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Get Your Best Sleep!

By Amber T
CN Supplements Buyer and Sleep Enthusiast

Sleeping. We all do it, we all need it, and sometimes, it feels like we all have trouble with it. How can something so necessary be so difficult to obtain? 

Sleep is a hugely personal, and, dare I say it, intimate experience. No two people are going to have the same sleep needs, so there's a lot of room for experimentation when it comes to what works the best for you. Unfortunately, that means that you may need to try a number of different things to get your best night's sleep. At Cambridge Naturals, we've got a wide variety of products to help you customize your perfect sleep routine. 

Melatonin: A hormone that's naturally produced by the human body in response to darkness, melatonin comes in a number of different dosages such as 1mg, 3mg, 5mg, and 10mg, usually in tablets or in lozenges that you dissolve under your tongue about an hour or so before going to bed. Though it's the most commonly-used sleep supplement, initial research has shown it may be most beneficial for individuals with circadian rhythm or sleep phase disorders. It's also often taken to help mitigate the effects of jet lag. 

CBD: Produced from varieties of the hemp plant that have been bred not to have any psychoactive chemical components, CBD (or cannabidiol) has become popular in recent years for its anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and mildly sedative effects. It can be found in tinctures, capsules, and gummy form, sometimes combined with other sleep aids such as melatonin or lemon balm. CBN is a related chemical to CBD, formed when the chemical compounds in THC break down over time. Because it's closer in form to THC, it has a stronger sedative effect, but should not be used by individuals who are sensitive to THC.

Herbal remedies are a popular option for people looking to avoid melatonin, and they've been used by humans all over the world for thousands of years. Valerian, a pungent-smelling root in the honeysuckle family; passionflower (also called maypop), and hops are herbs that have all been found to aid with sleep. They're commonly available as tinctures, capsules, and various tea blends. The world of herbal sleep aids is a large one, and there are many different options to explore!

There are a number of things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep instead of (or in addition to) taking supplements. Avoid blue-light producing devices (such as phone screens, computers, and televisions) in the hours before bed, as studies have shown they may reduce the body's natural melatonin production, as well as causing mental stimulation that makes falling asleep harder. Create a pleasant sleeping environment with dimmed lights, darkened window shades, and pleasing aromatherapy like lavender. Make your bed a comfortable space that you look forward to relaxing in with your preferred pillows, soft sheets, and maybe even a weighted blanket! And while it might be tempting to have a nightcap before heading to bed, the dehydration caused by alcohol may actually cause you to wake up in the middle of the night later on. 

Getting your best night's sleep can seem complicated at first, but it doesn't have to be. View our selection of sleep aids here, and good luck catching those sweet, sweet Zzzz's!

Sources:

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/melatonin-what-you-need-to-know

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cbd-cbn-what-is-difference

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

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Aquarius Season “Tea”

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By Alyssa, CN Buyer and herbalism student

Aquarius is the true wild card of the zodiac. Aquarian’s are distinctly unique- no two you meet will be the same! So in the true spirit of Aquarius, this tea is actually not much of a tea at all… it features Herbal Revolution’s Fire Cider and Topo Chico Sparkling Water. This drink is iced but it will warm you up! It’s tart but it’s sweet! It’s airy but it’s liquid! The sign of Aquarius rules our circulatory system and many ingredients in the fire cider including ginger, horseradish, turmeric, garlic, rosemary, and habanero pepper are known to help boost circulation and increase blood flow.

During the colder months boosting our circulation with herbs like the ones mentioned can help us to fight off that chilled to the bone feeling that can be difficult to shake. Also included in this beverage are both burdock and dandelion root. Many herbalists work with these roots in the springtime (yes, we are almost there!) to assist our organs in their role of filtering toxins from the body. Naturally in the spring time our bodies start to eliminate any toxins that have built up during the winter- burdock and dandelion roots can help to move this process along. Lastly, honey, onions, and hyssop add some sweetness to this otherwise spicy and tart concoction, making it a balanced beverage base. The fire cider is also locally made in Union, Maine, so you can feel great about supporting local farmers.

Fire Cider is based off of a traditional immune-supporting herbal remedy. There is in fact a very similar honey-based recipe traditionally used in the Caribbean, and I’m sure many more around the world! However, the term Fire Cider itself as well as the base recipe was originally coined (or at least popularized) by Rosemary Gladstar, an essential figure in modern American herbalism. Rosemary Gladstar starting using the name and recipe in the late 1970s and taught it to her students for many years. About ten years ago, there was an attempt to trademark the name Fire Cider, which prompted Gladstar and a few other herbalists to form a group called “Tradition Not Trademark” in an attempt to keep the name Fire Cider available for public use. Gladstar and the others’ efforts ended up being successful, making Fire Cider known as a legacy product, which is considered to be a generic term and unable to be trademarked. I thought that this whole ordeal was very Aquarian in nature: putting innovative structures in place with humanitarian intentions. Herbalism at its core has always been by and for the people- just like Aquarians!

To make this beverage, all you need to do is mix 1or 2 tablespoons of the Herbal Revolution Fire Tonic into 8-12 oz of Topo Chico, add ice, stir, and enjoy!

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

More from Alyssa @vrgohrbls on instagram!

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Sunday Sip - Sweet Birch Herbals

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By Alyssa, CN Buyer and home herbalist

New to our bulk herb shelves are tea blends from Sweet Birch Herbals, a local community herbal medicine company founded by Hannah Jacobsen-Hardy. We currently carry six herbal blends from Sweet Birch- Sip of Sunshine, Digest & Rest, Immune, Sleep Deep, Nourish & Rebuild, and Heart Lifting. These herbal tea blends are carefully crafted using herbs that are grown in the Sweet Birch gardens, sustainably wildcrafted, or sourced from Mountain Rose Herbs (where we at CN get many of our bulk herbs from as well!).

Personally I am excited to try all of these tea blends, but I am starting with the Nourish & Rebuild. This blend in particular is rich in minerals and nutrients and has menstrual cycle balancing properties as well. I have been making big batches of cycle balancing teas throughout the month for a few years now and I always start with raspberry leaf, which is featured in this blend as well! Raspberry leaf is my absolute favorite herb for cycle support and I love that it is high in magnesium as well, a mineral that we could all use more of! (Visit this lovely blog post from Steph Zabel a while back to learn more about raspberry leaf.) I made Nourish & Rebuild as directed, infusing the herbs with boiling water and letting steep for 4-8 hours. The taste of this blend is grassy and refreshing- great to sip on throughout the day. Sip of Sunshine would be amazing for this time of year as well- notes of citrus and bright spice are sure to bring some light and warmth to cold days.

We are so excited to have these thoughtful tea blends here at the store. Let us know what you think!

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Sunday Sip - Recess!

By Alyssa, CN Buyer and herbalism student

Mocktails and alcohol alternatives seem to be having a moment! Many of us are realizing that non-alcoholic beverages can be just as fun and and make us feel even better than alcohol can. There is so much potential for creative and functional beverage crafting beyond the need for a spirit. Recess makes amazing functional sparkling waters that are meant to keep us calm, cool, and collected. These beverage feature magnesium or CBD, ginseng, lemon balm, and l-theanine, a carefully formulated blend that gives us calm and focused energy without being overstimulated. I love drinking a Recess Mood at any time of day, especially to wind down in the evening. Staff flavor favorites include the limited edition Zero-Proof “Margarita” and the Blood Orange Mood.

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Sunday Sip - Ginger Zinger Tea

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By Alyssa, CN Buyer and herbalism student

An essential Cambridge Naturals cold and flu season supplement is our house brand Ginger Zinger Syrups. These syrups come in three varieties: Ginger Zinger, Ginger Zinger Immune, and Ginger Zinger Bronchial. They are all soothing, warming, and deliciously spicy. They taste great on their own but I love mixing one into hot water to make a comforting tea. This is especially nice for times when you may feel under the weather as it is a really easy and quick tea to make.

The Ginger Zinger is made with fresh and dry ginger root, organic honey, vegetable glycerin, and water. The Ginger Zinger Immune has all of that plus echinacea and elderberry for added immune support. The Ginger Zinger Bronchial is also based on the Ginger Zinger plus osha root, wild cherry bark, and licorice root- all great herbs for soothing the throat. All you need to do is mix one to two teaspoons of the syrup into 8oz of hot water. You can make it throughout the day as needed, or just when you’re craving something simple and spicy that’s good for you as well.

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

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Capricorn Season Tea

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By Alyssa, CN Buyer and herbalism student

Hello 2023 and hello Capricorn season! Capricorns are known first and foremost for their industriousness and innate urge to build something that will last for many years to come. Although Capricorns are known to work hard, they are much more than their work ethic. Capricorns take laughing very seriously and love to CHILL as well. And frankly, they deserve a calming evening after a day full of inspiring societal contributions! How can they get back to building without proper rest? The star of this tea is kava kava root, a supremely relaxing and earthy herb that can help even the busiest of Capricorns wind down. Also featured is mullein leaf, an amazing herb for this time of year as it is known to help move along and lingering congestion and support general respiratory health. Mullein leaf has proved to be one of the most popular herbs this winter in the store for good reason! Cinnamon chips and licorice root up the earthiness factor as Capricorn is an earth sign, and add a little sweetness as well. Both cinnamon and licorice can be soothing to the throat as well, making this tea generally great for the season. The overall profile of this tea is bittersweet and slightly numbing. Best when drank at night to assist you in winding down for the evening.

Materials

  • Tea kettle

  • Mug of choice

  • Tea strainer or teabag

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp kava kava root

  • 2 tsp cinnamon chips

  • 2 tsp mullein leaf

  • 1 tsp licorice root

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a tea strainer or teabag. Pour 12 oz of freshly boiled water over the herbs and cover your mug. Let steep for 15 minutes or more.

  • Alternatively, add all ingredients to a pot and simmer on the stove for at least 15 minutes. This is called a decoction and is actually the preferred method when steeping any roots!

  • Strain, sip, and enjoy!

Mullein leaf in a Somerville neighbor’s yard.

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Sunday Sip - Mushroom Hot Chocolate

By Alyssa, CN Buyer & Herbalism Student

Tis the season for hot chocolate! Although I wish it was snowing instead of raining, I am still craving a nice warm chocolatey drink this week. Om Mushrooms puts their own spin on the classic comforting beverage by adding a hearty blend of functional mushrooms. Their blend of Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, and Turkey Tail provides us with flavonoids and antioxidants. Also included is ashwagandha, a root that is known for its adaptogenic properties- meaning it helps our body adapt to stressors when enoyed over time. I think this hot chocolate powder is most delicious when mixed into hot oat milk, but is great with hot water as well.

To make: Heat up 12oz of your milk of choice (I like Minor Figures Oat Milk best!) or boil 12oz hot water. Add in 2 packets of Om Mushroom Hot Chocolate and stir well. Top it off with whipped cream and some cocoa powder if you have it! Enjoy!



Heartwarming Winter Tea

By Alyssa, CN Buyer & Herbalism Student

Happy belated Winter Solstice! We are currently through the shortest days of the year and the sun is beginning to stay out a little bit longer. This is the tea I will be turning towards during the last long dark nights that define the next few weeks ahead. It is both warming and uplifting which I am sure I’m not alone in craving at the moment.

Rose has always been my most loved plant ally. I find everything about it to be soothing- from the smell, to the beauty of the petals, and the mellow sweet taste. It always comforts me in times that life feels a little heavy on my heart. Ginger, cinnamon, and fenugreek provide warming and sweetness. The ginger in particular also helps circulation which can wake up the body from that chilled to the bone feeling this time of year can sometimes leave us with. Mullein is an excellent herb for this time of year, offering any needed respiratory support and congestion relief.

Ingredients:

Per 8oz hot water~

  • 2 tsp Mullein

  • 2 tsp Rose Petals

  • 1 tsp Fenugreek

  • 1 tsp Ginger

  • 1 tsp Cinnamon Chips

To make, steep all herbs in freshly boiled water for at least 10 minutes, strain, and enjoy!

The information in this blog post is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.


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Great Gift Idea! Budget-Friendly At Home Spa Night

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By Alyssa P

CN Buyer, Herbalism Student

Give your loved ones the gift of a budget friendly, at home spa night! As fun as the holidays can be, they can also bring stress and a lack of time to slow down. A gift that can help facilitate an evening dedicated to caring for body and mind might be just what’s in order for that special someone. Plus, the whole bundle costs under $25 and has enough for multiple uses of everything (with the exception of the bath bomb).

A bottle of Plantlife Castor Oil is first on the list- it is an excellent moisturizer and makes a great scalp and hair mask too. To use castor oil as a hair mask, place a few drops all over your scalp and rub in. You can also apply it directly to your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave on for about 30 minutes. While you’re waiting for the castor oil to get all soaked in, you can make an herbal facial steam with a custom herb blend (some herb ideas are listed below). To make your steam, heat up some water in a medium sized pot. You don’t need much water- only about 16 oz or so. When the water starts boiling, take the pot off of the heat, add in your herb blend (4-6 tablespoons total is plenty), and cover with a lid. Covering the pot will keep in all of the volatile oils that aromatic herbs contain which can provide extra benefits for you skin. Let the pot cool down for about 10 minutes, and then uncover, find a comfortable spot, and lean your face over the pot and cover yourself with a towel to make a mini steam room. Breathe in the scent of the herbs for 10 to 15 minutes. This is also a great practice to use in times of congestion, as the steam will help to move everything along.

Wash out your hair mask with the next item on the list- a Just Soap Shampoo Bar. I love this shampoo bar because it’s extremely cost efficient at $3.99 as well as cleansing without stripping the hair of natural oils. It also contains rosemary which is an amazing herb for overall hair health. You could also take a nice long bath with a Relaxus Bath Bomb and light the cutest mini candle in the store to add some ambiance. Relaxus bath bombs come in a variety of relaxing scents including lavender, chamomile, and rosemary, and the candle smells like cinnamon.

Together, this gift bundle will be sure to help relax your friends and family without putting too much financial strain on yourself. Here is a cost detailing below:

Plantlife castor oil $4.99

Facial steam herb blend ~

1/4 oz by weight each:

All together this will cost around $22 total!

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Sagittarius Season Tea!

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By Alyssa P

CN Buyer, herbalism student, tea lover

If you know any Sagittarians, you probably know them for their vast knowledge of niche subjects, spontaneity, and their mission to always tell you how it really is. There’s never a dull moment when you’re around a Sagittarius and this tea blend is no exception. Sage is the featured herb in this blend to represent Sagittarians’ sage wisdom and philosophical ideas. Sage is also considered to be an uplifting herb, promoting an optimistic mindset like that of a Sagittarians’. Juniper berries bring memories of woodsy outdoor hikes. Sagittarius rules the thighs and hips, meaning frequent hiking adventures are essential. Adventure is a trademark of this sign, whether it be a physical or flavor quest. A Sagittarius tea also wouldn’t be complete without both zing and spice (if you know, you know), and the lemon peel and black pepper bring just that- brightness and pungency.

Directions:

  • Add all ingredients to a tea strainer or teabag.

  • Pour 8 oz of freshly boiled water over the herbs and cover your mug.

  • Let steep for at least 15 minutes, strain, sip, and enjoy!