As much as I enjoy fall (I love layering peacoats, Steve Madden boots, Hue tights, chic cardigans and colorful pashminas.) I do not enjoy the cold weather that comes with it. Every morning I have a harder time getting out of bed than I did the day before. Wrapped tightly in my warm and cozy comforter I have zero motivation to step out of my queen-size bed and enter the realm of what I consider to be the “cold plague.”

Unfortunately I don’t have any sage advice on getting out of bed in the mornings, but I do have some tips on how to reward yourself for the days you mange to get up: Use herbs to create a warm, relaxing bath.

According to our 2006 article, Warming Winter Baths, lavender, sandalwood, rosemary and basil are a handful of herbs that will help create a therapeutic bath.

The Essential Oil Company offers organic essential oils to help you create your blends at reasonable prices. Try out some of these blends from our article Warming Winter Baths:

     • Stress-Relieving Aromatherapy Bath 
     • Energizing Aromatherapy Bath 
     • Restorative Bath Salts 
     • Winter's Night Bath Salts 
     • Muscle-Soothing Bath Salts
     • Peaceful Dreams Bath Salts 

Unfortunately, there’s not always time to mix your own herbal blend. For those days, try out some of my favorite bath products that don’t require a lot of time and energy:

	Earthwork’s "Sweet Lime Bath Truffles” ($30). Offered in packages of six, Earthwork's bath salts emit a very powerful scent that send you straight into a state of relaxation. The lime is especially enticing and the bath truffle, which is large, takes its time to dissolve. Save each truffle for a especially tiring day.
	Organics by Noah’s Naturals “Lavender Sea Salt Soak” ($16.99). After you pour a handful of these intoxicating bath salts into the bath, make sure you wait a good two minutes before stepping into the warm water—the salts are fairly sharp. But it's worth the wait. The lavender leaves the skin looking healthy and tension-free.

Here are some other products I want to try:

	Pangea Organics’ line of massage oils ($25). I first noticed this line of products while whopping at World Market. Pangea offers three oil blends: Italian White Sage & Geranium; Malagasy Ginger with Lemongrass; and Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom. The oils smell invigorating and each combination of herbs is designed to create a different type of enjoyment for your stressful woes.
	Aubrey Organics’ Camomile Calming Bath Soak ($7.98). This company is known for creating organic products at reasonable prices, keeping organics within reach for those who claim green products are too expensive. This camomile bath soak also uses almond and organic jojoba to soothe the body.

I think tonight I’m going to make a warm bath, light a few candles, turn up the volume to my Imogen Heap album and relax with the latest copy of The Herb Companion. What are you doing to fight the cold weather? What’s your favorite herb to use in a warm bath? And what’s your favorite piece of fall clothing (mine are ankle boots!)? Comment away!

Ever since I graduated college I’ve noticed that an extra few pounds have found their way onto my scale. I no longer walk up hills to make it on time for classes. Instead, I spend day after day sitting at my desk in front of a computer reading about herbs. To prevent this weight I went running for the first time yesterday and it paid off. My legs are killing me! (I probably shouldn’t have worn heels the following day.)

However, I fear I’ll stray from this healthy path and take a detour towards the couch with a fresh supply of DVDs. Using herbs can prevent this by giving me that extra strength I will need to stay focused and energized.

According to the July 1997 Herb Companion article Herbs for Energy, herbs fall into two categories: stimulants and adaptogens. Stimulants increase your heart rate, respiration and blood pressure whereas adaptogens increase your body’s resistance to physical stress.

The article recommends using these herbs for long-term energy:

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). This herbal stimulant can regulate your metabolism.	Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) This adaptogen decreases fatigue and increases the body’s ability to adapt to stress.
Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera) This herbal adaptogen facilitates learning and memory and fights stress and insomnia.	Schisandra (Schizandra chinesis) This herbal adaptogen improves endurance and increases work capacity.

How do you use herbs in your life to stay energized? If it’s not herbs that keep you energized, what does? And how do you stay in shape?

September ... long month, no? The election frenzy is roiling; the DOW keeps tanking as the $700 billion bailout plan goes to vote in Washington; banks are scared to lend each other money, causing over-leveraged companies to hit a brick wall; the President is on TV telling us that, indeed, there are problems afoot. 

But really, there isn't much for private citizens to actually be doing about this particular snafu as it goes completely fubar. While you wait for the results of the new bailout vote in the senate this evening, take a deep breath. Try to chill out. Relax. Read a chapter of your favorite book. Sweat it out on a nice long walk in the fall weather. Make your favorite comfort soup. Most importantly? Make yourself a cup of tea.

Does this advice sound ridiculous and inane to you? It is, in the sense that it's just basics. Things are nuts. Have some tea and relax so that you are functioning on a sound decision-making level. Are you sitting around your house, panicking quietly as you check the newspaper? Tea. Definitely. Are you running around solving problems? Herbal teabag. Hot water. Travel Mug. 5 minutes to steep. You'll feel better, and you'll have more reserves to call upon when you need them.

This writer took a delicious cup of Numi Simply Mint organic tea to an afternoon meeting yesterday, and it was refreshing and relaxing amid the stacatto news reports.

Today I'm sipping delcious Naked Strawberry Green Tea from Fully Loaded Tea. The caffeine is low, the fruit flavor is subtle and wholesome, and I'm sure by the time I'm down to the dregs I will be ready to confront what the media has to tell me.