Lemon Balm & Blueberry Porridge for a Merry Heart

So I have been experimenting with using my anti-anxiety holy trinity (passionflower, lemon balm, wood betony) outside of my regular tincture and herbal tea. This harmonising porridge bowl is one of the results of this ongoing experiment – and what a wonderful way to start the day it is.

In traditional herbalism, lemon balm is used to induce a ‘merry heart’. How lovely is that? It has been used for centuries for it’s medicinal properties. It melts away your stress, irritation, calms those frazzled nerves and takes the edge off of your anxiety completely.

Additionally, it’s an anti-inflammatory; it will provide relief from digestive issues and period pains.

What better way than to have it in the morning with your breakfast, and set yourself up for a good day?
You can grow your own lemon balm, or purchase the dried leaves. I buy my dried leaves from Indigo Herbs or Neals Yard Remedies. Once you have purchased the dried herbs you can use them to make tea or sprinkle in your soups, stews, salads, smoothies… go wild! (And then calm down, because it is incredibly soothing).

Lemon balm is from the same family as mint, and it has a citrusy, earthy taste. It works extremely well with sweet blueberry, cinnamon, enlivening nutmeg and a small teaspoon of peanut butter for sustained energy throughout the morning.

This is a fantastic breakfast bowl for those of you suffering with anxiety, as the mix of complex carbohydrates, soothing lemon balm, and anti-oxidant rich blueberries all work in harmony to relieve nervousness and tension.
Complex carbohydrates shouldn’t be avoided as they provide a slow energy release, not only helping you avoid sugar highs and lows, but they’re a warming, yang food, providing that comforting, sunny, inner hug feeling. Oats are also high in vitamins and  minerals that are fantastic for your mental and emotional wellbeing, such as magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamin b6. Magnesium is wonderful – it relaxes the nervous system and reduces feelings of hopelessness, nervousness and tension.

This breakfast bowl is one of the most nurturing things you can do for yourself, and it’s not even midday yet! Go figure!

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Ingredients

• 70g/1 cup of organic jumbo oats
• 1 cup/200 ml milk of your choice
• 1/3 tsp dried lemon balm leaves
• 1 handful of blueberries
• 1 tsp peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• Small pinch of salt
• 1 squeeze of lime
• 1/4 tsp vanilla essence

Directions

1. Grate the nutmeg and set aside.
2. Add the oats and milk to a small pan and warm over a low heat.
3. Add the lemon balm, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla essence, peanut butter, salt and lime and stir until cooked (about 10 minutes).
4. Fold the blueberries into the pan when the porridge is cooked.
5. Transfer the porridge with the blueberries into a bowl and top with toppings of your choice – I like to go for bananas for extra tryptophan, blueberries and chia seeds for sustained energy.

Enjoy,

Anna xxx