This summer, as I played in my garden among flowers, vegetables, wild plants and weeds
I heard a very clear message in my mind: "MAKE PLANT MEDICINE".
Now we all have lots of thoughts and words floating around inside our head all day - mostly stuff that should be ignored!! But once in a while a different voice speaks!! A voice that is super clear, loving and filled with purpose and intention. This was that type of voice.
And so I listened carefully and then followed through: I asked the various medicinal and herbal plants if they wanted me to pick them and use them. And the plants spoke back…and guided my way.
Now if you've ever hiked or walked with me round outdoors in nature, you'll know that I am very attuned to the plant kingdom. Observant. I love to see what's in the natural world around me - who are my plant neighbors, so to speak. And when I stroll through my garden, I pat and love and acknowledge each plant as I pass by.
ST JOHNSWORT was the first to say "yes, please use my flowers, for I will help you get through the dark months of Winter and cold. Let my bright yellow blossoms become good medicine to keep your spirits high and senses enlivened." She told me when and how to harvest them, and how much to leave for the bees to collect.
So I picked daily when the sun was out, and the flowers were dry.St Johnswort is called the
"HAPPINESS HERB" and is proven to cure mild depression.
She's also a great ally for menopausal women!!
Just look at her vibrant yellow
color - just like the sun itself. We have tincture and body oil for sale.
When MULLEIN made her presence in our garden two summers ago, she did it with panache.
No pussy-footing around. She stood over 6' tall in a central location - 15 feet off of our deck, where we held yoga classes all summer. Everyone adored her beauty and majesty! This year her seeds spread and grew everywhere, and so I harvested her leaves to make tea and tincture; and a small amount of mullein flower oil (for earaches). Mullein is an awesome EXPECTORANT. I used her in September to clear my lungs, so I could avoid colds and flu…a strategy which has worked brilliantly so far!! No sniffles, so sore throat, no sinusitis. I am breathing better than ever…and so can you!
next to the original mother plant!!
You see how furry her leaves are - they moisten dry lung tissue, while they scrub mucus and phlegm.
I mixed mullein with organic mint from my garden to make a delicious tea, and with 100% vodka to make the tincture.
NETTLES - STINGING NETTLES is one sassy plant. She will prick you if you don't take care.
These prickers dissolve when cooked or soaked in oil or alcohol. I have used nettles for many years!!
I love to add them to miso and other Winter soups or sauté them with onions and garlic. Her green leaves have the highest amount of chlorophyll and iron - more than any other green.
Nettles makes for strong blood building medicine, because chlorophyll from plant turns into red blood cells in the human. And strong blood supports strong immunity.
You can see the tiny barbs on nettles
stems. This is the way she protects herself from the mouths of sheep, deer and other animals that would nibble her right down to the ground.
Yay, Nettles!!
LEMON BALM grew quietly all summer long, until she took the shape of a beautiful round bush!!
One of my students said - "Do you have any lemon balm - I'd like some." And then I woke up.
I'd used her in smoothies and salads, but had forgotten about her gentle qualities. Sweet Melissa, as she is also called, is as quiet and patient as her medicine. The adage "Lemon Balm to Keep You Calm" goes way back in herbal history!! Her medicinal properties will soothe your nervous system, quell anxiety and stress…and help you sleep better. We have tea, tincture and body oil for sale.
PLANT INTELLIGENCE:
Let me say that substituting plant and herbal medicine for synthetic drugs and pharmaceuticals will benefit both humankind and our precious planet. Plant medicines always have side-benefits (when used respectfully and correctly) and pharmaceutical drugs always have side-effects! Just read the back of any magazine advertisement for any drug. The whole page is a list of potentially harmful side-effects.
There is an ADDED BONUS when we ingest plant based medicines - their cosmic intelligence is transferred directly into our cells, tissues and organs. (The tinctured and base oils preserve more of the live essence of the plant than the dried herbs.)
Think about this - over the course of the growing season a plant absorbs sun, rain, moonlight, air from the atmosphere…and it also absorbs information from the cosmos and whatever surrounds it grows in -a forest, meadow, bog or garden. When we eat more plants (as Michael Pollen suggests) we become more intelligently attuned to the natural world. And when we are more connected, we will make better choices that support our individual growth and health and that of the whole planet.
I'll happily ship any of my new 'Prakasa Medicinals" products to you.
Just let me know what you need. I can even pair them in gift packages for the holidays.
Deep Sleep Package:
Lemon Balm Tincture (1 oz), Lemon Balm Body oil (1 oz), and a silk eye pillow.
Happy Mood:
St Johnswort Tincture (1oz) and St Johnswort Body Oil (1 oz).
Breathe Easy:
Mullein Tincture (1oz), Mullein Body Oil (1oz), Neti Pot and Nasal Oil. (1oz).
I hope you will use and enjoy these plant-spirit medicines, they are made with love and respect.
The tinctures are made with 100% Organic Vodka, and the body oils from 100% Organic Olive Oil.
Free "I Want to Thrive" Consultation:
If you'd like to contact me about your health issues, I'd be happy to talk.
In fact, I will offer you a free consultation, just for reading my blog today.
Fill out the Contact Us page on my website or email me at: prakasayoga@gmail.com .
We'll get to know one another a little better and discuss your situation, dreams, goals and needs.
Namaste,
Lynne Paterson
No comments:
Post a Comment