Herbs for Hot Days: Cooling Remedies to Keep You Balanced

 

As the temperature rises during the summer months, it's important to find ways to stay cool and balanced. Nature offers us time tested herbal allies that help cool the body, calm the mind, and restore balance. Explore some of the best cooling herbs for hot days so we can stay refreshed and regulated during summer's peak.

Why Use Cooling Herbs

Cooling herbs work by supporting the body's natural cooling systems, such as sweating and circulation, while calming inflammation and excess internal heat. In herbal energetics, many of these herbs are considered cooling, moistening, and nervine, meaning they help calm the nervous system and support hydration.

Using cooling herbs during the summer can help: 

• Reduce heat related irritability
• Soothe sun related inflammation or skin flare ups
• Support digestion in hot weather
• Replenish electrolytes and fluids
• Calm anxiety and stress from overstimulation

Top Cooling Herbs to Keep You Balanced

1. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Cooling, calming, uplifting.

Lemon balm is a gentle nervine and cooling herb that supports the nervous system and digestion. Its subtle lemony flavor makes it a favorite in teas. Perfect for children and adults, lemon balm helps cool internal heat caused by stress, digestive discomfort, or overstimulation.

Use it for:

• Summer stress or irritability
• Digestive upset from heat or travel
• Restless sleep during warm nights

Try it in a lemon balm cooling tea, use fresh or dried leaves steeped in hot water, strain and let cool, add ice and/or fresh lemon and honey.

2. Peppermint or Spearmint (Mentha spp.)

Stimulating and cooling, especially in hot weather

Mint is a powerhouse herb for staying cool. The menthol in peppermint creates a natural cooling sensation on the skin and in the mouth, making it ideal for iced teas or herbal spritzers. Spearmint is slightly sweeter and gentler than peppermint, which may be more appealing for kids and sensitive folk.

Use it for:

• Overheating or hot flashes
• Nausea or sluggish digestion
• Headaches that are triggered by heat

Try it as an iced tea using fresh or dried leaves or infused in water and used as a topical spray.

3. Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia)

Hydrating, refreshing, and naturally cooling

Lime is a simple but powerful addition to your summer herbal routine. Rich in vitamin C and natural electrolytes, lime juice supports hydration and helps cool the body from within. It's especially effective when combined with mint or lemon balm in herbal teas.

Use it for: 

• Natural electrolyte replenishment
• Cooling beverages and herbal blends
• Supporting digestion and immune function

Try adding fresh lime juice or lime zest to lemon balm or mint tea.

4. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Aromatic, calming, and slightly cooling

Lavender helps cool the mind and soothe emotional heat. It's a classic nervine herb, easing stress, insomnia, and heat related headaches. The scent alone helps relax the nervous system, making lavender great for aromatherapy and topical applications.

Use it for:

• Heat induced tension or irritability
• Restless sleep
• Sunburn or skin irritation

Try lavender in a tea, hydrosol mist, or by adding the essential oil in a cooling body oil.

5. Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Tangy, deeply cooling, high in antioxidants

Hibiscus is a favorite in hot climates around the world. Its vivid red petals create a tart tea rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, supporting cardiovascular health and hydration. Hibiscus is naturally refrigerant, meaning it helps lower body temperature.

Use it for:

• Hot days and excessive sweating
• Replenishing after time in the sun
• Iced herbal teas and herbal lemonades

Try the dried petals in cold infusions, blended with lime and/or mint.

6. Rose (Rosa spp.)

Gentle, heart soothing, cooling

Rose petals and rosehips are both used in herbalism. Rose is energetically cooling and astringent, perfect for calming emotional heat, grief, or tension. It's also fantastic for skin health, especially as a toner or mist.

Use it for:

• Emotional or heart centered tension
• Skin inflammation or heat rash
• Floral cooling teas or rosewater spritz

Try in a rose petal tea, facial mist or toner.

How to Use Cooling Herbs

You can use cooling herbs in a variety of refreshing and easy ways.

• Iced teas and herbal infusions: Brew a large batch and chill in the fridge (it will stay good for a couple of days). Try mixing lemon balm, hibiscus, and mint for a cooling daily drink.
• Herbal syrups or honeys: Make a cooling syrup with mint and lime to drizzle over sparkling water or fruit.
• Hydrosols and body sprays: Lavender and rose hydrosol mist helps cool the skin and calm heat rash or irritation.
• Topical oils: Infuse lavender or mint into a light oil such as sunflower oil for post sun cooling relief.

Make Your Own Cooling Tea Blend

Here's an easy herbal blend that's easily customizable. Add raspberries, strawberries, or anything else you desire.

• 1 part Lemon Balm
• 1 part Peppermint
• 1/2 part Hibiscus
• !/2 part Rosehips
• 1/4 part lavender
• Lime juice to finish

Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herb mixture per 8oz of hot water. Let steep for 15 minutes, strain, and chill. Add lime before serving. 

Or try one of our tea blends chilled:

• Beautiful You combines Green tea, Moringa, and Rosehips
• Balancing Chakra contains Peppermint, Lemongrass, and Hibiscus
• Minty Digestive Aid combines Peppermint and Lemon Balm

 

Cooling herbs are an essential part of any summer wellness plan. Whether you're looking to beat the heat, calm your nerves, or simply stay hydrated, herbs like lemon balm, mint, lavender, lime, and hibiscus have your back. With their gentle power and refreshing flavor, they can help bring balance, clarity, and calm when the weather is anything but.