Herbal Action: Nutritive

Nourish and build body tissue

Nutritive herbs nourish and build body tissue, supplying a substantial amount of nutrients and aiding in building and maintaining the body. Because of their broad nourishing action, these herbs can be used for all conditions in the body, and are especially valuable for building and strengthening bones and muscle tissue.

What they do:

• Supply a substantial amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients

• Build and maintain body tissue generally

• Strengthen bones and muscle tissue

• Support overall health as a foundational, whole-body action rather than targeting one specific complaint

How they're used:

Nutritive herbs are commonly taken as teas or added directly into meals, soups, and smoothies, since many double as everyday foods.

When to consider them:

Use these herbs for all conditions in the body, as a general foundation for health, and specifically to support building and strengthening bones and muscle tissue.

Herbs

• Alfalfa

• Algae (kelp, spirulina, etc.)

• Basil

• Chickweed

• Comfrey

• Dandelion

• Fennel

• Horseradish

• Horsetail

• Irish moss

• Kelp

• Lambs quarter

• Licorice

• Marshmallow

• Mullein

• Nettles

• Parsley

• Purslane

• Red clover

• Red raspberry leaf

• Rosehips

• Sage

• Saw palmetto

• Slippery elm

• Sorrel

• Spirulina

• Water cress

• Wood betony

• Yellow dock

Nutritive Foods

From Dr. Christopher's list — everyday foods valued for their nutritive properties

• Apple

• Apricot

• Arrowroot

• Barley

• Beet

• Carrot

• Dates

• Fig

• Lentils

• Mango

• Oats

• Olive oil

• Prune

• Pumpkin seed

• Sesame

• Sweet potato