In honour of February being the month of love, I wanted to share some herbs that I use to nourish my heart on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Listed below are five of my favourite heart-warming herbs for you to enjoy with the ones you love.

Hawthorn/Thornapple (Crataegus sp.) - this thorny tree produces berries that are high in antioxidants, protective for the physical heart, and soothing as a herbal tea 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - in traditional herbal medicine, the oil extracted from rosemary leaves are used to increase circulation in the body and strengthen the heart

Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) - the essential oil produced from these flowers are used in aromatherapy to calm and slow down the rate of the heart

Rose (Rosa sp.) - the petals can be steeped into rosewater, or distilled into an essential oil to emotionally comfort the heart

Holy Basil/Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) - this flowered plant is most commonly infused as a tea and, according to Ayurvedic traditions, it nourishes the spirit and energetically uplifts the heart 

Send some love to your heart this month, by adding one or two of these herbs to your herbal tea, diffuser, or cooking. 

If you have any pre-existing heart or medical conditions, consult with your herbalist, naturopath, or health care physician before experimenting with any herbal remedies.