Herbal Bitters in Spring
~ March 2026 Newsletter ~March is Unpredictable, a Time of Change and Awakening Some years, I am sunbathing in a tank top after a hike at the cafe, looking out on the naked, newly bare earth. Others, like this, we are shoveling out of back to back to back to back snowstorms. (No complaints: It's
pretty, and I'd love to log more xc ski miles!)  But, make no mistake, spring IS coming. Officially, mid-month. Experientially? We shall see! The sun warms, sap flows, waters move push harder under the surface, rapidly eating away at the snow and ice of winter.  Transition times are exciting but challenging. Emotions of early spring can include bursts of joy
or spurts of anger, frustration, and agitation as we, like the creeks and rivers, struggle to break free of cold stagnation. Freeze, thaw. Freeze, thaw. Flow.  Physically, we crave movement. Physical movement, bitter tonics that get our digestive juices and bile flowing, vibrant earthy vegetals. We seek connection. Emerging from hibernation to connect with community.  Herbal BittersWhen we think of bitters, most of us think of taking an extract before eating to get our
digestive juices flowing and prepare our bodies to process a meal. While this is most certainly a core part of working with bitters, there is more that can be considered.
Relaxing bitters are an important subcategory of bitters that work gently and broadly to support both the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. They tend to simultaneously provide carminative properties. These herbs are perfect for “nervous gut” states and people who experience GI discomforts alongside emotional
stress—whether these conditions are aggravating one another or simply coinciding. They can be helpful in cases of sluggish digestion, nervous indigestion, gas, bloating, butterflies, or general dysbiosis.  Read more in...   the Mountain Rose Herbs blog  HERE  5 Relaxing Bitters to Support a Nervous Stomach, adapted from Herbal Gut Health  Remedies
Magazine pg 16-17 excerpt from Herbal Gut Health |
Spring Plant SpotlightBurdock root can be enjoyed somewhat similarly to dandelion, tastes somewhat similar, and thus is often used in formula with it. Burdock tastes less bitter, more sweet, and slightly woodsy.  Like dandelion root, burdock is diuretic and a mild liver and digestive stimulant. It is often used for skin conditions including chronic skin eruptions, acne, psoriasis, eczema, boils, and sties. Many herbalists and systems of traditional medicine consider the liver and the skin to be closely linked; work on the liver, and skin conditions are expected to first break out and then clear up. Burdock root is also used to regulate lymphatic fluid (the “back
alley” garbage system for sorting toxins, immune system trash, and fat) and improve excretion of toxins. Cautions: Not recommended during pregnancy. To be safe, it should not be used in gallbladder disease or bile duct obstruction unless under the guidance of a practitioner.  Dandy Ginger OxymelAn oxymel is a honey-vinegar extract. This alcohol-free blend is an excellent entryway into the world of bitters for picky supertasters or anyone who prefers yummy spicy-sweet flavors. Vinegar can be tricky to palatably pair with other flavors, but the zing of ginger alongside sour vinegar and sweet honey is somewhat
reminiscent of a lemon-honey-ginger tea. I prefer to use dried roots for better shelf stability, but you could opt for fresh. If needed, warm your jar of honey in a bowl of hot water to get it runny and easier to mix with the vinegar. You could easily swap in different spices or bitters, but this recipe’s flavor profile is particularly delish as it is.  1 Part Dandelion Root (chopped
or cut/sifted) 1 Part Ginger Root (chopped or cut/sifted) Apple Cider Vinegar (preferably raw and organic) Honey  Loosely fill a jar one-third full with the roots. Then fill the jar to the top with a
50:50 mix of honey and vinegar (or use less honey if you’d like it less sweet). Cap with a plastic lid (vinegar eats through metal) and let macerate for2 to 4 weeks, shaking regularly. Strain, bottle, and store in a cool, dark, dry spot; it will keep for several months (if made with dried roots), and longer in the fridge or freezer. Take ¼ to 1 teaspoon (equivalent to roughly1 to 5 milliliters [“squirts”] of the dropper), diluted or not, before meals for digestion support  "Excerpted from Herbal Gut Health © Maria Noël Groves. Used with permission from Storey Publishing. Order at wintergreenbotanicals.com/book and also available wherever books are sold"  Credit to Anna Farba for the beautiful ginger illustration  Enjoy this ginger plant profile sneak peek from my new book Herbal Gut Health! Herbal Gut Health Mini CourseFREE With Your Herbal Gut Health Book! Begins March 11th!Did you know my
Herbal Gut Health book includes access to a free special mini course specifically for people who have purchased the book through me or anywhere? And it's starting soon!  Live Streams run 6-8 pm Eastern Time on these Wednesday Nights (6 pm Eastern = 5 pm Central = 4
pm Mountain = 3 pm Pacific) Class 1, March 11: Intro to Digestion & Digestion-Enhancing Herbs Class 2, March 18: Intro to Gut Repair & Soothing, Healing Herbs Class 3, March 25: Microbiome & Dysbiosis Support including Gas/Bloat and Antimicrobial Herbs They will also be recorded - all registrants will have access to the replay links and no deadline to watch. Â If you bought the book through me, you're auto-enrolled. You will get an email with access at least 1 day before classes begin and the morning of each class. If you
bought the book elsewhere, you can register online using the promo code on page 336 of the book under "Helpful Websites" This course is also available to people who did not get the book for $40 as a drop-in student. But, seriously, you can get the book for just $24.99 retail plus shipping and then get the course for free!  If you should be enrolled but don't get that notice the Monday night March 10 before class, first check your spam and junk folders, then email us!   Home Herbalist SeriesSummer Wednesday Nights, 6-9 pm eastern & recorded Join me for my most popular foundational 9-class course. This year will have both in-person (limited!) and live
stream options, and everything is also recorded and available on-demand. The in-person option is already half full!  Advanced Clinical & Assessment Skills Series Spring & Fall Wednesday Nights live streamed & recorded This series is for advanced students and practitioners to help bridge your skill sets from herbal student to clinician or to refine your
clinical skills. (Be sure to check out the pre-requisites before you register!) We have a fantastic lineup of class topics taught by Maria and guest teachers. (Drop in class registration for individual classes will open up later in 2026.) Topics include the art of intake, follow ups and case management, physical and and tongue assessment, functional bloodwork and genetic labs, red flags, trauma-informed care, inclusivity, herbal practice business skills, time management
and tools, pregnancy and lactation herbal support, EDS and hypermobility, assessment for the complicated case, and more. Guest teachers! Camille Freeman, Ember Peters, Mel Kasting, Keren Dolan, Larken Bunce, Lauren Eadline, Renée Camila, Vilde Chaya Fenster-Ehrlich, Andrew Appello, and Julie Beal - I'm also teaching 3 classes and all the bonus on-demand classes. (Longer descriptions and teacher bios for the individual classes and drop in registration are available here (if needed, choose-your-own scholarship discount codes are listed at the bottom of each drop in class listing). But you get far more perks as a full series student. The bottom of the this page  includes options for scholarship discounts and customized payment plans for series students.)
Available Now! Herbal Gut Health Book:
Natural Therapies to Promote Healthy Digestion, Boost Your Microbiome, and Support Gut Repair
A healthy gut is the key to good overall health—both physical
and mental—and researchers are beginning to uncover the links between an unbalanced gut microbiome and chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and cancer. As a clinical herbalist with decades of experience, Maria Noël Groves has helped patients of all ages resolve their digestive complaints and related health issues by teaching them how to adopt healthier dietary habits, employ herbs to alleviate digestive issues and improve digestion, and incorporate balanced lifestyle
practices—resolving their diseases and dramatically improving their quality of life. Gorgeous full-color illustrated book, 300+ pages, including anatomy and physiology, herbal actions, detailed plant profiles, protocol points for key concerns, herbal energetics, recipes, charts, and more!  Includes Special
Bonuses!• Free Access to Maria’s Mini Gut Health Online Course On-Demand course, begins March 11, 2026 • Special one-time discount for 10% off Maria’s online live streamed and on-demand classes and series when you buy the book direct from her here. •
And of course, your book will be signed by Maria!  Upcoming Classes & Events Maria's Core 2026 Series! NOFA-NH Winter ConferenceIn Person on Saturday, March 7 all day
Tt Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH   Backyard Medicine & the Secret Lives of Garden HerbsFor the Amherst Garden Club Thursday, April 2, 2026, Meeting 9-12, Talk 10:30-11:30 am IN PERSON at Messiah Lutheran Church, 303 NH-101, Amherst, NH
 03031 Learn about the medicinal benefits of a variety of common and lesser known herbs that can easily be grown in your own backyard. We will cover several of Maria’s favorite medicinal herbs and how to incorporate them into your diet and health routine including anti-stress and bedtime teas, brain boosters, and allies in vital aging, digestive health, immune function, and nutrition. You’ll go home with a handout of tips. Maria
will sign and sell her books after the 1-hour talk. https://amherstgardenclub.org/meetings/ TBA later this Spring: • NH-Maine Seacoast Herbal Apothecary Tour
mid-May • Herbal Classes at Enfield Shaker Museum in NH in Spring, Summer & Fall • NH Herbal Network's Herb & Garden Day in Concord June 6 • New England Women's Herbal Conference in VT in July  |
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