One herb at a time

When I was 'studying' herbs before, I was very into gaining knowledge. I bought and half filled a journal with random bits of information about many different herbs and plants. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I can't tell you anything of substance that I wrote. I wrote it, but I didn't absorb it.

Nothing.

Now that I'm more seriously studying herbs and plants and nature in general, I'm taking my time with each thing. I'm learning all about an herb, how it's leaves grow, what it smells like, what it can be used for medicinally and culinarily (is that a word). I'm taking time to really stop and listen to the herb and I'm absorbing so much more.

I guess patience really is a virtue :P

The difference

At Herb Mentor there is an 'herb of the month' each month. Last month was Chickweed (stellaria media) . There is plenty of chickweed around here. I could go outside and touch it, smell it, taste it and use it. I learned a ton about Chickweed.

This month's herb is Stinging Nettle (Urtica diocia). It doesn't grow near me. It grows in my state but not in my area. So I haven't been able to go out and experience it in the flesh as it were. I didn't think it would matter much, after all I've not got every herb I'll be using growing in my yard or garden, but it really seems I need that hands on experience. I need to touch it, taste it, use it.

In the past I've had no problem getting and retaining information just from reading it in a book But this herb thing is different and very frustrating to me. Yes, I'm still learning about the herb and it's medicinal and nourishing properties, but I"m not getting that personal relationship with it that I had with the chickweed.

LOL that sounds a bit kooky but it's absolutely how I feel.

It feels right

There is a song by Moving Breath and a rendition by Robert Gass that consists of these lyrics

Ancient Mother, I hear you calling
Ancient Mother, I hear your song
Ancient Mother, I hear you laughing
Ancient Mother, I taste you tears

These words are really speaking to me lately. I've always wanted to be able to walk through the woods and identify the plants. I've always wanted to know which plants are food and which ones can be used as medicine and for what. Since I've started really studying those things, it's like some primal part of me is waking up. It feels right, in a way that I can only assume is similar to religious feelings. It just feels right to walk through the weeds.

I've never liked modern medicine. I've shied away from doctor visits whenever possible and suffered through the headaches rather than popping a pill. It's wonderful to know that I can drink herbal teas or take drops of herbal extracts to mend my ills and those of my family.

I'm getting more in touch with my body lately as well. I know that sounds weird. How could you live in your body and be out of touch with it? But trust me, it's possible and I was doing it. I'm noticing how what I eat affects my moods and energy levels.

I was always a proponent of not subduing a cough, your body is coughing because it wants that stuff out. Not coughing is counter productive to healing. Although I am willing to take something for the cough at night when it interferes with sleep. The same is true for a slight fever. When you have a fever that's part of the body's defense system. It's elevating the body temperature to make it a more hostile place for the bacteria. Quashing a fever messes with that line of defense. It's wonderful to find that the way I've always felt was right is indeed right.

I wish there was a wise woman type person around here that I could talk with and absorb some knowledge from. I hope I can be the wise woman, the crone for the future people who feel as I do.

Resistance is futile

I'm a quiet person. I'm totally content to be alone with my thoughts in glorious silent solitude. Of course occasionally I cut these ties that bind me and babble and twitter on and on about the most inane things, just ask John :) But the majority of the time I don't speak unless I have something to say. I don't usually post to message boards unless I have something to add that's of substance, and I don't do blog memes. But I'm also getting the odd comment that my blog isn't updated often enough and some of these things look slightly entertaining so What the hell?

We shall begin with one that is at least slightly herbal. What Kind of Flower Are You enjoy :P

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

Chamomile Tea for the eyes

I have itchy, red, swollen eyes, it's caused by allergies but I'm walking around looking like I have pinkeye :P I decided to try an herbal remedy and since I'm new at this I decided to go for something simple. I brewed a cup of chamomile tea, let it steep for 20 minutes, covered, allowed it to cool and then dabbed it on my poor eyes with a cotton ball every hour on the hour, Saturday evening. I also dripped some drops directly into my eye as an eye wash. It smelled great and was very effective. It relived the pain almost immediately and the eye was better that night and the next day. Of course I was too silly to keep applying it when the eye was feeling better so now it's all red and irritated again on Tuesday. But I'm going to start the treatment again and keep with it this time. I'm going to look into getting some bee pollen soon and I need to grab some local honey. I hate allergies.