tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81743912157321474652024-03-19T05:07:16.877-05:00Moonflower MusingsAn Earthy Brew of Practical and Spiritual Herbalism Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-28513291203784471402020-05-15T14:36:00.001-05:002020-05-15T14:36:31.166-05:00Come find me at Seraphim Botanicals!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Hello and welcome to the last post here at Moonflower Musings!</b> You may have noticed I haven't been very active around here lately. That's because I've been pouring my energy into a brand new website, <a href="https://www.seraphimbotanicals.com/">Seraphim Botanicals!</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Find Me There to Check out New Offerings:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Purchase a copy of <a href="https://www.seraphimbotanicals.com/herbal-healing-deck">The Herbal Healing Deck</a> directly from me (have it signed, if you'd like!)</li>
<li>Download guided <a href="https://www.seraphimbotanicals.com/blog/plant-spirit-meditations">plant spirit meditations</a> (get a FREE Dandelion Manifestation meditation when you <a href="https://www.seraphimbotanicals.com/newsletter">sign up for my newsletter</a>!)</li>
<li>Check out my <a href="https://www.seraphimbotanicals.com/blog">new blog</a> and many more offerings to come!</li>
</ul>
Thanks so much for reading this blog over the years! Moonflower Musings was my first-ever blogging experience. I will always appreciate what I've learned from connecting with readers here, so thank you for your comments and suggestions! <br />
<br />
I'm not sure how long I'll keep this blog up in the future, so please come and find me over at Seraphim Botanicals! I'm also fairly active on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theherbalhealingdeck/">Instagram</a> these days, so that's a good place to connect as well.<br />
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Farewell, Moonflower Musings!<br />
<br /></div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-2457638850503960012017-03-15T13:49:00.000-05:002017-03-17T16:01:45.744-05:00The Doctrine of Signatures: Reading the Signs of Nature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></b><b>“I experience the
recognition of an archetype in a signature or the true nature of a plant or
creature as a beautiful experience, which harkens my spirit back to paradise
before the fall, before the human archetype decided that he was a god.”
–Matthew Wood</b></div>
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One of the most intriguing things about herbal healing is
its ability to operate beyond the physical. Plants are great for healing the
body, and that alone is a wonderful gift from nature. Yet despite what our
reductionist science tells us, herbal healing goes much deeper than the actions
of phytochemicals upon bodily systems. </div>
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There is an element of the unseen in herbal medicine. Call
it what you will: plant spirit healing, plant spirit medicine, plant spirit
shamanism. I like to call it plant spirit magic, because that’s how it feels to
me. Connecting and communicating with plants is definitely healing, but working
with plants has other benefits as well. They show up in strange synchronicities
to teach lessons; they deliver messages; they offer guidance and perspective.
Reading the signs of nature is not only healing--it’s fun. It imbues a sense of
magic into my life; it makes me feel like the world is speaking to me, and the
sheer act of learning its language is causing me to evolve. </div>
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Traditional cultures have long viewed plants as teachers and
guides. Shamans and mystics use plants for gathering information. Plants are
used in divination; some can induce prophetic dreams; others stimulate visions
or help one traverse alternate realms. But learning how to read the signs of nature doesn’t have to be as wild as all of that. It can simply be a matter of
learning the medicinal uses for a plant from the plant itself. Some shamans
have mastered the art of plant communication and can simply connect with a
plant and discover how to use it for medicine. But for those of us who are
still working on mastering clear communication with the plant world, nature does
provide clues. </div>
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<b>The Doctrine of
Signatures</b></h3>
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<b> </b></h3>
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These clues are embodied by the doctrine of signatures, the concept
that a plant resembles the condition or part of the body that it can heal. For
example, flowers from the herb Eyebright look strikingly like human eyes, and
the plant is a remedy for eye ailments like conjunctivitis. Horsetail, as its
name implies, has the appearance of a thick horse’s tail, and is used to
strengthen the hair. Signatures are also found through touch, smell, taste,
odor, and even sound. </div>
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In the words of Matthew Wood in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556433409/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1556433409&linkId=a4b3066783c494ed9883a8e11ac1d37f">his book </a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556433409/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1556433409&linkId=a4b3066783c494ed9883a8e11ac1d37f">Vitalism</a> </i>(p. 20), “The idea is that the
shape, color, appearance, environmental niche, taste, smell, etc., of a plant
or medicinal agent will display the tell-tale signs, marks, or configurations
indicating how that agent may be used in medicine.” </div>
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The doctrine of signatures is said to originate from the
Middle Ages, when it was used by folk herbalists and wise women. Yet, it seems
that no one really knows precisely when or where this concept originated; it
may be that the tradition is quite ancient, and the Middle Ages was simply the
time frame when it was first recorded. For example, Swiss physician Paracelsus is
sometimes credited with creation of signatures, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">signatum</i>. Certainly, he was a proponent of them, writing, “Nature
marks each growth… according to its curative benefit” (Doctrine of Signatures,
n.d.). Wood (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vitalism, </i>p. 20)
provides a quote from Hartman, who paraphrases the concept from Paracelsus: </div>
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“The soul does not perceive the
external or internal physical construction of herbs and roots, but intuitively
perceives their powers and virtues, and recognizes at once their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">signatum…</i>This signatum is often
expressed even in the exterior forms of things, and by observing the form we
may learn something in regard to their interior qualities, even without using
our interior sight.” </div>
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In 1621, German Christian mystic Jacob Boehme published <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Signature of All Things, </i>a text which
identifies and discusses the law of signatures as a universal, magical law. In
this fascinating tome, Boehme (Chapter IX) casts such pearls of wisdom as: </div>
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<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">“The</span>
whole outward visible world with all its being is a signature, or figure of the
inward spiritual world; whatever is internally, and however its operation is,
so likewise it has its character externally; like as the spirit of each
creature sets forth and manifests the internal form of its birth by its body,
so does the Eternal Being also.” </div>
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Or, as the Hermetic texts put it, “As
without, so within.” </div>
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Thus, the doctrine of signatures is an
ancient concept with roots in folk herbalism, mysticism, hermeticism, and
esoteric teachings on the healing arts. It’s a fascinating and rather mystical
approach to plant medicine that stands in stark contrast to modern,
conventional medicine. Rather than recognizing spirits, archetypes, or signatures
within plants, science reduces them to their component parts based on a
strictly materialistic view of reality.</div>
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Although modern medicine rejects the doctrine of signatures,
scientific research tends to validate it unintentionally. Modern science picks
apart herbs and classifies them down to each chemical component present in the
plant. As it turns out, Horsetail contains large amounts of silica, which is
beneficial to the hair, as well as the skin, nails, and bones. In other words,
it does help you grow your hair long and strong, like a beautiful horse’s tail.
While scientists may inadvertently come to some of the same conclusions about
plant medicine as mystics and folk healers do, their way seems a lot less fun. </div>
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<h3>
<b>The Case for
Intuition</b></h3>
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<b>“Every time you don’t
follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a
sense of spiritual deadness.”</b> </blockquote>
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<b>-Shakti Gawain</b></div>
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Perhaps modern medicine’s dismissal of the doctrine of
signatures stems from a larger societal trend that also discards intuition. Not
only does modern, Western society undervalue the primal intuitive force within
each of us; it out-and-out rejects all but a tiny sliver of the broad spectrum
of spirituality--namely, that which falls under the precepts of organized religion.
What’s more, these religions often place little value upon one’s personal
experience of the divine. In fact, sometimes they actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prevent</i> people from seeking the divine for themselves, mandating
instead that the sacred is only to be reached through a human middle-man. Of
course, this is not always the case, and some religious people are also very
spiritual, possessing a great deal of devotion and faith. But the Western world
itself is not run by devotion and faith, not by a long shot.</div>
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Modern, Western society is quite secular indeed, driven
first and foremost by what we can perceive while operating within a hectic,
chronically-stressed-out, coffee-fueled, goal-driven state that we have come to
think of as normal. Instead of cultivating faith in the unseen, we have placed
our faith in the bottom line: money. Instead of producing citizens trained to
cultivate inner balance, kindness, and humility, we school people to be selfish,
egotistical, and materialistic and call it “successful.” </div>
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According to the prevailing winds of our culture, the
practice of going within is not hip-- unless it’s enacted by a beautiful woman
in trendy clothing and then posted on social media. Cultivating intuition is
not practical, unless it helps you win the lottery. Psychic ability is not a
reality, because if people were truly psychic, wouldn’t they have already won
the lottery? Miracles, if they ever really happened at all, must have only
transpired in some far-removed, mythological past to which nobody can return. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And yet, we live in a time when many are beginning to
question the long, strong hold of patriarchy that has gripped our religious,
political, financial, and social systems for so long. Several spiritual
teachers have said that the Divine Feminine is on the rise, despite what we may
read in the papers. I see this myself; I see people waking up, protecting
Mother Earth with their lives, valuing the women in their lives, and valuing
the Feminine within themselves, regardless of gender. </div>
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I have often wondered what it might look like for society to
start valuing the Feminine as much as it values the Masculine. And I don’t mean
simply valuing women, though that would be nice, too. I mean the feminine
energy that exists in both men and women. The side that values internal
processes, dreams, visions, and feelings; the side that listens to an inner
guidance system; the side that is receptive to messages from the invisible
world. </div>
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I picture people showing up to work in the morning and
sharing the previous night’s dreams around the coffee maker. I picture doctors
saying, “Let’s look at the astrological influences of the next few weeks before
we schedule your surgery.” I picture business meetings that include Tarot
spreads; I picture politicians asking for guidance in Ayahuasca ceremonies; I
picture farmers consulting the phase of the moon before planting and giving
gratitude to the Earth before harvesting. </div>
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I believe that cultivating intuition is a valuable practice
that benefits society as a whole. By reconnecting with the still, small voice
within, we become more aligned with our highest potential. In a world so
desperately in need of healing, our highest potential is what we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must</i> develop to create a better reality
for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b>Reading the Signs of
Nature</b></h3>
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<b>“Nature is alive and
talking to us. This is not a metaphor.” -Terence McKenna</b></div>
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Of course, intuition can be cultivated in a number of ways. Learning
to read the signs of nature is only one, but it’s a powerful practice. Perhaps
you already do this in one form or another. Many people, for example, interpret
animal sightings as portends. If a bobcat crosses our path, we look up its meaning
in a book and try to determine what message it might hold for us. Because this
is such a popular concept, an entire language of animal totems has been
developed by key authors like Ted
Andrews and Jamie Sams. We collectively understand Hawk as the messenger and
Coyote as the trickster. </div>
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Plants can also be read as nature’s portends and
message-bearers, although there isn’t as much literature out there regarding
their meanings. This is part of why I wrote <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076435213X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=076435213X&linkId=e258574aa7fd76d87005fde11c74ab51"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Herbal Healing Deck</i></a>--not as a definitive encyclopedia of plant meanings,
but as a way of developing the conversation about plant totems. As
with animal totems, plants can have different meanings for different people at
different times. Thus, I don’t expect people to view my book as a static,
authoritative reference; rather, my hope is that working with the deck helps
people tune in with plant spirits and signatures in order to develop their own
intuitive senses about plant archetypes. </div>
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The messages offered by herbs are plentiful and can be
expressed and understood in a number of ways. I once got a clear message from
Mint plants overtaking my garden: “Be careful of what you start, as each
project can take on a life of its own.” Anyone who has dealt with the ceaseless
underground runners of this plant knows what I mean. (You can read <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/06/mint-magic-from-mundane-to-mystical.html">the full story on Mint Magic here</a>.) What we will focus on below is a very specific brand
of messages offered by our green allies: specifically, reading the signs of
nature as expressed in medicinal plants to determine what those plants can be
used for--also known as the doctrine of signatures. </div>
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To my mind, the doctrine of signature is like an intricate
system of winks and nods from Mother Nature herself. (In fact, the word signature
is a mix between the words “sign” and “nature.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gaia knows exactly how immersed in 3-D reality we are most of the time.
She understands that we might need an occasional nudge in the direction of our
intuition. From the beginning, Nature has wanted us to understand how to use her
abundant medicines to stay healthy and happy in a dynamic and shifting world.
So, she has left a trail of breadcrumbs--a map, a blueprint, a signature within
the physical form of each of her medicines to help us mere mortals along our
rocky paths through life.</div>
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<b>Reading the
Signatures</b></h3>
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<b>“If we struggle with
the uncertainties of imagination and intuition, after some time we may begin to
feel that there is indeed a hidden logic with Mother Nature. Images, similars,
signs, correspondences, and coincidences infer a different way to look at the
world; they give rise to a different kind of knowledge.” -Matthew Wood</b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&keywords=matthew%20wood&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=2be8719ee969989776683490fda61053">Matthew Wood</a>, an American herbalist, author, and teacher is
known for his attention to the doctrine of signatures and the archetypes of
plants. As he points out, the more specifically you can match the archetype of
a healing plant to a patient’s condition, the deeper the healing can be. Wood
tends to use much lower doses of herbal medicines than most practitioners. His
books were among the first I read while beginning my herbalism journey a decade
ago, and for a long while I believed that a few drops of tincture was
considered a normal dose. This was before I understood the true genius of
Wood’s system: the more precise the remedy, the deeper the healing, and the
less physical plant matter you need. </div>
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This aligns with the concept in shamanic herbalism that you
don’t necessarily need a plant’s physical presence to invoke its healing
effects. In the words of seminal plant spirit medicine teacher and author <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1622030958/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1622030958&linkId=1897fda3090752373208df5180cb8d33">Eliot Cowan:</a></div>
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<b>“There is only one active ingredient in plant medicines--friendship.” </b></div>
</blockquote>
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Using intuition as a guide for discovering herbal remedies
allows the herbalist to sustain a sense of magic and mysticism in his or her practice.
It is both exciting and deeply fulfilling to get to know herbal allies, and it
is a blessing and an honor for those who practice this work. While intuition
plays a leading role in discerning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">signatum</i>,
many signatures have already been discovered and tested. This gives us a
wonderful starting point and a reference for learning about individual plants
and their uses. </div>
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However, it is also helpful to study the methods of
perceiving signatures, in order to develop a vocabulary for this intuitive sense
and learn how to discover signatures for ourselves. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&keywords=matthew%20wood%20book%20of%20herbal%20wisdom&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=02ae80cf839b6bd9bf22e0a087aea614"><span id="goog_1705133757"></span>The Book of Herbal Wisdom<span id="goog_1705133758"></span></a>, </i>Wood outlines several types of
signatures to look for in herbs:</div>
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One has to do with the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">environment</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">or habitat </b>in which the plant grows.
For example, many kidney remedies grow in wet areas. Returning to the example
of Horsetail, this plant grows along streams and creeks, and it is also very good
for the urinary tract. It has been used to treat kidney stones and urinary
tract infections. Nettle is another plant that likes to grow in wet areas, and
it has an affinity for the waterways of the body, such as the blood and urinary
tract. Meanwhile, plants that thrive in full sunshine often possess sunny
qualities. Think of such cheerful, warm remedies like St. John’s Wort, which
can ease seasonal affective disorder or wintertime blues, or Calendula, which
can soothe dry and irritated skin caused by winter weather.</div>
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Also notable is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">color</b>
of a plant, as different colors of berries, leaves, roots, and flowers can
point to their work on different bodily systems. Herbs with a dark red color,
like Sumac berries and Beet root, are associated with building the blood. Plants
with white flowers, such as Boneset and Comfrey, are associated with healing
broken bones. The color of a decoction or tincture made from an herb can also
be a signature. For example, the blood-red color of a St. John’s Wort extracts
has lead some herbalists to consider it a protective herb for women during
their moon cycles, which can otherwise be an emotionally vulnerable time. Colors
can also correspond to the chakras; for example, goldenseal’s bright yellow
root is a signature for its action on the solar plexus, including the digestive
organs. </div>
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Wood points out that a plant’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shape or physical form </b>was one of the first associations made in
modern records of the doctrine of signatures. If a plant looked like a human
organ, it was thought to act on that organ. Walnuts, which look strikingly like
a human brain, are in fact very good for brain health. They are high in DHA, an
Omega-3 fatty acid which has been shown to improve cognitive function and
prevent age-related cognitive decline. Wood writes about using Black Walnut for
treating scalp conditions, showing another affinity that this plant has for the
head. Boneset has leaves conjoined at the stem, so it looks like the stem pokes
through the center of a single leaf. This appearance of fused leaves points to
its use as a means of helping to heal broken bones. St. John’s Wort has tiny
perforations on the surface of its leaves that glow with light when held up to
the sunshine. Likewise, St. John’s Wort can let the light into one’s heart and
mind during times of seasonal affective disorder or depression.</div>
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An herb’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">texture</b>
is another signature. Furry plants are sometimes used for organs that are
covered with hair-like cilia, such as the lungs and intestines. Mullein is a
plant whose broad leaves are covered with soft fur, and indeed, Mullein is a
used to heal the lungs. Comfrey leaves have cells that resemble a microscopic
view of human skin, complete with hairs, and the plant is one of the best skin
healers. Meanwhile, thorny plants are often used as pain relievers, “not by
sedating it but by striking at the root cause of it,” according to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&keywords=ellen%20evert%20hopman&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=9d499c650207aa13e38d9185645b1b76">Ellen Evert Hopman </a>(2016, “Overall Shape and Formations” section, para. 6). For example,
Wild Lettuce is a prickly plant that is used to treat physical pain. This can
also extend beyond physical pain and into emotional pain. For example, <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-spirit-of-hawthorn-healing-heart.html">Hawthorn is a thorn-bearing tree that can heal emotional pain of the heart</a>. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scent</b> is another
element to consider within the doctrine of signatures. Think, for instance, of
the smell of Eucalyptus, and your nose will recall an intense opening
experience. Highly aromatic herbs contain large amounts of essential oils, which
exit the body via the breath, helping to open the lungs and nasal passages. Another
example is the stimulating and cooling aroma of Peppermint, which exactly
mirrors its cooling and stimulating actions on the body.</div>
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Even the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sound </b>that
plants make can be a signature. Wood cites the rattling sound of Black Cohosh
seedpods as a signature of the plant’s use among Native Americans for
snakebites. Wood calls this a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spirit
signature</b>,” the Native American idea that if a plant calls to mind a
certain animal, or if it attracts a certain animal, then the plant possesses
the medicine of this animal. </div>
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Thus, we have come full circle back to animal totems, which
really aren’t so different from plant spirit totems. To my mind, one of the
biggest differences is that plant totems are more subtle--they don’t jump out
in front of your car or scratch at your door. Thus, we must keep our eyes open
to the quiet urgings and messages of the plants. Yet, plants can occasionally
speak to us in more dramatic terms: a Pine tree falls across your driveway,
Mint takes over your garden, or you get a Poison Ivy rash. These may not be
signatures, but they can certainly clue you in that a plant is trying to tell
you something!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijN7juk3vC6b16TJkH09M8CimLbzbkgSLIF1TvC7j7Es9-7dMaxgcVAxTyV98NXWIvOx8RPnePKkZuhg_lh7cqaF4Zm0-TALM4Z_Lihwd671JwyXdmZAAsmoW3VjvfNaQX6HXvULxQ4zY/s1600/Bird+of+Paradise.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijN7juk3vC6b16TJkH09M8CimLbzbkgSLIF1TvC7j7Es9-7dMaxgcVAxTyV98NXWIvOx8RPnePKkZuhg_lh7cqaF4Zm0-TALM4Z_Lihwd671JwyXdmZAAsmoW3VjvfNaQX6HXvULxQ4zY/s400/Bird+of+Paradise.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Enjoying the Journey</b></h3>
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<b> </b></h3>
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Using the doctrine of signatures is a way to deepen your
practice of herbal medicine. But more than that, it’s a way of communing with
nature. Observing a plant and attempting to discern its uses based on
signatures a valuable thing to study, even if you never plan to start your own
clinical herbalism practice. It’s a way to start reading the signs of nature
and allowing your intuitive self to open up to the messages of plants. Plants
have many messages for us, if we only pause to listen. </div>
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Signatures can go beyond physical uses for plant medicines
and into the realm of energetic uses, messages, and lessons. One example I gave
above was <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-spirit-of-hawthorn-healing-heart.html">Hawthorn</a>’s thorns being a signature for its ability to relieve
emotional pain. Another example is the yellow color of Daffodil blooms, which
can be <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-flower-essences.html">made into a flower essence</a> for boosting the solar plexus, the yellow
chakra. Daffodil helps with solar-plexus-related issues such as self-worth,
confidence, and the recognition of one’s gifts and talents. </div>
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Don’t be afraid to open your mind and use your imagination
when looking for signatures. I encourage people to open up to nature with a
sense of childlike wonder and awe. Children often talk to animals and plants
before society programs them into believing that such things are silly. It’s
time to take back our innocence and start talking with the plants again! Even
Matthew Wood admits that some of the signatures he perceives can be silly or
even cartoonish at times--but they still work. Imagination is just another
level of intuition. So, the next time you’re playing in the garden or hiking
through the woods and find yourself drawn to particular plant, ask yourself:
What does this plant remind me of? </div>
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Of course, it takes patience to work with plants--their
signs, signatures, and spirits. In the same way it takes several years for a
single American Ginseng root to develop into a mature, medicine-ripe specimen,
the plants often share their teachings bit by bit, over the course of months or
even years. Synchronicities will often line up to confirm something I’ve
learned by intuition, and sometimes this process happens in slow-motion. Just
when I think I have understood a plant’s message, it evolves into something new
as more information comes to light. It’s a process, a journey that is well
worth the effort, even if it never leads to an exact destination. Working with
plant signatures is much like a hike through the forest. It’s such an enjoyable
experience of exercise and expansion unto itself; does it even matter where you
end up? </div>
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References</div>
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Boehme, J. (1621). <i>Signatura rerum</i> or <i>The
signature of all things</i>. Retrieved from <a href="http://sacred-texts.com/eso/sat/index.htm">http://sacred-texts.com/eso/sat/index.htm</a>
</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1622030958/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1622030958&linkId=1897fda3090752373208df5180cb8d33">
</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1622030958/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1622030958&linkId=1897fda3090752373208df5180cb8d33">Cowan, E. (1995). Plant spirit medicine. Columbus, NC: Swan, Raven & Company.</a></div>
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Doctrine of signatures. (n.d.) Science museum website.
Retrieved from <a href="http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques/doctrine">http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques/doctrine</a>
</div>
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Hopman, E.E. (2016). The signature of plants: Learning nature’s
alphabet. Retrieved from <a href="http://realitysandwich.com/319608/the-signatures-of-plants-learning-natures-alphabet/">http://realitysandwich.com/319608/the-signatures-of-plants-learning-natures-alphabet/</a>
</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556433409/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1556433409&linkId=a4b3066783c494ed9883a8e11ac1d37f">Wood, M. (1992). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vitalism:
The history of herbalism, homeopathy, and flower essences. </i>Berkeley, CA:
North Atlantic Books. </a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556433409/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1556433409&linkId=a4b3066783c494ed9883a8e11ac1d37f">
</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=herbalheali04-20&keywords=matthew%20wood%20book%20of%20herbal%20wisdom&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=02ae80cf839b6bd9bf22e0a087aea614">Wood, M. (1997). The book of herbal wisdom: Using plants as medicines. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.</a></div>
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Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-70001664710771475712017-01-07T12:35:00.001-06:002017-01-07T12:35:57.589-06:00The Ancient Art of Tincture Making<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“A magical,
intangible process, healing is an art, not a science.”</div>
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–Rosemary Gladstar</div>
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<u>A Wise Woman Tradition</u></div>
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Herbal medicine-making is an ancient practice that has been
passed on for centuries in all cultures, from East to West. In European
history, such herbalists were often wise, intuitive women who passed down their
favorite tried-and-true remedies from mother to daughter. These medicine-makers
were rooted in the garden and the forest, creating healing potions from the
fruit of the Earth herself. Alas, during the rise of the Roman Catholic Church
in the fourteenth century, such female healers were persecuted as witches.
Thousands of our wise women ancestors were tortured and killed as a result of this
widespread fear of the healing power they possessed. </div>
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Now, the herbalist’s battle is with the aftermath of the
Industrial Revolution, which greatly altered Western society. Herbalism was
cast aside by cold, hard allopathic medicine that replaced all kinds of
holistic healing. However, herbal medicine is enjoying a cultural comeback, and
both men and women can practice without fearing a witch-hunt. As a highly
intuitive art form that engages Mother Nature at her finest, herbal healing can
be considered a feminine tradition, whether it is practiced by men or women. As
we pick up the caduceus and begin our paths as herbal healers, we reclaim the Wise
Woman tradition that has managed to survive persecution and trivialization. </div>
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<u>The Excellence of
Extracts</u></div>
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Nothing empowers the inner “witch” more than concocting a potent
potion. Tinctures are extracts made by soaking herbs in a mixture of alcohol
and water. Sometimes they contain other substances such as apple cider vinegar
or vegetable glycerin. Tincturing has many benefits, including potency,
longevity, and time and cost efficiency. </div>
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The basic idea behind tincturing is to extract specific
healing components from the plant in a form that will remain shelf-stable for
years. Because the plant’s constituents are pre-extracted, your body can make
better use of the medicine. With herbal capsules, the body must process the
herb; consequently, much of the medicine is lost before being absorbed. Infusions are better, but many people don't take the time to make tea on a daily basis, and some herbal compounds are not water-soluble. </div>
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Because
tinctures effectively extract the medicinal properties of plants, they are very
concentrated, and dosage can be a matter of drops. Plus, alcohol acts as a
natural preservative, allowing tinctures to remain potent longer than dried
herbs, which tend to last for only about a year or so and take up much more
shelf space. Tinctures are easy to make, easy to store, easy to carry, and easy
to administer. The convenience of dropping a few drops into your mouth or
drinking water makes this powerful medicine accessible in today’s busy
lifestyle. </div>
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<u>Picking Your
Plants</u></div>
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To create your own tincture, fresh or dried plants can be
used. Usually, fresh plants are preferred in order to capture the spiritual
essence of the plant and provide the best taste. However, some herbs may not be
locally available, so ordering the dried herb also works. </div>
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When picking your own herbs from your garden or the wild, be
sure to choose high-quality plant matter. Do not pick leaves or flowers that
are yellowed or dried. If wild-crafting, be mindful not to pick plants that
grow along roadsides, as they may have absorbed pollution from traffic. In
general, pay attention to the environment and pick herbs from rural areas with
little pollution. (For more information about wild-crafting see my <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2016/06/wildcrafting-basics-how-to-reap-healing.html">post on wild-crafting basics</a>).</div>
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A bit of research will determine which part of the plant to
use. Perhaps you already know from seeing dried Calendula flowers, Red
Raspberry leaf, or Dandelion root for sale in stores. For herbs such as
Calendula and Lavender, the flowers alone are the most potent part. Other
times, the leaves are the preferred portion, as in the case of Sage and Tulsi.
Sometimes, you can harvest the top few inches from a plant, picking down to
where the stem is still tender, like with Catnip. In some cases, different
parts of the plant have different medicinal actions. For example, flowers from
an Elder tree help calm allergies and drive out fever, whereas Elder berries
are used to build the blood and boost the immune system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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For the timing of your harvest, it's helpful to think of
where the plant’s energy is concentrated throughout the season. If you are only
harvesting leaves, it is better pick before the plant flowers. Once blossoms
form, the herb focuses its energy on creating flowers, so the medicine begins
to fade from the leaves. Harvesting
the root of a plant is usually done in the fall, when the above-ground portion
dies back and the plant’s energy is concentrated within the root. Early spring
is the second-best time to dig roots; avoid doing so when the plant is
in full bloom. </div>
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<u>Choosing the
Alcohol</u></div>
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For beginners, the easiest way to tincture is with
good-quality brandy or vodka. Brandy tends to bring out the sweet qualities of
an herb, creating a delicious brew. Made from grapes, brandy also helps
circulate the medicine throughout the body. Vodka also makes a nice, strong
tincture. Because it is clear, the vibrant colors of the herbs come through
beautifully. Both brandy and vodka contain a certain percentage of water that
is conducive to tincturing, so no further dilution of the alcohol is needed.</div>
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For more advanced medicine making, you can use alcohol containing
a much higher proof. This should be bought from a company that creates the
alcohol specifically for tinctures, so that you are sure to get high quality.
If possible, buy organic 190-proof alcohol (my favorite company to buy alcohol from is <a href="https://organicalcohol.com/">Alchemical Solutions</a>). Then, you can dilute it to control the
ratio of alcohol to water. </div>
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As your herbal knowledge grows, you can start to
learn which components of plants are alcohol versus water soluble, and this will help determine what percentage of alcohol to use. In the meantime, <a href="http://www.swsbm.com/ManualsMM/MatMed5.pdf">Michael Moore's <i>Herbal Materia Medica</i></a><i> </i>provides a list of his recommendations for alcohol percentage for tincturing various plants. Some herbalists also add
vinegar or glycerin in order to extract specific constituents of certain plants. </div>
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<u>Macerating the
Magical Potion</u></div>
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“Maceration is
floating time, when the alluring qualities of the liquids have their way with
the herbal solids; the waters and alcohols of the menstruum gently coax the
essence of the plants into solution.” </div>
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–James Green, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook</i></div>
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Once you have the plant matter and the alcohol of choice, the
process of maceration can begin. This simply means soaking the herbs in the
liquid for a certain amount of time. The liquid used for tincturing is referred
to as the menstruum, a word that hearkens back to the Wise Woman tradition. As
James Green suggests, this is where the alchemy of medicine-making lies. The
mixture of water and alcohol begins to absorb the essence of the plant material,
so that neither the liquid nor the plants remain the same. </div>
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The first goal is to get the herb into as fine a material as
possible. If using dried herbs, it is best to purchase powdered herbs for
tincturing. If powdered herbs are not available, you can put the cut herbs into
a blender or coffee grinder to chop them finely. If picking your own, chop the
plant material into small pieces. </div>
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Again, there are basically two ways to macerate: the folk
method and the more precise method. Depending on which herbalist you ask, both
have a lot of value. The folk method does not require much equipment and can be
done by beginners who want to get started on their home apothecary. A more
precise method is available for those who may want to market their herbal products
and need to know more precise dosages for clients and customers. </div>
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Using the folk method, simply place the chopped herb into a
glass jar and cover it with the vodka or brandy. Viola—you have the miracle of
maceration! To avoid oxidation and browning, try to make sure the herbal material does not stick out above the
liquid. You can always place a stone or quartz crystal on top of the
mixture to press down any stubborn leaves. </div>
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If you wish to make a precise or professional tincture, some
measuring is involved. You will start by weighing the herb using a scale that
can measure ounces or grams. Once you know the weight of the herb, you can
determine what volume of liquid you will need. For all fresh plant tinctures,
the standard ratio of herb to menstruum is 1:2. In other words, for every ounce
of fresh herb, you would add two ounces of menstruum. </div>
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Using this method is
sometimes challenging, because the fresh plant material will almost certainly
rise above the level of liquid in your jar. This is when weighing down the
plants with a stone or crystal comes in very handy. Another way to avoid
oxidation is to choose a jar that you can completely fill to the top with the
herb and menstruum, so that very little air remains in the jar. To get rid of stubborn air pockets, stick a butter knife in your maceration and gently tap around to release the bubbles. </div>
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For dried plant
tinctures, the typical ratio used is 1:5 or sometimes 1:10 for very potent
plants. This is because dried plants have no water content and are more concentrated, so more liquid is needed to make a tincture. </div>
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<u>Honoring Sacred
Cycles </u></div>
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Now that we’ve got the technique of maceration down, let’s
talk about the magical nature of tincturing. There are energetic layers to this
ancient art form that go beyond science and into the realm of energy and spirit. The
timing of maceration can be based on the cycles of the moon, adding another
layer to the feminine nature of medicine-making. Starting a tincture on the day of
the new moon imbues the potion with the energetic potential of new beginnings. Following
this natural cycle, pressing a tincture on the day of the full moon bestows a
sense of fullness and completion. The tincture then contains the resonance of
the natural cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, which are instrumental
patterns in healing. </div>
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You can press a tincture after only two weeks, but I recommend waiting another moon or two before completing your potion. I typically wait until the <i>following</i> full moon, 6 weeks later, before pressing my tinctures. According to Rosemary Gladstar in <i>Herbal Healing for Women </i>(1993, p. 66), </div>
<br />
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“In Chinese herbology and several other more
indigenous traditions, herbs are left to macerate for months, even years. I
have found that the longer the herb is allowed to tincture, the better. I like
to steep them for at least six weeks.” </div>
</blockquote>
<br />
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This seems to point to another lesson in
healing that is much-needed in Western society. By taking the time to slow down
and honor the sacred cycles of life, we can better heal ourselves and others. When you are ready to press the
tincture, pour the liquid through a fine cheesecloth, catching the liquid in a jar or measuring cup.
Squeeze out the remaining liquid as best as you can--a process which can take some effort and patience. Compost or discard the spent herbs, which are referred to as the marc.</div>
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Once you’ve finished pressing the tincture, pour it into a colored
glass bottle and store in a cool, dark place. It should last three years or
longer; taste will help you determine if your tinctures are still potent. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel9LlAJmcYqrxmR0GbYbStRCi-4nITmoQMPUPAZcG8IwgIQ-mxvEjtP_hisntAHJO4CBRPlyduy2QFyJtXJVQmgfEofic4H8I9SHwAyuyoSIaKzYKRXuBxQRMjLztaQC_1z-3U2jjDps/s1600/still-life-bottles-nostalgia-decoration-38558.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel9LlAJmcYqrxmR0GbYbStRCi-4nITmoQMPUPAZcG8IwgIQ-mxvEjtP_hisntAHJO4CBRPlyduy2QFyJtXJVQmgfEofic4H8I9SHwAyuyoSIaKzYKRXuBxQRMjLztaQC_1z-3U2jjDps/s400/still-life-bottles-nostalgia-decoration-38558.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Enjoying Your Elixir</u></div>
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Dosage will depend largely on which herb you’ve tinctured.
Before using any herbal medicine for the first time, research its level of
potency and toxicity. A standard material dose is typically around 20-40
drops (about one dropper-full) given 2-4 times per day. Some herbalists use much smaller doses, however, depending on the circumstance. For example, Matthew Wood tends to use very specific remedies based on signatures and archetypes, so he is able to find precise remedies for people and only use 1-3 drops at a time with powerful healing effects. When it comes to unknown herbs, try to start low on the dosage scale and remain attentive to subtle changes in
your body, mind, and spirit. </div>
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To connect with a plant energetically, you might place a single drop of tincture on your tongue and sit quietly, noticing the subtle effects of the medicine. This is called a drop dose or spirit dose. While meditating with the medicine, you can ask yourself questions like: Does this feel warming or cooling? Where does it travel in my body? How does it make me feel? Does it bring up any images or memories? This process is a great way to hone your intuition, and get to know your medicines on a personal level.</div>
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Above all, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself while making and using tinctures.
A combination of medicine and cooking, tincture-making is certainly an art form
that varies greatly depending on the artist. As arguably the best way of
administering herbal medicine, tincturing is an invaluable tool. Making
medicine allows us to literally take our health back into our own hands. By
doing so, we honor the wise, intuitive aspect of our psyches that lives within
all of us. </div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-22734418557293167182016-06-25T13:46:00.004-05:002016-07-13T20:18:22.044-05:00Wildcrafting Basics: How to Reap the Healing Bounty of Mother Nature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, you want to start using the abundant medicines of Mother
Nature? To herbalists, the practice of harvesting wild plants and fungi is
called <b>wildcrafting</b>. This can be a long trek through deep woods or a quick step
into your own backyard. It counts as wildcrafting as long as the plants sprung
up independently--in other words, they weren't grown by people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wildcrafting is a great way to get your herbal medicine for
a few different reasons. For one, the plants are very fresh and rather inexpensive (by which I mean <b>free</b>). Wildcrafting is also a way to get in tune with the
wild world and appreciate the bounty that grows all around us. It’s a practice
that brings us back to our roots, literally and figuratively. Long before our
ancestors farmed, they were hunters and gatherers, counting on what they
brought home in their baskets to keep them alive. Even now, we too can return to
nature and rediscover the life-giving plants that our ancestors used. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Identification</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjoaReMCPXILbJ_-j1dLTOkeJu-A64IaHPcMVWKcSdHK2c-NFAhEOQuEfWYxPbqSQLehlFeCt4R2LFmtAza1xi4xhRJRUfphEQ_Y3yTg7y1yipshgpAuYiwlymRpYZk6uv_0616PHg74/s1600/Yarrow+Leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjoaReMCPXILbJ_-j1dLTOkeJu-A64IaHPcMVWKcSdHK2c-NFAhEOQuEfWYxPbqSQLehlFeCt4R2LFmtAza1xi4xhRJRUfphEQ_Y3yTg7y1yipshgpAuYiwlymRpYZk6uv_0616PHg74/s320/Yarrow+Leaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarrow Leaf</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The single most important aspect of wildcrafting is learning
how to properly identify the plants-</b>-it can mean the difference between
medicine and poison. Get yourself a good field guide for your area and start
with what’s in bloom--flowers are by far the easiest way to identify plants. Even
better, take a class with an herbalist, or find a trusted person who knows the
local flora and go on a plant walk together. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before harvesting a plant, do some research to find out if
it has any poisonous look-alikes. Queen Anne’s Lace is a notable example here,
as its look-alike Poison Hemlock can be fatal when ingested. The two plants
have several notable differences; for example, Hemlock has purple blotches on a smooth stem, and Queen Anne's Lace has a furry, green stem. But, every year a few people perish from picking
Poison Hemlock by accident. (For more information on identifying these two plants, <a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3785/">here's a more in-depth comparison</a>.) When in doubt, don’t take any chances—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially with mushrooms.</i> (Our fungal friends can provide delicious food, powerful visions, and deep healing...but they can also melt your insides. Identification is tricky at best, so be certain that you're certain.) Better safe than sorry! </span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conservation</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When taking plants from nature, respect is crucial. Humanity
in general must learn to revere rather than pillage our planet, and although
herbalists are usually nature-lovers, the same is true when it comes to
medicinal plants. <b>Some herbs have become endangered due to over-harvesting</b>, and
it is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that these plants stay on the planet for
future generations. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Wort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">United Plant Savers is an organization committed to this
goal, and they have compiled a list of at-risk plants (<a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/species-at-risk">click here</a> to check it out).
If your desired herb turns out to be rare and endangered, it’s best to leave it
alone in the wild. You can often find suitable alternatives, as many different plants can be used to treat the same condition. But, if your favorite at-risk plant is simply irreplaceable in your eyes, believe me--I get it. Each plant has its own unique personality and spirit, and sometimes only the one you want will do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this case, consider buying it from a sustainably-grown source--or learn how to grow it yourself! While growing at-risk plants like Goldenseal can be a challenge, it can also be an empowering experience, in which you also foster your own growth. In this way, you enter into a deeper relationship with your beloved plant and give back to Mother Nature. But I digress--back to wildcrafting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Permission
and Gratitude </span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWbMlzDBOm8co4ycGRi-jJ_YZlRns8u5W3edbz2bAV3X82PY8bX1E_pbmVNEcB2HrMluBe2DZ2OZr3WVKj3DQ7qlk96GDzZSNkH2asoqogiOfZVu5cFgczCXVaM94aDE_vPMZob1BCZE/s1600/8-29-11+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWbMlzDBOm8co4ycGRi-jJ_YZlRns8u5W3edbz2bAV3X82PY8bX1E_pbmVNEcB2HrMluBe2DZ2OZr3WVKj3DQ7qlk96GDzZSNkH2asoqogiOfZVu5cFgczCXVaM94aDE_vPMZob1BCZE/s400/8-29-11+110.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah with Grandfather Pine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In keeping with the spirit of respect, it’s nice to <b>practice
gratitude when harvesting plants</b>. Although many herbalists view the plant
kingdom as simply a body of useful materials, those who are spiritually-oriented feel that
each plant possesses a consciousness and a spirit. To honor this spirit, it’s
best to ask permission from the plant before harvesting. Express your intention
to harvest, and wait to receive a response; it could be an answer in your mind
or simply a feeling. Plants are natural givers, so it’s likely that permission
will be granted. If not, there is probably a good reason for it--perhaps the
plant is trying to protect you from a nearby patch of Poison Ivy, for example. I've also heard stories from herbalists who've asked permission to harvest and heard a distinct "No," only to walk a few more feet down the path and discover a much bigger, better stand of plants waiting for them. Trust the guidance of the plants, and trust your own intuitive senses to receive their guidance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">During and after your harvest, give thanks to the plant. Be
especially mindful when harvesting roots, for this usually requires taking the
life of a plant. Many herbalists leave ceremonial offerings in return for their
bounty. A bit of tobacco or cornmeal are traditional, but you can also leave a
wooden bead, a lock of hair, or even a song—the important thing is that it has
meaning for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Picking
Potent Plants</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4KyiUnDKPQ7HGurUCAv0FRuaJ4F7CYkxiD7jUilytFteoZX6PtF-fim2XIGcLod1bn_-ZNOQ-93inM1bYR1A4Im67ARohUa93mjtd54Qowf_IH62ng0F21Xcb6Rfg39vhkpUZo8U3mQ/s1600/Red+Clover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4KyiUnDKPQ7HGurUCAv0FRuaJ4F7CYkxiD7jUilytFteoZX6PtF-fim2XIGcLod1bn_-ZNOQ-93inM1bYR1A4Im67ARohUa93mjtd54Qowf_IH62ng0F21Xcb6Rfg39vhkpUZo8U3mQ/s320/Red+Clover.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Clover Harvest</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you’re ready to harvest, there are several tips that
will help you pick healthy plants for your medicine cabinet. </span><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For starters, <b>be
mindful of the area</b>: Is there much pollution? Is there a chance of
contamination from chemicals? Tempting though it may be, it’s best to avoid roadsides. I know it's exciting when you see gorgeous medicinals on the side of the road--they seem to call your name, saying "Pick me! I'm right here!" But consider all of the road trash, car exhaust, oil, and herbicides that land in those zones. Do yourself a favor and find those same plants elsewhere. Similarly, if you’re picking
Dandelions from someone’s lawn, be sure they don’t use chemical fertilizers. In general, the more remote your location, the more pure the plants--with the exception of chemicals used in conventional farming. Avoid</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> the edges of
fields that are sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. Again, I know this can be a tempting prospect, as many medicinals grow in border zones. But trust me--you want to make healthy medicine to use and share with your family and friends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This may go without saying, but <b>choose plants that look
healthy</b>, vibrant, and lush. Pick leaves that are green, not wilted, spotted, or
browned. Use common sense--if a plant looks unhealthy or diseased, leave it alone. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Consider your timing</b>, as the rhythms of Nature are a crucial aspect of plant life.<b> </b>It helps to
understand that each herb puts its energy into different parts of the plant at
different times of the year. Spring is the best time to harvest leaves, because
the plants are putting all of their vital energy into their green growth. After
the plant begins to flower (the timing will vary depending on the plant), the leaves will lose some of their potency, as the energy has moved into the blossoms. Roots
are best harvested in the fall, after the top portion has died back and the
plant has pulled its essence underground. This may mean deferring
gratification—perhaps you spot a bunch of Burdock in mid-summer, but wait until fall to harvest the roots. In today's society of instant-gratification, a little patience is a welcome lesson from our green friends. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to a happy and healthy
wildcrafting session. If you keep your eyes and heart open, you can discover
the joy of providing yourself and your loved ones with healthy medicines
straight from the wild heart of Mother Earth.</span></div>
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Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-66124135554718855982014-12-08T15:20:00.000-06:002014-12-08T15:20:45.677-06:00Feeling Your Oats: A Guide to the Medicinal Uses of Avena sativa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1V_V3umljb9cJGBTsWh16yEK02p5O7yd6sJRQSta3Md6Fcx9k4z9pINmoMyoI_q7BMQhBa23AciqEI3AJxNrX2qP_zYEtt9W7tDvJHUDS3-zPhoO1X241MrZ5eMTSnJQcBEC3nTA8Jc/s1600/Milky+Oats+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1V_V3umljb9cJGBTsWh16yEK02p5O7yd6sJRQSta3Md6Fcx9k4z9pINmoMyoI_q7BMQhBa23AciqEI3AJxNrX2qP_zYEtt9W7tDvJHUDS3-zPhoO1X241MrZ5eMTSnJQcBEC3nTA8Jc/s1600/Milky+Oats+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We all know of oats as a tasty food, but did you know that
the Oats plant (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Avena sativa) </i>is also
a medicine? Herbalists often call it by different names--Milky Oats, Oat Seed, Oatstraw, or Avena--but in fact, it’s the
same plant that graces your breakfast table as a bowl of oatmeal. Here, we’re
going to focus on getting to know our friend <b>Avena as a medicinal plant that
treats nervous exhaustion and depression, enhances the libido, nourishes the body, and much more.</b> Get ready to feel your
Oats!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
Restorative Tonic</span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtfO9wcyCvGTmTLV98p8pcFNq28P6o8MGcWalwhZPnWHX52KZ1kFiu7x6mHrJEy2CxDXtXXA7kEJXScWM0rKah5IBqJf_peheCaWqGLY9OLcubKlHZ8SCYOGZ-I60TsspqjorPT67Ybk/s1600/Oats+Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtfO9wcyCvGTmTLV98p8pcFNq28P6o8MGcWalwhZPnWHX52KZ1kFiu7x6mHrJEy2CxDXtXXA7kEJXScWM0rKah5IBqJf_peheCaWqGLY9OLcubKlHZ8SCYOGZ-I60TsspqjorPT67Ybk/s1600/Oats+Field.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Avena is often used as <b>a restorative tonic for anyone who
feels chronically tired, stressed, depressed, frazzled, overworked, or
exhausted.</b> It nourishes and soothes the nervous system, helping to overcome
anxiety, grief, and nervous breakdown. In Ayurveda, Oatstraw is known as one of
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rasayana </i>herbs<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>which “rebuild the body-mind, prevent
decay, and post-pone aging,” according to Vasant Lad and David Frawley in their
book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Yoga of Herbs. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By keeping blood fat levels down, Avena also supports heart
health. As <b>a nutritive herb</b>, Oats and Oatstraw are high in phosphorus, calcium,
iron, zinc, and manganese. Avena also contains abundant B vitamins, which the
body rapidly loses during times of stress--another reason why this plant makes such a nice nerve tonic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus,
Oats contain the mineral silica, which supports the growth of healthy skin,
hair, and nails. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unlike many herbal medicines, Avena is gentle enough
to use every day to restore and revitalize the system. Susun Weed recommends
eating Oats and/or taking Oatstraw consistently to <b>improve coordination, bone
density, attention span, balance, and memory</b>--qualities that aging folks try hard to hold onto. </span></div>
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An Herb for Recovery</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqKtRUM7tz2EfhJtOy4I05YAM2T-Mre-OeZm0P0vpCM-jZwt3mFH05Z7zlEqDiAfbJQ2hBUKC0Uz1jDRjkDxE0hc7BWpn-pvWCjLJjjIwhquMYEWVkUAHY_VQUy3mJg9_BG_2C3BBxmI/s1600/Oats+Patch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqKtRUM7tz2EfhJtOy4I05YAM2T-Mre-OeZm0P0vpCM-jZwt3mFH05Z7zlEqDiAfbJQ2hBUKC0Uz1jDRjkDxE0hc7BWpn-pvWCjLJjjIwhquMYEWVkUAHY_VQUy3mJg9_BG_2C3BBxmI/s1600/Oats+Patch.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Avena’s nourishing qualities, along with its calming and
uplifting effects, make it a nice remedy for people recovering from anorexia.
It's also useful for <b>recovering alcoholics and those withdrawing</b> <b>from tobacco,
caffeine, or other drugs</b>, as it can ease delirium tremens and irritability. In
fact, this plant is good for anyone recovering from illness, as well as the
elderly and convalescent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It's good to remember that Oats can help us recover from <b>emotional distress </b>as well, be it the loss of a loved one or even the so-called "positive stress" of a job interview or first date. Personally, I find that oatmeal is edible even at times when I don't feel much like eating. So, if your stomach is tied in knots (see also: <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/06/mint-magic-from-mundane-to-mystical.html" target="_blank">Mint Magic</a>), your hands are shaking, or if you find yourself in the proverbial Pit of Despair, fix yourself a bowl of oatmeal. Seriously. </span></div>
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<h4>
Skin Care</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqiNUTJOTYBATwURCp_EN9305JBVS2ZeW1fKr_Xn8nWkyK1QVTLqMfk8_KFzG9mt9j_pug7lI9H9vfX7BySIeNiUUodCwjIebm5nV2Nj_mpkzb409btCLuI31W4_SC75tqPwpmq5GIaM/s1600/Skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqiNUTJOTYBATwURCp_EN9305JBVS2ZeW1fKr_Xn8nWkyK1QVTLqMfk8_KFzG9mt9j_pug7lI9H9vfX7BySIeNiUUodCwjIebm5nV2Nj_mpkzb409btCLuI31W4_SC75tqPwpmq5GIaM/s1600/Skin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Bibikoff" target="_blank">Bibikoff</a> via <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our discussion of Avena’s healing properties wouldn’t be
complete without mentioning its benefits for the skin. Many lotions and body
care products contain Oats in some form, and this is for good reason. This
plant is <b>excellent for treating all kinds of skin inflammation and dermatitis</b>,
including chicken pox, eczema, psoriasis, frostbite, chilblains, and rashes.
Its cooling effects soothe the skin and also relieve itching and flaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sense
& Sensitivity</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGKzn0lpDnwvPHtRdR03qPX3ifp74rZRqcLQsqIrrl9XhKNmuQq4vDqyk8m_pnt2pWU4Iuku4SOb5S58bjVt9ngAZe2TeEBUigXb0Cvfx8rpS-AdSszyzXDZs3Dq8tCxfasKZxaZnuo/s1600/790px-A_black_stallion_on_Cumberland_Island_GA_by_Bonnie_Gruenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGKzn0lpDnwvPHtRdR03qPX3ifp74rZRqcLQsqIrrl9XhKNmuQq4vDqyk8m_pnt2pWU4Iuku4SOb5S58bjVt9ngAZe2TeEBUigXb0Cvfx8rpS-AdSszyzXDZs3Dq8tCxfasKZxaZnuo/s1600/790px-A_black_stallion_on_Cumberland_Island_GA_by_Bonnie_Gruenberg.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stallion Munches on Oats<br />
By Bonnie Gruenberg via <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With all of these qualities suggesting nourishment and ease, it may surprise you a bit to learn that Avena<b> enhances the libido</b>. Indeed,
there is good cause for the phrase “sowing your wild oats,” as this plant
functions as a gentle aphrodisiac. This is especially true in cases where
someone works hard during the day and, come evening time, feels too exhausted to
even think about sex. By restoring the entire system to a relaxed and sturdy
state, Avena also restores the sex drive. Plus, Susun Weed explains that Avena
<b>enhances “sensitivity to pleasant stimuli,”</b> making it an important sexual tonic,
especially for women who have difficulty feeling pleasure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Speaking of sensitivity, it’s important to note that Avena heightens all of our senses, not just the physical ones. We mentioned that Oats
are high in silica, which is needed by the brain and body for many functions,
including intuition and connection to our Higher Self.</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
silica content, along with Avena’s rejuvenative effect on the nerves, makes it
<b>a great plant to use when undergoing any kind of spiritual work</b>. A strong and vibrant nervous system is the backbone of
psychic abilities, so it’s a good idea to keep your nerves nourished with Avena.
Oatstraw supports meditation and creative dreaming as well as shamanic work of
all kinds. Whatever spiritual adventures you find yourself on, Avena will help
you stay grounded and clear-headed throughout the process. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZXxiGfYnBZ72jjax-7GpJZm-s1b4od3OYyQJeWAMH5tLzfFQh-T8CJylEegBdioHhRIQTMp3SFSBvgrkSYjPzuyOOt_MziSkmIfnbfQcRVujG38x6AB06XP4ygDmzwAKqR9xsjN8oY/s1600/Meditation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZXxiGfYnBZ72jjax-7GpJZm-s1b4od3OYyQJeWAMH5tLzfFQh-T8CJylEegBdioHhRIQTMp3SFSBvgrkSYjPzuyOOt_MziSkmIfnbfQcRVujG38x6AB06XP4ygDmzwAKqR9xsjN8oY/s1600/Meditation.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sigurdas" target="_blank"> Sigurdas</a> via <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So you see--whether you are an impassioned maiden, a busy mother, or a cosmic crone; whether you are a strapping stallion or a worldly wizard; or even if you're just hungry--Avena is a great plant ally for anyone to befriend. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How to
Use Avena</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></h4>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now that we know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i>
to use our lovely friend Avena, let’s look at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i> you can start using this amazing plant:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-It’s worth mentioning that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">eating oatmeal</b> is a great way to “let food be thy medicine,” as
Hippocrates would say. This is an easy and tasty way to enjoy the benefits of
Avena.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApRTkOoPmc_5VzyPZKU4XReGol2w0srYN1RNSlrDF_UtFxnYwl3tr6rfEwG2RPptT71RHscUZMnWOjyd-m6Dj4xUBznilLlgag6tnAydS-fHIDpiWUvFgyb-uoLBEOZq9xWSl4ykx4dY/s1600/Oats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApRTkOoPmc_5VzyPZKU4XReGol2w0srYN1RNSlrDF_UtFxnYwl3tr6rfEwG2RPptT71RHscUZMnWOjyd-m6Dj4xUBznilLlgag6tnAydS-fHIDpiWUvFgyb-uoLBEOZq9xWSl4ykx4dY/s1600/Oats.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milky Oats or Oat
Seed extract</b> is produced by harvesting the unripe seeds before they are
mature enough to become grain. When squeezed, they exude a sweet, milky
substance that makes a wonderful tincture. This makes getting in your Oats a
bit more convenient when you’re in a hurry or on the road. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Oatstraw</b> is the
green, grass-like portion of the Oats plant, which makes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a mild tea</b> that is quite palatable as well as nourishing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-Oatstraw is also famous for its <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">use in the bath</b>, especially when treating skin conditions. Just
steep a pot of tea, strain the liquid into a hot bath, and enjoy. Or, you can put
some regular rolled Oats into a cotton, drawstring bag and keep it in the tub
with you. (See also: <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2012/12/bath-tea-infuse-yourself.html" target="_blank">Bath Tea</a>.) Once wet, the bag will exude a gel-like substance that softens the
skin. You can even use it to shave your legs! </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-If you’re a gardener, you can easily <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grow your own Oats</b>. It works well as a tall ground cover and is
harvested during the summer for extracting at the “milky” stage. Then you can
cut and dry the remaining grass—Oatstraw—for tea. (Tip for home herbalists: Along
with the usual blend of alcohol and water, add about 10% apple cider vinegar to your
tincture in order to extract more of the valuable minerals this plant has to
offer.)</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRWnRIDto98NRO-UT1vzCUPdKN9BKrjq_oQkr5CNmb2hlLazmbR9Tr0cdIQyyHb6vDacJcvLQSE46Bbr7vJKoQfM-GWEuZm4XaNXz9U3QpgrF3-SPVclIJbdW_b8FL92DJAWIBi14EC4/s1600/herb+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRWnRIDto98NRO-UT1vzCUPdKN9BKrjq_oQkr5CNmb2hlLazmbR9Tr0cdIQyyHb6vDacJcvLQSE46Bbr7vJKoQfM-GWEuZm4XaNXz9U3QpgrF3-SPVclIJbdW_b8FL92DJAWIBi14EC4/s1600/herb+garden.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-9579776539773474842014-08-29T10:28:00.000-05:002014-08-29T10:28:15.476-05:00Poultice Power: How to Treat Poison Ivy (and Other Itchy Situations) with Jewelweed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<![endif]-->While stuck indoors
during a cold winter, I often fantasize about summer--swimming, gardening, sunbathing...ahh. I imagine myself with the healthy glow that can only come from
sweat and sunshine. But what I tend to forget is how my skin <i>actually</i> gets in the summer time--full of itchy, red bug bites! Muggy Indiana is host to many
biting and stinging things, and this year I’m not sure I’ve escaped a single one
of them.
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<br /></div>
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This month, I've also had occasion to remember what Poison Ivy is like. Having not had it in years, I wasn’t even sure if I was
sensitive to it anymore. But a couple weeks ago, I brazenly walked through the
woods barefooted. (The part of me that thinks I’m a fairy thought this was a great idea.) I was rewarded for my earthy ways
with a rash on my foot, and for two nights in a row I kept waking up in
the middle of the night scratching. I'm sure many of you
know the drill.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvljhzjpt1mACtltMvsd0iAp6MNOV1J3x3QwBkeSNw2W1J0TYEmsWKH41wlhDK5qKUgMvPC7x7CBDJIq8-qd5u1pKXDcdYTSmA1UNTIjGHUKBh1UzxA5ySdeb-UnxcJPo4EA1tsBmgYE/s1600/Jewelweed+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvljhzjpt1mACtltMvsd0iAp6MNOV1J3x3QwBkeSNw2W1J0TYEmsWKH41wlhDK5qKUgMvPC7x7CBDJIq8-qd5u1pKXDcdYTSmA1UNTIjGHUKBh1UzxA5ySdeb-UnxcJPo4EA1tsBmgYE/s1600/Jewelweed+Flower.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Jewelweed</u></div>
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<br /></div>
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For years, I’ve heard about using Jewelweed to treat Poison
Ivy. These two plants often grow side by side in the wild, which helps out in a couple of ways. For one thing, the presence of Jewelweed can warn you to be on the
lookout for Poison Ivy, which is far less conspicuous. One the other hand, if you’ve already succumbed to Poison Ivy rash, you can sometimes return to the scene of the crime and find your antidote. Thank you, Mother Nature! Even the fool-hardy fairies among us can still find salvation. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzAKrzonutAZrj_iOrVFtX7ghrj813Lv7HVQwBItc6Xv2bCoiPUj1t4pfLTwzmg2fkEs4QGw2p2R7LQAU6EHe6FJwfTS6-ffKB1OQaB-qFmjkBeosgViOhCGB-fQN9C-MDfsO9Xqlm_I/s1600/Jewelweed+Whole+Plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzAKrzonutAZrj_iOrVFtX7ghrj813Lv7HVQwBItc6Xv2bCoiPUj1t4pfLTwzmg2fkEs4QGw2p2R7LQAU6EHe6FJwfTS6-ffKB1OQaB-qFmjkBeosgViOhCGB-fQN9C-MDfsO9Xqlm_I/s1600/Jewelweed+Whole+Plant.jpg" height="321" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Jewelweed in my area is usually of the spotted, orange
variety (<i>Impatiens capensis)</i>, though occasionally I’ll find Pale Jewelweed, which instead has yellow
flowers. The plants reach heights of 3-5 feet tall and tend to grow in shady spots. According to
Bradford Angier in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Field Guide to
Medicinal Wild Plants, </i>“all five of our native species grow in similarly
moist habitats and can be used interchangeably regardless of flower color.”
That makes it easy. And the pendant-like flowers are very unique, so you probably won't mistake this plant.</div>
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<u>Touch Me Not?</u></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jewelweed also goes by the name Touch Me Not, because the
seed pods explode when touched. In my opinion, however, this line of thinking
is all wrong. First of all, what plant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doesn’t</i>
want to spread its seeds? By creating this ingenious seed pod design, nature
has endowed Jewelweed with the ability to pop its seeds up to three feet away
any time an animal brushes up against it. Pod-popping is also a favorite
past time for children (and adults who haven’t lost their sense of wonder for
nature). It’s downright joyful. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1pCAP5NOgubmpzN6RbqXmG_4hSVaE7cwBCZqrbP3cu72sGSlM8HYE1P6H6pPlq6SoSuXRiJWBZjk0kRWJ9nitZOrhxUGC_-_O-N55ZCVFbQTzmtl_bCVD8bSfMSnZ1YK8Hsf5ljUUC8/s1600/Jewelweed+Pods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1pCAP5NOgubmpzN6RbqXmG_4hSVaE7cwBCZqrbP3cu72sGSlM8HYE1P6H6pPlq6SoSuXRiJWBZjk0kRWJ9nitZOrhxUGC_-_O-N55ZCVFbQTzmtl_bCVD8bSfMSnZ1YK8Hsf5ljUUC8/s1600/Jewelweed+Pods.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed Pods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rather than a grumpy curmudgeon who doesn’t like to be
touched, I like to think of Jewelweed as more of a people person. You can
almost hear the soft, tinkling bell of a laugh when you pop a seed pod open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps it’s a sigh of pleasure, or even
relief. In any
case, it is my assertion that Jewelweed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">likes</i>
to be touched--otherwise, why would it make the prospect so tempting? I hereby
declare that we henceforth deem the alternate name of Jewelweed to be Touch Me
Now. </div>
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOKsTAGtehzE8EoYIyvZ1R-WjpURjy3nmJa6vOdrfX4-majtRbZj5KTlKa_B3NSkITf7QCaqSI9Eh9pZ_86GzG8uSWl-IDUVwX6nvg8uYlpaynyAmwN49BlsHVI2pn_4vv8FHMaKtpLg/s1600/Touch+Me+Now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOKsTAGtehzE8EoYIyvZ1R-WjpURjy3nmJa6vOdrfX4-majtRbZj5KTlKa_B3NSkITf7QCaqSI9Eh9pZ_86GzG8uSWl-IDUVwX6nvg8uYlpaynyAmwN49BlsHVI2pn_4vv8FHMaKtpLg/s1600/Touch+Me+Now.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all, this name would also fit with the service it does
for humankind--by taking away the itch, Jewelweed helps us return to place of
comfort in our bodies so that we can again enjoy being touched. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>How it Works</u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Jewelweed is a plant with antihistamine, anti-inflammatory,
and steroidal compounds. This explains its healing power not only for Poison
Ivy rash, but for all kinds of itchy skin scenarios: Poison Oak, Poison Sumac,
Stinging Nettle rash, eczema, even insect bites and stings. If I’d only known
the extended list of treatable ailments at the beginning of the summer! </div>
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<br /></div>
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It's best to treat any plant-induced rash right away. This helps prevent
it from getting worse and spreading as you scratch. Plus, who wouldn’t want to treat something
that uncomfortable right away? It just makes sense. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCb-Q5tQi7WVvTECKKhLdEOnlqzRD5P81inJr42ZWTJmfpNbN4cRNACdyPpwKB3BmMY5X8oXRH6Z_FN0k1QvFwB5PiCM_b83pW80rKXvVInTUrtR1IC8GWG7CUGqTPkyXD75PAe6ZqWU/s1600/Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCb-Q5tQi7WVvTECKKhLdEOnlqzRD5P81inJr42ZWTJmfpNbN4cRNACdyPpwKB3BmMY5X8oXRH6Z_FN0k1QvFwB5PiCM_b83pW80rKXvVInTUrtR1IC8GWG7CUGqTPkyXD75PAe6ZqWU/s1600/Leaves.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed Leaves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Because the fresh juice of the plant is the most potent part, and
because it was quick and easy, I opted to use a Jewelweed poultice on my Poison
Ivy rash. And let me tell you--it worked wonders! After a few minutes, the
itching started to subside. After a few hours, the symptoms stopped
completely and never came back. I will give instructions on making a poultice
next, but first I wanted to mention a couple of other ways to use this
plant:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Drinking the tea as
a preventive measure.</b> I’ve not tried it myself, but it might be worth it if
you’re someone who gets rashes every summer. Plus, if I had a bad case of Poison Ivy, I'd be drinking the tea <i>and</i> treating it externally at the same time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Freezing the tea
into ice cubes to hold on the rash</b>. I imagine this would feel glorious! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Juicing the plant</b>.
It occurs to me that, like summer, Jewelweed doesn’t stick around all year. Yet it is possible to get Poison Ivy by touching a leafless vine in the
winter. For those who are very sensitive, it would be a good idea to preserve
this plant to use year-round. Because the medicine is concentrated in the
juice, I thought it would be a good idea to stick this plant in the juicer (or put it
in the blender and squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth). Then you could
preserve it by adding about 20% alcohol, and keep it in the fridge as an added measure. Or, you could freeze the juice into ice cubes and bag them up in the freezer. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0AqsDmK2K98Uj7XjhOQX3m91Fj2OUnQQXlV4WHiBshYq_Mm1LRvosiRrRuq8B1QnVAVM81y4god4mv0ATUp_ufc75xzWHfnYm1GXzs09aEmWhY6cak3ivr1DHAEKPSYNqFsWS9XQTTo/s1600/Poultice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0AqsDmK2K98Uj7XjhOQX3m91Fj2OUnQQXlV4WHiBshYq_Mm1LRvosiRrRuq8B1QnVAVM81y4god4mv0ATUp_ufc75xzWHfnYm1GXzs09aEmWhY6cak3ivr1DHAEKPSYNqFsWS9XQTTo/s1600/Poultice.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<u>Making a Jewelweed
Poultice</u><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The texts say that the steams and leaves hold
the medicine of this plant. Personally, I cut about 3-4 inches from the flowering tops. This
did stain my skin orange (and it's still orange, days later), but I didn’t care--Calamine lotion would have had a similar effect. But if you’re concerned, you can always just use the green
parts of the plant.</div>
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Now, add a little water and mash up the plant material with
a mortar and pestle or in a blender. Place it on your skin and bind it there
with a bandage. (Or, if you're dealing with a small bite or sting, you can always just pluck a
single leaf from the plant, chew it up, and slap it on.) Because poultices work best when kept wet, I recently
discovered (okay, it was my dad’s idea) that you can wrap it first with plastic
cling wrap and then bind it with a bandage or cloth. That keeps the juice in
better and helps prevent staining your clothes, sheets, etc. </div>
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I kept the first poultice on for 2-3 hours, and then took it
off to shower. Afterwards, I made a new poultice and kept it on for another few
hours. I took it off before bed, and it was like a miracle. I slept through the
night peacefully, and it hasn’t bothered me since. It’s been less than a week,
and now there is only one little area of redness. But there has been no
itching--repeat, NO itching--since my encounter with this precious plant,
Jewelweed. What a jewel, indeed!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCk8xcmC1HyIuvxi1la65DJPpxeRBxiPBfS4vvFraS-h5ekr-I2LQq4YMRxI7mLSy57mwApN-88fEmm4TRyPdb5zDLDnRS7qhC66EK1i0agpV_NXSqfS2DPxS5U5AodoGZrkkmLTKXPg/s1600/Double+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCk8xcmC1HyIuvxi1la65DJPpxeRBxiPBfS4vvFraS-h5ekr-I2LQq4YMRxI7mLSy57mwApN-88fEmm4TRyPdb5zDLDnRS7qhC66EK1i0agpV_NXSqfS2DPxS5U5AodoGZrkkmLTKXPg/s1600/Double+Flower.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed Double Flower</td></tr>
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Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-58270540995149101102014-06-14T14:22:00.001-05:002017-05-21T12:36:09.576-05:00Mint Magic: From the Mundane to the Mystical <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_sjuzvS2CHhaeMqRKBowmUdiyQASG66u4dSTF5_NwoxrYMNcHbOuRXH0DSLTbu-R3RPky0VXVpIjDGH0qrBeKY_8AYDXqR3k5vStPyxnEjR5SLLiQPgkiwoCCTlOYrSxQEnIqK89PCM/s1600/274px-Peppermint_candy_cane_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_sjuzvS2CHhaeMqRKBowmUdiyQASG66u4dSTF5_NwoxrYMNcHbOuRXH0DSLTbu-R3RPky0VXVpIjDGH0qrBeKY_8AYDXqR3k5vStPyxnEjR5SLLiQPgkiwoCCTlOYrSxQEnIqK89PCM/s1600/274px-Peppermint_candy_cane_01.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Mikereichold via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
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<b>Many people connect with the spirit of Mint on a daily basis, perhaps without realizing it.</b> The popularity of Mint (<i>Mentha spp</i>.) is huge: it's in our mouthwash and toothpaste, in soaps and bath salts, in sprays and vapor rubs, in candies and flavorings, even in menthol cigarettes. One thing is for sure--Mint knows how to get around!<br />
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To be clear, this post will treat Mint as a singular plant spirit, even though there are many species. Although most of my experience has been with Peppermint and Spearmint, all varieties of Mint have similar medicinal properties. It's generally accepted that Peppermint is one of the most potent varieties, while Spearmint has a gentler effect. So, in talking about medicinal uses, I usually refer to Peppermint. But because these plants cross-pollinate so easily, I suspect that they have either a single plant spirit or a set of very similar personalities. Regardless, I felt the need to clarify.<br />
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In fact, clarity is a major key word for Mint. After many years of wondering what this plant was about on the archetypal or spiritual level, it's now begun to teach me a few of its lessons. As a result, I've come up with a list of words that help to sum up this plant's powers:<br />
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<u><b>Mint's Magic Words:</b></u></div>
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<b> Clarity, Inner Truth, Boundaries, Focus,</b></div>
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<b>Personal Path, Individuality, Discernment</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Lag0G3B_OI7xXfpLPMD6AbqxV7p9eSOwSivtJsAopv3IBt2VQBEKEZFL4Cskxwa14itco7cV9_UvNKFUuWJa6cvd_tTm7yYmRnNe3XsalDU7eEOSKTDFKkq8cN0zRZGBMagiwlX9m4/s1600/Peppermint+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Lag0G3B_OI7xXfpLPMD6AbqxV7p9eSOwSivtJsAopv3IBt2VQBEKEZFL4Cskxwa14itco7cV9_UvNKFUuWJa6cvd_tTm7yYmRnNe3XsalDU7eEOSKTDFKkq8cN0zRZGBMagiwlX9m4/s1600/Peppermint+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u> A Solar Plexus Remedy</u></div>
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<b>Peppermint is a superb remedy for nausea, hiccups, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, indigestion, and cramps in the gastrointestinal tract. But these are only the physical uses of Mint.</b> The digestive system is linked with the solar plexus, the third chakra that sits a few inches above the belly button. This energy center is the seat of our personal power and self esteem, as well as a potent area of intuition. The solar plexus is like our personal sun--it provides the energy needed to fuel our actions, helping us manifest our hopes and dreams into reality. It also governs confidence, a necessary foundation to pursuing what we love.<br />
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Physically, the solar plexus holds a bundle of nerves connected to the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. These nerves form an intricate system that help us with intuition and discernment. Ever had a "gut feeling" before? That's your solar plexus doing its job. It can tell you when something isn't right, when someone is deceiving you--or when you're on the right track. <b>Mint boosts the power of the solar plexus, helping us tune in to our inner truth.</b></div>
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I find that Peppermint is especially good for the kind of nausea that comes from "worrying yourself <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXkYHmy_w1NaJltT9yBRWHCVv_SqiKTumoRa2mMtRWZ_tL3lSNgAcoRXzV1sCeZYPga2bKHNPyFT9ZauTWiA88NczG3O013DzMvWoFKM1AojNLlq3snoIKzIrXH7vO5CR_iko6Gvlqpo/s1600/Cancer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXkYHmy_w1NaJltT9yBRWHCVv_SqiKTumoRa2mMtRWZ_tL3lSNgAcoRXzV1sCeZYPga2bKHNPyFT9ZauTWiA88NczG3O013DzMvWoFKM1AojNLlq3snoIKzIrXH7vO5CR_iko6Gvlqpo/s1600/Cancer.gif" /></a>sick." <b>This makes Mint a wonderful remedy for Cancers or people with a strong Cancer influence in their astrological chart. </b>Cancer, the archetypal mother, is well-known for its tendency to worry, especially about family matters. Peppermint is also a good choice for worrying moms (or nurturing dads) of any sign of the zodiac. It can help you release worry and nervousness, making it easier to discern the fine line between fear and intuition. <br />
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<u>Chew on This</u></div>
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According to the <i>Flower Essence Repertory,</i> the essence of <b>Peppermint is used to aid decision making, intuition, and thinking capacities of all kinds. </b>Interestingly, they also emphasize the connection between food and the mind. The Flower Essence Society specifically recommends Peppermint for those struggling with eating disorders, or people who feel mentally sluggish after a meal:<br />
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"Those who need this remedy have a struggle between the lower and upper parts of their being, especially between the metabolic/digestive forces and the thinking/creative forces."</blockquote>
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<b>There's another connection to the solar plexus--the notion that food and digestion are closely linked with our ability to perceive and understand the world around us.</b> Indeed, the solar plexus is often referred to as our "second brain." Louise Hay sees the digestive system as a physical manifestation of our ability to digest ideas and experiences. Her affirmation to heal indigestion is, "I digest and assimilate all new experiences peacefully and joyfully."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-TIMcW1FNrffZgwO9G2udMzy4Oa1VdBtfvEaxPvIgULuCe8Js5KVHYnQY4GGLq1vaTvur4WBn2uhkWjYn0Q6pNMlXB82lAaLQufQrzIpwhihxeAmHQ-mumK3g-Xum2Buy0CeJOjZ93o/s1600/Letuaire_digestion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-TIMcW1FNrffZgwO9G2udMzy4Oa1VdBtfvEaxPvIgULuCe8Js5KVHYnQY4GGLq1vaTvur4WBn2uhkWjYn0Q6pNMlXB82lAaLQufQrzIpwhihxeAmHQ-mumK3g-Xum2Buy0CeJOjZ93o/s1600/Letuaire_digestion.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>If this is you after a meal, try some Peppermint!</b></td></tr>
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This explains why a plant that acts upon the digestive system can also help the mind function clearly. <b>Think of how our language reflects this deeper truth: To "ruminate" means to literally chew something, like a cow chews its cud, but the word also means to ponder or think about an idea. </b>Another example is when we find something "hard to swallow." The term "chew on this" is also a good example--and oddly enough, this phrase was a slogan for Trident gum back in the '90s. I can't help but love how pervasive the Mint plant spirit is--it even infiltrated our mundane television commercials in the hopes of getting us to connect with our solar plexus!<br />
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<u>Mental Clarity</u></div>
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<b>In aromatherapy, Peppermint essential oil is often used to foster wakefulness and mental clarity.</b> If you have a long road trip coming up, I recommend bringing along a bottle and having a whiff any time you feel fatigued. It's ability to treat nausea also makes it a nice companion on the road. Plus, Mint is good for treating headaches--just rub the essential oil into the temples and forehead for migraines or headaches caused by nervousness, illness, or information overload.<br />
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As an aside, I once toured a major bulk herbs farm that happened to be processing Peppermint at the time. The scene took place in a warehouse surrounded by all of these crazy machines (see below). It was like Willy Wonka's Herbal Factory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdw3xin3Dpl9HtnksUYcKSYUvLc4XPKEUQYx6w9SJulcsw1kVf9I1upMajvIXgInSLOySW5WPWm-4LfqepmI5csqrvLPRICkPXA58_dvja7HFdLszgJmnwIVDFZJtDnVhqH-Axrdprs/s1600/Garbling+Peppermint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDdw3xin3Dpl9HtnksUYcKSYUvLc4XPKEUQYx6w9SJulcsw1kVf9I1upMajvIXgInSLOySW5WPWm-4LfqepmI5csqrvLPRICkPXA58_dvja7HFdLszgJmnwIVDFZJtDnVhqH-Axrdprs/s1600/Garbling+Peppermint.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The green stuff in the basin is Peppermint.</b></td></tr>
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The scent of Peppermint was so intense that it made my eyes water. Talk about clarity--I was wide awake after that!<br />
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<u>Gardening Woes: Reaping What You Sow</u></div>
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<b>Not only does Mint get around the world in the form of candy and cigarettes, but it also gets around in the garden. This is where the strength of Mint's will power really shows--it absolutely takes over! </b>It spreads aggressively via underground runners, and once it's there, it's nearly impossible to eradicate. Almost nothing will kill this plant!<br />
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I made the mistake of planting Spearmint in my garden with the rest of my herbs a few years ago. The first year, it seemed like a normal, healthy plant. By year two, it began taking over. Its runners had spread underneath the roots of other plants, so I couldn't really get the Mint out without hurting my St. John's Wort and other herbs. I started pulling it out like crazy. But, I knew I couldn't just throw it in the compost pile, as it would take root there as well. I don't use chemical weed killers, so I tried dumping it in various pots and five-gallon buckets to dry it out. It didn't work--apparently Mint can also live without water for long periods of time. Instead, what I got were tons of starts for new Mint plants (oh, joy). I felt like the Sorcerer's Apprentice in Fantasia--if you don't know what I'm talking about, watch this clip:<br />
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Thus, it's really best to grow Mint in pots, or else in a very secluded area. To keep the runners from spreading, you'll have to make a barrier by burying something--like a sheet of metal or a wooden board--several inches into the soil all around your Mint plot. <br />
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Of course, anything unpleasant is usually ripe with lessons. As I plotted to kill my own beloved garden plants, I started thinking about how <b>the aggressive nature of the Mint plant reflects the importance of boundaries.</b> It was a reminder that sometimes when you have a strong path to follow, it's
best to grow alone. Just because you <i>can</i> plant yourself into various and sundry situations doesn't mean that you <i>should</i>. <b>Mint brings us the clarity to know when to act upon opportunities that present themselves,
and when not to.</b> Sometimes, strong boundaries and solitude are exactly what we need to thrive. Mint helps us hone in on what will actually nourish us in the long run.<br />
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Plants teach us lessons in various ways, but for me it often takes the form of synchronicity. When a particular plant keeps coming up, I look to the rest of my life to see if what is going on might reflect an aspect of the plant spirit. With Mint, I began to detect a pattern--the plant was teaching me ways that my own life needs focus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxViVW_N9PFdOKT86vRhWXSJvasGGqkdGceLPcEFVooLLClrKKbeePUdQ8BlOg04NYO7Ur-t8nd_wwyOlN8vkM3kwCBL03eVW7p9BqWrg2M5KrwNNeicvsMOdWV-nkuFCRk1kxEG0CTEI/s1600/34338_143736698975098_2319913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxViVW_N9PFdOKT86vRhWXSJvasGGqkdGceLPcEFVooLLClrKKbeePUdQ8BlOg04NYO7Ur-t8nd_wwyOlN8vkM3kwCBL03eVW7p9BqWrg2M5KrwNNeicvsMOdWV-nkuFCRk1kxEG0CTEI/s1600/34338_143736698975098_2319913_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>My Story</u></div>
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I live in a small community of people who, over the years, have seen me follow various
dreams: singing/songwriting, theatrical performance, and making
herbal products as a cottage business. Even though I have put each of
these projects on hold to focus on writing, people still ask (and sometimes <br />
badger) me to provide herbal
products or perform.<br />
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As much as I find it heart-warming that people appreciated my former ventures, and as much as I enjoyed them myself, the Universe was simply not
backing them. I derived no nourishment from these endeavors; not only was
I not making money, but my energy had become scattered. It became clear that the Universe <i>was</i> backing my writing
projects, so I had to surrender and go with the flow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMDDfoa8F6ucAKU45IinT6CjzuDkPPUWrkoAkyyxf6lY67xynaXgML6QG9ozyPZHikiHwh7b8x4T8gSUQWA3ueBPqbmbxZcSy83KiOHWZG-8I3Y7FirT7xzbXJWgHBHxOuv8pLE_PPhw/s1600/Herbal+products+at+a+local+festival..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMDDfoa8F6ucAKU45IinT6CjzuDkPPUWrkoAkyyxf6lY67xynaXgML6QG9ozyPZHikiHwh7b8x4T8gSUQWA3ueBPqbmbxZcSy83KiOHWZG-8I3Y7FirT7xzbXJWgHBHxOuv8pLE_PPhw/s1600/Herbal+products+at+a+local+festival..jpg" width="320" /></a>The fact that the community still knows
me for my former projects serves as a kind of ongoing test of my inner truth. Because I enjoyed playing music, for example, each time someone suggests a collaboration I am tempted
to go for it. And yet, each time I take even one step in that direction,
the obstacles return. Just because I <i>can</i> doesn't mean that I <i>should</i>. I have to honor the truth of where I
am being guided right now--where my true nourishment lies--even if it means disappointing others.<br />
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As I dealt with my Mint meltdown in the garden, I began to realize just how much the situation resembled my life. I was having to weed out something I once cultivated. The lesson?<b> Mint teaches us to be careful of what we start.</b> <b>Some things, once begun, persist long after we'd like them to. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl4sunvxdG6kW0mODdT9JWgFHTkxarbn9Kwc6trGn-q_9s7KZSE2SZA-VNaEroylOIhJpFBpfpLCjxt7Pknuzg6QfdI01R1DtRoW6TuA3d1LsPw8bChhX7JTpGffbv7Y-EzRtbg1YWw0/s1600/654px-Flowers_of_Mentha_%C3%97_piperita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl4sunvxdG6kW0mODdT9JWgFHTkxarbn9Kwc6trGn-q_9s7KZSE2SZA-VNaEroylOIhJpFBpfpLCjxt7Pknuzg6QfdI01R1DtRoW6TuA3d1LsPw8bChhX7JTpGffbv7Y-EzRtbg1YWw0/s1600/654px-Flowers_of_Mentha_%C3%97_piperita.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppermint Flowers by<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dinnye" target="_blank"> Dinnye</a> via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flowers_of_Mentha_%C3%97_piperita.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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<u>Inner Truth</u><br />
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Another curious quality of the Mint plant is its easy cross-pollination with other mints growing nearby. This means that if you grow more than one kind of Mint, you can't count on using its seeds to grow new plants, because you won't know what you're getting. I once tried to grow
Peppermint from seed, and it came up as a rather tasteless variety. In order to get a good, strong Peppermint flavor, it's best to seek out a cutting from someone who grows it. Believe me--they probably won't mind! <br />
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Like my lesson in boundaries, this fun fact reflects a deeper truth about the Mint plant spirit. This time, it's a lesson in discernment. It's also about <b>valuing
individuality, rather than losing oneself in the crowd of others' thoughts,
beliefs, patterns, and behaviors. </b><br />
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Mint recently came up for me in a situation that illustrates this lesson. Someone had sprigs of fresh Peppermint to share with the group. As the Mint was passed around, I overheard another person talking about me. The whispered message implied that I wasn't nearly as wise as the person doing the talking. And my supposed lack of wisdom was about one of the very things I am most
passionate for--herbal medicine.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20KPa3hNJ2jol7XZkwVF164RVzPQnzeoAry5DjKFM6HAjCHm4IXySX8yhEYggRuMMcktizGGQK3V0xC5hurz-rb0eE1A49ZcqwTumGO6e6phZRYh7R7nV4Forj2XsaFpO4lxMmeN_yig/s1600/Individuality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20KPa3hNJ2jol7XZkwVF164RVzPQnzeoAry5DjKFM6HAjCHm4IXySX8yhEYggRuMMcktizGGQK3V0xC5hurz-rb0eE1A49ZcqwTumGO6e6phZRYh7R7nV4Forj2XsaFpO4lxMmeN_yig/s1600/Individuality.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:VaughnSaball" target="_blank">VaughnSaball </a>via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Individuality.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To top it off, it was already a vulnerable moment for
me, as I was worried about a family member. (Sound familiar? I'm a Cancer rising, after all.) I just-so-happened to have given her a mislabeled remedy a couple hours before--a total disaster when you're a recovering perfectionist. So, I briefly succumbed to believing what was being said
about me. I went into a downward spiral as feelings of unworthiness crept in. I felt sick. I wasn't a good herbalist--not to be trusted, not good enough.(Remember the connection between the solar plexus and self esteem?) <br />
<br />
Then, with the taste of Peppermint on my tongue, I experienced a moment of clarity. I realized
that I need not believe these stories, that I had plenty of wisdom--it was simply of a different kind than most people's. I
ran the doubter's words through my solar plexus, and they did not ring
true--instead, I decided to value my individuality. I
realized that I was being underestimated, but that it was perfectly okay. I trusted that I need not get my ego involved by jumping and shouting about my gifts--they will
find the right people at the right time. In that moment, the truth set
me free.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2c6UXFIT6sImZitJtcVHdpwxJHPPMMkf2nssqkMbxTqSEQwEoJOH3aBgxIn-IdtuVeQzSK5VCh4dmOuDj8hBQqEgLMo1qTeTKLWRc6_PpJQ9lRWsOK4ufcAd-rpbeWAkN1CLpHxZZtU/s1600/500px-Manipura_Mandala.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2c6UXFIT6sImZitJtcVHdpwxJHPPMMkf2nssqkMbxTqSEQwEoJOH3aBgxIn-IdtuVeQzSK5VCh4dmOuDj8hBQqEgLMo1qTeTKLWRc6_PpJQ9lRWsOK4ufcAd-rpbeWAkN1CLpHxZZtU/s1600/500px-Manipura_Mandala.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manipura Mandala by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Morgan_Phoenix" target="_blank">Morgan Phoenix</a> via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manipura_Mandala.svg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>Practical Uses of Mint's Magic</u></div>
<br />
One of my all-time favorite things is uncovering the mystical hidden within the mundane. Mint certainly possesses qualities of both. It pervades everything from chewing gum commercials to ash trays, and yet it brings along deep lessons if we learn how to see them. To honor this omnipresent plant spirit, here are some tips for bringing Mint magic into your life:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>If you have a major decision to make, enjoy a cup of Mint tea while you're <i>ruminating. </i></li>
<li>Try Peppermint flower essence for balancing digestion and mental clarity. Here is a link to <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-flower-essences.html" target="_blank">directions on how make your own flower essences</a>.</li>
<li> Before beginning a new project, take a drop of Peppermint tincture onto
your tongue and meditate on whether or not it is really meant for you.</li>
<li>If you need to work on making stronger boundaries with people, combine
Mint with <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/01/yarrow-remedy-for-wounded-healer.html" target="_blank">Yarrow</a> in the form of a tea, tincture, or flower essence.</li>
<li>If healing from destructive family patterns (or even if you're just worried about disappointing your parents), combine Peppermint with Black Walnut. </li>
<li>Combine Peppermint with <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/09/spilanthes-best-of-buds-for-toothache.html" target="_blank">Spilanthes</a> when trying to find an area of focus for your life.</li>
<li>Honor Mint's presence in your toothpaste and gum by appreciating the healing effects on your digestion and state of mind.</li>
<li>Remember that Mint comes in many forms, so it can be used many ways. Keep a sprig of the fresh herb in your water bottle. Rub the essential oil on your temples for headaches or on your belly for stomachaches. Drink a cup of Mint tea, or create a tincture for a fast, potent remedy.</li>
<li>And, most of all, call upon the spirit of Mint any time you need help accessing one of Mint's Magic Words:<b> Clarity, Inner Truth, Boundaries, Focus, Personal Path, Individuality, and Discernment. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsgK0Uc062_hKLK37tPKf1ryHUb-0h52jSj4K5OmevuSoCkhs7LU0qEx-4LLn2fGDPgTOCqh4TbE4XHhyJ-JILiP_EJL99I4KEyWWnAFG_uoI5bHPcE6_bBQh2s2NmTiFbjAq1BVK5Zc/s1600/Flower+Essences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsgK0Uc062_hKLK37tPKf1ryHUb-0h52jSj4K5OmevuSoCkhs7LU0qEx-4LLn2fGDPgTOCqh4TbE4XHhyJ-JILiP_EJL99I4KEyWWnAFG_uoI5bHPcE6_bBQh2s2NmTiFbjAq1BVK5Zc/s1600/Flower+Essences.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-51118066560906784402014-03-26T13:43:00.001-05:002014-03-29T11:02:22.045-05:00The Spirit of Hawthorn: Healing the Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Your task is not to
seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.” -Rumi</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hawthorn (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crataegus
spp.</i>) is a type of small tree or bush that produces red berries. These
tasty and edible berries, along with the flowers and leaves of the tree, are a
medicinal heart tonic. Hawthorn’s medicine is gentle, so the tea or tincture
can be taken as a long-term heart and circulatory tonic. As a nutritive herb,
it restores damaged tissue of the heart. Hawthorn also strengthens the heart
beat and regulates blood pressure. Good for connective tissue, Hawthorn can be
used as support for joints, veins, tendons, and ligaments. It also helps with
circulation, improving blood flow to the extremities. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The Heart of the
Matter </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFilm4yNf65dfDdGI9oiuboRYnzj2gF7_5rdUjnGCRDWLU8uKjYSClt9Cw9KrCscTjoVGJA4DpZ4Gt1lidHGCLsE_UPZw9DqgGLNhK-J4KaIEAPt5uOZx8B6QTGiD6JgBKLZFC8_3Xo_8/s1600/2000px-Anahata_Mandala.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFilm4yNf65dfDdGI9oiuboRYnzj2gF7_5rdUjnGCRDWLU8uKjYSClt9Cw9KrCscTjoVGJA4DpZ4Gt1lidHGCLsE_UPZw9DqgGLNhK-J4KaIEAPt5uOZx8B6QTGiD6JgBKLZFC8_3Xo_8/s1600/2000px-Anahata_Mandala.svg.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Morgan_Phoenix" target="_blank">Morgan Phoenix</a> via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAnahata_Mandala.svg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While this plant provides great benefit to the body,
Hawthorn’s ties to the heart go far beyond the physical realm. The plant spirit
of Hawthorn is one of the most beneficial for healing and opening the energetic
heart. This is a very important medicine, as Western culture suffers greatly
from physical heart disease and emotional heart blockage alike. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The heart chakra is the very center of our being, the middle
ground between the earthly, lower chakras and the heavenly, upper chakras. The
heart is what allows us to rise above mere survival, </div>
pleasure, and will-power
and to feel true love for others and for life itself. Our hearts connect us to
our families, partners, and friends, as well as to the world at large. The
heart is now being recognized as a primary organ of perception, with an electromagnetic field many times larger than the brain's. Our
hearts process our emotions and allow us to feel the greatest feeling of
all—love. Getting the heart pumping with feelings of gratitude and joy also
boosts our ability to manifest our desires. Clearly, caring for our hearts,
both physically and metaphysically, is of immeasurable value to our lives. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
An Introduction to
Plant Spirit Healing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mG7iWsWYBMvNbNsKeGN4ZpmdGOiLSNrSbuaof_Aub3DT_qGqZdPCWaBxQSxivCyTULvF9Cl0ECWFRLx-xK9Pc2nRm-90cNrNQGpx6WPkHOd8fMVy-BKwi7AsWXMUCLve-LLEm6Rlzus/s1600/Crochettree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mG7iWsWYBMvNbNsKeGN4ZpmdGOiLSNrSbuaof_Aub3DT_qGqZdPCWaBxQSxivCyTULvF9Cl0ECWFRLx-xK9Pc2nRm-90cNrNQGpx6WPkHOd8fMVy-BKwi7AsWXMUCLve-LLEm6Rlzus/s1600/Crochettree.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Nyps151 via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACrochettree.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hawthorn certainly holds a special place in my heart--this
was the first plant spirit I consciously connected with. It was during my
internship with Herb Pharm, where I’d gone to learn the nuts and bolts of
herbalism. I got a lot more than I bargained for when plant spirit healing was
introduced in a weekend-long seminar. Up until that point, I had always felt
that plants had a magic about them, but had no clue that they also possessed a
spirit or consciousness. But that weekend, everything changed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to admit that Hawthorn reached out to me even before
this experience. I’d been working as a buyer in a health food store, and it was
my job to order the bulk herbs. There were some old Hawthorn berries that
nobody had touched for a long time. We discontinued the product, so I took the rest
of them home. There they stayed in my cabinet, untouched for many months. I
told myself, “I don’t have heart problems, so I don’t need this medicine. I just
don’t have the time to mess with it right now.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To introduce us to the Hawthorn spirit, our teacher had the
class of about 15 people sit in a circle around a small Hawthorn tree. She
explained that Hawthorn was a fairly accessible plant spirit, and I got the
impression that she would be working her shamanic mojo to help open us to the
experience. She passed around two bottles of tincture, which were used as a
drop dose to connect with the energy of the plant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43V4aPH6IjpI237bQV7GwvTT37iF25QyFVS1ArM-MDNsS1EKlDyuxESFdgc8tNsTeCj852slmoJ38oKz_Gh2m5LlNgo4b2DgLwxm8eL1JP4m4V_GMTcpMxfREexttd2Gvf7Ebzb3arWU/s1600/Crataegus-holmesiana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43V4aPH6IjpI237bQV7GwvTT37iF25QyFVS1ArM-MDNsS1EKlDyuxESFdgc8tNsTeCj852slmoJ38oKz_Gh2m5LlNgo4b2DgLwxm8eL1JP4m4V_GMTcpMxfREexttd2Gvf7Ebzb3arWU/s1600/Crataegus-holmesiana.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawthorn Blossoms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is great exercise, by the way--sit quietly in a relaxed
state and place a single drop of tincture of any medicinal plant on your tongue.
Get quiet to absorb the taste as well as any feelings or images that come to
you. I’ve seen this done as a kind of blind test in many classes, and it’s
amazing what people can tap into. Even those with zero experience in herbal
medicine can often pick up on the essence and purpose of a plant without even
knowing its name. I think it’s partly intuition, partly the plant spirit
communicating with us, and partly the age-old DNA connection that humans have with
medicinal plants which has aided our survival for millennia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back to our story--when I first tasted the tincture, I was
instantly transported back to my childhood. The taste of the berries alone was
reminiscent of cough medicine I’d had as a child--sweet and comforting. On another level, Hawthorn was a bittersweet
medicine that made me feel my heart very deeply, including its wounds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began to spontaneously recall instances from my childhood
that were painful in some way: the time my brother tricked me by saying we could
play hide and seek, only to leave me hiding by myself outside for a long time
while he went back inside; the times when I had nobody to play with at school recess
and sat by myself on the jungle gym; the time I skinned my knee and cried in
the bathroom until my brother came in to say, “Everyone knows you’re just
doing this for attention.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYB5JCiNYxzxyy413eqXQruXmsiI9HnC1INobL8y7LbfJVdI0s7sNwfdfI5Tez-YImeHZdLQ_pa2NU8dDzosVqKzrekrIobo142qDuF6Y3T3PVnrJGMU_MpVxl6NSctYZGGDJpiEr-Rc/s1600/Crataegus_monogyna_egybig%C3%A9s_galagonya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYB5JCiNYxzxyy413eqXQruXmsiI9HnC1INobL8y7LbfJVdI0s7sNwfdfI5Tez-YImeHZdLQ_pa2NU8dDzosVqKzrekrIobo142qDuF6Y3T3PVnrJGMU_MpVxl6NSctYZGGDJpiEr-Rc/s1600/Crataegus_monogyna_egybig%C3%A9s_galagonya.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Zsoldos Márton via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACrataegus_monogyna_egybig%C3%A9s_galagonya.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I felt
embarrassed to be crying in front of my classmates, but the visions and
associated feelings were so powerful that I simply had to surrender to them or
get up and leave. Up until that point, I’d rarely (if ever) wept in front of a
group. This too was a tendency held over from childhood--nobody in my family
expressed their feelings openly. Yet there I was, bawling
like a child in front of everyone. I was uncomfortably vulnerable, but
determined not to miss out on the experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
When the teacher ended our session, we all took turns
sharing our experiences. I could hardly even speak. Afterwards, everyone went
back inside to get ready for bed. I only went in for a moment to gather supplies before heading out to my tent for the night. I
asked around to see what had happened to the Hawthorn tinctures, because I wanted
another dose before bed. To my surprise, nobody knew where they had gone. When
I returned to the Hawthorn tree, I discovered that both of the bottles had been
left on the ground. And this wasn’t done by a single person, either, as they
lay in different areas of the circle. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This seemed, to me, like a clear metaphor for how easy it is
to forget about the heart. It was then that I recalled my own Hawthorn berries
sitting in my cupboard, unused. Having just had a powerful experience with the
plant, I now understood how much value I had completely overlooked. Those
berries had been a gift from the Universe that I had ignored. Hawthorn wasn’t
just about keeping the physical heart healthy. It wasn’t something that only people
with heart disease needed--it was something that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone </i>needed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIseMh63GAQUthiiH8OsI9RJZX4wQXraLv0fpdHmC1l4KbdzsR0T45Yum2lPa59IQoFvetwmQRpkqdPO3WQcrzmvzI-nPftIB1bebKXpv0b_R5CO8EodpfgyLEFXg3zAeD5DNmhpDtN4/s1600/Green_heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIseMh63GAQUthiiH8OsI9RJZX4wQXraLv0fpdHmC1l4KbdzsR0T45Yum2lPa59IQoFvetwmQRpkqdPO3WQcrzmvzI-nPftIB1bebKXpv0b_R5CO8EodpfgyLEFXg3zAeD5DNmhpDtN4/s1600/Green_heart.jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Lauren raine via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGreen_heart.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feeling rather humbled, I took a larger dose of the medicine
and headed for my tent. As I lay in my sleeping bag, the memories continued. I
relived more moments from my childhood, which eventually gave way to more
recent painful memories of lost or broken relationships. It was a huge
catharsis, like a tidal wave of pent-up emotion finally having an outlet for
release. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More importantly, Hawthorn began to show me patterns. I
could see how the times when I felt a lack of love as a child had translated
into patterns of grasping and insecurity as an adult. Even more painful, I was
shown how some of my actions--based on pain, fear, and lack--had in turn caused
pain for others. It was a cycle in my life, repeating itself over and over
again through my various relationships. I got very little sleep that night, but
I received a teaching that would last for a lifetime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HiupCDghNMI9nG-xY2hL9XdMQIprCobVBIYPyI7CTZARlcY6ANzra20S5SD8li_Zc9xsluWwdGBSpZmycJwtNsC2sAXsCK1ylWWosGfGzRpSGdZP8hGG78GTovsUAjZBVNXipM4RiRE/s1600/Crataegus_chrysocarpa_(7927152386).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HiupCDghNMI9nG-xY2hL9XdMQIprCobVBIYPyI7CTZARlcY6ANzra20S5SD8li_Zc9xsluWwdGBSpZmycJwtNsC2sAXsCK1ylWWosGfGzRpSGdZP8hGG78GTovsUAjZBVNXipM4RiRE/s1600/Crataegus_chrysocarpa_(7927152386).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By<a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/35478170@N08" target="_blank"> Matt Lavin</a> from Bozeman, Montana, USA via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACrataegus_chrysocarpa_(7927152386).jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Flowers and Thorns</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This experience had lasting effects on my life. Within six
months of returning home from the internship, I ended an unhealthy partnership.
After gaining some distance from that situation, I was able to see how the four
major romances of my life had all mirrored the dynamics of my relationships
with the four people in my immediate family. It was kind of eerie, really, with
patterns and similarities so striking that I couldn’t believe I had been blind
to them all these years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus, I am now more open about shedding tears in front of
others, even in public, when something moves me. Though I still sometimes feel
embarrassed depending on the circumstances, it’s become a lot easier for me to
open up to people and groups in general. It’s as if all along, I’d
unconsciously feared that having an open heart would make me weak. But on the
contrary, it’s made me stronger. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bOsgwvYjwJun4az62HuNXcazOAW7CoZvMJaSSHkg7Qnc1S3KvjOOKElj0J1rHUuSOXHgQs4XQ0WakoT9MKMfDVT6AXV-3ueCqjlFzy6AzdiFOn8eqGGUZzusP2AAPtveK6hwEv8WEMU/s1600/Lod%C3%A8ve_Saint-Fulcran_cathedral_stained_glass_window378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bOsgwvYjwJun4az62HuNXcazOAW7CoZvMJaSSHkg7Qnc1S3KvjOOKElj0J1rHUuSOXHgQs4XQ0WakoT9MKMfDVT6AXV-3ueCqjlFzy6AzdiFOn8eqGGUZzusP2AAPtveK6hwEv8WEMU/s1600/Lod%C3%A8ve_Saint-Fulcran_cathedral_stained_glass_window378.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Reinhardhauke" target="_blank">Reinhardhauke</a> via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALod%C3%A8ve_Saint-Fulcran_cathedral_stained_glass_window378.JPG" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Hawthorn tree is a member of the Rose family, and both
of these plants reflect the connection between joy and sorrow. Roses are a
classic symbol of love and the ever-opening heart. And yet their stems contain
wicked thorns, so that if you hold on too tightly to the experience of love,
you will draw blood. Our earthly existence is temporary, and so we know that
everyone and everything we love will eventually pass. Often, what we love most
in life breaks our hearts the most as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hawthorn also has thorns covering its trunk and branches. I
see these thorns acting as acupuncture needles which, when stuck in the right
places, can release long-held pain. Hawthorn finds your heart’s tender spots,
even the places you’ve forgotten about. When she sticks her needles in, the
pain intensifies. But when it’s over, you feel much lighter, healthier, and perhaps a bit wiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Grandmother Hawthorn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see the spirit of Hawthorn as a grandmotherly figure who
delivers just the right dose of medicine at the right time. Her lessons can be
stern, but they are always fair, and she never gives you more than you handle. She
won’t spoil you, but is able to show you the kind of tough love necessary for
the healthy growth of strong children. Grandmother Hawthorn can open your eyes
to issues you’ve been hiding from yourself, and unconscious patterns of action
and reaction that wreak havoc on your relationships. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH0-HzBwDWu9pkgGhbrjcku20uBgDIS7pVL3uHeFnGl9VnmAsSk6dG2KwX5ehZ3TafEH9xw4qegoBlimCQgiqVj7ZBk76n_DJgPMorGiK1Ht4FCarEugWh4fvp0kRkLDy4oajjuxaKYM/s1600/Sticks_and_Stones_Public_Art_Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH0-HzBwDWu9pkgGhbrjcku20uBgDIS7pVL3uHeFnGl9VnmAsSk6dG2KwX5ehZ3TafEH9xw4qegoBlimCQgiqVj7ZBk76n_DJgPMorGiK1Ht4FCarEugWh4fvp0kRkLDy4oajjuxaKYM/s1600/Sticks_and_Stones_Public_Art_Statue.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Intel Free Press via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASticks_and_Stones_Public_Art_Statue.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is why I say that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone
</i>needs this medicine. Even those like myself who were blessed with great
parents and a healthy upbringing can still point to painful childhood memories.
Nobody is perfect, and so nobody makes a perfect parent or sibling. And yet,
injuries of a familial origin are often what linger within us into adulthood.
As psychologists know, our primordial relationships with immediate family members
form the basis of our tendencies as adults. With the lens of
truth offered by Hawthorn, you are more able to protect yourself and your loved
ones from unnecessary sorrow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
From the Heart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we truly acted from our hearts, imagine how the world
might be different. Would people still spray chemicals on their food, eat meat
that came from suffering animals, dump trash into the ocean, or go to war? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzcdrtSiUjl-OdYJhCrIiTECNmBO12-tsz24dx4C3yT7FvXo4GZb_IDlUNq24EKJiP97ssRdJ-VeNiZCzq8oOqY4LMkKh9BeStn_8K5ifl_fq26pZMwhfU596LZKc7uqLm2p_X2Mde94/s1600/471px-Champaigne,_Philippe_de_-_Saint_Augustin_-_1645-1650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzcdrtSiUjl-OdYJhCrIiTECNmBO12-tsz24dx4C3yT7FvXo4GZb_IDlUNq24EKJiP97ssRdJ-VeNiZCzq8oOqY4LMkKh9BeStn_8K5ifl_fq26pZMwhfU596LZKc7uqLm2p_X2Mde94/s1600/471px-Champaigne,_Philippe_de_-_Saint_Augustin_-_1645-1650.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChampaigne%2C_Philippe_de_-_Saint_Augustin_-_1645-1650.jpg" target="_blank"><i>Saint Augustin </i>by Philippe de Champaigne</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet, it is very easy to forget all about the heart. In
fact, I believe that our culture teaches us to shut down our heart centers.
Rather than being taught to feel and process our emotions, we’re expected to
hide and neglect them in order to succeed in our jobs and our lives. Even in
the realm of romance, people tend to jump from one relationship to another
without allowing themselves the time to grieve, much less change the pattern
that manifested a non-functional relationship to begin with. I’ve done this
myself, only to find that while I had changed the name and face of the person whom
I was with, the patterns stayed much the same (and actually worsened). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until we face our fear of vulnerability that comes along with
opening our hearts, this won’t change--not on the personal level, and not on
the global level. I know it’s scary, but I promise you that it will be okay.
While I sat tearful under the Hawthorn tree, nobody laughed at me or shunned me.
In fact, the more I open up, the more surprised I am at just how kind people
can be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Working with the Hawthorn spirit can dislodge emotional
blockages in order for you to start pumping love more freely through your
veins. Under her care, you are able to handle all of life’s bittersweet ebbs
and flows, its joys and sorrows. If you open yourself to the wisdom of
Grandmother Hawthorn, you will receive a mighty reward—nothing less than a
greater depth of feeling and a higher capacity to love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI76F2Y_FXsVsl8D2mdKENOlYxJbQYWq7Wc-H1QECqhDVWlp5UMq3UXI77DuKNebC5jiwHgiaT68Y3NFX5sCPs5Pa_cwPOPYqRg97VvgmZFCsIjXswtYrmkSUuO91htLNOTVEZU0p-0Q/s1600/El_Coraz%C3%B3n_de_la_Navidad_(3120117747).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaI76F2Y_FXsVsl8D2mdKENOlYxJbQYWq7Wc-H1QECqhDVWlp5UMq3UXI77DuKNebC5jiwHgiaT68Y3NFX5sCPs5Pa_cwPOPYqRg97VvgmZFCsIjXswtYrmkSUuO91htLNOTVEZU0p-0Q/s1600/El_Coraz%C3%B3n_de_la_Navidad_(3120117747).jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/99479626@N00" target="_blank">Eneas De Troya</a> from Mexico City via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AEl_Coraz%C3%B3n_de_la_Navidad_(3120117747).jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-40394058176901173342014-01-11T13:11:00.001-06:002014-03-29T11:16:28.168-05:00Best Herbal Remedies for Winter: Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to Part Two of <i>Best Herbal Remedies for Winter</i>! (<a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/12/best-herbal-remedies-for-winter-part-one.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part One</a>.) Now, we will focus on herbs to boost your mood and ease wintertime blues, plus some remedies to keep you breathing easy during cold season.</div>
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<u>Staying Happy</u></div>
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As an herb that promotes stress relief, mental clarity, mood
enhancement, spiritual openness, as well as physical health, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tulsi</b> is a consecrated kaleidoscope of curative qualities. Also known as Holy or Sacred Basil, Tulsi has long been used
as a traditional herb in Ayurveda, the ancient healing practice of
India.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsm1gBhaXzWLQ_G3B3cpq2Mdb_ks7t93bgwKATUB3Od4C7NvQBOLCzA9LY-Mf5x4rISWuB-K1iCa9QSifgLuOt8P1O4oRKvjyCBlKxXsbPxuGAfA1yCvk9hhiVyoZJHAKle-jDwwfLe4/s1600/Tulsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsm1gBhaXzWLQ_G3B3cpq2Mdb_ks7t93bgwKATUB3Od4C7NvQBOLCzA9LY-Mf5x4rISWuB-K1iCa9QSifgLuOt8P1O4oRKvjyCBlKxXsbPxuGAfA1yCvk9hhiVyoZJHAKle-jDwwfLe4/s1600/Tulsi.jpg" height="372" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulsi/ Holy Basil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tulsi is one of the most sacred
plants of India--its name translates as “Incomparable One.” Considered to be a
divine representation of Krishna and/or Vishnu, Holy Basil is truly
a panacea, benefiting all planes of existence, from physical to spiritual.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krishna</td></tr>
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When used over time, Tulsi boosts the mood and can relieve
depression and anxiety. It is a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Sattva</i>-promoting herb, meaning that it opens the mind to enhance
qualities of light, perception, intelligence, and harmony. As an adrenal
adaptogen, Tulsi helps us adapt to all kinds of stressors, from emotional to
environmental. This means that<b> it even helps you deal with changes in
temperature</b>, which is a main reason why it made my list of favorite winter remedies. </div>
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As if all of this weren’t enough, <b>Tulsi also has
antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties</b>. This makes it great
for preventing and treating colds and flu. Many people also use this plant
for its anti-cancer properties or as an adjunct therapy during cancer
treatment. </div>
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Tulsi is fairly easy to grow in the garden. Though it won’t
survive frosts, you can grow it as an annual and harvest the leaves for a
tincture or tea (or even a nice massage oil). Its sweet, woodsy, almost-fruity flavor is used in Thai cuisine, and
will keep you craving Tulsi tea for weeks on end! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Wort</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Because </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">St. John’s Wort</b> blooms around the summer solstice, it is associated with the height of summer growth,
the green man archetype, and abundant sunshine.<br />
<br />
Preparations of St. John’s Wort are said to bring the sun to life, allowing us to experience solar energy even in the
darkest moments of winter. <b>This solar herb is used for moderate depression, as it helps
people see the light in a given situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b>According to Ed Smith in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therapeutic
Herb Manual, </i>this plant works on depression by increasing the life and
potentiating the effects of neurotransmitters. It is a tonic to the nerves,
with a calming effect that provides comfort and joy. St. John’s Wort also
offers spiritual protection, heals physical wounds, and brings balance to
conflicting male and female energies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElcDbktNhGRd_AZ2wfA6-PxJGZntk-zHgFXpqRHC68MQKkfhe_voSg7zGGqDAG7ZOv0XwOXBWIPZwMY5ZcwCgdVAwsCMxRw0lTL7aNcWySYfUWJGl0CZfUcRJWcmL0Km-SAK2hzCoZGM/s1600/St+John%27s+Wort-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElcDbktNhGRd_AZ2wfA6-PxJGZntk-zHgFXpqRHC68MQKkfhe_voSg7zGGqDAG7ZOv0XwOXBWIPZwMY5ZcwCgdVAwsCMxRw0lTL7aNcWySYfUWJGl0CZfUcRJWcmL0Km-SAK2hzCoZGM/s1600/St+John's+Wort-cropped.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a>This ray of sunshine is super helpful for cases of wintertime blues--and I'm speaking from personal experience here. Just the other day, I was telling a friend who knows about my usual wintertime woes that St. John's Wort is getting me through the season. Yes, I'm still scraping ice off my windshield with numb fingers and getting snowed in when I'd rather go out, but somehow my emotions aren't affected as they normally are. It's because my inner sun is still shining!<br />
<br />
For the strongest effect, St. John’s Wort is best taken as a
tincture of the fresh flowering tops. You can also use the flower essence
or make an infused oil. However, it’s best to stop taking it when spring
finally arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. John’s Wort can
cause us to become more sensitive to sunlight, so we may burn with too much
exposure. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow flowers of St. John's Wort create a blood-red potion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>If you happen to be healing a broken heart, consider combining St. John's Wort with Bleeding Heart.</b> One of my herbalism teachers, Mark Disharoon (go to <a href="http://www.virtuesofhealing.com/education/faculty/" target="_blank">this site</a> and scroll down for his bio), has noticed these two plants growing side by side in the wild. He says,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"</i><span class="null"><i>I was wildcrafting St. John's Wort the last two weekends
and saw these two in a partnership in the wild. They seemed like star-crossed lovers, one bringing the sun, the other the moon. It made me think
about broken-heartedness and depression and combining them for those
two things."</i> </span></blockquote>
<span class="null">Mark also writes fun and informative songs about plants--<a href="http://www.virtuesofhealing.com/plant-language-bymark-disharoon/" target="_blank">click here</a> to listen to his tribute to Lemon Balm and read about his philosophy of plant language. </span></div>
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<u>Just Breathe</u></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb7fKLTRW6ZMP2ZZuD_nzSwfRvEVPjIxzo5H34kmAr23BbKkrzD5rOly41Wa21lIuqX8vQqyaxoIsPdEPcbRuSdqBxDuMIhi5m4TYkqalZ6jugZMZmANsQUSlWDRVDgxO-uo5fuIWqsg/s1600/Eucalyptus_globulus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb7fKLTRW6ZMP2ZZuD_nzSwfRvEVPjIxzo5H34kmAr23BbKkrzD5rOly41Wa21lIuqX8vQqyaxoIsPdEPcbRuSdqBxDuMIhi5m4TYkqalZ6jugZMZmANsQUSlWDRVDgxO-uo5fuIWqsg/s1600/Eucalyptus_globulus.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eucalyptus Tree: <a href="http://www.starrenvironmental.com/" target="_blank">Forest & Kim Starr </a>via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eucalyptus</b> is one
of the best remedies for treating congestion and opening the sinuses and nasal
passages. With a minty and refreshing aroma, it can also raise your spirits and
enhance mental clarity. Eucalyptus is easy to get a hold of in the form of
essential oil, which can then be employed in many different ways. It’s great to
drop into a pot of water to use for facial steaming or simmer on the stove to
add moisture into the room (which is a helpful remedy unto itself for the dry
air caused by furnaces or woodstoves). You can also use Eucalyptus oil in an aromatherapy
diffuser, a room humidifier, or put few drops in your bath water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSitv4nnOpgNXdo7_o3G_sMv2HlxEbW2of0tRlH5bAcndf_na4neJi_WrARycOdshXw3_yfNa1pVmpg0or0g3-56thtYTjH5Z-doYYWVzv4JoPyk5YkScxFJGH6t4Rx52GdksUYPswmc/s1600/Menthol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSitv4nnOpgNXdo7_o3G_sMv2HlxEbW2of0tRlH5bAcndf_na4neJi_WrARycOdshXw3_yfNa1pVmpg0or0g3-56thtYTjH5Z-doYYWVzv4JoPyk5YkScxFJGH6t4Rx52GdksUYPswmc/s1600/Menthol.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menthol Crystals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you have a chest cold, you may reach for the jar of
store-bought <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vapor rub</b>. The problem
is that conventional vapor rubs contain petroleum jelly, also known as
petrolatum. A by-product of the oil industry, it is a thick gel taken from oil
wells that has been distilled and cleaned. Although commonly used in cosmetics,
many consumers doubt the safety of petrolatum. Groups like the U.S. non-profit
Environmental Working Group have found <b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">a risk of contamination from cancer-causing
chemicals found in crude oil and its by-products. Regardless of </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">potential
health risks, the fact remains that any form of crude oil is a non-renewable
resource. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Luckily, it’s easy to <b>make your own </b></span>n<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">atural vapor rub</span></b>. The key ingredient is menthol, which is not a plant, but a compound found within mint plants. Menthol provides
relief for our symptoms, breaking up coughs and opening the nasal passages so
we can breathe easier. It also has a pleasant cooling sensation and crisp scent
that we associate with healing.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBqg72lRzLV2iNu-0px6QVu-_EH4DMwQOXCaGimWOPFqApFOBsH4cN96z0PEcRIquoLd2klRY773nUE4CxSlstIv374-cgp4zM82MceRu9NmaxoVziJXCnDuZucKpqX_hE3rxZUre7zI/s1600/Vapor+Rub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBqg72lRzLV2iNu-0px6QVu-_EH4DMwQOXCaGimWOPFqApFOBsH4cN96z0PEcRIquoLd2klRY773nUE4CxSlstIv374-cgp4zM82MceRu9NmaxoVziJXCnDuZucKpqX_hE3rxZUre7zI/s1600/Vapor+Rub.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Vapor Rub Recipe:</span></div>
</div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2 Cups Oil</b>: I prefer a blend of sunflower and castor oils, but you can use olive oil or just about anything you have around. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UUwaDiptcKCIiRfs_pFgatwvNqU7wAjiqP7XgXQwXZ0n_Qoc7I2WdGiAKOy9i-EybueOtjEEMUtH-daGkOfD-Zc2bguSm6Hv3qVRnGQ9PhYB4oN89k8moSYOA_SdAHw83dFGtkL8kRI/s1600/DSCN4416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UUwaDiptcKCIiRfs_pFgatwvNqU7wAjiqP7XgXQwXZ0n_Qoc7I2WdGiAKOy9i-EybueOtjEEMUtH-daGkOfD-Zc2bguSm6Hv3qVRnGQ9PhYB4oN89k8moSYOA_SdAHw83dFGtkL8kRI/s1600/DSCN4416.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2 Ounces Beeswax</b></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Tablespoon Vitamin
E Oil</b>: This ingredient is a preservative, which will keep your vapor rub
shelf-stable for longer. If you plan on making just enough to use for a season,
you can omit the Vitamin E.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Essential Oils</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>30
drops Eucalyptus </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>30
drops Peppermint</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>20
drops Camphor</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>10
drops Rosemary</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">If desired, you can also add 10-20 drops of another
essential oil to enhance the scent. For example, Lavender will sweeten the bouquet
and promote relaxation, while Pine will add a warm and woody aroma.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2 Teaspoons Menthol
Crystals</b>:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Buy natural (not synthetic) crystals, preferably organic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Directions:</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">Start by heating the oil in a small saucepan on low heat. Add the beeswax and stir until dissolved.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">Remove the pot from heat. (Because essential oils evaporate
easily when heated, the idea is to keep the mixture as cool as possible for the
rest of the process.) </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgtDGgOggQ9MHZp6hmr-nCAVZZb8m71ZkPrkhrnu-3ssLalel7sJHrBIKbIq84v5b3A9b2VoV7PJVpEsjhczBeU_WHHN3n9JSNJLGftSaIBkPKTH0HilKDvtNv_ixQBE5Pd9Xm3-rgrs/s1600/Beeswax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgtDGgOggQ9MHZp6hmr-nCAVZZb8m71ZkPrkhrnu-3ssLalel7sJHrBIKbIq84v5b3A9b2VoV7PJVpEsjhczBeU_WHHN3n9JSNJLGftSaIBkPKTH0HilKDvtNv_ixQBE5Pd9Xm3-rgrs/s1600/Beeswax.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Add the menthol crystals, stirring until they dissolve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The aroma will be strong,
so take care not to inhale directly.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">Now add the Vitamin E oil, and stir in the rest of your
essential oils. Viola! You are now ready to pour the brew into jars of your
choice. Remember to label and date
your jars to avoid future confusion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLDwp3fyYwLxJC-bbsyZqdT4UHS234YsG_6hMGCgFAJYayrGvAPve7lqdf9QBvzEIsA0c1jDBzqrya1fbwSYioB8BAo6N534FHFHm3rRsxW__LM9DELqtLGB3DYvFwGhaj0aZHGOzG0g/s1600/Sinus+Buster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLDwp3fyYwLxJC-bbsyZqdT4UHS234YsG_6hMGCgFAJYayrGvAPve7lqdf9QBvzEIsA0c1jDBzqrya1fbwSYioB8BAo6N534FHFHm3rRsxW__LM9DELqtLGB3DYvFwGhaj0aZHGOzG0g/s1600/Sinus+Buster.jpg" height="320" width="137" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HEECYY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000HEECYY&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3ESinus%20Buster%20Classic%20Formula%20by%20Sinus%20Buster%20-%20.68%20Ounces%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000HEECYY%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sinus Buster</b> </a>is a
brand of natural nasal spray that uses Cayenne pepper. The sensation is very intense (even a bit painful) so I only use this spray as a last resort. I recommend it for
sinus infections, not being able to breathe out of your nose at all, constant sneezing, or a nose that
itches badly enough to induce madness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally I prefer herbal remedies that you can make
yourself, but this is not something I’ve ever dared to make. The bottle says
the Cayenne is diluted to the extent of being homeopathic, but you can
definitely feel the pepper. I’m including it here because sometimes this is the
only thing that works. It is intense, but
worth it!</div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's it--now you've got a handle on some key remedies to keep you going through the winter. If you missed Part One of this article, <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/12/best-herbal-remedies-for-winter-part-one.html" target="_blank">click here </a>for 5 more wintertime remedies to keep you warm and boost your immune system.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEKBtxe22qmi81stnwFcDXuCL-9p6zgCaAgprJ-c_ldM808LW9flvoHA3rKQ4kL_TFwVj2RygAArjFjW0IWwkF_FWULL24VdYmjAYU4CYZ8naYBpG-8puYlmNmFwETyzqnvyzseDZm6Q/s1600/Winter+Scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEKBtxe22qmi81stnwFcDXuCL-9p6zgCaAgprJ-c_ldM808LW9flvoHA3rKQ4kL_TFwVj2RygAArjFjW0IWwkF_FWULL24VdYmjAYU4CYZ8naYBpG-8puYlmNmFwETyzqnvyzseDZm6Q/s1600/Winter+Scene.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SwuluHTaJCA%2FUsrpG7G1SLI%2FAAAAAAAAAjE%2FWgFNk8fylXM%2Fs1600%2FSinus%2BBuster.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLDwp3fyYwLxJC-bbsyZqdT4UHS234YsG_6hMGCgFAJYayrGvAPve7lqdf9QBvzEIsA0c1jDBzqrya1fbwSYioB8BAo6N534FHFHm3rRsxW__LM9DELqtLGB3DYvFwGhaj0aZHGOzG0g/s1600/Sinus+Buster.jpg" -->Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-45294041220960980222013-12-11T16:31:00.003-06:002014-03-29T11:16:02.530-05:00Best Herbal Remedies for Winter: Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
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Let’s face it--radiant health doesn’t come as easily in the
winter. The sun fades away and along with it our daily dose of vitamin D. With
less sunshine, we're more likely to fall into a funk of low energy or a
dismal mood. Meanwhile, we don’t spend as much time outdoors absorbing nature’s
beauty, munching on fresh garden food, or walking barefooted in the grass. Then, cold and flu season hits
right as our immune system is not at its best. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, I don’t mean to paint a dismal picture of winter. It’s true
that it isn’t my favorite season--I love sunshine and green things too much.
But I appreciate winter for its introspective, deep, and yin-oriented nature. With less
opportunity for fun in the sun, we get the chance to go within and catch up
with ourselves. Winter can be a beautiful and magical wonderland--but it’s
still harder to stay physically healthy!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZXIf19r2jAVmMxm5DRjbZz1wTNUrL2yYo3BQWQbMVUXAQzKBIuvdLMqug_fkhyphenhyphenKm0Xs-liuHom1S8FOvmx6KeViiGTnaTjro_aOePs9mZShCl-TDh6wXzPVnCg1SiUBi45jqJazE39U/s1600/The+Return+of+Perspephone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZXIf19r2jAVmMxm5DRjbZz1wTNUrL2yYo3BQWQbMVUXAQzKBIuvdLMqug_fkhyphenhyphenKm0Xs-liuHom1S8FOvmx6KeViiGTnaTjro_aOePs9mZShCl-TDh6wXzPVnCg1SiUBi45jqJazE39U/s320/The+Return+of+Perspephone.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Return of Persephone</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is why I’ve put together a list of my favorite herbal
remedies to get through the cold, dark months of winter. Many will boost your
immune system while also relieving the symptoms of illness. Plus, these
herbs will keep you warm and lighten your mood so you can stay
strong and healthy until Persephone returns and things become green once again.</div>
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<b>This is Part One of <i>Best Herbal Remedies for Winter--</i><a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/01/best-herbal-remedies-for-winter-part-two.html" target="_blank">click here for Part Two</a>. </b>For now, let's focus on 5 remedies that will keep you warm and boost your immune system.</div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Staying Warm</u></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Esd0SQTWJulYaYAQR4Z_9JpNSGapuYxNtChmWmUFS_7rMFNG7TcFepduYk-0VNvzWZHep72FZJ2xYymEQj7utLYkWlRt7TDdh_NHnb4PfSTSnFKrYjjF_L_vznMce5kTzC8PsJcPQM/s1600/Ginger+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Esd0SQTWJulYaYAQR4Z_9JpNSGapuYxNtChmWmUFS_7rMFNG7TcFepduYk-0VNvzWZHep72FZJ2xYymEQj7utLYkWlRt7TDdh_NHnb4PfSTSnFKrYjjF_L_vznMce5kTzC8PsJcPQM/s320/Ginger+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
We know <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ginger</b>
spices up food, but what does it do for the body? This warming root acts as a
stimulant to your metabolism and circulation, so you feel warmer and have more
energy. It’s good for people whose hands and feet get cold easily (if you’re
like me, you can’t feel your toes by February). Also use it whenever you feel a
cold or flu coming on--its antioxidant and immune-boosting properties will help
you fend it off. Meanwhile, anti-nausea qualities
make it a good friend if you’ve caught a stomach virus. Ginger is also
expectorant, so it is a cough remedy as well. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There are lots of ways to get more Ginger into your system.
It makes a delicious addition to many dishes, from kimchi to pumpkin soup to
lo mein. You can also prepare a tea from fresh or dried Ginger. I like to keep
on hand <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UY868O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UY868O&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EBulk%20Ginger%20Root,%20Cut%20&%20Sifted%20Certified%20Organic%20-%2016%20oz%20-%20Bulk%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000UY868O%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">dried Ginger</a> that isn't powdered, but cut into small pieces for
easy tea-making. Of course, a tincture will provide a quick and potent dose,
but be sure to dilute this fiery root so you don’t burn your mouth. One of my all-time
favorite ways to use Ginger is in the bath--it is an unparalleled herb for
winter <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2012/12/bath-tea-infuse-yourself.html" target="_blank">bath tea</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK9iSuFx-A8ZDdrBUUkgA7x0UhmZYSYFTx-jdLd1_Rsfay402Vsfdq1ZBOWCCwey2WOOI1jx0niyj3DjFXLm9NRqgWFYwXjdyg9WRkqLAo347JqRK4gZ4yqc2JkVH-xp6bfiNaI4B8fQ/s1600/Cayenne+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK9iSuFx-A8ZDdrBUUkgA7x0UhmZYSYFTx-jdLd1_Rsfay402Vsfdq1ZBOWCCwey2WOOI1jx0niyj3DjFXLm9NRqgWFYwXjdyg9WRkqLAo347JqRK4gZ4yqc2JkVH-xp6bfiNaI4B8fQ/s320/Cayenne+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another hot and spicy food-medicine is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cayenne</b> pepper. It is a stimulating plant, which boosts the heart’s
<br />
functioning without quickening the pulse, making us feel energetic and warm.
Internally, it gets a sluggish digestive system up and running. You can also use it
to help burn off a fevered illness more quickly. To perk up the circulation, it
can be added to meals--anything from burritos to chili will do. The powder can even
be sprinkled into your socks to keep your feet warm! Or, Cayenne can
be dried and infused into oil to create a massage oil that will soothe tight or
sore muscles, ease nerve pain, and help circulation. This plant packs a punch,
so take care not to use it on sensitive areas and wash your hands well
afterwards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Staying Healthy</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknJNBPLN7HU_QrYVnLH5p-zPzHA9V7CSrPKtAT1PF13u99cjo1teEorEHGuIA9PRarTy4FFCUV0jV8CVTi6E5mH20cRKGYhzB7xGPrVdWudFO4fRe-69k5zX7PWBPEnuhuh-tEVizz9Q/s1600/Echinacea+pupurea+in+home+garden..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknJNBPLN7HU_QrYVnLH5p-zPzHA9V7CSrPKtAT1PF13u99cjo1teEorEHGuIA9PRarTy4FFCUV0jV8CVTi6E5mH20cRKGYhzB7xGPrVdWudFO4fRe-69k5zX7PWBPEnuhuh-tEVizz9Q/s320/Echinacea+pupurea+in+home+garden..jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Echinacea</b> is
a well-known cold and flu remedy. It acts as a tonic and modulator to the
immune system, so that it runs at optimum potential. Many people use it to shorten the duration of a cold--when taken early
enough, it’s often enough to stop an illness in its tracks. Use Echinacea for
all kinds of infections, illnesses, allergies, fevers, as well as a general
feeling of low energy and exhaustion. It boosts the lymphatic system and
cleanses the blood, so it’s a nice way to detoxify and renew the body.</div>
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To get the most out of Echinacea, there are a few things to
know. The entire plant is medicinal--leaves, flowers, root, and even the mature
seed. But that doesn’t mean that all remedies are created equal. I believe that
one of the biggest reasons why people doubt the effectiveness of herbs is
because they haven’t been using a potent potion. If you buy a generic capsule
of dried Echinacea from Wal-Mart (let's boycott that place altogether!), it probably won’t work. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8tPxMgOjVKFqmoUeuRdyAk1pJayP9InFhUaxBBZM278fJoRQAm9T1ANduPMaWfW43UkGs2HemHWH2vLUECth5to8qD4nKTnZw0PqWrIkiQcDrGrrlwmOWpsMGnEiWDh75MOMz9MXJIA/s1600/Echinacea+Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8tPxMgOjVKFqmoUeuRdyAk1pJayP9InFhUaxBBZM278fJoRQAm9T1ANduPMaWfW43UkGs2HemHWH2vLUECth5to8qD4nKTnZw0PqWrIkiQcDrGrrlwmOWpsMGnEiWDh75MOMz9MXJIA/s400/Echinacea+Field.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields of Echinacea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ideally, you would be able to grow your own plants and
create a tincture. My preferred method is to wait until at least the second
year of growth, and then harvest the leaf and flower in the
summertime. Leave a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>few flower stalks blooming in your garden so you can
appreciate their beauty and collect the mature seeds in the fall. This is when
you will also harvest the root. So you’ll have at least two different batches
of tincture--one for the leaves and flowers, the other for the seeds and
roots--which you can then mix together for a powerful brew. If it <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/09/spilanthes-best-of-buds-for-toothache.html" target="_blank">makes your mouth tingle</a>, you know it's really good stuff! </div>
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Other options<b> </b>include buying a tincture of the whole plant
from a reputable company. Herb Pharm specializes in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00028NR2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00028NR2I&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EHerb%20Pharm%20Super%20Echinacea%20Extract%20Mineral%20Supplement,%201%20Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00028NR2I%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Echinacea tincture</a>; as a
matter of fact, co-owner “Herbal Ed” Smith is a huge proponent of the plant.
While others warn that taking Echinacea over time decreases its effectiveness,
he emphasizes the safety of taking Echinacea for extended periods of time as traditional cultures have done. But tinctures can get pricey, so a
more affordable option is buying the dried plant--you may have to get root and
leaf separately--from a good company like Mountain Rose Herbs. Then you can
make your own tincture or tea. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeFVXJA5jskyzszeQFVCtWiQMj9_TTK5sWz3KLeJctIQ668b4qvu8EBCH_kWHFr6b42SWauOPUSemAMox2xkc2rYfjW3fs1Ti6t3W0yhQv8O3W9lPF4uCc1fcDrzTbfKw-2cZAJ9Z8as/s1600/Elder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeFVXJA5jskyzszeQFVCtWiQMj9_TTK5sWz3KLeJctIQ668b4qvu8EBCH_kWHFr6b42SWauOPUSemAMox2xkc2rYfjW3fs1Ti6t3W0yhQv8O3W9lPF4uCc1fcDrzTbfKw-2cZAJ9Z8as/s400/Elder.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder in Bloom-By <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Llez" target="_blank">Llez</a> via <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASambucus_nigra_0001.JPG" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many parts of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elder</b>
tree are medicinal, with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UVUHXY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UVUHXY&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EElder%20Berries%20Whole%20Organic%20-%201%20lb,(Frontier)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000UVUHXY%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Elderberries</a> being by far the most common.
You often find Elderberry included in natural cough drops, syrups, and
other cold and flu remedies. The sweet flavor makes Elderberry
remedies a nice option for children. They are quite tasty, and some good country folk
still make yummy Elderberry wine. With antiviral and antioxidant properties,
Elderberry can shorten the duration of an illness. It also makes coughs more
productive and relieves congestion. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D7ORR8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004D7ORR8&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EElder%20Flowers%20Cut%20&%20Sifted%20Organic%20-%204%20Oz,(Starwest%20Botanicals)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004D7ORR8%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Elder flowers</a> are another nice remedy, and
will more likely be found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Z8XA46/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009Z8XA46&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EAlvita%20Teas%20Organic%20Elder%20Flower%20Tea%20Bags%20-%2024%20Bags%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009Z8XA46%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">in the form of tea</a>. You can use the flowers on their own
or alongside the berries for cold and flu, fevers, and bronchitis. Elderflower
opens the throat chakra, so it’s good for treating hoarseness--I like to gargle
the tincture before singing or speaking.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXhCAmrA9rlFKzRBoxSyCEDCDjH3sJ_-7tKb87JSkP_Vdevz91b-ENNggovlNYJZeye_bCYPeqGYKBYc70cUtfQ93DNbhkEi3H-ljlU9QmtMno_GIKfVzpBovpm30-Gozrbu1pQZasFo/s1600/800px-Elderberry-20060924-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXhCAmrA9rlFKzRBoxSyCEDCDjH3sJ_-7tKb87JSkP_Vdevz91b-ENNggovlNYJZeye_bCYPeqGYKBYc70cUtfQ93DNbhkEi3H-ljlU9QmtMno_GIKfVzpBovpm30-Gozrbu1pQZasFo/s320/800px-Elderberry-20060924-004.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elderberries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It’s worth mentioning that the Elder tree is ripe with all
kinds of interesting folklore and spiritual qualities. Where the Elder is
present, tales of magic abound. Associations with Jesus and the cross, with the
fairy world or Underworld, and with shamanic ceremony are a few of the more
momentous ones. In days of old, people were cautioned against harvesting the
plant without asking permission, or falling asleep underneath an Elder--for a
journey into another world can be dangerous for the uninitiated. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jY5MXcm1SffpkO03sNTwyRue_3ZUX3qpOnjsT-DTUG18xkHWXBlfVr8Jm_vuF5zgJknth4Zl8AzQBXA6BYNXdJR0a0OVR7fUljg6o29aZGBKup-sB_okcmQCKhAOOcqTijKor8RofZQ/s1600/By+Warwick+Goble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jY5MXcm1SffpkO03sNTwyRue_3ZUX3qpOnjsT-DTUG18xkHWXBlfVr8Jm_vuF5zgJknth4Zl8AzQBXA6BYNXdJR0a0OVR7fUljg6o29aZGBKup-sB_okcmQCKhAOOcqTijKor8RofZQ/s400/By+Warwick+Goble.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
I have personally experienced some of the magic of this
tree, and to my mind its connections with the Underworld are one reason why
it’s such an appropriate winter remedy. The season's darkness drives us into the
depths of our being, our own personal Underworld, where we must face our fears
as well as our most cherished dreams (which can sometimes be equally scary). Elder can boost our intuition for insight
into the unseen archetypes that shape our lives.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moving back to the practical, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">herbal throat spray</b>
is another key addition to your winter apothecary. Since many viruses first take hold
in the throat, you can often stop a cold in its tracks by making your
throat an uninhabitable environment. This remedy will also soothe a sore throat
that has already taken hold. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoLUQR0apq6wv2TYu4NfSYMnbWwjg4PIeFFWn6Zl0YSDCBcnQFxryRKfsdmCiP4hWouHm-mi6ch59nb51yjR0fl6CrgPp2he7aAl5rKWdoI0cScFYwPxm75Qdvz2AeRUPAz4V8VSBtAM/s1600/Sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoLUQR0apq6wv2TYu4NfSYMnbWwjg4PIeFFWn6Zl0YSDCBcnQFxryRKfsdmCiP4hWouHm-mi6ch59nb51yjR0fl6CrgPp2he7aAl5rKWdoI0cScFYwPxm75Qdvz2AeRUPAz4V8VSBtAM/s400/Sage.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are
many good brands of natural throat spray out there, and I have personally enjoyed the ones that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00016RJHK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00016RJHK&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20&#34;&#62;Zand%20Herbalmist%20Throat%20Spray,%202%20Ounce%3C/a%3E&#60;img%20src=&#34;http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00016RJHK&#34;%20width=&#34;1&#34;%20height=&#34;1&#34;%20border=&#34;0&#34;%20alt=&#34;&#34;%20style=&#34;border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;&#34;%20&#62;" target="_blank">Zand </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014AT7OU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0014AT7OU&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EHerb%20Pharm%20Soothing%20Throat%20Spray%20Mineral%20Supplement,%201%20Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0014AT7OU%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Herb Pharm</a> make. However, to cut costs and connect more deeply with the
medicine, I usually opt to make my own. The process is pretty easy if you make
tinctures (especially if you’re someone like me who keeps an apocalypse-sized
stockpile of them in her closet!). </div>
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The basis of my throat spray is a combination of tinctures:
Sage, Thyme, Echinacea, Hyssop, Goldenseal, Horehound, Marshmallow, Elderberry,
Elderflower, Red Root, and Tulsi are all great options. (You don't need to use them all, but can pick and choose depending on what's available.) These plants will not only heal
the sore throat, but also boost your immune system to give you a leg-up on
getter better quickly. I also add a few drops of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00028QAVS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00028QAVS&linkCode=as2&tag=moonflmusing-20%22%3EDesert%20Essence%20Organic%20Tea%20Tree%20Oil,%200.5%20Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moonflmusing-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00028QAVS%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Tea Tree oil</a> for added
antiseptic qualities, and stir in a bit of honey to sweeten the deal. It’s as
simple as that--all you need is a small spray bottle, and you can take this
handy throat spray with you everywhere. </div>
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For herbs to boost your mood and help you breathe easy,<br />
<a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2014/01/best-herbal-remedies-for-winter-part-two.html" target="_blank">click here for Part Two</a>! </div>
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</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-90905710680960998912013-09-25T15:39:00.000-05:002013-09-27T14:18:59.486-05:00Spilanthes--The Best of Buds for Toothache<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6lIjXaCHKnVdUgLNq9sKnCiGB_5ImsnG5846boHRBTLzhdLBMUhX_BC4uN1WA-GtK8dM9uavhqGoj1nkrhroX-lJ9oSgRI-ZVgVuLrLGU7QzF6uq21Jl4e1CGBJoL82t-IKwgwfns7g/s1600/Spilanthes+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6lIjXaCHKnVdUgLNq9sKnCiGB_5ImsnG5846boHRBTLzhdLBMUhX_BC4uN1WA-GtK8dM9uavhqGoj1nkrhroX-lJ9oSgRI-ZVgVuLrLGU7QzF6uq21Jl4e1CGBJoL82t-IKwgwfns7g/s400/Spilanthes+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Spilanthes is a small plant, growing only about a foot tall under the best conditions, with small composite flowers of red and yellow that resemble tiny targets. But this unassuming little herb packs a hefty punch. <b>It lives up to its common name Toothache Plant as one of the best remedies for this painful problem. </b>Toothaches are awful--they disrupt everyday functions like eating and speaking, and they typically stem from an infection, which can become quite serious. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A Taste Sensation</div>
<br />
I discovered Spilanthes at a class taught by herbalist <a href="http://www.virtuesofhealing.com/education/faculty/" target="_blank">Tyler Wauters</a> during my <a href="http://www.herb-pharm.com/herbaculture.html" target="_blank">internship with Herb Pharm</a>. Tyler passed around the small dried flower buds, encouraging us to taste them. But <b>when it comes to Spilanthes, it's not so much a taste as it is a sensation--or rather, an explosion.</b> Your mouth becomes a fireworks display as the intense tingling sensation takes over, followed by numbness. But it's not unpleasant--actually it's pretty fun. As one class member said, "It is dancing inside my mouth!" Others have compared it to Pop Rocks candy. Oddly, it also makes water taste colder somehow, even for a while after you've swallowed the flower.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDx9FR7NBF8gjJktzvdhaYzT8CyscbGBrLJcLcynuDnd6ni7vuYgA09X8f6tD2SYNwzw1ki_7gdn8N1DHx4a3Jr8Ydcv5cKkOJRnOWNkoxZkSK66jS5Hw7KnihO4VpcURZLLSeQznNNWw/s1600/Mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDx9FR7NBF8gjJktzvdhaYzT8CyscbGBrLJcLcynuDnd6ni7vuYgA09X8f6tD2SYNwzw1ki_7gdn8N1DHx4a3Jr8Ydcv5cKkOJRnOWNkoxZkSK66jS5Hw7KnihO4VpcURZLLSeQznNNWw/s320/Mouth.png" width="320" /></a>The only drawback is when you bite off more than you can chew--if you get a particularly strong bud, it becomes a little hard to talk. I've had instances where my swallowing reflex gets going, so that's all I can do for about 30 seconds. If this happens to you during your herbal adventures, do not panic. It will pass shortly. Just don't pop in a bud right before a speaking engagement, and you'll be fine.<br />
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In fact, my only real regret with Spilanthes is not learning about it sooner. Years ago, I suffered through at least one sleepless night dealing with a massive toothache, which in all likelihood could have been nipped in the bud by Spilanthes. Even now, these flowers are my best buds, helping immensely with a couple of wisdom teeth that need to come out. As soon as I get a hint of trouble, I pop in a flower. Sometimes I even sleep with a bud in my mouth. (It's kind of an odd reverse tooth fairy ritual, I suppose.) <br />
<br />
In all seriousness, Spilanthes is a powerful gift from Gaia. The beauty of this plant is that its medicinal effects go way beyond dulling the ache. While it tingles you into an ecstatic state, Spilanthes is also working to clean the bacteria from your mouth, including infected teeth. I like to keep a packet of dried flowers in my purse and chew one or two after meals.<b> Think of it as nature's toothbrush. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWkZiFT1bPVr6UX45J3PbESp1_meRndZoU_KBsWH0DNKwAhoqcwmWkrQW-J4wWEe9gwIrOt44PBnMs0AkTPWHfMM3l14I_MjsN7qTRDLVqK4uBqLm-_o1AI94vlQ4aI18DtcX0St_MXQ/s1600/Spilanthes+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWkZiFT1bPVr6UX45J3PbESp1_meRndZoU_KBsWH0DNKwAhoqcwmWkrQW-J4wWEe9gwIrOt44PBnMs0AkTPWHfMM3l14I_MjsN7qTRDLVqK4uBqLm-_o1AI94vlQ4aI18DtcX0St_MXQ/s400/Spilanthes+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Spilanthes flowers are also a fun way to engage people in herbalism. The experience is unforgettable, so it's a great teaching tool. Just watching the facial expressions as people munch one of these buds down is really entertaining. Anyone who expresses doubt about the power of herbs can often be silenced by a single flower. And what's more, you're actually doing that person a favor, because Spilanthes is super good for you--even if you don't have a toothache.<br />
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But Wait, There's More!</div>
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The Spilanthes plant isn't just nature's toothbrush and a party favor--it treats a whole host of other ailments as well. Spilanthes helps <b>all manner of oral issues</b>, from stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth) and sore throats to dry mouth (as it also boosts saliva production). The tincture can be diluted to tolerance and used as a cleansing mouthwash or gargle. <br />
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If you've ever gotten a good dose of potent Echinacea tincture, then you know the tingling sensation it produces. Spilanthes has similar compounds, which <b>boost the immune system</b> while making you tingle. (Seriously, how many conventional cold medicines do that?) So, it's a good idea to use this plant any time you feel like you're getting a cold and also throughout the year as prevention. As an antibacterial, it can be used as a general infection fighter, both internally and externally. Due to its <b>anti-fungal and anti-viral properties</b>, Spilanthes also battles candida, thrush, herpes, and cold sores. It is even effective on ringworm and athlete's foot. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA_6OC7Lo-yAmqtjQ0fmqO7HMtOaE0zUY9J9oUQ6ZDBYS7rIRbbD1BvNSREWUjXXijwZH-sLMsOYhWg9ChjXZ-vWF1jF6j2JX-95_33pwpGincHPGa6A74pL5jHQAcGgMP4zVdGQrX08/s1600/Biceps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA_6OC7Lo-yAmqtjQ0fmqO7HMtOaE0zUY9J9oUQ6ZDBYS7rIRbbD1BvNSREWUjXXijwZH-sLMsOYhWg9ChjXZ-vWF1jF6j2JX-95_33pwpGincHPGa6A74pL5jHQAcGgMP4zVdGQrX08/s320/Biceps.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AArtsy_biceps.jpg" target="_blank">By ~ggvic~ via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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This herb also <b>enhances the digestion</b>, which is another good reason to take it after meals. In some cultures, Spilanthes is used as a food or spice. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked into dishes such as soups. In recent years, the flowers (sometimes called Szechuan buttons or electric buttons by the food industry) have been used in the United States as a flavor-enhancer for <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/02/AR2007100200464.html" target="_blank">competitive chefs</a> and <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101304548&ft=1&f=1007" target="_blank">gourmet restaurants</a>. <br />
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Growing and Harvesting</div>
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The entire Spilanthes plant, from root to flower, has medicinal value. Even better, it's fairly easy to grow in the garden. Spilanthes is a perennial in its native tropical environments, but in temperate zones it can be grown as an annual. Give it good soil and plenty of sunlight, and water it regularly. Once its blossoms appear, they are like the gift that keeps on giving. You can pinch the buds off periodically, and they keep growing back right up until it frosts. The flowers tend to lose their potency after about a year in storage, so it's best to grow this plant every year if possible. <br />
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My preferred method is to get a few good flower harvests in over the course of the summer, and then tincture the entire plant while the leaves are still verdant and juicy. That way, I have both tincture and flowers in my apothecary throughout the year. When I finally got around to making Spilanthes tincture this year, I was amazed that after a while of chopping the plant matter, my hands were tingling. Up until that point, I'd thought the sensation was confined to the mouth. Try it for yourself--it's amazing stuff!<br />
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Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-58445793714378353722013-07-31T15:05:00.001-05:002019-06-09T06:45:56.736-05:007 Herbs for Protection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi5S2OXY-8JA-8H5hpWzVy9iyBZyfAmgiAAaBX4e55fkcOy-GRWkJqROmjlPcEyXKf9U6NgHp2SdJBtnQ7Bu4_Gul8GGHoBQewQtSzAIExOhSQPtuFsnbJwJr4JZRkhKMEe8qJ5oTK3A/s1600/Jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi5S2OXY-8JA-8H5hpWzVy9iyBZyfAmgiAAaBX4e55fkcOy-GRWkJqROmjlPcEyXKf9U6NgHp2SdJBtnQ7Bu4_Gul8GGHoBQewQtSzAIExOhSQPtuFsnbJwJr4JZRkhKMEe8qJ5oTK3A/s1600/Jesus.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric art by <a href="http://www.pennysisto.com/" target="_blank">Penny Sisto</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Is it just me, or does life seem crazier than ever? Nearly
everyone I know is going through some sort of upheaval, transformation, or opening. As the energy shifts and more people awaken to
their higher senses, the need arises for greater protection. Let’s face
it—being sensitive is both a gift and a challenge.<br />
<br />
Refined senses reflect
deeper intuition and inner guidance, as well as increased appreciation for the
wonder of life. Yet, sensitive people struggle the most in what can feel like a coarse and troubled world. The more people who manage to stay
balanced and grounded through this transition, the better our world will become. To assist with this process, I'd like to share some of my
favorite herbs for protection. These powerful plants have protective qualities that operate on both practical and spiritual levels.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">St. John’s Wort</b></div>
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<![endif]-->Most popular for its use in treating depression and anxiety,
St. John’s Wort (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hypericum perforatum</i>)
blooms around the summer solstice and holds the energy of the sun. Pick a leaf
and hold up it to the sun, and you will see light shining through tiny little
holes perforating the surface (hence the species name <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">perforatum</i>). This signature points to the plant’s ability to illuminate
solutions and help us see the light in any given situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ7KuV2BP6Wj51bxexhmiwSBeyJYzTjY-_PhOvAm8_L3ThMHu8c-43sLdtcle3H8_9SFpXjQ7SJ-MxsBOYlc_VJ52b-ffjgmm3FkzSWTiErnTS-JCbXUoLBO5ML9QdVvNmPhtGIr5zA0/s1600/St+John%27s+Wort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ7KuV2BP6Wj51bxexhmiwSBeyJYzTjY-_PhOvAm8_L3ThMHu8c-43sLdtcle3H8_9SFpXjQ7SJ-MxsBOYlc_VJ52b-ffjgmm3FkzSWTiErnTS-JCbXUoLBO5ML9QdVvNmPhtGIr5zA0/s1600/St+John's+Wort.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
St. John’s Wort has protective qualities that have been
elucidated through folklore. During the Middle Ages, it was highly regarded as
a means of protection against demons and dark magic. It is interesting to
consider today’s modern use of the plant as a remedy for depression in this
context. For treating mild to moderate depression, I recommend a tincture, which is
especially helpful for wintertime blues. St. John's Wort will bring sunshine into
one’s being during the darkest, gloomiest days of winter. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP4by-bpKs92wW8DQSL33BApHIgTTgS983IQzUMw5z8e9fL_gbt8AZs-Tbbbl4l0wA12L3KFn9MCiBTc262moQazXptsopMi04S286f4yl7dItCliOn_TMg9HityrJLc92fknam7KJjE/s1600/St+John%27s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP4by-bpKs92wW8DQSL33BApHIgTTgS983IQzUMw5z8e9fL_gbt8AZs-Tbbbl4l0wA12L3KFn9MCiBTc262moQazXptsopMi04S286f4yl7dItCliOn_TMg9HityrJLc92fknam7KJjE/s1600/St+John's.jpg" width="320" /></a>While the plant is steeped in masculine energy, its sunny
blooms create a blood-red oil or tincture when prepared. This points to its
affinity for women and the menstrual cycle. Women can use St. John’s Wort oil
externally for protection during the moon cycle, which is both a time of
heightened intuition as well as energetic vulnerability. In fact, it can be
used by anyone for protection against overly coarse or aggressive energies. The
plant spirit is very chivalrous, like a golden knight who seeks to protect the
feminine side within us all. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Garlic</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This plant’s legendary status as a vampire-repellant is our
first clue to the plant's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i>protective
qualities. Garlic (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Allium sativum) </i>is one of the best natural antibiotics, used in World War
I to treat and prevent infection of battle wounds. The cloves can be taken
internally (especially raw--they don't taste as bad as you think) to treat all
infections, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and other cold symptoms. Eating
Garlic regularly in meals contributes to overall good health, and, as a root
vegetable, helps keep us grounded. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0_CIPLq3wzSd3e3DWsz-Upsa3p4Lout5VSeouIfrHBTS7Ftlo4_2h7YY0EcF4iAJC2PB6p_DEOaJ1cZHw-hzzIPV1Iu6nIsiSwSG6iP7aIAcWpEvNtgRT6quG_0pPullNaY24ty7yX0/s1600/Garlic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0_CIPLq3wzSd3e3DWsz-Upsa3p4Lout5VSeouIfrHBTS7Ftlo4_2h7YY0EcF4iAJC2PB6p_DEOaJ1cZHw-hzzIPV1Iu6nIsiSwSG6iP7aIAcWpEvNtgRT6quG_0pPullNaY24ty7yX0/s1600/Garlic.jpg" width="320" /></a>Garlic <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-flower-essences.html" target="_blank">flower essence</a> also has protective qualities. According
to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flower Essence Repertory, </i>it
is helpful for those who tend to be “fearful, weak or easily influenced, [or]
prone to low vitality.” Garlic’s association with vampires is interesting,
given its physical use as a remedy for parasites. The flower essence can
be even used to protect those with a tendency for parasitic or viral infection.
The<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Flower Essence Repertory </i>goes as far to say that Garlic essence treats cases in which “there is a
characteristic vacancy in the eyes and paleness of features, with the
impression that soul-color and vitality is being drained or siphoned.” It’s as
if the spirit of Garlic repels any form of vampirism--any person, parasite, or predicament
that would feed off of us and reduce our vitality. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wood Betony</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqH0jVKFIxcUisgFWrkW1yb-dXS1EjMox458zECySdPSuMbvb7qS4xEgDywcohY_0Q1N2clbbFKEVKbCiE1hy1m7MhRUkloe7ueS48dete_eeiBPkHep2hb7qLIo3B0wvIqZNs4zyb5Q/s1600/Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqH0jVKFIxcUisgFWrkW1yb-dXS1EjMox458zECySdPSuMbvb7qS4xEgDywcohY_0Q1N2clbbFKEVKbCiE1hy1m7MhRUkloe7ueS48dete_eeiBPkHep2hb7qLIo3B0wvIqZNs4zyb5Q/s1600/Dragon.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
Like St. John’s Wort, Wood Betony (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stachys officinalis</i>) has a history of use for protection against
evil spirits. In the first century AD, Pliny the Elder recounted folk tales in
which the leaves of the plant could be used to drive serpents insane, causing
them to kill themselves. Whether literally true or not, this account provides a
metaphor for battling dark forces of all kinds. Saint Hildegard of Bingen
suggested Wood Betony as a means of warding off bad dreams and unwanted love
spells. In the 1500s, Rychard Banckes wrote that the plant prevented “monstrous
nocturnal visitors.” Interestingly, in modern times Matthew Wood has found this
herb to be a useful remedy for those who suffer from unwanted alien abductions.
Though he doesn’t seem to exactly believe in the phenomenon, he can’t ignore his own
case histories. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNFkHmjdUxb0HO67HqppmmXzfijl60yWx-BdSxyyW9dHGMH4TTESzuMXz9-jYDrKmRbcUJ1xUNABSAGtAvhYVUnEI8GPHMRv-IBewpvwLflYT61y_crf9UamO6WmOFjYBqPn7cKP2HlU/s1600/Wood+Betony+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNFkHmjdUxb0HO67HqppmmXzfijl60yWx-BdSxyyW9dHGMH4TTESzuMXz9-jYDrKmRbcUJ1xUNABSAGtAvhYVUnEI8GPHMRv-IBewpvwLflYT61y_crf9UamO6WmOFjYBqPn7cKP2HlU/s1600/Wood+Betony+2.jpg" width="240" /></a>Wood Betony is great for grounding; it soothes the nervous
system to promote peace and calm. Wood praises the plant as a superb
solar-plexus remedy, improving gut-level instincts and intuition. A strong solar
plexus also provides self-esteem and willpower, which can protect us from unwanted
influences of all kinds, from addiction to bad dreams</div>
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I carry Wood Betony with me when I travel, for more than one
reason. Not only does it provide spiritual protection from all kinds of
entities and invisible forces, but it also has a practical application. The
leaves strengthen the entire digestive system and can be used to settle the
stomach in cases of heartburn, indigestion, and gas. It also treats food
poisoning, so it’s great to have any time you must eat a meal of lesser
quality, like that crappy restaurant on the interstate. I carry it in tincture form for practical medicine, and regularly pick a few leaves to keep
in my car as a protective talisman.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxpsjAiFZixx8XsA6O9EXy45VMnJ88xhVR5xe9MmRe6GO9hoFYIgHweheZvrAcC8DJn5LABBpZUrAg7vEuovqAG5ZBxstfmDqUPjtccVi6IjJuCS7T1vYfCXSfROaIt9zHvIkonBwqNo/s1600/Archangel+Michael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxpsjAiFZixx8XsA6O9EXy45VMnJ88xhVR5xe9MmRe6GO9hoFYIgHweheZvrAcC8DJn5LABBpZUrAg7vEuovqAG5ZBxstfmDqUPjtccVi6IjJuCS7T1vYfCXSfROaIt9zHvIkonBwqNo/s1600/Archangel+Michael.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archangel Michael</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yarrow</b></div>
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Yarrow (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Achillea
millefolium) </i>is great for empathic people who tend to absorb energy and negativity
from others. The <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-flower-essences.html" target="_blank">flower essence </a>is used to balance sensitive individuals with
porous energy fields, who are able to pick up the "vibes" of others
easily. While this is the gift of natural healers and clairvoyants, these
sensitive souls can also become depleted by external energies. They are often
subject to extreme levels of empathy and merging with others, so they may have
difficulty deciphering which feelings are their own. </div>
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According to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flower
Essence Repertory</i>, “Yarrow literally ‘knits together’ the overly porous
aura of such an individual so that it does not ‘bleed’ so excessively into its
environment.” This energetic property of Yarrow translates directly into the
physical world as its ability to quickly staunch bleeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, it is one of the top herbs
to have on hand for first aid. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdpHaw6_wN_Nc_vU9ehrVxNDd-y2RkOEwcuq1c8ccv6oKN_7Hejz9T6J22II6nI-KNMFPWMvFFD6KEo0BXXkIhg59spY4qucKawoo20CisLbUV4d0xHBoo8iacmdOfDG1vlYyk47vXWU/s1600/Yarrow+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdpHaw6_wN_Nc_vU9ehrVxNDd-y2RkOEwcuq1c8ccv6oKN_7Hejz9T6J22II6nI-KNMFPWMvFFD6KEo0BXXkIhg59spY4qucKawoo20CisLbUV4d0xHBoo8iacmdOfDG1vlYyk47vXWU/s1600/Yarrow+Flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Interestingly, Matthew Wood has found that Yarrow also acts “in a deeper, magical fashion” to actually prevent such
accidents. He recommends that accident-prone people place a sprig of Yarrow in
such places as a toolbox or automobile. “This sends the message
that accidents are not welcome. One sprig in the spring and one in the fall is
a good measure,” he explains in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Book
of Herbal Wisdom</i>. For more information on Yarrow, see <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/01/yarrow-remedy-for-wounded-healer.html" target="_blank">my previous post</a>.</div>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pine</b></div>
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Growing in many different parts of the world, there are
numerous species of Pines (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pinus spp.)</i>, all of which have similar physical properties. They help
sustain life in perilous times, due to their edible inner bark and foliage as
well as Vitamin C content. Cambium, the soft, white inner bark, can be scraped
off and eaten raw or cooked. The needles can be steeped for a highly nutritious
tea, or nibbled during the spring when they are very young and tender. Pine also
has a variety of medicinal uses, such as disinfecting wounds and treating cold
and flu. <br />
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Pine is connected to the second chakra, and helps to heal
damage in this area. The second chakra governs creativity of all kinds,
artistic and sexual, and is a very sensitive energy center. Pine’s metaphysical
sap can salve wounds to the creative center, especially those which manifest in
jealousy or envy. It can also provide protection from unwanted influences that
dampen your creative fire. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnJjU1N7OyscSrzpKvHLVWPw3P9Ly_WKj_WGs0pb9PDVL6ZyFXKAxnajcFbE2pDCnVwMK7is56FhIgD7FNmQk0-IoGKQB2Lv8ADA-8fUEG5TqznYhRzLxN-pvmwCtQZviSs9b4jJs3mA/s1600/Pine+Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnJjU1N7OyscSrzpKvHLVWPw3P9Ly_WKj_WGs0pb9PDVL6ZyFXKAxnajcFbE2pDCnVwMK7is56FhIgD7FNmQk0-IoGKQB2Lv8ADA-8fUEG5TqznYhRzLxN-pvmwCtQZviSs9b4jJs3mA/s1600/Pine+Winter.jpg" width="320" /></a>I first connected with the Pine plant spirit right before a
breakup. From my current vantage point years later, I can see that Pine showed up to help me through
that process, providing the strength and protection of positive masculine energy when I needed it the most. Pine also helps us tap into our intuitive abilities. After all, intuition and protection go hand in hand,
providing discernment so we can avoid future negativity. You can connect with
Pine by sitting with a tree (try climbing one--it's fun!) or making a tea from the needles.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Agrimony & Cinquefoil</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinquefoil</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cinquefoil (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Potentilla
recta</i>) has a long-standing reputation for providing protection from those
who wish to meddle in our lives, thwart our efforts, or otherwise use manipulation against us. The leaves give the appearance of a hand reaching
out to block and protect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to
Matthew Wood in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Book of Herbal Wisdom</i>,
“Cinquefoil was used [in folk medicine] to protect people against meddling, interference, and
witchcraft.” He also points to using Agrimony (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agrimonia eupatoria</i>) for the same purpose: “More often than any
other remedy I am familiar with, Agrimony changes the environment around people
who are taking it.”</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agrimony Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Agrimony flower essence is useful for people who hide behind
a smiling or comical face, masking deep stress and restlessness. Finding it hard
to express their feelings, they may turn to drugs or alcohol to bury them. Wood
uses the remedy for someone who is “ ‘caught in a bind’ as if he or she is in
the wrong place at the wrong time, unable to do the right thing, go with the
flow, or be a good person. Often the problem revolves around the work
situation.” </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kuJX0aXH4Whduw7zmiZZ1L7I_Fzd3pxKgtoJx_qXLgHpYHYPSLv44s64eBelnn-5mhuCYaRCQfj2fSzVv1fPUa9SoVA74ty1st_vjtesazO7AGi0Un0HS0IAMBc6rqwwSXLmp3KNbA/s1600/Agrimony+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kuJX0aXH4Whduw7zmiZZ1L7I_Fzd3pxKgtoJx_qXLgHpYHYPSLv44s64eBelnn-5mhuCYaRCQfj2fSzVv1fPUa9SoVA74ty1st_vjtesazO7AGi0Un0HS0IAMBc6rqwwSXLmp3KNbA/s1600/Agrimony+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agrimony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have used both Cinquefoil and Agrimony leaf as a means of protection against meddling and manipulation. Depending on the situation, you can place a leaf under your pillow, on your desk or under your computer keyboard at work, in your wallet, or on an altar. Both are good plants to ask for help any time you feel negative energy deliberately being sent your way. </span><br />
<br /></div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-25283899619101058972013-06-30T13:33:00.000-05:002015-01-27T15:27:44.335-06:00How to Make Flower Essences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd8uyEkrXK0NpCSxYcQDQIdEmPPAzuwlfUT4BpBY7YAruKp1NuPaarsZdGwWP0lZaLGPGuGZeyxl_VneQO4H71uUmjfEK6Qimm0TbtttuSsP-XctzaofVZ1dGhAFlynVN_eJUYngHR0s/s1600/Flower+Essences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd8uyEkrXK0NpCSxYcQDQIdEmPPAzuwlfUT4BpBY7YAruKp1NuPaarsZdGwWP0lZaLGPGuGZeyxl_VneQO4H71uUmjfEK6Qimm0TbtttuSsP-XctzaofVZ1dGhAFlynVN_eJUYngHR0s/s1600/Flower+Essences.jpg" height="167" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<![endif]--><i>These remedies cure, not by
attacking disease, but by flooding our bodies with the beautiful vibrations of
our Higher Nature, in the presence of which disease melts as snow in the
sunshine</i>.
<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>-Dr.
Edward Bach<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZbm9-I2PpUhAw9ph7yS15Ehpgg8Te3xS8yXGq2TSuC4CPUPudwleAU_siQjPPIqRuYsEVSjncHEdrhyn4_zb8kiPX9147m7WYYJ57JUyjVDlxgQyDe4DEvo9t_fw5dap_PRYHyydaZA/s1600/Monkshood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZbm9-I2PpUhAw9ph7yS15Ehpgg8Te3xS8yXGq2TSuC4CPUPudwleAU_siQjPPIqRuYsEVSjncHEdrhyn4_zb8kiPX9147m7WYYJ57JUyjVDlxgQyDe4DEvo9t_fw5dap_PRYHyydaZA/s1600/Monkshood.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkshood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Flowers have long been the subject of contemplation
and adoration. While gazing into a flower, one glimpses the divine mystery of
life. Vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances are one of the blessings of
creation. Flowers are given as gifts to express love, friendship, celebration,
and sympathy. As the highest expression of a plant, they also represent our
highest potential as people. <b>Flowers symbolize individuality—our ability to blossom with unique gifts, talents, and personality traits. </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YlMoBSNpMaipq6kniW5TusDNtVMEE05cFyDAPYeQLGkLfI6mukESEKK8mIVZGZcUeZun85Prs-NHrXQbrjDJ1tL0ilR7EQf4rm7M245lz_HIIWlec6WupkoIGgw1yvhgVzsZ1dASVNM/s1600/Cactus+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YlMoBSNpMaipq6kniW5TusDNtVMEE05cFyDAPYeQLGkLfI6mukESEKK8mIVZGZcUeZun85Prs-NHrXQbrjDJ1tL0ilR7EQf4rm7M245lz_HIIWlec6WupkoIGgw1yvhgVzsZ1dASVNM/s1600/Cactus+Flower.jpg" height="320" width="181" /></a><br />
This sentiment is shared by many. Eckhart
Tolle speculates that flowers have played a major role in the development of human
consciousness. As he points out in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A New
Earth</i>, “Flowers were most likely the first thing they [humans] came to
value that had no utilitarian purpose for them, that is to say, was not linked
in some way to survival. They provided inspiration to countless artists, poets,
and mystics. Jesus tells us to contemplate the flowers and learn from them how
to live. The Buddha is said to have given a ‘silent sermon’ once during which
he held up a flower and gazed at it.”</div>
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In their book <i>Flower Therapy, </i>Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves discuss the healing power of
flowers: “Mother Nature is a healer, and one of her most powerful gifts comes
in the form of flowers…As Heaven’s masterpieces, flowers are Divine vessels of
healing.” For each flower in the book, Virtue lists one or more archangels that
work with and through these blessed blooms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ss1fSBgTucte5lri18uLjOnmi8iui7VhD6Y4OLyVdSfjjv5_jcK9d2f-dK8gQMgOZpfHHOnrmFk9j10SsqMCdT4YoSrLnSTJwslmUeTGeFWgCrC-GxPyq7GONsRgPWpry3v7PobiDUw/s1600/Echinacea+Feilds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ss1fSBgTucte5lri18uLjOnmi8iui7VhD6Y4OLyVdSfjjv5_jcK9d2f-dK8gQMgOZpfHHOnrmFk9j10SsqMCdT4YoSrLnSTJwslmUeTGeFWgCrC-GxPyq7GONsRgPWpry3v7PobiDUw/s1600/Echinacea+Feilds.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echinacea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are Flower Essences?</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Wild Rose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Flower essences are homeopathic herbal medicines that carry
the subtle vibration of individual flowers for emotional, spiritual, and
psychological healing.</b> For example, the beloved Rose is a flower rich with
ancient symbolism. Giving roses to express our heart’s affection is no random
act; a flower essence of California Wild Rose opens the heart chakra,
dispelling apathy and allowing us to give ourselves more fully to our vocation
and relationships. Another example is <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Yarrow</a>, a specific remedy for
environmentally-sensitive people who need added protection. By
energetically knitting any gaps in the aura, Yarrow helps one face the
outside world with stronger personal energy. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pbf1wQPcq7IF_HjMCoAxGvu_eFvxgFbOXZm0V1SRDiUpCGYTDFRfOFnITKz0I-XOwzSDEwdRvfT8Hi6mdujoLwycdoFjlxccG6YkjxYhUY12yywLxPRRuhOKZOhQoGNaL59eWklc7Oc/s1600/Lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pbf1wQPcq7IF_HjMCoAxGvu_eFvxgFbOXZm0V1SRDiUpCGYTDFRfOFnITKz0I-XOwzSDEwdRvfT8Hi6mdujoLwycdoFjlxccG6YkjxYhUY12yywLxPRRuhOKZOhQoGNaL59eWklc7Oc/s1600/Lavender.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Western history tells us that flower essences were originally developed
in the 1930s by the visionary Dr. Edward Bach, who believed flowers possessed a
plant’s greatest spiritual virtue. However, Aboriginal people of Australia were
crafting flower remedies long before that. Some believe that flower essences
have still more ancient origins in the lost civilization of Atlantis.<br />
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One of the benefits of working with flower essences is that
you can use any beloved bloom, whether it is medicinal, ornamental, or
even poisonous. This is because the final essence contains very little of the actual
plant matter, and instead delivers a tiny, homeopathic dose which works on an
energetic level. Flower essences allow access to plants that might otherwise
elude all but the most expert herbalists, witches, and shamans. This is how I
work with Datura (also called Moonflower), a magical but deadly psychoactive
plant that has roots in ancient mystical rituals. Because the flower essence is
so diluted, I experience no hallucinations or ill effects, but I do get to
connect with the plant’s energy and personality. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4SrN5JLX6WGdyw_Ocmv7ORB3PpRvftreNwYvZ_QFQIxuYfB7P0R7vvt4ynZ56bysd4k1nKsH7TG8Oo6sl7VlceGA6EKChg8sw4Cgl2ieumsLaQA4hu82EziZxjtHbddePVyfAtBP0Do/s1080/Datura+Cover+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4SrN5JLX6WGdyw_Ocmv7ORB3PpRvftreNwYvZ_QFQIxuYfB7P0R7vvt4ynZ56bysd4k1nKsH7TG8Oo6sl7VlceGA6EKChg8sw4Cgl2ieumsLaQA4hu82EziZxjtHbddePVyfAtBP0Do/s1080/Datura+Cover+Photo.jpg" height="218" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Datura</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On a personal level, flower essences were my very first
experience with herbal medicine. My mom has used them since I was a child, and
I recall sitting with her many years ago and talking about a problem I
had. I couldn’t say no to anyone, and I often ended up
doing things I didn’t like or giving away favorite possessions. She tested me
for flower essences using a pendulum (see technique below) and made up a blend
for me. Within weeks, I was better at standing up for myself. This is just one
example of many issues and tendencies that flower essences can heal. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Creating Flower Essences</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JJY0kRevDotBbKUVCI5VL_t9FGqrbzXW0rmEy1S8NLJeILpw7ph65KG36rPbP2fwogeL-_1XAyer47gRbKMAEARNW2U0UUmBZJXyloOKNriyuyieQo_azSSslYGxb9TbRFIz9kcJqdg/s1600/Pine+Buds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JJY0kRevDotBbKUVCI5VL_t9FGqrbzXW0rmEy1S8NLJeILpw7ph65KG36rPbP2fwogeL-_1XAyer47gRbKMAEARNW2U0UUmBZJXyloOKNriyuyieQo_azSSslYGxb9TbRFIz9kcJqdg/s1600/Pine+Buds.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Making your own essences is a highly rewarding process.
Flower essences are very subtle, so learning how to tune into these energies can
be a life-long journey. The more you develop relationships with plants founded
on respect and reverence, the deeper your capacity will be to accept the
multi-layered teachings of our green allies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3y_yV4xgdCtAQxJPA4ZKngGEkezVNF6yVznBRMn7hpUbf-tUi3lpaELicQEJHfCF6jyyUl9tTtLZTqrUwWszQ8PQmwTWBZy8Vs8Hz6rJ86ZhT-2CQ0IvS0Qlfw73cLgKpPfdxGOi-UA/s1600/St+John%27s+Wort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3y_yV4xgdCtAQxJPA4ZKngGEkezVNF6yVznBRMn7hpUbf-tUi3lpaELicQEJHfCF6jyyUl9tTtLZTqrUwWszQ8PQmwTWBZy8Vs8Hz6rJ86ZhT-2CQ0IvS0Qlfw73cLgKpPfdxGOi-UA/s1600/St+John's+Wort.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Wort</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Take a walk in the woods, mountains, or meadow to discover
which flower catches your eye. Sit with your floral friend for a while, and
quiet your mind. As you meditate, notice any impressions or messages that come
to you. Notice the color of the flower; does it relate to a specific chakra?
Does the plant itself remind you of anything? Notice where it grows, and see if the environment relates to a particular life situation. If you had to guess, what healing
gifts would this flower essence give? When you find a plant you connect with,
gather one or more of the most pristine blossoms you can find. Offer gratitude
for what you’ve taken; say a prayer, sing a song, or leave an offering. This is
part of the ceremony, so do whatever feels good to you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Place these flowers in a small container of purified water. You need very little of the mother essence to create a lifetime of flower essences, so think small. I like to use tiny glass cups, bowls, or shot glasses. Keep in mind that anything written on the glass can imprint on the essence, so it's best to choose something plain. Leave the container in the sunshine for a few
hours, until the flowers have faded. Remove the flowers and preserve the water
by adding an equal amount of brandy. This is called the mother essence.
Following the homeopathic tradition, it is now time to dilute.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2MbfTI8my_gtVzM7vDGlhLx5ie2SaOxXkG-hIKFJL1bdw5FrTYUwHEnBBufw-zteA0rODz6uQiyDZxbAbfI4-6DUffnLNsNXka8SC-iWUe7Xl7OhDh12_YDihbxylxyNh1gmsC9OJkQ/s1600/Making+Flower+Essences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2MbfTI8my_gtVzM7vDGlhLx5ie2SaOxXkG-hIKFJL1bdw5FrTYUwHEnBBufw-zteA0rODz6uQiyDZxbAbfI4-6DUffnLNsNXka8SC-iWUe7Xl7OhDh12_YDihbxylxyNh1gmsC9OJkQ/s1600/Making+Flower+Essences.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower Essence Altar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To create stock flower essences, add only two drops of the
mother essence into another one-ounce dropper bottle, and fill with equal parts
water and brandy. Cap it tightly and shake vigorously, hitting the bottle
against the palm of your hand many times to potentize the medicine. This is
an important step that gives you time to set intentions for this flower essence. This is your chance to ask the flower for healing, give the
essence Reiki, or otherwise energize the medicine.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnLMvPq_gm6Pq-Dyda8uzw6d5BrNkpVMCnwlkI807VVx87d5nzH4kQdBMp5CNOgY8u6zrWPpu5w_PWM6jEgE1hj0fn7RxeBc7kVoApvQG7DfWiklXiTKq9ULZo_U9fOMbjiQAxiADlx8/s1600/Possibly+Fireweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnLMvPq_gm6Pq-Dyda8uzw6d5BrNkpVMCnwlkI807VVx87d5nzH4kQdBMp5CNOgY8u6zrWPpu5w_PWM6jEgE1hj0fn7RxeBc7kVoApvQG7DfWiklXiTKq9ULZo_U9fOMbjiQAxiADlx8/s1600/Possibly+Fireweed.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Paintbrush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Repeat the process, taking drops from the stock essence and
adding them to another dropper bottle. Fill with equal parts water and brandy, and
potentize the bottle by shaking. This bottle now contains the medicine water
that you will use. To create a blend of essence, add four drops of each stock
essence to the medicine water bottle. It is best to shake the medicine water at
least a few times before each use, as well. Take four drops, up to four times a
day. You can take the drops directly under the tongue, or add to water. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Using Flower Essences</b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWmE33glginMpHrUfhr3K6G8IcLZ7o7PqrteFRpWRCw9Gt8X1R5m7OzMrQ4n34meeX1s9Z1hffT09NXyNILQTqwHzf1mrSOivF_OXBqf_f-Vkydd4EuhVnkrOpbGDpY401VXBcxNUre4/s1600/Passionflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWmE33glginMpHrUfhr3K6G8IcLZ7o7PqrteFRpWRCw9Gt8X1R5m7OzMrQ4n34meeX1s9Z1hffT09NXyNILQTqwHzf1mrSOivF_OXBqf_f-Vkydd4EuhVnkrOpbGDpY401VXBcxNUre4/s1600/Passionflower.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passionflower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To learn what each essence has been used for, it is helpful to
read up on Dr. Bach’s 38 flower remedies. He was a true visionary of his time,
and he outlines each plant deeply. Since then, the Flower Essence Society has
created a line of essences that is expanded to include many other flowers.
They published Richard Katz and Patricia Kaminski’s book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Flower Essence Repertory, </i>which profiles numerous flowers to
help you determine how to use your essence. Matthew Wood is an herbalist who often uses flower essences and homeopathic doses of plants. His writings illuminate the personalities and signatures of each plant, so his books are well worth a look. I also recommend Doreen Virtue’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flower Therapy </i>book for further guidance
and inspiration. Of course, only you can feel how each flower
resonates with your own energy. Cultivate connections with the plants, and ask for
insight into what they can help you heal. Trust your intuition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadENZVcEimwXWlT4TttVAbZNlRh1T-S_gL8GYdw1g2ZG3cuITjYJu9Jb_SjUICZssLUjGIBoEhONbObj8UnE-PafaQTrSa8XrXLgX3CAmcFUXj7DjHoN_aFJaB13vxMY_6q28yDZy6wo/s1600/Wood+Betony+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadENZVcEimwXWlT4TttVAbZNlRh1T-S_gL8GYdw1g2ZG3cuITjYJu9Jb_SjUICZssLUjGIBoEhONbObj8UnE-PafaQTrSa8XrXLgX3CAmcFUXj7DjHoN_aFJaB13vxMY_6q28yDZy6wo/s1600/Wood+Betony+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Betony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another method of choosing flower essences is to use a pendulum. (See my <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html" target="_blank">previous entry</a> and scroll down for more information on pendulums.) Hold the pendulum over each bottle of essence, preferably with the label
obscured from view to keep your mind from making the decision. Ask for a yes or
no answer to determine if you need the essence. By using
divination, you may discover a need for remedies that differ from what you would have picked out. This is especially useful when creating a blend for yourself, as we
are sometimes blind to our own psychological tendencies. It is recommended to
blend only two to four essences at a time, to avoid muddying up and confusing
their specific actions. </div>
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Flower essences are for those who desire to experience the spiritual essence and energy of a plant. All matter is a form of energy, so
treating our energetic nature can ultimately heal on the material level. While
these high-vibration remedies are subtle, the changes that unfold can be
profound. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pt2byb2WH96jYTepRehx2GtEmnebzPsqnFotfdNAR7WJ1pk0dio8mt4qORnn8okcKyrql9JSKbC5yOH4Qk5nbVaH0CwNCx28MUgPcm22u0wCiWJqp7dBSdhgA04CKqIF2kKJaGt7-ZE/s1600/Magnolia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pt2byb2WH96jYTepRehx2GtEmnebzPsqnFotfdNAR7WJ1pk0dio8mt4qORnn8okcKyrql9JSKbC5yOH4Qk5nbVaH0CwNCx28MUgPcm22u0wCiWJqp7dBSdhgA04CKqIF2kKJaGt7-ZE/s1600/Magnolia.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnolia</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-54797886805930080662013-04-28T20:05:00.001-05:002017-04-12T16:02:53.068-05:00Weeds are Wealth (Or, Why I Eat Like a Cow) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseuaLr5DRpkWzjlgK5dJO6WiWuCik5NbaZ-bPSyFJpF1B3PGhKN7x1_HtyZH1wgxAT0Vaq3M0rtXixSL0vR2a31XXPG_aLYVfj2zpqMUUBWTOwMs4KHcPaDbwk36Df5zD_N40vuHP11c/s1600/Cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseuaLr5DRpkWzjlgK5dJO6WiWuCik5NbaZ-bPSyFJpF1B3PGhKN7x1_HtyZH1wgxAT0Vaq3M0rtXixSL0vR2a31XXPG_aLYVfj2zpqMUUBWTOwMs4KHcPaDbwk36Df5zD_N40vuHP11c/s1600/Cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABlonde_Aquitaine.jpg" target="_blank">By Myrabella via Wikimedia Commons</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]-->For
those of us who strive for healthy living, grocery shopping can take a sizable
notch out of our pocketbooks. Even store-bought herbs and tinctures can be
cost-prohibitive for many of us—especially those pursuing dreams outside of the
status quo. Folks who are interested in caring for the Earth and her people
find still more expense in sustainable and ethical purchases like fair-trade herbs, spices, and foods.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dzAGlY3AoCUcLS_U_9LWsf79bXd-AFJjkJPVlWyI13kAbei5P094hyphenhyphenR389_BEF1ZoaWsss2nl3zarDfFoikwCezpiRhN_kL7x9hTwEmaHPghz0dksfuyfvovPFk82e_v_Ck0L1gdqKk/s1600/Violet+Basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dzAGlY3AoCUcLS_U_9LWsf79bXd-AFJjkJPVlWyI13kAbei5P094hyphenhyphenR389_BEF1ZoaWsss2nl3zarDfFoikwCezpiRhN_kL7x9hTwEmaHPghz0dksfuyfvovPFk82e_v_Ck0L1gdqKk/s1600/Violet+Basket.jpg" width="213" /></a>While we are busy earning money and balancing our
checkbooks, Mother Nature is also busy. And what does she do all day? <b>Nature
creates an abundance of wild foods and medicines that are just waiting to
nourish us.</b> We walk on these plants in our yards, we weed them from our
gardens, and we generally ignore their existence. As a result, we miss out on
so much wealth which is literally at our feet.<br />
<br />
I have found one sure-fire way to feel abundant under any circumstance, and
that is by connecting with Mother Nature. As a gardener, I appreciate how
honest work can turn into sustenance without the need of a middle man. But even
more joyful is receiving the plentiful gifts that spring up from the ground
unassisted—the wild and wooly world of weeds.<br />
<br />
On a practical level, the more you can eat from nature, the less money you
have to spend at the grocery store. But wild edibles are also valuable in
another way. <b>Regularly consuming a variety of wild plants gives our bodies
optimal nutrition, as they are full of vitamins and minerals in a form that we
can easily assimilate. </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqKFwYfKunDnpgduvO7AJ9_jf8Vkyh43wF-SVNNp5ojZJtDguVr-PgTZQHEzmZ3Y3fY6bq9AXE47SkNDMQdWV5lJXqZ3CaGcovThdoTmOPW1V3pDifz3VQWrsyXuAqIIq8ofck8Zf-G0/s1600/Dandelion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqKFwYfKunDnpgduvO7AJ9_jf8Vkyh43wF-SVNNp5ojZJtDguVr-PgTZQHEzmZ3Y3fY6bq9AXE47SkNDMQdWV5lJXqZ3CaGcovThdoTmOPW1V3pDifz3VQWrsyXuAqIIq8ofck8Zf-G0/s1600/Dandelion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Other general actions of wild edibles include promoting health of the
digestive system, aiding the function of the liver and gall bladder, and
allowing for the efficient removal of waste products from the body. Many
so-called “weeds” have also been used to prevent or even cure major diseases
like cancer. <b>In short, wild plants give us the gift of health, which is
absolutely priceless. </b>I often wonder how much illness and suffering
could be avoided simply by making use of common weeds.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<u>The Meaning of Life</u></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Why do weeds get me so excited? For one, grazing on wild edibles
just feels good. I think my love for this has something to do with being a
Taurus—the sign of the bull. As an earth sign known for a persistent love of
food, this happy little bull once proclaimed at the dinner table (at perhaps
age six or seven), “The meaning of life is food.”<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NIVXbSSanVwt5ae0m1u_zU4sa8pl9Ve8jSRtexMJ3KSe00K7ShwbN3aQ8gs8CUx-YSRbjdE6F6xwh7qqfPxwecvcLDaVR57xzSFOql2fpsM4hK_awSHZsBAoc6KLxLv3SthiYOQV8ts/s1600/Heart+Shaped+Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NIVXbSSanVwt5ae0m1u_zU4sa8pl9Ve8jSRtexMJ3KSe00K7ShwbN3aQ8gs8CUx-YSRbjdE6F6xwh7qqfPxwecvcLDaVR57xzSFOql2fpsM4hK_awSHZsBAoc6KLxLv3SthiYOQV8ts/s1600/Heart+Shaped+Leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a>Although my existential horizons have expanded a bit since then, I still
believe that the essence of food is rich with meaning. <b>The phrase “you are what
you eat” is true in a literal sense</b>—what you consume becomes the very molecules
of your existence. Science tells us that matter is energy condensed into a
tangible form. So, in essence, everything in our world is made up of vibrating
energy. On an intuitive level, it is clear that wild plants carry good vibes,
indeed.<br />
<br />
A professional gardener friend once told me that she could sense a
difference in energy amongst plants. Those that have been cultivated since
antiquity have a kind of browbeaten acceptance of being transplanted, pruned,
and harvested. On the other hand, wild plants have a spunky nature and a
zealous desire to live. If you are what you eat, which would you rather be? I’m
not suggesting that we do away with cultivated foods and grocery stores—that would be silly. But,
I have the distinct feeling that <b>incorporating wild plants into our lives can make
us a little more wild, spunky, and passionate ourselves. </b><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn6COgKQjKLplE8vmX7oS-32CKlyNkbFScCjydC9fme0AeusXriA6InmnvxL3BgyjRprYGIC7a2nNtExBpA_LW3zlp8k5aisDDAVWLEZWYmnJ0hIdyZsbe9WPAZzzfRxBdeMZx3AWCCI/s1600/Blissful+Bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn6COgKQjKLplE8vmX7oS-32CKlyNkbFScCjydC9fme0AeusXriA6InmnvxL3BgyjRprYGIC7a2nNtExBpA_LW3zlp8k5aisDDAVWLEZWYmnJ0hIdyZsbe9WPAZzzfRxBdeMZx3AWCCI/s1600/Blissful+Bee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASynhalonia_on_Phlomis_5.jpg" target="_blank">By GideonPisanty via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Nourishing the Spirit</u></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Eating wild plants is not only nourishing to our bodies, but also to our
untamed human spirit.<b> </b>Harvesting food and medicine from the wild gets us in
touch with our most primal selves. Long before people constructed
sterile, florescent buildings to host plastic bags of food, our ancestors knew what it was to be truly wild--to forage through the
forest in the sacred search for sustenance.<br />
<br />
It is known in the herbal world that wild plants have powerful medicine,
oftentimes more effective than pampered garden plants. The message is clear: nature is what truly nourishes the human spirit. <b>A connection to nature is the
essence of freedom, and this spiritual knowledge still flows through our veins
as a deep urge to reconnect with our primal nature.</b><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<u><b>Three Favorite Spring Weeds</b></u></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Now, let’s get to the practical part of weed-munching. Here, we’ll discuss
three weeds that are currently available in the Midwestern U.S. I might add
that these are common plants also found around the globe, so
international readers might be lucky enough to find these in their backyards,
as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chickweed (<i>Stellaria</i> <i>media</i>)</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY12Zbf5PJRc_Ie0B4kiS8cYnioeaII3665NoQTEa0kC9nLl3_SCQul3i2Uf2TBGREWp9CR-BrMs_MtEVg-wn6vgai-FqS5Id5F6bAsDy99JMwHhExQ7la4bMz2XDHVhT25mQSolebYU/s1600/Chickweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY12Zbf5PJRc_Ie0B4kiS8cYnioeaII3665NoQTEa0kC9nLl3_SCQul3i2Uf2TBGREWp9CR-BrMs_MtEVg-wn6vgai-FqS5Id5F6bAsDy99JMwHhExQ7la4bMz2XDHVhT25mQSolebYU/s1600/Chickweed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
This humble weed grows all over the world, but is quite easy to overlook. With eyes to see, we can spy the green goody that Paracelsus called
"the elixir of life." C<b>hickweed is a healthful addition
to spring salads, providing optimal nutrition while helping us get rid of
excess fat.</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPjTnkEQwn5frcVjmUo9iOMETOA_CFT3X9JweoWWSXacuHBhU2NmlMQlFPGeVhBZjhAu1fqhOBzbTUtFYcu-rEYd4-Oz7h5vP1CJNf2VL4fdL-LByum3FXbkcVZcq96nLTzgagnzNAjw/s1600/Chickweed+in+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPjTnkEQwn5frcVjmUo9iOMETOA_CFT3X9JweoWWSXacuHBhU2NmlMQlFPGeVhBZjhAu1fqhOBzbTUtFYcu-rEYd4-Oz7h5vP1CJNf2VL4fdL-LByum3FXbkcVZcq96nLTzgagnzNAjw/s1600/Chickweed+in+Rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a>The herb likes to grow in gardens and lawns, and can even be found in many
cities. Its genus name <i>Stellaria </i>means “little star.” According to Susun
Weed, who devotes a chapter to Chickweed in her book<i> Healing Wise,</i>
Chickweed connects us to the cosmic forces of the sun, moon, and stars. I find
that since eating Chickweed, my perspective has become more broad and
malleable. <b>Just as the plant can be used as a cooling and healing poultice for
the eyes, Chickweed helps us to see more clearly in general.</b> In particular, I
believe it aligns the microcosm with the macrocosm, so that you can glimpse the
bigger picture in the most humble of circumstances. “To see a world in a grain
of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour,” to borrow the words of William Blake. This
perspective provides a sense of connection with all of life, which is essential
for healing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HnjH8QTv5hUwCVmVhctDIfgVIxdLJ6KLdlqjU1upecdZNbBAEO-IxcGWp77RMcQ_hFFKFuB_x2Z06aOadcsoGvR7jxe082NZvns_WJeauPyBseDv2gNg834Ru9xVn1kXsJwN32lmHBM/s1600/Chickweed+Flower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HnjH8QTv5hUwCVmVhctDIfgVIxdLJ6KLdlqjU1upecdZNbBAEO-IxcGWp77RMcQ_hFFKFuB_x2Z06aOadcsoGvR7jxe082NZvns_WJeauPyBseDv2gNg834Ru9xVn1kXsJwN32lmHBM/s1600/Chickweed+Flower+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The small, white flowers resemble tiny stars. Though they technically have
five petals, these are deeply notched, giving the appearance of ten petals. I’m
including various photos of Chickweed to give you an idea of the different
forms it can take, depending on the soil and location. In poorer soil, the
leaves tend to be much smaller and the plant stays close to the ground. In
garden beds or compost piles, the leaves can grow quite large and the plants get
much taller. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1aF5QidD533-m73-6fhzXdimVIsBLvaYSYV7tPhP32PlUr4oR7_8WTBGYNEejrHaXlkkyWE6MOJNGJAbk6nFRhSU_AsrjTm8FvhUmz0kkkKGXGO7R7q0nrbjR7VQ5KB-9nLNbsQcpNY/s1600/Chickweed+&+Lettuce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1aF5QidD533-m73-6fhzXdimVIsBLvaYSYV7tPhP32PlUr4oR7_8WTBGYNEejrHaXlkkyWE6MOJNGJAbk6nFRhSU_AsrjTm8FvhUmz0kkkKGXGO7R7q0nrbjR7VQ5KB-9nLNbsQcpNY/s1600/Chickweed+&+Lettuce.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickweed & Lettuce</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This tasty little herb makes for a delicious and nutritious salad, or a
handy wild snack while working in the garden. The taste reminds me of
kale, except milder and with no hint of bitterness. It was the dominant weed of
the winter lettuce patch in my greenhouse this year, which made it rather
convenient to put into salads. <b>Chock full of
protein, vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, silica, and many other vitamins
and minerals, Chickweed also promotes the absorption of nutrients by thinning
cell membranes</b>. This makes for good medicine when treating those with anemia or
malnourishment, or anyone who is recovering from illness or surgery.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WRFwYGOZqxJqjU0wJbkaabcRZRvFRm3LnRLd-RQH2Ag3I3W7z4oGYV6XOeE9rSM8MSybP-aIesk9m7Yvo68SbE75M-U7Dj7t9qy7T4DT1foybgUCaxyoIUr18k-RYBwDwdxUqwxhhVI/s1600/Chickweed+Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WRFwYGOZqxJqjU0wJbkaabcRZRvFRm3LnRLd-RQH2Ag3I3W7z4oGYV6XOeE9rSM8MSybP-aIesk9m7Yvo68SbE75M-U7Dj7t9qy7T4DT1foybgUCaxyoIUr18k-RYBwDwdxUqwxhhVI/s1600/Chickweed+Leaves.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opposite Leaves </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As a medicinal, Chickweed has a great many uses. <b>Its cooling effects help
clear away fever, infection, and inflammation.</b> It can be used for rheumatism,
gout, and stiff joints. A poultice of the fresh plant is useful for all
kinds of injuries, from insect stings to blisters. The fact that this plant grows everywhere makes it a
convenient remedy.<br />
<br />
According to Susun Weed, <b>Chickweed can heal reproductive cysts and improve
thyroid function when eaten regularly.</b> It also is thought to promote weight
loss. Did you hear me? This plant is an old-time remedy for weight loss. The
plant contains saponins, soap-like components that are responsible for
dissolving excess fat from our system. It’s also been discussed as a means of
reducing cellulite and cholesterol. And as Weed says, Chickweed also helps
remove emotional baggage, which is “weight loss where it counts!”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MAlxu7vxyjX-hI8LlBF7qyUQSFkSK4qsbpHbuJkm7Q9uXAcFNCsPoPjEVADIlNkPnTBxsTTZ9YU_iyQkOxUez0_v06JeOcSKznptDJDqd4GodtJZwXK5DC7GC5KY0v7zAXF_S0LGX_w/s1600/Chickweed+in+Winter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MAlxu7vxyjX-hI8LlBF7qyUQSFkSK4qsbpHbuJkm7Q9uXAcFNCsPoPjEVADIlNkPnTBxsTTZ9YU_iyQkOxUez0_v06JeOcSKznptDJDqd4GodtJZwXK5DC7GC5KY0v7zAXF_S0LGX_w/s1600/Chickweed+in+Winter.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It is important to note that <b>Chickweed is the most potent when eaten fresh.</b> My advice is to eat as much as you can before the plant
goes out of season in the hot weather. Even now, local folks are more likely to
find good specimens in shady and moist places. You can also make a tincture of
the fresh plant for year-round use. I even came across a lovely
<a href="http://www.learningherbs.com/chickweed_pesto.html" target="_blank">Chickweed Pesto recipe</a>, which could be frozen for future use.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<b>Violet (<i>Viola spp.</i>)</b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX1WXcfaTi6mjVONbsnslKU3dEQ5XphcLlDXz0_KOxgZt2_7TZiTcRIdtbkT1pprJYtqxu5InWFDe8voGurSpQyWAmP7eoTl5gvqHBIfu9PgXH27YbtZAq1IsPIuiMC8yh7bRTTuV0W0/s1600/Violet+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX1WXcfaTi6mjVONbsnslKU3dEQ5XphcLlDXz0_KOxgZt2_7TZiTcRIdtbkT1pprJYtqxu5InWFDe8voGurSpQyWAmP7eoTl5gvqHBIfu9PgXH27YbtZAq1IsPIuiMC8yh7bRTTuV0W0/s1600/Violet+Flowers.jpg" width="240" /></a>Hundreds of Violet species are found across the globe, with a concentration
in temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Of the genus <i>Viola, </i>two
species are most commonly used in Western Medicine: Sweet Violet (<i>Viola
odorata) </i>and Wild Pansy (<i>Viola tricolor), </i>also known as Heartsease<i>.
</i>Sweet Violet syrup is an age-old preparation for coughs and colds. <b>A
cooling remedy, Violet lowers fever and also cools a burning mind or heart.</b><br />
<br />
Universally, Violet is understood as a humble and even shy plant spirit. She
grows very low to the ground and produces small, edible flowers and
heart-shaped leaves. And yet, her sweet and unassuming nature does not mean
that she lacks potency or power. Here is what Nicholas Culpeper, a 17th century
herbalist, has to say about Violet:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SNs0EZHIrq8HyX7_rkiW6qQdVZzjO-QIClx0aLrDGx2VpraP9b3OBksingGSMjotivgsjKpdkgtv3jN7coVH0TefMAbtwGgWcljroP6ZK1zokfFNIYsCQn2MeLwXuKtA7XEHj2tTdgs/s1600/Violet+Side+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SNs0EZHIrq8HyX7_rkiW6qQdVZzjO-QIClx0aLrDGx2VpraP9b3OBksingGSMjotivgsjKpdkgtv3jN7coVH0TefMAbtwGgWcljroP6ZK1zokfFNIYsCQn2MeLwXuKtA7XEHj2tTdgs/s1600/Violet+Side+View.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: purple;">“It is a fine pleasing plant of Venus, of a mild
nature and no way hurtful. All the Violets are cold and moist, while they are
fresh and green, and are used to cool any heat or distemperature of the body,
either inwardly or outwardly, as the inflammation in the eyes, to drink the
decoction of the leaves and flowers made with water or wine, or to apply them
poultice wise to the grieved places; it likewise easeth pains in the head
caused through want of sleep…”</span><br />
<br />
<b>The leaves and flowers are used for skin problems such as eczema, seborrhea,
hives, or cradle cap in babies.</b> It is worthwhile to try this plant externally
in the form of a poultice, salve, hair rinse, or <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2012/12/bath-tea-infuse-yourself.html" target="_blank">bath tea</a>. But to be clear, a
holistic approach to healing recognizes that skin problems are symptoms of an
internal imbalance. While making a poultice or an infusion for external use may
help, be sure to consume the plant at the same time for the best results. The
flowers and leaves are edible and mild, and can be added to salads or munched
on whenever you happen upon them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hr1GWWhxsqd_jQPEkKIL5ED6g1TeMuCk_Mmpsdw_SOyPTQ0qNz-8-UQY4AvRdmkT3vPGeb2AGSGkFNsfBhF9tf54YpnkHzO9nmpv7ulT0LLmwPHYTpIp_onMKAqkvbhGI4KapQbch0M/s1600/Violet+Close+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Hr1GWWhxsqd_jQPEkKIL5ED6g1TeMuCk_Mmpsdw_SOyPTQ0qNz-8-UQY4AvRdmkT3vPGeb2AGSGkFNsfBhF9tf54YpnkHzO9nmpv7ulT0LLmwPHYTpIp_onMKAqkvbhGI4KapQbch0M/s1600/Violet+Close+Up.jpg" width="240" /></a>The <i>PDR for Herbal Medicines </i>lists Violet as<b> a remedy for
constipation, </b>which I must say does not surprise me. The plant is very mucilaginous—which
in plain English means slimy. I recently made a tincture of this plant, and
noticed that before I was even ready to cap it, the water/alcohol mixture was
already turning thick and slippery. No doubt it will help restore slipperiness
to the digestive system as well!<br />
<br />
<b>The plant can also heal cysts and tumors of the female reproductive system.
According to Susun Weed, Violet has a special affinity for the breasts:</b> “She
likes to smooth things out when there are fibrous cysts, lumps, infections, or
growths, including cancers, in the breasts.”<br />
<br />
<b>A flower essence of Violet can be used to alleviate shyness and help us open
up to others.</b> After all, homeopathy states that like treats like, so it makes
sense that the shy personality of Violet would help others overcome the same
issue. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flower Essence Repertory</i> recommends
Violet for those who “long to share themselves with others, but usually hold
back due to a feeling of fragility in group situations.”<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj656kGdNNRUP3rwzz_MkTc7bPIKGvHJPDt1VpeqH1E_0jCV4NboSpXoD6OaWxpAl8DxIKL7aJNJm4NLNdeJ7YIU5OEi5umhfa_xVuuiGnuBWXN2pE_klXS-W7dCQgT-87YWkdKoJVxBYU/s1600/Violet+Bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj656kGdNNRUP3rwzz_MkTc7bPIKGvHJPDt1VpeqH1E_0jCV4NboSpXoD6OaWxpAl8DxIKL7aJNJm4NLNdeJ7YIU5OEi5umhfa_xVuuiGnuBWXN2pE_klXS-W7dCQgT-87YWkdKoJVxBYU/s1600/Violet+Bed.jpg" width="320" /></a>I find that while Violet certainly helps with shyness, she
also provides another valuable service, <b>helping us discern <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">when and with whom</i> to share ourselves. </b>A curious quality of the
plant gives us a clue: Violet creates two kinds of flowers—the colorful ones we
know and love, and camouflaged flowers for self-pollinated seed production.
This ensures the plant’s survival, even when we humans collect the purple
flowers for salads and medicine. Plus, Violet flowers can be prepared as a
litmus test for the soil, helping to determine its alkalinity. Taken together,
the message is one of discernment, reminding us to use our hearts as a kind of
litmus test to know to when and where it is safe to open up.</div>
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Dandelion (<i>Taraxacum officinale</i>)</b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMDHLl8ez-B53IUgpxIbNXIJzP5aOXE6daTlTvoLXDjfwToIir6eyPhUtfeK0ApPvPIzeiOBTs-GQjy0vZpUBeyT6grvPM0nBdKCRsTNvrCxJ7EOyQuXDPe7DYyq-MV46cg8DpyoJJy0/s1600/Dandy+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMDHLl8ez-B53IUgpxIbNXIJzP5aOXE6daTlTvoLXDjfwToIir6eyPhUtfeK0ApPvPIzeiOBTs-GQjy0vZpUBeyT6grvPM0nBdKCRsTNvrCxJ7EOyQuXDPe7DYyq-MV46cg8DpyoJJy0/s1600/Dandy+Flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Although Dandelion is a well-known plant, it is not always a popular one.
Many folks spend quite a bit of energy eradicating these plants from their
lawns and gardens. In fact, Dandelion seems to be the poster child for
weed-killing sprays and chemicals. Ironically, <b>this herb is of great benefit to
the liver, which helps us to detoxify our bodies from the myriad chemicals we
encounter in today’s world. </b>Every part of the plant—root, leaves, blossoms and
sap—can be used as food and medicine. With the widespread use of toxic
substances in our society, it is no wonder that Dandelion appears abundantly
under our feet as a healing gift from the Earth. </div>
</div>
<br />
It is best to harvest Dandelion roots in the fall—springtime is for eating
the leaves. They can be quite bitter, so it is best to gather the leaves from a
plant before it blooms. You can also cook the greens in a couple changes of
water to dispel the bitter taste. But Dandelion’s bitterness is part of its
healing action as a tonic for the digestive system. According to Susun Weed,
<b>Dandelion leaves increase hydrochloric acid in the stomach, making our
digestion strong and ensuring good calcium absorption. As a diuretic, Dandelion
is also good for the urinary tract, treating kidney and bladder issues.</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3ZqxdlsBvnuGtMBjDQMzdw2u0HiRFz0y5n4CA1qUNnNZEYsOA_UF-yG8E1BbiU3Z2u2S54d1IjXHrawOt8nc60G-wSVMKk50atMjOuYr_iWszJc2L13vPSLeuRSE6fYKXD5JuCURXRs/s1600/Dandy+Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3ZqxdlsBvnuGtMBjDQMzdw2u0HiRFz0y5n4CA1qUNnNZEYsOA_UF-yG8E1BbiU3Z2u2S54d1IjXHrawOt8nc60G-wSVMKk50atMjOuYr_iWszJc2L13vPSLeuRSE6fYKXD5JuCURXRs/s1600/Dandy+Leaves.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b>Dandelion works to improve liver function,</b> and can be used to treat stagnant
conditions like gallstones and jaundice. So many different symptoms and
conditions can be traced back to the liver—everything from skin problems to
fatigue. With all of the environmental pollutants and chemicals sprayed on food
these days, it’s a good idea to take Dandelion from time to time to help our
livers process the high volume of toxins. While the leaves do help the
liver, Dandelion root is really the main liver ally—so, remember to dig some up
this fall!<br />
<br />
Let’s not forget Dandelion flowers, which certainly are abundant this time
of year. Susun Weed uses<b> the blooms as a natural beautifier for clear skin.</b> She
recommends steeping them in hot water for an hour and then placing the blossoms
right on your face as you lie down for ten minutes. Then, rinse with the infusion
and do not rinse. For a quicker application, you can also boil them in pot of
water for a healing facial steam. This is a remedy for all kinds of
imperfections, from chapped skin and age spots to freckles and sunburn. Dandelion
flowers can also be made into wine or drunk as a nice tea.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKqDeOhvP-K7cf1-CXbpX5oekma5d9doEVmFR02-99_zji-lBOrrERuAMkwkCbmhjyyELlnRevuOEdbvEKWCgadc6fkpafkpDhj4fmgCWowciRLuDAHjAeorbECEqMv7uDV2HjNcNqak/s1600/Dandy+Seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKqDeOhvP-K7cf1-CXbpX5oekma5d9doEVmFR02-99_zji-lBOrrERuAMkwkCbmhjyyELlnRevuOEdbvEKWCgadc6fkpafkpDhj4fmgCWowciRLuDAHjAeorbECEqMv7uDV2HjNcNqak/s1600/Dandy+Seeds.jpg" width="240" /></a>Dandelion’s ability to grow just about anywhere, even in the crack of a
sidewalk, is a testament to this plant’s tenacious personality. Its taproot
gathers nutrients from deep within the soil and holds on to life even when the
entire upper portion of the plant is destroyed. <b>The yellow blooms carry the
energy of the solar plexus, the center of our will-power.</b><br />
<br />
According to the <i>Flower Essence Repertory, </i>Dandelion flower essence
helps to ease muscle tension in over-striving “doers” to promote “dynamic,
effortless energy.” I find it interesting that we blow away the fluffy seeds of
Dandelion to make wishes. Though we live in a very action-oriented society,
intention alone can have powerful effects on manifesting our reality. To me,
<b>the plant is a reminder to balance action with intention in order to manifest
our goals.</b><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Eat Like a Cow</u></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Why do I eat like a cow? I graze on wild medicinals for health, wealth, and
happiness. <b>By using the plants that already grow around us, we take advantage
of Nature’s inherent abundance</b>. We have talked about only three common edible
plants—but just imagine how much your health might improve if you began using
them regularly. In order to derive the maximum benefit, medicinal plants that
are mild enough to be eaten should be consumed over a long period of
time. I suggest really getting to know these plants deeply—you won’t be
disappointed. Along with health benefits, you might find yourself feeling a bit
wild.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nYB_Y50UJvu_er-HX1lN3Os1NW-xw8jYPkHYIOeiPEssXeEHPXgutKoKL5Jk7m_gL7O34Hqu8shMt39ZCA7ttPsDM9TppUFFkxGi813-KfcSHeErw5GlxNLxAcNwtKmEo4b8KQREtxU/s1600/Horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nYB_Y50UJvu_er-HX1lN3Os1NW-xw8jYPkHYIOeiPEssXeEHPXgutKoKL5Jk7m_gL7O34Hqu8shMt39ZCA7ttPsDM9TppUFFkxGi813-KfcSHeErw5GlxNLxAcNwtKmEo4b8KQREtxU/s1600/Horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMisaki-uma.jpg" target="_blank">By JKT-c via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eating weeds is also a pleasantly humbling practice. Many wild edibles grow
close to the ground, requiring you to stoop down and collect the leaves and
flowers under your feet. But don’t think of it as a chore—it’s more like an
Easter egg hunt. I like to tune into my inner cow, to move slowly with my eyes
trained on the ground, munching on all the yummy things in my path. Or, if you
prefer, you could be the strong and sturdy horse who gallops from the pasture
with a green grin. In any case, grazing on the goodness of wild plants is a healthy practice for soothing your beastly burdens. Happy Grazing!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]-->“If they would eat Nettles
in March and Mugwort in May, so many fine maidens would not go to the clay.”
–Funeral song of a Scottish mermaid</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
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As 16<sup>th</sup> century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper noted,
Nettle is easily recognizable even in the dark. Why? Also called Stinging
Nettle, this plant has hairs that can sting the skin, causing itching,
tingling, or burning sensations. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Luckily, its healing properties far
outweigh the sting, which is eliminated by drying or cooking.</b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr1TZj_6eUYnDrCHXsQyPelqIEjPj5cuDFZGZyR6PuPL4Bsq_0E1R02X16z05_OKrzXgLDQehKeZAbLBXclgdKiTWxeY94s6tOZVjOUR_iYMj4MbZNJsQL5AEliwJXjUz_tMzjomDiig/s1600/By+Robert+Reisman+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr1TZj_6eUYnDrCHXsQyPelqIEjPj5cuDFZGZyR6PuPL4Bsq_0E1R02X16z05_OKrzXgLDQehKeZAbLBXclgdKiTWxeY94s6tOZVjOUR_iYMj4MbZNJsQL5AEliwJXjUz_tMzjomDiig/s1600/By+Robert+Reisman+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Robert Reisman via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nettle is a great
tonic for the entire body. </b>This nutrient-dense plant makes a tasty food
that increases energy and nourishes the hair, skin, digestive tract, liver,
gallbladder, and prostate. Nettle likes to grow in moist areas, and has a
special affinity for the waterways of the body—the circulatory, lymphatic, and
urinary systems. All parts of the plant are useful—leaves, stalks, seeds, and
roots. In fact, the sting itself can be healing under certain circumstances. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Learning to Pay
Attention</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaXEScXXurTLRQ6bwmPFluZOsYvHYF3kDLICyPma43NsQsyrkbR8C_RPhE0T_4zYjyihXIEMVcQk1ylI-8z1gg9zwV2fiQEZ6YaKfgY4256_xpkMow8p_ZeBt5OmDQweSf2uH1jkfzAE/s1600/Japanese+Plant+Spirit-1780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaXEScXXurTLRQ6bwmPFluZOsYvHYF3kDLICyPma43NsQsyrkbR8C_RPhE0T_4zYjyihXIEMVcQk1ylI-8z1gg9zwV2fiQEZ6YaKfgY4256_xpkMow8p_ZeBt5OmDQweSf2uH1jkfzAE/s1600/Japanese+Plant+Spirit-1780.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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Without a doubt, one thing that every rash-inducing plant
asks us to do is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pay attention. </i>So
often, we trudge through life as a constant series of things to do, without
care for the present moment. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Synchronicities,
messages, and opportunities for growth are all around us—we just have to pay
attention.</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both Susun Weed and Rosemary Gladstar can pick Stinging
Nettle with bare hands. How do they do this? “If you approach it wisely,
quietly, and with respect, you can pick the plant with your bare hands….It is
like a delicate balance between the plant and the harvester,” says Rosemary
Gladstar in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herbal Healing for Women</i>.
This suggests that Nettle only stings when she’s trying to wake us up. Perhaps it
is a signal that we’re moving too quickly, that we’ve bypassed something
important, or that we haven’t been paying due attention to what truly nourishes
us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotyaorr_Yi4x2TRhfHKTMZYymFFNfD0SoAamM1wpUDjKPtxUrLlF5KvMHa68iNcMZi1WI47NdB9BI58oNAsE3QNpI7KTAN1JaFXLmgjmSJJsQ7_0nntvHLMY-i9hvBE5Dbd8dYuhVy4k/s1600/Stinging+Nettle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotyaorr_Yi4x2TRhfHKTMZYymFFNfD0SoAamM1wpUDjKPtxUrLlF5KvMHa68iNcMZi1WI47NdB9BI58oNAsE3QNpI7KTAN1JaFXLmgjmSJJsQ7_0nntvHLMY-i9hvBE5Dbd8dYuhVy4k/s1600/Stinging+Nettle.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>The uncomfortable sting of Nettle is also capable of great
healing. The ancient remedy of lashing arthritic joints with stalks of the fresh
plant has long since fallen out of popular practice. Admittedly, it seems a bit medieval
in today’s pill-popping culture. But for those who want to ease the deep
inflammation of gout or arthritis, the formic acid of the stinging hairs can
help. Nettle has even been used to reawaken sensation and movement in limbs
after serious injury. </div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Stimulating Movement</u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HEwONUvZe8sMBq3jt4aEI26MApGHUqA2MsTyHtq7LspAzMK855Xq0fXItaYQF4qcCj3mDIl1SSWxETobx0nMwLaqDc__pb7aFaGy9-pcSvyVH23tsyzhG8DepzGXNYtFS22ynSYJLV4/s1600/Girl_with_Broom_in_Doorway_Champney_1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HEwONUvZe8sMBq3jt4aEI26MApGHUqA2MsTyHtq7LspAzMK855Xq0fXItaYQF4qcCj3mDIl1SSWxETobx0nMwLaqDc__pb7aFaGy9-pcSvyVH23tsyzhG8DepzGXNYtFS22ynSYJLV4/s1600/Girl_with_Broom_in_Doorway_Champney_1882.jpg" height="320" width="168" /></a>Matthew Wood visualizes this plant spirit as an older woman
with a broom or switch who urges people to get moving. Indeed, Nettle is a
stimulating remedy that removes stagnation, toning and nourishing the entire
body. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A powerful kidney ally, this
diuretic can help in cases of kidney or bladder stones and chronic urinary
tract infections.</b> Nettle also promotes the flow of breast milk, and is a
great plant to be consumed before, during, and after pregnancy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This nutritive herb contains more protein than any other
plant native to temperate climates. Because Nettle is perennial, it’s a
rewarding plant to grow, providing a delicious harvest year after year with
little work. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The tender young stalks and
leaves can be steamed and eaten daily for added minerals, vitamins, and amino
acids.</b> They are mild and tasty on their own, but also work well in soups. The
nutrients are readily available to our bodies, easily absorbed into the fluid
system: the blood, lymph, hormones and neurotransmitters. Nettle is not only
brain food, but also supports the function of the immune, circulatory,
endocrine, nervous, and urinary systems. Nettle even nourishes the garden,
useful as a compost additive or an infusion fed to plants. </div>
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So, we see that spirit of Nettle is not as harsh as she may
seem—she doesn’t just swat your backside into action. She gives you a solid
foundation of nourishment and added energy to boost you into proper form. </div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>But Wait, There’s
More!</u></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17QM4tArC5AxPGYgOHWK7vEsaD7daYV4O_zA5GTdkF2hQ-I0yJKLC2B0y1cEfK9GAZyxXWLoiBaGj1LKcpFC32EoDB85uQfkfwPyfnFe1G3LZyLV2SS91YLTjMB2iUra5LFsGIjU46EU/s1600/By+Sannse+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17QM4tArC5AxPGYgOHWK7vEsaD7daYV4O_zA5GTdkF2hQ-I0yJKLC2B0y1cEfK9GAZyxXWLoiBaGj1LKcpFC32EoDB85uQfkfwPyfnFe1G3LZyLV2SS91YLTjMB2iUra5LFsGIjU46EU/s1600/By+Sannse+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Sannse via Wikimedia Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Another important
action of Nettle is allergy and hay fever relief.</b> Eating or making tea from
the fresh plant is best while in season, but you can preserve the harvest
year-round by drying the leaves or creating a tincture. This is a rare case in
which I will also recommend capsules, especially for those without access to a
live plant. Specifically, freeze-dried Nettle leaf has been shown to reduce allergy
symptoms. While a few rare individuals may have allergic reactions to
Nettle—try it in a low dose at first—most people can consume as much as they
want long-term. In fact, this plant is useful for recovery from enduring
illnesses, such as Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtKyxb1g4hgmBg6xfxB3mLhP4MTVwUu2nEwlxDq5l7iuzO6HA2tWhawFQwRARuppwHRnwlDtCCBb-GLjbu5P6eoeJ8bEegnrXHXJ7CjmEmQM-UZenZrnbR0b8J6et3aS57FVSxv4EE8/s1600/Female_wet_hair_strands_face_turned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtKyxb1g4hgmBg6xfxB3mLhP4MTVwUu2nEwlxDq5l7iuzO6HA2tWhawFQwRARuppwHRnwlDtCCBb-GLjbu5P6eoeJ8bEegnrXHXJ7CjmEmQM-UZenZrnbR0b8J6et3aS57FVSxv4EE8/s1600/Female_wet_hair_strands_face_turned.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Monik Markus via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nettle is also a
wonderful remedy for the hair, skin and nails, both internally as a food and
medicine, as well as externally.</b> You can infuse the antiseptic leaves for a
hair rinse to improve scalp conditions and promote vibrant hair. Infusions can
also be used as a facial steam to treat acne or other skin conditions. Also, Nettle
root tincture is rubbed onto the scalp to heal dandruff. For the best results,
take Nettle internally while also using these external treatments.</div>
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The list of Nettle’s healing properties goes on and on.
Regular consumption assists the liver and gallbladder, acting as a gentle
laxative and digestive tonic. Nettle seeds can be eaten to stimulate and
support the thyroid gland. The herb also strengthens the respiratory system,
and can clear infection when inhaled as a steam. As a hemostatic, it can be
used to staunch bleeding and hemorrhaging. For men, Nettle root decoction or
tincture can serve as a prostate tonic; herbalist<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>and author James Green recommends it for benign prostatic
enlargement. </div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Spinning New
Connections</u></div>
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<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLXb5peO9vbYS8oArx0YH9ENTxR8QrkY7IgTs0508PBxxhpV4GfJcVQcmyNmJfD5g5tH45H0xGd3SDWG6LaB7avjhrfj4ui91s5fG3ozZPmWkQf3k54XmVILVTp6iXAykLXFsGIwQ0Co/s1600/8-29-11+285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLXb5peO9vbYS8oArx0YH9ENTxR8QrkY7IgTs0508PBxxhpV4GfJcVQcmyNmJfD5g5tH45H0xGd3SDWG6LaB7avjhrfj4ui91s5fG3ozZPmWkQf3k54XmVILVTp6iXAykLXFsGIwQ0Co/s1600/8-29-11+285.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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As if we would ask any more from a single plant, Nettle’s
fibers can be spun into extremely strong cordage and fabric which surpasses the
test of time. 2,000-year old exhumed graves have revealed intact clothing made
from Nettle fiber. This speaks to Nettle’s astounding strength, which she uses
to jolt our energy into action. Her sharp edges can do wonders to remove
stagnation from our bodies and our lives. Susun Weed sees Nettle as “sister spinster,” who “cuts loose old
patterns and reweaves connections.” </div>
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To me, the spirit of Nettle has spider-like qualities. It is
true that she can bite if we aren’t paying attention, but she teaches the
ability to weave a strong web of possibility by remaining open and receptive to
the signs around us. The fabric of reality is a vast web of interconnected
energy, which can speak to us in various ways. Nettle reminds us to stay alert
for any signs of movement that can lead to deeper forms of nourishment. </div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-35142088521618432262013-02-13T17:58:00.000-06:002016-07-13T20:23:12.763-05:00Herbocalypse Now: Herbalism as Activism in a Shifting World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<![endif]--><i>This article first appeared in Plant Healer Magazine, Winter 2012. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknJNBPLN7HU_QrYVnLH5p-zPzHA9V7CSrPKtAT1PF13u99cjo1teEorEHGuIA9PRarTy4FFCUV0jV8CVTi6E5mH20cRKGYhzB7xGPrVdWudFO4fRe-69k5zX7PWBPEnuhuh-tEVizz9Q/s1600/Echinacea+pupurea+in+home+garden..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknJNBPLN7HU_QrYVnLH5p-zPzHA9V7CSrPKtAT1PF13u99cjo1teEorEHGuIA9PRarTy4FFCUV0jV8CVTi6E5mH20cRKGYhzB7xGPrVdWudFO4fRe-69k5zX7PWBPEnuhuh-tEVizz9Q/s1600/Echinacea+pupurea+in+home+garden..jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“You never change things by
fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that
makes the existing model obsolete.” –Buckminster Fuller </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In tribal times, humankind
depended on nature and community for survival. People grew and gathered their
own food and medicine, and traded goods and services within a local network. This
system provided security against personal hardship by ensuring that everyone
would be cared for, despite illness or injury. Each person of a tribe carried
traditional knowledge, passed down through generations, about survival. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Current System</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPKGTwRL-_i5ci1gZ1T4Xk2i0D8dnh91W29v0w3doAVgIQNgljhtP6cyNlp0JVhaBOIS9hRFgraprdsffmKXtqBJoe25WobhURmPSraipcaXnRiilpizbuIhpuaMor2IrGATOxGnt588/s1600/Tribal+Painting+by+Albert+Eckhout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPKGTwRL-_i5ci1gZ1T4Xk2i0D8dnh91W29v0w3doAVgIQNgljhtP6cyNlp0JVhaBOIS9hRFgraprdsffmKXtqBJoe25WobhURmPSraipcaXnRiilpizbuIhpuaMor2IrGATOxGnt588/s1600/Tribal+Painting+by+Albert+Eckhout.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Tribal life stands in stark
contrast to the modern world in which we live today. Most people are far
removed from basic survival skills such as growing food or wildcrafting
medicine. This separation from nature is also a severance from our personal
power. In today’s world, we give away our power to people who already have
plenty. The majority work in jobs making more money for the global elite than
for themselves. We slave away for a system that cares neither for our wellbeing
nor the health of our planetary organism. In the process, we lose the basic
knowledge that would free us from this system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There is no doubt about it;
we live in troubled times. The current economic, political, and social systems
are in a state of flux. More and more people are waking up to the idea that
these systems no longer serve us or the planet. While big business runs the
show, we watch as our natural resources dwindle. Meanwhile, the system that claims
to improve our lives leaves many of us ill, unhappy, and in debt. Toxins wreak
havoc on the environment and our bodies, and the stress of holding down
multiple jobs to stay afloat causes us to accrue medical bills that we cannot
pay. It’s a vicious cycle.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GblHjOXOtLXxk0OmTUsJI-seQAocbtHGc5D2M-EJOF0OQ111Ee4hqSHuifmMt3kun90Wx3cWqtSc24gtJJIXOo_4Y4Pozx6zLOhLa2iO5YLUUsAtjc9As6rJsCkE41FxRIAmv6Wanls/s1600/Oil-spill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil Spill Clean-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">On top of this is the
instability of the system upon which we’ve come to depend. While I do not
subscribe to doomsday prophecy, I must admit that we are precariously balanced.
By polluting and ravaging our environment, we have pitted ourselves against
nature. And yet, the power of Mother Nature could easily throw our fragile
systems for a loop. Aside from resources such as oil and clean water becoming increasingly
scarce, natural disaster would be quite an eye-opening experience for those who
take our unsustainable lifestyle for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Economic collapse is another
scenario that many analysts foresee. Some compare the United States’ current
situation to that of the Soviet Union before its major collapse twenty years
ago. The vulnerability of our system is something that the elite would like to
keep cloaked in secrecy. If the masses are numbed into complacency, then they
remain stuck within that system, accruing resources for big banks and corporate
honchos.</span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Pharmaceutical Companies: The Good, the Bad, and the
Ugly</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDYl21w0lMgBvPDTfVfxuz4i1vTaRgwa4bRIYzIrAHHHkrQZ4wkbTil11TAHRJk2XR15zGDMLTH_IX5egBbkf1fb9iIZSSsHjmcBas-NWUwt8tGeqUP7AsM8TAh-31aW3oqLVwbNF4M4/s1600/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDYl21w0lMgBvPDTfVfxuz4i1vTaRgwa4bRIYzIrAHHHkrQZ4wkbTil11TAHRJk2XR15zGDMLTH_IX5egBbkf1fb9iIZSSsHjmcBas-NWUwt8tGeqUP7AsM8TAh-31aW3oqLVwbNF4M4/s1600/USCurrency_Federal_Reserve.jpg" width="245" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Dependence upon
pharmaceuticals is a huge part of the problem. In 1997, the FDA allowed for
direct-to-consumer advertising of drugs to American citizens via the mass media
in a way that did not require equal time for the discussion of a drug’s risks
or side-effects. This has popularized the television commercials that promote
drugs for erectile dysfunction or depression. These companies profit from
making us feel sick or imbalanced, so that they can “fix” us. They
sensationalize and perpetuate disease for their own gain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">To be fair, sometimes
pharmaceuticals can be a life-saver. The advent of the modern medical system
has increased our collective lifespan as a species. But the commercialization
and overuse of synthetic drugs has myriad negative consequences. For one, the
production of synthetic drugs has toxic effects on the environment.
Pharmaceutical drugs often end up in water supplies. This unholy brew is then
absorbed by marine wildlife such as fish and frogs, soaked up in our crops, or
drunk by humans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The synthetic nature of
pharmaceuticals also has toxic effects on our bodies. While many drugs are
inspired by plants, creating test-tube copies of herbal compounds is no
substitute. Humans and plants have co-evolved for millennia and are well-suited
to one another. Synthetic drugs have far more side-effects than plants as a
whole, and the damage done can outweigh the benefits.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_PbIJhFbx_kYoOWl2wK2MsCr0kTQfuwA3TrnJsYU2Kj7_bv6xyso5y41otS8kg_Bptt4fD61hcqF4fYCOaNyDMEOUzZhDFbt8IpsmFiLiUxdjdWSvMXty-IyeW8bV-28Q6CeuQDeST4/s1600/PIlls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_PbIJhFbx_kYoOWl2wK2MsCr0kTQfuwA3TrnJsYU2Kj7_bv6xyso5y41otS8kg_Bptt4fD61hcqF4fYCOaNyDMEOUzZhDFbt8IpsmFiLiUxdjdWSvMXty-IyeW8bV-28Q6CeuQDeST4/s1600/PIlls.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Perhaps the ugliest
ramification of the pharmaceutical empire is the effect on our consciousness.
When we allow these companies to monopolize our health, we stay locked within a
victim mentality. We feel like hapless sufferers of an illness, only to be
saved by an outside entity more powerful than ourselves. The idea of taking
charge of our own wellbeing has been suppressed. We live in a culture that
expects a pill to fix everything, and as a result we forget to take personal
responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This mentality can have
detrimental results when living within such a fragile system. In their book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Guide to Understanding Herbal Medicines
and Surviving the Upcoming Pharmaceutical Monopoly, </i>Dr. Michael Frawley, ND
and Ty Bollinger promote preparedness for a time when our systems, for whatever
reason, are not functioning as they do now. The importance of being able to
provide healthcare to ourselves, our families, and our communities is of the
utmost importance for the times in which we live. Even if our economic and
political systems stay perfectly intact, the environmental and spiritual issues
caused by heavy pharmaceutical use are inescapable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Power to the People</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“Apocalypse” is ancient Greek
term meaning “the lifting of a veil to reveal something that is hidden.” While
many worry that we live in apocalyptic times, I hope that we<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> are</i> living through apocalypse, in the
best sense of the word. If there is any spiritual significance to the end of
the Mayan calendar’s long cycle, or to any number of others’ suggestions that
we are in deeply meaningful times, then the opportunity for change is great. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NFf-xcbqg_1jROnKto1WQYea3rG6elv5_ddmV91EBhP9lv45EgpZmTFkAwqWO29OcJK2z9ZkgU03KVgiVOu76Nh80BKuNS_1PD4e146u_1GJR9Lo5nxnxS-2X4ODcKHJEGR3eAq6bXI/s1600/Imagine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NFf-xcbqg_1jROnKto1WQYea3rG6elv5_ddmV91EBhP9lv45EgpZmTFkAwqWO29OcJK2z9ZkgU03KVgiVOu76Nh80BKuNS_1PD4e146u_1GJR9Lo5nxnxS-2X4ODcKHJEGR3eAq6bXI/s1600/Imagine.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Understanding the problems
with our current system is important, but dwelling on them does nothing to
alleviate the situation. While the possibility for upheaval is a real one, it
is our job to raise awareness and start bringing the more sustainable systems
into place as the old ones fall away. Each of us must find our own ways to
contribute to the solution. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It is time to take back our
power and stop depending on a system that doesn’t value life. Rather than toiling
away on the corporate treadmill to support a government run by big business
which promotes violence and subordination, let us detach ourselves from that
machine. By eliminating our dependence on the outside system, we can rediscover
what it means to live in a community-oriented culture. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Each of us has practical
gifts and talents that we can offer to others within our local communities.
Herbal medicine is one of these gifts. Regardless of what the future may hold,
practicing herbalism is a means of promoting positive change in the world. When
we become herbalists, we become capable of healing ourselves, no longer
dependent on an external system. In this way, herbalism itself is an act of
protest, a mode of activism. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Perhaps a shift in
consciousness is at hand, a new paradigm of reality. I say, let’s find a way of
merging with the natural world as our ancestors did, yet with the benefit of modern
tools and resources currently available. Let us begin the Herbocalypse, now!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">How Herbalism Helps: The Big Picture</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BL1ERaxfoRUQS1aSd7Scr_9vXyNIwnO0Co9fiSW9pNq7QvBtaiICAi4mrmMdU8dojGUidIcHS3iYLd4YTX_EWxIa5pyz4TiF-4nLuwYjOGPVL0cP_Zbfm2Ev0QgvAFbNIfr8ALkkqrs/s1600/Creating+a+sore+muscle+rub+from+Cayenne+pepper+(Capsicum+spp.).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BL1ERaxfoRUQS1aSd7Scr_9vXyNIwnO0Co9fiSW9pNq7QvBtaiICAi4mrmMdU8dojGUidIcHS3iYLd4YTX_EWxIa5pyz4TiF-4nLuwYjOGPVL0cP_Zbfm2Ev0QgvAFbNIfr8ALkkqrs/s1600/Creating+a+sore+muscle+rub+from+Cayenne+pepper+(Capsicum+spp.).jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Can plants really start a
revolution? While herbalists and Big Pharma may seem as equally matched as
David and Goliath, there is hope. The benefits of practicing herbalism are
myriad and multi-leveled. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The power of the paradigm
shift from victim to healer cannot be understated. When we become active
participants in our own healing, we discover how the concepts of authority
shift as well. We no longer need anyone else to tell us if we’re healthy,
because we have learned to get in touch with our own bodies. We can then start
to question the recommendations of our doctors. We might ask ourselves, “Do I
really need to start this medication, when I know I will become dependent?”
or, “Is my child really hyperactive, or is the school system he belongs to just
not working for him?” These kinds of questions are crucial when it comes to
stepping back from preconceived notions of wellbeing and normalcy. </span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Avoiding Chemicals</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEWw_umkAfWZoJqB5vv-7biOc2VrL8iFja7umS7tZQyE0GeVvHSdHnjcuOKkix8172dEs9vkzRuTRdjfwQ3jUeRA5_cJ4jCkf8dNg5kwXMsUB5msMBHWZYEfSDy9lYHiU8_DxwYLIYrM/s1600/Bloodroot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEWw_umkAfWZoJqB5vv-7biOc2VrL8iFja7umS7tZQyE0GeVvHSdHnjcuOKkix8172dEs9vkzRuTRdjfwQ3jUeRA5_cJ4jCkf8dNg5kwXMsUB5msMBHWZYEfSDy9lYHiU8_DxwYLIYrM/s1600/Bloodroot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Herbalism also spares our
bodies and the Earth from toxic chemicals. Even over-the-counter “medicines”
are often chemical concoctions that more closely resemble poison. When was the
last time you read the ingredients on a bottle of liquid cold medicine? The
first ingredient is often <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/023138_propylene_glycol_products_natural.html" target="_blank">propylene glycol</a>, a form of mineral oil also found in
antifreeze and brake fluid. While the safety of this substance is currently
debated, most folks blindly trust drug companies and the FDA to provide
wholesome medicine. The same is true for artificial colorings added to cough
syrups and pills. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20009228-10391704.html" target="_blank">Studies</a> now suggest they may be responsible for allergic
reactions or even cancer—all for a cosmetic ingredient.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChksWWAC9-b85kiV-HV8fpFuoThvyDjoZJlDFxaH-F9b1zzR26ejKYsinWChwfKbASxn1uLtgkHkIOX5kN8lOjutS9iX5WoRzRdM982sz67mSmeyMbWv1ksuDh1EuvBhyb-nCJPoO_0E/s1600/Earth+NASA+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChksWWAC9-b85kiV-HV8fpFuoThvyDjoZJlDFxaH-F9b1zzR26ejKYsinWChwfKbASxn1uLtgkHkIOX5kN8lOjutS9iX5WoRzRdM982sz67mSmeyMbWv1ksuDh1EuvBhyb-nCJPoO_0E/s1600/Earth+NASA+shot.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Aside from the pollution to
our bodies and our planet caused by synthetic drugs, there is also the question
of whether these drugs even promote healing. Cold medicine, for example, may
quell the symptoms of a cold. But, is the suppression of symptoms really a good
thing? Many natural healers say it is not. Our bodies create fever to boost
immune function and excess mucous to drive out irritants. Why interfere with a
natural process? Is it so that we can remain functional in our daily grind and
thus continue to support the system? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">When we learn to use herbal
medicines, we can eliminate the purchase of many, if not all, chemically-based
drugs. This has the two-fold benefit of keeping these controversial chemicals
out of our blood and reducing the demand for such chemicals, so they stay out
of our water as well. In this way, care for our bodies becomes care for the
planet. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Financial Freedom</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Another major bonus is the inexpensive
nature of creating one’s own medicine. When we wildcraft or grow herbs, we take
advantage of the inherent abundance of nature. Of course, it is important not
to over-harvest, especially endangered or at-risk plants. But much medicine can
be derived from very common plants. One person’s weed is another’s medicine.
Rather than fighting off Dandelions, why not use them as a nutritive liver support to help our
bodies fight off toxins? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ymZ6qoK_WzQsOXBjD_jxDbdhQM_HxCam-H2Rk_U7YJS-UvpJkeN_zpiWquOldYkvRqEiBZCrerw256vEaPXrH3SCp11UiijbDCTxZPtv8R9uAOeqeTnMdkO1HEsdh6qgUo7ms86yV7c/s1600/Home-grown+Goldenseal+(Hydrastis+canadensis)+root..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ymZ6qoK_WzQsOXBjD_jxDbdhQM_HxCam-H2Rk_U7YJS-UvpJkeN_zpiWquOldYkvRqEiBZCrerw256vEaPXrH3SCp11UiijbDCTxZPtv8R9uAOeqeTnMdkO1HEsdh6qgUo7ms86yV7c/s1600/Home-grown+Goldenseal+(Hydrastis+canadensis)+root..JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Good, wholesome medicine can
be made cheaply with the right know-how, especially in comparison with the cost
of pharmaceuticals. Taking advantage of natural abundance is a way to
circumvent the money-driven system. By replacing our store-bought cough syrup with
a homemade concoction, we drive down the demand for synthetic drugs while also
liberating ourselves. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The more self-sustaining we
become within our families and communities, the less money we have to make.
Some of us may even feel liberated from the need for health insurance, which in
turn might free us from taking a job we don’t like. This liberates us from the
workaday world, giving us more time and energy to enjoy life. When we do so,
our stress levels drop dramatically, promoting health from the inside out.</span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Community Connection</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYiDwtv5RL5qrfG6E7oH6lt4wFIYHl9DDztvtKNOA2uXUl30iuegEoLPvY36fRFnhXOM44vxB0_yBkU5aNcSjDi1zdgZyT5Xf7NpdsyReel-Bvp1Etalo9SiadOTR-chkb_lpTS47QPw/s1600/Community.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYiDwtv5RL5qrfG6E7oH6lt4wFIYHl9DDztvtKNOA2uXUl30iuegEoLPvY36fRFnhXOM44vxB0_yBkU5aNcSjDi1zdgZyT5Xf7NpdsyReel-Bvp1Etalo9SiadOTR-chkb_lpTS47QPw/s1600/Community.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Fostering a sense of
community is another benefit of herbal medicine. Getting back to our tribal
roots means developing a network of local healers. When herbalists use plants
from their own gardens or woods to create medicine for their communities, a strong
system is developed. Local trade, barter, and exchange systems foster far more
security for our world than depending on governmental aid. The insufficient
help provided after Hurricane Katrina is a microcosmic example of the system
failing. By promoting community solidarity, we hedge against the need for
outside support, available or not. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Moving beyond disaster
scenarios, visiting a local herbalist just feels better than going to a doctor.
Rather than a sterile, clinical environment, we receive much more personalized
and compassionate care. Providing such care for others in the community also
feels good. There is just something special about giving somebody a bottle of
tincture and pointing out the window to the very plant in the bottle. The
plants themselves become a part of the healing community, fostering a deeper
connection with nature. </span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Spirituality</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QdZByp5ILlhqXLh42a6gC5SEzOzNAV5ofRe2hyphenhyphen18-opxk5GOdQfSoleQBIj7lRbhQSlYxSXlLKMNkSsXh1wltRWlUjX6ixg-nfhx4-BpUlHnd-skcMU_NF4lIMf0Ef5r9yGz5K3F6Jw/s1600/DSCN1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QdZByp5ILlhqXLh42a6gC5SEzOzNAV5ofRe2hyphenhyphen18-opxk5GOdQfSoleQBIj7lRbhQSlYxSXlLKMNkSsXh1wltRWlUjX6ixg-nfhx4-BpUlHnd-skcMU_NF4lIMf0Ef5r9yGz5K3F6Jw/s1600/DSCN1308.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There is no doubt that change
must occur on an outside level to protect the life on this planet. On the other
hand, spiritual masters point out that all change must come from within. If it
is true that the outside world reflects our inner being, then spiritual
evolution is another means of social change. Connecting with plants spiritually
then becomes a very important process. </span></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Native American and other
traditional cultures throughout the world have long-standing spiritual
practices to connect with healing plants. The shamanic traditions foster a
connection with plant consciousness, allowing for a deeper understanding of the
healing medicine they contain. It is my belief that plants are teachers and
allies, to be treated with respect and reverence. By listening to their
messages, we develop intuition about when and how to make use of their healing
gifts. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">At the same time, working
with plants cultivates a sense of gratitude for Mother Earth’s bounty. When we
allow plants to work their magic on us, we develop a profound appreciation for
nature. It then becomes very natural to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We
find ourselves seeking out ways to get more involved with the conservation of
medicinal plants and the environment. </span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Practical Steps</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It might sound great to be a
part of the Herbocalypse revolution, but how do we get started? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRWnRIDto98NRO-UT1vzCUPdKN9BKrjq_oQkr5CNmb2hlLazmbR9Tr0cdIQyyHb6vDacJcvLQSE46Bbr7vJKoQfM-GWEuZm4XaNXz9U3QpgrF3-SPVclIJbdW_b8FL92DJAWIBi14EC4/s1600/herb+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRWnRIDto98NRO-UT1vzCUPdKN9BKrjq_oQkr5CNmb2hlLazmbR9Tr0cdIQyyHb6vDacJcvLQSE46Bbr7vJKoQfM-GWEuZm4XaNXz9U3QpgrF3-SPVclIJbdW_b8FL92DJAWIBi14EC4/s1600/herb+garden.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Step one is to learn about
herbal medicine. Read books, take classes, and grow a garden. Seek out someone
more knowledgeable than yourself as a teacher. Buy a field guide for local
medicinal plants and take regular walks in the woods. When you feel confident
enough, try your hand at making medicine. Bring herbal teas, tinctures, and
salves into your everyday life. There is nothing like hands-on experience to
quicken the learning process. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Next, bring herbalism into
your community. Make connections with other herbalists; a group support system
is invaluable. Create a network of people who can share not only knowledge and experience,
but also plants, seeds, and medicine. You may make herbal products or start
your own practice. Growing medicinal plants and making them available to the
community is a wonderful service. Getting involved with plant conservation is
another important project; <a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/" target="_blank">United Plant Savers</a> offers information and support
for this venture. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You might also teach a class
for your local community. As an Indiana native, I traveled to Oregon in 2010 for
an internship with <a href="http://www.herb-pharm.com/" target="_blank">Herb Pharm</a>, where I worked in the fields and took classes. Upon
returning home, it struck me that not everyone from my community who was
interested in herbs could do the same thing. Many people have families or jobs
that prevent traveling across the country for months on end. At the same time,
Indiana is not exactly a hot-bed of herbalism schools. So, I offered a beginner’s
class for local folks, sharing the knowledge I had gleaned out west and providing
the tools needed for them to continue learning on their own. Meanwhile, the
contact I made with students has enriched my own practice. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpc254dErumFKIxezCvj2x6k-i0mQyJ8Ba1Q_sWczWWW-feT5JuliZOxZdPER9YQKbELdZ3kewEUkKNCwAIOIISY8EgejWKxJoEMfVSgqfqF4QQ79zZCuDWwnrciA9EkiG7mhoDhO9Ig/s1600/Herbal+products+at+a+local+festival..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfpc254dErumFKIxezCvj2x6k-i0mQyJ8Ba1Q_sWczWWW-feT5JuliZOxZdPER9YQKbELdZ3kewEUkKNCwAIOIISY8EgejWKxJoEMfVSgqfqF4QQ79zZCuDWwnrciA9EkiG7mhoDhO9Ig/s1600/Herbal+products+at+a+local+festival..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It is also important to
support other herbalists. There is room for everyone to contribute to the herbalism
world, so a competitive attitude is null and void. Seeking out healing and
advice from another person is educational and inspiring. Individuals who make
herbal products have to go through a lot of red tape to sell them, as the laws
favor larger companies. By going to farmer’s markets, festivals, or shops that sell
local products, you allow these individuals to continue their important work.
Even if the healing salve of a local herbalist costs more than a mass-produced one,
you are investing in your community. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfgHNtCnMooODmOSzxOlMQxu-7np523EMse0zy2ugDg6S8JMtk66hMjeColYGssNlOVOfg2y9jT1LGDQQygTFiMe0xBIfpwdW3_JXoC5Ujlo1jWG8Wp17t8So3Xf-EoNXIEYVl1Z79iw/s1600/sarah's+pics+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfgHNtCnMooODmOSzxOlMQxu-7np523EMse0zy2ugDg6S8JMtk66hMjeColYGssNlOVOfg2y9jT1LGDQQygTFiMe0xBIfpwdW3_JXoC5Ujlo1jWG8Wp17t8So3Xf-EoNXIEYVl1Z79iw/s1600/sarah's+pics+141.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And finally, spread the word.
Writing and public speaking are great ways to promote herbalism. Or, simply communicating
to family, friends, and acquaintances about the glories of herbal medicine is
one of the best ways to raise awareness. Of course, you may meet some
opposition, depending on your community. There are still those who doubt the
efficacy of herbal medicine. I find that engaging people’s senses works well.
Have them taste a delicious tincture or tea, for starters. One of my favorite
tactics is to give someone (with plenty of warning) a Spilanthes<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>flower to chew. The
intense tingling and numbing sensation provided by this most humble-looking
flower is enough to make a believer out of many folks! As they marvel in the
feeling, I explain how the antibacterial flower also cleans the mouth, boosts
the immune system, and improves digestion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Buy Local and Be Vocal </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In short, the way to start
the herbal revolution is to buy local and be vocal. By focusing on our communities,
we foster security and connection. By sharing what we know with others, we
raise awareness of herbalism. Knowledge is power, especially within a system
that conditions us to be unthinking and disempowered. Using the intelligence of
our minds and hearts, we can circumvent our dependence on this destructive system.
</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6sJFLKH7JBUBQIV5ZQUj2GTlwkTKF1S_bwCNd9v7C90MXCZKfPq5bnJn7bV2hO-dn-Mje_J7uMDiffTnQ1HpzE8zsgkbZRdESoMhZiaHR8jo6N3W2l9Zm9Bw5zJG8TJj90ZLiwvEvL0/s1600/Pink+Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6sJFLKH7JBUBQIV5ZQUj2GTlwkTKF1S_bwCNd9v7C90MXCZKfPq5bnJn7bV2hO-dn-Mje_J7uMDiffTnQ1HpzE8zsgkbZRdESoMhZiaHR8jo6N3W2l9Zm9Bw5zJG8TJj90ZLiwvEvL0/s1600/Pink+Lily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">With the veil lifted, more
people will take up the caduceus of herbal medicine and start the healing
journey for themselves. Thus, herbalism <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
activism. By working to build our local networks, to provide medicine for our
communities, and to take the power to be well back into our own hands, we are
active participants on the road to freedom. Herbalism makes for a healthier,
more sustainable, and happier world. </span></div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-89943948669948213232013-01-14T12:11:00.000-06:002017-01-13T07:21:33.478-06:00Yarrow: A Remedy for the Wounded Healer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFAsXH07V4ILFP9rVwMQ2kZjy_fr6BvxM0snbAdR0hi8lZFCKEB2rMlBsV8lWEg8Bb3OcRtJEiGhRKIQz-p52sNRgWQV5XtQhm99rw96DRDhyeFS4RRUwj2w312EGvDBR7yXJ2Zz3bW4/s1600/Yarrow+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFAsXH07V4ILFP9rVwMQ2kZjy_fr6BvxM0snbAdR0hi8lZFCKEB2rMlBsV8lWEg8Bb3OcRtJEiGhRKIQz-p52sNRgWQV5XtQhm99rw96DRDhyeFS4RRUwj2w312EGvDBR7yXJ2Zz3bW4/s1600/Yarrow+Flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
“Brushed back my
tears and he said, ‘Girl, we have to soldier on.<br />
Yes girl, even when we don't feel strong.’”</div>
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–Tori Amos, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Dark Side of the Sun</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbadfYLAU_4absbgctTN9eXcLtpmYwqNPE5pUzOMgjprMlmV3auJRcKK5z6VLo2cCx1opl37PvE8Gmj-PNeAgrunip1oYGZPnZkkHz4Nr8fO04CFjSEmGGsQQgV04sWVr0CkGbc1jHFSA/s1600/Yarrow+Leaf+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbadfYLAU_4absbgctTN9eXcLtpmYwqNPE5pUzOMgjprMlmV3auJRcKK5z6VLo2cCx1opl37PvE8Gmj-PNeAgrunip1oYGZPnZkkHz4Nr8fO04CFjSEmGGsQQgV04sWVr0CkGbc1jHFSA/s1600/Yarrow+Leaf+Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a>A perennial herb that grows wild in most areas of North
America, Yarrow can be recognized in the spring by its delicate, fern-like
leaves. In the summer, these give way to tall stalks with a tabletop of flowers
that are usually white, but can also be pink. Its medicine is multifaceted;
lowering fever, balancing the menstrual cycle, and healing varicose veins are among
its internal uses. Also called Woundwort, Yarrow is one of the best herbs to
keep on hand for treating injuries, especially deep and bleeding ones. It is
also helpful for bruising, and can be used both internally and topically for
this purpose.</div>
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<u>The Great Blood
Stauncher</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl-kbjqoAXYCBz2Bb_acGOgzX04TVzHSD34lp2OhRb7tF_E1VwxS1UwE3BFqyJTBWq3GeypmOqDCIJJBFthVvtLqNy3hlgdZlsZHba4SulZxpbMbqtatTjrcXEgR-WHHGAlK1k_y_kBU/s1600/Cutting+Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl-kbjqoAXYCBz2Bb_acGOgzX04TVzHSD34lp2OhRb7tF_E1VwxS1UwE3BFqyJTBWq3GeypmOqDCIJJBFthVvtLqNy3hlgdZlsZHba4SulZxpbMbqtatTjrcXEgR-WHHGAlK1k_y_kBU/s1600/Cutting+Board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yarrow’s ability to staunch blood is well-known, but I had
yet to experience it myself until last summer. I'd harvested a big batch of
Red Clover flowers, and chopped them into fine pieces to macerate for a
tincture. My favorite knife to use for cutting herbs (and vegetables, for that
matter) is an Alaskan ulu. The curved shape of the blade allows for quicker
chopping and makes it easier to apply pressure for tough material like roots. When
I finished with the Clover blooms, I brought the cutting board to the sink for
a rinse.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF3r1IIcWa97tkrmBWcGtp9VRpMw3asHbFeicV2GkrA0FI7bdHzcTt4Q-Ns-XdlX9JgBshg7DehMUhEX-cWGCPr-umAWJ030Ay5m0IXoYh9iaRK_OJTjmMAEtO1LYYaiRTIHYRYawSH8/s1600/Red+Clover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF3r1IIcWa97tkrmBWcGtp9VRpMw3asHbFeicV2GkrA0FI7bdHzcTt4Q-Ns-XdlX9JgBshg7DehMUhEX-cWGCPr-umAWJ030Ay5m0IXoYh9iaRK_OJTjmMAEtO1LYYaiRTIHYRYawSH8/s1600/Red+Clover.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Clover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I turned the cutting board on its side to fit it into the
sink, forgetting that the ulu was still resting upon it. The sharp, heavy knife
slid down the board and—ka-chunk—went right into my finger. The cut was fairly
deep, so a copious amount of blood issued forth from the wound. I applied
pressure, but the bleeding would not stop. My usual routine of applying
homemade Healing Salve and a band-aid just wasn’t going to cut the mustard this
time. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1li7MVdiitnBjqrMQ1s6EB9bjZE88UKi8WM2dTCRgDoT1kfJcCX7-VXD3EVf9qYScyeRSlvvI2VqHNcqwhWSnLXPmMo4zsczRwC0gDMgv5rM4ZBSRstaJlOu29G3dqYHpn152CJTJN8U/s1600/Yarrow+on+Finger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1li7MVdiitnBjqrMQ1s6EB9bjZE88UKi8WM2dTCRgDoT1kfJcCX7-VXD3EVf9qYScyeRSlvvI2VqHNcqwhWSnLXPmMo4zsczRwC0gDMgv5rM4ZBSRstaJlOu29G3dqYHpn152CJTJN8U/s1600/Yarrow+on+Finger.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarrow Leaf Poultice</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Holding my finger, I hurried out to the garden and picked a
leaf of Yarrow. I bit off the tip of the leaf to chew up for a quick poultice.
The taste is a little bitter and almost piney, but definitely bearable. Believe
me, Yarrow tastes great when you need it! As soon as the herb poultice hit my
finger, the bleeding stopped. The effect was instantaneous, and the blood was
permanently staunched. It’s one thing to read about an herb’s swift action, but
to behold it first-hand was remarkable. Though I’m a firm believer in the power
of plants, Yarrow amazed me that day. </div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=9b9e4592" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
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Even more amazing are some of the Yarrow stories told by
Matthew Wood in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Book of Herbal
Healing.</i> According to him, Yarrow is suitable even for wounds that cut to
the bone, as in chainsaw or carpentry accidents. Historically, it has been
called “Soldier’s Woundwort” and “Carpenter’s Weed,” and was used during World
War I and the American Civil War. Yarrow is especially suited for injuries that
are of a quick, violent, or accidental nature. </div>
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Interestingly, Wood has also found that Yarrow “has the
capacity to act in a deeper, magical fashion” to actually prevent such accidents.
He recommends that accident-prone people place a sprig of Yarrow in such places
as a toolbox, or perhaps an automobile. “This sends the message that accidents
are not welcome. One sprig in the spring and one in the fall is a good
measure,” he explains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPzIEIUDvtpvka9Mw1LVoqLUW1FeMjxB7Qj61hhYBHCu3L8rq38BFQ-rUfMHAWUbqaWNFGRYQAK2e5oxGbXAGvxXderUSe-xgT5bShR-eEs4rzdCYCAR7_WoQmB0GgVvfyuGELyEzIRU/s1600/Yarrow+Scar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPzIEIUDvtpvka9Mw1LVoqLUW1FeMjxB7Qj61hhYBHCu3L8rq38BFQ-rUfMHAWUbqaWNFGRYQAK2e5oxGbXAGvxXderUSe-xgT5bShR-eEs4rzdCYCAR7_WoQmB0GgVvfyuGELyEzIRU/s1600/Yarrow+Scar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was what my finger looked like a couple weeks later--only a faint scar.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwa2hhvnhSUoJ8ZDQbOloAMkViEWG_Kal162LJQon8TqEs83kRzmSvyyi_5Xnx9xnPR4_uEPz9nrPQgbOKsvu38RapIg2z32Z4FFyDFhl8Bp4zxKdaGyX3iVOLMVPsQ0l3P6ezLx4nxQ/s1600/Chiron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwa2hhvnhSUoJ8ZDQbOloAMkViEWG_Kal162LJQon8TqEs83kRzmSvyyi_5Xnx9xnPR4_uEPz9nrPQgbOKsvu38RapIg2z32Z4FFyDFhl8Bp4zxKdaGyX3iVOLMVPsQ0l3P6ezLx4nxQ/s1600/Chiron.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<u>The Wounded Healer</u></div>
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Yarrow has a strong association with Chiron, the wise
centaur of Greek mythology. A mentor for many great heroes, such as the
physician Aesculapius and the warrior Achilles (from which Yarrow gets its
Latin name,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Achillea millefolium</i>),
Chiron taught others to heal with herbs and with the hands. During a fight
between the more brutal centaurs and Hercules, Chiron was accidentally wounded,
though he had not taken part in the brawl. This wound, dealt by Hercules,
turned out to be incurable; it never healed. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiadPVNA9IW6U2d6jFbxvMd8QR0jyaQyKLPOXR1K_S5eydSkfIPOLPweGlvcT_ocVc-2ZYSZr04zoc6aQv_Lb_RYgV97TT4cc4MTWDWhfvd-QyNOptpDR7kIyfmxBHkYl5ev2K-6fWzYc/s1600/Chiron+Symbol.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiadPVNA9IW6U2d6jFbxvMd8QR0jyaQyKLPOXR1K_S5eydSkfIPOLPweGlvcT_ocVc-2ZYSZr04zoc6aQv_Lb_RYgV97TT4cc4MTWDWhfvd-QyNOptpDR7kIyfmxBHkYl5ev2K-6fWzYc/s1600/Chiron+Symbol.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiron's Symbol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Knowing that his pain would go on eternally, Chiron gave his
life to the gods in exchange for the freedom of Prometheus, who was chained to
a rock on a mountaintop being pecked by birds—a punishment for bringing the
gift of fire to mankind. This selfless gesture greatly impressed Zeus, who sent
him to the heavens to shine as a light to guide others. An asteroid discovered
in 1977 was named after Chiron, and astrologically it rules philosophy,
healing, and holistic understanding. </div>
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As such, Yarrow embodies the archetypes of the wounded
warrior and wounded healer. These archetypes are similar, because spiritual
warriors can be peaceful healers, and healers must sometimes harness warrior
energy. As humans, we are all
subject to wounding—emotional, physical, and spiritual. And yet, it is through
our own wounds that we gain the capacity to empathize with others. By
experiencing pain for ourselves, we gain the desire to relieve the suffering of
fellow humans. This is a beautiful truth that lends a sense of purpose to what
can seem like the senseless wounds of a harsh world.<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv5X9L84dMv8eV9m6CzB2CGQfvOoNGDA_vIsa0wrYhkxneWSCUMwgBkalQkvl40lUDnirfVfohKCK4HQg7MiDZeGcH-HTXZP22cA6-0ZiznSLP9zygAl9vbqXOH1Fow8_7MofLkAQlxU/s1600/Yarrow+Patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv5X9L84dMv8eV9m6CzB2CGQfvOoNGDA_vIsa0wrYhkxneWSCUMwgBkalQkvl40lUDnirfVfohKCK4HQg7MiDZeGcH-HTXZP22cA6-0ZiznSLP9zygAl9vbqXOH1Fow8_7MofLkAQlxU/s1600/Yarrow+Patch.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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It is interesting that my introduction to using Yarrow for
bleeding involved treating a cut I had received while making medicine. That
day, I embodied the wounded healer archetype quite literally!</div>
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<u>Personal
Boundaries</u></div>
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One of the lessons of Yarrow is to maintain our boundaries
with other people. The <a href="http://moonflowersarah.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-make-flower-essences.html" target="_blank">flower essence</a> is used to balance sensitive individuals
with porous energy fields, who are able to pick up the "vibes" of others easily. In many ways, this is the gift of natural
healers and clairvoyants who can benefit humanity. </div>
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<br /></div>
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However, sensitive people are often subject to extreme levels of
empathy and merging with others, so they may have difficulty deciphering which
feelings are their own. Yarrow people are prone to quick energy depletion in
social situations and are also sensitive to harsh environments. The plant reminds
us that even as healers, we must remember to care for ourselves or risk
suffering Chiron’s incurable wound. While healing work is a noble pursuit,
nobody needs to become a martyr. The world is a very wounded place, so taking
it upon yourself to save everybody is a recipe for disaster in your own life.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsWaQzG9hvaVk3WllewfApIy0HVKb1V_AsspmCPP4MnnejkrnAEvHQXHzQpZdYPJ9Vtdkzi2s_QGTPCy1nblhQj2dLURm9rYE0Q8kCTNpOMhwNaxSb641GZaWMtRE7QPClCfORLS9Jog/s1600/Flower+Essences-+Yarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsWaQzG9hvaVk3WllewfApIy0HVKb1V_AsspmCPP4MnnejkrnAEvHQXHzQpZdYPJ9Vtdkzi2s_QGTPCy1nblhQj2dLURm9rYE0Q8kCTNpOMhwNaxSb641GZaWMtRE7QPClCfORLS9Jog/s1600/Flower+Essences-+Yarrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower Essences- Pink Yarrow is on the far left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yarrow’s flower essence helps to knit the auric energy field so
that stronger boundaries can be placed, lending a protective shield. Then, one
can experience compassionate, loving awareness toward others without personal
depletion. This actually makes for a stronger healer, who can help others more
effectively.</div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>A Practical Plant</u></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD6Uvjgjew-2XfqyGxh2lOlGq_6ZkwdSc_MvT4vNYZ-78gxF4moI-myKj68Rga2OYl4aoMz_o2_D1Pqm3-CSilMEFH26CiwJUoLNe8iWM0WFJyj-SsHTnWsccLbYJwh3SDBaXf8MIjb8/s1600/Niagara+Yarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD6Uvjgjew-2XfqyGxh2lOlGq_6ZkwdSc_MvT4vNYZ-78gxF4moI-myKj68Rga2OYl4aoMz_o2_D1Pqm3-CSilMEFH26CiwJUoLNe8iWM0WFJyj-SsHTnWsccLbYJwh3SDBaXf8MIjb8/s1600/Niagara+Yarrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarrow at Niagara Falls</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The beauty of Yarrow is that this tough plant is readily
available in many places throughout the U.S. and Canada. I have often spotted Yarrow in my
home state of Indiana, growing in fields and even in people’s lawns as a
“weed.” It is easy to grow in the garden, requiring little care. But, it is said that the strongest medicine is made from
short Yarrow plants growing in the wild. The less nourished the soil,
the more potent the plant. I have seen some sturdy plants in the sandy soil of
the Oregon coast, as well as along the rocky riverbanks of Niagara Falls. This
tough plant grows everywhere! What a gift, as Yarrow protects us on so many
levels. </div>
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In my book, everyone would benefit from keeping Yarrow
handy, or at least knowing where the nearest patch resides. I can think of some
practical, everyday uses for a plant that stops bleeding so easily—how about
nicks from shaving, for example? Instead of tearing off little pieces of toilet
paper while waiting for the bleeding to stop (and meanwhile becoming late for work), just chew up a bit of
Yarrow and watch it stop instantly.<br />
<br /></div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=8633ab91" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
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This article hasn’t touched too deeply on the internal uses
for Yarrow, but there are quite a few. It is good as a simple cold and flu
remedy, especially when a fever is present. Because Yarrow deals with blood in
all forms, this plant has an affinity for women, natural care-givers who
literally give their own blood as a monthly sacrifice for the procreation of
the species. This aspect of femininity is beautiful, but can also be painful,
as in the case of PMS and childbirth. Yarrow can help stimulate and moderate
the menstrual cycle, ease cramping during PMS, and stop hemorrhaging during
childbirth. It is generally recommended that all women, young or old, drink a
cup of Yarrow tea from time to time to restore balance to the reproductive
system. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAKq7BYR6uAH8zuOUxlw6UwasjORm9BBeOlnCxqXUPbr0QUWh8maMKw9I37tZSCj7VPeTri61zVwhc_yDlT5CKnYJ3P1mLC3RRrcvCioZv5V891XEqvI83oh1cFtRalMCatrozt-4Xpk/s1600/Warrior+Pose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAKq7BYR6uAH8zuOUxlw6UwasjORm9BBeOlnCxqXUPbr0QUWh8maMKw9I37tZSCj7VPeTri61zVwhc_yDlT5CKnYJ3P1mLC3RRrcvCioZv5V891XEqvI83oh1cFtRalMCatrozt-4Xpk/s1600/Warrior+Pose.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By OrenBochman via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>The Strength to
Carry On</u></div>
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<br /></div>
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No matter how strong and determined, every spiritual warrior
has an Achilles heel—an area vulnerable to wounding. We are all
susceptible to occasional suffering and illness. Yet with Yarrow as an ally, we
know that our suffering is not in vain. With the help of this Woundwort, we can
remain sensitive healers, protected enough to soldier on with our healing path, driven by true compassion. </div>
</div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=4d0637cd" style="border: 0;" width="1" /></div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=849154d8" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFbeqgWeLcgZLbRzUHAe4atgX5P8F7z6HX2iy8VliY8YLQZB5e0h2OtxEJPP5NiEZ9h6QH423dM80p2KWhmqhiYZy3BfkL7jrZspbuVBs9lBWMdfMY-UjuWeDr8lYfUhY27_t1i4eyHs/s1600/Bath+Tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFbeqgWeLcgZLbRzUHAe4atgX5P8F7z6HX2iy8VliY8YLQZB5e0h2OtxEJPP5NiEZ9h6QH423dM80p2KWhmqhiYZy3BfkL7jrZspbuVBs9lBWMdfMY-UjuWeDr8lYfUhY27_t1i4eyHs/s1600/Bath+Tea.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
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“Bath tea” may be a confusing pair of words for many folks,
as herbal baths are not especially popular in American culture. While bath
salts line the shelves of health food and drug stores, bath teas are far less
common. When I sold herbal products, people did not line up at my booth to purchase
bath teas. </div>
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I think this has something to do with our culture of
convenience. It is hard enough to sell loose-leaf <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">drinking </i>tea to most people, who don’t want to mess with straining
herbs. It’s no surprise that this is the case, because herbal medicine in
general is overlooked by today’s pill-popping society. As such, the idea of
taking the time to bathe with herbs is a foreign concept for many.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rF74xqW51HGj-yy9i9yuPe7odT0j9H6-zVDeo6-rcDuQshndRz9O_fX0b4c39X9lsu4KjwKqqoxh4_t8YRhJnNaHNNOQR9DLJaUlANEqenS8oRODl3gbir1HFkv81fgU7Wp5Tsba3mU/s1600/By+Zachary+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rF74xqW51HGj-yy9i9yuPe7odT0j9H6-zVDeo6-rcDuQshndRz9O_fX0b4c39X9lsu4KjwKqqoxh4_t8YRhJnNaHNNOQR9DLJaUlANEqenS8oRODl3gbir1HFkv81fgU7Wp5Tsba3mU/s1600/By+Zachary+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Zachary via Wikimedia Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Nature’s Bounty</h3>
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And yet, bath tea is such a simple way to use nature’s
bounty to promote health of the body, mind, and soul. Baths in general are
wonderful for our health. And yes, this includes men’s health! It takes a <i>real
</i>man to step into a bathtub and enjoy its sensual nature. That’s right—this is a
bit of a playful challenge for all you guys out there who feel a little too
manly for a bath. First of all, I commend you for reading this far into the
article. Second, let me explain that I’m not asking you to take a bubble bath
while listening to Enya and chanting (aaah, but wouldn’t that be lovely?). I’m
just saying that we are all humans with bodies that require care, and taking a
bath is a kind of therapy. Call it hydrotherapy if you must; just don’t deprive
yourself of this curative creature comfort. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb3SY6etHWAto8NMILJWfnbnXN00kcweZqSLD5T5Nx2BkYyc3aRh-UCEmnRK9wiuMmSBa8HMMwUie7mk_CHHgtRVAtVo-Po74ILt175sC1h7a_nMIIATb6W7Wn-y_DWYPajDqfgvEUAg/s1600/Photo+by+Giovanni+Dall%27Orto+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb3SY6etHWAto8NMILJWfnbnXN00kcweZqSLD5T5Nx2BkYyc3aRh-UCEmnRK9wiuMmSBa8HMMwUie7mk_CHHgtRVAtVo-Po74ILt175sC1h7a_nMIIATb6W7Wn-y_DWYPajDqfgvEUAg/s1600/Photo+by+Giovanni+Dall'Orto+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Giovanni Dall'Orto via Wikimedia Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hot water of a bath promotes circulation throughout the
body, which helps treat inflammation of the muscles and joints. The increased
blood flow also heals the skin from the inside out. Our pores open up, allowing
impurities to release into the water. Baths also promote deep relaxation and
meditative states. I myself have had many a spiritual insight in the tub. In
fact, the idea to pursue herbalism first came to me while taking a bath! Believe
it or not, I have found that certain meditative visions and experiences happen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i> in the tub. </div>
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<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl0KdqF8Gkrp5ba2NDcAOl8TqfliPMZCGxJmTnhwZCoDszGZbZBpH9DX_bNngEhjTzXkTtQIwFYnV6_Js2iPQNfV7JAArsl2izxxgE1NLfhFPPOdsX7-IlJoTQkyJZW1DwZly9P_Jd8A/s1600/sarah's+pics+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl0KdqF8Gkrp5ba2NDcAOl8TqfliPMZCGxJmTnhwZCoDszGZbZBpH9DX_bNngEhjTzXkTtQIwFYnV6_Js2iPQNfV7JAArsl2izxxgE1NLfhFPPOdsX7-IlJoTQkyJZW1DwZly9P_Jd8A/s1600/sarah's+pics+019.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>Adding herbs to the equation makes taking a bath all the
more healing. The idea is very similar to herbal tea: you infuse hot bathwater
with herbs, so they extract their medicinal compounds into the water. While
soaking in the herbal infusion with your pores open and your blood flowing, you
absorb this medicine through the body’s largest organ—your skin. </div>
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<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
How to Create Bath
Tea</h3>
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
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The beauty of bath tea as a healing modality is its
inexpensive and easy nature. You don’t need to buy oils or alcohol to extract
the medicine from the plants; the water does that for you. All you need are
herbs and a bag—simple as that. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGyXoIkT0E0j3zFhIfzVlYY_GaPNJmMf70Pe86C4E_FrSl0mC3TaSD77eeymoXaXPZ5W7e35Xv7ZWjm0omK3SoayEQ1UFASEvBYB_dsi7Yd01wwMUSfdpcBB69i8Ug0wDt6TT_QFAVro/s1600/Herb+Pharm+Shirt+T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGyXoIkT0E0j3zFhIfzVlYY_GaPNJmMf70Pe86C4E_FrSl0mC3TaSD77eeymoXaXPZ5W7e35Xv7ZWjm0omK3SoayEQ1UFASEvBYB_dsi7Yd01wwMUSfdpcBB69i8Ug0wDt6TT_QFAVro/s1600/Herb+Pharm+Shirt+T.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a>For earthier types, it might be tempting to just throw a
handful of flowers or leaves into the bath and jump in. But believe me, it only
takes one instance of painstakingly picking flowers from one’s hair to
de-romanticize the whole Scott McKenzie “San Francisco” hippie flower-child
business. This is where the bag comes in handy. </div>
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It doesn’t have to be very big—just about 2x4 or 3x5 inches
works nicely. Ideally, it is made of natural cotton or muslin, and it should have
a drawstring on the top. I made mine myself, as it’s a simple sewing job, but
even simpler is buying one pre-made. If you’re lucky, you might spot one in a
store; otherwise, they can be found online inexpensively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, companies require a large purchase
quantity with these bags. I recommend one of two sites for those looking for a
small quantity. At <a href="http://www.sunburstbottle.com/bags/tea-muslin/3x4-muslin-bag-mb1" target="_blank">Sunburst Bottles</a>
you can buy just one bag. At Etsy,
I found a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/78578603/10-3x5-organic-cotton-muslin-drawstring" target="_blank">company </a>that sells as few as ten, and they are organic (which is always better). I see no problem in stocking up on
these, as they are also useful for sachets and other things. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnzwqgl9Rks1GIXxWg_peCTk16RnQ1Wrd0FP0IUwCuh6YImcAo0dODBX7FJlHhY2QLNTzdFgDuEyLb0f0vXHXarsEUuVXydq4qXoWGZ8xmbykZkMsYI_L-S3eUafG3K8lIWrfJiN31G8/s1600/Muslin+Bag+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnzwqgl9Rks1GIXxWg_peCTk16RnQ1Wrd0FP0IUwCuh6YImcAo0dODBX7FJlHhY2QLNTzdFgDuEyLb0f0vXHXarsEUuVXydq4qXoWGZ8xmbykZkMsYI_L-S3eUafG3K8lIWrfJiN31G8/s1600/Muslin+Bag+2.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
Just pack your little bag with either fresh or dried herbs
of your choice and close the drawstring. (Below I’ve included my top five
choices for bath tea herbs.) As you run the bath, hang your bag from the faucet
by the drawstring and allow the water to run over the bag. When your bath is
full, take the bag down and drop it into the tub. It can stay there as you
bathe. You can squeeze the bag to encourage the release of more herbal
goodness. You can even rub it across your skin for added potency. When you’re
done, just compost the spent herbs, rinse your bag and hang it up to dry.</div>
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<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Top Five Herbs for
the Bath</h3>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#1- Ginger </h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Esd0SQTWJulYaYAQR4Z_9JpNSGapuYxNtChmWmUFS_7rMFNG7TcFepduYk-0VNvzWZHep72FZJ2xYymEQj7utLYkWlRt7TDdh_NHnb4PfSTSnFKrYjjF_L_vznMce5kTzC8PsJcPQM/s1600/Ginger+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Esd0SQTWJulYaYAQR4Z_9JpNSGapuYxNtChmWmUFS_7rMFNG7TcFepduYk-0VNvzWZHep72FZJ2xYymEQj7utLYkWlRt7TDdh_NHnb4PfSTSnFKrYjjF_L_vznMce5kTzC8PsJcPQM/s1600/Ginger+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>This herb boosts circulation in the body, making
it a great choice for treating achy muscles and joints as well as cold and flu.
Ginger baths are stimulating and invigorating. The effects can be felt
immediately—you may even start sweating, which helps your body release toxins.
Hot Ginger baths are a great alternative to a sauna. I like to take Ginger
baths during a detox, and also throughout the winter to keep me warm and
healthy. Preferably your Ginger root will be fresh and diced just before use,
but you can also use dried Ginger. (If your Ginger is powdered, you can ditch
the muslin bag just this once.) </div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#2- Oats</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1V_V3umljb9cJGBTsWh16yEK02p5O7yd6sJRQSta3Md6Fcx9k4z9pINmoMyoI_q7BMQhBa23AciqEI3AJxNrX2qP_zYEtt9W7tDvJHUDS3-zPhoO1X241MrZ5eMTSnJQcBEC3nTA8Jc/s1600/Milky+Oats+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1V_V3umljb9cJGBTsWh16yEK02p5O7yd6sJRQSta3Md6Fcx9k4z9pINmoMyoI_q7BMQhBa23AciqEI3AJxNrX2qP_zYEtt9W7tDvJHUDS3-zPhoO1X241MrZ5eMTSnJQcBEC3nTA8Jc/s1600/Milky+Oats+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Wait, isn’t this a food? Indeed, Oats are both food
and medicine. You can use plain oatmeal for the bath, or the herb known as Oatstraw,
which is the green, grass-like portion of the same plant, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Avena Sativa.</i> This Latin name inspired the brand Aveeno, which
produces lotion and other products with Oats as the active ingredient. While
both are beneficial, I prefer using Oats because they exude a gel-like
substance that softens the skin. You can even squeeze the gel out of the bag to
use as a natural shaving lotion. Oatstraw and oatmeal baths are commonly
recommended for all kinds of skin ailments. Oats help with itchy, flaky, or dry
skin, caused by eczema, insect bites, or even chicken pox. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Avena</i> is also calming to the nervous system, and relieves stress
and nervous exhaustion. In her book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Healing
Wise, </i>Susun Weed recommends Oatstraw baths for a number of serious
ailments, including cystitis, rheumatism, urinary tract or kidney issues, and
neuralgia. </div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#3- Calendula</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarjpZX5Ma9IBPrkGERgvDLkW6xTI5i9kQ3HZ99AZyV1g-AflCpKgWqG5JTZUw994cKYCXSUz7v1z32mo6d2dZmzTrnWCYP4C0Wwf7J8Zm45TvLPde1njru5BiceRobA-M6lu7jmp6ToY/s1600/Calendula+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarjpZX5Ma9IBPrkGERgvDLkW6xTI5i9kQ3HZ99AZyV1g-AflCpKgWqG5JTZUw994cKYCXSUz7v1z32mo6d2dZmzTrnWCYP4C0Wwf7J8Zm45TvLPde1njru5BiceRobA-M6lu7jmp6ToY/s1600/Calendula+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>A well-known herb popularly used in natural body
care products, Calendula flowers heal wounds, soothe inflammation, and clear
infection. Sunburns, cat scratches, herpes sores, and rashes are all good
reasons to bathe with Calendula. Possessing a strong solar energy, these orange
and yellow blooms promote cheerful feelings and clear away mild melancholy. Matthew
Wood calls Calendula “herbal sunshine,” and uses the plant to get the lymph
moving throughout the body. It is an especially useful herb in wintertime, when
the lack of warmth and sunshine causes malaise and seasonal affective disorder.
What better time for a hot Calendula bath? </div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#4- Peppermint</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Lag0G3B_OI7xXfpLPMD6AbqxV7p9eSOwSivtJsAopv3IBt2VQBEKEZFL4Cskxwa14itco7cV9_UvNKFUuWJa6cvd_tTm7yYmRnNe3XsalDU7eEOSKTDFKkq8cN0zRZGBMagiwlX9m4/s1600/Peppermint+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3Lag0G3B_OI7xXfpLPMD6AbqxV7p9eSOwSivtJsAopv3IBt2VQBEKEZFL4Cskxwa14itco7cV9_UvNKFUuWJa6cvd_tTm7yYmRnNe3XsalDU7eEOSKTDFKkq8cN0zRZGBMagiwlX9m4/s1600/Peppermint+3.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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The power of mint has been known since
ancient times. According to legend, Cleopatra used mint oil in her secret
beauty preparations. The Ancient Greeks called mint “Aphrodite’s Crown” as a
testament to its stimulating properties. While peppermint might stir up your primal
passions, it is even more useful for intellectual intercourse, as its aroma
stimulates the central hippocampus of the brain. Peppermint promotes mental
clarity, memory, and improved concentration for those feeling fatigued. This
aromatic herb also contains menthol, and is a good choice for opening the nasal
passages during a cold or flu. As if all of this weren’t enough, the potent Peppermint
plant also fights nausea and boosts the digestion, making it a wonderful ally
during illness.</div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#5- Nettle</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bkdDzW7DriCFi15vOeXiUuJtx4pT_x5HjLNCQ_FcMYYb-bXhbfxOAmFtnD24IGNurikwqzz8Mgqu3MV4vTLBveGmzJ8CLxQgL6bPw7y71Hyg8O949ZM_v9aMTUOrUBGIxTCbnTRlLuA/s1600/By+Robert+Reisman+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bkdDzW7DriCFi15vOeXiUuJtx4pT_x5HjLNCQ_FcMYYb-bXhbfxOAmFtnD24IGNurikwqzz8Mgqu3MV4vTLBveGmzJ8CLxQgL6bPw7y71Hyg8O949ZM_v9aMTUOrUBGIxTCbnTRlLuA/s1600/By+Robert+Reisman+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Robert Reisman via Wikimedia Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also known as Stinging Nettle, this herb contains
hairs that sting the skin on contact. Thankfully, this effect diminishes with
drying, so dried Nettle is recommended for herbal baths. (However, fresh Nettle
does have a history of use as a remedy for arthritis. Patients flogged with the
stalks experienced surface irritation of the skin, but a deeper healing of the
joints.) Nettle is highly nourishing for the skin and hair. According to Susun
Weed, “Hair gleams, grows, thickens, and darkens when nourished and rinsed with
nettle infusions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various scalp and
skin maladies, including dandruff and acne, can be treated with Nettle baths.
Weed also explains that Nettle clears the aura and promotes the release of old
energy patterns.</div>
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</h3>
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Final Tips</h3>
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV1SVuVUWPoi7fg9NzbU5VCEbaBYof6ADgVX0iE9F1Ff6AsS5g9N9aX-M14aVjrP4FdmASzQtpLLUaYyxZrofmB3ZpEr6TK2RmkUGuWChQN28usSgvjPf8FVkBVkC8FjwbBK0m2caJ7U/s1600/By+DENker+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV1SVuVUWPoi7fg9NzbU5VCEbaBYof6ADgVX0iE9F1Ff6AsS5g9N9aX-M14aVjrP4FdmASzQtpLLUaYyxZrofmB3ZpEr6TK2RmkUGuWChQN28usSgvjPf8FVkBVkC8FjwbBK0m2caJ7U/s1600/By+DENker+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By DENzer via Wikimedia Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><b><br /></b></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Waste Not, Want Not:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Certain table scraps can be saved and used as bath tea. Instead of
throwing away citrus peels or the skin of Ginger root, collect these goodies in
your muslin bag and use them for a nice bath before composting.</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJEInPMSV3lb6nep6q8PCCVSLfyDdO6LXAu5vNiOaKKXE7DeWxxSAYaWT7_rHjFnI9pr6PRD9ieComzDVdioSK5L8d8nhVmxUtZ9MkK0v0gKBAYRWbhUfp6rSpMA1EdztbE1K0v4c1rg/s1600/Bath+Tub+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJEInPMSV3lb6nep6q8PCCVSLfyDdO6LXAu5vNiOaKKXE7DeWxxSAYaWT7_rHjFnI9pr6PRD9ieComzDVdioSK5L8d8nhVmxUtZ9MkK0v0gKBAYRWbhUfp6rSpMA1EdztbE1K0v4c1rg/s1600/Bath+Tub+2.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a><br />
<b>Give Your Bath a Boost:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For added potency, you can also make a strong tea of the herbs in your
kitchen, and then pour the infusion into your bathwater. I like to do this for
Ginger and other roots because they are sturdy materials. Bring the roots to a boil,
simmer for several minutes, and then strain the decoction into the tub. You can
then fill your muslin bag with these roots and bathe as usual. When creating an
infusion or decoction of herbs beforehand, just remember to keep your kettle or
pot covered so that the crucial essential oils of the herbs are not evaporated.<br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtHrPpQZ0WhRSUsJm_kbbDP29SS_MEeZ5YdRs-H5d6OoHS5WScieCczLdRfQNNjetvXb-QHGAVGvp64GBK1Au3O68XQHiohheqtexBQxsd29UxTEp0sUwimR12njnkXLCJwx8VhYwxas/s1600/By+KaiMartin+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtHrPpQZ0WhRSUsJm_kbbDP29SS_MEeZ5YdRs-H5d6OoHS5WScieCczLdRfQNNjetvXb-QHGAVGvp64GBK1Au3O68XQHiohheqtexBQxsd29UxTEp0sUwimR12njnkXLCJwx8VhYwxas/s1600/By+KaiMartin+via+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By KaiMartin via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>As Within, So Without:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To amplify the healing effects of your herbal bath, brew a cup of tea
using the same herb and drink it as you bathe. Each plant I’ve mentioned above
can also be drunk as tea, with the exception of oatmeal. You can either eat a
bowl of oatmeal before hopping into the tub, or brew a cup of Oatstraw tea to
bring with you. While your body does absorb a plant’s healing compounds through
the pores during a hot bath, taking an infusion internally ensures that you get
a strong dose of the medicine. The hot liquid warms you from the inside out,
promoting better circulation and detoxification.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Infuse Yourself</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekqFaovp40eTcqKCeJsGHaB5G3gg6KwZjDq2rZ4EhjBSULV1qvMyl-T-fLMt7eqrVtqP2dEvwdj5AQRQFXk61GEPW2NnBoX7qquCsSA5UbVFWiyO-VG_tZS8FJ7LxjHUhCfVJlBcYvpc/s1600/Buddha+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekqFaovp40eTcqKCeJsGHaB5G3gg6KwZjDq2rZ4EhjBSULV1qvMyl-T-fLMt7eqrVtqP2dEvwdj5AQRQFXk61GEPW2NnBoX7qquCsSA5UbVFWiyO-VG_tZS8FJ7LxjHUhCfVJlBcYvpc/s1600/Buddha+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>The primary thing to remember when creating herbal baths is
to relax and enjoy the experience. This is your time, set aside from the
demands of the outside world, to care for yourself. Water gets us in touch with
our emotions and intuition. It also serves to cleanse away impurities and leave
us feeling fresh and new. Enhance your bathing experience by lighting candles
and playing relaxing music. Clear your mind and meditate on how good it feels to
be in the warm, healing water. If you are working to heal a particular
condition, visualize yourself as healthy and whole. Go ahead; infuse yourself!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174391215732147465.post-85102607947186021432012-10-28T15:47:00.001-05:002017-01-13T07:25:22.771-06:00Kava: The Intoxicating Pepper (A Beginner’s Guide)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Typically, I stock my apothecary with plants I can
either wildcraft or grow myself. But Kava, native to the South Pacific, is an
exception to this rule. Its Latin name, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Piper
methysticum</i>, means “intoxicating pepper.” Sure enough, this plant can evoke
wonderful feelings of relaxation and well-being. But Kava’s healing qualities
go far beyond recreation. <b>As a powerful pain reliever, anti-spasmodic,
antiseptic and anti-anxiety medicine, Kava is a must-have in my book.</b> Read on to discover why, when and how to use this most beneficial plant medicine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkb9qnqf85ST3tC8uh0Q6T3d-T433a08woQuDVz3pmH67U7FUPOgtnxgvjinNXUE2LkYklVikZ97tG8ph-uWrrQxONUKbuAO-tYDL2sXP6eaq6_Pmyk4-3MEDxNlPi6RBoiJpOR7fJCg/s1600/Hawaii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkb9qnqf85ST3tC8uh0Q6T3d-T433a08woQuDVz3pmH67U7FUPOgtnxgvjinNXUE2LkYklVikZ97tG8ph-uWrrQxONUKbuAO-tYDL2sXP6eaq6_Pmyk4-3MEDxNlPi6RBoiJpOR7fJCg/s400/Hawaii.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By hdwallpapers.in, via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>What does it feel
like?</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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The Kava feeling seems to vary from person to person. I have
known a couple of people who “zone out” with Kava, and for this reason avoid
it. To me, the feeling is comparable to a prescription-level pain pill, minus
the mental fogginess and drugged feeling. There is a distinct numbness that
creeps over you as soon as you imbibe good-quality Kava. It begins with the
lips, and moves down through your digestive tract and throughout the body. Interestingly, one of its
uses is for a lack of appetite. I can affirm this—Kava munchies, if you will.<br />
<br />
For me, the
main center of the Kava feeling is the chest. It’s a palpable feeling of
painlessness, and it comes with the sensation of a very pleasant weight, as if
a warm, loving hand is placed over your heart. This goes along with a general
feeling of relaxed well-being.<br />
<br />
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6MSq3XCD0GELptLbVhaJwU-wCb458QqmOUG04P8HfQ0UUeqgIaEfrplCQmSPVOmX_j-aghDLYxfpGYBwUc9YyfAmqNTG4rkDJsAI2-BSx5vnDAapHkzms9oXgB1VpyJ1GN2wdc7JkdY/s1600/Green+Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6MSq3XCD0GELptLbVhaJwU-wCb458QqmOUG04P8HfQ0UUeqgIaEfrplCQmSPVOmX_j-aghDLYxfpGYBwUc9YyfAmqNTG4rkDJsAI2-BSx5vnDAapHkzms9oXgB1VpyJ1GN2wdc7JkdY/s400/Green+Heart.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Lauren Raine (Own work) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)">CC-BY-SA-3.0</a>], via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I find that a moderate amount of Kava does not impair my
senses. Granted, my constitution is mostly of the Vata dosha, meaning that I
have an active mind and tend towards an excess of nervous energy. Herbs affect
everyone differently because of the way they interact with our personal
constitution, chemistry and energy system. Those who are more naturally relaxed
may find Kava to be more deeply sedative than I do. But for this admittedly
high-strung hummingbird, taking Kava during the day does not cause me to feel
tired or fall asleep prematurely—it merely promotes relaxation and clarity. It
is also a wonderful meditation aid, especially for deep work as in shamanic
journeys.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Conventional Downers
and the Energy System</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=17489659" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most sedatives such as alcohol and prescription pain pills dull
our senses; in serious episodes of drunken debauchery, people can black out
altogether. When this happens, I theorize that the upper chakras shut
down—especially the crown chakra that connects us to the divine and our higher
selves, the third eye that serves as intuition, and the heart chakra that
connects us to feelings of true love. The throat chakra, which governs
communication, can still function to an extent, but people in the black-out
state would be better off not talking!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJff9X7jstneZSBn9aN4mMkVrdSDnLa-kZ5g7qPW7AdhozcpAxc91E2t0gAp01fsXLkoxt0m_WrvAha26jkjesz4D6sPNhgmywRdwKxxsaMf83GI5CPMF7OpdGPcpPbs79MWBoejkuXLA/s1600/Pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJff9X7jstneZSBn9aN4mMkVrdSDnLa-kZ5g7qPW7AdhozcpAxc91E2t0gAp01fsXLkoxt0m_WrvAha26jkjesz4D6sPNhgmywRdwKxxsaMf83GI5CPMF7OpdGPcpPbs79MWBoejkuXLA/s200/Pills.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Tom Varco, via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Meanwhile, the lower-vibration chakras
that govern our ego, sex drives, and basic survival take over, so we can still
eat, drink, have sex, and get into fights while completely unconscious. Our
reptilian brains take over, and in the worst cases, most vestiges of humanity
are lost. The same thing happens to a lesser extent when we drink any amount of
alcohol, or take a synthetic muscle-relaxer or pain reliever. Our senses are
dulled, and we are less likely to make healthy choices. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwLQOA0WQyIudyRpBzD0C1hcPTcLufPF25pMidufUWn1-MHMHyc5u7GhRPimx5s4_VRvq3Pf68yup7rKMbbThRLfVsriXAjrkiHebf5XZMEoJo6zHQxKcsNzCDUPlRXZukccqI5KOQcY/s1600/Chakras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwLQOA0WQyIudyRpBzD0C1hcPTcLufPF25pMidufUWn1-MHMHyc5u7GhRPimx5s4_VRvq3Pf68yup7rKMbbThRLfVsriXAjrkiHebf5XZMEoJo6zHQxKcsNzCDUPlRXZukccqI5KOQcY/s320/Chakras.jpg" width="270" /></a><b> </b><br />
<b>Kava and the Chakras</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike synthetic pain relievers or alcohol, Kava actually improves memory and mental clarity. Rather than shutting down
the upper chakras unlike conventional downers, Kava simply <i>eases </i>them. While it can calm an over-active mind or soothe an aching heart, it does not obliterate the
functions of the mind or heart in the process. In fact, Kava helps still the
mind for meditation, so that the typical monkey-brain thoughts invoking worry,
fear or stress are easier to manage. You do not forget or ignore your troubles,
but truly transcend them into a place of peace. Therein lies the unique glory
of the so-called Intoxicating Pepper. I have found that with Kava on hand, I
drink less alcohol and as a result feel healthier and more energetic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Multi-faceted
Medicine</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are myriad modes of application for Kava root. For
one, it is great to calm the nerves. Those under stress or people prone to
anxiety attacks benefit greatly from its use. Once prepared, its effects are
fast-acting and last for many hours. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCbeys41uH8GpYz1ouql8Dt6VAKeUe8Cq0udR0naNbXZa4c9xUiHgr87QVnO137rhCb2EzHZRXFUregPRt5KAhxfWKNJeTLgOjzwA9Tt-ewSs-mFEUYODVExPk0U7lfKpVW9_kbFhyphenhyphennw/s1600/Kava+Blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCbeys41uH8GpYz1ouql8Dt6VAKeUe8Cq0udR0naNbXZa4c9xUiHgr87QVnO137rhCb2EzHZRXFUregPRt5KAhxfWKNJeTLgOjzwA9Tt-ewSs-mFEUYODVExPk0U7lfKpVW9_kbFhyphenhyphennw/s320/Kava+Blog.JPG" width="320" /></a>Kava is even used in cases of depression, as it can promote
feelings of well-being and acceptance. Improving our mood even for a little
while creates space to bring about happier thoughts. Because we tend to
draw what we think about into our lives via the Law of Attraction, this in turn brings about a happier
and healthier reality. Kava can also be used to treat anorexia, due to its
positive effects on the mood and appetite. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Relief from pain is a huge benefit of Kava. When prepared
properly (see directions below), it is the best herbal pain-reliever I have
tried. Because of its antispasmodic nature, it’s great for muscle cramps and
spasms. Back pain can be treated with Kava. Urinary tract infections are
another good reason to drink Kava. Not only will your pain be reduced, but the diuretic
and antiseptic qualities of the plant will actually help heal the infection.
Toothaches, earaches, neuralgia, and even Parkinson’s disease are benefited by
Kava. It can also be used topically as an antifungal for ringworm or athlete’s
foot. Truly, Kava is a multi-faceted medicine!<a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/dr-group-secret-to-health-kit.html?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=19d24426" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"> </a></div>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo6VzlnEFZB3mpgHzik5XJ8hd_SMrnLkw36RJvu2mwKb64X1nr9ckkcGwImv_QhQVShCv9xJeWvZ8tOl7S42Q4rJzf3dHLmUvJD1qZISfjGZiLGAqEzj3UT1Fqor76SZbwOUb7L9sq3k/s1600/Lunar-eclipse-09-11-2003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo6VzlnEFZB3mpgHzik5XJ8hd_SMrnLkw36RJvu2mwKb64X1nr9ckkcGwImv_QhQVShCv9xJeWvZ8tOl7S42Q4rJzf3dHLmUvJD1qZISfjGZiLGAqEzj3UT1Fqor76SZbwOUb7L9sq3k/s200/Lunar-eclipse-09-11-2003.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Oliver Stein via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Moon-time Maladies </b><br />
<b>and the Phone Bill</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my all-time favorite moments to drink Kava is during
PMS and my menstrual cycle. It eliminates cramps like no other natural
substance I’ve tried. Better still, Kava goes above and beyond the call of duty
to boost the mood as well. As women know, there can be something of a raw edge
to the emotions during moon-time. For some ladies, anger and aggression is the
result. For me, extreme cases manifest as a melt-down of tears and fears behind closed
doors. “Will my life ever be how I want it? Doesn’t anybody love me? I don’t
like the way my body looks!” Oh, you laugh now—but when your time comes, just
take a swig of Kava. It’s not a magic eraser, but it promotes a measure of distance
between you and the perceived problem. A sense of peace during menstrual
maladies is priceless, especially in today’s world where women are expected to
continue functioning normally during this vulnerable and sacred time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ed Smith, the co-founder of <a href="http://www.herb-pharm.com/" target="_blank">Herb Pharm</a> in Williams, Oregon,
is a big Kava fan. In his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therapeutic
Herb Manual, </i>he explains that traditionally, Kava is “taken with a group to
enhance sociability and evoke feelings of empathy and camaraderie, and is often
used to settle disputes and facilitate reconciliation.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv75BDl2MYUoyKF8hrYFKztTvhI1iVJld0BwCCUpXVjLDV21YsfBxLmLx8QwjO5MVDkKl0J-0s6YlD98OALv9Q5IzSgmH40KzkQuKvHFu1t8woDxGifxnDbSqMT_ZfNjQFK32Wbx9p2M/s1600/Herb+Pharm+Group-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv75BDl2MYUoyKF8hrYFKztTvhI1iVJld0BwCCUpXVjLDV21YsfBxLmLx8QwjO5MVDkKl0J-0s6YlD98OALv9Q5IzSgmH40KzkQuKvHFu1t8woDxGifxnDbSqMT_ZfNjQFK32Wbx9p2M/s400/Herb+Pharm+Group-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herb Pharm Family Summer 2010-Ed Smith is top right. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As an Herb Pharm intern
in 2010, I took a class with “Herbal Ed” in which he told a great story about
his friend who lived with a few roommates. When it came time to discuss the
phone bill, they would all drink Kava together. Rather than arguing about who
made which call and who owed the most money, they would soften up and start
claiming calls in a generous, open-hearted manner. Clearly, there are moments
in each of our lives that call for Kava!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Word of Warning</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSX_9Ndz7YV3feXf2rSEY1apHW4jQvP4S94-GVbyCfg9P4zvtRUyk-QQ9S9jF8Tu4a7JSA4jN_zrpMbJ33r11muyLk_0swDyMy1H7Mz2Ahs-tOm9PwiHKywDskFRVmPPlE6mAHGhZFvg/s1600/Kava+License+Area.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSX_9Ndz7YV3feXf2rSEY1apHW4jQvP4S94-GVbyCfg9P4zvtRUyk-QQ9S9jF8Tu4a7JSA4jN_zrpMbJ33r11muyLk_0swDyMy1H7Mz2Ahs-tOm9PwiHKywDskFRVmPPlE6mAHGhZFvg/s1600/Kava+License+Area.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of a sign outside Yirrkala, Northern Territory, Australia, where <span class="searchmatch">kava</span> is encouraged as a safer alternative to alcohol. Photo by Ray Norris via Wikimedia Commons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is true that the FDA has some very serious-sounding
warnings about this plant. To put this in perspective, this is the same FDA
that does not require labeling of GMOs, and is reportedly <a href="http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/monfdausgovc.html" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">run by former Monsanto employees</span></a><i>.</i>
The FDA certainly does not match my personal standards for health regulation, and
I believe each of us must decide for ourselves what is healthy. There is some
evidence to suggest that poor-quality Kava has been adulterated with stems and
leaves (or other plants altogether!), causing the rare health issues that crop
up with its use. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmCiAelz5qSG47Wstm-75RA11a1qi1HEY4Gj5EHA0SQCjaoSNkzbSJ-0D5n89OL9fqdL-buMDXTgyk80RevaL_TFPPuqxJ-CK1rDrA4yCElUP0bC8Eb7MFxyN0J83eJReNkBNN3ghJIw/s1600/Kava+Blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmCiAelz5qSG47Wstm-75RA11a1qi1HEY4Gj5EHA0SQCjaoSNkzbSJ-0D5n89OL9fqdL-buMDXTgyk80RevaL_TFPPuqxJ-CK1rDrA4yCElUP0bC8Eb7MFxyN0J83eJReNkBNN3ghJIw/s320/Kava+Blog+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Thus, choosing a good-quality source for your Kava is of the
utmost importance. I recommend Kona Kava, which is a family-owned
organic Kava farm in Hawaii that produces potent and high-quality root, not
diluted with stem or leaf. Their <a href="http://www.konakavafarm.com/" target="_blank">website</a> is chocked full
of information and recipes, and you can tell they really love what they do. I buy the powdered root by the pound for the best deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That being said, Kava is not for everyone. It should not be
used in cases of liver damage or disease, and it should not be mixed with
alcohol. As a sedative, it does lower reaction time, so driving or anything
else that requires full attention and coordination should be avoided. As with
anything, too much can be harmful. Treating this plant with respect and moderation
will ensure a healing and uplifting experience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kava Preparation:
Theory</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many ways to indulge in the Kava experience, and differing
schools of thought on this subject abound. Some go for high-potency, some for
authenticity in relation to traditional preparation, and some go for the best
taste. Here is what my studies and experiences have taught me: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Generally, herbal extracts work better than ingesting dried
herbs (as in capsules), because the body doesn’t have to work as hard to
assimilate the substance. Though this fact is not well-known by the general
public, it is true for the vast majority of herbs. This is the reason why many
people claim that herbal medicine “doesn’t work.” They have simply bought a
capsule of dried herb and felt no effects. Extracting herbs in water (as in
tea), alcohol (as in tincture), or in fat (as in salve) works best for potency.</div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=8905366b" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to this general extraction principle, you must
also take into account the specific components of a plant that you want to
extract for the desired effect. This is an art unto itself. Kava contains various active compounds, known as kavalactones, including those soluable by alcohol, water, and fat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, according to the Kona Kava website, the most
physiologically active kavalactones are fat soluable. The website sells soy
lecithin to be added to preparations for better extraction, but I have had good
results by using whole milk. I have taken Kava as a tincture before, which did
work to an extent, but not as well as extraction with milk. Even Herbal Ed
Smith, who owns a tincture company that sells Kava extracts, admits that a tincture is not the best form. To be fair, there is value in keeping the tincture on hand for quick consumption or in case of travel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet, the idea behind preparing Kava is not only to
extract, but also to create an emulsion, whereby the active compounds are
temporarily suspended in the liquid. In traditional times, this was achieved by
virgins chewing the root. I find easier to use a blender, myself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kava Preparation:
Practice</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2AzdtF7hfll-Pa1NRaDy4flafbtBwMjpJviOueAPwVpPs52YdysfZqrSYlqK8ASMGNHKRM_RTpf3fyBeEJ1qjPQkgvU_g0W_viJlb9I8kCGWr2-OTJSu2cyxilmgvb5eBhG0YnMNxnk/s1600/Kava+Blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2AzdtF7hfll-Pa1NRaDy4flafbtBwMjpJviOueAPwVpPs52YdysfZqrSYlqK8ASMGNHKRM_RTpf3fyBeEJ1qjPQkgvU_g0W_viJlb9I8kCGWr2-OTJSu2cyxilmgvb5eBhG0YnMNxnk/s320/Kava+Blog+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Here is my personal recipe for Kava—I like to call it a
“Kava milkshake.” It is a conglomeration of other recipes I’ve come across,
modified to be simple, yet potent. I cover the fat-soluable base with the use
of whole milk, and the emulsion principle by using a blender and drinking it
the same day. (For vegans, I recommend using coconut milk.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTDkXl0aOqrR8ws-AODwPZ7NCp3b5HL3wqI1i-etW-vi3TGLyeTa92AYehalJVGlduRLiCDjWC3OnhKjfFyeezTuSx5LjqEPIYE41T5-OveGjTmRMAmyacsMsjjRRpf8sMl79-QsEnfk/s1600/Kava+Blog+5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTDkXl0aOqrR8ws-AODwPZ7NCp3b5HL3wqI1i-etW-vi3TGLyeTa92AYehalJVGlduRLiCDjWC3OnhKjfFyeezTuSx5LjqEPIYE41T5-OveGjTmRMAmyacsMsjjRRpf8sMl79-QsEnfk/s320/Kava+Blog+5-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tightly-woven cheesecloth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Supplies Needed: </u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Powdered Kava Root (two heaping tablespoons)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Milk (6-8 ounces)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Blender</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Muslin bag or tightly-woven cheesecloth</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Tablespoon and Measuring Cup</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"></span><br />
<b><u>Directions:</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzBDIhGrviiMGXIcHeUy9im0LLgnzc7dDAZ00q8PDBmvc0bWqIEGyUYSGJ7ekPurDAHonlgiKWhuIaWedhlawvsNT51EmSXxBS8Iyew4s8vGi0mG1S3L0rqc_NhfzF-b12zOeFMqMxig/s1600/Kava+Blog+3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzBDIhGrviiMGXIcHeUy9im0LLgnzc7dDAZ00q8PDBmvc0bWqIEGyUYSGJ7ekPurDAHonlgiKWhuIaWedhlawvsNT51EmSXxBS8Iyew4s8vGi0mG1S3L0rqc_NhfzF-b12zOeFMqMxig/s320/Kava+Blog+3-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heaping dose of love!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-Measure 6-8 ounces of milk in measuring cup and pour into
blender. (I use raw, organic whole milk.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Scoop two heaping tablespoons of Kava root powder into
blender. (I usually heap the tablespoons <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very
</i>high, depending on how potent I want the blend.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Briefly turn on blender to mix milk with Kava, making sure
all root powder is moistened. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Let sit for up to an hour. This will aid in the extraction
process.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl6vo0D0j2DWQvVKf6WP23uC6WC4k9ZJosGRGF6VS8ex3IcUmRYLqsxGmI4PKTUST-C1w6mZn2UqTlLYi1Yo7T1tbwv0ik7V_g_WGeo8j93rAJlLKzrUwznIRI4AwgqGTwpgEICdtNGI/s1600/Kava+Blog+4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl6vo0D0j2DWQvVKf6WP23uC6WC4k9ZJosGRGF6VS8ex3IcUmRYLqsxGmI4PKTUST-C1w6mZn2UqTlLYi1Yo7T1tbwv0ik7V_g_WGeo8j93rAJlLKzrUwznIRI4AwgqGTwpgEICdtNGI/s320/Kava+Blog+4-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrap the cloth around the cup with a rubber band to let it strain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Blend for 4-5 minutes. Do this in 2-minute increments if
your blender motor protests. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Pour into measuring cup through muslin bag or cheesecloth. (You
can use any cup or glass, or even a coconut shell for authenticity. As a
pragmatist, I like to create the fewest dishes possible). I like to let it sit
and strain by itself for 10-20 minutes, but if you’re anxious to try your Kava,
you can start squeezing right away. Press bag so that you get as much liquid
out as possible. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Drink promptly, as the emulsion falls out of solution with
time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbF4wUedhcoJGmgsOiC7P_thqqBkVfiylcu1jEhC8elMfnwg6ukPuvvAWzeEhvxEF2QCMYPcRCGeRcaS95aPnd6s9zlJciI5UCK85xaAAfoAR6W6JcAMwpTM2WWZJxNfNivgJngczJjk/s1600/Kava+Blog+6-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbF4wUedhcoJGmgsOiC7P_thqqBkVfiylcu1jEhC8elMfnwg6ukPuvvAWzeEhvxEF2QCMYPcRCGeRcaS95aPnd6s9zlJciI5UCK85xaAAfoAR6W6JcAMwpTM2WWZJxNfNivgJngczJjk/s320/Kava+Blog+6-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the cloth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-As Kava drinkers know, the idea is to gulp down the
milkshake as fast as you can. The taste is not something to savor, but to get
through. It is fairly bitter and tastes earthy like soil. However, after a few
nice Kava experiences, you will learn to associate the taste with the happy
feelings, thus nullifying your aversion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Give thanks for your Kava experience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b>A Healthy Alternative</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There you have it—a beginner’s guide to the Intoxicating
Pepper. There is a wealth of more information available at the Kona Kava
website, among many other places. Of course, the best information is gleaned
from personal experience, so trying Kava for yourself is a great way to find
out more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQgC21h8O_9fo3g_kPrpPQajEmK73Eo5e9EeEyHMuY3a5AQqaNtffGHOSg4UrD2d1LUl4y3Jkx2nzCSrUUHqS5Y6cO7MTnDrIpzu4bHDEMbxwLiu2_ZUfEXFipyTXbJQJZp_mswzgPAU/s1600/sarah's+pics+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQgC21h8O_9fo3g_kPrpPQajEmK73Eo5e9EeEyHMuY3a5AQqaNtffGHOSg4UrD2d1LUl4y3Jkx2nzCSrUUHqS5Y6cO7MTnDrIpzu4bHDEMbxwLiu2_ZUfEXFipyTXbJQJZp_mswzgPAU/s320/sarah's+pics+036.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Kava is an indispensable medicine—one that treats body,
mind, and soul. It is a healthy alternative to alcohol and other relaxants, uplifting
the senses and spirit rather than dulling them. It is also a way around the pharmaceutical
industry, and can even replace over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol. Kava is a
mood-enhancer and pain reliever, and boosts one’s sense of sociability,
kindheartedness, and peace. This sacred medicine has been used safely for over
3,000 years by traditional Polynesian cultures. As with all natural substances,
our DNA has a long history of relationship with Kava (unlike our relative
one-night stand with modern synthetic drugs). In today’s increasingly stressful
world, Kava is a plant ally par excellence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="" height="1" src="https://am.globalhealingcenter.com/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=57fa69a60149e&a_bid=a9cc9e15" style="border: 0;" width="1" />
</div>
Sarah Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744660592887953616noreply@blogger.com2