The Sweetness of Life: A Summary of Sweet Herbs

Marshmallow
Althea officinalis

When sweet is mentioned we often think of Christmas cookies and starbursts, but traditional medicine was discussing the sweet taste long before refined sugar. 

Therapeutic understanding
The sweet taste is considered building and strengthening. It can moisten tissues, soothe inflammation, and nourish the blood. It can relieve burning sensations (think of reaching for milk after eating hot peppers) and promote calmness and centeredness. 

I like to break the sweet taste down into four different categories. 

Slippery Sweet (Yin tonics and Demulcents)

These herbs have varying temperatures (from cool to neutral to warm), but all have some degree of moistness. Slippery and mucilaginous these herbs help to restore cool moisture to the body, coating and soothing inflamed tissues.  Examples include marshmallow, slippery elm, shatavari and okra

Qi Tonics (Sweet digestive tonics)

Qi tonics are the supreme building herbs. Most often they nourish and build the digestive function. These are generally taken for long periods of time to restore deficiencies, the results being more vibrant energy. Many herbs in this category support the immune system. Examples include ginseng, codonopsis, licorice, parsley and astragalus

Full Sweet

The sweet taste are those that build and nourish. Thus all whole foods are considered to be sweet. This includes meats, vegetables, grains and dairy. 

Empty Sweet

Our empty sweet classification includes refined sugars in all it’s guises. Too many empty sweets give us a surge of energy followed by a marked crash. We use empty sweets in small amounts in herbal medicine making to create syrups, or make herbs more palatable. 


Classically speaking... 

Ayurveda Elements
In Ayurveda the elements associated with the sweet taste are Earth and Water. The sweet taste is considered wet, cold and heavy

TCM Organs
The Spleen and Stomach organ meridians are associated with the sweet taste in Traditional Chinese Medicine and it is considered yang in nature. 

Chemical understanding
Sugars, fats, proteins, carbs, polysaccharides, GAGs

Special Considerations
Respiratory congestion, diabetes, fever, weak digestion, feelings of heaviness, lethargy and parasites

We must also remember that as much digestion as our stomach, spleen, liver and intestines do, our minds also digest myriad forms, thoughts, ideas, events and emotions on a daily basis.

It is just as important to fill the mind with healthy, nourishing thoughts and emotions, and that our mind be able to digest well that which we provide it.

The sweet taste is not to be reviled in our quest to shun refined white sugar which harms our health, but must be used with respect in appropriate fashion to nourish our minds with the sweetness of life, and nourish our bodies with strength and energy. 

Darcey Blue Herbalist