When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of a time when we fill our homes with friends, family, love and an abundance of food. In fact, many of us have a food hangover by early evening. While it may seem impossible to stay entirely healthy on this day of feasting, we assure you that herbs can help. Our herbal experts came together and made a list of vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes infused with herbs to support you during this celebration of gratitude.
Our wild rice dish has a healthy mix of dried fruits, nuts and seeds in combination with astragalus root. This root has been commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. It’s often used in soups or bone broths to nourish and tonify the body. It does this by supporting our immune system,* making it a perfect dish to enjoy during colder times of the year.
A golden biscuit on Thanksgiving is sort of unavoidable, so we like to turn it up a notch with turmeric. These buttermilk biscuits will have a golden yellow hue with a subtle taste of turmeric. This rhizome also has a long history of use in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda (an ancient medicine practice native to India). You will commonly see this plant used in curries, rice dishes and as a tea or golden milk in the East. It’s slightly bitter, making it an ideal candidate to support your digestive system during holiday meals.*
To top it off, we’ve added a sweet way to take your herbs, a Spiced Pumpkin and Reishi Mushroom Pie. Reishi is one of the most well-known and respected mushrooms of Asia, and it’s sometimes called “the elixir of life.” While it has many different uses, we love it for its powerful immune supporting properties.*
You can get most of these ingredients at your local health food store and herbal apothecary. If you don’t have an apothecary nearby, Mountain Rose Herbs is a great alternative.
For digestive support, we’d suggest taking some bitters about 30 minutes before the big feast. If you’d like to make your own, you can try making our Citrus Spiced Dandelion Bitters.
We’re certain that after your guests taste these dishes infused with herbs, they too will understand your passion for the plants. We hope your Thanksgiving meal brings you an abundance of wellness and deepens your connections with these medicinal plant allies.
We’d like to take the opportunity this Thanksgiving to show gratitude to the plants, as they are some of our greatest gifts and teachers.
*Please note that people with auto-immune disorders or taking immunosuppressant drugs should consult their healthcare practitioner prior to use of astragalus or reishi.