Skip to main content

Plant Medicine

As a little girl, I loved the idea of using pants for their healing medicine and wisdom! Is gather soft leaves, smash them on a cinder block, and then - not sure what to do next - would roll into little pastilles, and set them in the sun to dry...

Mallow in the path

As an adult, I learned lots from my botanist  hubby and his mom, joined the local herb society, and took medicine making classes as I could. I cook with herbs, brew herbal tisanes and infusions, and infuse herbs in oil to use in my massage practice.

About 20 years ago, I lubricated the track on my sliding glass door - and  smashed my finger closing it!! (LMTs hate any hurts to our hands!!) 

The ND I work with said 'keep taking hypericum (homeopathic) as long as you notice it hurts, and apply hypericum oil or tincture!!' I did as he recommended  - the fingernail did fall off! But regrew, with a faint line) I also used comfrey poultices and clay externally. Hypericum or St John's wort helps speed the healing of nerves, especially those in fingers, toes and our mouths. 

I noticed a 'buzz' in that finger whenever I did Qigong or offered Reiki - that continued over the next year!

By the following spring, I rarely felt pain. Then a friend mentioned that her finger -  smashed the year BEFORE mine - still bothered her!! "And probably always will!' ... a great affirmation, right?

I used Arnica (200 strength) after breaking my wrist several years ago, alternating with over the counter pain relief - and had acupuncture sessions with the therapist in our office, used poultices, and again, felt the healing 'buzz' when practicing Qigong or Reiki. 

I put tonic (daily use) herbs in salad and tea - often gathering from around my yard. The phytochemicals in herbs have many beneficial qualities, and often include antioxidents, and stimulate the immune system.

Several herbal teachers recommend we begin by learning 100 uses for 10 common herbs.

What are some of your favorite herbs for health and well being?

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vibrational Healing

 In neatly 4 decades of offering bodywork and energy seasons, I have collected many modalities and tools. Reiki and other energetic offerings are surprisingly powerful when offered remotely, which gives us the opportunity to work together wherever we are in the World! When we combine Reiki with a dash of creativity, Magïc happens! In 2005, I traveled to my favorite retreat center, Breitenbush Hot Springs for a training in the history and use of  Tuning Forks both personally and in sessions. Already a harpist, I had  studied using sound as a vehicle for balance and harmony a decade before. Our training centered around use of weighted forks on acupuncture points - Ohm tuners and  Acutonics .   Around the same time, I acquired a set of Intentions Tuners (all but one unweighted forks which are  intended for use off the body)  "In water and watery solids, such as the human body, sound travels over 4x faster in the form of photons or sonic shear waves."...
Post a Comment
Read more

Safe Container

Tapping creative process can be a powerful way to work with trauma of all sorts. My massage mentor Jeanne Christensen compared our therapeutic work to peeling an onion, one layer at a time, to get to the core.  Medicine Basket Creating a safe container is one of the keys to gently working through layers.  I like to allow time to sit back with my journal/ do metacognitive drawing for process. It's good to verbalize that we will only go as deep as we're ready to process, and don't need to unpack it all at once.  The Intentional Creativity container is already structured in ways that support safety and healing for any issues we and our beloveds come with.   I often begin with basic grounding, imagining my roots going into the earth, and letting any feelings that arise drop down like compost. I keep tea or water handy (await from my paintbrush!) and remind myself to breathe.  In this  Tedx clip  ,  Dr Thelma Bryant affirms the healing powe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Connection and Purpose

 Being human is a dance of finding balance between our connections and our own unique spark, our place and purpose. In Okinawa, home of more centenarians than most other areas of the globe, discovering one's purpose is a key factor to well being, and is called Ikigai. When we align with our values and purpose, we are more content in good times, and resilient in times of stress. This in turn leads to enhanced health.  Other factors that promote well being and healing include enjoying a mainly whole foods diet (with a preponderance of local foods, fresh when possible), moving throughout the day, spending time outside, connections with friends and family, and engaging in creative pursuits.   For nearly 40 years I've been engaged in Healing Arts as a Licensed Massage Therapist, and added many complimentary tools to my Medicine Basket, including Reiki, Lightwork, shamanic teachings, Qigong, Tai Chi and Breema; and harmonic healing - including both therapeutic harp and Tun...
Post a Comment
Read more