5 Reasons to Seek Herbal Healing

Why herbs? Why is using plant medicines of value? If current medical technology and innovation can cure it, then what is the point? Here are a few reasons to seek herbal healing:

1) We are nature. Despite the paradigm of our current modern culture, we are in fact part of the fabric of the natural world. The richness of our blood, the air that fills our lungs, the particles of our bone marrow. All of these are gifts from the earth and when we pass we give them back to the earth. By seeking healing from the natural world we are acknowledging and honoring this connection. The plants are here as our allies and healers. So many of the weeds we tread on everyday are in fact powerful healing plants. We just need to learn how to incorporate these things back into our life. Dandelion is not just for tying into children's necklaces, but is a plant meant to continue with us through our lives to ensure our health and vitality, as are so many plants.

2) Prevention of disease. We have a health care system that operates in response to medical crisis or acute medical conditions that have built up over time. Allopathic medicine responds to health issues that have become painful, difficult, inconvenient, and burdensome. It is helpful to have this level medicine there, however wouldn't it seem advantageous to respond to slight health imbalances before they build into larger problems. Herbal medicine can address those acute, painful, built up health problems but it can also address daily health maintenance and prevention. Herbs can help release gallstones but also can nurture a healthier digestive system to prevent such a problem. Herbs also nourish better overall health and vitality. Drinking herbal teas or taking in herbs in other forms creates a feeling of nourishment, health, and sense of being alive. Drinking an herbal tea, such as nettles, everyday will make you feel vibrant and full or health! What a wonderful and truly sustaining gift!

3) Healing without negative side effects. Some people simply dislike medication. Others have had bad experiences with the side-effects of medications. One of my teachers always says “there are no side-effects of medications, there are only effects. Some of the effects you want and some you don't want.” Some feel if there is an herbal alternative to a medication (which there almost always is) then why not seek that rather than take a pill. Medications can be hard of the body to process and detox. Antibiotics are very rough on the digestive system. There are so many wonderful herbal treatments that are antibacterial, antiviral, and healing to the issues we seek medications for. Why not use something that is only healing to the body and has no negative side-effects.

4) Medicine with spirit. Herbs provide medicine not only for the body, but also for the spirit. We are creatures that need balancing and sustenance not only on the physical level, but on the spiritual and emotional levels as well. Each plant, like all life, has a particular energy and spirit which is unique unto itself. When you drink an herbal tea, take drops of a tincture, or take an herbal capsule you are taking in the physical and energetic properties of that plant. While taking bitter herbs for digestion, you also might find you are calmer and less edgy. While taking herbs for asthma you might find you become less sad about an emotional upset. Herbs work subtly on several levels of the body, interacting with the energetics of our organs, as well as our emotional and spiritual lives.

5) Love yourself. No matter how we seek to incorporate herbal healing into our lives it is a rewarding and health sustaining step. Most importantly it is a joyful step. Stepping into your healthy and balanced body in a way that is connected to the earth and the fullness of your existence is truly a loving and joyful process. Begin today.

Namaste.

4 Herbs to Help You Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is an incredibly challenging process. Many people are quite hard on themselves while trying to quit, feeling as though if they don't manage to kick the habit they have “failed.” A former smoker once shared a slightly different way to look at it. She said that each time she tried to quit but went back to smoking, that she was just practicing, getting a little closer each time to her goal. It wasn;t that she had failed at quitting, but that she was just getting good practice in and getting better and better at quitting each time. Eventually the practice of quitting became the new habit. She succeeded in fully kicking the habit and hasn't smoked in about 7 years.

My partner went through a period where she was a smoker. When she quit she decided that she just wouldn't smoke today. Who knows what happens tomorrow, but from now until bedtime she wouldn't smoke. She took quitting in day by day. This felt more do-able and also allowed her to celebrate getting through a day without smoking, allowing for little victories in the midst of the process of quitting. It didn't feel as limiting or restricting.

There are lots of ways to approach quitting smoking. It can be very helpful to have the support of herbal healing while quitting smoking. Incorporating herbs into your quitting process can help deal with nicotine cravings, encourage an aversion to smoking, and restore lung health.

Mullein

Mullein is an amazing herb and is by far one of my favorites. It is a wonderful herb at restoring lung health, moving mucus, and encouraging movement of the lymph. All of these things are helpful at repairing the damage from smoking by healing the lungs and moving congestion. It is also a very quieting herb, a wonderful help for soothing your way through tense times when you'd usually want a cigarette. It is a simple, yet super powerfully healing herb. You could also grind up the leaves and flower in with tobacco and smoke it along with your cigarettes. Eventually you can replace mullein entirely with the tobacco. Also, there is a recipe for an herbal cigarette at the end of this article.

Plantain

Plantain is a wonderful herb at moving congestion from the upper respiratory tract. It will move mucus from the nose and sinus cavities with its drawing action. It also encourages an aversion to smoking. You might find yourself skipping a cigarette or feeling unsatisfied after you smoke one.

Lobelia

Lobelia is a very powerful herb, so do use this herb sparingly. When I incorporate it into a tincture formula in a one ounce bottle I put in just enough to cover the bottom of the bottle, then I pour the rest of the tinctures in. This herb relaxes mucus membranes and allows congestion and mucus to move along and be rid from the body. This is very healing to the respiratory tract. The true benefit of lobelia to the smoker lies in the fact that it is related to tobacco and it fits in the the brain receptor that would usually be matched by nicotine. Therefore it quells that feeling of “needing” a cigarette. It is also so powerfully cleansing to the respiratory tract that you will feel the negative effects of smoking, feeling nauseous and tight in your lungs when you do smoke. It is a very relaxing herb which is helpful as you deal with the stress of quitting smoking.

Skullcap

Skullcap is an incredible herb for calming anxiety and releasing stress. Since cigarette smoking often evolves as a practice to deal with stress, it is very important to have relaxing herbs as part of the healing strategy for quitting smoking. Skullcap in particular is very helpful at kicking bad habits and addictions, such as smoking, drinking, or drugs. It is also a detoxing herb, which is helpful to cleanse and heal the body in the process of quitting smoking.

Herbal Cigarette Recipe:

1 part Mullein

1 part Skullcap

1 part Plantain

½ part Catnip

½ part Sage

¼ part Mint

¼ part Lobelia

finely chop or grind the dried herbs to a somewhat fine consistency. Pinch the mixture into a cigarette paper and roll and smoke just as you would a regular rolled cigarette. You can also roll a cigarette partially with tobacco and partially with this herbal formulation.

You can continue smoking these herbal cigarettes after you have quit smoking. All of the herbs are healing to the respiratory tract and relaxing.

Taking the Healing Path to Work: Herbs for the Workplace

Many of us find our jobs having residual effects on our health, well-being, and sense of balance. Sometimes it can be hard to maintain a boundary between work life and our private life. At times we simply feel zapped after a day at work and feel we can only sit and watch TV after a long, hard day. Wouldn't it be nice if this weren't so! Perhaps herbs can help.

Adaptogens are wonderful herbs for someone feeling a little zapped by work. The adaptogen herbs help you deal with stress, nourish your adrenals, boost focus and alertness, help increase stamina to get through the day, and build the immune system. They are perfect herbs for people that are working hard and are missing the play in their lives! Eleuthero, American ginseng, schizandra, nettles, reishi, and maca are all wonderful and gently stimulating adaptogens. Eleuthero, American ginseng, schizandra, reishi, and nettles can all be taken as a tincture. You can take maca or reishi as a powder and just sprinkle it into your morning smoothie, stir it into tea, or sprinkle it on food.

If you work a physical job where you are on your feet or moving around a lot, it might be nice to include some herbs that will help the body deal with aches and long periods of standing. Solomon's Seal is a wonderful herb if you have any sort of injury where there is damage or strain to connective tissue. For those of you who stand and walk a lot, you might have heel spurs or achy knees (I know I do!) and Solomon's Seal oil applied externally is a wonderful remedy! Using herbal medicines that increase circulation is a great idea to be sure to nourish your body with fresh blood flow, especially if you stand a lot. Use ginger, yarrow, or rosemary as an oil, compress, or foot soak externally.

Sometimes work can cause anxiety. If you are the kind of person that when you leave the office you just can't turn off your brain and you just keep cycling the same thoughts, making to-do lists, and tossing and turning about what is coming up the next day at work then passionflower is the herb for you! It makes a tasty tea or can be taken as a tincture. Blue vervain is another excellent remedy taken as a tincture or flower essence. Blue vervain is for type A personalities who are over-driven work-aholics. Taking blue vervain can help you determine what is truly important in life, let go of work for a while, and have relax.

It can be very difficult to maintain healthy boundaries with work. Either the worries of work enter our home lives or perhaps we take on the challenges of the power plays and tough personalities we may have to deal with in our professional lives. The flower essences of Yarrow and St. John's Wort can be helpful in helping us maintain healthy boundaries. Cedar is another great herb for simply clearing out negativity. Taking these flower essences on the tongue, in a glass of water, or create a spray to spray around your office space are all wonderful ways to incorporate the transformational powers of flower essences into your life.

Finally, it pays off to examine your life. Do you feel what you are doing is truly your calling in life? It can be very hard to find truly satisfying work. Take time to meditate, go for quiet walks, do breathing exercises and yoga. All of this will cultivate a knowledge of your inner life and you will be able to determine your path. Perhaps you may realize a change is needed, perhaps you may realize that you want to continue down the same path but simply change the pace or style with which you travel down that path. Allow your deep, inner self to be the path maker and you will find peace and contentment are your rewards.

Healing Herbs for Trans Folks

Herbs have this uncanny gift to balance and release in spaces where you didn't even know there was imbalance or tension. I have found this gift most appreciated in my experience as a trans person. For those that aren't familiar with the term, someone that identifies as transgender doesn't fit into the gender binary of male/female sexes. Transsexual tends to refer to someone who seeks hormones or some sort of altering process or treatment to appear as the gender he/she/they/ze feels. Transgender or trans is a broad term to refer to the great umbrella of gender diversity/deviation. Herbs can be such a great presence to feel more like present in your personal power and identity.

I have spent a lot of time researching this topic as it is near and dear to my heart. I have lots of information that I want to pass on, but perhaps too much for one blog post. I encourage you to email or contact me in some way if you have any questions!

There are a few great herbs that I have found very helpful through my own experience as a trans person. I will share these, but there are many more that are helpful and are safe to use while on hormones.

Milk Thistle Seed: If you are taking hormones as a trans guy or gal, milk thistle seed is a great herb to be taking. Milk Thistle protects liver cells from toxins and helps repair damaged liver tissue, which is helpful since being on hormones can be hard on the liver. It is not too over-detoxing and will not interfere with hormones in any way.

Dandelion Root and Blessed Thistle: Both of these are great liver herbs. Some people are cautious when on hormones about taking detoxifying liver herbs since there is some concern that it will lessen the effect of the hormones. I personally have not found this to be so, but it is important to do what feels right to you. Dandelion and Blessed Thistle are both wonderful as a detoxifiers, but in particular they are helpful in helping the body get rid of excess hormones, in particular excess estrogens that do not act as estrogen in the body but rather the estrogens that are toxic and the body aims to get rid of. When on hormones, either estrogen or testosterone, if there is an excess of hormones they often become toxic estrogens in the body. Dandelion and Blessed Thistle help flush these toxins from the liver. I have definitely felt healthier and more in balance when on either Dandelion or Blessed Thistle. I would not recommend being on both at the same time.

Burdock: Another herb that is helpful to the liver, it is also great at clearing up any skin issues including acne. If acne has become a problem since beginning hormones, than burdock may be a great help.

Sarsaparilla: As a liver herb and blood cleanser, this herb also helps the body flush excess toxic estrogens from the body. While Dandelion and Blessed Thistle focus on the liver, Sarsaparilla has a more dispersing nature. It combines well with liver herbs.

Red Clover: Red Clover is a great gently detoxifying herb that is full of nourishing vitamins and minerals. It will also benefit the skin if you are experiencing acne as a result of hormone treatment. It is very supportive to the lymphatic system, cleansing and detoxing your body. It encourages testosterone as it is an estrogen blocker. A wonderful hormone balancer whether you are on hormones or not. It is a very power anti-cancer herb. A great herb for everyday.

Nettles: It is hard to think of a situation where nettles wouldn't be healthy. As an herb that is full of tons of vitamins and minerals, this is a great herb to take everyday to nourish your body to enable it to function in the healthiest way possible. It benefits the kidneys and thyroid which can be taxed when taking hormones. Nettles also encourage healthy skin and hair.

Raspberry leaf: As someone that is female bodied and on hormones, I have loved using raspberry leaf. Raspberry leaf is super nourishing to all of the reproductive organs. This is really important especially if you are a trans guy on hormones. It does not interfere with hormones nor will it bring on your cycle. Even if you are not on hormones, it nourishes the lower belly chakra which is likely a place of tension in many trans people. I have definitely felt healthier and more in balance when consistently taking this herb.

Ashwagandha: This herb is part of a sort of unofficial class of herbs called adaptogens. Adaptogens across the board help you deal with stress, enhance your immune system, nourish your adrenals, and often assist digestion. Ashwagandha in particular is very nourishing to the thyroid and helps balance hormones. Other adaptogens include eleuthero (siberian ginseng), tulsi (holy basil), schizandra, reishi, maca, and ginseng.

Nervines: Anyone who is trans may also experience stress or anxiety around being deviant from gender norms. Herbs such as milky oats, passionflower, skullcap, california poppy, motherwort, rose petals, linden, and lemon balm.

Herbs to avoid

Emmenagogues are herbs which bring on your period. If you are on hormones and would like to discontinue your period then I would recommend not taking these herbs. However if you are not on hormones but dislike your monthly cycle, I actually would recommend taking emmenagogues since they can help balance your cycle and reduce PMS symptoms.

Emmenagogues include: Dong quai, mugwort, angelica, black cohash, blue cohash.

Kava Kava

St. John's Wort – If you are taking hormones then you should avoid taking St. John's Wort internally. It is such a powerful liver cleanser that it will cleanse any hormones you might be on. It is fine to use St. John's Wort oil externally.

Flower Essences

Flower essences are the energetic footprint of the spirit of the plant. They do not include the physical properties of the herb so there is absolutely no concern about combining them with hormones if you are on them. Here are a few flower essences I have found especially helpful.

Larch: encourages self love and self care. Helps boost self confidence.

St John's Wort: helpful when feeling anxious, unsafe. Strengthens one's boundaries and allows your inner light and strength to radiate. Very protective.

Yarrow: great for ensuring strong boundaries. Helps ground you in your inner strength.

Aspen: Calms and alleviates fear in the face of the unknown.

Eastern Hemlock: Helps guide you through transformation.

Calla Lilly: Helpful in clarifying sexual identity, balancing to male and female energies.