The Medicine Woman's Roots, Wild Plants and RiverThe Medicine Woman's Roots, Wild Plants and RiverA river-bottom rambling through the wild plants and sacred stories of the Gila wildlands of New Mexico by Medicine Woman and Anima Sanctuary founder Kiva Rose. Learn about Nettle seeds and river restoration, medicine plant allies and the Medicine Wom
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Another Morning in Paradise
2007-06-17 18:02:00 This morning I went to spend time in one of my favorite Canyon spots, a little place I call the Alder Throne, where many silver barked Alders come together on the river bank and their roots knot into a throne like seat right above the water. The tree trunks are deeply ridged and scarred from bear claws, the marks are bright red to rust color, depending on their age. A small Box-Elder Maple tree is growing under the Alders enhancing the green lushness of the spot while little Amraranth and Dragonhead plants peek around the corners. I love these trees in all their fairytale glow and peculiarly scarred beauty, I spend quite a bit of time with my face buried in their ridged leaves and my arms around their silky trunks. The space between the trees and the water is hollowed out so that the river rushes through the empty space singing a sweet little song that echoes up to the throne. Across the river, there is a vibrant green wall of rushes and reeds, and the buzzing and chirping of cicada... More About: Paradise , Morning , Paradis
Another Morning in Paradise
2007-06-17 18:02:00 This morning I went to spend time in one of my favorite Canyon spots, a little place I call the Alder Throne, where many silver barked Alders come together on the river bank and their roots knot into a throne like seat right above the water. The tree trunks are deeply ridged and scarred from bear claws, the marks are bright red to rust color, depending on their age. A small Box-Elder Maple tree is growing under the Alders enhancing the green lushness of the spot while little Amraranth and Dragonhead plants peek around the corners. I love these trees in all their fairytale glow and peculiarly scarred beauty, I spend quite a bit of time with my face buried in their ridged leaves and my arms around their silky trunks. The space between the trees and the water is hollowed out so that the river rushes through the empty space singing a sweet little song that echoes up to the throne. Across the river, there is a vibrant green wall of rushes and reeds, and the buzzing and chirping of cicada... More About: Paradise , Morning , Paradis
Why I have Purple Feet :)
2007-06-15 00:57:00 I spent a good part of yesterday up in a Mulberry tree down by Saliz Creek. A friend of mine had asked me to come take a look at her Elderberry tree, and though I was quite perplexed at the thought of Elderberries in June I went on over to check it out. Lo and behold, it wasn't an Elderberry at all, but a White Mulberry (Morus alba) tree weighed down with sweet red-purple berries. So off went the shoes and up I went. To get the best of them I had to back my truck under the tree and climb up on top to knock down the big clusters since the higher branches weren't strong enough for me to stand on.I couldn't help but eat a few (or so) while I was working, how can one resist berry juice dripping off their fingers anyhow, but I manged to save a few quarts to take home for pie and medicine. My fingers and feet are now stained a lovely violet color....The picture is of a less ripe but beautifully red berry. We have about half a dozen White Mulberry trees right here in the Canyon, but unl... More About: Purple , Feet
Why I have Purple Feet :)
2007-06-15 00:57:00 I spent a good part of yesterday up in a Mulberry tree down by Saliz Creek. A friend of mine had asked me to come take a look at her Elderberry tree, and though I was quite perplexed at the thought of Elderberries in June I went on over to check it out. Lo and behold, it wasn't an Elderberry at all, but a White Mulberry (Morus alba) tree weighed down with sweet red-purple berries. So off went the shoes and up I went. To get the best of them I had to back my truck under the tree and climb up on top to knock down the big clusters since the higher branches weren't strong enough for me to stand on.I couldn't help but eat a few (or so) while I was working, how can one resist berry juice dripping off their fingers anyhow, but I manged to save a few quarts to take home for pie and medicine. My fingers and feet are now stained a lovely violet color....The picture is of a less ripe but beautifully red berry. We have about half a dozen White Mulberry trees right here in the Canyon, but unl... More About: Purple , Feet
Butterfly Weed & Late Spring Storms: An Update
2007-06-12 02:58:00 There's been huge, tree breaking winds for the last three or four days and today it soaked the ground with a cold light rain. It was so chilly that Rhiannon wore her little fur coat and I shivered as I walked through the storm in a silk skirt and tank top. Strange weather, usually it's still and hot as an oven all June until the monsoons come in mid July. Usually, the plants are baked into gold skeletons until they're revived by the Summer rains... This year the Wild Sage, normally a monsoon dependent plant that blooms in August, is blooming today. I drank Elderflower and Wild Mint tea and watched the storm dance through the Canyon, filling the rain barrels and soaking our little garden, urging the wild grasses to grow still higher, and the flowers to bloom in radiant profusion. But the river is low from the aquecias sucking the water into fields and gardens and cattle drinking containers, it's sad to see the sandbars protruding like bones from the river's body, and I wait fo... More About: Spring , Update , Weed , Butterfly , Late
Butterfly Weed & Late Spring Storms: An Update
2007-06-12 02:58:00 There's been huge, tree breaking winds for the last three or four days and today it soaked the ground with a cold light rain. It was so chilly that Rhiannon wore her little fur coat and I shivered as I walked through the storm in a silk skirt and tank top. Strange weather, usually it's still and hot as an oven all June until the monsoons come in mid July. Usually, the plants are baked into gold skeletons until they're revived by the Summer rains... This year the Wild Sage, normally a monsoon dependent plant that blooms in August, is blooming today. I drank Elderflower and Wild Mint tea and watched the storm dance through the Canyon, filling the rain barrels and soaking our little garden, urging the wild grasses to grow still higher, and the flowers to bloom in radiant profusion. But the river is low from the aquecias sucking the water into fields and gardens and cattle drinking containers, it's sad to see the sandbars protruding like bones from the river's body, and I wait fo... More About: Spring , Update , Weed , Butterfly , Late
Weedy Treatments for Liver Heat and Congestion with a Special Emphasis on V
2007-06-07 04:46:00 These are therapeutic suggestions for conditions that can be caused by underlying constitutional imbalance, that are in turn aggravated by food allergies and deficiencies, lifestyle, environmental factors, solvent poisoning and diseases such as viral Hepatitis.I personally feel that the overall constitution should be taken into account before treatment, which means if you are a airy, cold, dry and thin type of person who gets liver inflammation from alcohol abuse or the like you should use treatments specific to your body and your condition. The treatment picture below corresponds directly to the symptom picture (Pitta types with liver qi stagnation, liver yin deficiency and liver heat... how do you like that mix of metaphors?)A Symptom Picture:rapid, wiry pulse,red to purple with redder tip, usually uncoated, often somewhat cracked tongue,stomach upset with poor fat digestion, bloating and gas,headaches behind the eyes or near the temples,hot, itchy psoriasis and/or eczema,irritati... More About: Treatments , Congestion , Heat , Special , Liver
Weedy Treatments for Liver Heat and Congestion with a Special Emphasis on V
2007-06-07 04:46:00 These are therapeutic suggestions for conditions that can be caused by underlying constitutional imbalance, that are in turn aggravated by food allergies and deficiencies, lifestyle, environmental factors, solvent poisoning and diseases such as viral Hepatitis.I personally feel that the overall constitution should be taken into account before treatment, which means if you are a airy, cold, dry and thin type of person who gets liver inflammation from alcohol abuse or the like you should use treatments specific to your body and your condition. The treatment picture below corresponds directly to the symptom picture (Pitta types with liver qi stagnation, liver yin deficiency and liver heat... how do you like that mix of metaphors?)A Symptom Picture:rapid, wiry pulse,red to purple with redder tip, usually uncoated, often somewhat cracked tongue,stomach upset with poor fat digestion, bloating and gas,headaches behind the eyes or near the temples,hot, itchy psoriasis and/or eczema,irritati... More About: Treatments , Congestion , Heat , Special , Liver
A Fogotten Tonic Herb: Evening Primrose
2007-06-01 03:00:00 I?ve done some forgotten herbs for this month with Monkeyflower and Wild Honeysuckle, and I think even Wild Rose has been a bit forgotten... there?s also the Alder post from last month. Yet I had a few more thoughts specifically about our lovely Evening Primrose and wanted to share before the month was over.Oenothera spp.Parts used: whole plantEnergetics & Taste: Sweet, sl. bitter, sl. spicy, sl. moist & neutral tempPrimary Actions: vulnerary, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, relaxant nervineOrgan affinities: lungs, musco-skeletal, upper GI, liver, nervous systemSuggested Dosage: 1-15 drops of whole plant tincture up to 3-4 times per day, 1-3 tsp whole plant in infusion per day, 1tb of ground root or plant in honey as needed, 1-2 tb ground seed in flaxseed oil per dayCautions: This is really a very gentle and safe herb at the proper dosage, but research suggests that the refined seed oil should be used with caution in epileptic patients or those who routinely ... More About: Tonic , Gott , Herb , Toni
A Fogotten Tonic Herb: Evening Primrose
2007-06-01 03:00:00 I?ve done some forgotten herbs for this month with Monkeyflower and Wild Honeysuckle, and I think even Wild Rose has been a bit forgotten... there?s also the Alder post from last month. Yet I had a few more thoughts specifically about our lovely Evening Primrose and wanted to share before the month was over.Oenothera spp.Parts used: whole plantEnergetics & Taste: Sweet, sl. bitter, sl. spicy, sl. moist & neutral tempPrimary Actions: vulnerary, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, relaxant nervineOrgan affinities: lungs, musco-skeletal, upper GI, liver, nervous systemSuggested Dosage: 1-15 drops of whole plant tincture up to 3-4 times per day, 1-3 tsp whole plant in infusion per day, 1tb of ground root or plant in honey as needed, 1-2 tb ground seed in flaxseed oil per dayCautions: This is really a very gentle and safe herb at the proper dosage, but research suggests that the refined seed oil should be used with caution in epileptic patients or those who routinely ... More About: Tonic , Gott , Herb , Toni
An Interview with Robin Rose Bennett: Wild Carrot, Fertility and a Vision
2007-05-30 00:16:00 I wanted to share a new interview Jesse Wolf Hardin just did with Robin Rose Bennett, a wonderful Wise Woman herbalist who will be coming to the Sanctuary this August to teach an exciting herbal workshop!Interview With Robin Rose Bennett Vision ary Herbalistby Jesse Wolf HardinIntroduction: Robin has been a practicing herbalist for over 20 years, focusing on the spiritual and ecological lessons of the plants as well as the treatment of illness. What she is best known for is her rather extensive study of the wild carrot, particularly as an ancient and still viable means of natural birth control. JWH) When is earliest mention of wild carrot (Daucus carota) being utilized for natural contraception, and what is the history of your own relationship to this special plant?RRB) The earliest written accounts are about 2000 years old from ancient Greek medical writers such as Dioscorides, Scribonius Largus, Hippocrates, and Pliny the Elder. I imagine that women?s oral tradition regard... More About: Wild , Carrot
An Interview with Robin Rose Bennett: Wild Carrot, Fertility and a Vision
2007-05-30 00:16:00 I wanted to share a new interview Jesse Wolf Hardin just did with Robin Rose Bennett, a wonderful Wise Woman herbalist who will be coming to the Sanctuary this August to teach an exciting herbal workshop!Interview With Robin Rose Bennett Vision ary Herbalistby Jesse Wolf HardinIntroduction: Robin has been a practicing herbalist for over 20 years, focusing on the spiritual and ecological lessons of the plants as well as the treatment of illness. What she is best known for is her rather extensive study of the wild carrot, particularly as an ancient and still viable means of natural birth control. JWH) When is earliest mention of wild carrot (Daucus carota) being utilized for natural contraception, and what is the history of your own relationship to this special plant?RRB) The earliest written accounts are about 2000 years old from ancient Greek medical writers such as Dioscorides, Scribonius Largus, Hippocrates, and Pliny the Elder. I imagine that women?s oral tradition regard... More About: Wild , Carrot
Monkeyflowers in Heaven
2007-05-23 02:29:00 Mimulus, of Bach flower remedy fame, is also a lovely wildflower and indigenous remedy... I've mostly used it for pain, externally on wounds, burns, nerve injuries and have been recently using it internally for pain as well, especially joint pain and neuralgia (a use gleefully taken from Kings American Dispensatory ).This is an incredibly joyful little plant, and is proving to be an effective anti-depressant for those who feel the joy of life has completely left them, who feel terribly vulnerable and constantly anxious. These are flower essence indications but they're very accurate to the action of the plant. Monkeyflowers have a big spirit and just sitting with them can be uplifting and well, just plain fun.I have a hard time picking the plant because they seem so animated and child-like that I can barely stand to harvest them. Thankfully, small doses seem to be very effective and so I don't feel I need to take very much.Monkeyflowers like to grow near clean, running water. They... More About: Heaven , Lowe , Flow
Monkeyflowers in Heaven
2007-05-23 02:29:00 Mimulus, of Bach flower remedy fame, is also a lovely wildflower and indigenous remedy... I've mostly used it for pain, externally on wounds, burns, nerve injuries and have been recently using it internally for pain as well, especially joint pain and neuralgia (a use gleefully taken from Kings American Dispensatory ).This is an incredibly joyful little plant, and is proving to be an effective anti-depressant for those who feel the joy of life has completely left them, who feel terribly vulnerable and constantly anxious. These are flower essence indications but they're very accurate to the action of the plant. Monkeyflowers have a big spirit and just sitting with them can be uplifting and well, just plain fun.I have a hard time picking the plant because they seem so animated and child-like that I can barely stand to harvest them. Thankfully, small doses seem to be very effective and so I don't feel I need to take very much.Monkeyflowers like to grow near clean, running water. They... More About: Heaven , Lowe , Flow
Kiss Your Plantain!
2007-05-16 21:57:00 Recently, an apprentice of ours was bitten by a tick on her arm. I've never ever ever seen a tick here and neither has Wolf, and he's been here nearly thirty years. But ah well, she pulled a tick off of her arm (inner elbow crease area), and the bite site proceeded to swell up, get a ring of red around it, become white and pitted in the center and cause her muscle pain in the surrounding area. Now, I wasn't home when this happened, I was in South Dakota. She was worried it might be lyme's disease. I've had no experience with Lyme's so I was worried too.When I got home I looked at it and thought to myself, "hmmm, looks like an infected spider bite, where's the Plant ain ?" and said so too, but with the ring of red and muscle pain I was concerned and spaced out the Plantain. I looked at various medical picture of the bull's eye type rash that sometimes accompanies Lyme's, it didn't look anything like her red ring but some of the symptoms were the same. I printed off David Wins... More About: Kiss
Kiss Your Plantain!
2007-05-16 21:57:00 Recently, an apprentice of ours was bitten by a tick on her arm. I've never ever ever seen a tick here and neither has Wolf, and he's been here nearly thirty years. But ah well, she pulled a tick off of her arm (inner elbow crease area), and the bite site proceeded to swell up, get a ring of red around it, become white and pitted in the center and cause her muscle pain in the surrounding area. Now, I wasn't home when this happened, I was in South Dakota. She was worried it might be lyme's disease. I've had no experience with Lyme's so I was worried too.When I got home I looked at it and thought to myself, "hmmm, looks like an infected spider bite, where's the Plant ain ?" and said so too, but with the ring of red and muscle pain I was concerned and spaced out the Plantain. I looked at various medical picture of the bull's eye type rash that sometimes accompanies Lyme's, it didn't look anything like her red ring but some of the symptoms were the same. I printed off David Wins... More About: Kiss
Wild Honeysuckle Impressions
2007-05-16 18:40:00 Part used: Flowers & Flower budsTaste - bitter, sweetEnergy - very cooling, slightly moistI've been trying out the Honeysuckle the last few days and want to share my impressions.I generally have a deep wiry pulse, Honeysuckle caused it be closer to the surface, slower and calmer (it almost seemed like a normal pulse LOL), while increasing circulation. It is distinctly relaxing and cooling, an opening impression can be felt in the chest and the sinuses are relaxed as well. It's one of those herbs that moves energy up towards the head making one feel lighter. I can feel how it is very suited to acute feverish states and infections.It seems very Pitta reducing, and therefor a good nervine for hot-headed, tense, type A people. It calms the edgy CNS brittleness so common in burned out Pitta personalities, it cools and seems to moisten just the tiniest bit, soothing the nerves and thoroughly relaxing without inducing sleepiness. I do believe it would help cranky feverish children (o... More About: Wild , Impressions , Impress , Impression , Suckle
Wild Honeysuckle Impressions
2007-05-16 18:40:00 Part used: Flowers & Flower budsTaste - bitter, sweetEnergy - very cooling, slightly moistI've been trying out the Honeysuckle the last few days and want to share my impressions.I generally have a deep wiry pulse, Honeysuckle caused it be closer to the surface, slower and calmer (it almost seemed like a normal pulse LOL), while increasing circulation. It is distinctly relaxing and cooling, an opening impression can be felt in the chest and the sinuses are relaxed as well. It's one of those herbs that moves energy up towards the head making one feel lighter. I can feel how it is very suited to acute feverish states and infections.It seems very Pitta reducing, and therefor a good nervine for hot-headed, tense, type A people. It calms the edgy CNS brittleness so common in burned out Pitta personalities, it cools and seems to moisten just the tiniest bit, soothing the nerves and thoroughly relaxing without inducing sleepiness. I do believe it would help cranky feverish children (o... More About: Wild , Impressions , Impress , Impression , Suckle
Great Honeysuckle Study
2007-05-14 05:21:00 Check out this great study on Japanese Honeysuckle done by the Canadian Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine here. It is of course rather reductionist in nature, but still quite useful. It says that the japonica species is the strongest of the Honeysuckle species, but I won't quite believe it until I experience it myself (typical of my skeptical nature). More About: Study , Great , Suckle
Great Honeysuckle Study
More articles from this author:2007-05-14 05:21:00 Check out this great study on Japanese Honeysuckle done by the Canadian Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine here. It is of course rather reductionist in nature, but still quite useful. It says that the japonica species is the strongest of the Honeysuckle species, but I won't quite believe it until I experience it myself (typical of my skeptical nature). More About: Study , Great , Suckle 1, 2 |
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