Brigitte Mars, herbalist interviewed by Emma Taylor on January 9,1996 "If you want to enjoy your sexuality, it's good to eat food that will make you feel more connected." Brigitte Mars is an herbalist - someone who uses studies and uses herbs to treat the human body. Tripod: Is it really possible for herbs to keep you warm? BM: Well, herbs themselves have an energetic quality. For example, when you take an herb like cayenne pepper, it's a hot herb. When you use an herb like ginger, when you taste it, it actually makes you feel warmer. Some herbs -- especially ginger and cayenne -- actually increase your circulation. So for the person who's prone to cold hands and cold feet, using those herbs is going to help circulation, so your hands and feet aren't so cold all the time. Tripod: How much of these herbs do you need to feel the effects? Any more than the amount normally used when cooking? BM: Well, some people might take ginger capsules, for example, if they were going skiing -- you can take up to six capsules a day. Another herb that is considered warming is cinnamon -- you can taste the warmth when you put it in your mouth. Cardamom, cloves, those are all considered warming. Another one of my favorites is roasted dandelion root. Roasting it actually makes it have a warming quality that's very long-lasting. Another way of using these herbs is in a tea form. A ginger tea, roasted dandelion root tea -- as a matter of fact, roasted dandelion root tastes a lot like coffee. It has a rich, earthy flavor, and there's a very long-lasting warmth. On the other hand, there's a lot of herbs that cool people down, and if you use a lot of those in the winter time, you're going to feel more chilled. Things like peppermint is considered more cooling, raspberry leaves are considered cooling. Tripod: So how can you change your diet to stay warmer in the winter? BM: In a sense, there's not a lot of difference between food and herbs. At this time of year, if people try to live off salads and fruit and smoothies and orange juice, they're going to find that they don't acclimate that well to the cold weather. Tripod: What's a good meal for a winter's day? BM: You'd be better off having soups and stews. Eat baked winter squash as opposed to zucchini. Zucchini cooks very quickly, you saute it and it's ready in three or four minutes, but winter squash that you bake for an hour -- acorn or butternut squash -- is much more warming, and has a longer-lasting effect. Having a salad will make you feel cool -- but having a bowl of soup, not only is the temperature of the food warmer, but it has longer-lasting benefits. It's easier to digest as well. I see a lot of people who are so-called health-conscious people, and this time of the year, they're trying to eat an appropriate diet for someone in South Florida in the summer time. Even though fruit and salads are wonderful foods, they're not appropriate for all people at all times of the year. Tripod: I've heard that cinnamon is also an aphrodisiac. Is that why it warms you up? BM: Uh huh. We tend to say that people who want to make love are "hot," so there you go! Garlic is another one. Garlic is warming. It is interesting that a lot of herbs that improve circulation make you feel warmer, they make you more grounded and in touch with your body and your sensuality. As opposed to something that cools your passion. I would say the same thing about the foods that I mentioned -- lots of salads and fruit might be great for an aesthetic, spiritual lifestyle, but if you want to be in the world and be productive, and enjoy your sexuality, it's good to eat food that will make you feel more connected. Eating roots is very good, like turnips and rutabaga, parsnips and carrots -- but cooked carrots rather than raw carrots. Tripod: What about herbs to help you ward off winter sickness? BM: One of my favorite herbs is echinacea. It shouldn't be used all the time, but it does stimulate white blood cell production, and it can help the body fight off infection. It's a great alternative to antibiotics. But I caution people -- if you use it all time, if you take it on a daily basis, it's not going to really work for you. Tripod: Would you give that same advice about any herb? BM: I don't think it's the same with any herb, but an herb that has a strong effect like that, where you're really challenging your body, and making it do something like that. However, herbs like ginger, peppermint, chamomile, those are more suitable for a regular basis. Tripod: What's your favorite herb? BM: My favorite herb. I have three. Nettle, rosemary and echinacea. Tripod: Do you just use rosemary when cooking? BM: Rosemary is used in cooking, it's also a great herb for mental alertness. So it's great for studying. I also enjoy oil of rosemary, where you add ten drops of pure rosemary oil to a bath -- it's very good for sore muscles, if you've been out skiing or hiking. It's wonderfully relaxing to the body, yet stimulating to the mind. Tripod: And what about nettles? BM: A lot of people know nettles because they sting you. However, getting stung by nettles is actually very beneficial for arthritis. Nettles are very blood-building and kidney-strengthening. It's also a very warming herb. Tripod: Would you normally have nettles in tea? BM: Yes, usually in tea. The whole plant can be cooked, and when it's cooked, it loses its sting, so you can eat it as well. It's a wonderful fiber source. Tripod: Do you get most of these herbs from a store, or do you grow them yourself? BM: Both. Most people would probably go to the herb store, I have them growing in my yard as well, depending on the time of the year.