Astrology and Wellness

Had a fantastic time at Astrology Day 2011 in SF on this past Saturday. Foe more on that, go to my astrology blog.

One of the speakers, Stephanie Gailing, in addition to being an astrologer, is a wellness consultant. Her presentation, titled: "Uranus in Aries: Taking Charge of Our Well-Being", included suggestions for diet and exercise as well as the herbs and essences. Her book Planetary Apothecary is for sale on my sidebar.

In general, Uranus, the god of rapid change is going into the sign of Aries, ruled by Mars. Impulsive, with child-like energy, naivete and energy, Aries rules the head and is prone to accidents and injuries due to its tendency to act first and think later. Uranus which rules the nervous system, likes to shake things up. Hmmm sounds familiar doesn't it?

So with all that is going on in the world, stress and upset are highly available. We need to focus on calming down, slowing down and acting deliberately. Now after an extremely difficult and long winter, we are all yearning to burst out the door whenever the sun shines. We need to MOVE! True, we do. But let us do so in a manner that will serve our well-being. Stephanie suggests yoga, tai chi, qi gong, ecstatic dance, Sufi dancing - among other ways of moving, so that our energy is channeled in a positive way.

We need to remember to get enough rest and sleep too.

She suggests nutritive herbs, nervines (Skullcap and Valerian) and adaptogens (Ashwaganda and Eleuthro); to help relax, Lavendar and Chamomile essential oils in rubs or bath products; and last but not least, flower essences like Yarrow, Impatiens, and Rescue Remedy. Interestingly, just prior to her mentioning Rescue Remedy, I had just taken a couple of drops of Desert Crisis Formula by Desert Alchemy, which has a similar purpose and is my 'crisis formula of choice.' The energy in the room was challenging to someone who has been sick in bed for nearly two weeks. It helped immediately. I enjoyed the conference immensely, but it was a huge energetic change for me.

Which, by the way, is how we might experience Uranus in Aries. After being in the doldrums for months, even years due to Pluto's ingress into Capricorn and the collapse of the economy, we are going to get a blast of energy that may throw us off kilter for awhile. Our challenge is to not lose our footing while setting our sails so that these winds of change move us forward, not aground.

In addition to the herbs Stephanie mentioned, I suggest Passionflower as a mildly relaxing herb. I make a blend of tinctures called Take It Easy, which is a combination of Nettle, Ashwaganda, Fennel Seed, Motherwort, Vervain, Skullcap, Passionflower, Damiana, Chamomile, Melissa, St.John's Wort, Schizandra, Cleavers, Linden Flower and Red Clover. Honey and Pomegranate Syrup make it taste good. A two ounce bottle is $28.00. For shipping in the U.S.add another 4.95 for a total of $32.95. Pay through the Paypal Keep the Essences Flowing Donation button in the sidebar with the message 'tonic' and send me your shipping address.

Meditation, contemplation and prayer can help settle your mind and give you focus for the energy that will be inside and outside you. I suggested at the conference that sometimes we take flower and gem essences because 'other people' are driving us nuts. We cannot control others, but we CAN take care of ourselves, our emotional states and our responses/reactions. During this time flower essences and especially gem elixirs are useful. Those which address the need to stay grounded, give clarity and help you relax are most helpful.

Herb of the Month - Oats

According to Judith Berger in Herbal Rituals, the Herb of the Month for February is Oat Avena sativa. Originating in the near east and Mediterranean, they quickly adapted to the cold and wet sea climates of Northern Europe. They were brought to America by the Puritans.

According to Berger, Oats provide most of the required vitamins and minerals. Although they have seven times the fat as rice, they contain chemical substances that protect the heart, balance cholesterol, and assist circulation. Oats have a direct effect on the nervous and endocrine systems and have a transformative effect on the immune system. Oats build strong bones and teeth, stabilize sugar levels in the blood and improve blood flow by elasticizing veins and arteries. They also act as a powerful nerve tonic. They give us inner fortitude and thus can provide support for those trying to withdraw from caffeine, alcohol or tobacco. Oats are good for the skin and hair and can help with chronic itching.

When I was a teenager, I used to make a paste of oatmeal and use it as a facial mask. I never had acne. I don't know if it was due to my masks or other factors in my genetics or diet. But, it is certainly worth trying. There are many commercial soaps and lotions available based on oats for people with sensitive skin, so... trying an oatmeal mask will not hurt.

I just mixed old-fashioned oats and water. You can get fancy. The following recipe is an elaborate facial mask recipe.

Demeter's Beautifying Oat Grain Scrub

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 ounce to 1 ounce lavender buds or rose petals
2 tsp. of ground almonds
2 tsp. of white or red clay (optional)
a dash of seaweed (optional)
blender or mortal and pestle

The almonds supply natural oils, the oats gently rub away dead skin. If your skin is oily use more clay and fewer almonds. The lavender is astringent and pungent and balances the oil-giving almonds.

Place all ingredients in blender or mortar and blend until ground up. When ready to use, place some in the palm of your hand and add water. Make a paste and put on face. Allow it to dry before gently washing it off.

Lemon Balm

When I first moved into my current home and started working on putting in a garden, I found it overgrown with a plant unknown to me, which I started pulling out. I later learned it was Lemon Balm or Melissa officinalis and, thankfully, it all came back. Now I value it. Since then I have learned to find out what the “weeds” are before I pull them out. Consequently, there is very little I take out now. Lately, I found out that native grasses are hiding places for bees, so now hardly any grass gets taken out either. For the untrained eye, my garden might look like a weed patch with a few obviously cultivated places. To me, it is a habitat for bees, butterflies, birds and yes, even bugs, as well as where I grow my medicinal plants, flowers and vegetables. This year, I am experimenting with leaving the spearmint growing in the middle of tomato plants. It seems that I have no bugs on the tomatoes which may be because of the volatile oils in the spearmint. This is entirely unscientific, but as an aromatherapist, I know that the volatile oils in plants serve many functions, including protection and healing. So…. It follows that this may be what is occurring. I keep asking the tomatoes and they say they are happy. Huh? You talk to your plants? Of course. And they talk back? Yes, I can hear them in my head.

Now, back to Lemon Balm. First off, any plant that has officinalis in its Latin name means it was part of the official pharmacopeia - that is, it was used in the practice of medicine.

This is interesting because it originally came from the Middle East and has been cultivated there for over 2000 years. Ibn Sina, the 11th century medical genius, known in Europe as Avicenna, prescribed lemon balm for melancholy and heart problems. It is a gentle and effective nerve tonic and it tastes delicious.*

It was brought by Arab traders to Europe through Spain during the period we learned to call, the “Moorish occupation”, but in fact, saw the most peaceful and fruitful flowering of culture, science, literature and spirituality. It was when Judaism, Christianity and Islam were working together in Spain and North Africa and when so many advances were made in all fields of human endeavor. The 'Golden Age' as far as I’m concerned. But one of which we, in the west, know so little.

Some interesting points:

- In Germany, the famed alchemist, Paracelsus called this herb the 'elixir of life' and used it in a compound called Primum Ens Melissae, reputed to restore vigour and prolong life.

- Lemon balm is reported to increase energy in the system by helping to release energy blocks and stress. It is relaxing, yet stimulating. It acts as an anti-depressant.

- In Europe, lemon balm is used in salves for herpes simplex symptoms. There is a lot of research being done that shows that lemon balm prevents certain viruses from attaching to cells.

- It can be used as a homemade insect repellant because its oil contains citronellal. Crush a handful of leaves in your hand and rub them on exposed skin.

A delicious tea can be made from the leaves, fresh or dry.*

*Taken from Natural Remedies of Arabia, by Robert W. Lebling and Donna Pepperdine

The word 'melissa' is a Greek word. In Greek mythology, Melissa was - a nymph and daughter of King Melisseus; she nursed the infant Zeus with goat milk on Mt. Ida; she taught humans how to use honey and her name comes from the Greek word for bee, melitta. Bees love the flowers that come late in the summer.

A great link to learn more is from A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve, at Botanical.com - Melissa officinalis

When growing lemon balm, you must use caution or it will take over. If you don't want it everywhere, growing in a pot might help.

I got this recipe from a fellow blogger:

Melissa Cordial

2 ½ tsp dried lemon balm
sliced and scraped peel of ¼ lemon
a pinch of coriander
a pinch of cinnamon
2 peppermint leaves
1 cup vodka
½ cup sugar syrup

Place all the ingredients in a bottle and steep 3 weeks. Shake the jar daily during the steeping period. Strain and filter into a dark bottle, adding more sugar to taste. Mature for 2 months.

Sugar Syrup also known as Simple Syrup

1 cup white granulated sugar and ½ cup water

Bring to a boil, and stir until all the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear. Always cool before adding to alcohol mixture.

June is St. John's Wort Time

St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum is in bloom now. The ideal time to harvest it is Summer Solstice or St. John's Day (June 24) The birth date of Saint John the Baptist. Although it is considered a "noxious weed" and therefore cannot be legally grown in California, it grows wild all over the place and so you can find it along the road.

You can make either an infused oil or a tincture with St. John's Wort.

Infused oil: Fresh flowering and budding tops only. Combine 1 part by weight of the fresh herb: 3 parts by volume of olive oil. The dried herb does not extract in oil. The fresh herb should be thoroughly bruised or mashed prior to combining with the oil.

Solar maceration of oil extract improves extraction of certain constituents, although maceration in the dark is also effective. The maceration must continue for 2 full weeks.

The oil is a useful external application for bruises, sprains, swellings, varicose ulcers, hemorrhoids, and old burns. The oil may be further processed into salves or creams which retain the same effect. The oil can also be used internally as a treatment for indigestion and /or gastric ulcer. The dosage is 1 tsp. taken 2 to 3 times daily.

Not to be taken concurrently with pharmaceutical drugs. Do not exceed recommended dosage. Overdose of the herb can cause photosensitivity, generally characterized by an increased optical sensitivity to sunlight and an increased tendency for the sunburn. People with light skin should keep treated areas covered due to increased risk of burning or blistering.

Use care when harvesting or processing. Best to wear gloves since hypericins are readily absorbed to the skin. Avoid rubbing the eyes or wiping the brow.

Tincture: You can make a tinture of fresh or dried flowering tops. With fresh the ratio of plant to alcohol is 1:2 (100% Alcohol), with dried 1:5 (75% Alcohol to 25% Water). You can leave it in the sun, but be careful since alcohol is flammable.

St. John's Wort has a nervine effect and can help in restoring damaged nerve tissues, deadening nerve pain and strengthening the urinary organs. It can be useful in treating athletic injuries with nerve damage and/or pulled muscles or ligaments.

"Hypericum" translates as "over an apparition" and has been used as an anti-depressant.

Taken from: Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Cech

David Hoffmann in Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine, writes that an oil made from St.John's Wort can be used for rheumatic pain, neuralgic or sciatic pains, or applied to minor burns. It is a valuable healing and anti-inflammatory remedy. In a lotion or salve it assists in the healing of wound and bruises, and varicose veins.

Taken internally, it has sedative and pain-relieving effects and has been used to treat neuralgia, anxiety, and tension. It can be useful during menopause when one is especially irritable or suffers from anxiety. (Note from Hamida - If you are suffering from on-going depression or emotional disturbance, seek help from someone you trust - don't keep self-medicating, even if it is with herbs).

Hamida says: I have used St. John's Wort tincture personally to relieve lower back pain caused by over-exertion. I also use it when I need to relax a little and calm down. The effects are subtle, but I feel more grounded. I use it in my Solar Salve. See my website www.wisewomenofthewest.com

A friend has had success in treating sciatica by taking St. John's Wort tincture.

And now it's time for me to go gather some and make some infused oil and tincture.
Happy Medicine Making!

The following is from Michael Moore's website:
Southwest School of Botanical Medicine

More pictures:

St. John's Wort

SJW up close

SJW thick growth