I love hops.

Herbal Sleep and Dream Pillows

What type of dreams do you desire? Simple to prepare, sewing aromatic herbs into small pillows can help bring peaceful sleep, enhance dreams, and encourage dream memory. This practice dates back centuries and is beneficial for adults, children, and pets.

(via mountainroseblog)

You’re a ghost driving a meat coated skeleton made from stardust, what do you have to be scared of?

http://criminalwisdom.tumblr.com/

Marriage altar on Christmas Eve

Salvia Officinalis - Nightly Monograph #7 "Sage balances fluids of all kinds." Appearing to be a tonic for all ailments associated with the lack or over abundance of fluids. Some examples; excessive urination, excessive perspiration, pain in joints, dry cough, sore throat, menopause, to stop lactation, varicose veins, arthritis, asthma. Especially good for sore throats as a tea or for bleeding gums as a mouth wash. Seems like it would be a great addition in many blends given it's versatile nature and ability to balance the internal flow. Pungent, warm, moist AND astringent.

Pouring the salve!

What do you do when your husband breaks a bunch of rosemary branches while putting up the holiday lights? Make calendula rosemary salve as Yule gifts!

If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.

Tennessee Williams (via her0inchic)

Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence. - Mourning Dove [Christine Quintasket] (1888-1936) Salish

http://www.clarysageherbarium.com

Nightly Monograph #6 - Vervain

Verbena officinalis (I really need to start memorizing all these latin names. It allows one to be very clear and precise when talking about a plant. This way you're not using the common name and referring to a bunch of plant variations.)

ACRID BITTER. This flew out at me immediately. Apparently it is so acrid that large doses bring a chill to the body - that's intense. Which is another major characteristic of this plant- it's intensity. Dr. Bach used verbena officinalis as an emotional remedy for extremists or people who are overly ambitious and may be suffering from body tension. 

Verbena hastata (blue vervain) has a similar use. It's a special remedy for neck pain in over exert-ers. The type of people who are constantly pushing, planning and challenging themselves. It's also a specific for hormonal food craving during menstruation as well as hot flashes in menopause. 

It is a full time job peeling back the mystery of who you are as a person. Don’t be distracted by who others think you are. Just go outside and do what you feel is true.

Lessons from Living on a Bicycle

The wise words of Susun Weed.

History: the early Greeks gave motherwort to pregnant women suffering from anxiety. This use continued and gave the herb the name mother wort, or “mother’s herb.” Its other prominent action is on the heart, giving it the species name cardiaca or the Greek kardiaca, or heart. Leonurus comes from the Greek leon for “lion” and ouros for “tail”, as the plant was thought to resemble the tail of a lion. There is an old tale about a town whose water source is a stream flowing through banks of motherwort. Many of the townspeople lived to be 130 years old and recall one who reportedly lived to 300 years. In ancient China, motherwort was reputed to promote longevity. In Europe, motherwort first became known as a treatment for cattle diseases. Colonists introduced motherwort into North America and the 19 th century Eclectics recommended it as a menstruation promoter and aid to expelling the afterbirth. They did not consider it a heart remedy at all. The Cherokees used the herb as a sedative for nervous afflictions. In the Victorian Language of Flowers it symbolizes concealed love. Properties: emmenagogue, astringent, carminative, cardiac tonic, diuretic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic Medicinal: Motherwort is primarily an herb of the heart. Several species have sedative effects, decreasing muscle spasms and temporarily lowering blood pressure. Chinese studies found that extracts decrease clotting and the level of fat in the blood and can slow heart palpatations and rapid heartbeat. Another of motherwort’s uses is to improve fertility and reduce anxiety associated with childbirth, postpartum depression, and menopause. If used in early labor it will ease labor pains and calms the nerves after childbirth. Take motherwort only once soon after giving birth as consistent use before the uterus has clamped down may cause bleeding to continue. Use one to two times a day in the weeks following birth for easing tension and supporting a woman through the feelings that come with new mothering. Do not use during pregnancy. Motherwort helps bring on a delayed or suppressed menstrual flow, especially when someone is anxious and tense. Chinese women often use it combined with dong quai as a menstrual regulator. Avoid using for menstrual cramps when bleeding is heavy. It strengthens and relaxes the uterine muscles and eases uterine cramping. It also reduces fevers, and is especially suggested for illnesses associated with nervousness or delirium. Motherwort was formerly used to treat rheumatism and lung problems, like bronchitis and asthma. Motherwort may help an overactive thyroid but does not depress normal thyroid function. Tincture the leaves and flowers as soon as you pick them. If you prefer to dry them, lay the leaves and stalks onto screens. Motherwort tea has a very bitter taste. Chinese medicine uses the seeds to aid in urination; cool the body system; treat excessive menstrual flow, absence of menstruation. -Susun Weed

We're fostering this giant American Bully. He is such a gentle giant. Over 100lbs and afraid of everything. I love that he looks like a gargoyle. He stopped eating his food this morning because my fluffy cat Fae got too close to him and he got nervous.

I did a really awesome photo shoot today for the Muffsache Calendar project. All funds from their calendar goes toward preventative cervical screening for low income women. Pretty rad. 

Herb #6 - Hops

One of my classmates made the most amazing hops tincture the other day. I had to try some asap (honestly I couldn't wait). I love everything about hops! I love the shape of the buds, the rich smell and obviously the taste. The tincture was divine, almost like an IPA but without the creaminess. I was surprised that right after taking there was an extreme acridity in the back of my throat. I didn't fully realize how much of a bite the hops plant really has. I'm psyched to take a few drops tonight before bed. 

Herb # 5 - Jiao Gu Lan

Today is my last western herbalism class for year one. I have tasted an insane amount of adaptogens and mushrooms this weekend. Right now I'm sipping on some Jiao Gu Lan an herb from China. It's like a sweet white tea with a little bit less of the astringency taste. It's really subtle but I like it. Last night I drank an awesome Green Pu-erh tea prepared by a man who has made a paper crane every single day since he was eight. He can make cranes with only one hand and his eyes closed. His hands and arms are covered in paper crane tattoos. 

A giant Chaga at herb school!

Herb #4 - Lobelia Lobelia has a long history of use. Culpepper used it in his course of cleansing people and in high doses it makes people vomit. That's why lots of people are afraid of it nowadays. It's silly since it really takes quite a bit to make you feel queasy. I got to taste some of the tincture today and it's awesome. I love that acrid bitter taste. My one classmate, Mel, even described it as kind of spicy. It's a great one for calming and almost immediately after I took it my pulse slowed down. I'm thinking of adding it to a personal herbal formula to help me relax. And it's also great in a quit smoking formula.