Limpias and Plantitas that Can Support Mental Health

Erika Buenaflor is a modern-day curandera who utilizes her vast experience in curanderismo, and knowledge of ancient Mesoamerican shamanism to reveal how this sacred wisdom can help people heal holistically. She’s published several books on curanderismo and is the founder of Realize Your Bliss.

Limpias  are known to have a positive impact on mental health and they are almost immediate and can be  practical and accessible. The plants used in our limpias can also serve to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression and help with clarity and focus among other positive effects. In honor of mental health awareness month, I wanted to feature some of my favorite plants that are extraordinary to support our mental health, as well as accessible ways we can use them to complement and bolster our water and fire limpias. 

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Las Plantitas

In curanderismo traditions, it is largely believed that the physiological, mental, and emotional affects plants have on us, parallel the spiritual-energetic. Garlic and chilis, for example, both support the immune system, as well as our subtle energy bodies, so they provide protection on a physical and spiritual-energetic level. The plants I chose to focus on are some of my favorites to support mental health, not just because they are powerhouses, but also because of their scent and accessibility. These plants can be used in the limpia and also ingested as a tea to support the release of unwanted energies and seal the limpia.

These plants are fairly common and sold at local nurseries. As for their scent, pleasant scents can also support and promote overall wellness. Smells are processed by our olfactory bulb, which signals to our limbic system, a region of the brain related to emotion and memory. When having a difficult time with our mental health, it can be incredibly helpful to be exposed to scents that promote clarity and relaxation. And just in case you are sensitive to scents or are not fond of a particular scent, I listed alternatives and a few plants that have an incredibly mild scent when dried.  

Next to each plant lists its flavor and identifies the plants that have a very mild scent. For a great tasting tea, I recommend using no more than one plant that is bitter and balance it with either citrus or mint flavored plants. A bitter plant in a tea is extraordinary for our overall gut health as they encourage the natural detoxification of the liver, stimulate the production of digestive enzyme in the gut, lead to better absorption of nutrients, curb sugar cravings, calm upset belly and nausea, and help the body absorb more nutrients from food. A healthy and balanced gut can definitely benefit our mental health. You can sweeten the tea with honey, stevia, or a sweet flavored plant. 

For Anxiety: 

• Bergamot, citrus flavored 
• Lemon Balm, citrus flavored
• Lemongrass, citrus flavored
• Lemon Thyme, citrus flavored
• Rose Geranium, sweet 
• Honeysuckle, sweet 
• Lavender, sweet 
• Helichrysum, bitter
• Echinacea, bittersweet, when dried, scent dissipates
• Hibiscus, sweet-tart, when dried, scent dissipates

For Stress: 

• Moringa, grassy
• Lemon Balm, citrus flavored
• Lemongrass, citrus flavored
• Lemon Thyme, citrus flavored
• Linden, citrus flavored
• St. John’s Wort, mildly bitter
• Helichrysum, bitter
• Honeysuckle, sweet
• Lavender, sweet
• Rose Geranium, sweet
• Pineapple Sage, sweet
• Honeysuckle, sweet
• Chamomile, mild-sweet
• Hibiscus, sweet-tart, when dried, scent dissipates
• Rosehips: mild-sweet, when dried, scent dissipates
• California Poppy, bitter, when dried, scent dissipates
• Valerian, bitter, when dried, scent dissipates

For Clarity and Focus

• Rose Geranium, sweet
• Peppermint, mint flavored
• Spearmint, mint flavored
• Linden, citrus flavored

Anti-Depressant: 

• Pineapple Sage, sweet
• Rose Geranium, sweet
• Echinacea, bittersweet
• Bergamot, citrus flavored
• Lemon Balm, citrus flavored 
• Linden: citrus flavored 
• Passionflower: sweet-sour
• Rosehips: mild-sweet, when dried, scent dissipates

You can use fresh or dry plants for these teas. If you are using fresh plants, lightly crush them between your fingers or tear them into smaller pieces to release the oils. For 16 oz. of tea, use 1.5-2 tsp. dried herbs and 2-4 tsp. of fresh herbs. For summer time you can make larger batches and keep a pitcher of the tea in your refrigerator. Before you drink your tea, take a moment to go from within and thank the spirit of the plants for nurturing and healing you. Whether you are spiritual or not, this is a beautiful mindfulness practice, which can also support your mental health. 

Water Limpias

These two water limpia—baño and shower—rites are extraordinary in helping us to feel or begin to feel purified and rejuvenated, especially if we do them regularly. When we need a little extra TLC, I recommend a baño once a week for four weeks and a shower limpia rite for seven days straight. For both water limpia rites, start by cleansing the bathroom. You can smudge the space by lighting a bundle of dried herbs, and gently wave the bundle around to cleanse and bless the bathroom with the smoke coming from the bundle. Alternatively, do a white fire limpia for your bathroom, and follow the instructions down below. 

Use any of the plants listed above for these water limpia rites. If you are using fresh plants, use a large handful and squeeze them to release the oils. For dry plants, you can use about half the amount. If you are only doing one shower limpia rite, then you can follow the above instructions for a 16 oz. tea. If you want to do the shower limpia rite for seven days straight or a baño, then place the plants in a 12-cup coffee or tea maker, which will yield about 5 to 7 pots of concentrated tea that will go into the tub, or place the concentrated tea in a couple pitchers for 7-day shower limpia rites.

You know you are done with the steeping process when the concentrated tea becomes lighter in color. For both limpia rites, please connect with the spirit of the water and herbs and thank them for cleansing and renewing you. For the baño, make sure the water is hot—not scalding, of course, but hot enough to produce a sweat. When you are done with the baño, shower off with colder water. For a shower limpia, wash your body, take the last few moments to make the water a little colder, rinse off with about 1-2 cups of the concentrated tea, and when you are done gently pat yourself dry.

After a water limpia rite, it is generally recommended to wash off with cold water. Both hot- and cold-water hydrotherapy have great benefits for the body, boosting circulation, reducing stress, and stimulating the removal of toxins from the organs. Close and seal your water limpia rite with a delicious cup of warm or cold herbal tea.  

Personal White Fire Limpia 

Personal white fire limpias can be incredibly cathartic, especially when we release into the fire whatever may be weighing heavy in our minds and hearts. I recommend to take a moment and gently tune into what you would like to release. Then, write it out. If there’s a lot to release, you may want to consider doing more than one personal white fire limpia. This way nothing gets rushed and you can take your time releasing into the fire. 

For this limpia you can use any of the listed plants, but they must be dry. You will also need the following: a pot with a handle, preferably a stainless-steel or cast-iron pot, that will only be used for your white fire limpias; a couple of handfuls of plain Epsom salt; approximately 8–10 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol (a small splash); and wooden matches. Place all of the items in the pot.

Then carefully throw a lit wooden match into the pot. Again, please take a moment to thank the herbs and the fire for helping you to release and transmute any heaviness. State out loud what you are releasing and carefully place the paper into the fire. Know that the fire and plants are also clearing any heaviness you may have released into the physical space you are in. Again, close and seal your personal white fire limpia rite with a delicious cup of warm or cold herbal tea.  

If you are using the white fire limpia to only cleanse your bathroom, then it is unnecessary to write out you are releasing and throw a paper into the fire. Unless, of course, the heaviness is deep and you feel you could benefit from both a personal white fire limpia and a water limpia rite. 

I recommend doing a baño, 7-day shower limpia, or a personal white fire limpia at least once a month. Self-care maintenance limpias can help to cleanse and nurture our mental, emotional, and spiritual overall well-being, so they are definitely worth our time and energy.