Tending To Our Well Being

Herbal medicine for psychospiritual health

Around the globe, we find tales of the well beings. Old stories tell of universally friendly spirits living in springs and wells. The well beings aid and nurture humans who encounter them. Some grant wishes when you drop an offering into the waters. Others, like Our Lady of Lourdes, answer the prayers of pilgrims who journey to their springs.

Birgid’s Well. County Kildare, Ireland

In stories indigenous to the British Isles, we hear of the magical well maidens. These female spirits resided in the wells and springs. They were tasked with tending to the health of the waters, the land, and all the beings dependent on the waters and the land. When anyone hungry or thirsty or lonely approached a spring or well, the well maidens would appear, offering food, drink, and hospitality. People loved the well maidens, and the well maidens loved the people.

Tragically, the relationship between the people and the well maidens was injured. According to a 13^th century epic poem called The Elucidation, an evil king named Amangon invaded the fertile and welcoming lands of the British Isles. Not content to receive the nourishment and company offered freely, Amangon and his men raped the well maidens. This resulted in a retreat of the well beings. The well maidens withdrew into the spirit world and the connection between humans and the well beings was severed.

Like all the world’s very old tales, the story of the well maidens means many things to many people. The story comes to me as I contemplate my personal wellbeing and tend to the wellbeing of others.

How has my own well being been injured, assaulted, or otherwise driven away? More importantly, how do I coax her back?

Artemesia

(Artemisia spp.)

I am an herbalist, so my first inclination when seeking healing is to turn to the plants. When I am confused or scared or otherwise out of balance, one of the first plants I go to is Artemisia. Aremisia is actually a large genus of plants in the daisy family containing over 300 species. At least eleven species of Artemisia live in the Rocky Mountain region alone. The Artemesia genus contains many well-known medicinal species, such as mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), wormwood (Artemisia absinthum), silver sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), sweet Annie (Artemisia annua), and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). Found on every continent except Antarctica, Artemisia is used medicinally by people all over the world.

Artemisia may be considered an indicator species for homo sapiens. In the paleo record, wherever humans are found the Artemisia arrived just before we got there. It appears that we followed the Artemisia out of Africa and across the Earth. A story in the Gnostic gospels references this relationship. The Gnostics were a first century Christian sect whose holy books were suppressed by the Romans during the Empire’s cooptation of Christianity. The Gnostics believed, among other things, in a masculine and feminine side of the Divine. In the Gnostic creation story, after Adam and Eve had angered the masculine aspect of God with their disobedience and were exiled from paradise, the feminine side of God took pity on the humans. The mothering side of God gave the humans Artemisia to remind us that we are never truly separate from the Divine. The Gnostic gospels say, “The road out of Eden is lined with Artemisia.”

Many other ancient spiritual traditions note a divine connection to Artemisia. In English the plant is named after Artemis, beloved daughter of Zeus and goddess of the moon, the wilderness, childbirth, and sovereign women. Artemis means “intact.” Artemisia reminds us we are not broken.

All over the world, Artemisia is used to clear the air. Dried bundles of Artemisia are burned and the smoke is believed to dissipate fear and negativity. Artemisia makes it feel as though the negativity never existed. Some would argue that the goal of all healing is to make it as though the negative event never happened. We know we are truly healed when we no longer think about the illness or injury we were struggling with. We have healed exceptionally well if we don’t even have a scar. We all have had the experience of a drama or trauma where we felt compelled to repeat the story of injury to ourselves and anyone else who would listen. The primary sign we have moved on from the event is that we no longer tell the story of illness or injury and we rarely think about it. The condition that our culture calls post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is marked by repeating a frightening story over and over again in the mind and the body, sometimes for decades on end. Artemisia completes the story and resets the energy within and around us. Artemisia is therefore a very useful ally for those who would like to move on from identifying with a PTSD diagnosis.

The entire Artemisia genus is anti-viral and the smoke from the plant will disinfect a home where sickness is present. Viruses are encapsulated packets of genetic information that cannot replicate themselves. Viruses want to hijack our cells and make us replicate them so they can go out and infect others. Essentially a virus is an unhealthy story that wants you to tell it again and again. Artemisia will stop these stories from replicating.

Artemisia is also used to promote dreaming and many cultures associate it with enhancing the gift of prophecy. A small bag full of aromatic artemisia leaves under your pillow might bring you the answers you seek in your dreams.

How to use Artemisia:

(This is not a comprehensive list of the many medicinal uses of Artemisia)

· Dried bundles of leaves can be burned to clear negative energy or disinfect a space

· A sachet of dried leaves under the pillow to promote dreaming

· 3-30 drops of the tincture to promote good digestion, menstrual health and prophetic dreaming

· A cup of tea from the steeped leaves several times a day to expel worms from the digestive tract (warning, it is very bitter)

The Mint Family

(Lamiaceae)

The roots of the word mint are found in Greco-Roman mythology. The river nymph Minthe was the daughter of Cocytus, the underworld god of the river of grief. Minthe lived in the underground waters, and thus can be considered a well being.

Although she was born of grief and wailing, Minthe herself embodied joy and beauty. She became the consort of Hades, the ruler of the underworld. When Hades moved on from Minthe and married Persephone, Minthe boasted that her beauty and charm would bring Hades back to her. This infuriated Persephone, and as is the way of the gods, Persephone transformed Minthe into the mint plant and exiled her to the world of the mortals. Minthe continues to live above ground in her mint plant form, preferring the damp soil near wells and streams and rivers. She transformed physically from nymph to mint plant but retained her joyful and uplifting nature.

Lamiaceae is a huge family containing over 6000 individual species. The mint family includes many uplifting and soothing remedies for psychospiritual wellbeing. The minty mints (like spearmint and peppermint) have been used medicinally for millennia all over the world. Ancient Egyptians made the first known breath fresheners out of mint. Ancient Romans wore mint leaves as garlands and would welcome guests with a pot of steamed mint. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Pharisees would tithe ten per cent of their mint crop to the temple.

In the 17th Century, John Gerarde described mint as having a “smelle rejoyceth the heart of man.”

Plants in the mint family are easily cultivated. Many produced seeds prolifically and will self-sow in your yard and garden. Perennial mints spread through underground runners. Cuttings of mint root easily when clipped and placed in water.

Medicinal plants in the mint family include horehound, motherwort, rosemary, lemon balm, basil, oregano, bee balm, skullcap, savory, sage, lavender, catnip, and chia.

Lemon Balm

(Melissa officinalis)

Named for the pre-Christian European goddess of the bees, Melissa (lemon balm) has long been associated with beekeeping. Pliny the Elder noted, “when the bees are strayed away, they do find their way home by Melissa.” Contemporary beekeepers rub lemon balm leaves on the inside of their hives before re-homing colonies of bees. Growing patches of lemon balm provides food and medicine for honeybees. The nectar of the plant increases production of the gastric juices the bees use to make honey. Antiviral properties of lemon balm also protect the bees from pathogens.

Known as a “gladdening herb,” lemon balm increases our appreciation of life. Lemon balm helps us see what is working well. The plant draws our attention to the positive. The smell of lemon balm is immediately uplifting to the mood and spirit. Grow a patch or pot of lemon balm and go visit it any time you are feeling melancholy or depressed. Rubbing the plant between your fingers then sniffing will serve as an immediate attitude adjustment.

The Swiss renaissance philosopher and physician Paracelsus believed lemon balm could bring a person back from the dead. While I have not witnessed this, I have seen daily use of lemon balm revive those suffering from deep depression. The London Dispensary from 1696 states, “An essence of lemon balm given every morning will renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature, and prevent baldness.”

The nuns of the Carmelite Abbey in Saint Just, France have been making a medicinal remedy called Carmelite Water from lemon balm since 1379. Multiple kings of France believed Carmelite Water was a panacea and were known to always carry the remedy with them. Still in production, people continue seek out Carmelite Water to treat headaches, nerve pain, anxiety, and depression. The 15^th century botanist and physician Nicholas Culpepper wrote of Carmelite Water, “It causeth the mind and heart to become merry, and driveth away the troublesome cares and thought.”

Lemon balm uplifts the mood without promoting mania. The plant relaxes us without sedating us. Lemon balm calms anxiety and encourages optimism. It can also be used to treat nausea and indigestion, fevers, colds and coughs, viral illnesses, and rashes.

Some suggested uses of lemon balm:

· Growing the plant is a medicinal act. Lemon balm will attract beneficial pollinators to the yard as well as provide you with medicine.

· Go outside and smell the lemon balm.

· Make an infusion of fresh or dried leaves and drink through the day.

· Tincture of lemon balm can be used for fast relief of anxiety. 30-60 drops under the tongue up to every 30 minutes will usually dispel panic.

· Lemon balm glycerite has the same properties as the tincture but tastes much better.

· Wilt fresh lemon balm leaves for one day then put them in a jar and cover with raw honey. Let sit for several months, taking care to invert the jar frequently so the leaves are fully infused in the honey. After waiting at least 4 months, you can enjoy lemon balm honey and candied lemon balm leaves.

Summertime Mint Cooler

½ cup fresh or two tablespoons dry mint leaves (spearmint, chocolate mint, peppermint or a combo)

½ cup fresh or two tablespoons dry lemon balm leaves

12 ice cubes

½ teaspoon vanilla

Maple syrup or honey to taste

Steep the mint and lemon balm in 1 quart hot water for 15 to 30 minutes. Strain and let the tea cool a bit. Combine with the ice cubes, vanilla, and sweetener in a blender. Blend well. Drink immediately.

Carmelite Water Recipe

1/2 cup fresh or ¼ cup dried lemon balm leaves

¼ cup dried angelica root

½ tsp nutmeg

1 Tbsp lemon zest

Combine all ingredients in a jar and cover with dry white wine. Stir well. Cover with lid and steep for 6-12 hours. Strain. Place in airtight container and drink within 5 days. You can substitute water for the wine and make a strong infusion.

Motherwort

(Leonorus cardiaca)

The botanical name of motherwort means “lion hearted.” Macer’s Herbal, a handwritten book of herbal wisdom from the 14^th century, extols motherwort as a powerful protector against “wykked sperytis.” Nicholas Culpepper wrote, “there is no better herb to drive melancholy vapors from the heart, to strengthen it and make the mind cheerful, blythe and merry.” Texts from ancient China state that motherwort promotes longevity by strengthening the heart. On story out of China speaks of a sage who drank motherwort tea daily and lived to be 300 years old.

Motherwort calms and strengthens the heart, making it a wonderful remedy for those who feel their anxiety in the form of a racing heart. Everyone who has lost a loved one knows the particular pain of grief spasms. The waves of grief are physically painful. Motherwort helps soothe these spasms, allowing us to feel our grief without being engulfed by it.

Motherwort lowers blood pressure and regulates the pulse. The plant is relaxing but not sedating. It calms us when we are feeling overwhelmed. It arouses courage. Motherwort is like the reliable friend who is always there for you. Her effects are felt quickly and reliably. Motherwort tells us, “You’ve got this.”

The eclectic physicians of the 1800s called mugwort an amphoteric, an old medicine word meaning a remedy that helps us change and adapt.

As implied by its name, motherwort has been used for centuries for female reproductive health. The plant has a regulating effect on the menstrual cycle. Daily use will ward off pre-menstrual negativity and tension. The plant can also be used to treat acute PMS. Motherwort is antispasmodic and helps alleviate menstrual cramps. One word of caution, when used during perimenopause motherwort can sometimes exacerbate heavy bleeding.

Suggested uses:

· Very bitter taste. Most people prefer the tincture to drinking it as a tea

· Combines well with lemon balm in a tincture. I have called this combination Mellow Mama for years. 30 drops under the tongue has a calming and centering effect

Lavender

(Lavandula spp.)

The name lavender comes from the Latin word lavare, meaning to wash. The Romans used lavender in their famous baths and in laundry to freshen their linens. The ancient Greeks called the plant “nard” after the Syrian city of Naardus where the plant was grown commercially. The Bible mentions nard over 100 times, making lavender the most frequently referenced herb in that text. John 12:3 reads, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

Early Christians believed that God allowed Eve and Adam to carry lavender out of the Garden of Eden to ease the pain of their exile. Like the story of artemisia, there is powerful medicine in this myth. Lavender makes difficult passages easier. Lavender eases fear and anxiety. Lavender reminds us that we are loved by and connected to the divine, and what could be more calming than that.

The 12th century mystic, philosopher, herbalist, doctor, and saint Hildegard of Bingen praised lavender as one of the most useful and important plants. She wrote that lavender “gives pure knowledge and a pure spirit.” The plant aided her mystic visions, the divine revelatory experiences that she first found terrifying then grew to welcome with the help of lavender. She used lavender to treat restlessness of the spirit, headaches, “pains of the liver and lungs,” and digestive complaints. Lavender remains useful for these conditions.

Lavender’s sheer popularity may cause many to overlook the plant as an important medicinal ally. We are all familiar with lavender as aromatherapy or added to lotions and soaps as fragrance, but few people take advantage of this gentle and powerful herb as a remedy for internal use. Daily use of lavender can reset an anxious constitution and create inner calm. Lavender combines well with chamomile for promoting excellent sleep. One to two dropperfuls of lavender glycerite will halt a panic attack.

Lavender is also known as a digestive nervine. We are experiencing an epidemic of what is called irritable bowel syndrome, a miserable set of symptoms that include alternating constipation or diarrhea, cramping and indigestion. Irritable bowel syndrome often results from chronic stress and trauma, the fight or flight response interrupts digestion as an adaptive response to help us escape danger. When we experience fight or flight, our sympathetic nervous system promotes rapid emptying of the bowel then stops all movement of the colon until the threat has passed. In chronic sympathetic stress, the digestive system remains in a perpetual flight or fight state. Lavender is one of the best remedies for treating irritable bowel syndrome, moving the nervous system into the rest and digest response. The bitter properties of lavender also promote healthy liver function.

Suggested use:

· Lavender tea, one cup before bed to promote restful sleep. Sipped throughout the day to ward off anxiety and worry

· Fill a small muslin bag with lavender and smell throughout the day

· Burn lavender flowers to dispel fear and promote calm

· Lavender glycerite, 30-60 drops as needed for treating fear, anxiety, worry

· Lavender honey has many culinary uses. I especially love it mixed with ricotta in crepe filling

· Candied lavender flowers. One teaspoon steeped in one cup water for a delicious sweet, relaxing tea

· Excellent remedy for tension headaches

Rosemary

(Rosemarinus officinalis)

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you love, remember. –Ophelia, Hamlet Act 4, Scene 5

“Help me remember what I need to remember. Help me remember to forget what I need to forget.”–Prayer to Rosemary

Old Spanish tales tell us that the rosemary bushes gave shelter to Mary and the Infant Jesus as they fled into Egypt. Rosemary has long been known as a protector of women and children. An old European adage says, “Where the rosemary blooms the woman flourish.”

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that rosemary bushes planted around a home would protect a family from ill will and evil intentions of others. Traditional healers of Europe, Mexico and the American Southwest believe that rosemary can lift curses and clear negativity from our energy fields.

The French name for rosemary is incensier, and rosemary is one of the oldest known incense plants. Like all aromatic mints, rosemary is antimicrobial. Burning the plant will kill viruses circulating in the air. During times of plague, Europeans would carry a pouch of rosemary, sniffing it to prevent infection. Rosemary was used as an antiseptic in French hospitals through World War I.

During the Middle Ages, Europeans spread rosemary on the floor on Christmas Eve. Walking across the rosemary and even smelling it on the holy night was known to bring a year of health and happiness. Few herbs make me happier than rosemary. I can’t pass a rosemary bush without smelling the plant. The smell of rosemary removes sadness and negative thoughts. Rosemary clears the mind and elevates the mood.

Rosemary improves memory and cognition. Smelling rosemary helps us access mental information and recall facts. Students in ancient Greece braided rosemary into their hair before examinations to improve memory. I fill my pockets with fresh rosemary on my way to academic tests. When I was in nursing school and was searched by security agents before entering the testing room, the security guard would give me what seemed like a knowing look when I pulled rosemary sprigs out of my pockets for inspection.

Suggested uses:

· Plant rosemary at the borders of your yard for protection and to attract good will

· Rosemary tea acts as an antidepressant, memory enhancer and neuroprotectant

· Burn rosemary as incense to banish negativity and to purify the air

· Cook with rosemary

· Rosemary vinegar as a condiment and medicinal

· Rosemary hydrosol makes a refreshing face spray

· Rosemary as a hair rinse

Holy Basil/Tulsi

(Ocimum sanctum)

All of the names given to this plant speak of its spiritual nature. The word basil comes from basilicum, meaning church or court of the king. And of course we know that the word holy means something close to the divine. Holy shares a root with the word whole, meaning intact, not separate. The word health stems from this same etymological root. Tulsi means “incomparable one.” Tulsi also sometimes refers to Laksmi, the Hindu goddess of good fortune, wealth and abundance.

In India, Tulsi is known as the holiest of all plants. Tulsi is known as an avatar, or living Earthly presence, of the goddess Laksmi. One ancient story from India recounts how Laksmi incarnated as the tulsi plant. According to this story, all of creation was born of three mothers. These mothers are the sister deities Parvati, Laksmi and Sarasvati. The parenting styles of the sisters differ greatly. Laksmi is the spoiling mother who loves her children so much that she wants to give them everything they desire. Sarasvati, the goddess of discipline, music, art, and intellectual pursuits, saves her rewards for hard work and persistence. At some point in history, the two goddesses got into a fight over the management of humanity. Sarasvati pushed Laksmi so hard that she fell out of the heavens and onto the Earth. As she hit the ground she reincarnated into the holy basil plant. When we ingest the tulsi plant, we bring into our bodies the energy of a mother who unconditionally loves us and wants to meet all our needs.

Contemporary science asserts that tulsi helps us manage and recover from stress. Stress occurs when the demands placed on us exceed our ability to cope. Most people today report high levels of stress in multiple areas of their lives. When we are under stress, our adrenal glands release cortisol which increases blood sugar levels and suppresses our immune function. In the short term, these effects may help us escape a challenging situation. In times of chronic stress, too much cortisol can lead to weight gain, diabetes, chronic fatigue, and increased susceptibility to illness. Tulsi decreases cortisol levels, helping us recover from chronic stress.

Suggested uses:

· Infused as tea. Combines well with oats, rose, nettle

· Alcohol tincture, 30 drops 2-3 x day

· Tulsi simple syrup is a nice addition to seltzer or mixed drinks.

Holy Basil Simple Syrup Recipe

1 cup water

1 cup white sugar

1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried holy basil leaves

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves. Simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and let syrup steep for 30 minutes. Strain and store in a bottle until needed.