How to Heal with Herbs
I have been asked to write a blog about 4 of my favourite herbs that
heal specifically on physical, mental, spiritual and love wellbeing.
Here’s the deal – firstly to understand what the term ‘herb’ means –
most people think of herbs as plants that are aromatic and good to cook
with which is correct, but a herb is a plant that can be used
medicinally – the fact that you can cook with them, they can be
aromatic, and that wildlife love them is all a added bonus! So, when you
look at a herb as medicinal then this opens the door to all the wild
plants, trees, flowers, roots, seeds, leaf and is never ending in their
bounty. In fact, over 80% of all modern pharmaceuticals are derivatives
from plants the only difference with herbal medicine is that we aren’t
extracting a single chemical from the plant, but we are working with the
whole plant and allowing our supremely intelligent bodies to take what
chemicals it derives necessary to heal ourselves.
Like everything in life, it is all about balance – so in this case
modern medicine and herbalism can work hand in hand together and not
separate.
Secondly, for me to pick a favourite is not possible – I love all that
nature has to offer and I am continually left in awe of her. However,
for this blog let me try and summarise a specific herb for each of the
issue or at least try!
Comfrey
On the Physical level: two herbs spring to mind immediately here:
Comfrey and Yarrow. I have used comfrey to make a salve and a paste to
heal broken bones – in days of old it was called ‘knit bone’ – in fact
you only need to ask my eldest son how good it is to heal broken bones –
I used it to heal his broken nose once and when he went back to the
doctors a week later, they said they must have misdiagnosed! And Yarrow
– wow I could write a book about this one herb; its wild, its magical
and an amazing healer – it’s Latin name is Achillea millefolium – the
legendary Achilles used Yarrow as a field dressing for his soldiers
hence the plant is named after him! It is also known as ‘carpenters
friend’ and would always be found growing in abundance next to wherever
they worked because it is the greatest way to stop bleeding – there has
been countless times I have used the plant – I have had many cuts, one
or two rather serious and I have always immediately used yarrow – it is
the best first aid to stem the bleeding (haemostasis) and is
antibacterial and antimicrobial too – find a plant, strip the leaves,
crush them (I actually also chew the plant into a rough paste) and pack
into the wound.
St John's Wort
On the Mental Level: there is one wild plant that springs to mind here.
St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum – it’s reputation for helping lift
the darkness of depression has grown considerably and has been well
researched in the last 20 years and you will find it in many chemists
and natural health shops. It is known that hypericin interferes with
monoamine oxidase (MAO), which contributes to depression. My only advice
here is do not use St John’s wort alongside any pharmaceutical
medication without first seeking advice form a doctor or herbalist.
However, on a personal level I absolutely love this plant and it makes
the best St John’s wort oil which I make by picking the flowers (always
near midsummers day) and putting them into a clear jar filled with extra
virgin oil covering all the flowers. Place on a sunny widow shelf shake
regular and watch over the two weeks how the oil turns to the most
amazing red colour from the yellow flowers. I use this oil for sore
muscles, bruises and any form of back ache. Again, I could write so much
about this plant and aware that once I start it is hard to stop. Another
way of working with St John’s (known as the sun herb for obvious reason)
is to make a small St John’s wort pillow which helps with sleeping,
curing bad dreams and if any child/adult is afraid of the dark it helps
elevate this – pick the flowers, dry them, have a small cloth bag (could
also add some lavender flowers in here too to help sleeping or lemon
verbena), fill bag, stich shut and place underneath your pillow!
Mugwort
Spiritual Wellbeing: oh my word for this isn’t up to one plant but all
of nature – this is going for a walk in the park, in town walking the
streets, deep in a wood, or by the sea – open all your senses to feel
the wind, rain or even snow! Listen to the birds or how the wind sounds
through the trees, watch everything, stop and look in detail at the
smallest leaf, flower – study its intrinsic beauty, stop and feel a
leaf, sand or soil – go on your own, no dogs or distraction and use your
imagination to communicate. To let you into a secret I do have one plant
I use more that any other to help my spiritual wellbeing and that is
Mugwort – I have run small classes on how to make Mugwort smudge sticks
and use them – the smoke is magical, clears negative and old stuck
energies, calms and protects and most importantly for me it aids my
connection to the natural world.
Apothecary Rose
Love Wellbeing: there have been countless of remedies and potions for
love over the millenniums but for me it is simple – the Apothecary Rose
– the oldest Rose known to humankind – it has been central to so many
peoples and so many religions – it is the centre of the circle of life.
We just happen to be the largest growers of this rose in the UK and it
has been our saving grace for the Secret Herb Garden, that’s another
story – we grow over 1000 plants – hand harvested and dried here on site
– we use the petals to make our Apothecary Rose gin and in our herbal
tea. Make a tea from the petals and feel its power seep into you – it
restores hurt emotions, holds the imbiber with love and tenderness – it
offers true magic and the ability to help love yourself – as Buddha
himself is quoted: ‘You yourself as much as anybody in the entire
universe, deserve your love and affection’
In so much turmoil at present look to nature to help – bring her into
your life physically, mentally and totally.
Love Hamish
Hamish Martin of
Secret Garden Distillery
As always take advice from a doctor or herbalist before taking any
medicine especially if pregnant.
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