The New Year has long been a symbolic reset — a time to clear what no longer serves us and invite in clarity, strength, and opportunity. Across cultures and traditional medicine systems, herbs have played a central role in marking this transition. From cleansing rituals to grounding roots and intention-setting botanicals, these plants help bridge the old year into the new.
Below is a curated look at traditional New Year–aligned herbs, how they’ve been used historically, and simple ways they can be incorporated into modern routines.
Why Herbs Matter at the Start of the Year
Herbs are more than ingredients — they’re carriers of tradition. In herbalism, timing matters, and the start of a new cycle is considered an especially powerful moment to work with plants that support:
• Clearing stagnation
• Strengthening resilience
• Supporting circulation and vitality
• Mental clarity and focus
• Protective and grounding energy
Winter is also when roots, berries, and hardy barks shine — plants that store energy and offer steady support.
Key Herbs Traditionally Used for the New Year
Elder Berry (Sambucus nigra)
Elder has long been associated with protection and renewal. Traditionally gathered and stored for winter, elder berries symbolize resilience through harsh seasons. Historically used in European folk traditions to support vitality during cold months, elder is a natural choice for transitioning into a new year.
Common uses: decoctions, syrups, ritual blends, winter formulas
Angelica Root (Angelica sinensis / Angelica archangelica)
Often referred to as a “bridge herb,” angelica has been used in both Western and Eastern traditions to support circulation and restore balance. In folklore, it’s considered protective and strengthening — ideal for setting intentions tied to momentum and forward movement.
Common uses: slow decoctions, paired with warming herbs
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza spp.)
Licorice has a harmonizing reputation in herbal systems worldwide. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s used to “harmonize formulas,” making it a fitting herb for New Year work focused on balance, integration, and steady energy.
Common uses: teas, formula blending, grounding blends
Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)
A classic warming herb, ginger symbolizes ignition — the spark that gets things moving. Used globally to support circulation and warmth, ginger aligns with New Year goals centered on motivation and activation.
Common uses: teas, decoctions, culinary blends
Frankincense Resin (Boswellia spp.)
Used for thousands of years in ceremonial and spiritual practices, frankincense is associated with purification, focus, and sacred transitions. It has traditionally marked new beginnings, rites, and intentional spaces.
Common uses: incense, powdered blends, ritual use
Chrysanthemum Flower (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
In East Asian traditions, chrysanthemum is linked with clarity and longevity. Light, floral, and cooling, it offers balance to heavier winter roots and supports clear vision — both literal and symbolic.
Common uses: teas, paired with warming roots
Simple Ways to Work With New Year’s Herbs
Herbal Reset Tea
Create a simple blend using one grounding root (like licorice or angelica) and one lighter herb (like chrysanthemum). Simmer gently and drink with intention during the first week of the year.
Cleansing Space Ritual
Burn frankincense resin or prepare a simmer pot with ginger and citrus peels to refresh your space and mark the transition into the new year.
Intention Setting
Choose one herb that aligns with a specific goal — strength, clarity, protection, momentum — and work with it consistently for the first 30 days of the year.
Why Quality Matters
When working with herbs for ritual, wellness, or tradition, quality is essential. Properly sourced, whole, and minimally processed herbs retain their character, aroma, and integrity — which is why sourcing matters as much as intention.
At LA Herb, we focus on offering whole herbs, roots, flowers, and resins that respect traditional preparation methods and authentic plant material — the same forms used historically across cultures.
A Grounded Start to the Year
New Year’s doesn’t have to be rushed or dramatic. Sometimes the most powerful reset is slow, intentional, and rooted. Working with herbs reminds us that growth is seasonal, resilience is cultivated, and renewal begins quietly.
Whether you’re clearing space, setting goals, or simply honoring tradition, these herbs offer a meaningful way to step into the year ahead — grounded, prepared, and aligned.