🍂 Herbs for Letting Go: Supporting Transitions and Change

Today is one of the first days it has really felt like fall here on the farm. It's drizzly, overcast, and I am wearing socks (IYKYK). As autumn settles in, the air cools and the days grow shorter. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is the season associated with the Lungs, the organ of "letting go." It's no coincidence that fall is also meant to be a time for this same action. The trees show us, with effortless grace, how to let go. Leaves drift to the ground—no struggle, no resistance—simply surrendering to the natural rhythm of change.

In our own lives, this season invites reflection. It encourages us to release what no longer nourishes us, to find peace in slowing down, and to nurture our bodies and spirits for the quieter months ahead. This can be so hard for some of us living in a culture that doesn't appreciate the benefits of rest, and places all glorification on productivity. However, just as nature transitions into these periods meant for rest, we too can move through change with ease and gentleness—especially when supported by the wisdom of herbs.

Here are five beautiful herbal allies to help you navigate times of transition, soften the heart, and bring balance to both body and mind.

🌿 Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm is a soothing remedy for the nervous system. It helps calm anxious thoughts, lifts low moods, and brings a sense of lightness to heavy days. If you are someone that struggles with Seasonal Affective Disorder, keep this herb close as the days get shorter.

Lemon Balm has long been known as an herb that “gladdens the heart.” It relaxes tension in the body, steadies the breath, and encourages a peaceful mind. It’s especially helpful during emotional transitions, when you’re learning to release worry and embrace calm. It makes a delicious tea, tincture or it can be used as flavoring in food. It is delicious in muffins!

🌸 Albizia (Albizia julibrissin)

Most people that know me as an herbalist know this is one of my favorite and most used herbs..... anytime of year! Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as He Huan Hua, or “Tree of Happiness,” Albizia flower and bark are used to ease sorrow, grief, and emotional restlessness. This beautiful tree reminds us that joy and sadness often coexist—and that healing can be found in both.

Albizia supports the heart and spirit, helping us process emotions gently rather than suppressing them. It’s a wonderful ally when you’re letting go of something dear, healing after change, or finding your emotional footing again.

🌾 Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)

Another of my favorites that is gradually taking over my herb beds is Tulsi. Sacred in Ayurvedic tradition, Tulsi—or Holy Basil—is a deeply balancing adaptogen that strengthens the body’s response to stress. It uplifts the mood, clears the mind, and promotes a grounded sense of clarity. This is another excellent herb for those that struggle with the short days of winter.

Enjoyed daily as a tea, Tulsi nourishes the nervous system while supporting emotional and spiritual resilience. This is another herb that can be incorporated as a food. While it does vary in taste a bit from your kitchen basils, you can still use it in much the same way. I have a friend that makes her winter pesto base with it.

This was my barn Holy Basil before it became the grow all over the front yard Holy Basil.

❤️ Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

A true heart medicine, Hawthorn works both physically and energetically. It strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, and opens the emotional heart.

Hawthorn is for those times when the heart feels tender—when we’re grieving, processing loss, or simply holding too much. It protects and fortifies while gently encouraging emotional openness. In this way, Hawthorn teaches that we can stay soft and strong all at once. Drink it as a tea or take it as a tincture for long-term support. Hawthorn’s steady, grounding presence helps rebuild trust in our own rhythms. (do avoid this one if pregnant or on blood thinners though.)

🌕 Creating Rituals for Release

You might invite these herbs into your life as a daily ritual—a cup of tea in the evening, a dropperful of tincture in the morning, or even a few deep breaths beside your favorite plant.

As you sip or stir, take a moment to reflect:What can I let go of to make space for what’s next?

And don't get so caught up in the details of how much to take and when... Herbal Medicine isn't pharmacuetical medicine. Herbalism is about incorporating the plants in to our everyday lives and letting them nourish and strengthen us a little here, a little there. So add in one or two of these to a tea, take one as a tincture, toss some into your dinner each night. Just don't complicated it ;) If you do, you'll find yourself transitioning into the restful season of winter with peace and calm reflection. And definitely make yourself some lemon balm muffins!