Herb Journal: Skullcap

I've never much been a fan of skullcap, but I have to wonder how much of it has to do with it's name. For example if motherwort and skullcap had the names reversed, perhaps I would feel differently about each one. I'm not sure, could be something psychological.. since the name skullcap just gives me the heebie jeebs. Like, what in the world, skulls are, well I although we all have them while we are alive, but most of the time when you hear the word mentioned, it has to do with some program where they are doing autopsies, archeological digs, or solving crimes like on Bones. It makes me think "death" and herbs to me, are about living. I really do have to wonder. But, on the otherhand, here are the facts: Skullcap just gives me a headache. Every. Single. Time. It makes me feel dizzy and disoriented, which amps up my heart rate, and does the opposite of what it is supposed to; calm, soothe, alleviate headaches, even being used for acute nervous conditions for it's calming actions, I don't know. I'm trying to give it another chance. Maybe I'll just call it something else, like "happy green stuff" and I'll make it something less scary and then give it a fair shot. Initially, I have to say, the taste reminds me a lot of alfalfa, which makes sense since it is high in many of the same vitamins & minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium). I should specify, it tastes a lot like alfalfa, which is basically what horses eat, and the flavor is.. grass. Grass tea. Drinking fields of grass. Not my fav, but not the worst.. however close to it. Those grassy herbs that are super high in calcium do seem to make my stomach hurt, sort of like the way wheatgrass does. Just throws it off a bit, making me sort of nauseous. I want to like skullcap, but I also want to give it another name. I had a few sips of the tea, made a strong infusion, and I am feeling kind of more mellow than before. Somehow I'm more aware of my jaw, which is clenched, and this has happened to me before, drinking skullcap and feelling my jaw being clenched. Supposedly good for all of these things like anxiety, depression, insomnia, worry, cooling down hot emotions such as anger, jealousy, hatred, irritability, as a pain reliever for headaches, relieving nervous exhaustion, muscle spasms, twitching, tremors, calming the spirit and the mind.. and all it does for me, as much as I want to say its not true, is just give me a stomach ache and make my head spin. Well, not every herb is for everybody. I'm just gonna leave this one alone, and not that I would have a problem recommending it to anyone else. I think it is just too cooling, and too drying for me. It doesn't make me smile.. but then again valerian keeps me up all night. Different strokes for different folks. 

Herb Journal: Willow Bark

The overwhelming thing that I noticed about Willow Bark, before I even tried it, was the floral, aroma,tic scent of the tincture. Wow, I can't remember the last time a tincture had a smell that I remembered fondly. The taste of the Willow Bark tincture in water is quite the same, pleasurable, sweet, even kind of syrupy. I didn't want to put too much of the tincture into the water, since if the smell was so powerful, I could assume that so was the medicine. Plus, i know that Willow is best known for it's pain-killing qualities, if it is potent, well then I won't need to much of it. Every time I tip the cup up to my mouth, the smell just melts me. It tastes like violets, or some sort of purple flower.. it tastes the way they smell. I'm a bit intoxicated with this tincture right now, and I can say.. it is so .. nice.. to take. What a pleasure. I don't find it bitter, drying or astringent, just floral and delicious. Willow bark is known, much like Meadowsweet, for its analgesic effects, an herbal aspirin, as some might say.. I have been using it successfully, for some time, in salves for arthritis, sprains & strains. It is very effective, and pretty miraculous, how the bark of a tree can do such wonders. It also helps with genito-urinary irritation, general over-excitability in many of its manifestations, diminishes irritation both on a physical and mental/emotional plane. It helps with ovarian pain, gonorrhea, indigestion, mental irritation/bitterness, headache and much more. This is a great herb, I love it, and am so glad to have it as something that I can use in my natural medicine making vocabulary.

Herb Journal: St John's Wort

St John's Wort is another tincture that actually tastes kind of pleasant to me. It feels warming to my chest, is the first sensation that I have after taking almost a full dropper-full in water. My mouth started tingling a bit. Then I took a deep breath, the kind that you take when you have been forgetting to breathe for a while, maybe even a lifetime. I tend to hold my breath when I am stressed, or when my mind is fixated on something. Holding my breath is something I just started to do maybe ... well, less than a decade ago, I had never done that before, perhaps because in that phase of my life, there were a lot of times when I felt baffled. My biggest opponent is confusion. I HATE to be confused. So when things around me are happening that I cannot psychoanalyze or understand whatsoever, and the same applies to people's behavior, it drives me berzerk. And I tend to hold my breath. Something about feeling like "I just don't get it, please tell me what the heck is going on" and holding my breath became a habit, and I still have that going on, unfortunately. But I just noticed that I started breathing. St. Johns Wort, did you give me the power to begin breathing again? I never liked St. John's Wort, but for no reason, other than I hate things that are mass marketed that are supposed to cure people of this or that. St. John's Wort was so overhyped. And what happened to those people for whom St. John's Wort did not help? Should they just go kill themselves or what? But you know what, that's not the herb's fault. It's those dumb marketing people. As we know, different herbs affect everyone in different ways.. it too frustrating to watch everyone and their mother go out and buy any one herb thinking it is the only one, the thing that will help them.. and when it doesn't? So I kind of kicked it to the curb. Also, its not really that great to admit you are depressed. And that's the other thing.. is that all St. John's Wort is good for? Must you be suffering from depression to take it? If you are taking it and it is benefiting you does that mean you are depressed? As you can see, I dont like it when things are put into containers or boxes and are said to have a blanket effect. It gives people false hope, and it makes St. John's Wort, the depression drug. The prozac of the herbal world. It is that, it could be that, but so many other things as well. Who knew that this herb was good for wounds, muscle aches, skin conditions, is also anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, good for respiratory conditions, anemia, weakness, uterine cramping & menstrual disorders, swollen breasts, deep wounds (to heal from the inside out), burns, ulcers, skin tags... and is also a nervine (nerve tonic)? Aside from treating SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and other forms of depression, it is for nervous anxiety, hysteria, and insomnia. So even if you aren't depressed, but you do have chronic anxiety (for which you would only know about kava kava according to those mass marketers...) St John's Wort combined with Kava Kava or other calming sedative herbs (milky oats, passionflower, motherwort, etc) would be a great remedy to keep your cool when emotions are running high. 

Herb Journal: Milky Oats/ Oatstraw

I made a tea of oatstraw once, and read all of the properties that it described, and it was a disappointment. Although I thought that it seemed mineral rich, I didn't feel relaxed, or any of the calming and sedating sort of effects that I had anticipated, based on it's description of something that aids adrenal burnout and people who are stressed out due to just running on fumes for a while. I knew that something must have been wrong, and that's when I realized, it wasn't oatstraw, but milky oats that had that strong effect. The oatstraw to me, seemed nutritive, but didn't do anything to my mind.. then we went on the camping trip and Amber started talking about milky oats. Ahhhh, light bulb. The milky top of the oats are the potent medicine, the oatstraw.. eh.. not so much (at least in my opinion). The tincture of milky oats is actually pretty tasty, it is sweet, tangy and seems sort of.. well, nourishing as well. But nourishing to the soul. I can't say that there are a large amount of tinctures that taste good to me, so I'm happy to say that this is one of them. How nice! I can drink it, and not make a squinty face. After drinking a few cups of water with 3/4 dropper full of tincture, I started to feel a bit spacey. Started to feel also grounded, and more focused on myself. When you put your energy into looking outwards, and you are so busy observing and reacting to people and their stupidity (just something that occurred today), it takes all of you.. you will just go from one outrage to another. Wouldn't it be great to have sane people around you all the time, people who make you feel more calm and secure, than people who throw off your sense of what's what with their own ridiculous perceptions and hyperactive intolerances and projections. Wow, I need new friends. Or to stop wasting my time with ones who make me seethe and foam at the mouth. It's very hard to stay focused when other people are making you panic. Then you realize, it's not what you actually think, but what they are saying is frightening, and it takes your sense of what is real along with it. How do you build those walls, those protective layers ... so that idiotic people do not shift your sense of calm and well being with their hysteria, or distorted views of you..? Seems I have gone into a somewhat reflective state, and I feel like the milky oats certainly took it down enough. I am feeling somewhat like this is not just a sedative, but a narcotic. Wow, I'm feeling mellllooooooooow. Nice plant! Let's all just chill and sing a hare krishna mantra.

Herb Journal: Oregon Grape Root

Mild, compared to a lot of root teas. Tastes like earth and all of that, well, understandably, it is a root. I have to say, I love roots. I love bark, they are so grounding. Such intense and beautiful medicine, something that gave life to a plant, that was rooted in the earth, we are so lucky to have these beautiful things at our disposal. This tea is not yummy, nor offensive. Its just.. okay. But nevertheless, understanding its enormous power, it demands so much respect. Since Goldenseal is becoming endangered due to overharvesting, I'm glad we have a local plant that offers similar medicinal properties. The tea is sort of yellow-ish brown and very mild. It is a little bitter, and for that reason, I think i'd rather take it as a tincture if I were to be using it in great quantities. It had a head-clearing effect on me, which stands to reason, as one of the things that it is indicated for is headaches. Specifically headaches starting at the occiput and sreading over the right side of the head to the eyes, which is similar to the one I had, sort of, on one side, much like a stress/tension headache or a migraine but less intense. I love Oregon Grape Root for it's potent anti-bacterial, anti-microbial/anti-viral properties, great for acute infections but as well to keep your immune system strong (immuno-modulating) and to bring your body back into balance (alterative). 

Herb Journal: Burdock Root

Burdock Root tea is certainly not the most delicious, but it is extremely fortifying. In fact, it is not a bad tasting tea, compared to several others, it is warming, and somewhat spicy. It feels grounding. Although burdock root is known to be cooling in action, it feels warming to me, but perhaps because I am simply cold right now, and I am drinking the warm tea. It feels protective and comforting, like a really warm blanket that shuts out the cold on a desperately freezing cold night. It is a forceful detoxifier, and reduces heat, dampness and inflammation, and since I tend to run hot, this is a great herb for me. I haven't been drinking it much over the course of this class, but I'm kind of scratching my head wondering why. I'm loving it right now, thinking this is something I can, and probably should drink every day. It is one of the top alkalizing herbs written about in books on how to alkalize your system. This is something I have been working on, and it's not a bad idea to take this daily for that reason as well. It helps symptoms stemming from chronic anxiety, that's a pretty big reason for me to give it a chance as well.. since things have been making me pretty anxious these days, and I feel that it has been and still is compromising my immune system. The fact that it is known to detoxify the body of poisons is another reason to take it regularly. The toxins we are exposed to these days are so exponential. I feel stronger and determined after drinking it, and my body just feels more present. Glad to revisit burdock, I'm going to make it a part of my routine in the future for sure. Well, in the future, meaning, starting now. Think I'll finish this cup, which I can't always. Anytime I want to finish a cup of tea we are giving as the herb of the week, it is a big thing for me, it tells me.. these are the teas that I need, me in particular, to add to my regimen.. at least for now, unless my body gets to a point where it no longer wants or needs it. Thank you Burdock, for reminding me of how special you are. I don't know if its too late, but if not I may go back to the last place we went for a hike, and try to harvest some. 

Herb Journal: Poleo Mint

Poleo Mint, what the heck is that? Right? We all know what mint is, but I'm guessing most of you have never heard of this particular species. To start, it's mint. It's really sweet, delicious mint. In the US it grows in the wild in the Southwest; in Southern California, Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. It is, as most mints are, extremely cooling. Taking it as a tincture is not bad, the one that we were given was only 25% alcohol, which although I like the idea of less alcohol, perhaps took away a little bit of it's potency, I do like my mint strong enough to have that sting, so maybe that's why this tincture is not exactly my favorite, but it does have a great taste, and would be good to add to lemonade, or some sort of iced teas in the summertime. Mint is known for its digestive aid properties, it also just chills you out overall, it is an extremely cooling plant. This cooling nature makes it good for spasms and inflammation, mint is always good to clear the sinuses, and I can feel it making its way down the back of my throat, where there is some stored up mucous from the place I slept last night, which always stuffs me up. It's just yummy, however, in the particular climate that we are in at the moment, it is incredibly brisk and cold out, this herb doesn't seem like something I will be using regularly, as I feel my body getting colder by the moment. One side-note, the poleo mint infused honey that a classmate made was absolutely delicious. I wouldn't have thought to infuse honey with mint, but of all of the concoctions people came up with throughout the course of our class, I have to say it was one of the just purely satisfying edibles to my taste buds that I came across. This is a super idea, for colds and flu especially, or allergy/sinus relief to use this honey in a hot tea with lemon (I'm thinking hibiscus tea...  it would be perfect!)

Herb Journal: Desert Willow

Desert Willow. It's not as easy to talk about the flavor of an herb when it is given in the form of a tincture, because, well, at least to me, the overwhelming flavor is the alcohol. So, all I can say is, it tastes somewhat mild, somewhat bitter. Not the best tasting tincture i've had, not even close. But then again, that doesn't tell me a lot. What I do know about desert willow, is that it is an excellent herb with tremendous benefits that I have experienced personally. The American Southwest's answer to Pau D'Arco, which is indigenous to Brazil and various parts of Central/South America, Desert Willow is another one of those herbs you probably wouldn't hear a single thing about unless you were A)studying herbal medicine, most likely in the Southwest US, or 2) Consulting an herbalist... again in the American Southwest. This was given to me as part of a regimen to cure this chronic pain and inflammation that I had in my uterus following a biopsy, and I feel was one of the most instrumental. I came to the conclusion that I had developed some sort of infection, but that one of the components involved some sort of yeast imbalance or overgrowth, since anything fermented or sugary made it so much worse. I couldn't have any alcohol at all, it made my body EXTREMELY hot, and it just made me think there was a candida infection or something fungal going on. I can say that desert willow was instrumental in helping to conquer this, or balance out whatever was out of whack, down there, allowing my insides to heal, once and for all. This is a powerful herb, one of the many that I have to be grateful for due to my recent health crisis/ordeal. This herb is also recommended to use as a deuche for damp vaginal conditions and internally as a tincture expressly for candida. I love this plant. it is beautiful and angelic, and so potent and wonderful for what it is used for. The leaves, stems and flowers of this plant are what are used to make medicine, which is also interesting and unique, since most of the herbs that I used for my condition, that were strong enough to attack this relentless infection were bark and roots. If you look at the tender pink flowers, you would imagine them at your wedding.. it's amazing what nature can do. 

Herb Journal: Cayenne

Cayenne is one of my favorite herbs. People get confused, like isn't that a spice? What's the difference between herbs and spices? Well they are both plants, but here's the difference, and it really applies here to culinary terminology: According to the Spice Island website, herbs are the leafy portions of the plant, dried or fresh (ie: basil, parsley, cilantro), and spices are harvested from any other part of the plant (roots, seeds, flower buds, berries & stamens). In herbal medicine, though, its all the same. Plants used as medicine = herbs. There are so many great things about cayenne, I don't know where to start! Cayenne is amazing, it can cure pretty much any infection in my experience! It is also great for respiratory issues.. congestion, flu symptoms, allergies, asthma. It's funny we were talking about snorting it for major sinus congestion. I'd say don't try this at home.. but just so you know, I might. But seriously, don't try it. I've heard it can make you hallucinate, and as much fun as that might sound to some, I just don't and never would advocate it. That's not my kind of medicine (hallucinations, and what others might consider psycho-spiritual medicine, a la peyote or Ayahuasca). But I think that the hallucinations might derive from the fact that you are melting your brain. Okay, so if that isn't sufficient warning, I don't know what is. In the meantime, cayenne is a great vasodilator, and can actually stop a heart-attack while it is happening. Gets your circulation flowing, and keeps you healthy, truly, being an antibiotic of the most enviable potency. If you can't take the heat, the best way to take cayenne is in capsule form. For maximum benefit, I would suggest that you buy the powder and make the capsules yourself. You can buy vegetarian gelatin capsules at health food stores. Stuff the cayenne in there, seal, and swallow with some lemonade, it helps counterbalance the spiciness of the cayenne. Otherwise, put a dash in a cup if you are brave, pour in some water, squeeze a lemon into it (or not) and drink. There are so many ways to incorporate cayenne into your diet, lifestyle and body. You can rub it on wounds so as to prevent infection, of course add it to food at any time (in moderation, it is pretty strong), make a tincture. Me and cayenne.. me and any hot pepper, we're friends for life. It is also anti-cancer, anti-tumor, and has been seen in various studies to prevent these diseases from arising, of course, in combination with a healthy lifestyle. For me, cayenne opened up my nasal sinuses just now. I was having a tough time breathing, which i normally do in this apartment i'm staying in right now - allergies - and it had an immediate effect. Also, it just gives me a jolt. If I'm tired or stressed or just fatigued, it wakes me up and makes me feel so much better. Love it! 

Herb Journal: Horsetail

Horsetail seems to be one of those more well known herbs to the public. It is widely publicized, along with saw palmetto and a few others, for it's impact on the health of hair, skin and nails. Plus as something that has miraculous effects for musculoskeletal issues: bone, joint & cartilage injuries. It has a mild, slightly nutty flavor. Can't say it's scrumptious, can't say its terrible. I wouldn't be drinking it for the fun of it. But it does have a lot of good traits. It helps with tissue repair, helping the body to rebuild damaged cartilage and joint structures, good for UTI's, and externally does the same for the skin as it does the internal, it helps wound healing externally, and taking baths with horsetail (make a strong tea and pour it in there) is good for sagging skin (must remember this, I'm tired of working out.. haha, joke), varicose veins, rashes, boils & abscesses. This is just a very healing herb. I'm leaving a lot of stuff out, but it seems to address practically every issue imaginable. People that it is indicated for are nervous, agitated people, the kinds who have twitches, and can't stop swinging their crossed leg up and down, or tapping the floor... we all know them, or are them. Horsetail tea or tincture can aid that kind of nervousness. A strange aftertaste is somewhat like vanilla. Interesting. Maybe I'll reconsider my drink it for pleasure stance. However, horsetail is not indicated as a daily for life kind of herb. It can rob your body of vitamin B1, and become an irritant to your urinary tract & intestinal mucosa. This is NOT something to concern yourself with if you are taking the tea in order to help recover from an acute condition. Just.. not forever. Also, be careful about harvesting this plant in the wild. Although it is easily identifiable, and looks really cool, like a tuft of beautiful long, albeit green, hair, it is very susceptible to absorbing contaminants from nearby soil that is tainted, it has a special capacity for this, and thus, the soil that it touches, if it is by a riverbed, the water that is flowing through, carrying contaminants, even plants that might be poisonous that are nearby.. makes it not worth working with. My advice is know your source, cultivate it yourself, or buy it from someone who can do the discerning for you (an herb store, or online distributor). 

Herb Journal: Raspberry Leaf

I'm just starting this journal entry, and I already have to pee. WARNING: This herb is a major diuretic, and will make you pee. A lot, like a racehorse. BUT, if you have a UTI, or a fever, or an infection.. well, that's not such a bad thing, now is it? I really love raspberry leaf tea. It feels rich, filling, it has depth, it is grounding, and it is reassuring. Yes, i am becoming like a wine or coffee connoisseur about it, listen to me, but when you try something enough, in different variations, and have to find ways to describe it, suddenly you begin to describe the way it makes you feel. cozy, homey, fresh, adoring.. as if the tea is its own animal, and has its own way of making you feel. it can be real, no? It tastes so good, and thats something that i cant say about zillions of herbs, so i'm gonna hang with that one on the raspberry leaf tea. It doesn't taste like the fruit, as one might hope, but it does taste a little bit sweet, perhaps a little bit like raspberry, just a slight trace of it. This tea feels extremely cleansing. It is nutritive, containing vitamin C, calcium, manganese, iron, niacin, vitamin A and selenium (another one for the iron + calcium formulas), plus vitamin C formulas which might contain rose hips, hibiscus, orange and lemon peel, and any kind of edible wild berries. This herb is best known as a female uterine tonic, strengthening the muscles of the uterus, and helping women through pregnancy, childbirth and recovery for centuries. It also can go very well with uva ursi to relieve bladder irritation, and is a fertility tonic. Considering I just finished drinking nettles tea, this was a good choice, as the nettles was making me feel nauseous, and Raspberry Leaf is indicated to ease nausea. Lucky me. This leaf helps strengthen bones, teeth, hair and nails, and would be great in combination with horsetail for these purposes. Hmmm. Think I'll make a horsetail and raspberry leaf tincture. Good combo, glad I thought of it. All in all, it makes you pee a lot. So don't drink it if you are going to see a movie, going on a date, or about to do a presentation for work. It is seriously (at least for me) THAT strong of a diuretic. But other than that, if a bathroom is nearby, drink up. It's yummy, and it fortifies your uterus. That can never be a bad thing.

Herb Journal: Nettle Leaf

Another herb I want to like, but just in all reality, just don't. It gives me something of a gag reflex actually, it just tastes bad and .. bothers my stomach, making me nauseous. Wow, okay, the stinging nettle leaf. I never understood how a plant that you cannot even handle with your bare hands, because it stings you and leaves your hands sore, red and itchy, could somehow transform into something people are cooking for dinner, or drinking as tea. It does sting a bit, making my tongue and roof of my mouth.. sort of well.. sting, like feel numb, and a bit painful. But there is no denying that this is a plant that can do wonders. First, I have to give it props for being one of the most nutritive. Like Alfalfa & red clover, it is a must have for both iron and calcium supplements, and is extremely alkalizing, like all dark leafy greens. Full of chlorophyll, it is a huge benefit to your system, and balances that acid/alkaline P.H. Also, I have used it as a case study, regarding allergies and coughs, and well.. it lives up to its reputation, this is a priceless herb for allergies, and respiratory complaints. I have literally seen it work, seen someone who was coughing drink a tea of it, and just stop coughing, and this is someone with a long term chronic cough, and it just stopped. Then I made an allergy syrup, which this person gave to a friend, who also had a serious chronic cough, and it had the same effect on her. Can't knock it. Just perhaps, try to mask it in some honey and make a syrup. I didn't seem to dislike it so much in the summer, which makes sense in context since it is so cooling. I am feeling kind of cold in this apartment while I drink it, which may be why it is more offensive to me than interesting. Of course, as one studies herbal medicine, you grow to understand that whether an herb rubs you the right or wrong way has a lot to do with your condition at the time, and what your body needs. If your body doesnt need it, or if it has no practical use, then your body wont like it, if your body needs it, you will want to drink several glasses, or at least one full one. I never had an affinity for nettles, but I do remember that I found it much less offensive in the summer, when i drank it with ice, than I do now, when I am drinking it warm. Oh, and I can't forget to mention how much nettles is indicated for strengthening hair and stimulating growth, I will always put it in my hair tonics and oils as long as I have some on hand, along with horsetail, burdock rosemary and ginger (which i like as a scalp stimulant). 

Herb Journal: Mullein

Hmphhh, I just dont know how to say I like Mullein, I just want to, but it just isn't one of those pleasant tasting herbs. But either way, it doesn't make me think it's useless. So, the tea is a really cool shade of almost flourescent yellow/green, the leaves are amidst my favorite because they are so unique and interesting, these fuzzy velvety things that feel like fabric you would use as a blanket, the pretty mint color of them, the neat thick prickly stem, this is a really amazing looking plant, to make you gasp, truly cool looking, like something you would want to paint. Mullein seems to grow quite easily and is a hardy plant, it is known for helping with respiratory complaints, and is good in syrups, the flowers known to ease earaches. The leaves are smoked for respiratory complaints, although I dont have any real urge to smoke any of the herbs we have been studying. Doing a steam inhalation or drinking the tea.. even making a nasal spray or an oil that you can drop into my nose would be preferable. I haven't tried it for UTI's, the tea doesn't seem as mucilaginous as.. say marshmallow or slippery elm, which is good because those can become gross if you dont drink them right away.. i do like teas that you can refrigerate and drink cold later on.. even if the cold isn't particularly the best for your body. old habits die hard, which is no excuse, it might take me a while though, to switch to room temperature and warm on a regular basis. I like the idea of using this externally, or internally as a deuche. I just really dislike the taste. its almost like very little taste, but the little taste that it has it horrendous. Okay to put in a syrup, of course, which more or less masks the flavor of most of the herbs. Would do that. Probably not drink it again, not unless it was a situation where there was nothing else that would work, and it were my only option. Thanks mullein floppy ears, I'll keep you on the outside (or in a tincture, syrup, etc.. however still, I just find other herbs with similar properties more amenable to my taste). For allergies, I'll hold you close, but otherwise, think you will be a back shelf herb for me. Sorry, guy, you are extremely cute though. 

Herb Journal: Yarrow

My first reaction to yarrow is that it is incredibly cooling. I had been running on fumes all day and felt just burnt out. The yarrow tea was a friendly hug. For some reason, I didn't remember yarrow to be a reasonable tasting herb, but drinking it this time, was a really pleasant surprise. Yarrow is so good for you for so many different things, I even remember saying to myself, whenever it would come up that yarrow was good for this, or good for that... too bad it doesn't taste good at all. I don't remember where i got that idea from. Its actually one of the more pleasant tasting teas that I have had in quite some time, that have been on the "herb of the week" list at least. It tastes a little minty, but generally pleasant and soothing. It is not harsh, but not too weak either. It is calming, comforting and just like a pet on the head. The energetics include "diffusive", and I think that would explain the feeling that I have right now, diffused the overload of nervous energy, intensity, worry and neurosis that have been plaguing me at the time. I felt that it took it out of my brain, or out of one specific place, and let it run out into my body, dissolving it, just making it able to "let go". Not sure if that was the meaning of the word in that context, but it works for me right now. Interestingly enough, it says yarrow is indicated for the wounded healer. I find this absolutely perfect right now, especially because my kind nature has been in question, and in the context of a long relationship, where I felt I had given so much. The fact that it is my nature to heal people, and being told I am self-centered and do not care about the well-being of others has been a terrible thing to grapple with. Perhaps yarrow can be the spear (as the leaves appear to be, little spears) with which I can fight off those demons of self-doubt and self-blame. Also for me, I must have overlooked the indication for inflamed ovaries. I should have been taking this over the past few months, for sure, to help with all of the swelling in that part of my body. Also, restlessness. I had a harder time falling asleep last night than usual. So another thing, that makes yarrow a tea that resonates with me at this time. My favorite thing about yarrow are the leaves, they are so unique and pretty, that combined with the white puffball flowers on top, that look a lot like puffy cotton balls.. it was the first plant that I was able to identify with some degree of certainty in the wild. I wonder if this indicates that I will have a long, prosperous relationship with it. I really don't know what it means, and it just occurred to me just now, since I haven't been using it for much, or drinking it at all, since we first got the bag of it for class. 

Herb Journal: Elder Flower

What I first noticed about elder flower, aside from the unique and beautiful deep golden tone of the tea, matching the color of the little tiny dried flowers, is that it tastes minty to me. That was a bit of a shocker. But well for whatever reason I had associated Elder with something relaxing and calming, it seemed to follow suit. It's just that we always seem to associate mint flavor with the color green. It is a really pleasant tasting tea. Happy about that. It's a cold day, I feel stressed out, and this tea is gentle and relaxing, kind of comforting, and grounding. Something about it is reassuring me that everything is going to be okay. To stop thinking so much, let life just happen, release, let go, and while you are so busy worrying about this and that, you forgot to realize that actually... everything is completely okay. The following sips made me aware of a nutty flavor, and then a slightly sweet, caramel like flavor, maybe a bit smokey. Wow, this is a really beautiful tea. I am also feeling a serious mellowing effect. It might be possible just that I haven't had a warm tea in a while, and since its been pretty cold out, the soothing nature of a warm tea is simply irreplaceable. But I have to say, this is a decadent tea, that can be drank for pleasure and it's just plain warmth and yummyness, than for this or that acute situation. This could be a daily for me. I'm happy to have experienced it. There is a light, sunshiny vibe to it, which goes along with its sun-shiny yellow color. I wonder if somehow, in some way, the color of an herb can also have an impact on its energetics. This is an uplifting, sensual tea, and the sun is, well uplifting and sensual.. and yellow, like the elderflower.

Herb Journal: Chaparral

Chaparral: Oooooh, how bitter you are, and oh, how I love thee. I remember when I first started taking this class, and our teacher would just go on and on about this herb Chaparral, and it frustrated me, first because it's an herb well known in the Southwest, but not at all, even UNHEARD of to the herbalist laypeople in the places where I was from, namely the midwest (Chicago) and the Southeast (Miami). Who do you think you are, Chaparral, and really, how much good can you serve if we don't even know about you anywhere else? Well, shucks. I have to say, I wish the rest of the world (my universe) knew about this herb. Apparently, having allegedly caused some serious liver problems for a few people throughout the years, when it was seen as this potent liver detoxifier, this herb was well, de-publicized, and made unavailable in commerce, as it is called, meaning, you just can't go out and buy it.. anywhere, in much of the country. But in New Mexico, well at least in Santa Fe, oh yes you can. And not only that, you can go harvest some yourself. After listening to how great it was for skin cancers and lesions and for all of these REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, after noticing that there is a street named after it not far from where I was living, after having a debate with my car dealer about whether it was a plant or a region (it is both), I finally saw it in the wild (on our first field trip), tried it (it was strong) and then it became part of my vocabulary. I love this plant. It is a small, interesting looking plant, and the flowers get this fuzzy white stuff around them that makes it look like they are molding, but they aren't ... simply because I dont think mold could ever come near a chaparral plant, it would repel it and pretty much tackle it and kill it before it had the slightest chance since it is so incredibly potent antimicrobial and antifungal... i just love this stuff. My love affair with Chaparral began when I came back from having an unnecessary biopsy of my uterus, and I felt as if my insides were on fire, and that they might just come sliding out of my vagina in a steamy, bloody, melted goober. It was and has been quite possibly the most scary health challenge I have ever faced, well, as an adult, I will say that much, where it was up to me to figure it out, and not up to my parents to freak out and bring me to whatever doctor they thought could handle it best. Anyways, so here I am, studying herbal medicine, and I am trying this tea and that tea, and nothing was helping AT ALL and I mean NOTHING. Then.. it occurred to me, Chaparral. I made a strong decoction, had a few sips, and I mean, wow, my symptoms seriously calmed down. It was the first time I felt anything at all in terms of actual relief to any serious degree. Chaparral is incredibly strong. This thing lives in desert conditions that most plants cannot survive in, and it has the same kind of life saving abilities when it comes to healing your body. It is a champion. This herb basically serves to conquer an array of things that could have possibly been plaguing my body at the time, and this is why it was helpful, because well... i really couldn't figure out what it was that was plaguing me, the typical antibiotics weren't helping. Chapparal is a fighter for your body against so many ailments that can plague your female parts. It is antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiparasitic, cooling and is used to treat infections that are hot and toxic. In my case, my pee felt like it had been simmered on low heat (meaning you have a hot condition). in cases of.. you name it: UTI's, HPV, chronic yeast infections, gonorrhea, vaginitis, herpes, staph, absesses, boils, low grade kidney infections, respiratory infections, parasites, cold & flu. I mean, watch out infection... Chaparral will kick your ass. And I thank the kind Southwest herbalists for introducing me to this powerhouse herb. Love it, don't care how it tastes. When something helps you that much, it tastes like life. And the little flower buds are so cute, and the stems a really neat wintergreen color that is pretty unique. 

Herb Journal: Angelica Root

Angelica: the name itself is going to inspire curiosity and attention. So, what's the deal? What does it have to do with Angels, right? Well, I'll give that some attention later. First, how does it taste? I just made a tea, and well.. it's okay, kind of soothing. In the beginning, a bit peppery, the color is a golden blonde, and the smell reminds me of the way every hippie's living room smelled throughout my experience. Like some sort of incense that all deadheads shared in common. But the taste and the smell don't really correspond. The aftertaste is a bit nutty. I'd say, this is not a tea that you drink for pleasure. It is grounding, after you sit with it for a few minutes. It is calming. This tea seems to root you quite effectively, bringing a halt to that continuous, roundabout "thinking" we all seem to do. Now that I remember, I think it was talked about in class, the one day that I left my notebook at home, that Angelica is known to quiet one's thoughts and bring a halt to circular thinking, bring you into the moment. That is TOTALLY happening right now. All of a sudden, I am aware of being in this moment, right here, right now. I was in my head, yes in my head, thinking of all of these other things and not being rooted in the now. Until now. Well, Angelica has already made a friend in me. Aside from the psycho-spiritual aspects of Angelica (according to our notes, it is recommended for people who are feeling emotionally empty, hollow, need a little relaxation of the mind, who feel that life no longer makes sense, feel depressed, anguish, fatigue, or nervous excitement). Angelica is said to calm (balance) any sort of excess of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, whether over.. or under.. stimulated. Interesting. Any plant that can bring you into balance is a good one, worth noting, and this one is used quite often, and is worth remembering. It seems Angelica is seen most often in cough formulas, as it is very useful for clearing respiratory congestion, and aids with asthma. Oh, and why is it called Angelica? According to Botannical.com, A Modern Herbal, there are a few ideas about this. One is, according to legend, Angelica was revealed in a dream by an angel to cure the plague. Another explanation is that the plant blooms on the day of Michael the Archangel.(A Modern Herbal, by Mrs. M. Grieve). 

Herb Journal: Red Clover

Well, Red Clover, since we are drinking it with stems and leaves, still comes out a green color. But the taste is really mild and sweet and uplifting. This is a good tea for a cold night under the covers reading a book. Its extremely nutritive, and gives you an overall sense of well-being. I think that because Red Clover is so backed with nutrients and is also a fantastic detoxifier, it just makes you feel good. Plus, since it is a big fertility herb, I see it very much as a great plant for women, and helps to balance your mood, while clearing heat and cooling your moods/emotions/senses/and overall constitution. Nutrients it contains are numerous: calcium, magnesium, chromium, potassium, thiamine, iron, vitamins C and K. Therefore, this is not only a yummy, cooling, relaxing, drink, a good one for stress and overexciteability, but it gives your body some nourishment. I don't see where you can go wrong. To me, whenever I have female issues I think of red clover and red raspberry. Maybe the fact that they both have the word red in them? They are both great female tonics. Like a warm blanket covering me when I am cold, wet and shivering like a baby seal in the arctic. Hmmm, maybe this increases my creativity as well, because all of a sudden, I am thinking more abstractly. This is comforting to me, I have been obsessing over something that doesn't serve my best interests for far too long. Time to take a load off. Red clover, you always make me better :). I don't want to leave out the possibility that my hormones are just off balance, and red clover may be a good balancer. i was on birth control that was strictly progesterone for almost a decade. Perhaps the phyotoestrogen formonenetin that red clover contains is something my body lacks a proper amount of. could be.. just sayin. The aftertaste of this tea is like honey. Soothing, and lax, like I just listened to The Cowboy Junkies version of Sweet Jane on repeat for a matter of hours. 

Herb Journal: Thyme

Well, thank God, thyme came around just in time. As I was recovering from a semi- heart-attack from the super ultra horrendously drying Calendula, I felt as if I had just made it halfway through the desert, and if I couldn't get a sip of water, well, I just was going to give. up. At least until my mouth started producing saliva again. Wow, calendula, I'd just like to say, no thank you. In the desert where I live, you are an unwelcome flower when it comes to drinking tea. Otherwise, you are okay. So thyme. This is a tremendously cooling herb to me, at this moment. It just helped me to re-start the motor of my body and put it back into balance. I really like thyme. It helps me to focus, is incredibly cooling and hydrating. It was a welcome remedy for what felt like a body dying of dehydration. And ironically enough, thyme is also seen as warming, even HOT, drying and astringent. That can really only make a greater statement about how insanely drying calendula is, that thyme actually feels moistening. As I chug a glass of aloe vera juice to bring some sort of hydration and moisture back into my body, I will try to think about thyme, on it's own, and not in relation to Calendula. it is pretty intense, peppery, and stimulating to the digestive system. My stomach juices feel like they are flowing, and that is part of what makes thyme a culinary herb, it is a carminative, in that it aids digestion. My feeling of an impending athsma attack is being stymied as well by this unique and pungent herb, as it is a bronchodilator, helping to open the lungs and aid respiration when there is any sort of respiratory congestion, or complaint. Oh.. ok I just read that despite it's classification of hot and warming, thyme is helpful to the condition of heat affecting the nervous system, which is what I was feeling, sort of. A dehydrated panic. Sometimes, despite the energetics of an herb, it can serve to balance out the extreme of another, being cooling when you are too hot, warming when you are too cold. I think I also associate the color green with hydrating, refreshing.. it might be somewhat psychosomatic as well. 

Herb Journal: Calendula (Marigold)

This flower is so gorgeous, I just love to watch it simmer in a pot with a small amount of water while making a decoction, and watching the beautiful, shimmering blonde leaves float around so gracefully, like ballet dancers in the water, swimming around ... slowly infusing the water with it's golden glow. That is the best thing about making calendula tea. When you strain it, the tea looks a lot like urine. Well, exactly. But no reason to hold that against it. Just looks like it. A lot. Once you get over that, well, what do I think about this tea? I have to say.. its kind of bitter to me, extremely drying. Was never my favorite with regards to taste, or with regards to anything that it did to me, physically, or otherwise. Now, I like to add it to tea mixtures, since it does have that tissue healing property it is so well-known for, but only in mixtures is my move when it comes to calendula, because as a straight tea, i'm just not a big fan. Calendula itself? LOVE IT. It is amazing to apply externally, and I use it ALL THE TIME infused in oil, and it's great in almost any salve imaginable. Despite it's sweet frailty as a flower, just looks-wise, it is a powerhouse of energy when it comes to healing wounds, or any sort of itchy, painful, frustrating issue of the skin. Also as a deuche, wonderful tissue soother & healer. I love this plant. Just, as a tea, not so much. Add some marshmallow, to balance out its astringency (makes my mouth pucker, it is so drying), lavender to mellow it out a bit and give it a pleasureable flavor, and some sort of mint, to take away it's immense heat (it's a "warming herb").. I can hack it. it's also nice with pink rose petals, which help to cool, and balance out the intensity of the plant).They make a good duo. But again, on its own.. just .. yech. 

Herb Journal: Yerba De La Negrita (New Mexican Globe Mallow)

I'm just going to start off as saying: YUMMMMM, I really like this herbal tea. It smells amazing, first of all. This is the first thing I noticed, as some herbs are much more aromatic than others, and then there is the case of, well does it smell good? Hmmm... okay that aside, this is a good tea. Just yummy. It has a yellow-greenish color, and is incredibly warming to the heart as well as to the body. It is what i needed, right now, at this moment, for whatever reason. But lets dig deeper. Why does this feel so good to me? It tastes kind of nutty, for one. It is the first in a while in the course of doing this journal, where i wanted another cup, immediately. The tea that we made is full on. It's got the bark, stems, leaves and flowers. This makes it complete in a way that a lot of the other herbs we have been sampling have not. It would be really interesting to try the tea of dandelion leaves with the root, as well as yerba mansa leaves and root, for example. I'm guessing it would perhaps have a much more wholesome flavor, well-rounded, as perhaps is this tea. And it is making me wonder, if perhaps that is the best way to make teas in the future, even if the root, branch, leaf or flower has a different effect, wouldn't it be wonderful to just at least try each tea, with all of it's ingestible elements.. altogether, just to get the full picture. Love it, and this will be one of my future projects. For now, again, one of my favorite teas. Interestingly enough my favorite teas that I have sampled in the past several, have been used in Native American culture as "protective herbs" having sort of magical powers to protect a person in various circumstances. No wonder these herbs are so good to me. We all have vulnerabilities. Mine is that I am sometimes thrown off.. very far, by emotional issues that arise, especially when they are unexpected, creating a certain fear, shock, hurt and trauma. The cure is to feel safe, loved, and to be able to release, which is something I scramble to do, but can't help but to be like a hurt puppy dog, licking my wounds and not finding the way to just kick them out of my mind/heart/body. So to me, the herbs that are seen as protective, motherly some might say, are the ones that heal my heart. As of now, I need some love, and if herbs, that are living, thriving, breathing things, and have each their own energetics, can bring their life force to me, and help me to deal with grief, I am althemore grateful. Interestingly enough, both this herb and yucca have been tremendously to my liking very recently, and they are both used in the Southwest as cleansing agents (as soaps, shampoos), and metaphorically, as I feel I need some cleansing of my mind, as there were some pretty disturbing thoughts and images that I have been struggling with this past week or so, it does make sense. I need a "limpia" ... of my soul, bring me back to mother earth, to the state of my innocence that I feel at this moment in time, is lost and blighted. Mucilaginous, soothing, moistening, cooling.. and sweet. Just what the doctor ordered. Thank you Globemallow, for being my friend and ally today. I will hold you dear to my heart. 

Herb Journal: Yucca

Yucca has a light uplifting nuance. It is soft on the tongue and the tastebuds, and hearty as well. It is, afterall, a nutritive plant, as it is something that is eaten in several different places in the world, as a staple carbohydrate. The tea feels like it's rich in vitamins and minerals. Like a liquid meal. The taste is kind of sweet but refreshing. It's sudsy, which is kind of funny, because it makes it look as if its carbonated. But its this fizz that made it something that has been used (along with the fibers that can scrub things to clean) as a soap and shampoo, as well as just a basic cleanser for what have you. Energetically it lifts my spirits, makes me feel literally lighter. My mood is brighter and my problems less menacing. Suddenly the sun looks brighter, my day looks longer (in a good, productive way) and I feel more sound, altogether. Probably because I didn't eat much today, the yucca helped my body by integrating its nutritive value, protein, beta carotene... and perhaps the pain killing/anti-inflammatory benefits of even its small amount of salicin helped the headache I've been fighting the past few days.

Herb Journal: Dandelion Leaf

Dandelion Leaf: It's funny, nobody thinks about dandelion in any way other than this pesky weed. I remember having an argument with my former roommate about this, and feeling angry when he was talking about all of the irritating weeds in the backyard, as well, I am studying herbal medicine, and I happen to know that these so-called weeds to which people so often refer with such contempt, are only undesireable when you look at plants for what you want them to do to beautify your lawn, yes, plants are beautiful, they help to purify the air, but these pesky weeds? poor unloved, misunderstood plants. They can make you healthy when you are sick, and you are tossing them in the garbage because they are ruining your landscape architecture. So it goes, this is why we are sick as a nation and as a world. We throw away plants that have tremendous health benefits and then drive to Walgreens to pick up our latest prescription. It is not the people's fault. What do they know? But I feel sorry for the lonely unloved dandelions, who are not only there to help your body, but also are there to actually aid your gardening efforts. Well, dandelion tea, it is a pretty yellowish-green color, it tastes pretty good, and it has a strengthening effect on your life force, meaning it is a strengthener, well of course, it is, actually a nutritive herb, and thus a blood strengthener. It tastes sort of sweet, and somewhat mellow. A  nice flavor, and one I can say is a pleasurable tea to drink. It gets your fluids flowing, as it is a "bitter" herb, although that is not its ovewhelming characteristic in my opinion, it stimulates bile secretion and makes you salivate... a lot. Dandelion leaf is AWESOME. It contains tons of calcium and vitamin C and iron, it can be like a daily multivitamin, plus it tastes good, controls cholesterol, helps with type 2 diabetes, PMS, stimulates kidneys and liver function, reduces inflammation, and is a all around basic detoxifier. This herb is so incredibly useful for so many things, I have used it often, in so many different formulas, from calcium and iron nutritional supplements, to chlorophyll blood alkalizing formulas, to external healing salves. This is one of those stock herbs to keep on hand, if you are going to treat yourself herbally for various issues that arise. 

Herb Journal: Cota (Navajo Tea, Indian Tea, Greenthread)

Cota: I almost want to issue a sincere apology to whoever thinks that cota is so great. I know that it is the tea of several native american tribes in the Southwest and people drink it like its water, or coffee, and they just love it so much. To that I have to say, I just dont get it. Not that it's terrible, it's not. but its definitely not my cup of tea. It just isn't all that. There are a lot of teas that I would rather drink on a daily basis than this one, that have a wonderful aroma, taste and sensuality. So, cota, the tea is orange. That in and of itself makes me laugh, don't ask me why. Out of all of the plants that we have seen, I just thought that cota was the weirdest  looking one, and that is certainly not a bad thing in my book, but it stands out, these long long long stems, like giraffes, with a tiny head on top. How do they survive, these spaghetti like plants, they are so strange. But they do, and are the pleasure of the Hopi's, Navajo's and who knows however many other native tribes. I find it to be more or less devoid of flavor. Perhaps this is why I find it so bizarre. Before I discovered that the reason I never found myself interested in tea before was because it had never been made correctly, and as a result, I just found it something of a waste of time, in terms of taste.. it was just some hot water, with a tiny bit of almost imperceptible flavor, that i didn't even find so delicious in the slightest, and therefore, just a waste of my time. I might as well just drink hot water. And I dont like to do this, so I just stuck to things that brought me more pleasure, and that felt like I was accomplishing something reasonable by drinking it (if only sensory, but that is a big part of our pleasure in life). Cota in other terms, is very drying, that is the sensation that I have. If I need an antiviral, cancer preventive or bactericide, I think I will defer to lemon balm, red clover, and any number of antibacterial teas that i actually find some reward in imbibing. So, I tossed the rest of the cup, I have never been able to drink a full cup of this tea. But you are an interesting looking little plant, I have to say, Cota, like the little plant that could.. 

Herb Journal: Yerba Mansa

From the start, I always just found it strange the way the herb was spelled. I guess, knowing Spanish, it seemed strange, because, well, the word herb is hierba in Spanish, and so, what's with this yerba stuff? Are we that dumb that we can't even spell it right, we have to make it into whatever it sounds like to us? Rhetorical. Then someone informed me, and I'm still not entirely sure if this is true or not, that even in Latin America, these herbs are spelled Yerba, at times, well, such as Yerba Mate, so, well, okay then, but for some reason, it still makes me twitch. I have learned to love yerba mansa, not for its flavor.. noooooo, but because it seems to be the go to herb for things that have been pestering me the past few months. At first, I didn't want to listen, to be honest, because I just wasn't familiar with it, and as it is used quite often as a substitute for goldenseal, I didn't get it. I know that goldenseal and echinacea are the "immune boosting" herbs, but what did this have to do specifically with this irritation I was having in my uterus. Well, after using Tomas' tincture that he made specifically for my condition, which co-starred yerba mansa, and his advice as well to chug yerba mansa tea as often as I could, I started to see why. I was feeling better, and well, there's no better testimony than that. I started to just infuse the root in water and always keep a mason jar of it in the fridge, drinking it then filling it up again, it just became my drink, basically, along with ocotillo, osha root, chapparal, rosemary and pine tar infused water. I would just take turns, drinking a mason jar of each, and in the meantime let the others steep. These herbs are all antimicrobial, and at least I felt some relief after drinking all of those listed. They were altogether anti-inflammatory as well, but a few had some unwanted side effects. The pine tar water was making me spit up phlegm, and it became a nuisance. Well, of course, it's an expectorant. The chaparral was making me incredibly constipated. Well of course, its super drying and astringent. yerba mansa became my daily friend, and I have really come to appreciate it's immense power and beauty. If you leave it soaking in water for long enough, it tints the water red, and if you make a decoction, it becomes a dark red. The decoction is powerful, but as I felt that I just really needed to chug as much water as I could, not sip sort of distinctive and uncomfortable teas as much as I know I probably should have, I just infused everything in water, and it was more palatable to me. I still have yet to use yerba mansa for deuching, probably more than anything just because the situation has been so unpredictable, so many things that have brought me relief from infections, in particular, in the past, were just NOT WORKING in this situation, some actually making me feel worse, and the pain has been unbearable at times. The problem is, that once you put something in your vagina, well, you just really can't undo it. My acupuncturist gave me a deuche solution, something she has had for a while and used successfully. I tried that once, so I suppose I did deuche with yerba mansa, although it was a collection of herbs and a tincture as well, so its not so easy to discern. Especially because the alcohol itself, I don't know if that might inflame the tissue in their despite the helpfulness of the herbs. In the end, maybe yerba mansa is not the most pleasant tasting herb, I started out drinking the tea of the leaves, until Tomas corrected me and said that the root would be much more effective. The tea of the leaves I find nauseating. Again, I would drink anything though if I felt it helped whatever condition I was fighting, but I'm glad that we transferred over to the root. I seem to have more of an affinity to roots and bark in general. I do like teas of leaves and flowers, but roots, well, tend to balance my dosha I'm guessing. I'm a water sign, and so anything that is rooted in the earth is somethign that grounds me and is sort of what I need to keep myself in order. Not only that, but i see examples of this in my love life as well. Random, and straying a bit off the topic, but I find myself happiest with men who are earth signs, and I notice, very clearly that they tend to balance me out, ground me, as I can be like the sea, tumultuous and everchanging with my moods and emotions, and someone who is fastidious and consistent is the perfect person for me, to keep me rooted, as well, on the ground. 

Elder Berry: The Tea For your Heart

Elderberry. My first sip was unimpressive. Only because I saw the deep burgundy color of the tea, and expected it to be very rich and flavorful, and.. well of course sweet, as it is a berry afterall. But, it wasn't very flavorful, not the way I had assumed it would be, but oh well, you can't have it all. I remember in class, munching on a few dry elderberries, and well, they weren't very sweet either. So, it is what it is, so they are not that sweet. It's okay, everything can't be what you want it to be, but it can still be something awesome. So here we go. I had a sip, it was bland and boring, but how do i feel. I feel a sudden sense of mental clarity, my nose is starting to run, meaning it loosened the hardened mucous in my nose that has been making a tremendous amount of snot that has been hardening along my nasal cavity for the past.. gosh, i dont know, ever since I've been here, but more often the past few weeks. I had to start putting oil in my nose every day just to try to keep it down, but this tea, is very clearly, loosening the mucous and making it run... not a bad thing, just need some kleenex and a place to spit out the mucous that is now coming up from my throat. Also, a good thing in my mind, as this climate is dry, and even your mucous dries up and sticks around (no pun intended). Loosening it up a bit and getting it out can be pesky and annoying, but we all know, expelling mucous from ones body, as annoying as it might be, is fundamentally a good thing, kind of like having a bowel movement. You are just getting the shit out of your body. So thanks, elderberry. You are a friend. Also, my stomach was feeling weak and agitated, definitely a result of a rocky relationship I had been having with a close friend, that was making me borderline crazy. My stomach was in knots and feeling just as jumpy and uncomfortable as my emotions and mind. I feel a strength settling in there, like a good book, that resolves your inner conflict, and makes it all make sense, or just takes the edge off, since certain things bring calm to your spirit, like a book that puts nice ideas into your head, or a movie that brings that happy feeling, and totally takes you away from whatever it was in your head, because it's always, and all, in our head... and brings you to a happy place. That happened to my stomach from elderberry. I feel anchored in my stomach. The butterflies are dispelled into the air to fight their own wretched battles, and my tummy is full with the sense that hey.. go fuck yourself fairy tale worries, this is all in your head.. and i'm gonna fuck you up. Elderberry gives you a certain confidence, that whatever it is that has been bothering you, it is nothing and you are bigger and stronger than that. I like this as a confidence tonic. It is strengthening, no question. I feel like a warrior. Not in a voilent way, like in a Pat Benetar "Shooting at the walls of heartache, bang bang, I am the warrior". That's a bit aggressive. Maybe more like "I am woman, hear me roar". Something more like that, although I like the strength that this gives in the face of something menacing and threatening. It's telling me, you don't need to fight. It's okay, your battle is imaginary. The threat is only a figment of your imagination, as it almost. always. is. Or rather, it's how you percieve it, or if you let it ... Well, I just wrote happy birthday my love, to my aunt.. so, there must be something incredibly healing (and heart-opening) to this tea, because although I am always kind, it's not something I would ordinarily say, and perhaps, it gives you courage when it comes to love, to just be as loving as you can, and not hold back. We all have it in us. Don't we? Although they say that Hawthorn is the heart tea, I believe I just stumbled upon one that is just as good. Elderberry, the tea for your heart :)