A Part of My Life

Someone recently asked if I have given up my herbal school studies, since it's been a very long time between posts.

Here's the update ~~

As happens sometimes in life, twists and turns made things interesting.  For the past year and about seven months I was a caregiver for two lovely clients at the same residence.  The hours changed through the months as their needs did, beginning as regular part time and then becoming full time with twelve hour shifts. 

It was a unique job and I knew it was something I was meant to do.  I learned so much from these two older women.  We certainly became a part of each others' lives, spending that much time together!  I am the better for it.

Again, I learned so much from them both.  I also studied my herb textbooks a lot during that time.  And not being a very Type A person to begin with, I put most of the paperwork on the back burner.

I have never stopped reading and experimenting with herbs because it's simply who I am...I love the mysteries of plants, especially plants considered weeds, or not considered at all by most people.  I love the secrets they offer so generously that used to be known by past generations as common knowledge.  I love that they operate in the body in symphony with so many constituents that they'll never be fully isolated by science into neat little bundles of chemicals to be controlled and manipulated by modern medical arrogance.  They function best as a whole, and are understood best by interaction and perhaps some intuition, and an appreciation of longstanding and fast-disappearing traditions. 

I've glutted slowly and happily on herb books that call to me.  As I read their pages, more and more certain herbs imprint on my thinking until I begin to "understand" them better.  I take certain herbs in infusions daily or weekly for the way they help me.  I love the pungency of one here, the green hay scent of another, the snappy biting spiciness of others.

At what point IS someone an herbalist?  I can't answer that question, but the quest itself, it IS herbalism.

I identify best with the plant swaying in the wind right there along the roadside, so happy to notice it while it waves and blossoms happily away whether I ever notice it or not.  Pollinators glut in the goldenrod's soft bristling blossoms of gold, honeybees turn and embrace the purple splashes of loosestrife, her spiked sunward floral wands.

One of my clients, one of the two, died in May.  I was right by her side.  I was also beside my other client through a heavy mourning stage for her lifetime best friend.  I had a lot of time to think.  Some days just could not be buffered well no matter what I tried, others were beautiful.  That's rather how life goes, I think.  Some things take precedent while others pause.

Part of my herbal journey has been on pause, and the heart of it has not.  I really REALLY need to resume my coursework.  I love that it is designed to be self-paced and it fits these hills and valleys that way.  After a year and seven months total, my second client joined family out-of-state.  We are still in touch, and she understands more than some the love I have for these plants and for the lifestyle we are working hard to transition to.  At first she did not understand, but now she does, probably better than most.  I needed someone to understand, and I'm glad it was Miss J.

Anyway, I'm NOT gone, though this blog for a long while has "gone to seed" ha :)   I needed adjustment time to changes that have happened recently, including no longer being their caregiver and also including the fact my body is not co-operating many times I wish it would.  I have a knee/leg condition that occasionally makes it impossible to be mobile, and at other times I have limited mobility but can still "get around."  I want to catch up on some things that got very behind during those months of long long days away from home.  And I'm simply enjoying being with my husband rather than being two ships passing in the night.  He is such a gift to me from God.

That's another thing I've had a lot of time to think about.  No matter how anyone else defines it, my focus in loving these secretive and bountiful healing plants will be that God put a wisdom in each living created thing,a wisdom greater than human understanding.  I will not attribute that to any earth goddess or spirit elsewhere.  I DO know that there is some animating force in every created thing, whether it be mineral, amoeba, plant, animal, insect or moisture droplet.  We do not understand the WORLDS around us.  Microbes are worlds around and beneath us.  Each particle has its function and its LIFE.  Some folks talk about the spirits of the plants...I'm not sure I'm going to term them that, but each plant is its own unique living "being" able to communicate in ways different than human communication with the world around it. 

I'm the crazy plant lady who talks to her plants, and I talk to animals, too.  But I want to qualify something.  I attribute all their wonders, mysteries, and benefits to their Maker.  As I admire each beautiful original in creation, I pay tribute to THE Creator, Jehovah alone. 

Back to my chores now.  I shall be returning to coursework soon.  Leaving my beloved herbs, never :-)

Guinea Pig Time

Today was my first test (on myself) of the leaves of the Verbesina virginica (White Crownbeard) in an infusion.   I found mention online in a facsimile copy of a very old  materia medica where the tops and leaves of the plant were used for urinary tract support and as a diuretic, and that one doctor in Texas used this plant extensively in his practice.  It stated a strong decoction was made and was safe to use regularly.

As I cannot find any other information yet except scant mention that the native Americans did have some uses for the plant, I decided to test it only on myself beginning with a  few sips of the leaves in an infusion (less strong that a decoction).   It was pleasant in taste, noticeably but not irritatingly astringent, and may have use even at that strength as a mild diuretic.  I was testing for any allergic reaction, with my Benadryl close at hand.

I just have a feeling about this plant, which is not enough to speak for its use for anyone but myself (I'm making that very clear here).  It is found everywhere here this time of year, hardy and making itself seen at the same time goldenrod and the sunny wild helianthus (sunflowers) are all along the roadsides.  It's allergy season here for some and there's a slow shifting in the weather.  A lot of the plants I've been documenting and trying to identify recently (since we don't know as many of our wild plants yet as we'd like) are immunity boosters and also kidney supportive.  I have not tried any of the others I've documented yet.  But this feeling I have about this mild plant is that its abundance may be a signal of its appropriate matching to the changing season and the vulnerabilities those of us who live here have as the climate makes it way towards winter....which is mild here, but is a change nonetheless.

Like I said, it's a hunch, but it's also pretty well established in herbalism worldwide that despite the exceptions (no set "rule" for this...) many plants are naturally suited to being supportive nutritionals for the human ills of that particular area.  In a sense, this is locavore herbalism if we pay attention to the native and wild plants that seem to thrive in our own areas.  It really makes sense to me.  Like I said, I'm very new to this, but I find it exciting and it makes me notice things in a different way.  It makes me take a second and further looks at the humble and beautiful plants I often noted only in passing before, and it makes me want to know more about them.  I start thinking of them as "friends" that mark the progression of the changing seasons and the changing needs of the community at large and it also makes me feel very grateful that God's design works this way...this wisdom of having in beauty and our own backdoors or backwoods the very things that we need for a particular time and place.

I'll continue to be my own guinea pig and I'll document for my own uses my own results while I still will be on the lookout for others who have a lot more experience and knowledge about these plants.  Some plants are so well documented in their benefits and energies (the effects they produce within our bodies), especially those plants found in Ayurveda and TCM dating back 3,000-5,000 years, that there's no "starting from scratch" in the same way that western herbs are (except for the ones common to both sides of the pond).  It may be there's an Asian equivalent to the Verbesina virginica that I can find.  Or there may be some specific source in native American documentation or specific folk herbalists here in North America (or even South America, etc) to be found.

The thrill is in the hunt :)  In the meantime, we find new wildflower "friends," we learn a lot, we begin to notice our world differently and more appreciatively, wonder more at the generosity and wisdom of how God ordered things and see His ultimate joy in spreading so much bounty so freely for us humans to enjoy and benefit from.  It's all good!

And next time I'll test a little stronger infusion of the leaves and tops.  I could use a great locally-available (my backyard!) diuretic from time to time :-D


That's all for now... :-D

The Treben Triad

One of the first herbals I read years ago was Maria Treben's  Health From God's Garden.  It was probably my first real introduction into the wonderful world of healing with herbs, and a cherished gift from my former mother-in-law. She herself was an avid herbal enthusiast and her house always had corners filled with odds and ends jars, dated and labeled, full of steeping tinctures or bulk herb finds, the pungent and fragrant whiffs of that collection so reminiscent of her herbal realm.

I thought I would keep that copy of my Maria Treben book forever, but as with many things that are precious, the day came when it needed to be passed along to be pored through by another.  One of my past clients, in her nineties, gave me so many valuable herbal tips from her remembrance dating all the way back to her childhood in pre-WW2 Poland, and I am grateful for her fanning the embers of my curiosity and love of traditional medicinal herbs through those conversations.  Among her conversations were the mentions of the late herbalists Father Kneipp and Maria Treben.  She lamented the loss of some writings of theirs she had owned in the past, so I was delighted to pass along my own book to her and see her joy at being reunited with an "old friend."

Since that time, I've discovered many books on traditional herbals, and I never seem to tire of unearthing more finds, comparing opinions and seeing what favorites other respected herbalists like to rely on.  It's an entry into a conversation spanning thousands of years and immensely varied cultures and traditions...fascinating historically, biologically, medically, botanically...the filtered wisdom of many ages.

I do find that I return periodically to Maria Treben's book, the smaller of which I now own, Health from God's Pharmacy.  In many of her formulas, the reader will quickly notice her reliance on a backbone of three herbs -- yarrow, stinging nettle, and calendula.  Indeed, they are indicated for such a broad range of conditions, there seem to be few formulas in the book that don't call for them.  I tend to think of them as the Treben Trio, or Treben Triad.  In the many notebooks in which I've scribbled ideas for particular formulas based on my readings, I find the same three cropping up regularly.

We currently have not grown any yarrow, calendula, or stinging nettle in our own yard, though we do have many others, but I wanted to go ahead and test this formula on the willing members of my own little household (just my husband and myself at the moment) and to note any results or preferences before deciding whether they prove to be the all-round workhorse formula in our own experience that they seem to be in the Treben writings.  I am beginning with them because yarrow, stinging nettle, and calendula are historically proven traditional medicinals, mild, and considered to be safe, though I don't find from recent authors that calendula is taken internally as much now as in decades past.

I also found a more reliable "brewing" container, an enamel coffeepot from a thrift store, gutted of its strainer and now put to use making infusions with loose herbs.  It holds about a quart and is great for keeping warm at the back of the stove.

 

Maria Treben's formulas call for fresh herbs, for the most part.  Since I don't have any of these available fresh to me at this time, my experiment was done with dry herbs from reliable suppliers.  The joy of running my hands through the bright colors and textures was as much fun as enjoying their beauty and sipping my first cup of the infusion.  It was pleasant and deeply green in taste, mild and with a mildly bitter undertone.  Since the general health benefits are what we're going for rather than flavor, the fact it was not unpleasant was welcome.  It was really nice sipped while relaxing together, and so far neither of us has had any allergic sensitivity to be concerned about.

Before mixing up a big batch of mixed herbs, be sure to test for sensitivities such as allergies, using a very small amount of the single herbs before committing to a bigger blend.

For specific medicinal benefits purported by Maria Treben's books for this combination, please consult her books directly.  In general, it is said to be both blood cleansing and building, immunity-stimulating, tissue healing, hormonally regulating, adaptogenic, digestively soothing, and rich in flavanoids.

As I note any specifics in our own experience, I'll write about them more here.

Do you have any experience using any of these three herbs internally, and if so, what was your experience?

As always, I learn from our shared experiences!

Be well!

~~Robbyn

Small Starts -- A Basic Healing Tea

I'm really excited to have ordered the dry herbs for my first herbal healing blend.  I've based it on some of my family's and friends' general health needs so it can be used to nourish, support, and heal a broad array of imbalances while other herbs can be added separately to further individualize things.

I based it on my readings of Maria Treben's writings.  I began noticing that a high percentage of her herbal recommendations repeated use of infusions that included three herbs:  stinging nettle, yarrow, and calendula.

One of my goals in selecting specific herbs for formulas is to stay with those whose actions are safe and also time-proven.  I also prefer a blend that supports balance and is not harsh, but is effective.

The only caution I can find for the use of a couple of these herbs is to not use them during pregnancy or while trying to conceive.  I suspect that applies as a precaution against using them in large quantities if pregnant, but I prefer the better-safe-than-sorry approach at all times.

So far, my herbal blend will use Maria Treben's basic three, but will also add a few others in time.

To date, the one I'll start with will include:

Yarrow
Calendula
Stinging Nettle
Plantain

(at later date, perhaps, will also include)
Burdock
Dandelion

I like the idea of a blend to use daily for improvement in a broad range of areas and body systems, more as a tonic.  I have yet to figure out how the energetics rate in terms of TCM and ayurveda, since I'm so new to them.  But I like a base "tea" that can be tweaked with the addition of other specific herbs as needed, and I love the proven track record the Basic Three has, and plantain seemed a cohesive partner.

I'll follow up with the properties of each herb in another post.  Just wanted to note my Starter Healing Tea, and that my family and some friends will be trying them and keeping notes on any effects, positive or negative...and reporting back :)

Do you have a blend of herbs you use as your base for other blends, and what led you to choose each of them?  I'd love to know!

Pipewort, Gu Jing Cao?

This is a repost from my main BackForty blog. I'm still investigating any medicinal uses for Pipeworts. TCM utilizes one type of pipewort, known also as Gu-Jing-Cao.  Below is the original post.  I still have yet to specifically identify this particular pipewort  shown in the picture, growing on our Someday Farm.
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Whitehead Bog Button variety of Pipewort, maybe??  Lachnocaulon anceps??

If anyone can help me identify this wildflower, I'd love it!  It is very small and seems to grow in clusters here in wetland edges in southwest Florida.  The stem is long and thin and the blossom is a small globe shape, bright white.

Syngonanathus flavidulus?  If so, this is the Yellow Hatpins variety of Pipewort

I believe this is the same kind of flower, a little closer look.

Thanks for any help you might give me in identification.  These are new to me :-D

~ Robbyn

Update!   I believe the second picture is for sure some variety of pipewort in the Eriocaulon species , such as Syngonanthus flavidulus (Yellow Hatpins), and the first is maybe Lachnocaulon anceps (Whitehead Bog Button)?  I think they are all in the Eriocaulacae family.  Still not sure if they're one and the same...so shall keep on looking.  And next time I'll get a better closeup of the foliage.  Even this helpful page isn't much help unless I have a foliage comparison...

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August 21, 2012 update....Here is a link for the king of Pipewort used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its actions:  http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/herbalmedicine/gu_jing_cao_tcm_herbal_database

This might be the one closest in ID to what I saw:   Tenangle Pipewort - Eriocaulon decangulare, http://www.floridasnature.com/florida_herbs_8.htm

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Rosy Camphorweed, an Arnica Substitute?

I just identified this plant, and I'm pretty excited at my first forays on the internet as far as researching its medicinal properties.  At this interesting site I found other types of Camphorweed listed among wild medicinals.  I'd like to know specifically what the Pluchea baccaris' properties are and any traditional uses.  I'm delighted to find mention of some of the camphorweeds properties being listed as a substitute for Arnica...how exciting!

This will bear more investigating!

If you have any additional information or sources for me to check, I'd love to know!
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Update August 21,2012
Here's a link I found that includes some preparations:  http://findmeacure.com/2007/10/06/camphor-weed-pluchea-camphorata/

What's a Wort?

In Old English, the suffix wyrt meant plant and was used to denote a plant used medicinally.  Its older origin comes from the Germanic, and means "root."  Wyrt became wort over time, and there we have what survives as a plant name suffix from long ago.

I'm on a mission to begin identifying the native plants in my surroundings and to investigate any of their known medicinal qualities.  Orange milkwort (shown above) is one of the first in this project. All I know so far is that the Creek nation used some part of the plant as an emetic.  But the plant in general bears more research because there are some other Polygalas with better-known uses.  Here's what Green Dean has written about it so far...

I'd love to know if anyone has further information about Orange Milkwort!