Herbal Remedies
Essential Oils
I sometimes like to imagine myself as the medicine woman who lives deep in the middle of a lush, green forest beside a flowing stream. People seek me out for plant wisdom and natural remedies that they won’t find in the nearby pharmacy. It’s all kind of “Lord of the Rings” with a little “Harry Potter” thrown in.
Well...affordable, woodsy, stream front property is a bit tough to come by these days, and such a location is not likely to be on your GPS. So, I happily find myself in this more accessible and easier to navigate virtual forest space! I offer bits and pieces of the healing wisdom that plants have to offer, so check out the rest of my website.
All medicinal plants have properties that can heal on physical, emotional and spiritual levels, but for now, let’s talk a bit about what they have to offer for physical healing.
The first modality that comes to mind is HERBAL REMEDIES.
Most people are familiar with at least some of the more popular herbs, but have you ever wondered how the uses of plants were determined to begin with? Some of the most effective herbs have a long, history of medicinal uses credited to cultures from all parts of the globe: Asian, Native American, African, Mesoamerican, Eastern Indian and the list goes on.
These native medicine traditions go back a long way, centuries before the internet and the written word in those things called “books.” The appointed medicine people of these cultures relied on intuition followed by a little trial and error. But they primarily looked to the plants themselves. Colors, scents, textures and shapes were considered clues to what healing agents the plants possessed. Over time this process eventually became known as “The Doctrine of Signatures.”
For example, if you look at the shape of the Ginseng plant, it looks like the arms, legs and sometimes the head of a human body in various poses. Ginseng has gained the reputation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of being an overall body tonic.
The rhizome of an herb known as Bloodroot secrets a fluid that is--you guessed it-- red, so it was eventually determined to be a plant used to detox the blood.
It has become a recently popular notion that when you crack open a walnut, the two halves of what’s inside resembles a brain. The Omega 3’s in these nuts have proven themselves to be, among other things, effective brain boosters.
So, you can see how nature cleverly and gradually revealed itself as a bounty of healing plants. In many instances it’s a bit of a stretch that would not pass the rigors of modern science, but such primitive methods have their place in the history of what we know as "herbalism" today.
ESSENTIAL OILS are another form of plant medicine that can be very healing on a physical level. They are highly concentrated extractions taken from plants that contain volatile oils and other healing compounds. We all know the now popular use of essential oils as “aromatherapy.”
One day in early 20th century France, a chemist named René-Maurice Gattefossé was working in the lab of his family’s cosmetic business when he severely burned his hand. Without thinking, he quickly immersed the hand in the nearest liquid available which happened to be a vat of Lavender essential oil. He experienced almost immediate relief and within a short time, his wounds healed with no sign of infection. There are several versions of this story, but Gattefossé is considered to be the father of modern aromatherapy. He was so impressed with these amazing results that he continued to experiment with Lavender oil and enthusiastically touted its healing properties.
However, the use of essential oils actually goes way back to ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek cultures. The Egyptians are credited by some to be the first to use them for temple ceremonies, cleansing, health, beauty, embalming rituals and as perfumes just to smell better!
Archeologists have even detected faint scents still lingering on excavated artifacts, so these are indeed very powerful botanical substances!
Today the concept of using essential oils for aromatherapy is enormously popular. They are the most concentrated form of plant medicine, usually extracted by a process called steam distillation. They work their magic topically and by inhalation via the olfactory nerve’s pathway to the brain.
When used in their purest form (neet) directly on the skin, it’s recommended that they be diluted with a carrier oil such as Jojoba, Sweet Almond, Apricot Seed, or even Vitamin E oil. You can also benefit from such a simple process as putting a drop of Eucalyptus oil on a tissue and giving it a sniff to clear out the sinuses. Using the same method, Rosemary makes a good study companion due to its ability to support memory and concentration.
I prefer to experience these oils by mixing several drops with water in an electric diffuser that disperses emotionally healing scents such as Orange to inspire cheerfulness, Peppermint to refresh and restore, and of course Lavender (a particular favorite of the Romans) to create a clean, relaxed atmosphere.
These are just a few of the more commonly known oils, but there are many to explore, and you can mix them to make personal concoctions for health and body care. Essential oils can alter the molecular structure of the air, so they so much more than commercial room sprays that merely attempt to mask unwanted odors.
Something to “note” if you are making your own blends is that essential oils have what are referred to as “notes.” Top notes such as Rose and Basil dissipate quickly, middle notes such as Cinnamon and Clary Sage hold their scent while base notes like Sandalwood and Patchouli are more enduring.
Dabbling in essential oils can be both fun and healing. But keep in mind that these are highly concentrated, potent substances and misuse can cause problems like headaches or even liver damage if overused. Amateurs who make their own products also need to be aware that essential oils are not to be taken internally. Once again, mother nature commands caution and respect, and it’s a good practice to tread lightly, especially when just getting started.
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