Mystery or Chemistry?: The Craft of Herbalism and the Role of the Herbalist

A number of people have asked me what exactly is herbalism? What does it mean to be an herbalist? If you say something about herbal tea, most people think of chamomile (and rightfully so, chamomile is a wonderful herb!) and maybe think of the Celestial Seasonings shelf in the grocery store. Luckily for all of us, there is so much more to herbalism!

In the most basic sense, herbalism is about the connection of humans to plants. In one sense it

is utilizing the chemical and physical properties of plants to remedy and support the health of humans. There are herbs that can help nearly any condition or disease. There are herbs for gallstones, sinus infection, viral illness, panic attacks, seasonal depression, painful menstruation, diarrhea, seasonal allergies, bruises, high blood pressure, AIDs, cancer, stroke, etc, etc, etc! There are billions of plants that offer healing to us in a very physical and palpable way. They do so in a way that is natural and do not burden the liver or have side effects the way so many medications do. There are a few herbs that it is very good to exercise caution with, but most herbs are perfectly safe.

Plants offer something else to us beyond their physical properties. For whatever magical reason yarrow seems to offer help to the person that has some sort of bleeding or circulatory imbalance, but it also offers aid to those that seem to be bleeding or wounded spiritually. Mugwort not only helps bring on and balance menstruation, but also brings on dreams and a somewhat mystical state. Elder stimulates circulation and fights viruses, while also bringing healing to those who seem spiritually empty inside or unfulfilled. Agrimony is helpful for a large array of digestive imbalances, but is also helpful for the person who smiles through their emotional pain. Reishi mushroom not only boosters the immune system and nourishes the adrenals, but also nourishes the heart/mind connection. Many of the bitters such as gentian, dandelion, and burdock not only aid digestive imbalances but also put one in touch with their gut instincts. These are only a small sampling. Every medicinal herb offers something beyond the physical side to healing. There is a non-physical aspect to plant healing that can be difficult to name or describe. For me, it is a spiritual experience that leaves me deeply grateful to the earth and the plants she has given us for our healing paths.

The fact that plants provide so much to one's healing path also means that there are specific herbs for each specific person. This is where it is so handy to have an herbalist! For one, it is

helpful to have someone with knowledge of the hundreds of medicinal herbs available to us. However, there is so much more than considering medicinal action that happens in true healing. As an herbalist when I sit with someone I am thinking about herbal actions, the energetics and disposition of the person, how the ailment of the client is connected to other organ systems or factors, the complete bodily and non-bodily journey of the person sitting with me, their psychological and spiritual health and how that is mirrored in their body. I use my knowledge, but I also open my intuition and heart. For me being an herbalist is part spiritual practice.

I spend a lot of time gathering herbs, researching medicinal actions of herbs, learning about the systems of the body, and crafting tinctures and other herbal products. But, I also spend a lot of time building a relationship with plants in a spiritual way. I honor and thank the earth through ceremony and ritual and in return the earth seems to just keep giving. I aim to be the conduit between the plants and the person who is seeking to be healed. It is simply a matter of listening to which herbs speak to the needs of a particular person and being able to relay that message. Sure, it's a little whacky and “woo woo,” but so are many of the things in life that are worthwhile and meaningful.

So, I struggle to answer questions about what herbalism is or what does it mean to be an herbalist. I can feel my two feet straddling two very different worlds. On the one hand there is the very practical and physical side of herbalism. A summary of chemical constituents and plant actions. But then there is the other more mysterious side. The story of the particular powers of a plant for which there is no obvious explanation. The empirical and the magical inhabiting one space.

Struggles with Sleep: Herbs to Guide You To a Restful Slumber

It's time for bed so you snuggle up with the blankets and wait for sleep to come, but for some reason you just can't get to sleep. You toss and turn, unable to let your body relax into a restful sleep. You can't stop worrying about paying bills on time or you can't forget that little insult someone said. Perhaps you simply feel anxious but don't know why. You're too tired to sleep. You just can't keep your eyes shut, they just keep bouncing open. So...why not have some tea to help bring on a deep and restful slumber!

It is good to prepare for bed time. Avoid things that might get your adrenaline going. Allow the 1 or 2 hours leading up to your bedtime be relaxing. Try to put aside your worries from the day. Do some very gentle stretches or yoga, do breathing exercises, meditate for a few minutes...then make yourself a nice cup of herbal tea!

Here is a list of some beneficial herbs to help you sleep:

Chamomile:

There is a good reason chamomile is such a popular herb for relaxation and sleep! It helps soothe any discomfort from digestion, has a subtle affect detoxing the liver, and brings on a sense of relaxation. Chamomile is specific for someone who feels a bit fussy or moody. I have heard it described as the herb “for the child in all of us.”

Valerian:

Valerian is a very popular herb for those who need a sleep aid, particularly for those experiencing insomnia. You would use the root of valerian as a tea or tincture. However, valerian isn't for everyone. It makes about 75 – 90% of people sleepy, but the other percentage will experience the total opposite affect and feel quite jittery and buzzed from valerian. An herbalist can test the herb on you, or you can try it out and see how you react.

Passionflower:

If you are someone that can't stop cycling the same thoughts again and again, then passionflower isyour herb. It is a very relaxing herb that helps to quiet the anxious mind that just won't let go. This herb has been a dear friend on many sleepless night and during anxious times!

Skullcap:

Skullcap is another favorite herb of mine. Skullcap relaxes the body, particularly in the gut and heart area. It helps you let go of the kind of tension where you feel a pit in your stomach or tension in your chest. I have found it a great herb for letting go of anger. It has a nice action on the liver, which is where we often store anger in our bodies.

Wild Lettuce and Hops:

Wild lettuce and hops are both very powerful sedatives. Wild lettuce can be taken as a tea or tincture. I most like to use hops in an herbal pillow. It is a wonderful way to be lulled to sleep. However, hops are highly estrogenic which means they could be more stimulating to women. I once took a tincture both hops and wild lettuce in the formula and could barely muster the energy to stand afterwards!

Ashwagandha:

If you are someone that tends to stay up very late and wake late, then perhaps you need an herb that can help get your circadian rhythms balanced again. Ashwagandha is a root that not only soothes the nerves, but also nourished the endocrine system. You can take the root as a powder sprinkled in smoothies or food, capsule, tea, or tincture.

Mugwort:

Mugwort is an herb that is somewhat magical. Putting some mugwort leaves under your pillowor taking the tea or tincture will bring you into a dream state. Whenever I put the leaves under my pillow, I have very wild and vivid dreams. It seems to be a plant that brings subconscious messages to people.

There are multitudes of other herbs that could help you get to sleep: lavender, licorice, blue vervain, motherwort, linden, milky oats, lemon balm, etc, etc. It is hard to narrow it down to pick out just a few favorites!

Here is my favorite tea to make when I am having a sleepless night:

2 parts skullcap

1 part valerian

1 part chamomile

½ part licorice

½ part lavender

Allow to steep in water that is just shy of boiling. Cover while the tea is steeping. Allow to infuse for about 15-20 minutes. Sip and enjoy!

Nature's Band Aid: Plantain

Summer is here! And so are those little nicks and scratches and bug bites that go along with days spent camping, hiking, picnicing, and enjoying the outdoors. Good thing nature provides the perfect band-aid: plantain!

Plantain grows everywhere that a little grass might grow. You probably have stepped on it millions of times without realizing that a wonderful healer is right at your feet! Plantain is the perfect herb for bug bites, bee stings, cuts and scrapes, thorns, splinters, poison ivy, and even can help with venomous snake bites! I have found it relieves bee stings and bug bites in seconds. The magic of plantain lies in the fact that i

t draws out toxins and other foreign things in the body and while also soothing and helping rebuild damaged tissue. It is also naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and stimulates the growth of new skin cells so it is great to use on wounds.

The most common way to use plantain is to pick a few healthy, fresh leaves of the plant and either crush or chew on them so that the juice of the plant is expressed. Then apply the juicy leaves to the affected area.

Plantain can also be helpful as a tea or tincture when taken for colds, sinus issues, or coughs. It can be soothing to an irritated upper respiratory system. It has also been discovered that taking plantain creates an aversion to tobacco, so it is very helpful for those who are trying to quit smoking.

The leaves of plantain also make a tasty snack! They are packed with tons of vitamins and minerals. They make an excellent steamed green that is very similar to spinach.

Plantain is a wonderful first aid herb. We live in a culture that encourages us to believe that all we might need to heal will be in a first aid kit, in the medicine cupboard, or at a drug store. However, if we open our eyes and our minds to other ways of healing, we find that healing sometimes comes from other sources. I feel that more often than not healing comes directly from the earth, from the dirt under our feet, from a small leaf I can pick with my own two hands

Dealing with Allergies Naturally

The flowers and leafy trees are finally here! However, for some people the growing green means the arrival of allergy season.

Two herbs that are wonderful for dealing with the symptoms of allergies are Nettle and Goldenrod. Nettle is a super plant which many mistakenly just view as a common weed with a bit of a bite because of its stingers. Nettle helps you deal with allergies, nourishes your kidneys, helps with arthritis, provides tons of vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll to your body, and is even a source of protein. It's a wonder herb that is super nourishing. When I drink a cup of nettle tea I feel as though every cell in my body is just being rejuvenated. I most enjoy taking the dried leaves of nettles as a tea.

Goldenrod is a beautiful herb that grows everywhere where there might be a decent plot of dirt. Goldenrod tends to bloom at the same time as ragweed so there is a false belief that goldenrod is partially responsible for hay fever. However, it is just the opposite. Goldenrod is a wonderful herb that helps deal with symptoms of allergies and helps balance any other upper respiratory issues.

A number of other herbs might be helpful for the symptoms of allergies. Osha root taken as a tincture is one of my favorites to clear out congestion. Eyebright could help with itchy eyes. Just prepare a tea and then use the tea as an eyewash.

Incorporating raw local honey into your diet also helps you deal with allergies. By eating local raw honey you are bringing into your body all the naturally occurring pollens in your environment in a way that allows your body to acclimate. Bee pollen is also helpful, either sprinkled into a smoothie or food or taken as a capsule.

Allergies also mean that your immune system is in overdrive, treating particles in the environment like attackers. It is important to nourish and revive your immune system during allergy season to ensure you don't tucker it out! Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake are all wonderful mushrooms that will nourish the immune system and also have some anti-inflammatory properties, so they will also alleviate some allergy symptoms. Astragalus root is another powerful immune system helper. Mushrooms are easy to include in your diet either by directly adding them to dishes or by using them to make a soup stock.. If you buy mushrooms dehydrated they are much cheaper. You can also take medicinal mushrooms and astragalus as a tincture. The medicinal mushrooms can also be purchased as a powder to sprinkle in your food or smoothies.

Finally, make sure to take care of yourself. Use a neti pot frequently. Avoid foods that cause mucus build up, such as dairy, wheat, and meat. Eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water to flush your body.

Allergies can create a bit of a war between ourselves and the beautiful world we are living in. The outdoors with all of its greenery and wild growth becomes an enemy that must be either suffered or conquered. What better way to create a bridge into the natural world than by incorporating natural healing into your path.

An Herb for Grounding: Wood Betony

I am piece by piece pulling together my herbs, my blog, and my wits to begin Under Root Healing. I have just moved from Boston to the beautiful Portland, Maine. I have a lovely herb room in my new apartment, ready for herbal adventures and consultations! Now, I just need to unpack!

In the midst of the moving and unpacking I have found myself feeling ungrounded and quite unsure of what is next. I am beginning a new life which is both exciting and scary. I have certainly found the need for some grounding practices in my days.

I made a cup of wood betony tea today and immediately felt as if my toes had grown roots into my new soil. Wood betony seems to have this magical power to send one right into the earth. If you need grounding, wood betony is definitely the herb for you.

Wood betony stimulates circulation, nourishes the brain and heart, and aids digestion and the urinary tract. It is good for any pain or imbalance in the brain and heart, both physically and psycho-spiritually. It is good for one whose stress is stuck in their head by allowing one to let go of the intellect. Wood betony nourishes the solar plexus, thus aiding digestion. In doing so, it helps us get in touch with our gut instincts.

Typically the leaves and flowers are used for the medicinal intake of wood betony. It is native to eastern North America. If you wanted to make a tea of wood betony, you would use the fresh or dried herb and pour boiling water over it and allow to steep at least for 15 minutes. I love to do a longer infusion of several hours or overnight. If you would be interested in getting some wood betony, feel free to contact me! I have plenty of the dried herb in my cupboard!

Wood betony has certainly been calling to me as I transition to this new life in a new place. A daily cup of wood betony tea seems to be just the rub for settling in.