Taurus Herbology

TAURUS  20 April - 20 May

Taurus is ruled by Venus which is all about pleasure, especially pleasure shared with others. I’m talking love and romance but also the joy found in a close friendship . Taurus folks make loving and loyal friends and partners and love the finer things in their lives as the Venusian energy is highly aesthetic. They are drawn to the the things that ignite the senses be that art and culture or beautiful clothes and surroundings and FOOD. As an earth sign with the Venusian influence they are also drawn to the beauty of flowers and the garden. As a practical sign they love to have their hands in the dirt, to nurture plants and in turn to provide physical and emotional sustenance to their families from their gardens. They are always the ones bringing over their homegrown produce and roses from their abundant gardens.

The first sign of the zodiac, Aries, are quick and fiery, they supply the first spark to get going and then we lead onto the first earth sign, Taurus which tends towards a slow and steady approach to life. This is great for completing long term projects or relationships that need tenacity and stubbornness. On the flip side they can err towards perhaps becoming a little too slow and perhaps even lazy ( I am a Taurus sun and ascendant so I can say that). This can manifest as low energy, congestion, being overly cold and sluggishness so I tend to think of practices and herbs which may be somewhat stimulating and warming to get that energy moving. The ultimate exercise for the Taurean would be walks or runs in the forest to get the blood moving but also to engage their love of the earth and all her beauty - with a loved one is all the better!. Of course, being the sensual beings that they are, a good roll in the hay is one way to get the blood pumping while also indulging their love of togetherness and intimacy. The tonic herbs I tend to think of when thinking of the Taurus energy are those that are rooted in the earth but tend towards being slightly stimulating and warming - ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus). In addition I will often think of shatavari

(Asparagus racemosus) as a herb very aligned with the Taurus energy as it promotes togetherness, libido and the sensual desires that drive Taurus. It never hurts to add in ginger ( Zingaber officinialis) here as it circulates and warms and is expansive in its attributes.

Of all the herbs though, rose (Rosa sp.) is the most aligned with the Venusian Taurus energy it is beautiful and fragrant, elicits feelings of love and connection and it lightens the emotional heart. As Taurus is the ultimate sensualist, it is the perfect aphrodisiac for these Venusian folks as it helps to break down emotional walls, relaxes the nerves and soothes the body to give them the emotional and physical intimate connections they so desire. In a similar vein as an emotional and love tonic (but probably more of a Leonine herb) is the herb hawthorn (‎Crataegus monogyna) . It definitely has a very pronounced action for the physical heart but it also feeds the emotional heart and helps those in need of support through life changes, which can really rattle the Taurean who likes their routines ( change is not a friend of the Taurean - I can confirm this)

Taurus rules over the throat, thymus, neck, vocal cords, thyroid (and secondarily the metabolism), voice, and middle ear so when out of balance the Taurus natives can suffer from sore throats, a pain in the neck, laryngitis, ear infections and thyroid dysfunction. I also personally feel that Taurus are susceptible to feeling unheard which can lead to feelings of friction. The specific remedy herbs for the Taurean are those which support the upper respiratory and also those which support the healthy functioning of the thyroid. The most pertinent of these where the respiratory system is concerned is thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Thyme grows easily, has beautiful little flowers and is a renowned respiratory tonic. It has a lovely but powerful scent, decongests, is antimicrobial and helps one to breathe a little easier both physically and on an emotional level as well. I like to use fresh thyme as a tea when I suffer from sore throats or when I am feeling overwhelmed which funnily enough being a Taurus often manifests for me as a “lump in my throat”

Taureans may also benefit from implementing the mineral and iodine rich seaweeds and kelps into their diets to nourish and feed the tissues of the thyroid which in turn control the metabolism. As Taurus rules the thyroid and throat, they may be prone to thyroid dysfunction, particularly sluggish thyroid function. Speaking of metabolism…Taureans are renowned for being over indulgent, maybe it is the love of the sensory joy of food and drink but nonetheless it is something to be mindful of. In this respect I would also look towards helping the detoxification processes along, especially if sluggish digestion is present. The key Taurus herb for spring cleaning the body is one of my favourites and one which I use fresh often - burdock (Arctium lappa) . It is clearing and detoxifying for the tissues and also aids in clearing congestion of the digestive tract which can plague Taureans when they succumb too often to their love of rich food and drinks. From a more emotional aspect, burdock helps detoxify and release the resentment and anger that can accumulate in those Taurean for whom their caring nature and willingness to help have been taken advantage of.

Plantain for the Taurus Folks

Plantain( Plantago officinalis ) is another herb which resonates with the Taurean energy. It is a very old world herb and is the bane of many any allergy sufferer. It is however a very soothing herb for the respiratory tract and the ears. Juice it or make into a syrup for inflamed throats or for when you need help to get the lump out of your throat,

So there you go. Next up is Gemini! Look out for some good chats!