Pumpkin Spice Fall Medicine

Did you know that "Pumpkin Spice" isn't entirely misguided from a health standpoint? This time of year ‘pumpkin spice’ flavored food items are everywhere. While many are packed with sugar and barely a nod to the spices, there are loads of ways to fill your day with these tasty spice-y items. Pumpkin flesh (or any orange squash) is an ideal food for your body in the change from summer to fall, offering intense nutrients, vitamins and minerals which are perfect for the seasonal transition. The spices offer warming and support for digestion and metabolism. 

For tea drinkers it’s a perfect time to make a batch of a subtle pumpkin spice tea for home and office.  You can make it using either caffeinated loose-leaf tea or herbal rooibos without caffeine. Each of the spices should be ground coarsely into small pieces, not powdered.

1 cup of a black tea such as Darjeeling or rooibos for decaf

4 T coarsely ground Ceylon cinnamon

3 T. dried ginger bits

4 tsp. coarsely ground allspice

2 tsp. coarsely ground cloves

2 tsp. coarsely ground mace (or grated nutmeg)

Use one teaspoon per cup, and steep 15-20 minutes.  Sweeten as desired.  Maple sugar flakes make a nice sweetener for this tea.

The medicinal actions of the various spices make this tea carminative, anti-inflammatory, a digestive stimulant, a warming circulatory stimulant, and a blood sugar lowering agent if no sweetener is added.

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