Fava Medicine doesn’t come easily. It’s a lot of work getting to the edible heart of the bean, but in my opinion, it’s worth it. Fava bean medicine, like the plant, is about endurance and the sweet taste of hope rewarded.
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When you realize that formulation is actually part-science, part-mathematics, and part-art the whole process becomes far more experimental and playful. Just like constructing a sonnet, having a set of rules or guidelines to get you started is helpful.
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Traditional Ethiopian peoples knew all about Teff, Eragrostis tef. Somewhere between 3000 and 6000 years ago, the Abyssinia people, ancestors of today’s Northern Ethiopia, were the first to begin planting or domesticating this annual grass. Learn more about the history and Magical properties of Teff.
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Yarrow is used by many herbalists as an astringent to tighten and tone skin. It’s inherently cooling and toning. Coupled with a little Kaolin clay and some honey…get the recipe here.
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To make a good oxymel, you need an herbal vinegar and honey. Honey is mildly drying to the respiratory system. Local, raw honeys are tailored by the bees to the region or environment where they live, including a lot of the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties specific to the bacteria and molds growing in their region.
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Helichrysum has particular affinity for the Sixth chakra, also known as the Third Eye. In our modern culture, second sight or perception connected with the Third Eye and the Sixth Chakra is coming out of the closet, so to speak. Over the past two thousand years, we’ve seen human cultures move from a place of trust for those perceptions that come from sources we can’t track directly to one of the five basic senses.
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When you’re looking for a good Flu Remedy, Chamomile doesn’t usually come up, but it should. Chamomile is one of those often overlooked, unsung heroes of the herbal world. In eras past, we often used it to quiet colicky children.
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As a flower essence, yarrow’s affinity is for Empathic or Highly Sensitive individuals. We’re a lot who are naturally more open to the energies of the world around us than most, making us both more powerful and more vulnerable at the same time.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine calls night sweats and hot flashes empty fire because there is little to no earth to support the blaze of those menopausal experiences. It’s kind of like the whole foundation has just fallen out of your world, but your belly is going to burn on anyway. Personally, I think that’s an apt description of the perimenopausal experience, don’t you?
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Part of the power in perimenopause is the change it brings. Although it can feel darn draining and disorienting, all that transformative energy can move you to new spiritual, emotional, and psychological planes. I’m thankful for these practices can make that transition more comfortable and deeply fulfilling.
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Flooding can feel like adding insult to injury. Between Hot Flashes and Night Sweats, Spontaneous...
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Let’s face it, menopause is every bit as big a change as was our first periods. Just like we needed time alone back then to sort out all the new emotions and ideas that arose when we first started to bleed, we who are at the other end of the fertility ride need time and space to make sense of ourselves all over again. Finding a Room of One’s Own shouldn’t be a fantasy, nor should it be the first step toward oblivion…
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Perimenopausal anxiety and panic attacks are a normal part of the menopausal journey. For some us, they’ll be more frequent or intense than for others. Although a detour around Anxiety Town may not be in the cards, the trip doesn’t have to dominate our experience. These natural remedies are a terrific way to ease the ride.
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The key, as far as modern science is concerned, may lay within a chemical structure known as Withanolides. Ashwagandha roots and berries are filled with withanolides.. Traditionally, both have been used as daily tonics, but Ashwagandha roots have always been considered the primary source for good Ashwagandha medicine. Modern researchers have backed this wisdom by showing that Ashwagandha roots, as opposed to the berries or any other part of the plant, contain a very high percentage of withanolides.
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There is one that I truly believe encompasses the word balance. Allow me to introduce you to Ashwagandha. Hailing from the rich healing cultures of India and Africa, Ashwagandha has been used for thousands, literally thousands of years. This gorgeous perennial shrub grows deep roots and fuzzy little leaves. The entirety of the plant can be used for magic and medicine. From root to flower, Ashwagandha is packed with healing.
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