Relaxing Bath Time

     So all the Holiday hustle and bustle is FINALLY over, your relatives are working their way home and you are quite beyond exhaustion.  This is the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy a nice bath (maybe with a nice glass of wine or your favorite martini even).  Most of the bubble bath and body wash, at least the stuff that you can find in the stores, are so packed full of chemicals that it can be a bit scary.  However, you can usually make your own at home that can be even more luxurious, even if the natural products don’t get as bubbly. 

A Quick Word on Ingredients

Honey helps your skin in a number of ways.  It helps retain moisture and elasticity, speed the healing of wounds, and helps to clear up blemishes.  Honey is great for aging, itchy, dry or damaged skin and actually makes body wash smooth and creamy instead of sticky.  Using raw, unfiltered honey is best, especially local honey.    

Liquid Castile Soap is all natural and helps your body wash and bubble bath to be full of suds.  It may not be as bubbly as a commercial body wash, but you can make up for it by adding more luxurious ingredients to your bath, like rose petals or tea.  I like to use the unscented castile soap because I add my own essential oils, but if you want to leave out the essential oils, feel free to use one of the scented castile soaps. 

Coconut Oil is not in these recipe, but I wanted to mention how wonderful it can be if your skin is not sensitive to it.  Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal.  It also has a natural SPF of around 4.  This makes it great to use on a daily basis, especially in sunny places such as Florida.  Coconut oil has many antiaging benefits and does not go rancid.  It really is a great oil and I encourage people to use it, just keep in mind that if you use it too often, your skin may need a bit of a break!  If you do want to use it, replace the avocado oil in the following recipes with coconut oil and make sure to melt it before mixing to ensure that it mixes well.

Jojoba Oil is actually not an oil at all.  It’s a wax, which is what makes it stand out when talking about skin care.  It absorbs into your skin and helps to keep the moisture locked in for up to 24 hours, without leaving your skin overtly oily.  It’s also great to protect your skin from annoyances such as razor burn.  It fights fungal and bacterial infections and since it is a wax, it does not go rancid as fast as oils do. 

Avocado Oil (cold pressed is best) is great to get rid of (and prevent) acne, blackheads, and eczema issues on the skin.  This is another natural oil that is readily absorbed by the skin and does not leave it oily.  It’s is believed to penetrate further than most oils, down into the dermis layer of our skin.  This makes it a super amazing oil to help with deep seeded problems.

Vitamin E helps to reduce wrinkles and keep the skin looking healthy and youthful.  It is included in this recipe mainly as a natural preservative, however it has quite a well-earned reputation for being great for the skin.

Epsom Salt is one of the best ingredients to add to a relaxing bath soak.  They are easily dissolved in water and absorbed by your skin.  The magnesium in them helps to relieve stress and reduce the effects of adrenaline.  They also help to relieve muscle tension, pain, and inflammation.  In short, Epsom salts are GREAT for preventing and relieving leg cramps.  There are two other benefits that can be especially helpful after Christmas (or whichever Holiday you observe this time of year), Epsom salts help to lower your blood pressure and regulate your blood sugar. 

Vegetable Glycerin can increase the amount of suds your bubble bath will produce.  It’s also a great moisturizer.   

Dried Herbs are amazing additions to your bath adventures.  You can choose to use premade tea blends or add individual herbs.  There are many herbs that are great for your skin and great for relaxation.  Here is a good list of herbs to add to your bath.  I typically stick with rose, lavender, chamomile, mint (I prefer using dried mint instead of the essential oil because of how strong mint can be), or rosemary.  I like to use calendula as well, but not usually for a relaxing bath soak, I use this more for healing my skin after sunburn, abrasions, or physical trauma.

Essential Oils are great additions to just about everything.  Not only do they smell great, but they have lots of therapeutic uses.  Here is a good, basic chart for essential oils in skin care.  Feel free to use whichever oils you prefer, just keep in mind that some are super strong (peppermint), so only use half the recommended amount, some can trigger seizures in people who are epileptic (rosemary, eucalyptus, camphor, some lavenders), and some are phototoxic (mostly citrus) so don’t use these before going outside.  My personal favorites for relaxation are lavender, chamomile, and frankincense.  For a bit of energy after a long day I like peppermint (I usually use the dried herb here), lemongrass, and neroli.  I usually stick with 3 essential oils for my blends, however please feel free to experiment.  Here is a good resource for blending your own.

Soothing Honey Body Wash

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Liquid Castile Soap

¼ cup Raw Honey

2 teaspoons Jojoba Oil

1 teaspoon Avocado Oil

2 Vitamin E Capsules

40-50 drops Essential Oils

(my preference is 10 drops frankincense, 20 drops roman chamomile, 20 drops lavender)

  

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bottle (squirt tops work great for this one).  For the vitamin E, puncture the capsule and squeeze out the contents.  Shake gently before using each time, separation is natural. 

Lightly Bubbly Bath

Ingredients:

½ cup Liquid Castile Soap

¼ cup Vegetable Glycerin

2 Vitamin E Capsules

40-50 drops Essential Oils

(my preference is 10 drops frankincense, 20 drops roman chamomile, 20 drops lavender)

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bottle (pump tops work great for this one).  For the vitamin E, puncture the capsule and squeeze out the contents.  Shake well before using each time, separation is natural. 

Relaxing Bath Soak

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups Epsom Salts

¾ cup Soothing Honey Body Wash

¼ cup Jojoba Oil

¼ cup Avocado Oil

2 teaspoons Raw Honey

2-3 teaspoons Dried Herbs (ground or not, your choice)

(my preference is 1 teaspoon chamomile,1 teaspoon rose petals, ½ teaspoon lavender)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

Optional* ½ teaspoon Rose Water

Optional* 10-15 drops Essential Oils

  

Instructions:

Combine herbs and Epsom salts in a medium bowl.  Once well mixed, add in body wash and honey.  Mix well.  Once combined, slowly add in remaining ingredients.  Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.  Once done, store in an airtight jar.   

    These recipes will last for several months, however if you think it is beginning to smell funky, throw it away and make some more!  The vitamin E is a natural preservative so you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a while (if you add rose water to your bath soak, it may not last as long, but it’ll be well worth using on a regular basis).  I hope you enjoy your relaxing bath, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Resources:

DIY Natural- Homemade Bubble Bath: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-bubble-bath/

DIY Natural- Homemade Body Wash: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-body-wash/

Don’t Mess With Mamma- Homemade Bubble Bath: http://dontmesswithmama.com/homemade-bubble-bath/

Growing Up Herbal- Blending Essential Oils for Beginners: http://www.growingupherbal.com/blending-essential-oils-for-beginners/

Hello Glow- 12 Essential Oils for Gorgeous Skin: http://helloglow.co/12-best-essential-oils-gorgeous-skin/

Natural Living Ideas- 20 uses for Epsom Salt: http://www.naturallivingideas.com/20-epsom-salt-uses/

Prevention- Healing Herbs to Use in a Bath: http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/healing-herbs-use-bath

Savy Naturalista- Relaxing Bubbly Bath Soak: http://www.savynaturalista.com/2014/01/31/relaxing-bubbly-bath-soak/

Using Essential Oils Safely- Phototoxic Essential Oils: http://www.usingeossafely.com/phototoxic-essential-oils-which-ones-to-avoid-when-out-in-the-sun/

The Winter Blues

    In Florida, most of us don’t have the “winter blues” like they do up north.  That doesn’t mean that we don’t get them, or that we don’t hear about them.  But many Floridians might be surprised to find out that the “winter blues” are an actual, diagnosable, concern.  They are actually called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and modern science has linked this type of depression to a lack of light.  During the fall, the day starts getting shorter until at the autumn equinox the day and night are, roughly, the same length.  However during the winter the nights take over and the days are much shorter.  This causes as many as 20% of the population to experience seasonal depression.  This condition is often misdiagnosed, but is experienced by men, women, children, and pets. 

     Typically symptoms will begin around late fall/early winter and will not ease until around spring.  Of course, the Holiday stress doesn’t help, but family gatherings (when not stressful) can be a beautiful way to lift your spirits this time of year.  Symptoms include; feeling depressed most of the time, feeling hopeless or unworthy, low energy levels, losing interest in things you previously enjoyed, changes to your appetite (particularly cravings for carbohydrates), weight gain, feeling sluggish or easily agitated, hypersensitivity to rejection, oversleeping, and irritability.  Many of these symptoms can be traced to the changes in Serotonin and Melatonin levels that happen naturally this time of year, but overall, the exact cause is a mystery.  Most typical treatments include light therapy and prescription drugs. 

     In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), experiencing SAD is a natural occurrence because human beings are drawn to nature and nature affects us all.  In TCM, everything has a yin (feminine, passive, coolness, darkness, nourishment, negative) and a yang (masculinity, activity, warmth, brightness, disbursing, positive).  Yin and yang are opposing forces that complement each other, together they form a complete whole.  Autumn begins the yin cycle in the year, and people who have a natural inclination to yin will feel all of the yin nature in a more pronounced way.  This is also the time of year associated with the kidneys, which are the root of our Qi (vital energy).  This time of year we will naturally crave foods that provide a quick burst of energy and are high in calories (carbohydrates and sweets).  Stress (physical, mental, and emotional alike), lack of sleep, and poor nutrition will quickly deplete the body’s energy reserves and leave us open to depression and illness. 

     The TCM approach to SAD starts with balance.  Making sure to take the body’s natural inclinations into account, finding a balance with a combination of proper diet, exercise, home life, and spirituality are key.  This said, acupuncture has been known to have great results with all kinds of depression.  Herbs, massage, and either Tai Chi or Qigong are also extremely useful.  The most effective TCM recommendations, however, are to follow nature’s example.  In the fall and winter, be active but careful not to overexert yourself.  Be outside whenever you can, even just a 10 minute walk around noon will help you get more sun and revitalize your body in the middle of the day.  Make sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, and eating healthy.  Nature shows us that the winter is for reserving your energy for the abundance of growth in the spring.  Don’t be overly hard on yourself, if you feel the need to take things easy, do.  Spend time reflecting and relaxing.  Enjoy your family get-togethers, but don’t ignore your need to spend time alone.  Balance is key. 

Resources:

Alternative Mental Health – Natural Treatment for Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder: http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/natural-treatment-for-depression-and-seasonal-affective-disorder/

Many Lives Chinese Medicine- Seasonal Affective Disorder from a Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective: http://manylivescm.com/seasonal-affective-disorder-from-a-traditional-chinese-medicine-perspective/

Mayo Clinic – Seasonal Affective Disorder: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/definition/con-20021047

Herbal Christmas Cookies

     I love being in the kitchen.  Baking, cooking, mixing flavors together in a way that makes me and my family both happy and healthy.  I could spend all day in my kitchen and be perfectly happy.  This time of year, most of that kitchen time is usually spent baking.  My family lives on a pretty good budget and one of the most budget-friendly gifts to give is baked goods.  Most people will enjoy them as well, especially since I am super allergy conscious and go out of my way to make even the most decadent of treats healthier. 

     As an herbalist, I am always looking for ways to sneak healthy herbs into my family’s daily routine.  One of these is to add herbs in all of my food.  I make herbal-infused snacks, drink herbal lemonades, add healthy herbs to every meal, and I even put delicious herbs into desserts.  Since Christmas is the season of the Christmas Cookies, I figured that I would share a few of my herbal cookie recipes with you for a happy and healthful holiday season. 

     I grew up with the Betty Crocker cook book, and it’s my typical starter for all of my recipes.  So these sugar cookies all started out with Betty’s vegan sugar cookie recipe.  After that, I added my own flare and you can feel free to do the same.

Peppermint Carob Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

1 ½ teaspoon fresh, chopped mint

3 tablespoons carob powder 

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

3 teaspoons mint milk (you can make it with your favorite vegan milk alternative if you want)

*optional organic green or red food coloring

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, vanilla extract, mint, and carob powder.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing. 

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid.

Mojito Sugar Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

1 teaspoon natural rum extract or your light rum of choice

1 ½ teaspoon fresh, chopped mint

Zest of 1 lime

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

2 teaspoons light rum, or natural rum extract

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, vanilla extract, rum extract, mint, and lime zest.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing.  *optional: sprinkle sugar crystals over cookies before baking.

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid (lime or rum, whichever you want to be stronger).  When you have mixed your glaze, spoon or drizzle it over your cookies. 

Lavender and Lemon Sugar Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

2 tablespoons dried lavender

Zest of 1 lemon

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoon cooled lavender earl gray tea 

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, vanilla extract, lavender, and lemon zest.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing. 

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid (lemon or tea, whichever you want to be stronger).  When you have mixed your glaze, spoon or drizzle it over your cookies.

Spiced Orange Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

1 teaspoon organic orange extract

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 

Zest of 1 orange

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

3 teaspoons orange juice

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, orange extract, spices, and orange zest.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing. 

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid.  When you have mixed your glaze, spoon or drizzle it over your cookies.  *optional: sprinkle pumpkin pie spice over cookies right after glazing.

Hibiscus Spice Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

3 tablespoons powdered hibiscus flowers 

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons cooled hibiscus tea 

1 teaspoon organic cranberry juice

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, vanilla extract, spices, and hibiscus.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing. 

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid.  When you have mixed your glaze, spoon or drizzle it over your cookies. 

*optional, instead of using the glaze, get a good quality white or green frosting and use that for pretty and Christmas-y cookies.

Vanilla Rose Cookies

A Gluten Free, Vegan Recipe

Cookies:

1 ½ cups organic powdered sugar or you can powder your own (read about the process here)

1 cup organic coconut oil, softened

¼ cup organic vanilla cashew milk

2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract

2 tablespoons rose powder 

1 tablespoon red rose petals 

2 ½ cups of gluten free flour

2 tablespoons tapioca powder (or arrowroot)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 pinch of sea salt

Glaze:

½ cup organic powdered sugar

2 teaspoons cooled vanilla rooibos tea 

1 teaspoon rosewater

*optional organic red food coloring 

Cookies:

In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, mix powdered sugar, coconut oil, cashew milk, vanilla extract, spices, rose powder, and rose petals zest.  Slowly stir in flour, tapioca, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.  Blend well, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).  Heat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (I use an organic olive oil spray, but coconut oil would work as well).  Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes and place cutouts onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 7-8 minutes, be careful not to let the edges get overly browned.  Remove from cookie sheet, place on a cooling rack and allow to cool before glazing. 

Glaze:

In a small bowl, combine ingredients and mix.  If you want your glaze to be thicker, add more sugar.  If you want it to be thinner, add more liquid.  When you have mixed your glaze, spoon or drizzle it over your cookies.  *optional: sprinkle sugar crystals and pose petals over cookies before baking instead of glazing

I hope you all enjoy these recipes.  If you didn’t notice, there is a basic cookie recipe for all of them, so feel free to change the spices and glazes around to make your own!  Good flavor combinations to try include rosemary and lemon, basil and lime, or elderberry and carob.  Have fun and feel free to let me know how your experiments go!

Resources:

Betty Crocker – Vegan Sugar Cookies: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/vegan-sugar-cookies/45ab6889-511a-4345-9391-9ea5c00c8d4a

Cookie and Kate – How to make your own powdered sugar: http://cookieandkate.com/2014/how-to-make-powdered-sugar/

Crazy for Mint

     The Holiday season is officially in full swing and the stores are slowly getting rid of pumpkin spice everything in favor of mint everything.  When I asked “Mr. Google” why mint was so popular at Christmas, the only straight answer I found was that candy canes started it.  And even they didn’t start out minty.   Further conjecture can connect mint to a “cooling sensation” that may remind us of winter and snow (if you live anywhere but Florida that is), or that it’s green and Christmas has traditionally been the season of green and red EVERYWHERE.  But the only concrete anything that people can find is that the mint craze started out because of candy canes.  But whatever the reason, mint is one of the Holiday Season’s biggest flavors.  You can even find it in body products (body scrubs and sprays) and candles this time of year.  But it does make a great herbal ally for this season.

     There are so many mint plants that they named the botanical family they belong to after them.  The Mint family is also known as the Lamiaceae family and is characterized by a square stem, asymmetrical flowers, and opposite leaves (opposite leaves means that they grow on opposite sides of the stem).  Peppermint (menthe peperita) and spearmint (menthe spicata) are the two most well known for their medicinal properties.  Mint is great for easing a number of digestive complaints including nausea, flatulence, and diarrhea.  Mint also helps alleviate bad breath, ease headaches and migraines, improves brain function, and can help break a fever.  Mint can also help ease depression and anxiety.  It’s also a stimulant that can give you a natural boost to alleviate fatigue.  Mint makes a great tea and can be added to other teas to make their flavor a little more pleasant.  Mint also makes a great essential oil.  Adding a few drops of mint oil to some coconut oil or grapeseed oil and using it for massage can be great for relieving muscular pains, you can also dab the mixture on insect bites to help alleviate the sting and itching.  You can even put a few drops of essential oil on your pillow at night to help prevent insomnia.

     Mint tea is a tasty and refreshing hot tea for the holidays, but you can also make it with milk (or coconut milk) for an extra special treat.  Just warm up 2 cups of milk, just under boiling, and add 5-10 fresh mint leaves (1-2 tsp dried).  Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 15-20 minutes.  You can drink it as is, or sweeten it to taste (I prefer to add a little honey to mine) and enjoy!

     You can even enjoy the aromatherapy, and muscle soothing benefits by adding mint essential oil to sugar or sea salt to make a great scrub for your skin.  Just combine 1 ½ cups of softened (warm it up) coconut oil, 1 ½ cups sugar (or sea salt), and 15 drops of peppermint essential oil.  You can add a few drops of food coloring if you’d like (2-4 drops of green makes a nice mint color) and you can also add in some vitamin E oil to increase the benefits for your skin.  I tend to use sugar for lip scrubs and sea salt for body, but whatever works best for you is great!  Enjoy your scrub after a hard day of holiday shopping, or for extra relaxation and exfoliation. 

     Even though the reason for the mint craze during the holidays is not clear, mint is clearly a great plant.  So feel free to make mint tea, or add a few leaves to your hot cocoa this season and enjoy.

Resources:

Botanical Online- The Medicinal Properties of Mint: http://www.botanical-online.com/mint.htm

Dallas Observer- Why Does Christmas Taste Like Peppermint?: http://www.dallasobserver.com/restaurants/why-does-christmas-taste-like-peppermint-7042149

Gardens Ablaze- Medicinal Uses of Mint: http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbMintMed.htm

Mother Earth Living- Mint: Medicinal Uses: http://www.motherearthliving.com/Health-and-Wellness/herbs-for-health-medicinal-mint

Organic Facts- Health Benefits of Mint: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-mint.html

Zoe Says- Who Decided Peppermint is the Flavor of Christmas?: https://zoesays.com/2011/11/19/peppermint-and-christmas/