the G&T medicine cabinet have a gander here.