“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.” Khalil Gibran
How can we understand death?
Death remains one of our biggest mysteries. Spiritual practice helps us to accept life as it comes and take death as it comes with equanimity. The great spiritual mystics all say that death is an illusion and a dying person should not be pitied because death is really freedom. This freedom is synonymous with the realization that Spirit neither dies nor is reborn. We mostly live unaware of this because there is a thin veil between our conscious Self and our Soul that over time thickens until we forget it ever existed. Perhaps we would come to better terms with our mortality if we were to engage fully with each living moment as an imperishable soul experiencing being human in a body.
“In life we must learn not only how to live, but how to die as well.” Seneca
Saint Benedict advised us to keep death daily before our eyes. This means that to fully embrace life, we must fully embrace death by accepting that this body will inevitably perish. Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it. Not everyone has such a long life and many people die at a much younger age, but no matter the length of our life span, there is often a fear of our inevitable death. If we become truly conscious of death as living with us from moment to moment, life becomes richer, more meaningful and the fear that was hiding beneath our denial gradually fades. The enlightened beings describe mortality as only a dream and with death; no worldly harm can ever befall us again. The Greek mystic Pythagoras affirmed that death is only a new beginning.
There is no life without death
Death is not just a part of life; there is no life without death, like night and day, dark and light, there cannot be one without the other. We live only in half of reality.
According to the ancient Yogic scripts, due to spiritual amnesia, we are reborn and completely unaware of our continuation into this embodiment. When we die we take the karmic seeds that have not been scorched with resolution that are stored in our electronic, causal body. This is what keeps us tethered to the reincarnation cycle and coming back to the wheel of existence. The enlightened being perceives death as a transition into another, higher life and a reminder to better utilise this life in order to realise a higher life beyond this one. It is our mistaken identification with the body as our real, eternal Self that causes attachment, which makes us fear death.
The more we avoid the key questions during life, the more puzzling and confusing death will be. This is why it is important to start our enquiry now into dismantling our identity with our body, which will inevitably turn to dust, and instead start to build a legacy of love.
“The word 'death' is a great misnomer, for there is no death.
When you are tired of life, you simply take off the overcoat of flesh and go back to the astral world.” Paramahansa Yogananda
Death merges into the moment itself
What would life be worth if there were no death? How could we enjoy the sun if it never rained? Would we yearn for the night if there was only day? Death is occurring in each moment of life; nothing in the universe maintains itself even for an instant, we need only look to Nature for affirmation of this. To live our death consciously means we will need to cease maintaining the illusion that the identity is permanent. Nothing is more creative than death, since it is the whole secret of life. It means that the past must be abandoned, that the unknown cannot be avoided, that nothing can be ultimately fixed.
If we allow everything to be just as it is, then death merges into the moment itself. When we can meet death in this way, then it no longer exists as a reference point for our fear. The fear of death is a chronic form of subliminal anxiety that haunts us. It's important to flush it out and to let in some fresh air. This happens in Mexico with the Day of the Dead celebration that consists of a set of observances and rituals that create a symbolic mingling of life and death.
The one thing of which we can be sure
It is astonishing that we humans live so profoundly oblivious to the inevitability of our dying. We behave as if we will live forever even though few of us continue in this life more than 75 or 85 years. Why is death so hard to accept when it is the only thing guaranteed from the beginning? We supress, deny, block it out of our consciousness or procrastinate the notion in the blind faith that it “couldn’t happen to me”. We keep it out of sight and mind until the mortality of the body hits us like a shock.
To reflect that this world is filled with death, and that our body too, has to be relinquished can seem very cruel. We ignore that cellular death is going on continuously, so we never have the same body for very long anyway. Eventually cells no longer regenerate and the body deteriorates. It is because we have become so attached to our fleshly bodies that this cyclic process to which all of nature is bound generates such fear in us.
“I've always had my eyes open and had only seen death, it wasn't until I opened my heart that I saw life” Cory Michael Adkins
We have always existed and always will
The great spiritual sages tell us that we have never been born and we have never died and that all of life manifests from the basis of consciousness. Since beginning-less time we have always been free because awareness neither dies nor is reborn, it is the changeless reality itself. To come to terms with the magnitude of these spiritual revelations means we have to live our life differently. A Native American saying, "Today is a good day to die for all the things of my life are present." A good day to die is when we are living our life instead of only thinking of it, when everything is up-to-date and the heart is turned toward itself.
Socrates welcomed death and remarked that a wise person always stays aware of death and must continuously remind himself of the soul’s precarious existence in the body. Plato, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre agree with the Indian myths known as the Puranas: “What you will do at the hour of death, do that very act daily.”
Spirit is eternal
For Sufis, death is stepping across a threshold and being given another chance to reawaken. If we accept the premise that life and death are both gifts from the Divine, then the prospect of death becomes more a source of wonder than a cause for fear. The Sufi phrase "die before you die" can be interpreted to mean that death reveals what is truly important and what is not, and this is good information to have sooner rather than later.
Science has proved that particles of matter or waves of energy are indestructible and so this also applies to the human soul or spiritual essence. Both matter and the soul undergo changing experiences, radical changes are termed death, but death or a change in form does not change or destroy the spiritual essence. The pure super consciousness of the soul perceives Spirit in all life and the underlying substance that pervades everything in the universe. In death we simply shed the gross physical body, which is only a lower form of mind and the cause of all manner of suffering for the soul. The benefit of undergoing the arduous journey of self-discovery is a grander picture of life and death.
“Have you mistaken life from death? Because you live your whole life escaping from death, while death is the eternal life” Ahmed Al Shareef
The spark of life has left
When we have been with a loved one who has died, we quickly see that the spirit has left the body. That spirit is forever gone from its earthly body, the spirit that is beyond description that made our loved one who they are. The body we love lies before us; discarded like a suit of clothes they wore their whole life. We are familiar with the look of it and yet we know that who the person truly was, is so much more than the body. It has become achingly apparent that the true being as soul/spirit we love no longer dwells in the body.
The first step in training for death according to some practices in India is to modify our attitude toward the body. The yogi acknowledges the foulness of the body in all its bile, pus, blood, sweat, mucus, faeces, urine etc. and understands that the body is a merely a corpse made alive by the presence of a spiritual force. They take care of the body as their instrument, but for this body itself they have no great attraction or attachment and do not associate it with their “I.” Yogis aren’t interested in the death of the body; they are interested in freedom from the cycles of death and rebirth.
Overcoming our revulsion of decomposition
Most of us are unlikely to take up the austerities of those devout yogis who spent their days in the charnel grounds. This place is an aboveground site for the putrefaction of bodies, generally human, where formerly living tissue is left uncovered to decompose. Charnel ground practice in India or Tibet still exists whereby, the yogi sits day and night in meditation among the bones and decay, contemplating birth, aging, sickness and death, including the reality of his own. They envision their own body in pieces, feel the spirits of the dead, confront fear, the seduction of vanity and having finally surrendered their ego, leave having realized their own non-being.
Thich Nhat Hanh wrote about doing meditation near a decomposing corpse until the corpse was just bones. The Buddhist Sutra of Mindfulness speaks about the meditation on the corpse: “meditate on the decomposition of the body, how the body bloats and turns violet, how it is eaten by worms until only bits of blood and flesh still cling to the bones, meditate up to the point where only white bones remain, which in turn are slowly worn away and turn into dust. Meditate like that, knowing that your own body will undergo the same process. Meditate on the corpse until you are calm and at peace, until your mind and heart are light and tranquil and a smile appears on your face. Thus, by overcoming revulsion and fear, life will be seen as infinitely precious, every second of it worth living.”
Physical death is astral birth
It has been elucidated by the yogic Rishis that at physical death we lose consciousness of the flesh and become conscious of the astral body in the astral plane of existence. We eventually leave from the consciousness of luminous astral birth to the consciousness of dark astral death and awaken in a new physical body. In this way astral death is physical birth. These recurrent cycles of physical and astral embodiments are the inescapable destiny of the unenlightened human being. Life and death are but a passing from dream to dream. They are only thoughts: we are dreaming we are alive and we are dreaming we are dead. The Yoga adept overcomes the illusion death by living life consciously from soul beyond identification with the physical body that is simply perceived as the physical abode of the soul.
A conscious passing
In fact, the Yogic avatars can consciously choose to live in their body until it has fulfilled its mission to spiritually assist humanity. Such masters are able at will and without attachment transcend into the absolute reality of god-consciousness. A yogi gathers all his/her life force through the Sushumna (central spine) channel into his head, opens the fontanelle, and then leaves through that opening. Sri Ramakrishna, for instance, stated that for a sage or enlightened person to give up his body is an entirely different matter than an ordinary person committing suicide. Most of us will not have led such a disciplined life like these great saints who demonstrated their mastery over the flesh to attain such control over the dying process. We can, however, still work towards dying consciously in the life we live now.
Practicing for our death
In yoga after doing asana (poses), it is customary to finish the session with Savasana (Corpse pose) where we lie on the floor in complete relaxation, surrendering the body back to the earth. If we completely surrender to the meditative state of Savasana we slow the active beta brainwaves in favour of the slower states of alpha and theta brainwaves that are connected to creativity. We also peel away deeper layers of conditioning such as our denial of death that obscures the brilliance of our authentic self. Savasana teaches us that the movements of life are only significant in contrast to the stillness of death. We discover in life, that death is a stripping away of all that is not us. What dies is merely our identity, the identification of a collection of parts that we call a person.
We recognize that dying is a continuous process, going on all the time, a “perpetual succession of extremely short-lived events.” To recognize this authentically is to experience some form of enlightenment. The ultimate goal of Savasana is to realise that the soul is Divine, non-material and eternal. The soul cannot die, only our body, its vehicle can die. Our yogic journey is to discover what does not die and the illusion of death can be unmasked.
“Use your own light and return to the source of light, that is called practicing eternity.” Lao Tzu
Letting go of the story of me
Fear of death is worse than death itself. Yoga has a name for our primary fear of death; it is called “abinivesa”, the mother of all fears, the fundamental and entrenched human condition from which all other fears arise. This innate human affliction is hardwired into our biology and affects our lives at a deep instinctual level. It exists as a helpful evolutionary survival tool that has served us through all the evolutionary trials of existence making us cling tenaciously to life. It really means that our greatest fear is the fear of non-being because we fail to know our true eternal nature and crave for further existence. When this primary ignorance about one’s spiritual nature vanishes, one makes life a preparation for death and the transcendent existence beyond.
The ultimate surrender
In Savasana we shine the light of our awareness on this fear so that it will eventually loosen its grip on us as we consciously let go of the story of “me.” Letting go of a self-centred response to reality brings us into a more realistic, clear and grounded relationship with life, which manifests in intelligent action. Death is only the end if we assume the story is about us. Fear does not stop death; it stops life.
Savasana is the ideal environment in which to practice one of the central principles of the yoga sutras; Ishwara Pranidhara that is the fifth Niyama or personal observance. This can be translated as surrendering our will to God/Grace/the Divine or the higher intelligence to which we dedicate ourselves. It is important to note that the yoga sutras also describe this practice of being unswerving in our devotion, as a one-way path to God-realisation.
Who we were before we were born
To be afraid of death means we cannot know our true soul nature, who we were before we were born. We human beings have been created with a unique endowment that is possessed by no other life form. We all have awakened or dormant spiritual centres of life and consciousness within our spine and brain which give us the ability to express fully the Divine consciousness and powers of the soul. To fully live our blessed life, we can recover our lost soul-awareness of the Divine perceptions and capacities in the subtle cerebrospinal centres – the chakras. Yoga techniques of breath and meditation enable the soul to regain the memory of oneness with omnipresent Spirit.
We are touched by sacredness of transition
In India a dying person is reminded to bring his or her thoughts to God. All discussion of worldly matters should cease in the dying person’s presence, as he or she is already looking through the window of the future. In the Lakota/Sioux tradition, a person who is grieving is considered awakened and most holy. Indeed when we are struck by the sudden lightning of loss, we feel humbled by the sacred significance of the transitioning soul as if we too stand on the threshold of the spirit world. The prayers of those who grieve are considered especially strong and it is considered good to ask them for their help.
Since antiquity, women in Greece have been called on to voice the collective grief of the bereaved, gathering at gravesides to wail in ritual lament. Greek lore describes a liminal period between a person’s funeral, when the journey to the underworld begins, and the rite of exhumation, when the soul escapes its earthly bonds. The grieving people undergo their own metamorphosis, estranged from society until they relinquish the dead.
The ultimate gift to another
To be with someone who has grieved deeply we can sense how that person has no layer of protection, nothing left to defend. The mystery is looking out through that person's eyes. For the time being, he or she has accepted the reality of loss and has stopped clinging to the past or grasping at the future. In the groundless openness of sorrow, there is a wholeness of presence and a deep natural wisdom. Grief runs like a stream through our life that doesn’t go away. Our grief lasts a lifetime but our relationship to it changes and we can be transformed once we untie its binding knot to discover a time of renewal. In grief we access parts of ourselves that were somehow unavailable to us in the past. With awareness, the journey through grief becomes a path to wholeness. Grief is a catalyst for healing, breaking open our heart in ways that deepen our connection to others and to Spirit.
It is a generative gift to help a dying person die with a calm, happy and positive mind. Anything that we can do to achieve this will benefit the person, whether that is good nursing care and pain relief, massage, the presence of a loving family or whatever. It is said that the best thing we can bring to a dying person is our own quiet and peaceful mind. In this way we will help the dying person make the transition from this life to the next as smooth and as meaningful as possible, recognising the vital spiritual importance of this transition.
“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” Rumi
Dissolution upon death
At the time of death, the winds (pranas) associated with the four elements (earth, water, fire, air) deteriorate, until those elements can no longer act as a basis for consciousness. Upon the death the human being, the elemental body disintegrates back into the earth, but also integrates back into Source. This is interesting because it conveys clear meaning of the concept of space or akasha. To “disintegrate” means to take apart, diffusion that creates more space between molecules; ironically this is also a “reintegration” into the element of space or ether, a dissolving of the dense form of matter to unify with the much lighter wide-spread pervasive element.
The corpse of the human returns to earth and then liquefies with putrefaction, causing combustion and the warmth gives rise to gaseous release, which further disperses into the ether. Here we see how energy transmutes from source to material form - manifest embodiment and from material form back to un-manifest Source.
According to Buddhist teachings all gross conceptuality is left behind and the internal appearance is of radiant white sky. There are meditation practices that emulate this death process with full awareness, a way to help subdue the usual fears associated with death. The dissolution of the all elements back to Source that includes our body and mind is but a transition that we can no longer fear when we know the underlying, Ultimate Reality (Brahman) in the universe as the eternal Soul.
Sacred scent
One of the most meaningful and sacred final acts that we can bestow upon our loved ones after they have passed is to lovingly wash their dead bodies and anoint them in divinely scented oils to honour and bless the bodily vessel that has carried the soul. This is an act of sanctity, deep love and respect that assists the soul on its passage into the next stages of its journey.
Relevant Tinderbox products:
Sacred Scent, Holy Incense, The Peace Within scented beeswax candle, Serenity Blend pure essential oils
]]>The teenage roller coaster
It’s no secret that teenagers face unique challenges that can affect their overall health and well-being; indeed for most, the adolescent transition from childhood into adulthood isn’t the easiest time. Fraught with physical, emotional and social changes; the carefree and playful days of being a kid have passed and a new layer of self consciousness is experienced. Chaotically shifting hormones can create fractious moods and feelings of isolation with overwhelming self-doubt or awkwardness while negotiating different social and educational pressures and responsibilities. Of course within this rollercoaster ride of the rapidly changing biology and mindscape; if the teenager does not receive adequate emotional support and the necessary wholesome nutrition and healing, balanced with an active leisure time in Nature, many unhealthy symptoms can start to develop.
Laying the ground to avoid future suffering
The teen years are a time when many chronic illnesses are diagnosed with health concerns arising for the first time because of these rapid changes. This is a sensitive and crucial time to assert healthy habits to ensure long term wellbeing, because insalubrious patterns established during adolescence usually guarantee suffering as a much older adult. Most teenagers thrive with a natural, holistic approach to address their health issues and attain optimal wellness. This is why naturopathy and herbal medicine offers such a sensible alternative to conventional medicine for today’s teens. The truth is, allopathic medicine often comes with associated complications which are not what the young adult-in-the-making needs during this important biological and psychological transition. The individualised approach with natural treatments offers a sound, long-term solution for most teenage health issues to prevent chronic disease and set them up for a much happier, less stressful future
The teenage brain is different
Teenager’s brains function quite differently when entering puberty and go through a rapid growth spurt with the rapidly changing hormones. Research shows that the parts of the brain connected to emotion (the limbic system) react more strongly in teens than in children or older adults. Meanwhile, the frontal cortex, the rational and calming part of the brain isn't fully mature either in adolescents. So their actions are guided more by the emotional and reactive amygdala and less by the thoughtful, logical frontal cortex. Images of the brain in action demonstrate how adolescents' brains work differently than adults when they make decisions or solve problems.
Beginning at puberty, the brain is reshaped. Neurons (gray matter) and synapses (junctions between neurons) proliferate in the cerebral cortex and are then gradually pruned throughout adolescence. Eventually, more than 40% of all synapses are eliminated, largely in the frontal lobes. As the frontal lobes become more developed, two things happen. Firstly, self-control develops as teens are better able to assess cause and effect. Secondly, as more areas of the brain become involved in processing emotions, teens become better at accurately interpreting others' emotions. Different children's brains develop at different speeds, just like their bodies do; not only that, brain scans show that different parts of the brain mature at different rates. In fact, some parts of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex, do not appear fully mature until 24 years old!
Diverting attention to the uplifting and positive
It is important to encourage the curious and creative minds of young people by helping them make sound and sustainable health decisions. It means steering them away from deleterious habits like junk food, alcohol and recreational or pharmaceutical drugs that will inevitably manifest in long term health issues. Naturally the best way to influence teens positively is through example and modelling the salubrious behaviour we want them to emulate. The teen years are ideal for establishing a stable mindset about preventative health.
It is always better to prevent disease than find ways to cure it.
This is the intelligence that we need to awaken in our young people and not encourage an early co-dependance on a medical system that does not deliver health, because it is built on illness. Of course the medical system will have a valid place when necessary, but it is not our first option and can be used when needed as a diagnostic data gathering exercise. The first and most important thing teenagers or any of us can do to ensure optimal health and well-being is to live a balanced lifestyle.
Curbing their craving
Teenagers are attracted to fast food, sugary junk substances and drinks to boost their voracious appetites and lagging energy levels. By the time children reach adolescence, the nutritional patterns for their lifetimes have been firmly established, making it of paramount importance for our teenagers to gain nutritional knowledge. This includes learning some basic ways in which they can integrate herbs in their myriad varieties into their daily self-care routines. Intelligently curated meals with a broad variety of plant based foods and herbs provide the nourishing building blocks necessary to support teenager’s rapid growth. If the diet itself contains myriad high-quality, fresh, organic, foods from all food groups, there will inevitably be less craving to fill those nutrient gaps with junk food. Keeping teenagers busy is paramount, bored minds seek solace in fast food options. Some teens may better respond to eating small and frequent meals to prevent spikes in hunger and certainly consuming plenty of fiber will help stomachs feel fuller and help with digestive and constipation issues. It might be wise to not keep trigger foods in the house and have plenty of healthy snacks readily available.
Baseline health protocols
The baseline for teenage health is eating an organic, whole foods and mostly plant-based diet that is rich in a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, nuts and seeds and if meat is required only wholesome wild caught fish or pasture-raised animal products. It may seem to cost more than chemically-treated so-called “food” that is devoid of any nutrition, but in reality it will save heaps on medical costs down the track. Teens need some form of movement everyday to stay healthy and happy, whether that is walking, yoga, dancing, or strength training. Last, but not least, it is essential for their growing bodies and minds to get around 8 hours of quality sleep every night. Gentle herbs can be reliable sleep buddies.
The teenage rite of passage
Adolescents are forming a sense of who they are, who they want to be, what they need to do to get there and how they fit in the world. Uncertain, they often feel compelled to know what their future careers should be which creates conflicting thoughts. Teens are subjected to massive peer pressure and cultural expectations especially with social media, while negotiating change in relationships, ie marriage break ups, shifting to new schools or cliquey groups of friends. They often have a lot going on with school, sport and other activities, part-time jobs and socialising. Stress from study, navigating relationships and societal issues like technology can become overwhelming and it all takes its toll on their wellbeing.
Of course we want them to gradually gain independence, develop their own thoughts and build confidence, however this presents a major challenge for so many of our young people who are no longer children but not quite adults. The many physiological and psychological changes in adolescence also means that the way they think and feel changes. It is normal for them to also feel self-conscious about their changing body and newly emerging sexual feelings, especially at a time when fitting in with their peers feels so important. Perhaps we need to bring back ritual into their lives, to celebrate the importance of becoming a man or a woman. We can create a protective, supportive and fertile learning environment within the family, at school and in the wider community to mark the adolescent transition as a sacred rite of passage.
When things go awry
When we neglect to provide a sense of place, safety and a stable source of healthy living for our teens, we start to see patterns that impede their natural progressive evolution. Such patterns include social media overuse, to distract from painful feelings. Substance or alcohol abuse, as self-medication for anxiety, trauma or depression. Self-harm, as a way to release feelings of pain, tension and anxiety. Disordered eating as a form of self-control when teens feel out of control. Sometimes it’s the basic things that help the most here; unconditional loving and one-on-one attention with plenty of hugs and humour and, of course, the high quality diet.
It can really make a positive difference for teens to use simple herbal remedies like nervine teas, calming plant scents and for them to cultivate a healthy functioning gut-biome which is central to well-being. A calm environment at home helps teens feel like we have their back when life gets rocky and providing ample opportunity for teenager’s creative expression is essential. Of course using herbs and essential oils contribute greatly to cultivating the home as a place of serenity and peace. Whether it’s creating art, photography, dancing or music, it can all help with mindfulness and stress relief.
If we want to physically and spiritually nourish are teenagers we need to establish times to disconnect them from their devices and get them out into Nature and get Nature into them.
Common maladies of the modern teenager
Acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions
Allergies
Anxiety
Asthma
ADHD - Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
Eating disorders
Obesity or appetite loss
Colds & Flu and Bronchitis
Depression and behavioural issues
Digestive complaints – stomach pain, IBS, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea
Fatigue and low energy
Headaches and migraines
Hormonal imbalances
Menstrual pain and difficulty
Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid
Insomnia and sleep disorders
Sexually transmitted diseases
Herbal preventative help
It is wise to use holistic herbal medicine with wholesome nutrition as the first port of call to treat adolescent health issues; otherwise the medical system will set these young adults up with drugs like antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, antidepressants, ADHD medication etc. Once entrenched in the system with such medications, it becomes very difficult to extricate the teenager into an independent health homeostasis, whereby their body maintains its own intrinsic balance. Herbalism provides a safe, gentle and effective alternative to conventional medicine that empowers teenagers to take charge of their health, developing lifelong habits of self-care that will serve them well into adulthood.
Natural medicine can help teenagers understand their own bodies better and allows them to participate in their own healing process. While conventional medicine may focus on treating specific symptoms, herbal medicine aims to address the underlying causes of health issues. This natural approach emphasises disease prevention and can teach teenagers healthy habits to can carry with them throughout their lives. The long-term benefits of herbal medicine for teenagers includes improved immunity, better mental health and a reduced risk of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Healing themselves with herbs
We can teach teens simple herbalism to treat common ailments that periodically arise such as treating skin rashes with calendula balm, easily soothing earache, perhaps from swimmer’s ear, with Mullein infused oil, or rinsing their mouth with myrrh tincture after dental work. Teens can diffuse essential oils in their bedroom or special space to help with sleep with chamomile or lavender oil, enhance memory and focus with basil and rosemary, perk them up with citrus oils or if they have a cold, to clear a congested nose with eucalyptus, cedarwood or peppermint. We divert them from the toxically sweet, synthetic alternatives readily available to only the pure essential oils that are derived uncorrupted from plants. In this way they will become more discerning with their tastes and recognise immediately artificial smells and only choose those that derive from the botanical world that denote authentic quality.
Like children, adolescents, move in close knit groups, sitting in school and playing sport which makes them quite vulnerable to catching every cold or flu that is going around. Fortunately, rather than going down the pharmaceutical path, involving flu shots and antibiotics etc, herbs and aromatherapy offer excellent remedies to both protect and resolve whatever virus or lurgy might be lurking. Herbs reign supreme here for boosting immunity and nipping colds and flu in the bud, before they worsen and entrench in the lungs. Echinacea, yarrow, peppermint, mullein, elderflowers and berries, elecampane, rosehip, thyme, ashwagandha & liquorice will be very helpful.
Many teens start to develop a newfound interest in skincare and if they develop rashes or acne, their inflamed troubled skin can be a source of embarrassment.
If the teenager understands that their skin is a live organ that reflects what they put into their bodies and how clean and resistant they are internally; they will naturally seek out more wholesome herbal skincare, herbal teas and use aromatherapy to treat their skin issues. It is important that the teenager learns to be discriminating with their skincare choices. Quality herbal skincare should not contain dyes, non-botanical fragrance and parabens or any other chemical additives that can irritate dry and sensitive skin or exacerbate their acne, or worse, mimic and disrupt hormones as it seeps through the bloodstream.
Choosing natural plant perfumes and deodorants
We have all probably reeled on occasion from the overwhelming toxic overload of too liberally applied teen deodorants and perfumes. Teens too often reach for their cheap perfumed products, especially to counteract their hormonally spiked body odour. Human skin is permeable and common commercial deodorants and synthetic perfumes contain a host of insidious petrochemicals and preservatives that creep deeper into the body to play havoc with human health.
Apocrine glands release sweat into a hair follicle instead of a duct when our body temperature rises, but also when we are under stress. These glands remain inactive until puberty when they begin to produce sweat. It's really only after puberty begins that body odour suddenly becomes an issue. The sensitive period of adolescence is a good time to start the healthier habit of using simple effective plant based deodorants which would certainly help deal with body odour and avoid hormonal disruption.
Cultivate teenage gut health
The foundation of a healthy, happy gut enhances optimal function for the entire body. Training teenagers to protect and nurture the integrity of their gut biome is essential if we want them to maintain their own health. This means encouraging their gut’s own digestive system to produce their own probiotics, that are the live yeasts and good bacteria that live in the body. Sometimes supplemental probiotics can help but it is always best harvest probiotics from food sources to optimise digestion. This means eating plant based and fermented foods such as sour kraut, pickles, yoghurt, kefir, tempeh. We can also make sure our teenagers are eating plenty of prebiotics that are a food source rich in indigestible inulin, to feed and sustain the gut's healthy bacteria. Dandelion, burdock, banana, beetroot, turmeric, liquorice, elecampane will help.
We give teens soothing demulcent herbs like marshmallow, slippery elm and liquorice, that heal the gut lining. We choose anti-inflammatory and cleansing herbs to clear out harmful bacteria and reduce pain. Chamomile, lemon balm, yarrow and turmeric, liver tonics, milk thistle, burdock, dandelion, to help digestive function and evacuation. All these marvellous gut loving herbs can help with bloat, distension and gut discomfort. Other digestive herbs include peppermint, fennel, ginger, meadowsweet, mugwort, star anise, nettle, calendula & black pepper.
The special teenage teapot
It is a great idea to let our teenagers choose their own individual teapot in which they can brew their own special healing herbal teas. Allow them to take an active part in selecting the particular herbs or herbal blend that suits their unique health issues. They can enhance already blended teas with lemon-balm fresh from the garden placed directly in the pot if they like. Your fussy teen can sweeten their brew with honey; add an immune boosting or cognitive enhancing elixir to make their healing regime their own. A cold decoction of their special herbal tea, that they made themselves can go in an insulated bottle to take to school to drink during the day. In this way we are encouraging our young adults to start taking responsibility for their own health and adopting natural safe methods to help them feel and perform better.
Herbs for promoting Mental Health
Teens can too often experience stress, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders that significantly impact their daily lives. Plant medicine for brain health typically provides support in the form of enhancing blood flow in the brain, acting as a nootropic and providing nutrients for cognitive functions. Herbal treatments help decrease anxiety, improve sleep and reduce depression symptoms. They are our first choice before resorting to pharmaceutical anti-depressants, sedatives and sleeping pills. Herbs such as ginkgo biloba, panax ginseng and matcha green tea have been found effective in boosting cognitive activity and nervous system health. Research shows that sage and rosemary can have impressive cognitive-enhancing effects. They are high in many potent plant compounds, including luteolin, rosmarinic acid, camphor, quercetin and apigenin, giving them impressive medicinal properties.
Safe and effective herbs for teenage anxiety include chamomile, skullcap, ashwaghandha, rhodiola and lemon balm used in teas, tinctures or elixirs. Other herbs like valerian, passionflower, L-theanine (in green or black tea) can be of valid help especially with treating sleep difficulties. Omega-3 and -6 supplements can significatly improve several ADHD symptoms in children, including inattention. Oats are considered an excellent brain food and are especially supportive for improving focus and concentration when combined with other nervines such as Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica), Linden (Tilia europaea) and Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).
Nootropic herbs can increase energy, focus, concentration, memory, recall and more making them ideal for the studying teenager. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a nootropic that can help reduce inflammation as a strong antioxidant and has shown potential for regulating neurotransmitter activity and increased blood flow to the brain. Gotu Kola has similar antioxidant properties while also increasing mental function, memory and cognition. Gotu Kola has these actions not through a stimulating effect, but rather through a mild relaxant effect that calms and settles. Lion’s Mane mushroom is an efficacious adaptogen, nervine, and nootropic whose benefits are still being discovered. It contains essential brain nutrients like choline and has profoundly beneficial effects on the brain. It can stimulate NGF (nerve growth factor) and improve the health and regeneration of myelin sheaths.
ADHD the modern disease
We could all use a little extra support to help us focus and stay on task, however for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it’s about more than difficulty concentrating. Amongst other symptoms, people with ADHD tend to have high energy levels, struggle with focus and tend towards impulsivity. Factors that affect those with ADHD include genetics, the micro biome, nutrition, lifestyle and more. Because there are so many factors contributing to someone with ADHD, a purely pharmaceutical approach may not always be the most effective method. As an Ayurvedic approach to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ashwagandha has been shown to improve reaction time in people with ADHD and can also improve attention and impulse control.
Ashwagandha which is non-addictive, helps reduce stress and anxiety in young adults, improving focus and concentration. Ayurveda would also personalise the teen’s diet to improve their condition.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) can be beneficial in managing the symptoms of ADHD as it can help improve our body's intellectual and cognitive functions. It is a traditional Ayurvedic brain tonic that has been used to treat a variety of brain disorders, including ADHD. Studies show that brahmi can greatly improve concentration and focus, as well as reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. Other adaptogenic herbs that have been used to provide support for those with ADHD include Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea).
Remarkable rhodiola
Adaptogens are herbs that increase the body’s overall resistance to stress by encouraging the nervous system to be in a parasympathetic dominant state, also called the ‘rest and digest’ state (as opposed to ‘fight or flight’). One superb adaptogen that has been used to support those with ADHD is rhodiola. Clinical research indicated those with ADHD have deficient levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Rhodiola has been used to increase levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Additionally, rhodiola can help balance out any excess stress hormones such as cortisol that contribute to hyperactive behaviour. Additional research indicates that this herb supports attention, memory and mental fatigue. Rhodiola is considered a gently stimulating or energising adaptogen. Sustainability is a concern with this slow growing succulent, so it is important to judiciously source from responsible suppliers.
Emerging sexual beings
Teenagehood is an active learning ground for the burgeoning sexual being. The pubescent girl begin’s her menstrual cycles and feels overly sensitive with mood swings and anxiety. The pubescent boy struggles to keep in check his raging hormones and awakened sexual impulses (too often stimulated by graphic sexual content online). Showing interest in things they care about and how they see themselves will help open them up so they feel comfortable discussing personal issues in their experiences at school and in their social life with us. At this age, we can talk about sexuality, romantic relationships and sexual affection, sexual or gender identity, consent, respectful relationships, sexting and pornography. The key is listening, talking and answering questions honestly and non-judgmentally.
How can we teach so many young men that their desensitising, dopamine-depleting addiction to pornography, that is rampant in current times, is an exploitation of their sexual nature? In a cultural climate that normalises this behaviour it is wise to bestow any understanding of how damaging and self-sabotaging pornography is for the future male adult. We explain to him how porn addiction weakens his psyche and ability to forge any authentic, meaningful connection with another. Reducing screen-time may help but only when accompanied by open, truthful communication. Herbal medicine can also be helpful to help smooth out erratic, chaotic male hormones whilst going through puberty; try the following herbs: damiana, saw palmetto, valerian, St John’s wort, wild yam, raspberry leaf and skullcap.
Teenage girls who suffer from menstrual discomfort, irregularity or period pain will benefit greatly from monthly use of the following herbs: Raspberry leaf, uva ursi, lady's mantle, chamomile, black cohosh, shepherd's purse, lemon balm, yarrow and ginger. Here are excellent menstrual supportive herbs that ease discomfort and pain and help to regulate hormones in female teens. There are also a plethora of marvellous herbal nerve tonics to keep extreme mood swings in check, like passionflower, ashwagandha, skullcap and lemon balm.
Empowering our Youth
It is important that we empower our teenagers to make the best decisions for their future selves; we can guide them, but if they feel bullied or pressured they will react and resist our best intentions. The best way is to include them in decisions, let them choose their own herbs, blends and the type of relaxation and exercise program that suits their individual personality. Yes, competitive sports keep teens active, focussed and build team skills, but they do not address the urgent need for deep relaxation, releasing stress, promoting sound sleep or maintain calm in the midst of inevitable demanding situations. Initiating young people into their own spiritual practice with simple beginner programs will be the most powerful and effective way to give teenagers emotional resilience and a more peaceful, rational perspective on their lives. It will help our teens to develop self-awareness and cultivate more authentic and deeper connections with others and Nature.
Cultivating spirituality
Some kind of simple daily routine involving silent contemplative time perhaps, or a simple meditation or conscious breathing practice will nurture emotional maturity and curiosity for understanding the spiritual nature of existence and the unlimited potentiality within limited embodiment. Young people like to create their own sacred space, it may involve building a small alter or shrine, to place their treasured objects or beautiful finds from Nature. This is where they can go to be alone and ponder the great mystery of life in peace and quietude and recover some equanimity. It is from this abiding inner calm that they will come to understand their unique soul purpose (dharma) in this life and know they can return to this innermost peaceful sanctuary anytime even in the midst of confusion and conflict.
There are multitudes of Apps to support any of these practices and technology can sometimes make it more appealing for many teenagers. They can practice a guided body scan relaxation to notice what thoughts come to mind as they focus on a specific body part, or a sound healing session to enhance their sensory perception. It is more effective if the practice resonates with the teen.
Teens can diffuse pure plant scents that open up their psychic faculties and enhance engagement with the unseen energies of the Universe. They can intentionally clear negative energies and elevate mindsets with plant incenses and perfumes to foster inner peace and contentment. These are doable, interesting and wholesome tools with which teens can enjoy exploring. Yoga can help our teenagers become more grounded, body confident and relaxed. When practicing yoga with teens, we encourage them to be kind in their actions, thoughts and words to themselves and others. We inspire them to understand how an enriched spiritual life is as important to develop as a wholesome diet and will bring clarity, make them a wiser and a more relatable, interesting person to be around.
Practices to begin in adolescence: Yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, breathing exercises, Tai Chi, Qigong, mindfulness, Nature immersion.
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Homeopathic Remedies:
Belladonna. This is indicated for red, hot, swollen acne and blemishes.
Gelsemium. If teenagers are worried about what others think, this remedy is good for anxiety of the anticipatory nature.
Ignatia. This remedy is good for any loss and sadness with friendships and relationships and even can apply to moving schools.
Bryonia. Use this if your teen is grumpy, ill-tempered and easily aggravated.
Tissue Salts
Silica. This tissue salt is good for healthy hair, nails and teeth and also for healing blemishes.
Kali Phos. Use this remedy for support during study stress. It can be used for focus headaches and also nervous tension.
Calc Phos. Traditionally calcium phosphate was used in tonics and believed to have a tonic effect at times of rapid growth and to improve the absorption of nutrients.
Mag Phos. This is good for cramps and muscle pain, particularly after exercise and a lack of water or around menstruation for girls.
]]>Sometimes we need to let things flow and sometimes when the body oozes too much fluid, we need to staunch the flow to preserve the integrity and tone of the tissues that are being leeched of hydration and nourishment. The herbal astringents work admirably to maintain the containment of vital fluids within the body. In early herbalism, before the advent of first aid chemical medicines, astringents were considered heal-all remedies. Such herbs were the only means to stop an acute loss of vital fluids and to promote healing in injuries. Their use is still very much worth consideration to counter bleeding, stop sweating, quell coughs and stop diarrhoea.
When our body is watery and congested with phlegm or snot, we need astringents to dry up runny noses or watery eyes and pull congestion from the lungs, throat and sinuses. Astringency breaks through sticky phlegm and snot so the body can expel it naturally. The coolness of astringency balances the heat of too much heavy density in our body or when the temperature rises from fever. Astringency also helps our body to absorb all the good nutrients and memory of the foods we eat, so the body’s tissues can utilise them for proper function.
The mouth-puckering herbs
If we take a bite out of any unripe fruit, a persimmon for example, we quickly recognise what astringency feels like. If we take a sip of black tea, especially one that has been steeping for too long and leave it in our mouth for a while, we will feel our mouth dry out and leave a puckering sensation. The mucosal lining contracts with a mild analgesic feeling inside of our mouth. This tightening of the mouth tissue is the astringent action of a plant that is rich in tannins. The tannins denature the salivary proteins, causing a rough "sandpapery" sensation in the mouth. Astringent taste cleanses the mouth, but can cause difficulty swallowing. Leafy greens, green bananas and cranberries are astringent. Astringent plant actives make an apple crunchy and lentils and peeled potatoes stick to each other. Astringent taste is often accompanied by bitter taste and mistaken as such or overlooked. Salt and foods high in potassium and magnesium are considered astringent but are not, because mineral rich foods tend to create a rough mouth feel.
The plant world offers us the bulk of natural astringents that work by drawing out water from the target tissue or membrane and reducing fluid emission.
Astringent herbs contain constituents that have a binding action on mucous membranes, skin and other exposed tissues. The word "astringent" derives from Latin astringere, meaning, "to bind fast".
Herbal astringents
Astringents herbs dry, draw or shrink body tissue that helps to create a protective barrier, reducing irritation and inflammation on the surface of tissues through a sort of numbing action. Internally, astringent herbs help to tone mucus membranes and dry up conditions of excess, diminishing discharges of mucus, urine, sweat or blood.
Astringents herbs can be employed for rapid wound healing and various digestive tract disorders. Aloe vera, yarrow, nettle and meadowsweet are good examples of astringent herbs with drying properties that are most helpful to seal off a leaky gut. They can also be used to treat persistent diarrhoea and inflammation of the intestines. In case of a bleeding wound, astringents can constrict blood vessels to help staunch it. In this case, we call the action styptic or haemostatic. Due to the astringent and mildly analgesic actions, astringents work really well to soothe sunburn or other mild burns. The specific effect depends on the particular herb used, how the herb is administered and how strong its astringent effect is.
Mostly all astringent herbs coagulate albumin or blood proteins, tone muscles; contract veins and gland ducts, slow down peristalsis or contractions in organs, and reduce excess salivation. Stronger astringent herbs stop diarrhoea and haemorrhaging. The herbs with this latter effect are called styptics. They also treat prolapse of the uterine and rectum. Milder astringent herbs reduce excessive perspiration and tighten enlarged pores by toning and contracting the skin and glands. Astringents can be used to supplement various clearing or detoxifying therapies. They are particularly good for treating ulcerations of the skin or mucous membranes. A good example is myrrh used in tincture form as a gargle for sore throat, treating spongy gums.
Astringent herbal tea that is rich in tannins can relieve acute diarrhoea. A combination of meadowsweet and lady’s mantle and raspberry leaf in equal parts works very well and can be safely used for children in acute cases. Also use astringent juices like cranberry or pomegranate juice that can be very helpful.
What are tannins?
Tannins are a subcategory of phenolic compounds. The constituents that are responsible for astringent actions are tannin, tannic acid and gallic acid that normally work by contracting or tightening tissues. Tannins create a barrier against infection, which is of great help for wounds and burns by tightening the upper layer of the skin, making it difficult for germs to enter the body via the skin.
The term “tannin” comes from the traditional usage of astringent plants for tanning leather. Animal skins were often preserved with oak bark, walnut shells and other specific tree barks. Tannins have the effect of precipitating protein molecules (how animal skin is turned into leather). Nowadays, leather is mostly tanned with mineral salts and other inorganic substances.
Why plants have tannins
Astringency is perhaps the most common therapeutic property in Nature. Plants high in tannins (often found in the bark, roots and also leaves) protect themselves internally from different kinds of funguses as well as protection from mould; they are helpful for the plant to prevent water, bacteria or other pests to enter. Externally they serve as protection from loss of fluid from the plant itself.
Astringency tastes unpleasant to many mammals (including humans), which tend to avoid eating astringent fruit; conversely, birds do not taste astringency and readily eat these fruit. It is thought that fruit astringency gives a selective advantage to some plant varieties because birds are better than mammals at long-distance seed dispersal, often flying a great distance before passing the seeds in their droppings.
Astringents are notably used to:
Astringents on the skin
Externally applied astringents cause mild coagulation of skin proteins to dry, harden and protect the skin. Accordingly astringents help heal stretch marks and other scars. Herbs with astringent properties are typically found in products for treating skin irritations, such as acne, skin allergies, insect bites and fungal infections such as athlete's foot. Herbal astringents work well for those who are prone to oily skin; acne sufferers are often advised to use astringents if they have oily skin. Astringents temporarily draw water out of tissues, shrink pores and tighten skin. In beauty products astringents are often used after cleansing and before applying a moisturiser.
Common non-herbal cosmetic products labelled as astringent are often confused with toners and usually marketed as treatments for acne-prone or oily skin and can even make oily skin irritated or cause it to produce more oil to compensate for the drying effect. Such products are meant to remove excess oil and usually contain alcohol, citric acid, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to accomplish this. The problem is that these ingredients are harsh on the skin and can cause irritation, inflammation, dryness and redness, especially on sensitive skin.
Natural herbal astringent ingredients are a safer, less harsh way to manage oily skin and much gentler on the skin and can remove excess oil without disturbing hydration levels. Many mildly astringent herbs have qualities that can safely be used by most skin types and will help balance oily skin without the over-drying effects.
Gentle yet effective astringent herbs
Witch hazel
Widely known for its medicinal and cosmetic uses, the extract from the leaves, bark, and twigs of witch hazel have been used as an astringent to treat irritated skin and inflamed tissues for hundreds of years. Witch hazel has hamamelitannin, tannin and gallic acid, all of which produce its astringent and styptic actions. It is such a valuable astringent herb that it has been successfully used to stop miscarriages. Among its many uses, it is also known to reduce internal secretions, improve circulation, treat varicosity, diarrhoea and mucous colitis and has been used as a first aid remedy. However, when used inappropriately or in excess, it can cause liver damage and stomach irritation.
Raspberry Leaf
Raspberry leaf is a valuable skincare ingredient due to its remarkable astringent effect. It contains tannins that help constrict the skin pores and reduce inflammation, making it useful for the treatment of various skin conditions, such as psoriasis, acne and eczema. The herb is invaluable to staunch excessive menstruation and regulate the flow. It can be used to gently treat diarrhoea.
Calendula
Traditionally, calendula is used internally and externally as medicine to treat burns, bruises and wounds due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In skin care, calendula is a safe, mild astringent and an emollient, helping to soften and soothe irritated skin. Calendula is the first port of call for injuries to cleanse, stop bleeding and stop infection entering the wound.
Elderflowers and berries
Elder, Sambucus nigra is a powerful immune-boosting tool during cold and flu season. The flowers are used in traditional medicine as a diuretic, laxative and diaphoretic, which means it causes sweating to cool and encourage the release of toxins. In skincare elderflowers possess antioxidant and astringent qualities and are also high in vital nutrients like vitamins, bioflavonoids and essential fatty acids. The berries tone and build resilience of all the respiratory and internal mucosa and boost immunity.
Eyebright
The Euphrasia plant has long been used to treat eye conditions like conjunctivitis, swollen eyelids and sties. Its anti-inflammatory properties also make it helpful as a treatment for sinusitis, colds, allergies and respiratory health. Eyebright also helps de-puff and reduce redness around the eyes and acts as an astringent and antioxidant on the skin.
Green Tea
Green tea has many benefits topically for the skin with copious antioxidants to help repair damage from free radicals that lead to signs of premature aging. It is also excellent for treating acne because it helps reduce inflammation, kill bacteria and slow sebum production and its astringent action minimises pores and balances the skin’s p. H.
Cranesbill
Cranesbill (Geranium masculatum, dissectum and mole) has tannic and gallic acids, which give astringent and tonic effects. It has many medicinal uses, which include treating boils, wounds, sores and diarrhoea and balancing over-active sebaceous glands.
Nettles
Nettles were used to treat everything from colds to dysentery, heavy periods, to headaches and digestive issues. It blocks histamine to reduce allergies, lowers blood pressure and more. For skin, it acts as an astringent to tighten and tone and as an anti-inflammatory to reduce redness and irritation.
Rose
Rose has been used internally and externally for many ailments. In skin care, rose is effective at hydrating, soothing and repairing and is especially good for mature skin. Astringent properties make it an excellent toner and pore purifier.
Myrrh
Myrrh is a classic example of an effective astringent herb that contracts and cleans to seal off and protect the delicate mucous membranes of the body namely the mouth, throat and genitals. It is powerfully anti-microbial.
The astringent herbs
Arnica
Aloe vera
Agrimony
Blackberry root and leaf
Cranberry
Green and black tea
Horsetail
Epilobium
Horse chestnut
Sage
Bayberry
Plantain
Meadowsweet
Lady’s mantle
Shepherd’s purse
Schisandra
Myrrh
Rose
White oak
Witch hazel leaf and bark
White willow bark
Yarrow
Yellow dock
Calendula
Elderflowers
Rosehips
Uva ursi
Ginkgo biloba
Nettles
Nutmeg
Lady’s mantle
Astringent essential oils
In aromatherapy, there are some remarkable astringent essential oils that can be used to tone and tighten and protect the body tissues. We can massage them into the skin, bathe in them and diffuse them to inhale them into our systems or wear them as perfumes to achieve their subtle energetic work. Astringent essential oils are particularly good for those who suffer from acne, oily skin, and poor lymphatic drainage in the face where fluid can collect near the eyes and jawline giving the face a puffy appearance.
Cypress
Citrus Oils
Lemon myrtle
Honey Myrtle
Rose
Tea tree
Clary sage
Sage
Rosemary
Spearmint
Litsea cubeba
Frankincense
Geranium
Cedarwood
Some astringent essential oil standouts
Cypress Oil
Cypress oil is used to treat respiratory ailments especially coughs and congestion and to heal wounds as well as varicose veins and haemorrhoids. Cypress is also anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic (reduces muscle spasms). As an astringent and anti-bacterial for the skin, the oil is commonly used to treat acne.
Tea Tree Oil and Lemon Tea tree
Tea Tree oil is a strong anti-bacterial agent and used in skincare products, oral hygiene and hair. It is effective as a treatment for acne via anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory actions and is a potent astringent to reduce pores and manage oily skin.
Citrus Oils
Many citrus oils are used in skin care for their astringent and toning effects. Oils like lemon, lime, sweet orange and neroli are excellent ingredients to purify the skin, balance pH and reduce pore size. Often found in acne-fighting treatments, citrus oils help cleanse pores of impurities and seal them off to prevent new infections from growing. Plus, they help reduce inflammation that comes along with certain types of acne. Vitamin C in citrus also supports collagen production to counteract signs of aging.
The spiritual lessons of astringency
Emotionally, astringent herbs help us to cool off, retreat, recollect scattered thoughts and retain strength. Astringency causes constriction in bodily tissues that creates a barrier to halt all outgoing energy. Indeed, astringent plants bring us the wisdom of containment. Contraction is as important as expansion for balance within the organism. Sometimes we let too much go, we are always giving out and don’t leave enough for our own well being. Perhaps we become too loose with boundaries, discharging too much chatter, information, opinions and emotional stuff that ought to be internalised to properly assimilate and reintegrate back to heal the whole self. Where we have become too flaccid and lax, we need restraint and containment to flourish.
Precautionary advice
Like everything, there is an opposite state, whereby we can have too much of any helpful herb that no longer serves us well or does not suit our particular constitution. Long-term internal use or too much astringency in the diet can be detrimental to the health for some people with gut issues, as there may be an eventual inhibition of proper food absorption across the gut wall. In some cases, astringents can be contraindicated for treating excessive discharges. For example, diarrhoea from toxins or poisoning should not be suppressed, but promoted as part of the cleansing process. Sweating from excessive fever should not be suppressed with strong astringents because sweating is the body’s way of cooling, heat clearing herbs should be directly used. Some milder astringents such as eyebright, yarrow, raspberry leaves, nettles and rosehips are widely used because of their mildness and broad regulating action. Internal uses of astringents are not suitable for conditions of excessive dryness or severe nerve disorders. Astringents should be combined with other herbs such as demulcents like liquorice or marshmallow to protect vital fluids.
People with serious liver disease should avoid astringents. Even though the liver tends not to absorb tannins, even small amounts of tannic acid for an impaired liver can cause side effects, like abdominal pains, constipation, diarrhoea, thirst, polyuria or liver, heart or kidney failure. Accordingly, herbalists tend to avoid an excessive use of herbs that are high in tannins, preferring deeper therapeutic strategies. Astringents are often used secondarily to treat acute symptoms, while other therapies are used primarily to treat the cause.
Astringent Products from Tinderbox:
Wee tea, Tummy Settle
Calendula and Myrrh Tincture
Inner Radiance,
Rosehip and Elderflower Elixir,
Juniper Body Rub,
Orange Flower Spritzing Toner
Rose Radiance
A Woman’s Tea, A Mans’ Tea
Too much being a bit naughty
We can go along being a bit naughty for so long with our dietary habits, but eventually the body will tell us enough is enough and signal to us that we have gone too far and reached critical mass with accumulating toxins. The body never lies. Over time, it will start to bear the imprints of every excessive transgression or deleterious habit in which we have indulged. It is not only congestive and processed foods that are the culprits, but also elevated cortisol levels from chronic stress and the endogenous metabolic toxins of internal origin that build up to adversely affect our health. Indeed, in this modern world, we humans are exposed to multiple stressors that can burden our bodies’ own detoxification systems with excess waste. This includes vestige detritus from pharmaceutical or recreational drugs that still lurks within the body’s cells. The broad array of external environmental toxins includes pesticides, hidden food additives, heavy metals as well as the chemical pollutants in the air that we breathe. Improper clearance of toxins can certainly play a role in obesity, cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive concerns, immune dysfunction, allergies, chemical intolerance and reproductive and developmental concerns. It is no wonder that humans have always turned to reliable, detoxifying herbs to deal with this ubiquitous and vexatious problem.
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This article is an exploration of the deepest and most hidden end of the relaxation spectrum - radical relaxation. We might discover it becomes the most vital practice we have in our self-care toolbox to revive and recalibrate our entire being and liberate us from our pain. Radical relaxation could even become fundamental to ageing comfortably and gracefully and the beauty is, it doesn’t cost anything.
So how can relaxation be radical you might ask? Isn’t it just laid-back rest? Many people save up all their relaxation aspirations for their long-awaited annual holiday. The coveted getaway to indulge, guilt free in the leisurely pursuit of pleasure; like reclining on a comfy lounger by an infinity pool perhaps, sipping cocktails while lazily gazing at tropical sunsets? As a stopgap, for the yawning time in between, many might be found chilling on the sofa watching Netflix with a bottle of red and a bowl of chips. Indeed, some good old escapism certainly has value diverting us from our stressful working lives to something less arduous and comfortable, but it is not necessarily true relaxation that offers actual regenerative rest. That is because such undertakings are still an act of “doing” that engages our mind, our attention, our senses and even our bodily functions. They will not earn us the life-changing transformation and healing of true relaxation, where the goal is to give our self the rare experience of nothingness with no stimulation, no deadlines, no effort nor strain.
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“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without” Siddhārtha Gautama
It is difficult to feel at ease in a world so full of conflict and suffering, especially when we witness the collective shadow of humanity in full force; yet never has it been so important to find true serenity and peace within. World peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds and hearts. Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. When we become more intimate with that transcendent source of peace within, only then can we radiate that outward into the world. Then we will realise that the feeling of separation is but a mirage concealing our interconnectedness within the vast web of humanity.
If we are peaceful in thought and action towards others, peace will be reflected back to us because life is our mirror. Inner, abiding peace spreads outwardly as joy, regardless of what is unfolding around us. Happiness is nothing more than a fleeting emotion and success can be taken from us just as easily as it can be gained, but real inner peace is everlasting and unassailable.
Indeed, peace is a state of Being that we find by realising who we are at the deepest level and meditation is the most fruitful way to cultivate it. The challenge is that the busy mind must be extraordinarily quiet and still to feel deep inner connection on that level of existence with the whole evolutionary force of the Universe. By consistently soaking ourselves in the unbounded ocean of pure Consciousness, we become more empowered to bring greater peace into the world. As our experience of the silence and stillness expands we are experiencing the deepest truth of who we are and aligning with the creative intelligence of Nature.
Peace is not simply the absence of violent conflict; it is a state of harmony; harmony between people, between humanity and nature and harmony within ourselves. So rather than just wishing peace for everyone, this Christmas, we wish for everyone to make peace, to realise that peace is who we are and what we emanate out into the world. We have the power to choose peace in every moment so we might share our innermost joy with others. Like fragrance, it oozes forth from the core of the blossoming soul.
Peace Mantra: Lokha Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings be happy and free from suffering
]]>The Plant
Hops are of the relatively small family of Cannabaceae; cannabis and hops are are cousins, both sharing a key ingredient called terpenes. The specific name Lupulus is derived from the Latin, lupus that means wolf. The English name Hop comes from the Anglo-Saxon hoppan meaning to climb. Pliny the ancient Roman naturalist explains that when hops grow amongst young willows, it strangles them with its light, climbing embraces, as the wolf does a sheep.
The humulus plant, known commonly as hop, is a dioecious meaning it has the male and female reproductive organs in separate plants. Hops is a twining, perennial vine that is fast-growing with rhizomes that develop from axillary buds and grow horizontally; it has large leaves and cone like flowers that we call hops. It is cultivated commercially for these female fruits which are used by breweries to preserve and flavour beer. The plants, produce a fragrant oil called lupulin, from which its bitter, tangy, floral and citrus flavours come. The plant gives off an earthy, pine-like aroma that is commonly compared to the smell of a pine forest.
Hops need a minimum of 120 frost-free days to flower and produce a good crop, it grows back from the rootstock every year and needs support and plenty of room to sprawl. During the first year, the plant is establishing its root system and only a few flowers are produced. In the second year, the plant will produce a normal crop of hops that are used primarily as a bittering, flavouring and stability agent in beer. Hops balance what would otherwise be an overly sweet, boozy brew, they don't actually contribute to alcohol content. The higher the alcohol content, the more hops brewers tend to add during fermentation to disguise the taste and smell of alcohol and because hops are a bittering element that counteract its natural sweetness.
Hops are also used to make herbal medicine. The herb is high in bitter substances; the two primary bitter principles are known as humulone and lupulin and are natural preservatives. Hops are used medicinally as infusions or tea and in tincture form. To preserve the volatile oils in hops, you need to steep hops at a temperature below boiling.
Actions: Hops has multiple properties: Analgesic, antidepressant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, appetite stimulant, diuretic, febrifuge, galactagogue, hypnotic, sedative, bitter stomachic, soporific tonic, nervine. It is also chemo preventive and is a valuable alternative or natural remedy to support the classical pharmacological therapy due to its important activities on the nervous system and anti-inflammatory properties.
Precautions: Generally considered safe. There are no known contraindications or potential interactions with other medications. There are some reports of persons experiencing allergic skin rash after handling the fresh flowers; this could have been from pollen sensitivity. Hops are rich in estrogenic substances and may interfere with pre-existing hormonal therapy. In view of this, hops are contraindicated in the case of breast cancer. It should be avoided in conditions of marked depression as this may be accentuated. Unfortunately hops can be quite dangerous if ingested by dogs and more rarely, cats; the compounds in the hops can cause a malignant hyperthermia, which results in a rapid rise of body temperature.
Hops history goes beyond beer
Of course hops are more than a brewer’s must-have. Their cultivation dates back to at least 860AD and the therapeutic use of hops for treating anxiety, insomnia and restlessness was first noted in Europe in the 9th Century. Hops appear to have been used in Dutch breweries in the beginning of the 14th Century. Hops was introduced in England in the 16th Century, but was soon banned by King Henry VIII, whose public believed it spoiled the taste of drinks, caused melancholy and endangered the people. Accordingly, hops were not used in the composition of beer for more than a century later. The hop got off to a bad start in England but herbalists have held beer’s famous ingredient in high regard for more than 1000 years as a sedative and digestive tonic. Culpeper said that hops’ medicinal uses made “beer better than ale”. Hops gained acceptance in England as an ingredient in beer and as a medicinal herb in 17th Century.
The Romans grew hops as a Roman garden plant and ate the young shoots in spring, in the same way as we do asparagus; the tender first foliage, blanched, is a good potherb. The leaves and flower heads were also used to produce a fine brown dye. The tough and flexible stem of the plant is used in Sweden in the manufacture of a coarse, durable cloth and paper has also been made from the stem, or bine, as it is termed. American Indians traditionally made a sedative from the blossoms and they also applied heated, dried flowers to relieve toothaches. Cherokee healers used hops as a painkiller for rheumatism and a gynaecological aid for breast and womb problems. In India and China hops are used to treat leprosy, tuberculosis and digestive problems.
Hops the healthy nerve tonic
Recent studies have confirmed that Humulene and Lupulin in the Hop plant have notable sedative properties that raise the neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin. These work to soothe the central nervous system and regulate the body's circadian rhythm. Indeed hops do have a calming effect, treating stress, anxiety, nervous tension and hyper-excitability as well as hysteria. At bedtime, soporific hops induce sleep, especially in cases of nervousness and restlessness and one can turn to hops for safe sedation after long periods of insomnia. A hop pillow is a popular way to treat insomnia whereby dried hops are used to fill cloth pillows or dream pillows to help induce sleep and when mixed with mugwort, help induce colourful dreams.
Hops are also indicated for other nerve related disorders such as palpitations, nervous and irritable coughs, amenorrhea with nervous association and in males for premature ejaculation and sexual neuroses. Many herbal preparations combine hops with other herbal sedatives such as valerian, passionflower or skullcap, which serves well as a remedy to alleviate tension headache. It is fascinating that hops can also be smoked and can exert a psychoactive effect and just like the hemp plant, it is the female inflorescence of the hops that is used for this effect.
Hops are a superb bitter digestive
Soothing the stomach and promoting healthy digestion have been the strongest historical use of this herb and indeed hops are a primary digestive that effectively stimulate appetite, dispel flatulence and relieve intestinal cramps. Hop tea is recommended for nervous digestive problems, such as diarrhoea and nervous dyspepsia and colitis. The bitter principle in the hop proves to be one of the most efficacious plant bitters being a general tonic for digestion, jaundice and sluggish liver conditions. Cold hops tea, taken an hour before meals, is particularly helpful as a digestive tonic and daily use of hops tea has been reported to ease chronic constipation. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of hops are also used for infections of the upper digestive tract, dysentery and also to expel worms.
Hops are diuretic and stimulate the kidneys which is one reason why beer drink- ers need to urinate so often. The herb’s diuretic properties are useful for urinary system conditions and can be taken for various problems with water retention and excess uric acid to promote urination, giving prompt ease to an irritable bladder. Hops tea is also said to be excellent in cases of delirium tremens. (A condition sometimes caused by alcohol withdrawal.)
Hops even like skin
As an external remedy, an infusion of hops used in combination with chamomile flowers makes a helpful fomentation for painful swellings, inflammation, neuralgic and rheumatic pains, bruises and boils. Hops may also be applied as a poultice when a local antiseptic is relevant for skin abrasions, skin ulcers and frostbite. Flowers may be heated and applied to the face as a compress to relieve headaches and toothaches. Hop leaves, called bracts, contain antioxidants that appear to be helpful in fighting tooth decay. The antiseptic and cleansing compounds in hops have also been shown to prevent bacteria that lead to acne and blemishes, while the Xanthohumol found in hops combats the signs of skin aging by increasing collagen and elastin production.
Herbal relief for menopause
Hops are now recognised for their strong estrogenic activity, making them a gynaecological aid. Research reveals they contain phytoestrogens that have effects on hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, uterine, cervical or prostate cancer and endometriosis. When used in combination with other herbs, hops may help alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and sleeping difficulty because of its estrogen-like activity. Hops have been found to alleviate menopausal discomfort after 16 weeks of treatment.
They are also been used to relieve muscle spasms, pain and reduce fever as well so a formula containing hops will help reduce symptoms of rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Interestingly the herb is considered an anaphrosisiac (subdues sex drive) for men, an action we may notice with excessive beer drinkers. A remedy that curbs sexual appetite could be useful when seeking to mitigate excessive libido.
Effects of hops have been studied
A study examined the effects of drinking non-alcoholic beer with hops at dinnertime. The researchers found that women who drank it showed improvements in their sleep quality. The participants also reported reduced levels of anxiety. Other research has found that hops can help curb the appetite and reduce body fat around the belly.
Another study suggests that the intake of bitter hop acids improves cognitive function, attention and mood in older adults. Further study of hop extracts in relation to Alzheimer's pathology could lead to novel treatments and prevention strategies for the condition.
Interesting a recent study published in Oxford's Alcohol and Alcoholism journal, showed that hoppy beer is significantly less harmful to the liver than most types of liquor and even beer without hops. This indicates that it has a beneficial effect on the liver, but not of course in the case of excessive beer drinking. The concentration of alcohol and volume consumed is the key differentiating factor. If you drink enough of any type of alcohol (even weak ones), it will be damaging to the liver.
Researchers at Oregon State University say that the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland. The protein acts like a switch that turns on a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer.
]]>What is a demulcent?
The word “demulcent” is derived from the Latin word for “caress” which is an inspired way of describing how these gentle healing herbs work in the body. Some people may be familiar with demulcent herbs because they are often used in throat lozenges, such as Irish moss, horehound or marshmallow for cough suppressants. As usual the plant world offers the best wholesome demulcents, whereas synthetic demulcents that include methylcellulose and propylene glycol are not compatible with human health and should be avoided.
Sometimes when the inner and outer delicate tissues of the body become overly dry, raw, inflamed or irritated, they need a herb that will replenish moisture, nourish and build tissues, strengthening the organism as a whole. This is when we turn to the reliable herbal demulcents. Herbalists define a demulcent as a mucilaginous or “gooey” herb that forms a soothing and protective film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation. Indeed demulcent herbs do effectively calm, cool and heal irritated or inflamed tissue and provide a protective barrier against future irritation. This slimey action triggers a reflex that helps promote natural moistening secretions within the body.
How Demulcents Work
Demulcents are a classification of plants, sometimes referred to as muco-protective agents that also include plant food substances. Demulcents produce mucilage, an edible carbohydrate composed of various forms of complex sugars (heteropolysaccharides) that have the ability to bind themselves to water. Accordingly, it is best to extract the mucilage from demulcent herbs by infusion in water rather than in alcohol tincture form. The polysaccharide mucilage has the tendency to become very slimy and gummy when it comes in contact with water. We may have noticed how some dried seeds like chia swell up after a few minutes when put in water. They build what seems like a soft cocoon of viscous mucilage around them. These mucilage substances have a clear and direct action on the lining of the intestines or lungs that soothes and reduces irritation by direct contact and prevents the drying out of mucous membranes of the body.
Gentleness in action
The mucilaginous plant polysaccharides are large compounds that cannot physically cross the gut wall. In the digestive tract, the mucilage comes in direct contact with the tissue of the digestive system, but when it comes to the effect of demulcents on other systems, it is more complicated. When you take a demulcent and feel it moisten the lungs, its interesting to note that these compounds are not crossing the gut wall, traveling through the bloodstream and binding to some receptor in the respiratory system to increase the mucosal membrane secretions. The direct action of herbal mucilage would not be possible due to metabolism because it will have to have been broken down into its constituent parts, thus losing its unique soothing action. Demulcent herbs are a stellar example of a reflex action of an herb, meaning that the body is reacting to the presence of the plant; there is communication between the plant and the vital force of the body that is triggering the demulcent action upon the mucosa.
It is wise to combine demulcent herbs to herbal blends to soften the blow of the more intense astringent, anti-inflammatory or cathartic herbs, mitigating potential stripping of the linings to protect the integrity of the membrane tissues. The synergistic inclusion of demulcents as a secondary action means that the other stronger actives can exert their medicinal properties safely and more effectively. Most herbs can compliment their action(s) in combination with another herb, basically showing off their best side with the support of a “good friend”. Demulcents donate moisture to tissues acting in the opposite way to astringents that draw fluids from the tissues; although some demulcents can also act as astringents. Remember herbs generally have many different herbal energetics, not only one and demulcents are very often anti-inflammatories as well by virtue of their action. By making the canals of the body more slippery they improve peristaltic movement in the body; for instance, demulcents soften stools in the colon to prompt easier evacuation for those suffering from constipation.
The thick gooey substance produced by many plants
It is always helpful to understand why a plant produces a certain constituent and how the plant itself uses it. Mucilage within plants plays a role in the storage of water and food, seed germination and thickening membranes. Some plants like to use this feature of the mucilaginous, “slimy cocoon” to spread their seeds. When ingested by animals, the protective coat often helps prevent the eaten seeds from being digested. The animals defecate the coated seeds and give them a little boost with their very own fertiliser.
Cacti (and other succulents) and flax seeds especially are rich sources of mucilage. Mucilage is found in different plant parts, for example; in horehound (Marrubium vulgare) it is the leaves that are mucilaginous and in marshmallow (Althea officinalis), it is the roots. A leaf of common mallow will also easily demonstrate a demulcent effect, we may notice after chewing it a few times our saliva turns viscous and gel-like. The inner bark of the slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), a North American tree species, has long been used as a demulcent to relieve acidity in the stomach and soothe sore throats.
The mucous membranes – our first line of defence
The key healing action of a demulcent targets the mucous membranes; the areas of the body where moisture is essential as our first line of defence. The mucus membranes cover all the surfaces of the tissues that are in contact with the outside world: Respiratory system, urinary tract, digestive system, vaginal canal in the female reproductive system, the eyes and ears. Submucosal glands found in the airways, mouth and gastrointestinal tract produce and release mucin and mucus. Bodily mucous has an important job to do; because the tissue in many of the above systems is exposed to the world it needs a protective lubricating layer. The mucus fulfils its role as part of the immune system in two ways: 1) Mechanically trapping pathogens, dust particles and other foreign objects in the gooey stuff and expelling them from the body through coughing, sneezing or swallowing it to eventually leave the body by pooping. 2) Chemically, mucus contains immune cells that can break down the cell walls of bacteria. The mucus also contains immune cells that are called IgA that prevent bacteria from docking on our body cells. The oral cavity is often referred to as the “mirror of the body,” because the mucous membranes in our mouth change depending on many different diseases.
General properties of demulcent herbs
Demulcents herbs can help the following conditions.
Bladder infection, cystitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, celiac disease, gastritis, colitis, damaged skin cells, diverticulitis, ulcers, food poisoning, high cholesterol, constipation, prostate enlargement, sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis, vaginal dryness.
The mucous membranes need our protection
By providing a protective coating over the mucous membranes of inflamed airways, demulcents soothe irritated or damaged surfaces and function as analgesics, anti-inflammatories. Mullein and coltsfoot providing a protective coating over the inflamed airways, Liquorice for example is one of the most powerful demulcents, used for its soothing action in the throat, stomach and intestines. Think of how calming aloe vera gel is on hot sunburn. Slippery elm soothes stomach and oesophageal tissue from acid burn with reflux and ulcerous conditions. Mucilage in herbs is also an excellent source of dietary soluble fibre that helps the body to get rid of pathogenic gut bacteria and support beneficial intestinal micro flora that are important for overall good health. It gently cleanses toxins and other accumulations in the colon and will also stimulate peristalsis in constipation; conversely mucilage can also be used to gently treat the irritation of diarrhoea. Corn silk will relieve irritation in the urinary tract due to infection.
The joints are another area of the body where demulcent herbs are beneficial. The synovial fluid is designed to keep the joints lubricated. When the body is dry, the fire element is not kept in check and the joints become dry, stiff and inflamed - leading to arthritis. To effectively treat eye irritations, like conjunctivitis or surface damage we can add demulcent fennel seeds to eyebright, goldenseal and chamomile herbs. The fennel will provide softening mucilage to soothe with the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action of the other herbs.
Traditionally, most demulcents are prepared via cold infusions. The reason behind this is that we are focusing to mainly extract the mucilaginous polysaccharides - the gentle healers. If we are preparing milder or more complex demulcents, we might be looking at a hot infusion.
Demulcent herbs
Aloe vera, marshmallow, liquorice, mullein, cornsilk, comfrey, chickweed, plantain, oats, slippery elm, coltsfoot, ashwagandha, flax seed, fenugreek, chia seeds, elecampane, cinnamon, psyllium seed husks, burdock, wild yam, rhodiola, calendula, skullcap, horehound, linden flowers, hibiscus.
Honey is a natural demulcent, already digested by bees, its gooey consistency is already soothing and the perfect carrier in elixir form for demulcent and other active herbs. There was once the prevalent idea that milk was ideal to relieve an upset stomach because it coats and soothes the digestive lining and eliminating nausea. Milk which is full of fat may temporarily coat an acidic or sore tummy but any soothing effects are short-lived. Drinking milk is in fact counterproductive to healing the gut because it is difficult to digest, generates inflammation, excess mucous and triggers lactose intolerance, all of which could make a sore stomach worse in many people (a huge percentage of the population are lactose intolerant).
Dehydration is epidemic
It is not only the planet that is drying out but so are people. The human body needs herbal demulcents; we should always keep them at hand to bind moisture to our tissues that are not utilising it properly. When we consider the pattern of dryness, it’s important to consider the importance of fluids within the organism. The body’s fluids are not only responsible for maintaining the lubrication of the tissues but are also the vehicle through which nutrients, metabolic waste products, and substances, in general, are carried throughout the organism. When we see constitutional dryness, it’s important to consider that the cells are less able to receive their nutrients and that metabolic waste products are more difficult for the body to detoxify. This pattern can ultimately lead to wasting, deterioration and atrophy of the tissues, as well as a potential for accumulating cellular waste products.
While it’s common to think of the body’s moisture content solely achieved through water, it’s important to remember that the other primary fluid nourishing the organism is from oils. It’s common for many people in the modern world to be water dehydrated, but most are also oil dehydrated. This typically occurs through poor nutrition and inadequate intake of appropriate dietary fats and oils. It’s common knowledge now that unnatural and processed oils create havoc on the internal ecology of the system by promoting systemic inflammation. This heat and inflammation further dry out the body, leading to a vicious cycle at the root of many common degenerative diseases afflicting the modern Western world.
Keep sipping hot herbal teas with demulcents
Research has found that an environment of dryness increases the chances of respiratory infection by 80% in a nursing home for older adults. Supporting the integrity of the mucous membranes in the back of the throat can be a major defence against catching colds and flues in the winter, when heating is churning out dry dusty air. Once mucous membranes are damaged, there is nothing to stop virus particles from getting into cells and multiplying. People are always exposed to viruses and bacteria but it is only when mucous membranes fail that these microbes get a foothold. One good way to prevent colds from airplane flights is to drink lots of water and ingest foods and teas rich in mucilage, i.e. demulcents. Regular sipping of hot herbal teas with at least one demulcent herb included will do much to help the body utilise fluids more efficiently and prevent dehydration, even more so than sculling down litres of water.
Emollients are the skin demulcents
An emollient is a slippery soothing herb used topically on the outside of the body. Similar to demulcents that work internally, emollient herbs are also mucilaginous, but they're used on the skin to help soothe, condition and protect. Emollients are a necessary adjunct herbal treatment to employ with pruritic, irritated or inflamed skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, urticaria or psoriasis once the underlying causes have been addressed. They will soothe, cool and relieve the distressed skin, such as chickweed, plantain, calendula or marshmallow root. Often times, applying a demulcent herb in form of a poultice like plantain or comfrey can work very effectively.
Emollient herbs also include all the cold pressed fatty plant oils that provide the most important softening, lubricating base for all natural cosmetic creams, lotions and massage oils. It is crucial that only cold-pressed oils, preferably organic, are used with their whole spectrum of plant nutrients intact. Avoid cheaper heat-processed cooking oils that are often contaminated and certainly carcinogenic. Good examples include: nut oils like almond, hazelnut and macadamia, argan, kendi, cacay, cocoa butter and coconut oil. Seeds: sunflower, jojoba, sesame, shea and hemp. Fruit oils: Olive, rosehip and avocado. These are all rich in fatty acids and have a great affinity with the skin soothing its surface; this allows them to be easily absorbed and shield the skin from water loss.
The energetic nature of demulcents
Generally, demulcent herbs are associated with the moon and water element. The mucus membranes hold the emotion of resentment. The sinus more specifically deals with our resentments that manifest around abundance issues. The spleen can also be an issue for those with chronic mucus membrane problems. Resentment often times begins in the spleen as "resentment of others". The spleen is directly connected to the mucus membranes and so illness that begins in a spleen imbalance often flows over to the mucous membranes of the body.
If our internal linings or external surfaces are in need of soothing demulcents or emollients, it is likely a subtle signal that we need to up the ante with our nurturing and gentle self care. If we have become overly dry, dehydrated or irritated, then we have excessive air element in our constitution and require extra comfort, cosseting, cooling and caressing with rich, oily, lubricating substances that are gentle and not harsh in any way. Demulcents will counter the imbalance and restore nutrients and moisture, calm the nervous system, cooling anger, relieving tension and repairing the damage. Ingesting demulcents and massaging with oil relaxes the body and changes the electrical activity in our brain altering our body's chemical processes. The stress hormone cortisol is reduced and several “feel good” chemicals are released (endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin). Indeed a demulcent will make pleasant or sweet, soften, soothe, alleviate and relieve.
Precautionary advice
The use of demulcents herbs internally can reduce the rate of drug absorption by forming a semi-permeable coating over mucus membranes, delaying gastric emptying and by binding with intestinal contents. Caution should be taken with drugs with a narrow therapeutic window such as lithium, digoxin and insulin. This interaction may be of benefit with some medications such as Verapamil and other calcium channel blockers that may cause constipation by slowing transit time and increasing water reabsorption from the colon. Soluble fibre taken with lots of water may alleviate this. In general, take drugs at least one hour prior to ingesting large amounts of plant fibre/complex polysaccharides like demulcents.
From the Tinderbox apothecary:
]]>Cultivating lunar savvy
In an ever-changing, unpredictable and sometimes perilous world, the silvery orb of light in our sky has always offered us the solace of consistency, reliability and sense of place. The enigmatic presence of the luminous moon is a constant reminder of the infinitely cyclical and recurring rhythms that preside over Nature and all living things in a profoundly spiritual way. This omnipresent beacon of light has a deep connection to all of earth’s waters including the artesian waters of humans and plants. Mother moon illuminates our emotions and the shadowy depths of our subconscious, bringing them to the surface of our awareness. Following the lunar cycle as part of our spiritual practice can deepen our connection with Nature and plants as we meaningfully negotiate life in this embodiment. Each moon phase resonates with both physical and metaphysical significance to reveal different themes in our experience and offers a reliable guide to planning activities, projects and especially growing herbs and making herbal preparations.
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To take a herbal tea is so much more than just having a healthy drink. The focussed desire and intent to embark on our very own healing journey with herbs is a powerful way to understand the true nature of our physical and mental constitution. It can be so much more worthwhile if we perceive this simple act as an opportunity to unlock the powerful, magical and transformative gifts of the plant world and engage in a relationship with our green allies and their medicine. This is when we can get to experience real, life-affirming and holistic herbal therapy that is so easy and accessible to return the body to a state of natural balance so that it can heal itself.
We might have noticed how sometimes we are instinctively drawn to a certain herbal tea blend that an inner voice is urging us to give a try? This could be actually be attentive listening to what our intuition is telling us and will serve us well. We take our special healing herbal tea home and optimistically start on our new healing regime. So how do we go about doing this is in the most optimising way to help overcome a niggling ailment that may have been haunting our days? It might be growing nervous tension, anxiety or a nasty, itchy skin rash, aching, inflamed joints, or perhaps a persistent UTI like cystitis that is disrupting our contentedness and well being. It may be an underlying gut issue that is undermining our vitality, persistent constipation or a challenging phase we are enduring like menopause or prostate problems. Perhaps it is just a wholesome desire for a good detox to accelerate our wellness program or boost our cerebral capacity or sexual vigour. One thing for sure, there will be a herbal tea beautifully suited for every individual’s needs.
We probably all have a plethora of herbal teas in our cupboards and have maybe never given a second thought to how we might use them in the most optimal, healing way to exert the most positive shift to our health. We might have a cup here or there of some teas and other teas whose taste we prefer we might use more prolifically. Indeed some herbal blends are perfect to take now and then for sheer enjoyment and as a more salubrious alternative to caffeinated beverages.
Sometimes a simple light infusion that has steeped for ten minutes or so is just the go for a sedative nightcap to help quell sleeplessness or a soothing digestive tea or “tisane” to settle nausea, indigestion or a tummy upset. Such situations will respond very nicely to short-term treatments that simply involve taking a cup of specific tea to exact desired results more quickly.
There are other times that we may wonder why we are not rewarded with the kind of beneficial results that we are seeking. For starters, some kinds of health problems are best suited to using herbal teas in a very systematic way. That means going the distance and flushing the body through with large amounts of herbal decoction on a daily basis until we notice the condition improve. This is certainly the case with more entrenched, chronic conditions that will not particularly respond much at all to taking herbal teas sporadically for a short duration of time. Important factors to consider are how strong to make our herbal medicine and how much herbal liquid we consume over a day. If we allow the herbs to steep for longer, preferably over night, we will be creating a cold decoction that has drawn more medicinal actives from the herbs and accordingly will be stronger in its actions. It will be most constructive to use a generous tablespoon of herbs and add to a litre or more of boiled water; this proportioned amount of therapeutic liquid will be our quota for the day to thoroughly cleanse and nourish our body appropriately.
If we diligently and consistently follow a more protracted program of herbal treatment, we will reach a point where we have a solid body of work behind us to better measure our progress and see and experience actual positive outcomes. When we actively take our personal health into our own hands, we can be rewarded with a certain pleasure, not only with having assuaged some ongoing ailment and but also because we may have averted the need to take more intense prescription drugs with associated side effects. As we enjoy the fruits of our herbal efforts we deservedly feel a satisfying sense that we are ultimately being responsible for our own health and well being and this is a good thing.
]]>Citrus junosis, Citrus Junos Sieb. ex Tanaka
Citrus Ichangensis. It is also called Kan-Sou orange tree.
The Plant
Yuzu or Citrus junos is a cold-hardy, evergreen tree in the family Rutaceae that yields a small, yellow-golden citrus fruit resembling a small orange or tangerine but with a bumpy rind. Some claim it to be a hybrid of mandarin orange and the ichang papeda. Yuzu is believed to have originated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze river in China and it arrived in Japan during the Sui Dynasty or Tang Dynasty over 1,000 years ago. It grows wild in its countries of origin, Tibet and central China and is cultivated widely in Japan and Korea. More recently, the plant has been cultivated in Australia, Italy and France, to name a few. Yuzu fruit is extensively used as a flavour in beverages and more recently the oil has found use as a fragrance component in perfumes and personal care products.
The essential oil
Like many citrus oils, yuzu is extracted from the fruit rind by both steam distillation and cold expression. Most commercial grade yuzu oil nowadays is distilled from the whole leftover fruit after juice extraction. The cold expression oil is a mobile, yellowish to orange oil with an exquisite, sweet citrus odour. While most citrus peels are rather high-yielding, it takes roughly 300 kilos of grated yuzu peel to make just two kilos of yuzu essential oil.
Yuzu oil is rarely adulterated. However, there are different qualities of the oil, and it is important to get freshly produced and carefully stored oil. Considering genuine cold-pressed yuzu oil is expensive, cold-pressed yuzu oil is sometimes adulterated with the addition of lower quality steam-distilled yuzu and other citrus oils. Yuzu has a high limonene content, as with all citrus peel oils, so it is recommended to store this oil in the refrigerator and in a dark, airtight glass container to avoid oxidation. It can deteriorate easily upon exposure to moisture, air and daylight.
Yuzu oil tends to be expensive due to two main factors: supply and demand, and agricultural controls. Japan grows most of the global crop and much of this is used domestically and/or processed for juice. Much of the Korean crop is likewise processed to make preserves, which are popular for making yuja tea.
Contraindications: Yuzu oil is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitising. Old and oxidised yuzu oil should be avoided.
The aroma
Yuzu oil has a strong, multi-faceted bright aroma that is faintly floral with a zesty, green citrus and pith backnote that becomes more balsamic and sweet in the drydown. It is amazingly robust and provides a unique and enduring citrus top note that lasts longer than other citrus peel oils and is more complex. Yuzu gives the impression of a whole fruit bowl of citrus fruits. The scent is sometimes described as somewhere between grapefruit, mandarin and orange, with subtle overtones of bergamot and lime and a very pleasant floral note. Indeed yuzu renders any perfume into something sparkling and lively with wonderfully sweet, tart and bitter elements that are subtle yet impactful.
Two constituents have recently been identified as key to this citrus peel’s distinctive odour profile that contribute significantly to its notable aromatic aspects. "In particular, yuzunone and yuzuol increase the balsamic, sweet, and floral characteristics that distinguish the yuzu aroma from other citrus fruits."
Blends Well With: Amyris, basil, cedarwood Virginian, clary sage, coriander cypress, elemi, frankincense, ginger, jasmine absolute, lavender, lemon, neroli, patchouli, petitgrain, sandalwood, orange and vetivert.
Therapeutic properties:
Yuzu oil possesses antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties and enhances cognitive function. It is antidepressant, antiseptic, blood cleansing, disinfectant, diuretic with hepato-protective and stimulating properties.
Cultural use
In a Japanese tradition that dates back to the early 18th century, the whole fruits, usually wrapped in cheesecloth, are floated in a hot ceremonial bath to bring out their scent on the night of the winter solstice, an experience that is both invigorating for the skin and elevating for the spirit.
Yuzu is rarely eaten as a fruit and is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, where the aromatic zest as well as the juice are used much in the same way that lemons are used in other cuisines. In cooking, yuzu is generally used as a souring agent via its juice and zest as opposed to eaten on its own. A sour, tart and very fragrant citrus, Zuzu’s zest is used mainly to accent cooked vegetables, hot pots, custards and fish, while sometimes added to miso and vinegar or some Japanese teas to help them infuse.
Yuzu brightens skin
Yuzu essential oil can help to brighten and tone the skin. It is particularly good for devitalised skin and for helping to combat signs of ageing. Its powerful antibacterial properties can also be beneficial for oily/problem skin, acne and skin infections.
Yuzu is known for its effective natural anti-aging properties because it stimulates collagen production and helps inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In doing so, Yuzu can firm the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles by improving elasticity. It is well suited for skincare and cosmetic preparations, calming baths and massage blends and is refreshing and enlivening in diffusers and natural perfumery creations. Incorporating hair formulas with yuzu into your daily shower routine can help boost strength as well as shine and support the growth of new tresses.
Yuzu essential oil has not undergone much phototoxicity testing, however potentially phototoxic coumarins are not present in sufficient quantity to pose a risk, a characteristic shared by only a few other citrus peel oils. Robert Tisserand strongly concludes that yuzu oil is very likely not phototoxic due to its insignificant content of bergapten.
Yuzu relaxes body and mind
The fruit is a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, which are important nutrients for our body's well-being. Yuzu oil is also full of antioxidants such as vitamin C, flavonoids and carotenoids, which can help reduce inflammation and neutralize damage caused by free radicals. Use yuzu in a comforting bath to protect against colds and flu, boost immunity and help reduce infections.
Studies show that yuzu can help suppress inflammation in the body. Fresh, citrusy smelling yuzu’s relaxes the body and mind, eases aches and soothes sore muscles. In fact, nomilin, a substance found in yuzu oil promotes better circulation. Researchers have found that yuzu prevents cognitive decline and helps ameliorate the cognitive dysfunction in b-amyloid-induced dementia.
Aromatic stress relief
Yuzu oil has an uplifting and reviving effect, which makes it valuable for treating stress, depression and nervous exhaustion. It is recommended for people who are feeling disheartened and lethargic, particularly in winter. Yuzu oil has the ability to smooth the flow of stagnant Qi, which is associated with the wood element. This helps to alleviate irritability, stress and tension.
Citrus oils with a very high percentage of limonene have a stimulatory effect on the sympathetic nervous system, which contributes to mental alertness. On the other hand, citrus fruit oils with less limonene content oil such as yuzu have suppressed sympathetic nervous system activity, leading to lower levels of anxiety and a more positive mood. Research also suggests the Ƴ-terpinene content in yuzu promotes dopamine release, which results in stress reduction.
Inhalation of yuzu oil alleviates negative emotional stress. A study in Japan investigated the effects inhaling yuzu oil to alleviate premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It was concluded that smelling yuzu oil helps alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms, which was evidenced by an improvement of parasympathetic nervous system activity. Yuzu worked particularly well with lavender oil. For relief of stress, anxiety and nervous tension, consider blending yuzu essential oil with Atlas cedarwood, bergamot, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, neroli, sweet orange or sandalwood. To alleviate fatigue and feelings of apathy, consider blending yuzu oil with black pepper, coriander seed, ginger, lemon, lemon myrtle, lime, orange or rosemary.
Detoxify with yuzu
According to the principles of Ayurveda, yuzu oil strengthens Vata and Pitta and help to reduce Kapha and with the principles of the five elements, yuzu oil helps to reduce excess damp associated with the earth element. Damp conditions are often associated with chronic indigestion, abdominal bloating, lethargy and heaviness of the body and water retention. Yuzu oil is cooling, cleansing and decongesting and is thus beneficial for both an overheated liver and sluggish lymphatic system.
Symptoms associated with an overheated liver include: abdominal distension, constipation, nausea and a feeling of general irritability. The d-limonene content of yuzu indicates yuzu oil has hepato-protective properties similar to lemon oil, which is the ability to prevent and reverse liver and pancreas damage. Yuzu oil acts as a lymphatic stimulant similar to that of grapefruit, lemon or orange oils and is recommended for the treatment of cellulite, obesity and water retention. To create a detoxification blend, consider blending yuzu oil with essential oils such as juniper berry, fennel, lemon, orange or rosemary.
The yuzu personality
The yuzu personality is energetic, enthusiastic and confident; yuzu people are warm, happy and bursting with energy loving life and people. The ‘get up and go’ scent offers people all these motivating attributes without being overbearing. It helps us adapt to change and trying new things in a relaxed way. Yuzu reminds us that we can be inspirational and rise to leadership because of our sharp mind, optimism and innate charm.
Yuzu, just like Uranus energy, encourages originality, innovation, problem solving and non-conformity, improving our analytical ability and resourcefulness. It prompts us to seek growth, excitement and work on improving our relationships.
Energising and enlivening, yuzu oil awakens the human spirit from its slumber as it reconnects the mind, body and soul. Consider using yuzu oil for anyone feeling drained or depressed. The vibrant fruity aroma of yuzu lifts the spirits and radiates optimism, helping us focus our thoughts on the positive aspects of our life.
Yuzu 'Spirit Lifter' Blend: Yuzu, jasmine, tangerine, lime, clary sage and amyris
]]>Bring back the apothecary garden
If we really want to understand herbs, then we need to grow them. Only then can we witness how they flourish in mutable nature and in turn, bequeath to us the ability to flourish too, in the shifting circumstances of wherever we might find ourselves planted. In short, we care for plants that, in turn, care for us. Plants and medicine, gardening and healing have long been entwined, although the story of their entanglement is complex. For most of human history, plants have provided the basis of medicine. While chemicals isolated from plants are now synthesised artificially for pharmaceutical use, many people around the world continue to rely on herbalism. Ancient herbals that detail plants’ properties and usage survive in fragments of Egyptian papyri and Assyrian cuneiform tablets, suggesting herb gardens have been cultivated for millennia.
There was a time when humans simply gathered their herbs from the once abundant wilds for food and medicine, however as civilisation took its hold, cultivating a medicinal herb garden became an essential part of domestic and medical activity. For centuries, especially in rural areas, many people depended upon the herbal remedies of the physic garden that was supplemented with wild foraged plants by local wise women who also supplied herbs to urban apothecaries. Witchcraft trial records contain numerous references to herb lore, indicating that many of those accused were local healers or ‘cunning’ folk. Many monasteries and large estates had physic gardens where plants were grown for healing, cooking and dyeing wool and fabric.
Our little Herb garden
Early physicians had access to an apothecary garden that became known as the “Physic garden,” where medicinal flora was grown for teaching medical practitioners. Once pharmaceutical laboratories became the key source of more modern medicine, the ubiquitous herb garden was phased out much to our disservice. The idea of creating our own modern version of the ageless physic garden is intriguing and would surely add a depth of timeless wisdom and usefulness to our space, as well as symbolic transcendent content. The physic garden represents the very origin of herbalism and pharmacy as a science. A big plus is that herbs are such easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants that are so forgiving of most growing conditions and they keep giving again and again. We can tend to the herbs that tend to us and create an environment of dynamic reciprocity, not mere extraction. We get to witness first hand how our plant allies harvest light with Vital force from the sun earth, moon and the stars to alchemise and botanically chelate into something useable and healing for the human being.
Living laboratory of herbal secrets
A return to the wholesome and intrinsically human practice of cultivating and using our own specialised “materia medica” or source of herbs could awaken within us an appreciative joy for nature’s herbal gifts. A comprehensive medicinal and culinary herb garden can be a compelling capsule of nature’s pharmacy available to us in our own backyard. The herb garden is foremost a sanctuary to celebrate sensuous phenomena of all kinds; a place where mystical scents, changing colours and seasonal variety can be relished and also studied. Our herb garden helps develop our knowledge about the medicinal properties in plants, a knowledge that has provided the very foundation for modern medicine a reliable foundation already established by the wise herbal women and men of antiquity. It may not be hidden behind cloistered walls, however our own little herb garden can provide a secluded living laboratory containing herbal secrets of utmost relevance for us to investigate and from which to learn.
How heavenly it is to wander through our herb garden and breathe in the beckoning aromas of plants exuding their fragrant charms. When we immerse amongst growing herbs with full sensory engagement we begin to intuit the signature personality of each unique herb and learn to decipher the message that it holds hidden within. How instinctive it is, to feel ourself drawn to certain specimens that signal to us their curative powers. How remarkable are these earth-bound and sensitive organisms that offer us a kaleidoscope of sensible, accessible solutions to transcend whatever malady we might be negotiating in our everyday life. Indeed, how satisfying it is to co-create with nature as we partake of her botanical offerings from their very source for genuine succour and assistance.
Its about how we grow herbs
The wonderful thing about a herb garden is how it attracts pollinating insects; bees, moths, butterflies, wasps and beetles that buzz around foraging in flowers harvesting pollen and nectar. Indeed, the vast majority of garden visitors are either helpful or harmless and they particlarly love fragrant herbs. Many herbs deter bugs including lavender, rosemary, lemon balm, basil, mint and calendula; releasing aroma that masks the scent of people and food plants, making them less attractive to insects. Herbs are the ideal companion plants that encourage the growth of other plants in this cultivated botanic community. Our little herb garden can only exist as a high-functioning, richly-populated and self-sustaining ecosystem when we garden organically without pesticides and inorganic fertilisers. It goes without saying that our herb garden will be organic, but we might also consider the concept of the biodynamic garden that is a holistic, ecological and ethical microcosm of the Nature macrocosm.
The biodynamic garden is one living organism made up of interdependent elements, plants, soil, people and its spirit; all aspects of nature are interconnected in a continuous cycle of life. Accordingly, we plant and harvest according to the sun, moon and planetary cycles which makes a huge difference in fending off insects without the use of pesticides to picking certain plants at a specific times to preserves their potency. Plants harvested from a biodynamic garden are more effective because they have reached their peak of energy and strength; they have been planted in alignment with various growing cycles and harvested when the plants are at their most vital point.
Harvesting Herbs for Drying
As we harvest, we take time to sense and smell the plant and see how it makes us feel. Some herbs are perfect to simply pluck fresh and use straight away to make a healing tea, poultice or flavour our food, though there is always more than we can use in one season. Many herbs will serve us well if we harvest them intelligently to preserve their integrity when all their goodness as reached its zenith. We want to capture this peak moment of efficacy by minimally processing them and protectively storing them to use at a future date to make good use all of their innate goodness.
It is beneficial for the herbs themselves to harvest them regularly during the growing season once the plant has enough foliage to maintain continued growth.
It is wise to harvest herbs just before they flower for the richest nutrient value. If we have been harvesting branches all season, our plants probably never get a chance to flower. However, by late summer, even the herbs that have not yet flowered will start to decline as the weather cools. This is a good time to begin harvesting and drying our herbs. We cut branches in mid-morning and let the morning dew dry from the leaves but pick before the plants are wilting in the afternoon sun.
We dont cut the entire herb, unless we plan to replace it. We should never cut back by more than two thirds or remove more than about one third of a plant's branches at one time. We can cut sprigs of herbs just above a leaf cluster or, in some cases, at the bottom of the stem, removing dead or damaged leaves and wiping off dirt that may be present. Only if further cleaning is necessary, should we rinse with cool water and pat dry with absorbent towels.
Bountiful bundles of drying herbs
Drying herbs allows us to enjoy them long after they are out of season, or when our harvest has ended. The oldest way to dry herbs is to take a bunch and hang it upside down in a warm, airy room and let nature do the work. Hang or lay the herb branches out where they will get plenty of air circulation so they can dry out quickly. Wet herbs will mould and rot. Bundle four to six stems together and tie them as a bunch using a string or a rubber band. If the herbs have high moisture content, make smaller bundles so they get more air flowing between the branches and do not rot. Sometimes paper bags aid in drying out the herbs more quickly and thoroughly and importantly, protect from dust and infestation. Punch or cut holes in a paper bag and place the bundled herbs inside, upside down, making sure they are not crowded inside the bag. Secure the bag by gathering the end around the bundle and tying it closed and label it with the name of the herb.
Once well dried, strip the leaves and flowering tops from the harder stems and store in airtight containers, zippered plastic bags will also work. Herbs will retain more colour, aroma and efficacy if the leaves are stored whole; only crush or powder them when ready to use them. Place containers of dried herbs in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; herbs will retain vitality for up to two years.
We can also try more modern means
We can employ any slow drying process that will help retain the aroma, flavour and therapeutic efficacy of the herbs. They key to successfully drying our herbs at home is the continuous circulation of warm and dry air. Nowadays many modern kitchens have an air dryer or food dehydrator, which can be an easy way to dry fresh herbs, especially with succulent leaves or high moisture content. We can even use an oven set on low heat as a convenient shortcut, but they can cook the herbs to a degree, diminishing the oil content and flavour, so use only as a last resort. For good flavour retention, we might consider freezing herbs, it's easy to do and even quicker than drying. Spread herb sprigs or leaves on a tray and place in the freezer and when frozen solid, pack into airtight containers to use in soups or stew. Herbs with thinner, more fragile leaves, like basil or coriander are less suited to freezing whole; they can be chopped and frozen in oil and packed into ice cube trays. Frankly, using herbs fresh or dried is superior.
]]>Yarrow has a long and rich history of medicinal and magical use and is one of the most fascinating as well as efficacious garden plants. It is a hardy perennial and member of the aster family, that is distinguished by its feathery leaves and white to pink flowers that bloom in densely arranged clusters. It grows up to 50cm high and has a characteristic herbaceous odour. Yarrow is a prolific plant that grows naturally in many regions of Europe, North America and Asia. The flowering tops are used medicinally and it is also edible with an aromatic flavour that is sweet and mildly bitter and quite sage-like.
Achillea’s generic name is derived from Achilles, the mythical Greek warrior who allegedly used it to treat wounds during the Trojan War and indeed today it is often used as a poultice, wash, soak or salve to relieve pain and help to heal wounds and injuries of various types.
Its specific name means ‘a thousand leaves’ and refers to its feathery foliage. Evidence of yarrow has even been found in some Neanderthal gravesites. A 2012 study found that yarrow was present in the dentition of Neanderthal remains from El Sidrón cave, an archaeological dig site in Spain. In the Middle Ages it was used as an ingredient in gruit, a herbal mixture used to flavour ale prior to the use of hops. The herb was used for divination in spells especially love spells in France and in Ireland people hung it in their homes to avert illness on St. John’s Eve. Yarrow was once inhaled as a snuff and in the seventeenth century it was an ingredient of salads; the peppery leaves and the flowers were used to flavour beverages. Today, the flowers and leaves are still used in some types of bitters and liqueurs.
Many different Native American tribes throughout history have used yarrow. In North America, yarrow is considered to be one of the sacred “Life Medicines” by the Navajo people. The Winnebago people used a yarrow infusion to treat earache and the early American settlers used it for diarrhoea, leucorrhoea and bleeding. One of the plant's constituents, achilleine, was isolated and used as a quinine substitute at the turn of the century. In China, stalks of yarrow plants were traditionally used to cast I Ching hexagrams. The I Ching is an ancient Chinese book of divination and yarrow is still used medicinally in China today.
Today yarrow makes a wonderful addition to the herbal medicine cabinet to alleviate mild symptoms of colds and flu, as well as minor digestive complaints among many common ailments.
Yarrow is part of the classic tea formula to treat colds and flu with its valuable diaphoretic properties that help manage any fevers holistically. This herb prevents the body temperature from rising too high but has a minimal suppressant affect on the course of the fever that is part of the natural healing process. The flowers are rich in chemicals that are helpful in the treatment of allergic catarrhal problems such as hay fever.
This herb is a reliable first-aid treatment for wounds and nosebleeds; the antibacterial action of yarrow plus its powerful astringency promotes rapid healing. Research has affirmed yarrow’s antibiotic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Used externally, yarrow hastens the healing of wounds, where it will also have anaesthetic effect and stimulate the formation of granulation tissue. This is also useful to treat haemorrhoids and varicose veins.
The next time you have a toothache, try chewing on a yarrow leaf. Its analgesic properties can help to numb the affected area and reduce inflammation in the gums. The herb treats many skin irritations and yarrow oil has been traditionally used in hair shampoos to soothe scalp problems.
Yarrow is a circulatory tonic that both stops bleeding and is indicated for haemorrhage as it moves stagnant blood. The herb encourages blood clotting, due to its the alkaloid achilleine that is haemostatic (stops bleeding) reducing clotting time without toxic side effects. Long considered by herbalists to be a “blood-moving herb,” yarrow has been used to stimulate blood circulation. Yarrow lowers high blood pressure by dilating the peripheral vessels and it is considered to be a specific in thrombotic conditions associated with high blood pressure. It also tones the blood vessels and influences the vagus nerve, slowing the heart rate.
Yarrow contains asparagin, a potent diuretic and may be of assistance for kidney disorders by normalising the distribution, secretion and elimination of water in the body. Anything that helps open the pores in the skin, stimulate circulation, cleanse the blood and strengthen the function of internal organs will improve the healthy functioning of the lymphatic system. Yarrow promotes all these actions and is thus an efficient “alterative” herb to use as a lymphatic tonic. Yarrow is also known as an adaptogen which means it, can work in seemingly contradictory ways to help the body achieve homeostasis, or to balance every body system in an integrated way.
Yarrow increases saliva and stomach acid to help improve digestion which explains its use in bitter tonics to relieve many digestive complaints. It has long been used to treat issues like ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating and constipation. A study has confirmed that its antispasmodic effect helps to relax smooth muscle in the intestines. It works well in combination with other herbs like marshmallow root, peppermint and chamomile to ease intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping and other GI complaints.
Due to the presence of steroidal constituents, yarrow is added to women’s herbal blends to aid in heavy, painful periods, reduce uterine cramping, easing menstrual discomfort and postpartum bleeding. It also regulates the menstrual cycle and can be used in a sitz bath for pelvic pain.
Yarrow plant is reputed to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety; the potent flavonoids and alkaloids in the plant significantly lower the secretion of corticosterone, a hormone that peaks up during stress.
Makes a classic herbal tea: Yarrow combines well with elderflowers and peppermint as the “go to” cold and flu remedy that also reduces fevers; add echinacea for an extra immune boost. Or try yarrow with chamomile and ginger to address digestive complaints.
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Most people are quite familiar with good old aloe vera and many astute people keep a plant in or two in their garden for emergency use. There are more than 300 species of aloe plant, but Aloe barbadensis aka aloe vera is best known and most prized in the health and beauty worlds for its internal and topical healing properties. The spiky succulent plant is native to dry regions and tropical climates in Africa, Asia, Europe and the southern and western parts of the United States.
Many centuries ago, people realised the plant had more to offer than its good looks. Today, the two key uses for aloe vera is for skin and digestive issues. Aloe is used topically (applied to the skin) and taken orally for help digestion. These days, aloe has an entire industry behind it. Its juice and leaf gel is used in cosmetics and personal-care products.
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera has been known for its healing properties and medicinal uses for at least 6,000 years. In the early days, it was considered a “plant of immortality” and was apparently presented to Egyptian pharaohs as a funeral gift. Over time, groups from many geographical areas have used aloe vera, including people of India, China, Mexico, and North America. Aloe plants, which go by a few common names such as “burn plant,” “lily of the desert,” and “elephant’s gall” have been used traditionally to treat wounds, hair loss, haemorrhoids and digestive issues.
A skin loving succulent
Aloe vera is very useful for topical applications including to treat acne, lichen planus (a very itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth), oral submucous fibrosis, burning mouth syndrome, burns and radiation-induced skin toxicity. It beautifully moisturises the skin, supports efforts to avoid premature ageing and lightens blemishes on the face. Aloe Vera gel has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties with good antibacterial properties and promotes wound healing, which makes it very helpful soothe sunburn. A study found that healing times for patients who applied aloe vera to their burns was significantly shorter than in the control group.
Aloe vera can be used as a facemask for more inflamed or irritated skin, such as psoriasis or eczema. Researchers found that the plant had the ability to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production. These are lipids that not only play a role in the inflammatory process but also are active in the sebaceous glands, possibly contributing to inflammatory skin conditions. Aloe vera gel is safe and soothing for dry and inflamed skin around the sensitive vaginal area.
Straight from the plant
Yes, you can use aloe vera topically straight from the plant, nature has made an instant salve ready for us to use. Simply break off the leaf and squeeze out the gel. The fleshy leaves are filled with a clear gel, which is extracted from the plant and usually used in different aloe vera preparations.
Better Digestion
Aloe vera can be useful for individuals with constipation, including those dealing with this symptom in IBS. This is because of aloe vera’s laxative effect and its ability to increase water in the intestinal lumen. This is due to the yellow pulp that’s found just under the outer surface of the plant leaf called aloe latex Aloe latex. It contains aloin, an anthraquinone that gives the plant its laxative properties.
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antioxidant and anti-ulcer properties making it an excellent addition to gut blends to protect the stomach lining and treat irritable bowel syndrome. Aloe vera extract has therapeutic benefits for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and studies reveal a decrease in symptoms such as heartburn, belching, and vomiting over a four-week period.
The latest trend is aloe vera beverages that are made simply by extracting the aloe vera gel from the leaves and mixing it with water. Aloe vera on its own has a bitter taste, so some brands will add flavour or sweeteners to the bottle to counteract this. Of course we know better, that the bitter principle is responsible for much of its digestive properties. Take a look at the bottle’s ingredients to make sure it’s not loaded with added sugar and preservatives.
Other interesting prospects for aloe vera
Research has demonstrated how taking aloe vera juice every day for two weeks lowered blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels of the study participants also improved which could be an additional benefit for those with diabetes; who have an increased risk of heart disease, which is linked to triglyceride and cholesterol abnormalities. A more recent study suggests people with prediabetes may see similar effects on their blood sugar and lipids from aloe vera.
There is some research showing that aloe can speed up metabolism, which in turn would help burn more calories throughout the day and potentially lead to weight loss. It is thought this is because aloe increased energy expenditure.
Studies found that people with untreated diabetes or obese prediabetes who took aloe vera gel reduced their body weight, insulin resistance and body fat mass.
]]>The herbal blood cleansers
The incredible value of alteratives as effective blood cleansers cannot be understated. Like the adaptogens, alterative herbs also exert a holistic, tonic action that restores normal balance and function of the bodily systems and organs to increase health and vitality. However it is the alterative herb that alters the body’s processes of metabolism so that tissues can best deal with a range of functions from nutrition to elimination. Many alterative herbs are rich in minerals, vitamins and other trace elements and highly nourishing substances. Furthermore, most alteratives are alkalising to the blood and help neutralise excess acid in the system. Some work by stimulating digestive function and some are immunomodulators or anti-microbial. As stimulants, they mildly stimulate and activate the vital organic functions of the liver and gall bladder. Many herbs have an alterative function and it can often be their secondary or tertiary action. For example, diuretic & hepatic remedies could also be seen as alteratives.
Alteratives shift stagnant states
Alteratives move the body to a state of health, removing indicators of systemic disintegration. They can be used safely in many diverse conditions as supportive remedies and should definitely be considered when chronic inflammatory or degenerative disease exists. Skin conditions, arthritis and autoimmune diseases can especially be improved by using alteratives. Traditional western practitioners called the condition in which you would use alterative herbs “bad blood syndrome”. This was associated with a build up of waste products and toxins stagnating within the tissues and congesting the channels of elimination. As well as this, a patient would also present with dampness accumulating (oedema, swellings, puffiness, swollen lymph nodes), poor sluggish digestion (constipation), chronic skin conditions (eczema, acne, boils), infections (low grade fever, septicaemia, chronic infections, low immunity), chronic fatigue and low energy levels, to the most severe which would be things like tumours, malignancies and cancer.
Blood and Lymph work hand in hand
The term “blood cleansing” comes from an older time when blood and lymph were not seen as being separate from each other. When people referred to blood-purifying or blood-cleansing herbs, they were actually talking about herbs that help to purify the lymphatic portion of the circulatory system. The lymphatic and circulatory systems work very much hand-in-hand and although blood should always remain contained within the cardiovascular system, lymph fluid has free reign to flow between the circulatory system, lymphatic system and throughout all the extracellular spaces. We want circulation to be good both in the circulatory system and the lymphatic system. The circulatory system takes care of itself because a pumping heart governs it. The lymphatic system, on the other hand, has no central pump to do the same for lymph. By keeping lymph moving and predominantly clear of toxins, we also keep blood clear of the same and we also maintain a healthier and more efficient immune system.
“There are no incurable diseases, only the lack of will. There are no worthless herbs, only the lack of knowledge.” ~ Avicenna
The master detoxifiers
If the blood and lymphatic system were pure, no disease would exist. Blood cleansing, alterative herbs catalyse a natural detoxification, opening a variety of eliminatory systems to keep the blood and lymph clean and clear from the build-up of toxins and inflammatory agents. This also includes the viscosity of lymph fluid itself. By helping to disperse toxic buildup in the interstitial fluid, alteratives aid the body to properly remove toxins and therefore, improve the metabolism, supporting proper absorption and delivery of nutrients and insure healthy elimination. Alteratives are masters of proper elimination, they mainly work on the kidneys, liver, lungs, the lymphatic system and the skin.
Microorganisms are entering our bodies all the time. We also produce endotoxins as a normal process of cellular metabolism and this has to be dealt with too. Toxic build-up includes pesticides, chemicals, environmental toxins and the normal waste products associated with metabolism like protein wastes, cellular debris, hormones etc. Alteratives impact and enhance each organ-system with its own eliminatory function: The lungs are exhaling carbon dioxide and water vapour, among other things. The large intestine is eliminating faecal matter. The lymph is circulating and helping to keep our blood clean. The liver acts as the main processing and detoxing organ of the body. The kidneys are helping to excrete toxins from your body through urine. The skin is also helping to release toxins through sweating.
Clearing elimination avenues
The skin would rather not be a primary eliminatory organ, other than eliminating sweat and venting excess heat. It would rather that other eliminatory organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver, colon and lymphatic system take the lion’s share of eliminating toxins. If one organ works at half capacity, another organ has to pick up the slack. In many cases, it can fall upon the skin, which then may break out with rashes or other skin eruptions.
In regard to skin, herbs that help open pores and vent heat and moisture are called diaphoretics and sudorifics. Diaphoretics open up the vents and release heat, while sudorifics are more inclined to release moisture as well. If we’re talking about the lungs, then in addition to all the things we can do with exercise and hydration for lung health, there are herbs that help to keep the lungs optimally functional and promote strong expectoration. Expectorant and pectoral herbs (lung tonics) are also types of alteratives.
Altering the liver’s condition
Alteratives can help to restore sluggish liver functions. The liver has a wide variety of functions and tasks including helping to keep blood and lymph clear of toxins. If the liver becomes dysfunctional, so does proper elimination and other organs have to take over the job. In traditional Chinese medicine, toxins of the blood and toxin-producing infections are considered ‘excess heat’. Since the liver is associated with heat, too much heat can create extreme imbalance. Herbs that fall into the taste categories of sour and bitter best support the liver’s health and function. Sour herbs help to cool and tone the liver, while many bitter herbs known as cholagogues are energetically cooling and help the liver make and secrete bile. Bile, which is also bitter, not only supports peristalsis, but also helps in fat digestion and serves to dump many toxins directly into the intestines for eventual elimination. Superior cooling, bitter cholagogues include dandelion root and leaf, burdock root and seed, artichoke leaf and milk thistle. There are also warming bitters, herbs that contain bitter principles as well as warming volatile oils that aid liver function and digestion in multiple ways.
Herbalism is a religion of Nature, representing a balance of head and heart” Michael Tierra
The Ayurvedic perspective
The Ayurvedic perspective on alteratives is that they restore the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify “Pitta in rakta”. They were traditionally used to revitalise and detoxify after a long winter. The ideal alterative clears toxins (ama) from the blood by these actions:
Cholagogue - Extracting toxins in bile, refreshing the blood
Livotonic / Hepatoprotective - Improving the liver's ability to clear toxins
Cooling - To relieve the liver
Sour - Flushing glands to recalibrate the blood
Bitter - Stimulates digestion & mild laxative to clear the bowels
Diuretic - To remove toxins from the body
When in doubt, use alteratives
As most alteratives are very gentle and work over a longer period of time, they should be the first group of herbs to consider when working with chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases. These include skin issues, digestion issues, heat and dryness, cysts, arthritis, gout and autoimmune conditions. It is important to note that initially after starting treatment, skin eruptions can worsen. This is because the skin has already been trying to push these ‘stuck wastes’ out and with the help of alteratives, now get’s a ‘push’ to finish this task. Therefore, before improvement is seen, initial worsening may happen, usually lasting for only a short period of time. Remember that excessive use of alterative herbs may cause frequent urination. Whether the condition is internal (chronic) or external (acute) the blood needs to be purified. It is one of the main therapies that can be used alongside any other therapy employed.
“We are like the herb which flourish most when it is most trampled on.” ~ Walter Scott
Blood purification protocols
Alteratives are best supported with a holistic treatment protocol that includes dietary, physical, emotional and other lifestyle changes. Whenever there is illness, blood purification, along with bowel cleaning, (enemas, colonics) should be considered to assist the detoxification process. Short fasts using herbal teas with alterative herbs, vegetable broths, raw vegetable juices like carrot, celery, beet, water cress will help neutralise poisons in the bloodstream and stimulate the functions of the liver, bowels and kidneys. Deep breathing and exercise will help in lung and skin elimination, Dry skin brushing and hydrotherapy will help clean the blood and lymph and is ideal for elderly people and weak individuals who cannot move around easily and be exposed to more energetic therapies. Take alterative herbal teas and decoctions between meals on an empty stomach
Alteratives improve detoxification by the liver and kidneys that indirectly cleanses the chakras and releasing emotional stagnation that results in increased overall energy, strength and vitality.
Excellent alterative herbs
Burdock, alfalfa, echinacea, nettles, dandelion, red clover, milk thistle, blessed thistle, oregon grape root, red clover, barberry, aloe vera, lemongrass, chickweed, sarsaparilla, rosemary, calendula, yarrow, black cohosh, bladderwrack, dong quai, damiana, elecampane
Alterative Essential Oils for Detoxification
Essential oils bring a lot to the table with supporting the detoxification process. Many oils support many different parts of the body like the liver, lungs, kidneys and lymphatic system.
“The secrets are in the plants, to elicit them, you have to love them enough.” George Washington Carver
]]>Elemi Canarium luzonicum
Other Names: Canarium commune, Canarium indicum, Canarium luzonicum, Pimela luzonica, elemi oleoresin, Manila elemi,
The Plant
Elemi is a member of the Burseraceae family, which includes frankincense, myrrh and opopanax that all produce gum resin. The evergreen elemi tree grows up to 30 metres in height. It is found wild in tropical climates like Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific islands. In the Philippine Islands, where elemi is cultivated, it is known as sahing or pili. The Manila elemi is the best-known and single largest source of the world's supply.
Elemi belongs to an incredibly diverse genus, with over 75 distinct species of Canarium alone, leading to much confusion between other similar botanical resins, gums and oleoresins. Possibly the “African elemi” mentioned prior to the 17th century, as well as in earlier records was Somalian Frankincense, probably Boswellia frereana. Indeed, with similar uses and properties, elemi has been called “Poor Man’s Frankincense.” (Although different and a superb plant, resin and oil in its own right.)
Essential oil extraction
Firstly, the resin contained in the elemi wood is extracted and becomes a resinoid – gum elemi, a sticky viscous liquid, which is steam distilled to produce elemi essential oil. It takes seven years for the elemi tree to be ready for its weekly tapping, with a 10% yield of oil; fortunately after collecting the resin the tree heals rather quickly. When the tree is tapped, the resin solidifies upon exposure to air and is able to be collected rather quickly to be dried and then steam distilled to produce the essential oil. Elemi oil is a pale yellowish colour with a honey-like consistency.
Elemi oil contains the following active constituents: Terpineol, elemol, elemicine, phellandrene, dipentene and limonene. Limonene, a major constituent of citrus peel oils, is also found in Elemi oleo-resin from as low as 23% to as high as 80%. Due to the temperature instability of limonene, cold storage of this oil in a dark, tightly capped bottle is recommended to avoid oxidation.
Contraindications: Possible skin sensitisation
Cultural history
The ancient Egyptians used elemi
The use of Elemi dates back to the ancient Egyptians where it was used in the embalming process for mummification to help the soul transcend to the next realm of existence. As a consequence of its ability to delay decomposition, they incorporated elemi in cosmetic preparations for skincare. This oil has a long medicinal history helping with respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, catarrh, coughs and wheezing. It was a valued remedy for the nervous system, including stress related conditions and exhaustion. Culpeper recommended elemi for treating a fractured skull. For hundreds of years it was used as an ingredient in antiseptic ointments for ulcerated wounds, skin infections and scars and even as an insect repellent. In the Philippines, gum Elemi is used medicinally to treat skin conditions and promote scar formation. Elemi resinoid has found more recent industrial use, in the manufacture of ink, cement, varnish and lacquer.
Since ancient times, elemi was revered as a sacred oil because of its transcendent qualities and was popular in incense and meditation blends. The name elemi is derived from the Arabic phrase “above and below” " and the word "chryros" meaning "gold". Elemi is said to balance both the body and the spirit on a physical and spiritual level. Some early traditions used the resin and oil as part of sacred rituals to clarify and enhance consciousness and to connect the material realm with the realm of the Divine.
Scent: Fresh top to middle note, fine fixative
Delightful elemi essential oil greets our nose with a bright, fresh and lemony aroma with peppery undertones that is at first reminiscent of frankincense with lemon and pine but the dry down eventually reveals fine woody-green notes with a trail of sweet balsam. Employ elemi in fine perfumes as an effective fixative and mood lifter.
Blends Well With: Frankincense, rosemary, lavender, myrrh and sage, cinnamon, frankincense, labdanum oils.
Therapeutic elemi
Stimulant:
Rich in monoterpenes, elemi oil is a widespread stimulant, from aiding circulation to triggering the secretion of hormones to improving the digestive system. It also acts on the nervous system to stimulate nervous responses which indirectly improves the body's natural functions and overall health. This quality makes elemi an excellent choice for nervous exhaustion as well as for muscle fatigue and pain. Use in massage blends to soothe muscle discomfort after exercise as it stimulates blood circulation, secretion of hormones and enzymes from the endocrinal glands to recalibrate the body.
The essential oil of Elemi is a good antiseptic and proves fatal against bacteria, virus, fungi and microbes along with provide protection against tetanus and septic. Not only this, it is highly effective in preventing infections in the colon, urinary bladder, urethra, intestines, stomach and other internal organs. Apart from this,
Skin Care
An effective ingredient in beauty products and cosmetics, elemi oil rejuvenates aged skin, especially sun damaged skin. Elemi improves the appearance of dry sensitive skin, but also oily skin; it deeply moisturises dehydrated skin and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother overall appearance. Elemi oil can help eliminate toxins and impurities from the skin to help reduce acne, smooth discoloration and promote vibrancy.
Excels in Wound Care & Healing
Elemi is beneficial for minor infected cuts and wounds or inflamed skin, it is packed with natural antiseptic and analgesic properties that help eliminate bacteria and protect against infection. It helps fight microbes or fungi in minor wounds and cuts. A powerful healer, elemi has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce aches and pains. It can be quite effective at soothing overworked muscles or reducing body aches after exercising or engaging in strenuous physical activity. Effective in massage oil, elemi eases both mental and physical stress.
Elemi loosens respiratory congestion
Elemi can support healthy respiratory function to improve breathing should cold or flu symptoms strike or ease chronic coughs and relieve bronchial conditions if necessary. This oil is an effective expectorant that helps break up excess mucus and clear congestion in the lungs, nose and throat. It may be added to cough syrups or vapour rub to clear phlegm, suppress coughs. It can also help boost the immune system to ward off sickness.
Elemi elicits emotional ease
Elemi’s spicy and fresh aroma uplifts the mood and revitalise the senses. It is calming and restorative, while it grounds a flighty personality and balances a faltering, uncertain character. For these reasons it makes a superb addition to meditation blends in special perfumes and diffusers to generate clear awareness. It aligns and harmonises both the spiritual and emotional planes, affecting the chakras positively to relieve stress to all aspects of the body. It is valid assistance to open the solar plexus and heart chakra, with a particular affinity to the heart chakra, softening and expanding while addressing unacknowledged stored grief and sorrow that is waiting for our attention to be resolved. Elemi will benefit those who are depleted emotionally coaxing them to reconnect from their inner source rather than allowing the ego to run the show, which causes so much inner conflict. Elemi is used for rites of passage, initiation and new beginnings. It prompts release of pre-conceptions and old ideas at the dawn of a new chapter in life.
Interesting elemi has a calming effect on horses and some dogs. Animals may smell it directly from a drop or two in the palm or put a few drops in the hands and massage the animal’s coat.
]]>The herbal stage managers
Adaptogens have found their way into the mainstream market boasting many promises of reduced stress, improved sleep and even better sex. Yet, despite current saturation of the wellness industry, many people, including the sellers, don’t really understand how they work or how they might help. Could a herb really boost immunity, support energy and focus, promote relaxation and rest, as well as improve mood and overall wellbeing? That is a tall order, but one that a multi-tasking adaptogen can definitely fulfil.
So what is an adaptogen? Adaptogens are magnificent, non-toxic medicinal herbs that herbalists have been relying upon based on herbal wisdom accrued over thousands of years. They are prime body tonics used for their healing abilities of balancing, restoring, and protecting the body as a whole via multiple metabolic pathways. They address multiple imbalances; to not only nourish but also cleanse the body of poisons and supporting immunity in a balanced holistic way while enhancing physiological function. Adaptogens were granted their name because of their distinctive ability to "adapt" their function according to our body’s needs.
Think of adaptogens like they are the indispensable stage managers behind the scenes who orchestrate, coordinate and integrate all the different aspects of theatre to create the show. Adaptogens embody the real meaning of holistic in the way they pervasively infiltrate and harmonise the entire multi-layered human being.
Every Culture uses adaptogens
Although the term ‘adaptogens’ has only existed since the late 1940s, these wonderful plants have been revered for many centuries. Nearly every culture in the world has used these rejuvenating and restorative plants. In Daoism, for example, many of the herbs that achieve the same results as adaptogens are referred to as “tonic herbs.” In Chinese herbal medicine, they’re called “qi tonics” and immortality herbs. In Ayurveda, they’re known as “rasayanas.” Rasayana herbs or adaptogens are said to slow ageing, be revitalising, prevent disease and promote longevity by reducing the impact of physiological aging factors like stress and oxidation.
In Western herbal medicine, some of the herbs that fall under “nutritive tonics” and “trophorestoratives” essentially parallel adaptogenic herbs. In rainforest herbalism, herbs similar to adaptogens tend to be called “para-toda,” meaning “heal-all.”
“For every human illness, somewhere in the world there exists a plant which is the cure” Rudolf Steiner
Flux is the way of life
According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; nor is it the strongest; the species that survives is the one that is best able to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Modern life has greatly compromised our ability to adapt and adjust to change despite fluctuation being a normal part of life and of all existence. Change is not a problem that we need to or fear or avoid, rather a process to support and welcome. If we observe nature we will see that finding protection to remain stagnant is not an option. All things in life are growing and all things are evolving from the blueprint or seed within. Without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they are meant to be.
Plants, the masters of adaptability, provide myriad therapeutic benefits to match our own shifting states. Many plants actually contain adaptogenic/tonic compounds because they have to contend with ample stress themselves. In truth all plants are adaptogenic to varying degrees, however, adaptogens are a certain type of plant that stands out as distinctly powerful because they work non-specifically yet profoundly affect every bodily system.
Adaptive humans and Plants
We humans are like plants in so many ways, responding to environmental stimuli in a very physical way. We are both organisms interacting with chemicals, gravity, light, moisture, infections, temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, parasite infestation, disease, physical disruption, sound and touch. Just to negotiate the complexities of sustaining life in a natural world will require a coordinated response of all our faculties to any situation or stimulus that disturbs our normal conditions or function for survival. The sensing body is not a programmed machine but an active and open form, continually improvising its relation to things and the world. The body’s silent conversation with things is underway at the most immediate level of sensory perception. Its actions and engagements are ceaselessly adjusting themselves to a world and a terrain that is itself continually shifting.
“There is only one active ingredient in plant medicines, friendship. A plant spirit heals a patient as a favour to its friend-in-dreaming the doctor” Rumi
The dynamic balance of homeostasis
We can’t talk about adaptogens without talking about homeostasis. Homeostasis is the self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival. A healthy human body is capable of being extremely resilient and adaptive under a vast variety of conditions. This is homeostasis, the intrinsic dynamic state at the very heart of human life. Human health is not a static state; nothing that is alive is static. Health is a state of dynamic balance because there is constant fluctuation and constant interchange with our environment.
Every human being is a self-organised system, in a state of dynamic equilibrium, a living, ever-changing identity that has come into being of its own accord, just like a plant. We are continually taking in information from our environment, using what is nutritious and eliminating what is not. We are constantly adapting to the circumstances of each moment. Our needs are also in constant flux and our health, which is the visual manifestation of that always-shifting state, also shifts and changes. In fact the wellness of the human organism is such a dynamic state that we need to be aware of its process as it unfolds, reassessing at every step along the way to maintain and optimise its intrinsic homeostatic state. This is where adaptogens come into play.
Adaptogens – the plant yogis
The state of homeostasis is the ideal human way of being. We cannot halt the inexorable barrage of unexpected change that disappoints and generates stress in our lives. We can however develop our resilience and immunity to the toxic situations that corrode our wellbeing. The accomplished yogi remains adamantine, unfazed and calm in the midst of flux - life’s vicissitudes.
One of the basic tenets of yoga embodies this ongoing quest for intrinsic balance within the human physiology and psyche. This is Yoga Sutra 2.46: Sthira sukha asanam, which means balancing ease with effort and finding the sweet spot between stability and comfort. At the mental level, a balance of sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease) can be experienced by a sense of peace and tranquillity while our minds remain focused and clear. When our connection to the earth is relaxed and powerful, health and abundance flows toward us. At the energetic level, we experience balanced sthira and sukha as an easy flow of breath and currents of prana (life force energy) throughout the body. Prana flows freely through the chakras or energy centres, along the spine but remains contained within the body.
The breath moves smoothly and effortlessly, flowing with fullness without holding or straining even during the most intense poses. At the spiritual level, we experience a balance of sthira and sukha as a connection to the divine while remaining present in our bodies. For millennium, yogis have sought out adaptogens from the plant world to help facilitate this idyllic homeostatic state. They discovered that certain plants fulfilled these functions quite admirably and incorporated them into their life and practice to catapult them closer to enlightenment.
The cascade of calamity with stress
Life of course does not always run smoothly and the human being cannot always adroitly negotiate the inevitable emotional and physiological jolts along the way without proper nutrition and physiological support. Chronic stress, the precursor to most disease, slowly but surely corrodes both physical and mental health and diminishes the intrinsic energy stores of so many people. Chronically elevated cortisol levels and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all of the body’s processes. Every system in the body is affected causing adrenal fatigue, dysfunctional digestive tract e.g. irritable bowel disease, rapid aging, anxiety, cancer, chronic fatigue, common cold, hormone imbalance, auto-immune disorders, thyroid conditions and weight loss resistance. Over time, the repeated activation of stress hormones, aka the “flight or fight” response, can take a serious toll on the body; suffice to say, the body is way out of alignment with its own inbuilt homeostasis and is going to need some serious support from Nature – the plant world.
Plants to the rescue
Fortunately the plant world offers us the remarkable gift of adaptogens that allow the body to do what it does so well – that is to adapt and ride out life’s constant fluctuations intelligently and healthfully. Adaptogens build adaptive energy to keep the body balanced when affected by multiple stressors or harmful influences. Such herbs can support the innate human stress response to unexpected change, to evolve sustainably allowing us to function optimally in our life, whatever the chaos that may arise. They stimulate, activate or promote a response in multiple nonspecific ways. Of course this lack of specificity confounds medical science, which likes to put everything in its little categorical box and as a consequence, adaptogens still evoke a certain mystery. Also, adaptogens restore normal bodily functions rather than force physiological activity in one direction.
When adaptagens are ingested, the entire broad range of nourishing and restorative plant constituents, including the minor ones, are utilised by the body, mitigating the intensity of some of the more intense actives. Our bodies recognise and make good use of the bio-chemicals in these plants because we have evolved with them over millennia. Adaptogens can greatly increase the effectiveness of some modern drugs, including antibiotics, anxiolytics (anxiety relief) antidepressants and hypoglycaemic (blood sugar lowering) agents. They can also reduce and in some cases eliminate the side effects of some drugs.
While prescription drugs remain in our system and influence multiple organs, once an adaptogen has completed its job, what is useful is eliminated or absorbed into the body without any side effects.
So how do adaptogens work?
The rejuvenating adaptogens improve and recharge the health of our adrenal glands, counteracting the harmful effects of stress. More energy is accessible to cells and the ability to eliminate toxic by-products of the metabolic process to help the body use oxygen more efficiently. More cellular energy in combination with boosting the adrenal glands strengthens the body’s ability to cope with stress, anxiety and fatigue calming us down and boosting us up simultaneously.
Adaptogens target multiple locations in the body, yet they primarily work with the neuro-endocrine system in order to help regulate our bodies’ primitive stress software. The chemical compounds in adaptogens interact with our bodies’ stress-response systems, namely the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the sympatho-adrenal system (or SAS). They also directly support and balance our organs, which shape our individual perceptions of the world and control basic survival processes like intuition, pain response, sexual function, blood pressure, circadian rhythm, stress response and many more.
The adaptogen’s intelligence
Adaptogens have a normalising effect and bi-directionality within the body that is indicative of their own intelligence to determine exactly what the body needs. Adaptogenic herbs work so closely with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, that every person experiences the herb’s effects differently, because each person has a different internal process for balance. Each adaptogen attunes the body to a particular energy or set of energetic conduits, generating a non-specific homeostatic response within the body and mind. Adaptogens act on the blood current, cleansing and toning by adjusting the general homeostasis of the body. They are often immune stimulants, some of them containing phyto-hormones to enable, regulate and enhance the endocrine system’s hormonal secretions.
This means they reach far and deep into our physical and most importantly, subtle body systems expertly affecting us emotionally and spiritually; it is well understood that if we can improve our mental condition, we can improve overall health. Hormones are known as the ‘molecules of consciousness’ powerful bio peptides that control our awareness of reality, mood, perception, sleep-wake cycles and bonding. It can be said that hormones are the gateway through which we experience our self and life; they are one of the major links between the physical, emotional and spiritual worlds. The conjunction of the adaptogens essence with our own brings us knowledge, life and healing.
Popular Adaptogens
Ashwagandha, burdock root, ginsengs, rhodiola rosea, holy basil, maca root, red clover, prickly ash, damiana, echinacea, golden seal, sarsaparilla, dong quai, liquorice, elderberry, reishi, gotu kola, astralagus, schisandra, burdock root, milk thistle, bearberry, green tea, horsetail, lady’s mantle, raspberry leaf, nettle, shatavari.
Of course there are many more, the incredible chemistry of many other herbs parallels, complements and aligns with the qualifications of being an adaptogen. Certain adaptogens are also known to be faster acting than others. Mostly however we must be patient with most adaptogens because they work slowly, gently and subtly, but the benefits are undeniable and long lasting. Incorporating adaptogens into our daily regimen can help us feel a huge improvement in our energy and general health. Holistic healing is not just the process of finding relief from pain; it is the process of reconciling what is otherwise incompatible or unacceptable within ourselves. When we bridge these two otherwise conflicting worlds, we ‘heal’ and discover our unique gift.
]]>Common names: small-flowered willow herb, small leafed willow herb or hoary willow herb.
Meet exceptional epilobium
If you don’t already know about epilobium, then it is a good time to learn more about his wonderful, efficacious herb with its powerful anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Epilobium has long been a therapeutic staple for general urinary tract health. It is the herb of choice to treat urinary tract problems in males and females including prostate disorders, bladder and kidney disorders. Both traditional and modern medicine have reported how this herb has successfully reduced incontinence in both males and females. Today epilobium is finding popularity again as a unique remedy for male ailments and is extensively used in Europe to treat benign swelling of the prostate and maintain normal kidney and urinary function. It is often called small-flowered willow herb, but don’t be fooled by the name, it is not a willow at all.
The plant
Epilobium is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae; there are many species that all belong to the genus of Epilobium. This prolific plant is widespread in Central and Eastern Europe and in disturbed areas of North America, where it is called fireweed because it springs up on ground recently cleared by fire. It mostly grows in coniferous and deciduous forests, on forest clearings and between pines by forest paths. The name of the genus Epilobium is from the Greek words epi (upon) and lobos (a pod), because the flowers stand on top of long, thin, pod-like seed-vessels, looking rather like thick flower-stems. The plant is recognisable by its small flowers whose colour varies from almost white to pale pink to pink and red. Epilobium is a valuable herbal medicine because it is rich in contains flavonoids, quercetin, miricetin, sitosterol, vitamin C and carotene.
Favourite Folk Remedy
Epilobium was well used in folk medicine, particularly in Central Europe, for the treatment of prostate disorders and abnormal growths and the young plant shoots were boiled and eaten like asparagus. The epilobium tea was administered as a treatment for urinary problems and for various gastrointestinal disorders such as dysentery or diarrhoea. It was also a traditional topical treatment to soothe and heal minor burns, rashes, ulcers and other skin irritations. The plant is mentioned in a Pharmacopoeia of 1880. In Ireland it is called Blooming Sally - Sally being a corruption of the Latin Salix (willow) for its willow-like leaves although it is not a willow. Traditional healers of Canada used extracts of epilobium to soothe gastro-intestinal and bronchial problems.
Epilobium targets the urinary system
Although epilobium is best known as a herbal remedy for male urological conditions, of course this also applies to female urinary complaints, such as UTIs or cystitis because it effectively fights against tough bacteria in the bladder and the urinary duct. This herb is extremely effective in the treatment of various kidney diseases - bacterial and other infections, inflammations or tumours. Epilobium is successfully used for treating incontinence or bed wetting in men, women and children.
Prostate herb a must for male health
So many men over 40 have prostate problems and as they age, the frequency of prostate disorders increases. Epilobium has proven very effective for difficulties urinating related to enlarged prostate and with blood in the urine. The action of epilobium on prostate symptoms can be very swift, occurring within a few days to weeks. This wonderful herb keeps the prostate cells in their normal, differentiated state, allowing them to be the cells they were intended to be. Negligence of abnormal cells can lead to hyperplasia and cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, after skin cancer and is responsible for many men’s deaths every year.
It was world-renowned Austrian herbalist Maria Treben who brought a lot of focus on epilobium as an efficacious remedy for prostate problems in men and for bladder and kidney trouble and bed-wetting. In her herbal, “Health through God’s pharmacy” (pub. 1982) she shares her successful experiences of people regaining their health from many prostate disorders. This has been scientifically validated in a 2003 study that showed the polyphenols from epilobium reduce the spreading of prostate cells thus helping with benign hyperplasia of the prostate. Of course, age-old traditional treatment of epilobium for prostate problems has more than demonstrated to us its efficacy in this field.
Superlative prostate specific
Epilobium parviflorum contains constituents (Elagitannin, oenothein B) that are active anti-inflammatory components. Indeed the herb has a marked inflammation inhibiting and healing effect on acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate and can help to reduce the gland to its normal size. It is recommended that all men over the age of 50 take this herb regularly as a preventative and to maintain prostate and bladder health.
The two problems that affect the prostate are benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. BPH, or swelling of the prostate (enlarged prostate) causes symptoms such as urgency to urinate and low or interrupted urinary flow with frequent night urinations. The less-common prostatitis is caused by a chronic bacterial infection of the prostate, which can also cause problems with the urethra and bladder.
A 2013 study found that epilobium’s potent compounds could stop the growth of prostate cancer cells. The anti-cancer activity of epilobium is likely due to the content of oenothein B, which has been found to exhibit anti-tumour properties as well as supporting the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. It makes an excellent adjunct therapy to enhance allopathic cancer treatment.
It is wholly justified to conclude that epilobium is a strong natural remedy for prostate diseases. Epilobium causes no side effects, unlike conventional drugs like tamsulosin and finasteride, which may cause irregular heartbeat, digestive problems, headache and chronic fatigue.
Epilobium likes the skin too
Epilobium can be used topically as a soothing, cleansing and healing agent to treat minor burns, rashes and ulcers and can also be used in an ointment that helps children's skin problems including infantile cutaneous infections. The herb serves well in therapeutical products for eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoea, rosacea and other skin conditions due to its antiseptic and free radical scavenging abilities. It possesses powerful antimicrobial effects against a number of bacteria, including the propionibacterium in some acne. No wonder it is sometimes added to cosmetic products, facial tonics and shampoos.
Other medicinal uses
The epilobium herb is cooling and astringent and sometimes prescribed to stop internal haemorrhaging. An infusion of the leaves will be found beneficial to treat vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea), heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) and may also be of benefit to help with rectal bleeding. The astringent nature of epilobium and has a beneficial effect on digestion and treats diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A gentle decoction of epilobium finds good use as a wash for inflammation of the eyes (ophthalmia) and a gargle for ulcerations of the mouth and throat. Epilobium has also been recommended for its antispasmodic properties in the treatment of whooping cough, hiccough and asthma, reflecting its historical usage.
Epilobium is most effective in the form of tea and works beautifully in combination with other herbs to reduce urinary discomfort. Drink several cups a day, regardless of the severity of your condition, in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening, half an hour before dinner. Drink it until you notice improvement and recovery from urinary or prostate disease.
Properties: astringent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, haemostatic, diuretic, anti-tumour, anti-carcinogenic, demulcent, tonic.
Indicated for: Male health maintenance, prostate health, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), enlarged prostate, prostatitis, kidney and bladder disorders, genito-urinary conditions, cystitis, gastro-intestinal disorders, irritable bowel, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, bronchial infections, cellular regeneration, cleansing, detoxification, mouth mucus membrane lesions, menstrual disorders, mucous colitis.
Precautions: No toxic effects are indicated. Epilobium contains substances that affect the production of oestrogen in the body, so pregnant or lactating females should avoid this herb.
Scutellaria belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and can be found near marshes, meadows and other wetland habitats in America and Canada. It derives its name from the cap-like appearance of the outer whorl of its small blue or purple flowers. It is a slender, graceful kind of plant that is heavily branched and can grow to over a metre in height. Like the environment it grows in, skullcap has been used to instil a sense of gentle calm and indeed it is a safe and effective herb for treating anxiety and related disorders. Scutellaria lateriflora makes a comforting evening infusion of skullcap tea and is often macerated as a helpful tincture. Historically, it has been used in Native and traditional folk practices to promote wellbeing and relaxation during times of occasional distress. The Asian variety of skullcap is one of the most widely used plants in Chinese herbal medicine, whereby practitioners prescribe it for viral infections (including flu and hepatitis), bacterial infections fever and high blood pressure.
American Indians highly valued skullcap
Native American tribes including the Cherokee recognized that skullcap had a "deeper" action on the nervous system than any other herb. They employed skullcap as a fine female medicinal herb and recognised it a valuable “emmenagogue” to promote menstruation and aid in childbirth to help expel the placenta. It also found use to relieve breast pain and was used within ceremonies for the transition of girls to womanhood and in cases where a menstruation taboo has been broken. Its common usage was for treating stress, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome and diarrhoea. The herb was used to induce visions and as a ceremonial plant that was smoked as tobacco by some Native Americans and used for purification or for exorcism and to protect the practitioner on spirit journeys. The Iroquois used an infusion of the root to keep the throat clear, whilst other Native American tribes used closely related species as bitter tonics for the kidneys.
The settlers soon caught on
In the 18th century, American settlers adopted native skullcap as a medicine and they used it to treat rabies, which gave rise to one of its common names - mad dog weed. It was said to be particularly helpful for the hysteria associated with this terrible disease. Undoubtedly it would have helped to calm any anxiety and reduce spasm in those with the malady. Many debated the rabies treatment yet it was still used by folk herbalists while orthodox physicians began to focus on the plant's considerable value as a nerve tonic. American scientists are mostly unanimous in their condemnation of skullcap, thanks to the exaggerated claims that it treats rabies successfully. This is a shame.
In the 19th century before the advent of pharmaceutical tranquilisers, skullcap was the go to herb for the relief of anxiety and nervous tension and the early physicians were using skullcap as a nervine for conditions of excitability, phobias, anxiety and seizures. It was considered a specific remedy for the convulsive twitching of St Vitus’ dance now known to have been an umbrella term for various types of conditions with motor movement disorders.
“Skullcap is one of the finest nervines and antispasmodics given to humanity. It should be on every physician’s shelf” -excerpt from an old herbal book.
Nerve Tonic par excellence
Skullcap can be successfully used for relaxing an overly excitable nervous system as it calms while at the same time acting as a tonic and has antispasmodic activity. Its nervine uses are applicable for treating anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, neuralgia, phobias, muscular twitching and tremors including epilepsy. It is a great remedy for nervous debility with chronic tension and which can in turn affect the muscles, therefore it is useful in states of increased muscular tension such as in tension headaches, tightened shoulders, neck or lower back, muscle spasms and leg cramps or neuralgia. It can be used in combination with herbs such as St John’s wort, passionflower, hops and valerian or adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha or gotu kola. It can be taken at the onset of a panic attack and some people find it useful to carry a small bottle of the tincture with them to take if they feel acute anxiety coming on. This is validated by European and Russian studies that showed how Skullcap offers significant anti-anxiety benefits for healthy individuals.
One benefit of skullcap is for insomnia and sleep disorders as it gently quietens the mind enough to lull you to sleep. Many sleep remedies, both traditional and herbal can leave you groggy in the morning; whereas skullcap promotes sound sleep without the unwanted side effects, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalised in the morning. It is a useful herb for fibromyalgia or post viral fatigue syndrome in combination with passionflower and certain adaptogens such as ashwagandha for situations where one feels ‘tired yet wired’. Should you suffer from hypertension, skullcap can be of benefit to release inner tension, stress and ease palpitations.
Helps to quit addictive substances
Skullcap is recommended to aid in the withdrawal from drugs and alcohol including barbiturates and tranquillisers. It works by helping to soothe the symptoms of withdrawal like muscle aches, shakiness, digestive distress, agitation and poor quality sleep which are all common signs in withdrawal of a hyper nervous system and muscle function. Skullcap also soothes the delirium tremens of advanced alcoholism. The herb’s ability to calm overactive stress responses and relax the mind and body, makes it an extremely useful herb for people quitting alcohol or benzodiazepine drugs and once the crisis stage is over, skullcap can even decrease the actual cravings for addictive substances.
Studies show how skullcap has significant antioxidant effects, and may help protect against neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety and depression. There's even some evidence to suggest that skullcap may inhibit food allergic response. It can be given for digestive problems associated with stress, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Skullcap’s relaxing effects on the higher centres of the nervous system have a follow-on effect on the gut. Combine skullcap with chamomile and meadowsweet for indigestion-induced insomnia. Try adding passionflower for mental restlessness and anxiety, lemon balm for sadness or rosemary and brahmi to focus the mind or meditate.
A very good woman’s tonic
We can follow the lead of the American First Nation’s people by using skullcap as a women’s tonic. Skullcap contains large amounts of flavonoids, including scutellarin and baicalin, which are believed to be the active components accounting for its sedative and antispasmodic activity. This antispasmodic activity makes it an extremely effective herb for menstrual cramps and its calming action aids PMT symptoms. It may also be used with raspberry leaf to stimulate menstrual bleeding and for headaches, combine skullcap with camomile and lemon balm.
Is Skullcap your Spirit plant?
The Skullcap personality is easy to recognise because they tend to be intense, with tense muscles and they are prone to overthinking. Often, their brow is furrowed, even when they are young children, intensely occupied in thought and their inner worlds. Skullcap will surely be their spirit herb. For energetic healing, skullcap facilitates full integration of the soul with the physical body. It operates as an ally to keep the soul securely tethered to the physical during intentional out-of-body journeying. Skullcap lends brightness to the Spirit, lightening the load of the human predicament, making it more bearable; it is a remedy that many people need. After all, if one removes the medical jargon, this is all that pharmaceutical antidepressants are supposed to do yet too often they fail to deliver real bodily and emotional calm.
]]>Brahmi Bacopa monnieri
3,000 years of medicinal use
Brahmi has been treasured in India as a remarkably revitalising herb for almost 3000 years. Brahmi is a well-known nootropic herb and its uses in neurological and psychiatric disorders are well recognised. Its efficacy and safety is supported by research and thousands of years of knowledge and experience. Despite being such an old medicine used by Ayurvedic medical practitioners, brahmi’s myriad benefits are constantly being studied. Such studies show how brahmi helps boost brain function, treats ADHD symptoms and reduce stress and anxiety. Furthermore studies have further revealed that it could possess anticancer properties and reduce inflammation and blood pressure. Everyone would greatly benefit from using Brahmi in their life.
“Rarely is it possible to come across a herb of such great worth.” Swami Sivananda
Plant confused for gotu kola
Brahmi, or Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping herb native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America. Its ability to thrive underwater makes it popular for aquarium use. The aerial parts, leaves and stalks are used medicinally. Brahmi is known by the common names water hyssop, thyme-leafed gratiola, herb of grace and Indian pennywort. Only the plant Bacopa monniera defined by this Latin name is the authentic Brahmi. It is often confused with Gotu Kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica) that is sometimes identified as brahmi in some places including Thailand but this a different plant.
Ancient Vedic Treasure delivers
Brahmi makes an appearance in the Sanskrit sacred texts around the 6th century AD; the Charaka Samhita, Atharva-Veda and Susrut-Samhita. Vedic scholars reputedly used the herb to memorise lengthy sacred hymns and scriptures. Brahmi is named after the Hindu God Brahma, who is associated with great intellect and responsible for all "creative forces" in the world. Brahmi means, "that which gives supreme knowledge" and interestingly, this herb has a long and enduring history as a specific herb to sharpen intellect and attenuate mental deficits. We can justifiably conclude that brahmi was included as a vital ingredient in “sacred soma” – the mythic elixir of immortality taken by the early Vedic mystics and rishis. Firstly, because brahmi is referenced in the Divine Vedic scriptures, secondly, because it grew around them in their domain and thirdly, because it offered the yogi all the desirable qualities to help catapult them into Self-realisation.
The Ayurvedic sages, who were also great physicians, revealed Brahmi's role as one of the most “sattvic” or harmonising herbs in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. They bestowed an incredible wealth of extroardinary attibutes to this little bog herb in promoting intellectual power, longevity, rejuvenation, heart health, nerve replenishment, strength of mind, improving sleep, voice and complexion. Over the centuries, the role of brahmi was prolific in the treatment of physical afflictions such as leprosy, skin disorders, pain, anemia, diabetes, blood disorders, cough, poison, edema and fever. This included an array of mental disorders, insanity and even such states of inauspiciousness that attracted evil deeds or black magic! Today research on brahmi has confirmed what the ancients understood to be true, although it doesn’t extend to its more arcane protective benefits.
A lot to offer the medical world
Accordingly, brahmi has a lot to offer the modern medical world and indeed, it is still a staple plant in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Certain neurological disorders have limited therapeutic options in Western medicine and hospitals and research institutes across the globe are increasingly looking into Ayurvedic science for effective and safer alternatives. Ayurveda is the complete knowledge of life. Brahmi helps to achieve the primary goal of Ayurveda that is to prevent and treat illnesses and enhance lifespan by maintaining proper balance between the body, mind and the soul. Even though brahmi is mostly a cooling herb and a great to antidote the summer's heat, all body types can use it in all seasons. No side effects have been observed from benign brahmi and it can be given to infants safely.
A class of powerful compounds called bacosides in Bacopa monnieri is responsible for its multiple benefits. These two saponins are designated as bacopaside II and I with additional phytochemicals betulinic acid, wogonin and oroxindin. Bacopa also has the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin. These powerful actives make brahmi an excellent blood purifier that strengthens the immune system, cleanses the kidneys, while calming and soothing the liver. Its use has extended to allaying excessive sexual desire and has proved beneficial in venereal diseases, including AIDS.
Brahmi even calms the heart and helps guard against heart attacks because it relieves tension throughout all the body system and it also helps to ease constipation from stress, relaxes muscles and alleviates menstrual pain and disorders. It has a cooling effect on the urinary system and it cools the heat of cystitis and pain of dysuria by guiding pitta (heat) out of the system.
Brahmi’s antioxidant super power
Brahmi is a potent antioxidant that has a powerfully protective effect on cells, with significant super-oxide radical scavenging activity. This herb has also been shown to enhance antioxidant activity in organs such as the kidneys.
Brahmi’s active compounds – the bacosides have been shown strong antioxidant effects on the brain. Antioxidants are substances that help protect against cell damage caused by potentially harmful molecules called free radicals. Research suggests that damage caused by free radicals is linked to many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Brahmi helps to strengthen the immune system by speeding up its response time to pathogens, viruses or bacterial infections. There is one particularly dangerous toxin - acrylamide that brahmi is highly effective against that is connected to various neurodegenerative diseases.
Brahmi really helps people improve the quality of their skin, with its antioxidants and anti-aging properties that promote cell regeneration and collagen production. Brahmi is useful in skin conditions with underlying nervous imbalance. The herb has good wound healing qualities with antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens. According to Indian skin specialists it diminishes scar tissue by encouraging the early epithelisation period and decreasing myeloperoxidase and free radical generated tissue damage. Brahmi can also help in treating temporary baldness by boosting hair growth in areas where hair has thinned out or reduced. It also helps reduce hair loss by treating dandruff and reduces inflammation of the scalp; use an infusion of the herb as a hair rinse, its regular use will provides calm and soothing experience.
Reduces inflammation
To add to this exhaustive list of attributes brahmi also exhibits potent anti-inflammatory action and suppresses pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines - the molecules that stimulate an inflammatory immune response. Inflammation is our body’s natural response to help heal and fight disease, however, chronic, low-level inflammation is linked to many chronic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, heart and kidney disease. Brahmi appears to suppress the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Studies have revealed that brahmi has anti-inflammatory effects comparable to those of diclofenac and indomethacin; two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to treat inflammation.
Brahmi boosts brain function
This water-loving herb exceeds its reputation for improving memory, mental function and the ability to process visual information; all the while working to relieve anxiety and depression. Having an antioxidant and neuro-protective action, brahmi’s constituents interact with the neurotransmitters in the brain raising levels of serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine. This process affects and regulates the balance of the mind to be more favourable to our overall mood, memory and cognitive process. Brahmi has significantly enhances the retention of new information hastening the processing of visual information, spatial learning, learning rate and memory consolidation. Apparently it increases dendritic length and branching, which are parts of nerve cells in the brain closely linked to learning and memory.
Treats all manner of Mental illness
Brahmi aids in the recovery from exhaustion, stress and debility; it is used in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, insomnia, epilepsy and depression. It reveals its sattvic quality by helping people to give up bad habits and all types of addictions. It aids in recovery from alcoholism or drug abuse and also helps to kick the sugar habit. For this reason it is added to many Ayurvedic formulas as a nervine agent.
The antioxidant compounds found in brahmi work by protecting against the neural oxidative stress associated with Alzheimer’s disease and stimulates the brain’s own chemicals that protect neural cells. Brahmi neutralises free radicals and prevents fat molecules from reacting with free radicals. When fat molecules react with free radicals, they undergo a process called lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is linked to several conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. Brahmi helps prevent damage caused by this process. Since mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early phase Alzheimer’s disease occur due to cholinergic degeneration and oxidative stress, brahmi provides a benefit in terms of decreasing memory impairment in these two diseases and even in attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness. Studies show how brahmi helps reduce ADHD symptoms, such as restlessness and improves self-control. One study in 31 children aged 6–12 years found that taking 225 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract daily for 6 months significantly reduced ADHD symptoms, such as restlessness, poor self-control, inattention, and impulsivity in 85% of the children.
Yet another study in 120 children with ADHD observed that taking a herbal blend that contained 125 mg of Bacopa monnieri improved attention, cognition, and impulse control, compared with the placebo group. These findings are very promising, however more large-scale studies examining the effects of brahmi on ADHD are needed before the medical system will recommend it as a valid treatment. Going to an Ayurvedic doctor can move past this allopathic roadblock.
The herbal answer to anti-anxiety drugs
Brahmi is a classic adaptogenic herb, meaning that it increases our body’s resistance to stress. It is well known for reducing the stress hormone cortisol and for counteracting the effects of stress by regulating the hormones involved with the stress response. It can also decrease anxiety by improving the production of serotonin - the hormone that calms the mind and elevates our mood. Interestingly, its action is mediated via an increase of GABA receptors in the cerebral cortex. One study showed that Bacopa monnieri had anti-anxiety effects comparable to those of lorazepam (benzodiazepine), a prescription medication used to treat anxiety.
Brahmi heals lungs and gut
Add some brahmi to your lung herbal blend with mullein and elecampane, because it is useful in bronchia-constrictive and allergic conditions due to its relaxant effect on chemically induced bronchoconstriction, probably via inhibition of calcium influx into cell membranes.
Studies have investigated the beneficial effect of brahmi extract on the gastrointestinal tract. It has demonstrated its direct antispasmodic activity on intestinal smooth muscles, via inhibition of calcium influx across cell membrane channels; this suggests its value to treat intestinal spasm such as irritable bowel syndrome. Brahmi also has a protective and curative effect on gastric ulcers, it significantly heals penetrating ulcers induced by acetic acid and strengthens the mucosal barrier and decreased mucosal exfoliation. An vitro study demonstrated its specific anti-microbial activity against Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with chronic gastric ulcers
]]>Occasional Constipation
This is the acute version of constipation, which is a bodily reaction to a change. Occasional constipation may simply result from a change in diet, a decrease in physical exercise, a decrease in water consumption, a course of medicine, over the counter antacids or even a trip away from home that puts your regular routines out of "wack". The best and most gentle laxatives for this type of constipation are herbs such as rhubarb root, cascara sagrada, dandelion and ginger. Bulking herbs, such as psyillium, flaxseed or slippery elm are often enough prompt to get the bowels to evacuate.
Chronic Constipation
Chronic constipation may begin insidiously and persist for months or even years if not addressed. This type of constipation may also be caused by not enough fibre in the diet, an underactive thyroid, a bowel obstruction, poor blood supply to the large bowel, an inactive colon and also where the message to pass a motion is not occurring which is indicative of a nerve problem. Due to all these possible causes it is advisable to seek professional guidance to ascertain the root cause and the corresponding suitable herbs to restore the body’s vital eliminatory function. In cases of chronic constipation, the muscles of the intestines have to be retrained to move the bowel content. The movement of the intestinal wall is a complex and highly integrated example of muscle control, designed to push the content onwards at the right time with the right force Rhubarb root could be a primary herbal treatment to get the intestines to do their job properly. If constipation is a result of a disease process, it is important to relieve this symptom whilst also treating the cause, otherwise the body may well reabsorb some of the stagnant waste from the intestine.
Every body’s unique root cause for their constipation will be different to other people, so lets explore some of the most likely causes.
Low fibre diet
When constipation is caused by a lack of dietary fibre, it is a no-brainer that the best course of action will be to eat high fibre plant based food, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoiding processed food and congestive dairy foods and meat. It might not solve every gut health problem but it will go a long way if you are struggling with constipation.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a common cause of constipation. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. It is recommended to drink six to eight glasses of lukewarm water per day. Drinking enough fluids can also help prevent and treat constipation. It can help move food through your digestive system and stop stool from hardening.
Laxative overuse
The natural peristaltic movement can be blocked by prolonged use of laxatives especially OTC laxatives.. To retrain and restore the bowels functional integrity and rhythm meals should be taken at the same time everyday and small amounts of certain herbs can help re-stimulate the peristalsis and one such herb is cascara sagrada.
Nervous constipation
It is worthwhile for those who are struggling with constipation to look into their behavioural patterns and emotional state. Stress can wreck havoc with digestion and impact how well we poop. Stress hormones directly influence bowel movements by affecting bodily processes. Someone who is tense and tight, who holds onto everything and everyone is going to manifest the physical symptoms of not being able to let go and relax. Relaxation is paramount so any relaxing practice such as yoga, meditation or walking in nature to calm the mind and thus the body will be of benefit. Many people become constipated when they travel or are worried about something. It is wise to add nervine herbs to your constipation herbal tea to address this aspect as well as antispasmodic herbs.
Not enough movement and exercise
Despite the exercise revolution of modern times, there are still so many who don’t exercise due to busy schedules, stress and ill health. Driving, desk sitting and the thrall of the media world, keeps our bums glued to seats or sofas and eventually the lack of wholesome movement becomes endemic and results in our inner mechanisms of elimination slowing right down and becoming dysfunctional and pooping becomes difficult.
Food intolerances and gut infections.
Food intolerances will usually cause diarrhoea instead of constipation. There are a handful of difficult to digest foods. Many people with gut health issues (including constipation) have trouble digesting foods like soy, gluten containing foods and even nuts and seeds. Removing them all together for a few weeks and seeing if your constipation improves may be helpful. Different bugs can take up residence in your gut and can cause all kinds of issues from food sensitivities to diarrhoea to stomach pain and bloating and constipation too.
Other reasons for constipation
Lack of sleep, irritable or spastic colon, bowel obstruction, some types of medication, painful pelvic conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, period pain and post childbirth pains
Laxative herbs work in myriad ways by prompt the bowels to evacuate and are called by a number of different names depending on their strength and usually their strength is considered to be dose dependent, with the more stimulating laxatives containing higher levels of actives. Herbal medicine can help your constipation but if there is an underlying cause that hasn't been addressed then you won't get far. Start with gentle, bulking herbs like psyllium husks and flaxseed. If this doesn’t work then try bitter herbs such as dandelion root or barberry that can help to fire up digestion; such milder herbs are classified as clearing heat. If no bowel movement occurs then the stronger, stimulating laxative herbs may be employed.
Any of the evacuent herbs will work well on their own, however creating a synergistic blend that covers a variety of causes is always the best course of action. Antispasmodic and carminative digestive herbs like aniseed or fennel seed or ginger are excellent to include in a constipation formula, as they can help mitigate harsher reactions such as a possible griping reaction to the more intense herbs. It is pertinent too, to include in your mix calming nervine herbs to relax the body and psychological causes, or a mucilaginous herb to soothe the more irritating effects of some stimulant laxatives.
How herbal laxatives work
There are a few general modes of action for constipation herbs that are best categorised as either stimulating or osmotic laxatives. Stimulating laxatives are often those herbs that contain the plant constituent anthraquinones and their action is to stimulate greater contractions of the muscle walls of the large intestine. They induce gut motility, which leads to a decrease in transit time. These laxatives work by drawing in fluid to the colon and increasing peristalsis with the "end result" of softer stools. Peristalsis is the contraction of the intestines that helps move material through the colon to the rectum. Stimulating laxatives should be used judiciously and not for long term. Herbal examples include: Senna, cascara sagrada and aloe vera.
Osmotic or bulking Laxatives draw water to themselves and hold it in the colon, serving to soften the stool and give it bulk (also called bulking agents or stool softeners). Bulking laxatives should be our first herbal port of call when treating constipation because they are quite benign and normally very effective. They can be taken for longer periods of time because they are like a type of food. Flax seed and psyllium seed are good examples.
Let us not forget the mucilaginous herbs like marshmallow root, slippery elm and corn silk that soothe the compromised mucosal linings of the intestinal tract and bowel wall. Such lubricating laxatives are indicated when dry, hard stools occur, to increase the mucous secretions in the colon. These are a safe remedy for children’s constipation.
Working with the liver
The liver supporting herbs are called hepatics, cholagogues and choleretics that tone, strengthen and stimulate the liver to function optimally. They improve bowel function by activating the liver and gallbladder to increase the flow of bile, which creates a reflex action of the bowel that tends to improve the musculature tone of the colon. A whole range of plant constituents will have this action on the liver tissue, but without it being forced or damaging. The secretion of bile is of great help to the whole digestive and assimilative process with its primary role to facilitate fat digestion and it is also a natural laxative in itself capable of cleansing the system. These herbs have a much deeper value than simply the release of bile; they ensure a strong and healthy liver that enlivens the whole being. Some examples are: Dandelion root, milk thistle, burdock, artichoke, liquorice and turmeric.
Psyllium husks Plantago ovata
A member of the plantain plant species, psyllium is a natural fibre laxative that helps to bulk up the stool as it passes through. Psyllium is often used to treat chronic constipation and may be combined with other laxatives herbal treatments. The husks have a great balance of the two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble; it acts like a herbal broom sweeping the contents of the digestive tract, which helps poop move through and out.
Flaxseed Linum usitatissimum
Also known as linseed this herb can be very useful for constant constipation. Much like psyllium husks it helps to bulk and soften the stool to hasten its passage through.
Rhubarb root Rheum palmatum
Of all the laxative herbs, rhubarb root is one of the most normalising. If this herb is used in higher dosage, it acts more as a purgative, with a stronger cathartic result. If it is taken in smaller doses however it tones and astringes the intestine wall, as well as dispersing any trapped gas. Rhubarb root is rich in antioxidants that have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties as additional beneficial protective action for the bowels.
Marshmallow root Althaea officinalis
Marshmallow root contains mucilage fibre that swells up when it comes in contact with water, forming a protective coating around mucus membranes that line hollow organs and intestinal tracts, reducing pain and inflammation. This classic demulcent, soothing action is why marshmallow root is so useful for including in constipation herbal blends.
Dandelion root Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion root is a bitter tonic herb that stimulates the digestive process and is a wonderful liver supporting specific. If poor digestion is the root cause of your constipation then dandelion root can help.
Yellow dock Rumex crispus
Yellow dock offers serious help for constipation by helping the contents of the digestive tract move on and out, preventing the toxins and waste products from stagnating and recirculating in the body. The actives in it have a markedly cathartic action on the bowel, yet because of its tannin content its effects are not too severe. Yellow dock loves the liver, prompting bile flow and also acts on other digestive organs to holistically help clear constipation.
Senna Cassia angustifolia
Senna pods are used as a powerful cathartic in the treatment of constipation and can be quite a heavy hitting herb in which case it should be used in low dosage for a short period of time; this kind of stimulating action gets results fast. It works by mildly damaging or irritating the cells that line the gut that moves things along in a serious way. One should realise that flushing the body out continuously can lead to dangerous imbalances.
Cascara Sagrada Rhamnus purhiana
This herbal laxative that comes from the bark of a species of buckthorn tree works by irritating the colon enough to promote bowel movements so it is wise to add demulcent and carminative herbs to a herbal blend to mitigate irritation or griping. It encourages peristalsis while it tones and relaxes the muscles of the digestive system. Good to combine with marshmallow and liquorice root. Use this herb in low dosage.
Slippery elm Ulmus fulva
This herb has a solid history of use for curing constipation. It stimulates nerves in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which leads to mucus production and provides relief from constipation. Slippery elm contains the sticky substance mucilage, which coats the GI tract and as a result, helps stuck waste slide on through.
Ginger Zingiber officinale
Ginger works indirectly to quell constipation by stimulating the entire circulation in the body and working specifically to activate all aspects of digestion. As a carminative, that calms and promotes gastric secretion, it is an excellent herb to include with the stronger laxative herbs. Ginger has a wonderful quality of enhancing the transportation and therapeutic effects of other herbal actives through out the body. Fennel seed will exert similar action in a herbal mix.
Liquorice root Glycyrrhiza glabra
Liquorice root has a neutral energy and sweet taste that has mild cortisone-like action on the digestive system with mild laxative properties. It increases mucus production and blood supply in the stomach, soothing the linings to improve assimilation and elimination that indirectly addresses constipation. It works well in conjunction with stronger cathartics.
Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis
People who experience periodic constipation may use pure aloe vera juice or dried powdered aloe as a natural laxative. The outer portion of the plant contains anthraquinones that have a laxative effect. If trying aloe vera juice for the first time, it is recommended to use a low dosage, as it can be quite cathartic. Aloe vera can reduce abdominal pain and discomfort as well as flatulence in patients with constipation predominated IBS but should not be overused.
”Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends down and whispers over it Grow, grow grow!” The Talmud
The essential oils that help with constipationUsing essential oils for constipation is a safe and effective way to find relief. Not only can certain essential oils help to alleviate constipation, but they can also reduce and eliminate all the nasty side effects that come along with it, such as bloating and flatulence. Their carminative, digestive, nerve tonic and antispasmodic properties will be of good use. For example the limonene in the citrus oils and the sesquiterpenes in ginger essential oil will support the of. It also facilitates the expulsion of the stools thanks to its laxative activity. They are most effectively used in blends to be massaged into the lower abdomen.
The essential oils: Peppermint, mandarin, coriander, ginger, fennel, rosemary, lemon
Massage the lower abdomen
Make a fist with your right hand and place it on your abdomen at hipbone level. Press firmly into your belly and slide your hand in a circular motion up toward your ribs, across your belly, down to your left hipbone, and back across the bottom of your belly. Repeat 10 times.
Eat or supplement with probiotics
Probiotics are live, beneficial bacteria naturally found in fermented foods, including kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut and tempeh; they’re also sold as supplements. Probiotics enhance the gut micro biome, the collection of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract that helps regulate inflammation, immune function and digestion and heart health. In a holistic way they will help restore normal bowel function. If you have to flush out the lower digestive system with laxatives, then it makes good sense to replenish its natural enzymes and beneficial flora, which can become depleted. Picking the right probiotic is key to treating constipation, as certain strains may not be as effective as others. Look for supplements that contain the following strains of bacteria, which have been shown to improve stool consistency. Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium longum
Adopt the pooping squat
The western style of sitting to defecate has been of grave disservice for the function and ease of pooping; unlike the Asian squat toilets that are superior for facilitating healthy pooping habits. The problem with sitting is that it makes a kink in the lower bowel that forces us to work harder to push out the poop. Squatting relaxes our puborectalis muscle more and straightens out the colon, giving the poop a straight route out. As a result, we can go more easily with less straining. We can emulate the squat position when using a seated western toilet by raising the feet on a low stool when pooping.
The Grounding Yoga Squat Pose
Malasana or garland pose is yoga's deep squat that helps enormously with constipation. It utilises the complete range of motion of the legs by bending the knees fully until the pelvis is resting at the back of the heels. It opens our hips and groin in counterbalance to the tightness we can develop from sitting too much. Props can be used for support at first to do the pose in a way that's not painful. Malasana pose enhances “Apana Vayu”, the inner vital energy that that regulates downward movement. According to Ayurveda, constipation is the result of Vata (air element) imbalance in the body as Apana Vayu becomes blocked and affects the colon movement and impacts the working of its muscles.
Other yoga poses to help constipation
Certain yoga poses particularly twists and poses that put pressure on the abdomen gently massage the digestive tract, encouraging it to move stool along. Balasana or child pose is helpful for relieving constipation as it contracts organs, increases blood flow and helps in bowel movement, so is wind-relieving pose. Apart from these, there are also bow pose, butterfly pose, which can help to treat constipation.
Spiritual causation of constipation to address
The body will always reflect our mind and any imbalance or ill health in the body has a lot to tell us about a detrimental mental attitude or behavioural habit that needs modifying. If we suffering from constipation, we may be may be experiencing emotional constipation, so by feeling and expressing emotions, we’re better able to digest experiences. As the main purpose of the bowel is to release toxins and what is no longer useful to the body, symbolically constipation can mean there is an unwillingness to release old ideas and feelings that no longer serve.
The metaphysical cause of constipation can be our over attachment to material things, excessive accumulating of stuff and refusal to let anything go especially because of underlying fear of not having enough, this includes anxieties about basic physical needs for survival. Other root fears can trigger constipation, such as fear; fear of not being in control, of change or of being wrong. Constipation, as an ailment of the eliminatory system, comes under the domain of the first chakra - Muladhara. Accordingly when there is a blockage in the flow of the large intestine meridian, some of the related emotions are: holding on to things no longer needed, guilt, fear, lack of self-worth, anger and frustration as well as a need to be in control.
Releasing Energy Stagnation
Our life force energy needs to flow freely in the body in order for it to work efficiently. Prana or vital energy supports peristalsis in the entire GI tract and with the organs involved. Any blockage of energy along the way can impede energy flow to the bowels; this will be the basis of any spiritual work to be addressed. There are many ways we can approach releasing emotional blockages and the best ways require our active participation. It is important to incorporate awareness of feelings and the body, observing where feelings manifest physically. We need to be actively present with them and then notice if the sensation in the body changes as we let your emotions shift. The deep work of meditation, breath work, slow yin yoga and other energetic bodywork impacts our mind and body to recalibrate to the innate relaxed state that will heal our recurring constipation.
The large Intestine is all about letting go and it’s related to the emotion of grief in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Prolonged periods of grief will also create an imbalance of lung/large intestine energy. These meridians reside in the upper body creating a disharmony between the upper and lower body or making the large intestine energy weak. Liver qi stagnation is another condition that can create constipation, initiated by pent up anger that creates tension in the upper body and along the sides of the torso. This can keep the energy from flowing down. The liver energy also affects other organs that have to do with digestion including the large Intestine.
Tinderbox products that help maintain a healthy bowel
Poo Tea
Gut Lower Powder
Power Detox Powder
Tummy Settle Tea
Tummy Calm
Divine scent from a sacred tree
The champaka flower is considered as one of the most precious among the Indian flowers, with its unique and divine scent elevating offerings in holy temples. In India, the flowers are used for decoration and their alluring scent is employed as a natural aphrodisiac perfume; its flowers exude a seductive fragrance that is deemed very pleasing to women, but also to the Gods.
This is why you will find it growing in temple gardens or near dwellings, so the sweet smelling flowers can bring sanctity and joy to all who pass nearby. Champaka is particularly sacred to Krishna, the Indian God of love and romance and it can be used to evoke sensuality, love and tenderness in all rites of love and also included in love charms and amulets. This sacred oil of the heart chakra, represents more than just worldly love, it symbolises unconditional, universal love tuning us into the vibration of divine love and beauty.
Fragrant tree of the mountains
Champaka is an evergreen or semi-deciduous tree that is a small to medium-sized and native to the Himalayan regions of northern India, the Philippines and Indonesian islands. It now grows in southeast China, Réunion and Madagascar. This plant, of the Magnoliaceae family, falls into a genus of about 45 Asian trees and shrubs that are closely related to the genus Magnolia. It boasts beautiful deep orange-yellow flowers that vary in colour according to locality and they are solitary or rarely in pairs. It was classified in the 18th Century and named for Florentine botanist; Peter A. Michel (1679-1737) the name 'champaka' is a specific epithet after the Hindu name.
Occasionally champaka is confused with champaca wood oil, which does not derive from the same tree, but is an alternative name for the South American guaiacum tree. Champaka is regarded as one of the most sacred trees of India and tropical Asia and all parts of the tree are considered medicinal and are utilised in various remedies.
Seductive sensual scent is magnetic
Champaka is highly sought after for its aroma and is primarily used to create exclusive, exotic perfumes. A solid “concrete” is obtained first by using solvent extraction, from which alcohol is separated to make the absolute; waxes and other impurities are extracted by using the freezing point operation. The resulting absolute is one of the most enticing, exotic floral scents imaginable, indeed a precious luxury perfume material. This sultry scent is deep, rich and intense with intoxicating, sweet floral notes layered beneath suave fruit and earthy tea-like tonalities. Its complex aroma has faintly minty and herbaceous notes that linger in the background and the dry down oozes forth notes of hay, dried fruits and hints of tobacco.
Champaka absolute is extraordinary and blends well with rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, neroli, sandalwood and other floral scents. It enhances all blends with a mysterious oriental quality that is pleasantly received by everyone and rounds out the bouquet. Thousands of fresh flowers are required to produce the absolute and accordingly the pure stuff is very expensive, and as usual, there are lots of synthetic mimickers on the market that do not measure up to the real thing. Indeed, the most costly perfume in the world, a fragrance known as ‘Joy’, which was created for the French fashion house Jean Patou in 1930, contains the essence of these flowers.
Euphoric antidepressant oil
Champaka oil is generally considered too expensive to employ in everyday medicinal products, however if you could afford to use it in exclusive bespoke massage oil blends, not only does champaka support healthy joints and muscles, but also it is also deeply relaxing and calming to the central nervous system.
Keep it for the “boudoir” for those special occasions when an alluring, voluptuous aphrodisiac is required and trust in its effectiveness.
Champaka excels when employed for psychotherapeutic blends and perfumes and is understood to be anti-depressant because of how well it it soothes and relaxes the body and reassures the mind. It is specially indicated for depression characterised by lethargy and indecision. It also strengthens the mind as it warms, calms, reduces stress, aids breathing and can induce a sort of euphoria. In India, champaka is used for relief of vertigo and headaches, which makes a champaka perfume quite useful - not just hypnotic and alluring. Champaka absolute is grounding, warming and enhancing for self-esteem. It is wonderfully healing for the psyche to assuage the malaise of those suffering from menstrual difficulty, PMT or menopausal issues.
Renders skincare exclusive and efficacious
Champaka is an excellent skin moisturiser and rejuvenator and a superb active ingredient for skincare products especially for dry, ageing or mature skin and it may be added to jojoba oil to use for the neck and décolletage (upper chest) areas. A few drops of champaka would render any cosmetic into an exclusive, high-quality facial product and would be a blessing for those wanting specific help for facial scarring or to calm irritated or inflamed skin. When added to facial oil it could help to release the often-tense temporo-mandibular muscles of the jaw and could be of help for those people who tend to grind their teeth. Indian women no doubt have used champaka for scenting hair-conditioning oils and so we too can add a small amount of this exquisite scent to shampoos and conditioners and revel in its exotica.
Rare and hard to come by
Most of the Indian producers make champaka into ”attar”, which means adding it to a sandalwood base. It is not commonly known in western aromatherapy, however those who have used in it perfumery are well aware of how extraordinary this absolute can be in a blend.
Champaka absolute is rare and hard to come by. Because the flowers have long been culturally significant in the devotional rituals of India, our supplier sources flowers that are carefully plucked from and with no damage to established trees in an area where new trees are continually being cultivated. Thus, our absolute represents a step in the right direction for sustainably sourced fragrance materials.
Indications: anti-depressant, induces euphoria, reduces stress; vertigo, headaches, calms nerves, aphrodisiac, moisturiser.
]]>Nature is abundant in herbs that support the function of the urinary system, which makes such sense when we understand that we humans are mostly made of water. That is an average of roughly 60% which changes slightly with age, sex and hydration levels. Consequently, free flowing irrigation is everything; like any system, obstructions, impurities, inflammation and loss of tissue integrity impedes the optimal function within the entire network of conduits and organs that constitute the urinary system. This system, also known as the renal system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and the urethra. Helpful herbs can be successfully used to soothe and tone all of these parts and offer a combination of diuretic, mucilaginous (demulcent) and astringent (tonifying) herbs that have been traditionally used for thousands of years. Herbs that treat urinary problems are relevant to aid the body’s cleansing mechanism in treating the whole body, no matter what the problem and stabilising the dynamic balance of water metabolism. Maintaining a balance of hydration, fluid dispersal and removal is so crucial to stay healthy.
The kidneys rule the fluid body
The urinary system includes the all-important kidneys that are dedicated to the maintenance of a constant and healthy internal environment within the body. The architecture of the kidneys is quite miraculous in how it is able to fulfil its multiple complex functions. Holistic health for the body is dependent on the effective elimination of waste products and toxins and the fine balance of the body's fluids that are key functions of the kidneys. They also have the ability to differentiate between waste products and vital substances. Kidneys act as very efficient filters for ridding the body of toxic matter and returning required vitamins, amino acids, glucose and hormones that regulate blood pressure and other important elements into the bloodstream.
The multi-tasking kidneys receive a high blood flow and this is filtered by very specialised blood vessels that control the production of red blood cells. Lets not forget that the kidneys also produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones. Herbal remedies have much to offer in the treatment of kidney problems, whether minor or major in nature and are best used as preventatives. The kidneys however are so fundamental to health and life that any treatment of serious kidney disease should be under taken by experienced practitioners.
The role of diuretics
In herbalism, a diuretic is a plant that has some sort of beneficial action on the urinary system and in general, that means any herb that acts on the kidney or the bladder, which means there is a multitude of diuretic herbs. Like synthetic diuretics they increase, flow and volume of urine produced and the excretion of salts and water, in healthy or unhealthy kidneys. They are used to reduce oedema, which is the build-up of fluid in the body that causes tissue to become swollen, especially in heart, liver or kidney disorders. In herbal medicine with its ancient traditions, diuretic herbs may include urinary antiseptics, demulcents, astringents and anti-inflammatory remedies. They have a vital role in any good treatment of illness, as they will help the body eliminate waste and support the whole process of inner cleansing that is needed. Increasing diuresis aids in the purification of the blood and the relieving of infections, including jaundice and hepatitis.
Certain herbs help drain damp-heat downwards and thereby can be useful in treating fevered diseases. Because excess fluid in the abdominal cavity can weaken the power of digestion, some are helpful for gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhoea. So if we want good results it makes sense to discerningly choose the most efficacious herbs, especially if we suffer from any urinary affliction, of which there are many. Herbal diuretics can be as effective if not superior to synthetic diuretics as they can fulfil their task without the side effects. They very often contain, such as dandelion, a high percentage of potassium, an element that is too often leeched out of the body by the use of synthetic diuretics. This has potentially dangerous consequences and requires supplementation of potassium to make up the deficit. Dandelion, for instance, actually increases potassium levels in the body, which is also a liver tonic.
How do urinary herbs work?
The antiseptic action of some diuretic herbs is usually due to the content of volatile oils (essential oils) or glycosides that are excreted through the kidney tubules, thus acting directly on the offending microbes. Typical examples of urinary antiseptic herbs include: uva ursi, buchu, celery seed, juniper and yarrow. Echinacea will also lend excellent anti-microbial action to a urinary blend. Usually the kidneys and bladder take care of themselves by flushing through the normal volume of urine. These herbs can aid that natural process when infections persist.
Herbal diuretics appear to be three broad groups, those that increase kidney blood flow (stimulating), those that reduce the water reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidney (osmotic) and those that work by increasing cardiac output. Stimulating diuretics work by a functional irritation to the kidneys so that they try to flush away the offending substance (e.g. Juniper acts in this way). They also include caffeine-containing herbs (e.g. tea and coffee) that increase the blood flow in the kidneys by effects on the heart or elsewhere in the body. Because there is more blood passing through the kidney, more urine is therefore produced. Constituents that stimulate the reabsorption mechanism in this way are often volatile oils, saponins or alkaloids, such as in uva-ursi, juniper, celery, or parsley.
Osmotic diuretics work via many different means, but often cause diuresis mainly due to constituents such as mucilage and polysaccharides which cause a nerve reflex reaction through the gut lining (via the vagus) to thin & loosen mucous secretions to be excreted via the kidney. As larger and/or un-metabolised sugars pass into the urine, this change in osmotic pull causes more water to be lost. Corn silk, marshmallow and dandelion, work in this way. Cardiac or peripheral circulatory stimulants work by increasing renal blood flow and consequently the glomerular filtration rate. Up to a certain point any excess glomerular filtrate can be reabsorbed from the kidney tubules, but if it is too high then the urine volume will increase. Herbs that increase the cardiac output and/or stimulate peripheral circulation include: yarrow, hawthorn.
Regulating Water metabolism
The general rule in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is that if there is water retention in the upper half of the body, above the navel, it should be dispersed upwards through evaporation, using diaphoretics or sweat inducing herbs. (Yarrow, ginger, elderberry) If it is in the lower part of the body, below the navel, it should be dispersed downwards through diuresis, using the appropriate herbs; (dandelion, nettle, epilobium). The TCM concept of permeating wetness indicates not only the ability of herbs to eliminate fluid waste but also to properly hydrate bodily cells by effecting an electrolytic balance of sodium and potassium ions. Specialised herbs are used and the mushroom, Poria cocos is often used to exert this effect.
Ayurveda advocates that flushing out the kidneys with diuretic herbs is an important therapy not only for treating disease but also for maintaining health. It purifies the water element and prevents accumulation of toxins. Diuretic herbs are used in Ayurveda for treating lower back pain, sciatica and kidney disorders. Diuretic herbs are contraindicated for individuals with symptoms of fluid deficiency, wasting and dryness (particularly yin deficiency). This is because such herbs can overly irritate the compromised mucous membranes of the urinary tract, so they should be combined with demulcents like marshmallow, liquorice or corn silk, especially if there is blood in the urine.
How to drink water to maintain a healthy urinary system
According to Ayurveda, there are certain ways to drink water. Firstly by sitting down so it reaches different organs sufficiently because when we drink water standing, the fluids get drawn into our joints It is recommended to drink with a 45-minute gap, sipping water 45 minutes before and after food intake. If you drink water before food it gets diluted with gut enzymes and reduces digestion. Excess water right after food alters the digestion process and may cause obesity. Drinking eight glasses of water a day is considered optimum, too little water makes you dehydrated and excess water makes you groggy and dizzy due to electrolyte imbalance. It is best to drink it tepid, as too cold water disrupts the digestion process, whereas warmer water improves blood supply to organs and promotes metabolism. We should drink it with small sips instead of big gulps to strengthen the digestive system. Drink warm water as soon as you wake up on an empty stomach to assist digestion.
Bladder infections are the most common form of UTI infection and can be painful and annoying. UTIs occur mostly in females, during pregnancy and in peri- and postmenopausal women. In fact, female anatomy, age, sexual activity and certain types of birth control all present potential risk for getting UTI. Other risk factors predisposing people are urinary tract abnormalities, blockages in the urinary tract, suppressed immune system, catheter use or a recent urinary procedure. It can occur in any part of the urinary tract, which includes the urethra, kidneys, ureter and bladder. Urinary tract infections can become a serious health problem if the infection spreads to the kidneys.
Cystitis and urethritis
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by bacterial infection and it is the most common type of UTI that is usually more of a nuisance than a cause for serious concern. It is characterised by a scalding pain experienced when passing urine and often feeling pain in the groin before, during and just after urination. It is often accompanied by an intense desire to urinate even though the bladder is empty. Herbs can truly come to the rescue if we can read the signs before the infection travels higher to affect the kidneys, in which case, antibiotics may be required. However, diligently flushing through the system with copious amounts of alkalising and antiseptic herbal infusion can turn the tide and after a few days the condition usually subsides. Even if you are using antibiotics, complementary therapy with medicinal herbs, in many studies, has been shown to reduce bacterial resistance to the antibiotics.
Kidney stones
The formation of mineral deposits, stones or gravel in the kidneys is a process that responds well to herbal treatment; stone dissolving herbs are called lithotriptic. Stones or gravel can be composed of the calcium salts of oxalic acid, uric acid and phosphates or by combination with the amino-acid cytosine. A low acid diet is indicated, avoiding foods high in oxalic acid such as rhubarb or spinach. It is important to flush the kidneys with at least three litres of water a day. This is a splendid opportunity to turn that prescribed water into three litres of herbal tea with diuretic herbs such as meadowsweet, dandelion, corn silk, buchu, marshmallow and uva ursi which can also be used as a preventative if you have a predisposition for kidney stones.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is when a man has an infection of the prostate gland, the symptoms may not be localised as in the case of cystitis. In this case, in addition to the urinary antiseptics used in cystitis, the systemic anti-microbial echinacea can be added to the herbal decoction, which could include epilobium, sarsaparilla and saw palmetto. In the case of a swollen prostate gland, uva ursi, echinacea and horsetail are effective help.
Water retention
When the water levels in the body become unbalanced, an excess of water in the lymph causes swelling and puffiness. When the kidneys do not eliminate water, some of it collects in the body where it is often retained and due to gravity it accumulates in the feet and lower legs. The cause of the retention should be ascertained and it usually lies in the kidneys themselves or in the circulatory system. If the condition is not serious try to avoid having to go down the medical path by immediately implementing dietary changes which can make a big difference, try a low-sodium diet, eat more fruit, drink more water, get moving, wear a compression garment and elevate the feet. Begin a herbal therapy program. Sometimes fluid retention is due to pre-menstrual tension and diuretic herbs can be used appropriately, such as uva ursi, dandelion, buchu or yarrow. However if it is due to pregnancy they should avoided and if in the case of coronary disease, professional advice is necessary.
Incontinence
Incontinence can be caused by a number of physical or psychological factors. So long as there is no organic defect or illness involved, it can be resolved with herbs quite adequately. This is the case even where incontinence is due to a loss of tone in the sphincter muscle of the bladder or to a general muscle or nervous debility. Try mullein, horsetail, alfalfa, saw palmetto and epilobium, also supplement the diet with vitamin B and C. Practice Kegel exercises as a part of your daily routine where you try urinating and once urine starts to flow, squeeze your muscles to hold it in. You should feel the muscles lift. Try squeezing your pelvic floor muscles for 3 seconds, then release for 3 seconds.
Corn silk is a soothing and demulcent diuretic with an affinity for the kidneys and urinary tract, especially when heat is present. It is a safe and neutral alkalising herb that treats oedema, urinary dysfunction and urinary tract stones.
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis
Marshmallow root provides natural mucilage that supports, soothes, and moistens mucous membranes of the urinary tract. Marshmallow is soothing for irritation in urethritis and urinary gravel. The leaf is also an effective diuretic.
Uva Ursi Arctostaphylos uva ursi
Uva ursi has a close affinity with the urinary system especially with its active glycoside arbutoside and with its gentle astringent, tannic and diuretic action, it works well for UTIs. It also treats blood in the urine and kidney infections. This herb is medically approved in Germany for the treatment of bladder infections and effective against E. coli in the bladder.
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yarrow's slight diuretic, astringent and antibacterial effects make it a great herb to add to tea blends for urinary tract infections and it is indicated for cystitis to promote rapid healing. It causes diuresis for the kidneys and normalises the distribution, secretion and elimination of water in the body.
Juniper Juniperus communis
Juniper shows remarkable antimicrobial and diuretic activities that are effective against urinary tract infections. The main antibacterial constituent of this plant is terpinen-4-ol, a volatile oil, which plays an important role in the treatment of UTIs. Juniper increases the rate of kidney filtration, which in turn increases urine flow whilst helping to flush out bacteria from the kidneys and bladder.
Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Cinnamon contains phytochemical compounds that show antioxidant and antibacterial activities in the treatment of UTI. It prevents the colonisation of E. coli in the bladder and urethra. Add a few quills to your UTI herbal tea.
Buchu A. betulina
Buchu is one of the oldest known herbs for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI. It has diuretic and antiseptic properties and contains various phenolic compounds that make it an ideal herbal remedy for urinary tracts. It effectively treats fluid retention, gravel and catarrh of the bladder.
Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Horsetail is astringent and diuretic and helps to clear urinary tract pathogens including E. coli and E. faecalis. It is also tonifying for the whole urinary system and good for incontinence and bed-wetting in children. It is considered a specific in cases of inflamed or enlarged prostate gland.
Epilobium Epilobium parviflorum
Epilobium contributes to the functionality of the urinary tract and has draining properties that help eliminate fluids. It is used in the treatment of prostate-associated ailments to heal and improve function.
Nettle Urtica dioica
Nettle has long been traditionally used for the treatment of UTI and kidney stones. It exhibits antimicrobial activities against various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to fight infection.
Plantain Plantago major
The major chemical compositions of plantain include mucilage, organic acids, polysaccharides and flavonoids that are anti-inflammatory, astringent and healing for urinary tract infections.
Liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra
Liquorice root is an effective tonic for the kidneys and urinary system. Its cooling action is well suited to aid in the treatment of urinary tract infections and hot, painful urination that is dark in colour, potentially with a smell associated.
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria
Meadowsweet is astringent and anti-inflammatory and is used as a diuretic to increase urine output in people with kidney or bladder infections.
Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
Goldenseal has bioactive alkaloids such as berberine that inhibits bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls. Notably, berberine exerts its powerful antibacterial activities against UTI with interfering E. coli adhesion to the bladder epithelium.
Lemongrass Cymbopogon Flexuosus
Lemongrass has good antiseptic, antimicrobial properties and is known to prevent and treat urinary tract infection with different pathogenic bacteria. It is an effective diuretic to rid the body of excess fluid and sodium.
Cranberry, blueberry and elderberry
These berries can be active against E. coli, the leading causes of bacteria-mediated UTIs. They work by reducing and inhibiting the binding of the bacteria to the walls of the bladder so it will be washed out during urination. The berry juice intake leads to measurable protection against both sensitive and resistant strains of E. coli and uropathogens. These berry juices are best to use in cases of chronic UTIs and to complement other herbal therapies.
Other herbs of Note: Horseradish, couch grass, peppermint, garlic, ginger, shepherd’s purse, cleavers, gravel root, burdock, parsley
The diuretic essential oilsAmong essential oils, there are many natural diuretics that admirably address fluid retention in restoring normal balance. Use them in massage blends and gently massage the sacral area upwards towards the heart. Massage them into the lower abdomen and lower back. Add them diluted in carrier oil to a bath. Interestingly, sage essential oil has shown inhibitory activities against clinically isolated uropathogens.
Essential oils: Rosemary, cypress, juniper berry, sage, fennel, carrot seed, coriander, lavender, geranium, grapefruit, tea tree, manuka, frankincense
These more intense oils that are effective antiseptics need high dilution before applying to the skin: oregano, cinnamon, clove, lemongrass
When our fluids stop flowing, from which our dreams and fantasies are born, we lose fluidity and become rigid in body and mind, our creativity dries up and our inner landscape becomes barren. If we are too fluid, with no restraint we might descend too deeply into the world of fantasy that is never brought into the light of this world. When we retain our feelings, water is also retained in the body, creating puffiness and oedema.
Reaching the underlying issuesIf we look for the spiritual causes of kidney disease, we will find that we may be avoiding expressing our feelings or suppressing them. The kidneys respond to fear, frustration, anxiety and suppression of feelings in general. Unexpressed and hidden, they accumulate and fester to eventually affect and disrupt the energy of the kidneys and manifest in various conditions of this organ.
A person who is often affected by UTIs usually doesn’t assimilate external events effectively; and there can be an underlying angst about others not “seeing” their suffering that causes a “burning” sensation. The body is indicating that it is time to take responsibility for our life and understanding that no one else can make us happy; by accepting others without expectations, we can heal our pain. Bladder problems reveal certain fears regarding our ancestors that we cannot overcome. Boys who are afraid of their parents, especially their father or other father figures in their life (grandparents, teachers), sometimes express this fear through enuresis (peeing in bed). Girls tend to express this fear through repetitive cystitis.Often urinary incontinence occurs because of a muscle that cannot work effectively. This condition can be related to control issues, perhaps life is teaching us to be more flexible and let people and situations go. Rigid thoughts when we cannot control the situation are just a form of protection from our own hypersensitivity.
Meditate on the sacral centre of the body, imagining a sense of spaciousness and openness in this region. Let the flow of breath flood the area with love and light, releasing all tension and unease. Feel that you have sufficient vitality to move forward in life, doing what you love and enjoying the unfolding process.Things we can do to support our urinary system
Judicious use of herbs, essential oils, yoga and other wholesome living practices can make us master plumbers to improve the irrigation of our water works to keep our body healthy. Below are other things to be aware of.
Tinderbox products that help maintain our internal plumbing
Wee Tea
Inner Radiance Tea
A Man's Tea
Juniper Body Rub
Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi) is a flowering wild plant in the honeysuckle family that originates in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal, China and India. Several members of the genus Aralia are also known as spikenard such as the American spikenard (A. racemosa), a North American member of the ginseng family (Araliaceae). Spikenard common names are nard, nardin and muskroot.
The plant
Spikenard has large lanceolate leaves, produces small, fragile pink bell-shaped flowers, and a fragrant rhizome root which yields the essential oil. The plant reaches a height of nearly a metre and flourishes in high altitudes. Spikenard is harvested by removing a portion of the plant’s rhizome (bundle of roots) in early spring or autumn, though it may take years for the plants to produce sizable rhizomes.
The scent
One of the oldest-known, most precious of oils, spikenard is woody, spicy and peaty. It is a very deep, rich and earthy base note with bitter-sweet, resinous notes and green overtones. It lends a profound and eloquent quality to natural perfumes, while its grounding aroma invokes an ambiance of calm, particularly in meditation and night-time blends. The heavy sesquiterpene molecules present in spikenard facilitate excellent fixative properties. Use it sparingly in blends so as not to overpower the aroma of other essential oils. Spikenard contains approximately 50% Sesquiterpenes, 10-15% Sesquiterpenols and 5% Aldehydes.
History
One of the most ancient and sacred aromatics, spikenard was highly regarded as a spiritual oil and was used throughout the world for thousands of years as a perfume and in religious ceremonies. Spikenard was precious to early Egyptian, Hebrew and Hindu civilisations and was used by wealthy Roman women as prized perfume. The Ancient Egyptians used spikenard as a luxurious aromatic; Cleopatra was anointed with it and it was found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The Hebrews used it in the Jerusalem Temple as an incense offering. In India, spikenard was used in Ayurvedic practices to calm the mind and in hair preparations while also preventing hair loss; it is still used to help with sleep troubles, reducing chronic fatigue syndrome and nervous problems.
Historically, pungent perfumed oils were used to prepare a body for burial, and in the Bible, spikenard oil was used by Mary Magdalene to anoint Jesus’s feet prior to his crucifixion in a highly symbolic act as though to prepare him for death and burial. The value of the spikenard was more than 300 denarii. A denarius was the wage for a day's labour, so Mary's perfume was worth a year's wages. To anoint with spikenard was for her a truly humbling act of worship and devotion for Jesus. Spikenard’s association with Jesus surely highlights its mystical significance.
“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." John 12:3
In the 1st century, revered herbalist Diorscorides described spikenard as a medicinal with a warming, drying and diuretic faculty. In 1652 Nicholas Culpepper said that it ”comforts the brain and helps passions and swooning of the heart.”
Therapeutic uses
Indications: Antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, depurative (detoxifying), soporific, nervine, sedative, anti depressant, cardiac tonic, immuno stimulant, antispasmodic, decongestant, hydrating, cicatrisant, deodorant, laxative.
Spikenard Applications for the Body
Spikenard oil is a fine herbal medicine to naturally treat a wide range of conditions including muscular spasm and contractions, tachycardia and arrhythmia (rapid and irregular heartbeat) neuralgia, sciatica, bodily congestion, digestive problems, a weak immune system and infections. Use spikenard as a replenishing nerve tonic for calming stress-related conditions, anxiety and nervous tension.
This oil is used for menstrual problems by regulating the hormonal system when it is imbalanced and as a depurative for the uterus and the ovaries. It stimulates the secretion of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which help maintain healthy function and reproductive potential of these organs.
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Use this antispasmodic oil in abdominal rubs with chamomile, ginger and orange oils to relieve gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, nausea and intestinal colic; it is of particular assistance with nervous indigestion. Spikenard has considered helpful for pancreatitis.
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Spikenard can be applied on wounds to protect them from bacterial infections and also helps staunch bacterial growth inside the body. It has been found effective in treating bacterial infections in the urethra, urinary bladder, and kidneys, as well as in the treatment of cholera, food poisoning, infections and tetanus.
The anti-inflammatory property of spikenard is of great value to relieve inflammation whether it is of the nervous, digestive or respiratory systems. Use in muscle and joint rubs to assuage pains related to muscle aches and joint pain and massage into the forehead and neck for migraine. This helps to heal, relax, and stimulate the overall immune system and accordingly supports the entire physical well-being. In Oriental medicine it is used to regulate the flow of Liver-Qi. By tonifying liver blood and clearing inflammation, spikenard oil is able to nourish and soothe the skin in such cases of psoriasis or dermatitis.
Spikenard is kind to skin
Spikenard oil is often used for special skincare preparations due to its cleansing and antibacterial properties. Spikenard nourishes and regenerates the skin by stimulating blood circulation as well as the lymph and nerve supply. The regeneration of cells, fresh blood supply and the secretion of enzymes holistically promote a healthy and glowing skin. The oil is excellent for dry and mature skin and will relieve irritation, inflammation and psoriasis as it integrates the functions of the superficial skin layers to the deeper.
Combine anti-fungal spikenard with manuka and tea tree oil to treat fungal infections on the skin, including athlete's foot with the added benefit of being very deodorising.
Spikenard promotes hair growth and slows down the process of greying. A 2011 study revealed how it is a natural remedy for hair loss as it promoted hair growth. Include spikenard in hair care routines, make a hair and scalp rub or add to shampoos and conditioners for the benefit of your hair.
Spikenard and the mind
Mental indications: Insomnia, migraine, stress, tension, memory loss, balances sympathetic with parasympathetic functions, calms restlessness, evokes loyalty, inspires devotion and deep inner peace, integrates emotional, spiritual and physical energies.
Spikenard is ideal to wear in psychotherapeutic perfumes to settle the nerves, lift the spirits and inspire the heart. Spikenard calms the deepest forms of anxiety by sedating the mind and instilling a profound sense of peace and spiritual connection. The oil is indicated for those having trouble finding stable ground or their unique life’s purpose; spikenard restores emotional ease and faith in the self.
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To help get a good night’s sleep, mix spikenard oil with lavender oil and vetivert and add to a warm bath or use as a massage blend or dab on the body.
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A study conducted at the School of Pharmaceutical Science in Japan validated the calming property of spikenard by using vapour inhalation. It demonstrated how the compound calarene exerted sedative effects. The study also showed that when spikenard is blended with other essential oils like frankincense, patchouli and sandalwood, it has even more calming and grounding effect.
Another study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, showed that spikenard improved learning and memory and also reversed induced amnesia. A more recent 2018 study, published in the Metabolic Brain Disease, revealed that the extract also had an anxiolytic effect on the brain (reduced anxiety).
Spikenard and the soul
It is no wonder that spikenard attained such holy status since ancient times; with its deeply comforting and grounding qualities, is wonderful to use for meditation, prayer and other spiritual uses. It helps balance and heal the root chakra and offers solid protection and purification for ritual work; it is believed to be a useful tool for spirit journeys to the otherworld.
Spikenard opens the heart chakra releasing deeply buried grief and resentment, making space for feelings of love and compassion. The oil will help clear energy blockages, anxiety and worry. Spikenard helps to restore faith and devotion in our spiritual practice when it has wavered due to life’s vicissitudes and it allows us to surrender to the process with humility and acceptance.
Spikenard sensitises us to a higher vibration, shifting focus from the worldly to the spiritual and allowing attention to flow into transcendence. Spikenard is exquisitely serene and sacred as anointing oil and is highly appropriate to use for the dying and to anoint bodies in funerary last rites after death. This will assist the soul to transcend the flux of illusion and suffering on its passage to the next realm. It beautifully prepares our soul for its departure, helping to release fears of the unknown, imbuing courage to reconcile all that has happened to us in this embodiment on earth. Spikenard helps us sever the emotional ties that bind us to earthly existence because it is the essence of forgiveness and love.
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Spikenard is ideal for sacred incense blends for rituals and ceremonies, mix with powdered frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood or labdanum and burn to open the spiritual faculties.
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Spikenard essential oil blends well with:
Clove, frankincense, vetivert, floral essential oils and citrus oils.
"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:" Song of Songs 5:13-14
Rare sought-after plant is protected
When purchasing spikenard essential oil, ensure that you are purchasing it only from a reputable supplier that focuses upon the legal sourcing and sustainability of spikenard. Spikenard is declared a critically endangered plant; unfortunately, high demand combined with the difficulty in propagating slow-to-regenerate Spikenard rhizomes has led to overharvesting issues. Since 2017, restrictions on international trade have been enforced by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), including a ban on sales without proper permits.
Tinderbox chooses to use spikenard oil that has been sustainably wild harvested in the mountains of Nepal by a conservation-oriented team specializing in endemic plants of the region.
Tinderbox products containing Spikenard
Sacred Scent Anointing Oil
Visionary Solid Perfume
Chakra Perfume 6 Insight
Meadowsweet belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae). It is a tall and clump-forming perennial that is reddish brown in colour with deeply veined leaves and creamy white, almond scented soft flowers. It is native to Europe and North/Central Asia. It grows in damp meadows, ditches and bogs, at the edges of ponds, on riverbanks and in moist open woodland. The fresh or dried flowering tops and leaves are used medicinally. This plant has a strong and pleasant scent due to its essential oils and it is also astringent because of a significant amount of tannins.
Meadowsweet’s romantic, whimsical history
Meadowsweet’s European history dates back to the Iron Age, when it was one of the three herbs held most sacred to the Druids, along with vervain and water-mint. Meadowsweet was called 'bridewort', because it was strewn along a bride's path at hand-fasting ceremonies. It is said that the plant symbolised courtship and matrimony because of the changing scent of the flower before and after bruising. In the Middle Ages it was called Meadwort because it was often added to beers and wines or soups for its interesting almond flavour. In Welsh Mythology, according to the Mabinogion; Gwydion and Math created a woman out of oak blossom, broom and meadowsweet and named her Blodeuwedd (“flower face”). It was once believed that meadowsweet, if gathered at midsummer, would reveal the identity (or at least the gender) of a thief. Simply place a sprig of it in some water, and if it sinks, the culprit was a man, while if it floats, it was a woman.
Meadowsweet was Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite strewing herb to mask unpleasant odours. The 16th Century herbalist Gerard believed it outranked all other strewing herbs because it’s aromatic leaves “delighteth the senses” as well as curing fever and diarrhoea. The herb found favour as a cosmetic and was used as an astringent and skin conditioner.
The early colonists used meadowsweet as an anti-inflammatory to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism and also to treat stomach upsets, feverish colds, diarrhoea and heartburn. In 1838 the Italian Rafaela Piria first produced salicylic acid from meadowsweet and willow bark (Salix alba). Meadowsweet was the key ingredient from which aspirin was then synthesized by Bayer Pharmaceuticals to form a new drug (acetylsalicylic acid) called aspirin, a name that is derived from the old botanical name for meadowsweet (Spiraea).
Indeed the herb has a powerful pain relieving (analgesic) effect and is of great value in the treatment of all those aforementioned afflictions. It brings down fevers and when taken hot as a tea is a relaxing diaphoretic that promotes circulation and opens the pores to let the heat out of the body. It is especially indicated when the person has a higher fever or feels hot but isn’t sweating. Add some yarrow to this tea to reduce fever by bringing on sweating; it is also safe to cool feverish children.
The anti-inflammatory action of the salicylates in meadowsweet makes it benign and effective against rheumatic and arthritic pain, unlike aspirin that can cause gastric ulceration among other side effects. The tannins and mucilage appear to buffer the adverse effects of isolated salicylates, which can cause gastric bleeding. Meadowsweet tea, encapsulating the broad spectrum of un-isolated plant actives, can reduce cramps and alleviate pain associated with tension headaches and is thus a boon for premenstrual tension.
Hard to beat digestive aid
Cooling, aromatic and astringent meadowsweet relieves pain and is a reliable digestive aid that is hard to beat. It protects and soothes the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, reducing excess acidity and alleviating nausea and it can be used in the treatment of heartburn or acid reflux, gastritis and peptic ulceration. Meadowsweet also assuages the sense of bloat in the gut and the discomforts of flatulence. Meadowsweet herb removes stagnation (like when you eat too big a meal and it stays in your system too long) and effectively relieves discomfort in the stomach.
It is so that many rose family plants are used for diarrhoea and accordingly, meadowsweet with its astringent tannins is no exception. A European study found meadowsweet to clear one of the bacteria responsible for infectious diarrhoea (Shigella dysenteriae). It is considered a safe and effective anti-diarrhoea treatment for children. As an excellent digestive remedy meadowsweet can be combined with chamomile, peppermint, marshmallow or liquorice for chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Meadowsweet’s Myriad Body Benefits
These same actives in meadowsweet make it an excellent diuretic to promote urinary health, as well as working to clear the tracts. This herb is active against Escherichia coli, the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections. It is also recommended for water retention and for bladder and kidney ailments and this fluid-clearing quality also helps with gout. Studies showed that the extract of meadowsweet exhibits hepato-protective (liver support) and antioxidant activity during experimental toxic hepatitis and that it improved liver function.
Research is revealing that meadowsweet has anti-coagulant (blood thinning) properties that could provide cardiovascular protection. A strained and cooled infusion of meadowsweet herb is said to calm itching and inflammation of the eyes and to treat conjunctivitis. Alternatively, this infusion added to a bath can be beneficial for helping alleviate sores and burns as the herb has been shown to possess bactericidal properties.
Properties: stomachic, mild urinary antiseptic, anti-rheumatic, astringent, antacid, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, diaphoretic (promotes sweating) anti-emetic, tonic, aromatic.
Indications: peptic ulcer (prophylaxis and treatment), atonic dyspepsia with heartburn and hyperacidity, gastritis, peptic ulceration, acute catarrhal cystitis.
Meadowsweet’s bonus uses
Precautions: Not to be used by people or animals with kidney problems, bleeding disorders, sensitivities to salicylates, NSAIDs or anticoagulants. This includes asthmatics.
]]>All that we believe will be dissolved
The great spiritual masters tell us that to open our third eye will annihilate our systems of belief and conditioning and only once those limitations have been dissolved, can we arrive at the foundation of truth. To shatter our familiar, comforting systems can be overwhelming and is often the greatest obstacle hindering our ability to move into awakening. It is through the process of surrender and relinquishing our controlled and limited story of how our life will unfold that we can reach the greater truth of what is and who we are at the level of existence and non-existence.
The symbol of the third eye appears historically across all cultures. In Indian spiritual traditions, the third eye refers to the sixth chakra - Ajna. The third eye symbolises the gate that leads to the inner realms of higher consciousness where we abandon our tenacious grip on the material world. Everything dies and evaporates in this space and is reduced to its essence. No longer will we see “good and “bad” or differentiate between “I” and “you” because when the third eye opens, duality dissolves.
Ajna is the locus in the human body where we attain intuition and psychic perception; of all the chakras this one has the most powerful effect on our personality. Sacred texts reveal that dedicated meditation on this chakra can bestow wisdom, insight, intuition and clarity of vision where other realms are opened to us. We will begin to perceive the vast field of energy that connects everything when we realise we are not just our bodies, minds and emotions and we accept the greater unity within the cosmos.
Ajna - The command centre for the subtle body
The ajna chakra is the command centre for the subtle body and is located just above and between the eyebrows. Solar and lunar energies meet and mix in the sixth Chakra, which forms the final junction of the three main nadi energy channels, while the central channel Sushumna continues to the crown chakra and higher levels of consciousness. Ajna manages the five senses and regulates the other chakras and their related energy channels. It governs the eyes, ears, nose and the base of the skull; we perceive everything that is within the scope of the senses, as well as what is beyond them.
“I must walk more with the five senses…I must let my senses wander as my thoughts, my eyes, see without looking. Be not preoccupied with looking. Go not to the object, let it come to you. What I need is not to look at all, but a true sauntering of the eye.” Henry Thoreau
Ajna provides energy for us to experience clear and concise thought, as well as the gifts of inner reflection and contemplation. When this chakra is operating harmoniously both hemispheres of the brain are balanced; we can simultaneously develop left-brain focus with rational thinking as well as experience right brain artistic and creative imagination.
“I shut my eyes in order to see.” Paul Gauguin
When things go “awr-eye”
When the energy of the third eye chakra is out of alignment or not flowing freely, a variety of physiological, mental, emotional and spiritual ailments can pop up.
Blockages here cause poor memory, insomnia and failure to understand subtle signals, resulting in setting our sights too low. One might notice physical signs like tension in the brow area, headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, sinus issues, hearing problems or dizziness. Cognitive indicators of an unbalanced third eye chakra may include dissociation, issues concentrating, nightmares, sleep disturbances, mental fog and confusion.
Yogis often begin their spiritual work at the brow chakra as it helps open and balance the other chakras. The subtle inner space of consciousness behind our two eyes, that is sometimes like an inner screen, is called Chid-akasha: (cit-akasa), this is the focal point of our visualisations and where we expand our inner picture of how we see ourselves and the world. This is the realm of reality where we transform our lives, harness our vitality and implement our dreams.
“That within us which seeks to know and to progress is not the mind, but something behind it which makes use of it.” Sri Aurobindo
When we look in a mirror at our two eyes, we see they are patterned after the spiritual eye: the outer "aura" or white of the eye; the inner circle or iris; and the central "star" or pupil. The point of origin of the single eye is in the subtle spiritual centre in the medulla oblongata (at the base of the brain, where it joins the spine). The energy from this single eye divides at the medulla and pours through the brain into the two physical eyes, through which the world of duality is perceived. The spiritual eye with its three lights, or three different rays one within the other like an extending telescopic lens has all-seeing spherical vision. It is through this that the deeply meditating yogi beholds all matter and the vibratory cosmic energy permeating the universe.
Our “first eye”
Ajna is linked to the pituitary gland and energetically with the pineal gland. The pineal resembles a tiny pinecone (where it gets its name) in the centre of the brain directly behind the eyes. The interior of the pineal gland has retinal tissue composed of photoreceptor cells and is filled with vitreous fluid just like the eyes. It is even wired to the visual cortex and is able to sense light directly.
Indeed, the name “third eye” comes from the pineal gland's primary function of 'letting in light and darkness', just as our two eyes do.
The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ that produces both melatonin and its precursor, serotonin, which are derived chemically from the alkaloid substance tryptamine. Light exposure is the most important factor related to pineal gland function and melatonin secretion. The pineal’s light-sensitive cells control the circadian rhythm; the process most people take for granted: maintaining a consistent rhythm from day to day. Without it, the body would struggle to sleep and wake at the same time and might not know how to respond to changes in light levels properly.
Curiously, many reptiles have a pineal gland that receives information from a rudimentary third eye with a retina-like lens. That enables them to see in ranges of light that are not available to humans such as infrared and ultraviolet. A Darwinian advocate proposes that our legendary “Third Eye” is a vestige from the reptilian stage of human evolution and was probably the primary eye to form in our brain; this means that we could call it the “First eye”.
The Seat of the Soul
One of the greatest mysteries hidden from us is the spiritual function of the pineal gland. French philosopher Descartes proposed that the pineal gland connects the body to the soul or contained it. In the ancient temples of Sumerians and Babylonians and on the walls of the pyramids of ancient Egypt are hieroglyphics that strongly suggest worship of the pineal gland as the seat of the spirit or the soul. They used the third eye as a route to higher awareness and consciousness. The Buddhists also related it to spiritual awakening and the Hindu peoples connect it to the third eye that represents intuition and clairvoyance and to activate it, many wear a vermillion or saffron coloured spot between the eyebrows.
The pineal gland makes a substance called DMT (dimethyltryptamine) also known as the spiritual molecule that curiously releases into the fast eye motion phase when we are dreaming and is responsible for visualising images in dreams. DMT is best known recreationally as a party drug that produces brief and intense psychedelic effects when ingested. DMT is an indole alkaloid that is the most powerful hallucinogenic or entheogenic found in the wild in all plants and animals (in greater or lesser concentration). DMT is abundant in the psychoactive plant chacruna (Psychotria Viridis) that is brewed with the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) to form Ayahuasca, the traditional spiritual medicine of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin.
The innate spiritual substance
In human embryos the pineal gland becomes visible and releases its first burst of DMT, 49 days after conception when the embryo becomes a foetus. At birth there is another DMT burst, then regularly every night during REM sleep. In the immediate state before death, a lot of DMT is produced and our consciousness is endowed with the ability to enter into higher mystical or inter-dimensional states. Rick Strassman in 2000 proposed that the DMT excreted by the pineal gland enabled the life force into this life and on to the next life.
The potent DMT has profound effects on human consciousness and focussed spiritual practice can catalyse its our own production in the pineal. Of course many will choose to engage in supposed shortcuts like taking psychedelics to awaken the third eye and this is certainly valid to maybe clock up the experience or heal a psychological trauma or addiction. Mostly this will be short-lived and not very sustainable on the ongoing path to complete illumination. How wonderful that we don’t necessarily need to find this DMT magic substance externally and if we redirect our focus internally we can manufacture it within ourselves. We might discover that true peace, love and joy are not found outside of us.
“The soul never thinks without a mental picture.” Aristotle
Gland of the Super powers
A whole range of electro-magnetic energy around us stimulates the pineal gland and it is self-activating as ultraviolet radiation flows towards the Earth. It is claimed that when Divine light activates the pineal gland through deep meditation, it creates a communication link to the pituitary gland that enables us to access the higher spiritual planes of consciousness. As the pineal gland starts to resonate with Divine light, our Kundalini serpent power begins its spiralling ascent from the base of our spine towards the crown and the intrinsic spiritual process unfolds.
There are many enticing powers or extraordinary abilities called siddhis, like clairvoyance, to be gained through activation of the third eye in yogic development however the great sages warn us that even if they are useful they are a distraction on the true path to spiritual enlightenment. What serves us most is to develop the third eye in the realms of meditation, dreams, imagination and visualisation, especially if we want to gain insight into Ultimate reality to receive channelled messages that catalyse our spiritual growth.
“The yogin who has conquered the life-force and who always contemplates the Self, the Supreme Lord of the blue appearance at the spot between the eyebrows, while gazing at the tip of the nose, attains the supreme goal of Yoga.” Gorasha Paddhuti
Changing the way we see things
If we are inspired to experience essential Truth then it is tremendously helpful to become aware and modify our current modes of vision and seeing the world. Approx. 80% of the information we receive comes through our eyes, in fact the greedy optic nerve hogs enormous amount of brain energy, to the deficit of other faculties. This is why yogic practices of subduing eye movement are used to channel the mind into higher powers of awareness. The science of perception and existential philosophy tell us that that peripheral vision is essential to understanding ‘where’ we are, which is important in figuring out ‘who’ we are moment by moment in a more differentiated way. When we are distracted and scan stimulating sights, eyes darting here and there, we get caught up in the outer appearance of things and our prana (vitality) flows out, taking us further away from the state of yoga that we seek.
“You are not able to behold me with your own eyes; I give thee the divine eye, behold my Lordly yoga” Bhagavad Gita (11.8)
Soft Loving Gaze
To counteract these habits, control and focus of our attention is a fundamental yoga principle. When we control and direct the focus, first of the eyes and then of the attention, we are using the yogic technique called drishti, a kind of “X-Ray” vision. Drishti is a point of focus where we rest our gaze on a fixed point during yoga asana and meditation practice; it improves our concentration because it is so easy to become distracted when your eyes are wandering around. Even though a Drishti is often described as a fixed gaze, the eyes should always stay soft and not strained. We don’t focus with a hard gaze; instead, we use a soft, all-embracing gaze, as if looking from the back of our head toward a vision of cosmic unity rather than the brittle gaze of the two eyes.
When we soften our focus we feel the corresponding softening in the heart region that effectively sends our awareness beyond outer appearance to inner essence. Constant practice of drishti - the yogic vision develops ekagraha, single-pointed focus that brings us closer to seeing our true Self. Our eyes can only see objects in front of us that reflect the visible spectrum of light, but yogis seek to view an inner reality not normally visible. We become aware of how our brains only let us see what we want to see as a projection of our own limited ideas. Often our opinions, prejudices and habits prevent us from seeing unity. Drishti is a techniqueabout looking for the Divine everywhere and thus seeing the true nature of things around us. Used in this way, drishti becomes a technique for removing the ignorance (avidya) that obscures this true vision and allows us to see God or the Divine in everything.
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting, a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be filled with light.” Mathew 6.22
Everyday Sight
Scientifically speaking, we do not actually see through our eyes, but through our brain; photoreceptors convert light (electromagnetic radiation) into nerve signals that our brain turns into what we see. Normal, everyday sight is called central vision, which is high-resolution and used for reading, TV, Internet and driving or anything that requires maximum acuity. This vision is produced by our fovea (meaning pit) centralis, located in the middle of our retina at the back of the eyes and is filled with 6-7 million cones (photoreceptors) that are also responsible for our ability to see colour.
Central Vision is the normal modus operandi for everyday seeing and is connected with the Beta brain waves of our left-brain hemisphere that arouse sympathetic nervous response and stress. Today we are totally dependent on acute (central) vision for our career, amusement and learning, but it influences our mind state and the way our brain works in deleterious ways that do us disservice.
Preferring Peripheral
The other kind of vision is called Peripheral Vision, which is outside of the centre and at the sides of what we see; this “wide viewing” behaviour was the only way to react to life for our ancestors because it gave them the very helpful holistic or bigger dimension of life. Early humans who lived in the forest, hunting and gathering to survive, approached everything from an expanded “point-of-view” to immerse more effectively in Nature and communicate with the other hunters and to see the moving prey.
When we use peripheral vision, we are using our right-hemisphere with alpha brainwaves and as a consequence we experience deep relaxation. (Thanks to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.) We avoid the adrenaline-fuelled fight-or-flight reaction by using peripheral vision and gain access to our non-conscious mind. It is not possible to maintain negative feelings of anger, fear and stress when we intentionally use wide, soft focus, peripheral vision that is more akin to our yogic drishti. This is one of the modified ways we can employ that is more conducive to a deeper communion with Nature.
“Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” Betty Smith
“Learn to see, and then you'll know that there is no end to the new worlds of our vision.” Carlos Castaneda
Shambhavi Mudra or the "Eyebrow Gazing Centre Technique"
This is described in the ancient yogic text, the Gheranda Samhita. It is a powerful mudra used during meditation to still the mind and to experience higher stages of consciousness. It essentially involves gazing at the eyebrow centre. By constant practice, the muscles can sustain the position for a long period of time in prolonged meditation, strengthening them. This mudra also activates the Ajna Chakra.
Practice breath work.
The simplest and game-changing way to activate the Ajna Chakra is through breathing consciously. Sit in a comfortable meditative pose with your spine elongated. Close your eyes and focus all your energies on your third eye. Bring your attention to breathing while inhaling and imagine a positive light entering the third-eye chakra. In the same way, while exhaling, let all the negative thoughts away from you and let the whole body relax. Continue this process for 5 to 10 minutes. Practice daily
Practice Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
This powerful breathing technique brings balance to the right and left hemispheres of your brain by harmonising the energy flowing toward the “rational” left-brain and the “intuitive” right brain.
Meditation
A daily prerequisite that brings awareness and focus to the point between the eyes in the centre of the head; soften all the tiny muscles surrounding the eye sockets. Allow time and space to stimulate the third eye location and connect with your inner essence.
Do yoga
Many yoga poses or asana are predisposed to activating Ajna: child's pose, plough, downward dog, wide-angle seated forward bend, wide-legged forward fold, legs up the wall, lotus, shoulder stand and headstand. Practising these asana daily is beneficial for improving brain function and the acuity of all the sensory organs in the head regulating all the bodily systems.
Chant the seed mantra of – AUM
Another way to activate Ajna Chakra is to concentrate on the sixth chakra and chant its seed mantra – AUM - the pranava or source of all sounds that creates unity and non-dual consciousness. Internally sound the Bija mantra 'AUM' slowly with full awareness. Continue the chanting and concentration on the chakra as long as you are comfortable.
Eat a nutritious diet
Stop eating junk food and eat real, unprocessed, organic food; our food choices govern our energy. Add an array of purple foods such as blackberries, blueberries, grapes, eggplant, purple kale, purple sweet potatoes and purple cabbage into the diet. Choose ingredients like chlorella, spirulina, blue-green algae, apple cider vinegar, chlorophyll, wheat grass, cilantro, raw cacao, goji berries, dried seaweed or kelp. Citric acid also breaks down the calcium in the pineal, so try lemon juice in the morning when you wake up.
Take nootropic herbs
Regularly imbibe these cognitive enhancers that replenish the endocrine system too. Ashwagandha, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, reishi, brahmi, rhodiola, gotu kola, rosemary, ginseng, lemon balm, green tea, lion's mane, juniper berries, skullcap, horsetail
Practise gentle safe sunbathing
When the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit the bare skin, processes inside the tissue start making vitamin D for the body to use. This also helps to detoxify and de-calcify the pineal gland.
Avoid artificial light
Try to avoid prolonged exposure to artificial light or at least get a dose of outdoor sunlight every hour and avoid going to sleep with your computer or TV on. In fact a digital detox helps clear Ajna obstructions.
Use indigo colour
Incorporate the indigo colour, a blue hue associated with wisdom and deep inner knowledge, into your life with clothes and décor.
Practice candle gazing
Maintain a steady gaze on a candle flame, avoiding blinking to bring you into deeper meditation. This activates third eye light reception. You can try sun gazing as well, just for a shorter amount of time while the sun is low on the horizon.
Keep a dream journal
Help recall and increase your dreams by simply writing them down just as you wake up. This allows you to work through unprocessed issues in your waking life and come to terms with them while building self-awareness.
Maintain a rhythm
Wake up and go to sleep with the sun as much as possible to maintain your circadian rhythm and pineal gland activation.
Go natural
Buy natural, fluoride free toothpaste; fluoride is believed to increase pineal gland calcifications.
Use gemstones
Place specific third eye stones such as amethyst, clear quartz, and sodalite on the centre between your brows with clear intention of connectivity and opening.
Commune with nature:
To open your portals of dreaming, imagination, and creativity.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
Certain essential oils have a distinct resonance that aligns them with the sixth chakra. Anointing the third eye and inhaling these compatible oils entrains our focus and efforts specifically upon this Chakra. Diffuse them while meditating or doing yoga.
Clary sage oil Helps to combat negative emotions and lack of motivation associated with a blocked Ajna Chakra. It works to clear creative blocks, focus our intentions and bring clarity to our thoughts.
Lemon oil Is so uplifting and has the ability to bathe the pineal gland with light, helping to awaken the latent gifts of the third eye.
Sandalwood oil Is a fine meditation aid that helps break down the illusions that obscure our authentic self. It sheds light on the obstacles impeding our spiritual path, whether internal or external and allows a gentle processing at the deepest levels.
Lavender oil Clears brain fog as it calms the mind of stress and agitation; it diminishes the emotional intensity of memories and restores a clearer connection between body and mind.
Frankincense oil Stimulates the pineal gland and arouse spiritual intelligence and visions. It releases us from the obsessive patterns that tie us to the miasma of mundane and material existence.
Cypress oil Restores trust in our spiritual path, if our third Eye Chakra is blocked and we feel stuck. It encourages feelings of strength and self-confidence and improves mental clarity and focus.
Juniper berry oil Improves our self-awareness and pulls our thoughts away from distractions to bring our sixth Chakra back into balance. It can heighten our intuition and allow us to connect to our inner wisdom.
Grapefruit oil So uplifting and reviving, it helps us understand the origins of beliefs so we can consciously reprogram and cut through the illusions of control.
Basil oil Sharpens the senses, improves focus and stimulates the third eye, increases our ability to live consciously in the present.
Jasmine oil Sedates an anxious nervous system, while maintaining alertness for meditation. It coaxes us out of our comfort zone, enhancing imagination.
Peppermint oil Aids concentration, focus and memory, alleviating mental fatigue while boosting our receptivity and deepening intuitive insight.
Pine oil The tall upright pine with its pineal shaped seedcase reminds us that the small inner spark of knowing within each of us can grow into the vast and incandescent omniscience of universal consciousness.
Nutmeg oil Increases psychic awareness, creativity and imagination. Detaches us from materialism and sentimentality.
Honey myrtle oil Maintains an alert mind and focus. Helps dissolve stressful emotions, stimulating clarity, perspective and creative energy to stay fluid and unstuck.
Spikenard oil The holiest of oils is all about evolving our spirituality that will enable us to directly perceive ultimate reality.
Keep your eyes on the prize, without fixating on results. Surrender to the longing and let go of attachment to the goal itself. Spiritual practice will blossom when we can calmly abide in a non-preferential, nonreactive space that is sensitive, receptive and free from the demand that things go one way or another. Embrace whole-heartedly what is present. There is only pure awareness, formless, unborn and undying and that is who we are.
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Lady's Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris
Cloak of herbal protection for women
Lady’s mantle is rich in folklore
Lady's mantle, from the Rosaceae family, is a perennial herb found in Europe, North America and Asia and has been used medicinally since the Middle Ages. The word Alchemilla is a derivative of the Arab word Alkemelych, which means alchemy and was named because people believed the herb could produce miraculous cures. The early alchemists (part chemist, part magicians) believed that the dewdrops gathered on the leaves of lady's mantle were precious with magical powers.
Reminiscent of the virgin’s cloak in medieval paintings, the leaves with scalloped edges are reputed to have given the lady’s mantle its name. It was believed by early herbalists to be capable of restoring lost virginity in women; so strong was its contractile powers; it was endowed youthful firmness to the breasts of older women. Highly astringent and rich in tannins, it was one of the most popular wound herbs on the battlefields of the 15th and 16th Centuries.
A woman’s herbal ally
Lady’s mantle is known as a very effective treatment for the female reproductive system and is recommended in all cases of menstrual disorders such as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), endometriosis, cervicitis and fibroids. It eases menstrual cramps and reduces heavy bleeding (menorrhagia). It balances the hormonal actions in the body and is thus regulating to the whole cycle of menstruation. The flavonoids invigorate the uterus and help with tension pains. It is deemed useful in treating sterility in women and helps ease the process of giving birth. Furthermore, it can ease infections of the pelvic organs. The herbal extract is often used as a douche or sitz bath to wash off excess vaginal discharge and resolve the problem of leucorrhoea, minimising irritation and infection in the vaginal cavity. It has sometimes been mixed with rose water for this purpose. It also treats problems caused by menopausal disorders. The herb is rich in salicylic acid that rapidly reduces inflammation affecting the reproductive system as well as the digestive system.
Lady's mantle tea should be consumed three times a day for treating menstrual disorders and for diabetics. In cases of amenorrhea, the tea should be more concentrated and the time left to infuse longer (about 20 minutes). This same tea may be used externally for gargling and as a vaginal douche. Add red clover to lady’s mantle for general breast health, as it nourishes the blood and encourages healthy blood flow.
Important points to remember: Don't use lady's mantle if you're breast-feeding or pregnant.
Staunches the flow and loves skin
Lady's mantle is so rich in tannins and flavonoids that it is commonly recommended for treating diarrhoea and stomach ailments such as gastroenteritis due to its astringent qualities. The tannins prevent growth of certain bacteria and makes is a time-tested remedy for loose skin.
Lady's mantle is used to soothe irritations and infections of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and an infusion works well as a gargle and mouthwash for bleeding gums and mouth ulcers. For external use, lady's mantle aids in healing wounds and cuts as it staunches blood flow (styptic) and allows the first stage of healing to begin without hindrance. Lady’s mantle tea may be used as a bath additive or the herb in a poultice to treat skin irritations, burns and boils. It can be used effectively in herbal cleansing creams and other cosmetics for its skin beautifying properties to prevent premature wrinkling.
Lady's mantle was also used traditionally for treating blood sugar diseases, as an astringent that affects the production rate of enzymes in the pancreas; thus it could be helpful for diabetics. This herb is rich in iron and thus helpful for anaemia. Traditional medicine teaches us that lady's mantle can be used effectively in cases of obesity as well as for rheumatism. It is also used in treating spasms and muscle pains, muscle weakness or general weakness, as well as growing problems during childhood. Try a soothing tea to of lady’s mantle to ease headaches and migraine.
Properties: Astringent, antimicrobial, vulnerary (heals wounds), styptic (stops bleeding), anti-inflammatory and heart strengthening.
Uses: Female health maintenance, menstrual health maintenance: painful period, menstrual bleeding, cramps, and irregularity, PMS. Skin disorders. Heart health maintenance: vascular disorders, aids blood clotting. Diabetes; sugar control. Wounds, headaches and dizziness. Digestive disorders: diarrhoea, stomach irritation, stomachache, nausea, relief from vomiting.
]]>Alfalfa is well known for its highly nutritious qualities, which is why it is best known as a feed plant for livestock. It does, however, have a rich tradition of human use being revered for its health-building and strengthening properties. Alfalfa, also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering legume plant in the pea family Fabaceae and like many legumes it is a "nitrogen fixer". Alfalfa seems to have originated in south-central Asia and was first cultivated in ancient Iran. Alfalfa has also been used medicinally in American folk herbalism, as a culinary food in India and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It first appeared around 200 CE during the Han Dynasty, for digestive system support and to stimulate the appetite. In the 16th century, Spanish colonisers introduced alfalfa to the Americas as fodder for their horses. Today alfalfa is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world and is used for grazing, hay and silage. It provides nutrient dense hay and is considered the foremost forage plant for dairy cows. Today in parts of China and Russia young alfalfa leaves are served as a vegetable and the seed is often sprouted and eaten in salads and sandwiches.
Full spectrum food source
The Arabs called alfalfa “father of all foods” and it is no wonder that it is called a superfood/superherb, because it is so densely nutritious and healing. Alfalfa provides an excellent source of energy yet it is surprisingly low in calories. Herbalists of ancient and modern times recognised alfalfa as a valuable human medicine and nutritive tonic that boasted a broad array of essential nutrients including chlorophyll. Specifically, alfalfa contains vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, E, G, and K. It is also rich in iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, calcium, silicon, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine and carotene. Alfalfa also contains bitter alkaloids, coumarins and isoflavonoids (specifically phytoestrogens).
When taken with a meal, alfalfa can promote nutrient absorption of calcium and protein in particular by encouraging the release of gastric secretions. Overall digestion is greatly improved when our body’s ability to break down nutrients is improved. Its rich mineral content explains Alfalfa's traditional use for bone support especially when combined with horsetail and nettle leaf. Indeed alfalfa offers us quality protein that is made up of the building blocks - amino acids. Protein is a vital constituent of muscle and taking alfalfa regularly is a healthy way to help build muscle tone.
To enjoy Alfalfa’s multiple health benefits, it is important to choose an organic, non-GMO source that is grown especially for the health market.
Healing Super herb
Superb alfalfa can replenish the stores of liver supportive vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin K which is stored in the liver and fatty tissues. It increases insulin, which reduces fat stores and toxicity in the liver. Studies have been shown how alfalfa helps lower cholesterol and can also benefit blood sugar management. Alfalfa’s large amounts of vitamin K is used by the body to facilitate blood clotting. It should be noted that this benefit does not suit those on blood thinner “warfarin”, as it might decrease its effects.
Alfalfa can be of help to treat allergies, thyroid problems and asthma and is also reputed to reduce the risk of heart attacks. It may also help with an inflamed prostate, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach problems and diabetes. Alfalfa can be effectively used as a treatment for urinary tract issues, high cholesterol, indigestion and excessive bruising or bleeding (thrombocytopenic purpura). It is very beneficial to the blood so include alfalfa in any regime to treat anaemia.
Alkalising alfalfa
Alkaline alfalfa alkalises and detoxifies the body, especially the liver, helping to neutralise acidity in the body (or soil). Alkalisation helps to sedate the nerves and muscles while removing acids from the digestive tract thereby improving gut function. Traditionally alfalfa was combined with peppermint as a tonic for the intestinal tract. With both bitter and sweet flavours, this combination is stimulating and regulating to the intestinal tract, specifically the stomach. Alfalfa’s cooling energy helps to reduce fevers. It is ideal to add to other herbal blends to boost blood-cleansing and building properties.
Regularly taking alfalfa tea helps to flush out retained water in the body. In general the integrated actions of alfalfa’s actives helps to normalise weight and it was certainly employed by the Chinese for reducing weight. Alfalfa has weak estrogen-like actions similar to the effects of soy, and has traditionally been used by women suffering with menopausal symptoms. A study suggests that regular consumption of alfalfa with its quercetin present may increase testosterone in males.
Clears and brightens skin
Alfalfa is anti-inflammatory: with its enzymes and smorgasbord of minerals and vitamins that can help reduce inflammation anywhere in the body. Its high antioxidant factor wards off free radicals making it an excellent tea to add to your skincare routine which soothes and make dull skin look brighter. Not only will it stave off premature signs of aging, but it will also aid in easing redness and irritation due to its high concentration of nourishing elements. It contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that make it a great body cleanser, infection fighter and natural deodoriser. The herb produces specific antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Alfalfa also finds use to enhance hair growth and overall health.
Fun facts about Alfalfa:
Due to a large amount of antioxidants, marshmallow root can contribute to healing damaged liver bile ducts. It helps trigger the production of epithelial cells that line the insides of ducts and organs. In turn, a healthier bile duct helps the liver detox more efficiently. Marshmallow root’s phytonutrients can also bind to heavy metals and sweep them out of the body.
The ultimate skin soother
Marshmallow root is put to good use topically to relieve skin irritation such as bug bites, skin ulcers, burns, abscesses and more. Mucilage, a thick, gummy substance, found in marshmallow root reduces swelling and kills bacteria. The anti-inflammatory properties found in marshmallow root are a natural remedy for eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. Mucilage is a natural way to keep skin hydrated which is important with skin care because it reduces fine lines and enhances even-toned complexion.
Marshmallow root is known to reduce skin damage caused by UVA rays, to keep skin looking healthy. Skin damaged by UVA rays is more prone to wrinkles, discolorations and even skin cancers. To minimize the damaging effects, it's recommended that marshmallow root extract is applied daily and after sun exposure. Marshmallow’s polysaccharides can improve breast engorgement. A 2017 clinical study demonstrated that a compress with marshmallow root powder lessens the severity of this painful condition that occurs when lactating breasts overfill with milk. Topical marshmallow preparations also help soothe sore, cracked nipples.
A fine digestive aid
Marshmallow root becomes gooey when mixed with water and coats the oesophagus and throat, allowing the anti-inflammatory properties to soothe irritated mucous membranes and calm tense muscles. Such qualities also work very well for the digestive tract; whereby marshmallow reduces inflammation of the stomach lining, heartburn and many digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhoea, colic and ulcers. Not only will this herb provide immediate relief, but it also has long-term benefits. Consuming marshmallow root regularly significantly decreases the risk for stomach ulcers; marshmallow’s mucilage coats the inside of the digestive tract, preventing future irritation and stimulating tissue regeneration. Whether you’re looking for instant relief from acid reflux or longer-term prevention, marshmallow root will come through if it is used on a regular basis.
Marshmallow root shows potential to decrease blood sugar levels. Research suggests that it can help regulate the release of glucose and insulin, reducing the risk of dangerous fluctuations in blood glucose. People on medications for diabetes should use caution; the herb may interact with prescription medicines and cause blood sugar to drop too low.
Heart Health
Anyone with predisposed heart conditions could derive valid help from marshmallow root. If it is used regularly, it increases the body’s “good” cholesterol, HDL. High HDL removes bad cholesterol, reducing the risk for heart diseases. Marshmallow root reduces heart disease through its anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce acute and chronic inflammation. This herb is also known to prevent platelet aggregation, which is a clumping of platelets in the blood, also known as a blood clot.
Marshmallow root's inflammation-soothing properties may encourage healing of surgical wounds with topical use. However, as noted previously, the herb may interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery if taken internally. The root’s mucilage coats the stomach lining, potentially hindering the absorption of surgery-related medications.