The Way of Herbs Revisited...Flowers as Medicine

[Guest guest]

The Way of Herbs revisited...Flowers as Medicine

 

 

Dr. Michael Tierra L.AC., O.M.D.

 

 

--

 

Herbal medicine is a humble art. I like to think that herbs are in our path as a

symbol of the abiding love of the Great Spirit for all creatures. All the long

hours and years we study enable us as priest or priestess of nature to

administer these sacraments of loving compassion to others. Most of us who feel

the attraction to the green have developed a profound appreciation for the

wondrous essence of creative diversity of the plant kingdom and nowhere is this

more evident than in the diversity of flowers which surround and grace our

lives. Everyone gives or receives a bouquet in a spirit of joyous devotion,

thanksgiving, forgiveness all of is healing of the spirit.

 

For most, the presence of flowers such as roses, peonies, chrysanthemums,

lilies, irises and calendulas for instance represents an aesthetic uplifting of

spirit. Just as a casual walk along a wayside path to one who has no knowledge

of the healing properties of weeds means nothing in terms of the recognition of

their healing virtues to either the ground upon which they spring nor for any

ill that may befall the traveler, so also a bouquet of flowers may simply remain

as an object of pure aesthetic delight to the beholder.

 

Imagine instead of simply placing such a bouquet in a vase of water until its

treasure wilts a dies, we envision another purpose such as using organic red

rose petals as a tea with honey for someone experiencing sadness or depression,

violet flower and honey tea for one who feels tense and irritated or has a cough

or sore throat, calendula flower tea for a woman experiencing premenstrual

discomfort or a tea of fresh or dried marigold flowers to treat symptoms of a

colds, coughs or diarrhea, branches of flower decked honeysuckle vines taken as

a tea for influenza, arthritis or rheumatic complaints. Could this be yet

another of the profound gifts to ease our sometimes troubled path from the Great

Spirit's natural bounty? Throughout Central and South America native people have

an ancient healing custom that imparts a whole new dimension to the meaning of a

bouquet of flowers. Imagine, if you will, picking or even purchasing a special

bouquet of flowers whose assortment represents not

only aesthetic beauty but a variety of physical healing benefits as well.

Instead of presenting these to your loved one merely to be exhibited in a vase

of water, offer them as a personally administered flower bath given with special

words of praise, blessing and prayers.

 

Because our skin is not simply a boundary, but acts truly as a filter of outside

influences both physical and subtle, the healing properties of plants are

selectively absorbed through the skin membrane to impart their magic to our very

core. Some of my most successful treatments have been in the form of herbal

foot, hand or whole body baths for such conditions ranging from colds, flus,

fevers, skin diseases, inflammations, arthritic complaints, traumas, cramps and

spasms to emotional and neurological imbalances such as depression and insomnia.

There is no question, therefore, of the healing potential of such a Flower Bath

especially when personally administered with affirmative devotion and love.

 

I experienced my first Flower Bath given by a local medicine woman in a the

depths of Peruvian Amazon jungle, bordering one of the thousands of tributaries

of the Amazon river. The experience was nothing short of sublime. Clothed in

nothing more than my bathing trunks, I was seated on a stool in a natural

enclosure in the jungle. A three or four gallon container filled with diverse

Amazonian healing flowers had been set out to infuse with pure water to

commingle and absorb the essence of flowers and healing moonlight rays of the

previous night. The blessed infusion was administered before noon, the woman

gently pouring the flower bath in cupfuls, complete with all its petals, over

the top of my head accompanied with soft prayers and blessings. The entire

ritual took approximately 15 minutes. I then stepped out into the embracing

warmth of the beautiful jungle habitat and allowing only the gentle warmth and

surrounding air to evaporate the fluid on my body. Throughout the day, I would

find small petals falling off my hair or some other bodily part in sweet

remembrance of my morning flower bath.

 

How did it feel? Gently empowering, uplifting, soothing, nurturing to body and

spirit are some of the words and phrases that come to mind. I wondered about the

tons of flowers, hybridized, hothouse and force-grown with sprays and inorganic

nutrients in the west, flowers whose outer beauty of form nevertheless lacked

inner substance, betrayed by a lack of characteristic scented essence. No these

would not do for a proper flower bath.

 

For this special occasion, more must be asked of the giver, that the flowers be

organically grown, free of pesticides and artificial nutrients, that this would

necessitate a special relationship with the earth and environment --- yes, this

is what gives them the degree of positivity necessary for a flower bath! That

they might be specially selected and picked, even with intention and purpose,

perhaps with a special prayer of thanksgiving that would further ennoble the

picker and giver. Far from quickly and conveniently placing an order by

telephone or computer for flowers to be delivered with a short message – usually

at a high price, no, this would have to be personally given as a flower bath

blessing as a token giving of oneself.

 

In order to prepare our flower bath, lets backtrack for a moment to the moments

when our ancestors and we personally became aware of the healing power of herbs.

To do this, we need to consider deeply the profound and humble meaning of the

simple wayside plants and herbs that surround us and how their very existence is

bound up in providing the basis of food for all creatures as well as in their

ability to assuage the many diseases and injuries that may befall us on our

path. How forgiving they seem, despite the ignorant rudeness many of us display

in our efforts to exterminate some of them as weeds, they persist beyond all our

tilling and poisonous sprays, the dandelions for our angry livers, the plantains

for our injuries, the malvas and mulleins for our sore throat and respiratory

complaints and so on and so forth down through the ages the weeds keep coming to

remind us of their mission of healing not only for our physical body but to

bring up deep nutrients and minerals from the

subsoil and to provide precious composted organic material to enrich the earth.

 

Not all medicinal plants have their origin as a weed however. I can imagine that

a long time ago, when our ancestors began to till the soil to selectively

cultivate certain plants for food, some of those that might otherwise be deemed

as useless weeds, attracted the special attention of certain household members

who would transplant them aside for either medicinal or purely ornamental

purposes.

Today, as I can hear the ringing of the angry chain saws outside my back door,

cutting down a beautiful stand of virgin redwoods being harvested for temporary

profit by a neighbor, destroying centuries of growth in a forest that is already

barely existent, I can imagine running out to transplant precious forest plants,

the wild gingers, the ferns, petasites, horsetails and the noble aralias that

are an extended and valuable part of the whole forest ecology, perhaps along the

way to pick up a nest of birdlings to raise in hopes of their survival from the

devastation and blight that is being wreaked upon their surroundings – upon all

of our surroundings.

 

As a result, certain plants, otherwise deemed useless were taken away from the

jaws of the plow to be selectively cultivated and passed down through

generations until today we have a whole group of these, many with powerful

healing virtues, under the guise of ornamentals. Following is a partial list of

ornamental flowers that are used as medicinal herbs:

 

A little deeper, and we may perceive another level as we become aware of the

actual psycho-physical healing properties of even our most common garden

flowers.

 

Calendula (C. officinalis) ---- can be taken internally to promote blood

circulation, treat surface diseases such as colds and fevers as well as relieve

menstrual cramps. Externally it can be made into an oil or salve for burns and

injuries.

 

Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) ---- The berries are poisonous, however, the

blossoms have antiviral and antibiotic properties, effective for all

inflammatory conditions, sore throat, arthritis, for which the stems and leaves

are also used. Dose is 15 to 30 grams daily.

 

Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) --- the root is a antispasmodic, blood tonic and

circulatory stimulant, treats gynecological diseases.

 

Gardenia fruits (Gardenia jasminoides) --- in certain climates the flowers will

evolve to a fruiting stage and are used to promote blood circulation, open the

liver and detoxify the blood.

 

Rose (Rosa species) --- the petals are cooling, blood circulating and

anti-depressive.

St Johnswort (Hypericum perfoliatum) --- is used to treat depression and nerve

pains.

 

Morning Glory (Ipomea jalapa) --- the root is a powerful cathartic.

 

Yellow Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) --- Also known as gelsemium, the aerial

portion must be prescribed in regulated dosage to quiet and calm the nerves.

 

Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) --- induces sleep, calms the nerves.

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) --- used as a diuretic for urinary tract

infections

 

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum linaria) --- nervine

 

Violet (Viola odorata) --- cooling, fevers, demulcent, anticancer, made into an

expectorant syrup for lung and bronchial irritation.

 

Blue flag (Iris versicolor) --- cholagogue, cathartic, emetic, alterative,

diuretic.

 

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) --- Evening primrose oil is used as an

anti-inflammatory.

 

Rosy Periwinkle (Vinca rosea) --- used as a treat for cancer, especially

leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, the flowers are calming nervine.

 

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) --- the stems are brewed into a tea and taken for the

treatment arthritic and rheumatic complaints.

 

Aster (Aster tartaricus) --- Warming expectorant, relieves cough, expels phlegm.

 

Tiger lily (Lilium tigrinum) --- the bulbs are demulcent, used to calm the mind

and treat insomnia.

 

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) --- used like carnation.

 

Pansy (Viola tricolor) --- Pectoral, mucilage, antitumor, aperient, nervine.

 

Larkspur (Delphinium species) --- internally it is poisonous, externally it is

used as an oil for parasites such as lice.

 

Bellis perennis --- A type of low growing daisy that is commonly in lawns and

pastures. The flower heads are rich in saponins. It is an expectorant and

detoxifying remedy for all liver complaints. It is also useful for boils.

 

Begonia (B. fimbristipulata) --- The aerial portions are used as an alterative,

to clear heat, eliminate toxins, promote blood circulation, treat coughing of

blood, and externally applied for trauma, burns, pain and toxic sores.

 

Scabiosa (Knautia arvensis) --- It is rich in tannins and it contains a bitter

compound. It has been used for centuries for dermatitis.

 

Cyclamen

Viburnum (V. Opulus) --- The berries are poisonous. The bark is used as a

uterine sedative for painful menstruation and to prevent miscarriage.

 

* Lotus

Water Lily

Aconite

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) --- Used as a bitter tonic, diaphoretic,

carminative and antispasmodic. It can be used for a wide range of conditions

including externally for hemorrhage, menstrual cramps, colds, fevers and for

anorexia and dyspepsia.

 

Saffron

Nigella (N. sativa) --- contains a saponoside, melanthine, a bitter compound,

nigelline; an essential oil from which nigellone is extracted and tannin. The

seeds have been used as a spice since early times and possess carminative,

diuretic, emmenagogue and

 

antihelminthic (kills worms) properties. The seeds can be used as a pepper

substitute.

Hibiscus (H. sabdariffa) --- A sour tonic, widely used throughout the Middle

East and warm climates as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and fevers.

 

Chrysanthemum morifolium --- It think of this as Chinese chamomile. It one of

the best beverages to drink in hot summer weather. It has all the headache

relieving virtues of feverfew without the more pronounced bitterness. It is used

for fevers, headaches, eye inflammations, and hypertension.

 

Fritillary (F. Cirrhosa) --- Clears heat and transforms phlegm. It is used

bronchial and lung inflammation accompanied by coughs.

 

Foxglove (Digitalis species) --- The leaves contain several glycosides including

digitalin, digitoxine and gitoxine. Even though an extract from the plant,

digitalis, is used for heart disease, depending on the climate, soil conditions,

time of harvest and method of drying and preparing it where the concentration of

the toxic principle is so varied. It is no longer used in herbal medicine but is

a magnificent garden flower.

Impatiens noli-tengere --- Internally it is emetic and diuretic. Externally it

is useful for skin funguses, relief of itch, dermatitis and eczema.

 

Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa also R. Elata) --- Used as a blood nourishing

tonic and kidney-adrenal tonic. The roots are specially prepared by mashing them

together and soaking them in rice wine several times (9) to release their

potency.

 

How to be an herbalist? Surround yourself with a community of family and friends

and become the good friend, the healer, the bestower of compassion and grace of

the Great Spirit and nature. Give them herbs and the knowledge of healing, as

much as they have time to receive. Share with them knowledge of massage,

acupuncture, moxabustion, simple spinal adjustments. These all once came from

the people and so therefore belong to all of us as our inherited birthright.

 

It is always a danger to over-invest our care and healing in a hierarchy

whether it be sacred (such as shamans), or profane (the professional medical

practitioner). Share with others the high arts of music, literature, painting,

sculpture and handmade crafts, lest these be forgotten and lost in an age

dispassionate technology. These are the healing of the spirit.

 

Today my gardener came to me early in the morning. I was still in my pajamas. He

was sick, fever, sore throat, swollen glands, could not sleep all night and was

worried that he would not be able to attend to his jobs of yard maintenance for

a local church and a part time gardener for me.

 

He felt he needed me, and suddenly I was infused with a reason for being alive

that morning. It was an honor to invite him in, lay him down on a blanket in

front of my meditation altar and place some simply acupuncture needles in

points, I knew would be effective for such a condition, and then walk out into

my garden, in the crisp early morning, to pick handfuls of lemon balm,

honeysuckle blossoms, echinacea leaves, Chinese Bo He mint, mullein and

coltsfoot. Previously I was playing a beautiful prelude in C sharp minor op. 45

by Chopin, a piece that is the quintessence of healing compassion, so my heart

was full and my spirit was ready to heal.

 

As I walked outside to pick herbs for Abel, I remembered that this was what did

when I first began my work as an herbalist so many years ago (it seems like only

a blink of an eye) and here is where I am again today. How much I enjoy this

healing and being with herbs, people and nature and what an honor it is to be an

herbalist.

 

I thought to myself, what is different between my walk this morning and any

number of similar walks I used to take in search of special healing plants over

25 plus years ago for members of the community I lived with then? First, I

noticed how much more confident I was in the result. Yes, I knew more and felt a

100% more confident and this in turn allowed me to project with greater

reliability a favorable outcome for my friend from my efforts this morning ---

and how important that is for healing.

 

Secondly, I had exhaustively studied many traditional systems of medicine,

especially traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Besides picking the more

familiar lemon balm, coltsfoot and mullein, I found myself picking honeysuckle

flowers for their antibacterial and antiviral properties. These happened to be

abundantly growing off the deck adjoining my bedroom. Aha! I said as I

considered whether his condition was excess, deficient, internal, external, cold

or hot ---- so this is the meaning of Planetary Herbalism. I had more plants

available to me that I may not have considered or known before. I also had more

ways to understand their properties and the individual needs of Abel. I took the

herbs into the kitchen where I had ¾'s of a quart of water boiling on the stove.

Without even so much as rinsing them off (they still had the morning dew on

them), I placed them in pan of rolling boiling water. Of course, I did not have

to measure them out, like my Native American teachers, I

literally stuffed the pan full to extract the liquid green healing goodness of

the herbs. Again, my Planetary Herbalism kicked in as I reached into a drawer to

find some dried licorice root that I felt would add more body and substance

(nourishing tonic) to the brew.

 

I poured Abel a cup of tea and had him sit and drink it and then gave him the

remainders in a jar to take home for later. Before he left, I then took him

outside and showed him the herbs that I picked and told him that he was welcome

to help himself to any, as he or his family has need.

 

Do not feel guilty if because of over long hours of serious study, or personal

troubles and concerns, you are unable to maintain the outer appearance of love

and compassion. Only ourselves and the Great Spirit know what is in our hearts

and how beautiful it truly is.

 

Many who have an outer appearance of love are insincere while those who seem

grumpy and curt are the true lovers. It is not the form but the deeds and

accomplishments that stand as a testimony of love

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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