By Rachel Landon
Every year it starts the same way; I just stop wanting what I’ve been eating. There’s no plan behind it. No decision to ‘be better.’ A plate I would have loved a few weeks before suddenly feels too much, too heavy, too rich - and I find myself reaching for something greener without really thinking about it. I’ve learned to trust that shift.
Winter asks something very different of us: slower food, more comfort, more stillness. I don’t try to fight that. It’s natural. But by the time spring comes around, you can feel the body wanting to move things on a bit.
Not dramatically. Just simply. That’s usually when I start supporting it, but not in a strict way. Just small things that sit easily in the day.
I often begin with Cleavers. It grows everywhere at this time of year - you’ll recognize it when it catches on your clothes as you walk past. I pick it fresh, rinse it, and leave it in a jug of water overnight in the fridge. Then I drink that water through the next day. It’s very simple. That’s the point.
Cleavers is good for the lymphatic system, helping things move where they’ve become a bit slow over winter. You don’t feel it working in an obvious way; you just start to feel a bit lighter after a few days. I’ll sometimes add in calendula, echinacea, or burdock as well. They’ve been part of my work for years, so I tend to come back to them without overthinking it.
Mornings change slightly, too. I’ll juice one carrot, just one, and have it as a small shot before anything else. It’s an easy way to support the liver after a season of heavier food. Nothing extreme, just a nudge in the right direction.
If I feel like I need more, I’ll bring in milk thistle or yellow dock, but I don’t rush it. I always feel like food starts to take care of itself around this time of year.
I start wanting bitter greens again: nettle, wild garlic, asparagus. Things that feel fresh and a bit sharper. It’s less about deciding what to eat and more about noticing what actually appeals.
Movement comes back in the same way; I don’t suddenly start a routine -I just find I don't want to sit still as much. I’ll stretch more, walk further, and move around the kitchen differently. That’s usually enough to get things flowing again - especially the lymphatic system, which relies on movement to do its job.
And then I make sure I’m putting something back in; that part really matters. If you’re cleansing from within, you need to support the body at the same time. I use nettle, dandelion, and clover for that - usually as infusions I drink through the day. They’re rich in minerals and feel properly nourishing, especially after winter.
That’s really all I do. Nothing complicated. Nothing forced.
Spring isn’t about resetting everything. It’s just a gradual shift, letting the body lighten a little, move a little more, and come back into balance in its own time. If you pay attention to your moods, your skin - your whole body, I can promise you it will tell you exactly what it wants and needs.
You simply have to listen.
From the Wilder Botanics larder:
Flourish Tea: A mineral-rich infusion of dandelion, nettle, and red clover to nourish and replenish the body after winter. Excellent support to all eliminative organs of the body.
Hangover Drops: A gentle yet effective liver restorative containing milk thistle and burdock root to support the body’s natural filtering processes. Oat flowering tops supporting nervous system balance.
Inner Beauty Tea: A purifying blend of rose hips, calendula, fennel, passion flower and orange peel, designed to support gut health and restore a healthy skin glow.
Flower of the Sun Body Oil: A calendula double infused oil to support lymphatic movement and hydration during your daily stretches and movement.