Healing with Pride: A Rainbow of Herbal Allies for Self-Care and Celebration
Written and photographed by Juliet Blankespoor unless otherwise noted
Friends wrapped in a rainbow scarf, hug each other and wave rainbow flags during a Pride parade. Photo courtesy of Mixmike/iStock via Getty Images.
Pride is more than just rainbow flags and parades; it’s a reminder that every person deserves to feel safe, supported, housed, loved, and celebrated all year round.
As we continue to honor LGBTQIA+ Pride, we also celebrate the power of herbal healing. Every single one of us comes from a long line of people who used herbs as their primary form of healing. In addition to the rich tradition of plant medicine, culinary herbs brighten our dishes, and herbal teas have long brought us joy in the form of a diverse array of flavors and hues.
Our shared botanical history is woven with a brightly colored thread: unity. Our ancestors may have used different plants, but they all depended on plant medicine and food for survival.
Herbal medicine remains the primary form of healthcare for much of the world. It has been and remains the medicine for the people. ALL the people.
In moments when the world forgets how to hold us (or worse), self-care becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. The following vibrant botanical allies provide ways to tend to wellness with intention and pride.
Let’s meet the plants—one color at a time:
Hibiscus, or Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
A bold companion for cardiovascular support, hibiscus helps regulate blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and calm inflammation. It has a rich tradition around the globe as a thirst-quenching and cooling tea. Hibiscus is both a food and a medicine, and is best enjoyed in our teacup or on our plates. The medicinal benefits of the plant aren’t extracted by alcohol, so hibiscus tincture isn’t the best way to ingest the herb.
Parts Used: Calyx (the red fleshy sepals), commonly described and sold as “flowers” or “petals”
Further Learning: Learn all about the Scarlet Herbal Queen in our article on The Medicinal Benefits of Hibiscus.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
A gentle nervous system relaxant, California poppy’s ferny leaves and golden floral cups support calm, relieve mild tension, and promote more restful sleep without heavy sedation. The tincture, prepared from alcohol or vinegar, is preferred by most over the bitter tea.
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, seed pods, and, less commonly, roots
Further Learning: Learn more about this sunny herb’s medicinal benefits, along with other stress-busters in our 11 Herbs for Stress and Anxiety.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
A powerful anti-inflammatory and lymphatic herb, calendula supports skin repair and internal healing, making it a trusted ally for soothing and restoring tissue. The flower comes in a dazzling lineup of sunrise colors, and can be prepared as a tea, tincture, garnish, oil, or salve.
Parts Used: Whole flower, including the green base
Further Learning: To learn more about incorporating this audacious bloom into your life, see How to Grow Calendula and Use Its Medicine.
Milky Oats (Avena sativa)
A deeply nourishing nervine, milky oats help rebuild the nervous system over time, offering steady support for those experiencing stress or burnout. This supportive tonic is prepared from the same plant that gives us oats (yes, as in oatmeal or even oatmeal raisin cookies!). You can take milky oats as a tea or tincture; the tea is less potent for the nervous system than the tincture, but it’s higher in minerals.
Parts Used: Unripe seeds
Further Learning: Read more about milky oats and its effect on the nervous system.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Skullcap’s scalloped leaves and blue blooms tone and calm the nervous system, helping to ease muscle tension and repetitive thoughts—an ideal botanical ally for moments that call for clarity and grounding. The herb is also a premier sleep aid with a high safety profile. Skullcap can be taken as a tea or tincture.
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
Further Learning: Learn more about this azure herb in our Skullcap Featurette.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower’s purple frilly flowers and trident-shaped leaves are a gentle sedative for promoting and maintaining sleep, as well as calming anxious thoughts and relaxing the body without causing drowsiness. Prepare a tea from the herb or take it as a tincture.
Parts Used: Leaves, stems, and flowers
Further Learning: Get to know this ostentatious vine in our steamy missive to Passionflower.
Each of these plants carries its own kind of wisdom, but together they can support your capacity to live openly, love boldly, and walk proudly through life. However you identify, wherever you are on your journey, you deserve to feel supported, not just in June, but all year round.
From our garden to yours, Happy Pride!
Download a printable PDF version of our free chart, A Rainbow of Herbal Allies for Self-Care, for helpful reminders about these herbs and their medicinal actions and uses.
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine welcomes people of all races, nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, ages, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities—as well as those across a wide range of cultural, political, and spiritual traditions. Read our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, & Anti-Racism Statement.
More Herbal Allies from Blog Castanea
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) lessens tension headaches, restlessness, and anxiety.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) lowers cortisol levels, and supports immune function.
Meet Our Contributor:
JULIET BLANKESPOOR is the founder, primary instructor, and Creative Director of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, an online school serving thousands of students from around the globe. She's a professional plant-human matchmaker and bonafide plant geek, with a degree in botany and over 30 years of experience teaching and writing about herbalism, medicine making, and organic herb cultivation. Juliet’s lifelong captivation with medicinal weeds and herb gardening has birthed many botanical enterprises over the decades, including an herbal nursery and a farm-to-apothecary herbal products business.
These days, she channels her botanical obsession through her writing and photography in her online programs, on her personal blog Castanea, and in her new book, The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Juliet and her family reside in a home overrun with houseplants and books in Asheville, North Carolina.
Interested in becoming a contributor?
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Tina-Sunshine says:
Thank you so much for this!! I really appreciate it 🙏🏻
Herbal and sparkling blessings to you! ✨️
Christine Borosh says:
Wonderful, you’re welcome!
Faith Mwandiku says:
Am ready greatful for this, God bless you and keep up the good work.
Christine Borosh says:
Happy to hear this!
Lynda says:
Thanks for this great list.
I especially appreciate that you say how best to prepare each one.
Lynda
Christine Borosh says:
Wonderful, you’re welcome!
Karen Newbury says:
Thank you Chestnut School for this chart. I will print it and add it to my existing binder. … I appreciate that you welcome openly all people in your programs. BTW, I purchased 2 copies of Juliet’s book. One was for myself (LOVE IT) and one was a gift to a very special couple. I turn to The Healing Garden first when I want a recipe for this and that. I have many books and printouts, but Juliet’s is always first.
Christine Borosh says:
Wonderful, we’re so glad you’re enjoying this chart and Juliet’s book!