Clove Bud: "C" to the Love

Clove Bud

(Syzygium aromaticum

seu Eugenia aromaticum, E. caryophyllata)

Clove, a commonly known and easily recognized spice is the dried, unopened flower bud of an evergreen tree from the Myrtle (Myrtaceae) family that is native to Indonesia and grown throughout the Middle East. The tree must be at least five years old before it produces the bright pinkish-red flower buds, which are carefully hand-harvested and dried. When one considers the insubstantial weight of a flower bud, it is impressive to consider that a mature tree can produce up to forty pounds of flower buds in a single harvest! Talk about abundance!!

©materiaaromatica.com

 Like all aromatic herbs and spices, Clove has a long and rich history as an ally of humanity. Originally found on the “Spice Islands” of Indonesia, the indigenous people there once planted the tree to venerate the birth of their children. Each soul was then linked to the health and longevity of the Clove tree, in this way the tree was an honored member of their community. In the 1600’s, the Dutch seized control over the spice trade and began to burn down clove trees that were out of their sphere of direct command; imagine the devastation of discovering that the sacred tree that was linked to your spirit, or that of a loved one had been unceremoniously burned to the ground.


At this time in history, Cloves were worth their weight in gold; the high value placed on the spice was ample temptation for greedy traders to disregard all but their own monetary advantage. However, the trees were eventually so widely planted during the 1800’s by the British that the price came down and Cloves became commonly available. Today, the fact that we can easily obtain an abundance of Clove Bud is testament to the widespread wealth that many westerners enjoy on a regular basis.

The name is derived from the Latin “clavus” which means nail, of which the whole spice bears a striking similarity. The intense flavor of Cloves is as distinct and precise as its namesake and is used in small amounts to enhance cuisines throughout the world. In Mexico, the sweet, hot flavor of “clavos de olor” is blended with cumin, cinnamon and other exotic spices in Abuela’s secret molé recipe. In Germany, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Cloves for the pfeffernuesse, and the Dutch speculaas and the Greek kourambiedes cookies wouldn’t have the same appeal either.

http://www.cbc.ca/bestrecipes/2011/09/kourambiedes.html

 In France, it is traditional for some cooks to stud an onion with a clove or two and add it to a simmering stock. Of course we can all relate to the holiday ham bedazzled with Cloves and where would pumpkin pie be without Clove’s distinctive pizzazz? Cloves are integral in Indian curries, Chinese five spice blend, mulling and pickling spices and is a surprising ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. Cloves are best enjoyed in the autumn and winter; the energetic coziness of this toasty spice brings thermal heat to the core of our body, thereby cooling the surface and harmonizing with colder temperatures.

Medicinally, Cloves have a myriad of uses and has been incorporated in traditional medicines for thousands of years. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ding xiang is used as a carminative, especially for Cold-type digestion characterized by nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, with cold extremities and pallor. In the same way, its spiciness can transform a cold deep in the chest with an unproductive cough, so long as the mucous is white or clear and there is no fever or signs of heat. Sometimes it is used for morning sickness when combined with ginseng and patchouli; this combination concurrently warms the center, aromatically transforms damp-heavy congestion and nourishes the body.

Cloves are antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic; in West Africa they are called Ogun Jedi-jedi, and traditionally have worked quite effectively in the treatment of scabies, cholera, tuberculosis, and malaria. As a vermifuge, cloves -having the added benefit of promoting peristalsis- can be combined with walnut hulls, various Artemesias and other herbs during a case-specific parasite-purge regimen.

Current scientific studies indicate that cloves may help inhibit the herpes virus and shingles. Some practitioners are now incorporating the use of Clove in the treatment of diabetes, as early scientific data suggests that the herb may reduce blood sugar. Some cautions should be taken when working with Clove bud; because it thins the blood, it is contraindicated with blood thinning medications and prior to surgery. Due to its powerfully warming nature, it is not to be given to people with inflammation, or other signs of internal heat. There is some concern about the potential poisonous properties of this pungent prescription, but its toxicity is very low, one would need to consume about a ½ lb of Clove in order to get a lethal dose.

As an aphrodisiac, cloves can stimulate the fire of passion; putting a few drops in a small amount of carrier oil and then sharing the pleasure of massaging this romantic oil on your partner can enhance ardor and excitement. The mildly numbing oil can also be diluted a bit more and applied in small amounts to overly sensitive areas in order to dull amorous sensations and prolong intimate encounters. One old folk remedy for headaches calls for Cloves combined with milk and salt to be applied to the temples, so if your partner is willing, this spicy friend can even take care of “Not tonight, Honey.”

Clove’s numbing effect was once considered an invaluable asset in dentistry before Novocain was commonly used. Clove oil continues to be helpful for toothaches and gum abscess, and due to its efficacy is still very popular for treating dry socket. A rubifacient, Clove can help stimulate circulation of blood, not just to heal problems with the teeth and gums, but also as a helpful addition to liniments for traumatic injury, healing salves for sores, and muscle rubs for cramps, aches and spasms.

The spicy fragrance of Cloves is a desirable commodity even beyond the scope of food and medicine. Cloves, blended with up to 80% tobacco, are smoked in cigarettes called “kretak” in Indonesia. Clove cigarettes, increasingly popular in the west, were recently banned in the U.S., but a loophole currently allows them to be sold as “filtered clove cigars.” The smooth and warmly scented smoke is an even lovelier element in much of the incense burned for religious offerings throughout Asia. Other uses for the spice are even more diverse; Japanese katana swords are polished with mineral oil enhanced by a drop of clove oil. In oil paintings, a tiny bit is used to prevent oxidation of seed oils in the paint during drying.

Pomanders are a popular holiday craft these days but were once used to ward off insects and disease, or to mask unpleasant odors. This simple bit of folk art makes a festive decoration and a cheerful homemade gift.

©keeperofthehome.org

Holiday Pomander
You will need:
Citrus Fruit (apples and pomegranates also work)
A thin skewer or knitting needle
About a cup of Cloves (with head and “nail” intact)
Powdered spice mixture (cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, etc)

If you wish to hang your pomander, apply masking tape around the fruit where you will tie the ribbon later. Carefully pierce fruit with skewer in a pattern that pleases you, keeping each hole about 1/8-1/4 inch apart; the fruit will shrink as it dries and the holes will get smaller and closer together. Insert Clove buds into each hole, being careful not to crush the delicate crown. Gently roll each decorated fruit in the spice mixture to help preserve it, leave in a dry area and allow it to desiccate. Once it dries, you can tie it with ribbon; if mold forms, compost the pomander, and chalk it up to a learning experience!

Valuable and useful on so many levels, Clove bud naturally has a message not just for the body, but for the soul and the mind. The shape of a Clove bud may remind us of our brainstem; its piquant aroma and fiery flavor seems to pierce our very consciousness, sharpening our collective memories. As we breathe in its penetrating warmth, its heat spreads through our chest, infusing our heart with tenderness and compassion. From this heart-centered perspective we may then C-LOVE as it exists all around us and allow this abundance and generosity to flow through us to our community. The wealth of cloves available to us is without a doubt something to savor and appreciate as a symbol of great prosperity, health, endurance and of course, Love.

 

“HerbaLisl” is Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG), 

a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. 

Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a Reiki Master an Acupressurist, 

an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer who has enjoyed a successful private practice for fifteen years.

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com  if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment or are interested in participating in classes, workshops or retreats.

Treating Cold Sores

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) a cold sore is considered to be an expression of excess Heat -generally of the “Liver Channel”. An easy way to understand this classification is to observe the “hot” quality of the sore itself: it has an inflamed, raised, and red appearance and is very painful. Usually these types of sores are located on the lips although they can appear anywhere in and around the mouth. 

Photo by Jef Poskanzer

Prevention of cold sores is simply a matter of keeping a balance of Yin and Yang energies in the body, especially for the Liver channel. Moderation is the key: a diet that includes whole foods and plenty of green vegetables is a good start. Too much sugar, alcohol, fried, spicy, and highly refined foods, greasy or rich and heavy meals on a regular basis creates heat in the body and a lot of work for the Liver and Gall Bladder. Similarly, drugs and pharmaceuticals are processed by the liver, so be conscious of the amount of work that your liver needs to do for you on a daily basis and limit the amount of toxins that it must manage. 

photo by Maxwell GS

TCM also attributes our emotional state to the health of the Liver as well. Too much stress, frustration or anger is a helpful warning that the Liver is overworked, while a genuinely calm and relaxed demeanor indicates the smooth flow of Qi and a relatively balanced Liver. A regular practice such as Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi or Chi Gong helps to ease stress and promotes emotional equilibrium. Frequently taking silent walks in nature provide inner calm and a sense of well being so that we may align with our core self and personal integrity.

I also recommend Black Cumin Seed oil taken internally on a regular basis for clients who are prone to viral outbreaks. It has an overall healing effect on the body, strengthening immune functions, improving digestion and reducing inflammation. The prophet Mohammed once said that Black Cumin cures all illnesses except death.

Treating cold sores once they erupt is simply a matter of balancing the repletion Heat with Cold herbs applied topically as a powder, or herbs to Cool Liver Heat, taken internally. The herb Coptis root (Goldthread), is very helpful for clearing this type of Heat, and is usually combined with other herbs that drain Heat and share its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Formula to Relieve Toxicity) is the most famous classic Chinese formula suited to this purpose.

Genital sores have the same characteristics and are treated in much the same way, the only difference in the addition of herbs specific for that location. Gentiana is frequently used in TCM for painful sores located in the Lower Burner. The formula Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentiana Drain Fire) is most often the remedy of choice.

Because energetically Cold herbs are difficult to digest, they can cause weakness of the Spleen and an overall deficiency for the body when taken for extended periods of time. These extremely cooling herbs are only taken when there are clear and outward signs of Heat and discontinued as soon as harmony is restored-often within a week.

“HerbaLisl” is Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG), a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a Reiki Master an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer who has enjoyed a successful private practice for fifteen years.

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment or are interested in participating in classes or retreats.

Transcript: Plants & Trees Have Feelings Part II

What follows here is the second part of the transcript of a lecture I was asked to give at a healing conference...please keep in mind that this was spoken...during this 60 minute lecture, I was running a Power Point program of 111 of my photographs that truly connect with the personalities of many flowers, trees...I mean really...they literally HAM IT UP for the camera...so sexy, playful, wise...I'll post a few, but the purpose of the photos was to somewhat DISTRACT my audience so that they would only hear my words semi-consciously...this is where I wanted them to be processing the information....the images invited attendees to drift off, or to read the short quotes or poems that accompanied and complemented them. It was a great effect and it worked...people sank into their hearts and understood from deep within what I was communicating to them...what the plants are communicating to us all...
Anyway, I hope that you like it, I am still receiving offers to give this lecture elsewhere, so I hope that you might have a chance to feel the entire effect. Still, each time I look at the images and read the words of such wise teachers as Thoreau, Goethe, Rachel Carson and more, well I get choked up.
Here is part II...any feedback is really welcomed.

“All self-organized systems are, in fact, intelligent. They have to be, for they must continually monitor their environments, internal and external; detect perturbations; decide on the basis of those perturbations what the likely effect will be; and respond to them in order to maintain self-organization.” –Buhner

Perturbations can be extremely subtle, such as chemical cues in the ppm, ppb and ppt.

Plants communicate with each other and their environment with EM waves and chemical cues. They pass this information to other plants, to insects, different species…it doesn’t matter…this information is exchanged frequently via the vast mycelium network. Information vital to survival, information about viruses, predators, information about healing, chemicals for healing and for protection…all passes through this complex network. Gaia Consciousness.

Paul Stamets is a world renowned mycologist (he studies mushrooms). His book, Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, reveals complex relationships between mycelia and the ecosystem. Toxic waste, including petroleum sludge, is inoculated with oyster mushroom spores and within weeks the toxic waste is consumed and rendered benign. Stamets feels that mycelium are the world’s first “internet” system and proposes that the silicon-based internet that has “mushroomed” over the last 15 years, may be a construct of Gaia Herself; a thought spore planted in humanity’s collective consciousness.

EM fields naturally interact/synch with other EM fields forming Ecosystems.

We are part of an Ecosystem. We use this information gathered from EM fields for rebalancing the Dynamic Tension, in other words, self healing.

In his book, The Lost Language of Plants, Stephen Harrod Buhner tells the story of the logging industries practice of slash and burn from an intimate and personal perspective. He witnessed the clear cutting of old-growth forest and the deliberate burning of acres of destroyed forest. As part of the ecosystem in which this was happening, Buhner felt deep loss and grief and felt his ecosystem and the Earth sharing in his spiritual and emotional pain. He understood it to his core when the following Spring, thousands of young wild lettuce plants took root on the devastated forest floor. You see, Wild Lettuce is known for its ability to comfort and soothe a burn, to calm scorched lungs and it produces an opium-like latex that comforts pain on all levels, spiritual, emotional and physical. The Earth and the plants responded to the injury of the land and manifested the appropriate balm to help re-harmonize the delicate balance…dynamic tension.

In Ecosystems all life works together. Ecosystems consist of enormous (infinite?) groups of Individuals and Individual Species.

Plants. Trees. Grass. Herbs. Shrubs. Soil. Worms. Beetles. Snails. Birds. Four-legged’s. Fish. Mushrooms. Fungi. Insects. Bacteria. Viruses.

Like radio waves, EM signals from all living organisms continue outward indefinetly…

“The characteristics of conduction in the plant nerve are in every way similar to those in the animal nerve.” –Jagadis Chunder Bose

A plant’s Central Nervous System has synapses like our brains; their neurotransmitters are identical to those in our brains.

Plants experience feelings.

In the famous book, The Secret Life of Plants, we learn of the “Backster Effect.”

Testing the sensitivity of his polygraph, on a whim Backster attached the lie detector’s electrodes to the the leaf of a Dracaena plant in the office. Trying to think of a way to get a positive reaction from the plant, but never really expecting one, he decided to burn one of the leaves. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the machine’s needle jumped. The plant was creating a huge reaction on the polygraph. It had appeared to read his mind! Backster would later come to recognize this particular reaction as Fear or Anxiety. Years of research ensued… he observed that plants would react to the cracking of a fertilized egg and show response to a spider on the other side of a large room. Plants that would “witness” the uprooting of another plant could identify the culprit later. If a bond of Love had formed between a human and a plant, the plant would pick up on their human companion’s emotional state even if they were halfway across the world.

Love is an important ingredient in getting the response from the plants.

Love opens the channel.

This sensitivity we see demonstrated in the plants is mirrored by our CNS and accurately felt with our Hearts.

The Mind of The Heart

The human heart is much more than a muscle that pumps blood. It is one of the most powerful EM generators and receivers known in the universe. It is an organ is Perception and Communication. By the way, blood is an excellent conductor of EM energy.

The heart is a receptor organ of internal and external environments. The heart’s wave forms are experienced as emotions.

MEANING…Emotional meaning can be extracted and comprehended just as visual and auditory input is. Emotions are like flavor and color.

Between 60-65% of heart cells are neural! The heart is directly wired to the CNS and the brain to assist

• Emotional memory processing

• Sensory experiences

• Memory & special relationships and extraction of environmental meaning

• Problem solving, learning and reason

The heart stores memories, mostly those with an emotional aspect. Information comes at the body and first impacts the heart, the heart then sends this information to the brain…AFTER the heart has already perceived it.

Neurons: The Heart generates the strongest EM field of the body…over 5,000x more powerful than the brain’s EM field. A heart-centered consciousness leads to a coherence of that signal, which in turn leads to improved health of self and others. The more caring a practitioner, the more coherent their EM field, the better the healing.

Communications within the EM field of an organ or organism are experienced as emotions.

(Plants have feelings.)

Emotions give us clues to internal functions. The ancients knew that organs sent signals in the form of emotions that indicated internal imbalance before a physical symptom manifested. I like to use the “dashboard light” analogy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine anger indicates imbalance of the Liver; over-thinking and worry points to disharmony of the Spleen; depression shows that the Gall Bladder needs attention; Grief is an emotion associated with the Lungs; while pronounced fear would benefit from Kidney tonification. An experienced practitioner knows how to read subtle clues on the radial pulses to identify and diagnose the troubled areas of the body.

“Whatever the complaint is, it’s always the same thing: something beneficial is trying to happen. In true medicine, there is no conflict, no enemy, no disease, only the opportunity to bring someone out of the dream of strife into the dream of wholeness.” – Eliot Cowan

Click Here for Part III

Teasel: Honoring the Bones of Our Ancestors

Teasel
(Dipsacus japonicus et D. sylvestris)

When I sit down to compose a piece about the plants, I don’t choose which herb I will write about, the Plant chooses me. Teasel began vying for my attention as a subject for one of my articles months ago when I was on my way to upstate New York and her flowers were everywhere on the roadsides. She hasn’t stopped edging her way into my consciousness since then; I hereby surrender to her will. Her powerful insistence is indicative of her medicine in an energetic way: she represents strength on many levels.

Japanese Teasel root is considered a tonic for the Kidney Yang, according to its uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In TCM, the Kidneys -and therefore the whole body- would ideally have a perfect balance of Yin and Yang energies. The Yin is moistening, receptive, nourishing and has an inward, storing, sedating quality; The Yang is drying, expansive, energizing and productive.

The Kidneys represent not simply the two blood cleansing and urine filtering organs we know them as in an allopathic framework. According to TCM the kidneys rule the bones, teeth, lower back, knees, as well as the brain, spinal cord and regulate growth and maturation. The Kidneys are considered to be the very foundation from which we grow and thrive, the true Essence of our Being, “The Root of Life.” We are born with this precious Essence -called Jing - that we inherit from our parents (ultimately all of our ancestors) and it is stored energetically within the Kidneys.

Metaphorically, let’s equate this Essence to a “trust fund” of sorts: you are born with a fixed amount. One may be fortunate enough to have inherited the energetic equivalent of a Cadillac, or perhaps not so lucky and inherited a Pinto, but keep in mind that it is entirely possible to drive that Caddy into the ground! Don’t change the oil, rotate the tires, never do a single bit of maintenance and that sturdy vehicle can be wasted, become weakened and fit for scrap. Conversely, one could carefully tend to the Pinto with regular loving maintenance, never drive it too hard and it would last a long time, providing years of service and reliability.

On a daily basis we utilize our Qi energy that we receive through a nourishing diet, clean water, positive fulfilling relationships, good breathing/movement practices and plenty of quality rest. We use our Jing to fill in the gaps when we can’t rely upon our steady income of Qi and we may never be aware that we are using it. The Jing is like that; if an individual “lives it up” with excessive drinking, drugs, late nights and sexual encounters, Jing gets spent. When a person has extreme stress, frayed nerves, repressed or excessive emotions and ceases to take proper care of themselves, Jing gets spent. If someone has had chronic or repeated illnesses, numerous injuries, multiple births or miscarriages, Jing gets spent.

Signs of aging like thinning bones, grey hair, diminished hearing, decreased metal acuity and lowered stamina are indicative of lowered Kidney energies. TCM tells us that Jing can never be replenished, once it’s gone, it’s gone. However, Kidney Jing can be conserved and “astringed” with herbs, lifestyle and various spiritual practices; also by tonifying the Yin and Yang aspects of Kidney energy, we can “endow interest to the Kidney Jing account.” Herbal tonics that specifically balance the combination of Yin and Yang herbs to an individual’s constitution can help to promote more graceful aging and an overall healthier state of being.

Chinese Herbal Materia Medica by Bensky and Gamble states that as a Yang tonifying herb, Japanese Teasel root (Dipsacus asperi seu japonicus) fortifies the lower back, knees and bones. It has a positive effect on the sinews and joints as well and is used for pain and stiffness from decreased Kidney energy or from traumatic injury. It is also used to promote the movement of blood and to repair damaged tissues, so it makes sense that Teasel’s Pinyin name in is Xu Duan, meaning “restore what is broken.”

For arthritic conditions, repetitive strain, pain, weakness or traumatic injury, the root of Dipsacus japonicus can be taken internally as a tincture or decoction, applied topically in a salve or liniment, or one could address all aspects of the disharmony and choose internal and external treatment simultaneously. Japanese Teasel actually has a regulating effect on the blood, it is able to not only promote circulation when it comes to trauma, but it will also help with threatened miscarriage by stopping uterine bleeding and calming a restless fetus. When used for disorders of the uterus during pregnancy, it is often combined with Mugwort (Artemesia argyi) and Greater Burnet (Sanguisorba) for uterine bleeding, or paired with gelatin to assist the mother when she has been unable to carry a child to term.

Historically, domestic Teasel (D. sylvestris) was not particularly popular as a medicine plant, it was however valued in the textile industry. The name Teasel comes from its use for teasing wool; it was cultivated for such a purpose at least as far back as Roman times. It was bred specifically to produce hooked bracts on the dried flower heads for more efficiency in the production of woolens. It fell out of fashion with manufacturers after machines were invented to do the same thing, but the mechanically produced cloth could never match the smooth quality of wool finished with Teasel.

This species of Teasel (D. sylvestris) found in North America has recently gained a groundswell of interest in the treatment of Lyme Disease because of a fantastic tome, The Book of Herbal Wisdom by herbalist Matthew Wood who pioneered the use of domestic teasel for Lyme. In practice, he discovered that a very small dosage of tincture -only about 3 drops taken 2-3 times daily- brought dramatic improvements to the joint aches and cognitive dysfunction that Lyme disease can bring about. Teasel can be taken at this low dose safely for long periods of time.

According to naturalmoxie.com, Teasel has a unique ability to get the spirochetes where they “hide out” in the joints and drive them into the blood stream, where other medicines (be they herbal or pharmaceutical) can then eradicate them. It is not uncommon to have a Herxheimer reaction when taking Teasel or any effective remedy for Lyme disease. A flaring up of symptoms due to the “die-off” of spirochetes leads to substantial levels of toxins in the blood, however this is actually considered a good sign. It is important to expedite this process by encouraging detoxification and immune strengthening with many available herbal preparations.

In his book, Wood shares the fantastic success of several case studies he gathered in his clinical practice using Teasel for Lyme. His balanced approach to healing is both spiritual and methodical, a necessary combination. When I contacted Matthew Wood for permission to cite his work, he was insistent that I give proper credit to his friend and adviser, William LeSassier, the late Chinese Herbalist from New York City. It was LeSassier, Wood says, who had first suggested the use of D. sylvestris, our domestic relative of the Japanese Teasel that has been used in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia for hundreds of years.

When one examines the Teasel plant, it really is no small wonder that this sturdy herb encourages fortitude. The robust, bristly flower heads are born upon the tall prickly stalks of Teasel and blossom in a whorl of lavender from the center toward the top and bottom. The leaves are also spiny and attach to the stalk without a petiole, forming a cup as the base of the leaf wraps around the stalk. This cup that forms at the juncture of the leaf and stem often collects rain or dew and reminds us that Teasel can help with stiff and unlubricated joints. This characteristic was the reason that Dipsacus was once called “water thistle” or “Venus’ basin.”

A biennial, Teasel grows up to several feet in height in her second year and the spent seed heads atop boney stalks easily persists through even the harshest of winter weather. During the mid-late summer, you can often find three generations in close proximity to one another: the bodacious, bristly basal rosette of a first year Teasel clinging to the ground, a stalk shooting toward the sky burgeoning with the potential for bloom in a second year specimen and nearby the bones of last year’s grandmother Teasel silently bearing witness to her progeny.

It’s the first year Teasel that offers her medicine; in the autumn, if you have found the withered flower heads of Teasel that has gone by, examine the ground for the young prickly leaves in a basal rosette. If there are enough to spare, respectfully dig a few of the roots up, bring them home to scrub thoroughly, and then tincture them in vodka or white brandy. Generally the rule is to fill a clean glass jar 2/3 full with the fresh chopped root, cover completely with the alcohol, -leaving about ½ inch of space at the top of the jar- seal tightly, and then gently shake the jar daily. Over the course of the 4-6 weeks it takes to mature, put your loving intention into that tincture every day and be sure to offer your thanks to the plants in exchange for the medicine they so freely give, and to our ancestors for the inheritance they have so generously left us.

To me, Matthew Wood’s respect for his mentor brings to mind this analogy of the familial arrangement of Teasel in the field. Although William LeSassier has passed on, his memory, honored and respected by Matthew Wood and successive generations of healers, is carried on in the use of domestic Teasel for medicine. We have inherited much benefit from the bones of our ancestors so that we may prosper as we learn, grow and sow the seeds of our experience for future generations.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Home Remedies

Readily Available Herbal Treatments 
For Common Ailments*

To understand Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is necessary to first understand the concept of Qi (chee). Qi is the vital energy in our bodies and in the world around us. There are different types of qi that are named according to where the qi is located; there is food qi, air qi and so on. The defensive (Wei) qi is similar to the immune system and resides between the skin and the muscles. The strength of the Wei qi is dependent upon the quality of the food and the air we take into our bodies, as well as our emotional health.

The lungs rule the surface of the body (the skin), including the opening and closing of the pores. If an external pathogenic influence (EPI) were to threaten the health of an individual, one might get a chill or feel cold before the onset of other symptoms. It is very important to treat an invasion at the earliest stage possible because an EPI can invade the body’s defenses quickly. Treatment of an invasion by an EPI is done through addressing the lungs and their relationship with the skin. An EPI may be classified as either wind-heat or wind-cold. Wind-heat will present symptoms such as sore throat, headache, feeling feverish, slight sweating, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, cough, and the presence of yellowish phlegm. Wind–cold will be similar, but the person will feel colder, be achy and the phlegm will be white or clear.

To treat an invasion of either wind-heat or wind-cold a person would take a combination of pungent, diaphoretic (induces sweating) herbs that were either cooling or warming in nature. Some cooling herbs include peppermint; and the flowers of chrysanthemum, forsythia, honeysuckle and Echinacea can be detoxifying if there is a sore throat and a feeling of feverishness (even if there is no actual fever). Some warming herbs that induce sweating are jalapeno pepper and fresh ginger. These herbs are readily available and may even grow in your own yard; however, you must be sure that these plants have not been exposed to poisonous chemical sprays and that you have properly identified them.

Drinking a tea that has been strongly infused with these herbs, or taking pills or tinctures will help the defensive energy to push the EPI back out of the body. Releasing an invasion of wind can be difficult; you must take the herbs several times a day, stay covered and warm, and drink enough fluids to replace what is released through perspiration. To prevent the spread of these contagions, it is advisable to stay at home, resting peacefully.

A word of caution to those who are very young, elderly, or those who have a weak constitution: sweating can be very exhausting and depleting to the body and leaves the pores wide open and vulnerable to other diseases. It is inadvisable to attempt this course of treatment unless under the direct supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Common Conditions

Wind-Cold Invasion: Sometimes referred to as “the Common Cold”

Symptoms: fever, absence of sweating, aversion to cold, chills, stiff neck, headache (usually occipital), body aches, lower back ache, shortness of breath, tight and floating pulse.

Remedy: “Sweat it Out!”
1 one-inch piece of fresh Ginger, grated or sliced
1 fresh Jalapeño pepper
2 Tbs. Cinnamon twigs
2 Tbs. dried Catmint

Decoct fresh Ginger, Jalapeño pepper & Cinnamon twig (if available) in 16oz. water for 20 minutes. Add dried Catmint herb and steep for 10 minutes, covered. Strain the decoction and drink as hot as possible. Cover up (especially the neck!) and sweat. Rest and rehydrating is absolutely necessary!

Stuffy Nose with Chills ~ White or Clear Mucus
Please note: if this condition is chronic, has been around a while, or the face is also flushed, chances are that this is a condition of Heat and this protocol may not be appropriate.
Remedy: “Blow That Schnozz!”
2 Tbs. dried Peppermint
1 one-inch piece of horseradish root, or 1 Tbs bottled horseradish (not “prepared” horseradish)
~ OR ~
1 Tbs. Wasabi

Infuse Peppermint in 8oz. boiling water and steep for 10 minutes, covered. Meanwhile slowly chew horseradish/Wasabi and inhale slowly through the nose. This may be intense. Follow with the hot Peppermint tea.

Maintenance:
Neti Pot: Using a neti pot once or twice daily helps to keep nasal passages clear and hydrated. Nettles Tea: A cup or two daily acts as a natural anti-histamine and provides nutritional value.

Coughs:

Hard to Expectorate with White/Clear Mucous: There will likely be an accompanying aversion to cold, and no fever. If this condition is chronic, has been around a while, there is a fever, or the face is also flushed, chances are that this is a condition of Heat and this protocol may not be appropriate.

Remedy: “Mustard Plaster ~ Hold the Mayo”
½ teaspoon Mustard powder
1 Tablespoon Flour Warm Water

Combine flour and mustard powder and slowly add warm water until a paste is formed. Spread evenly on a piece of cotton flannel or clean cotton rag. Spread olive oil over the patient’s chest, then put the patient to bed in a tight cotton t-shirt, and place folded flannel with mustard paste on chest. This will provide 2 layers of cotton between the plaster and the patient’s oiled skin to protect against burning. Skin sensitivity can vary, so check the skin frequently to make sure the mustard hasn’t caused burns. The skin will become red as blood is drawn to the area, providing increased circulation, warmth and promoting expectoration. Itchiness may be an indication that the plaster is too strong. Ratio of mustard to flour can be adjusted individually according to skin sensitivity. Usually left on anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours, if made mild enough, this plaster can be left on overnight.

The Stubborn and Unrelenting Keep-You-Up-All-Night Cough: Often a dry cough associated with colds and flu, or post-nasal drip, this is an annoying cough that keeps a patient from getting the much needed rest required for healing.
Remedy: “Steve’s Super Cough-Busting Syrup” Mince one onion and place in a shallow bowl Pour raw honey over the chopped onion to cover. (About 1 Cup of honey to 1 Cup minced onion). Allow to infuse for 8 hours Strain out the onion Take 1-2 teaspoons as needed for persistent coughs.

Fever: A fever is the body’s way of raising temperature to encourage sweating or to create a hostile environment in order to rid itself of a pathogen. If a fever persists for more than a couple of days without overall improvement or if the fever exceeds 102°, then taking measures to reduce the fever are suggested.

Remedy #1: “Anti-pyretic Tea”
1 tsp. Yarrow
1 tsp. Elder flowers
1 tsp. Peppermint
1 tsp. Catmint
1 tsp. Feverfew
1 tsp. Lavender flowers
1tsp. Chamomile flowers

Combine all ingredients into a blend, and then infuse 1 tsp. of formula with 6 oz. boiling water for 15 minutes, covered. Drink infusion as hot as tolerable, cover up (especially the neck), rest and keep hydrated. The combination of cooling, anti-pyretic and diaphoretic herbs will help the patient sweat and reduce the fever; the nervines will help to calm the patient and allow them to rest.

Remedy #2: Auriculotherapy Point ~ Ear Apex
With a small blunt instrument, like a dull pencil, gently stimulate the fever-reducing point located at the top of the ear. To find the point, fold over the ear toward the face so that the back of the ear is revealed. Where the crease appears at the top of the ear is called the Ear Apex-the highest point on the ear. Once the point has been stimulated, a mustard seed affixed to a piece of band-aid can be placed at the site to keep the point stimulated. This usually reduces a fever within minutes.

Sore Throat: This is a symptom of a pathogen, and it’s a good idea to treat the root as well as the symptoms. Cooling, detoxifying, and anti-viral/bacterial herbs are good choices to get to the heart of the problem.

Remedy #1: Sore Throat Gargle
1 cup warm water
1 Tbs. Sea Salt ½ tsp.
Goldenseal powder
15 drops Sage (true) essence. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Gargle with mouthfuls of this mixture as frequently as desired to bring quick relief to the pain and discomfort associated with sore throat.
Remedy #2: “Coolio Tea”
1 tsp. Echinacea root
½ tsp. Goldenseal root
1 tsp. Dandelion root
1 tsp. Pepper mint leaf
1 tsp. Sage leaf
1 tsp. Chrysanthemum flower
1 tsp. Honeysuckle flower buds
1 tsp. Catmint herb

Add 12 oz. water to the first three ingredients and place in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and squeeze out all liquid from herbs. Drink ½ Cup of this formula every 2-3 hours until symptoms are gone, from that point on, drink it 3 times daily for another three days to keep symptoms from returning.

Headache: Headaches can have a number of causes, and without proper diagnosis, are frequently difficult to treat properly. If there are concurrent symptoms of “Wind-Cold,” sore throat, stomach flu, sinus trouble or fever, treat it accordingly. If the root cause cannot be determined, treating it only as a symptom is better than not at all.

Remedy #1: “Essential Headache Relief” Apply to temples, occiput and crown a total of 30-40 drops of the following essences: Rosemary, Holy Basil, Peppermint, Spearmint, Mugwort, Anise seed, Niaouli, Lavender, Pine, and/or Spruce (red). Use care with the mints, as their effervescence can be uncomfortable if not sandwiched between any of the others and if used in excess. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Remedy #2: Auriculotherapy Points ~ Ear Lobe Frequently massage the ear lobe, paying particular attention to the upper portion where the lobe meets the auricle. Applying essence to the area may be helpful as well. (I can only recommend Wisdom of the Earth Essential Essences)

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Cardamom - If At First You Don't Succeed, Chai Chai Again

Cardamom
(Elettaria cardamomum)

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When the chill of winter is upon us and the added pressure of another holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to stop, take a deep, aromatic breath and enjoy a true herbal friend: Cardamom. Cardamom has enormous worth and has been appreciated since ancient times for her fragrance, flavor and medicinal properties. Her sweet/spicy aroma is refreshing, opening to the sinuses and invites comforting memories of warmth and happiness. Sometimes known as “Grains of Paradise” or “Queen of the Spices,” cardamom is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. The somewhat round to oblong greenish pods containing twenty or more strongly aromatic seeds ripen at slightly different times, requiring hand harvesting; this partially accounts for its high price. Although native to Sri Lanka and southern India, it is primarily cultivated commercially in Guatemala.

A member of the ginger family, Cardamom can contain up to 8% volatile oils including terpines, cineol, limonene, borneol, camphor, pinene, eucalyptole, sabinene, and myrtenal. It was used as an essential essence in ancient Egypt and continues to remain of great value to aromatherapists the world over. Since the inception of the perfume industry, Cardamom has been a precious ingredient in many formulas. True Cardamom has a warm fragrance like eucalyptus with a hint of lemon while false or inferior products have a harsh, more camphor-like odor. Cardamom brings energetic warmth to the core of the body, allowing the surface to acclimate with the cooler weather. The penetrating aroma promotes clear thinking, improves memory and breaks up congestion in the head, stomach and chest.

This essential essence has a cheerful bouquet that is antidepressant and gives a lift to the spirit, while also calming anxiety and nervousness. If you are able to obtain exceptional quality essences, a wonderful remedy for all types of emotional trauma would include Cardamom layered with the essences of Inula, Goldenrod and Ylang-ylang applied neat to the skin over the heart (please only use the highest quality essences, it is best if you know where they come from first-hand). My friend once applied this combination right before arriving at his dog-sitting job where both dogs were prone to extreme excitability. When he arrived, right on cue both pups leaped on him frantically vying for his affection, yipping and licking his hands and neck where the essences had been applied. Within a few minutes, these normally neurotic dogs calmed right down and were soon curled up, relaxed and sleeping. They stayed calm and mellow for two days afterward, content to wag their tails happily and offer an affectionate lick - not even doing their normal freak-out when the mailman came to the door. Now that’s a powerful combination! Whether using the essence topically or taking the herb internally, she restores strength both physically and emotionally to chase away fatigue, listlessness and nervous exhaustion.

A stimulating herb for the digestion, Cardamom warms the middle and treats a variety of gastrointestinal disorders such as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), dysentery, gastritis, and chronic gastroenteritis. Its ability to sooth frayed nerves and anxiety as well as regulating the appetite makes Cardamom a great herb to choose as part of a treatment plan for many types of eating disorders. Because it can counteract food allergies and sensitivities, Cardamom is often paired with foods that are difficult to assimilate or mucous-forming such as dairy and sweets. Traditionally added to coffee in India and the Middle East, Cardamom also counteracts the harsh effects of caffeine. This herb is a real pal to have around over the holidays when overindulging in rich and heavy foods is the norm. Nausea, heartburn, indigestion and gas no longer need to be the unwelcome holiday guests, so long as you are sure to invite Cardamom to the party!

Cardamom really is a breath of fresh air, not only for conditions like allergies and chronic sinusitis, but also for chronic bronchitis and asthma. It is a well-known expectorant that will help to reduce phlegm, open a tight chest, and relax coughing spasms. It is best suited for Cold Damp conditions, in other words, the mucous would be white and copious; it is not particularly appropriate for hot, infectious conditions unless used in proper combination. As an ingredient in many herbal formulas, Cardamom offers a pleasant taste that improves the overall flavor of medicinal combinations while improving their absorption and digestibility. It really can be a “breath of fresh air” when used to offset garlicky halitosis!! Cardamom has such an agreeable perfume it is one of the few herbs that will cover garlic-breath.

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Cooking with Cardamom will almost guarantee a great result, but it can be too strong if used with a heavy hand. When purchasing this splendid spice, be sure to choose whole, plump, undamaged green pods with a thin skin. Grind only as many seeds as needed at any one time for the best flavor, as the volatile oils will dissipate quickly. Freshly ground Cardamom offers an intense and pungent zing to any recipe and is featured in many curries, baked goods, fruit compotes and mulled wines. Using cardamom whole or only slightly crushed will lend a milder flavor to pickles or rice dishes; the pods can be removed easily before serving if desired. Because of the volatile oil content, it is best not to overcook Cardamom or it will lose its balanced flavor and become harsh or slightly bitter.

Here I would like to offer up my personal chai recipe that has received rave reviews to all who have tried it. I will frequently make a large batch of the chai mix to keep on hand for a quick fix while hunkering down in chilly New England from October to March. It really does help to keep me warmer, more focused and contented during “hibernation.” Serve it to all your guests and you will receive kindness and warmth in return.

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Lisl’s Chinese Herbal Chai

2 Tbs Cardamom pods, crushed

2 Cinnamon sticks (approx. three inches each)

5 slices Ginger*, dried (each about the size of a poker chip)

*(Or ¾” piece of fresh ginger, sliced)

2 tsp Black Pepper Corns, slightly crushed

1 tsp Clove buds

1 tsp grated Orange peel

5 Chinese Red Dates, dried

1 Tbs Goji berries, dried

6 cups water

1 heaping Tbs Black Tea

Whole Milk or Half & Half and Honey to taste

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Combine all ingredients except for the tea in a medium sized saucepan and soak for about 15 minutes. Over high heat, allow the mixture to come just to the boiling point, then immediately reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, add tea and replace cover. Steep for 5 minutes, strain and add milk and honey as desired. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

Nettles - A True Herbal Friend

Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica)

I’m thinking that this series of articles aught to be renamed “Weeds to Know” for the fact that most of them are written to clear up the horrible slander imposed on our leafy green friends. I am in love with Nettles. Some call it “Seven-minute-itch” for the itchy rash the plant’s stinging hairs cause on the skin; this rash is quickly cleared up by applying the crushed leaves of curly dock, plantain, jewelweed or violet. An old rhyme is a reminder of the cure for nettle-itch: “Nettle in, Dock out. Dock rub Nettle out!” Many people avoid it like the plague while out hiking, but most folks aren’t even aware of it at all. This is heartbreaking because Nettles are the most fabulous remedy for seasonal allergies, make a delicious herbal tea, are a fantastic cooked green vegetable, have sturdy fibers for making superior cloth and rope, and are really gorgeous (in my opinion). No kidding, I am in LOVE with Nettles!!!!

Okay, okay, so they sting a little. This is due to the small amounts of formic acid in the tiny glass-like stinging hairs found all over the leaves and stem of the plant. Once these beautiful greens are cooked, dried, or cut and stored in the refrigerator for a day or so, they lose their venom. Some people claim to never get stung by them at all; according to Stalking Wolf, a legendary Apache scout and medicine man (known to the fans of Tom Brown Jr.’s books as Grandfather), if you show no fear and talk to them, the nettles won’t sting you. I sing songs of gratitude to the nettles when I pick them and I don’t fear them, but that doesn’t stop me from wearing gloves…just in case!!

The sting isn’t even all bad; people have used the topical application of the stinging plant (called urtication) to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism and numbness. It was often used by warriors to encourage circulation in order to help keep them warm in cold, damp environments or to keep them awake if need be. According to the Doctrine of Signatures which shows us how the “personality” of a plant will dictate its uses, the stimulating effect of Nettles on the skin reflects its invigorating effect on the internal organs. It has been long used as a spring tonic that jump starts the organs and promotes energy after a long winter’s rest or general fatigue. It is very helpful for stimulating the thyroid, libido and the brain, encouraging hair growth and building tissue strength. It removes old, stagnant mucous, uric acid, stones and other wastes from the body while improving liver function and regulating metabolism. It’s like an herbal “kick-in-the-pants.”

As a potherb, Nettles easily rivals spinach in taste, texture and nutrition. It has very high protein content for a vegetable- up to 24%, plus significant amounts of iron, silicon, potassium and other minerals, as well as heart-healthy fats, chlorophyll, vitamins A, B and C. It is best eaten in the spring when the leaves are still tender, but when the leaves are tougher before flowering, cut the plant tops on an arid day after the dew evaporates to hang dry for nutritious teas… you may even be rewarded by tender new growth for another chance at a culinary treat. Its flavor pairs well with eggs, leeks, mushrooms, goat cheese and potatoes, and when combined all together, make a savory quiche. You could also opt to make a creamy nettles soup, or saute with garlic, mushrooms and white beans for a hearty side dish.

 Nettles tea is also delicious; it’s like a meal in a cup. Medicinally, this is the best form to take it in, other than freeze-dried capsules. I have often prescribed Nettles for all types of allergies, including some types of dermatitis. Nettles taken medicinally naturally decongests the sinus, opens the lungs to stop wheezing asthma and shortness of breath, and acts as an expectorant. It helps rashes that are red and itchy; it’s especially helpful for eczema that causes fingers to swell.

Nettle has an impressive record. It is frequently and successfully used for the treatment of gout, gangrene, chronic cystitis, dysentery and various ulcerations and is recommended in the treatment of tumors and cancer. In cases of “Blood Heat” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, where blood appears inappropriately in the stool or urine, nettles controls bleeding when taken internally; the juice or powder is applied topically, as with nosebleeds or bleeding hemorrhoids.

For women, nettles can also be used to promote the menses, for excessive menses, post-partum hemorrhage, or in a formula for bleeding associated with endometriosis. Wise women will also find it to be a useful galactagogue when nursing, helpful for regulating milk when weaning a child and supportive for building blood post partum or in cases of anemia. It is also valuable in the treatment of leucorrhea, edema and various types of urinary dysfunction.

Men need not feel left out, the root is effective for prostate health; the high amount of sterols improves the white blood cell count, which in turn reduces infection and inflammation of the prostate. As a remedy for alopecia, comb in nettles juice daily and wash the hair with nettles tea. If you’re brave enough, urtication of the scalp stimulates the follicles and is sure to impress the ladies as well!

Though often associated with simple country folk, nettles was prized as a home remedy, as food or beverage (including the famous nettles beer), for its strong rope and waterproof netting and rivaled flax in durability and smoothness for linens and cloth. It was cut and added to fodder for all manner of livestock to improve their coats, their health, milk production in heifers and egg production in fowl, and it made all the animals fatter and happier.

Each year, I gather shopping bags of these goodies to feed my family, friends and give away to clients. I harvest a lot, and I always think that there will be plenty dried to last over the winter for tea. That almost never happens; come February, there is never a surplus. Imagine my delight when I discovered  two new patches in the fields around the property that were only a small handful of plants last year. Now I will certainly be able to gather enough to eat AND dry!!!

Did I mention that I am in LOVE with Nettles? I hope that you, gentle reader, will find some to strike up an affair with and then, you too, will fall head over heels.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a level II Reiki practitioner, an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer in private practice for over a decade. She is available by appointment. HerbaLisl.com

Please call 8 6 0 - 4 8 0 - 0 1 1 5 or email HerbaLisl@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.