Brown Bear Herbs Herbalism & Tactics for Thriving Together

For our last plant meditation of this session we meditated with a very special plant, Cinquefoil. You may have heard it called any number of other names, including: Potentilla, five finger grass, septfoil, tormentil, and crampweed. Initial Impressions This tea tastes light, like Spring, grassy, mildly astringent. A pleasnt, mild flavor. Like a lighter version of raspberry leaf, agrimony, or strawberry leaf. It feels like it might clean my teeth. A little drying, like tannins. Reminds me of a lace bodice--white lace trim, I see yellow flowers. Meditation 1 •"A delicate hand." I hear this repeatedly. What you are close to becomes part of you. Herbs, like people who you associate with, become integrated parts of who you are. •I give a pretty thing she likes. The herb knows what they like.  •It is hard to concentrate. Things feel bright so I opened my eyes. •A Woman is sitting in a field of tall grass. She wears a long, puffy petticoat, and a bodice with a white lace trim. She is writing in her journal. •A sense of weightlessness. •Things are bright.  •I saw a bright green field, with an early Spring feel. I saw a kit. The sky was blue. The air was brisk. •I felt a pleasant pressure behind my eyes and in my forehead. Then warmth spread down my arms.  •I feel this herb can clear your mind and provide comfort. Meditation 2 •Trouble concentrating.  •Again a sense of this herb knowing things that people like and pleasing them. Also pleasing them through images that people like. Pretty, harmonious things.  •The herb talking again about becoming a delicate hand, both interpersonally and creatively. This is about art and human connection. It feels like it may be saying this to engage me in things I enjoy thinking about.  •A sense of de-stressing. Not very focused. I feel neck tension being worked out.  • I feel light, energized, happy. Even more this time than the first meditation.  • I feel rising bubbles in my body, they are joyful. Summary and Traditional Use Matthew Wood finds Cinquefoil to have the same medicinal properties and magical properties as Agrimony, an herb I have worked with extensively. These herbs are helpful for when a person is tense and tortured by pain or circumstances. The common characteristic is holding their breath in response to pain, they often cover their feelings with a happy face. Because of this they can have trouble being authentic. Health problems they can treat include asthma, intestinal problems like mixed IBS, and as one of Cinquefoil's names, Crampweed, indicates, menstrual pain and disharmony. Agrimony and Cinquefoil help unwind problems related to work and the law, and any areas where one feels stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Through plant meditation I find the temperments of these two plants different. Agrimony tends to loosen up speech and help people break their reserve by bringing out commonalities and talking about things you are genuinely enthusiastic about. Cinquefoil has a much lighter energy to it, the plant also feels lighter--the dried leaves are fluffier and less dense. Like some other herbs that help reduce tension, focus was less, in favor of being relaxed and happy. Cinquefoil has a reputation for attracting love. The way that it brought to mind light, happy feelings that were personal to each participant, seems similar to a gentle, attentive suitor. I also loved "a gentle hand"--it was a tender yet persistent message. In Europe the flower was used both to attract love and in wedding bouquets as a symbol of commitment and fidelity. Potentilla has been used as a antidepressant. Whereas Agrimony feels like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat, Cinquefoil felt like it was shifting our internal energy and therefore would attract more positive energy. Potentilla is used magically for protection, the five fingered hand shape leaf seems to say "Stop" and is used as a talisman. I look forward to getting to know this herb's magical ways more thoroughly.  Cinquefoil is used for skin problems. It is used as a face wash to heal sores and wounds, as well as to reduce freckles and sunburns. In this way it can help you enjoy the meadow while protecting you from any harm that may come to your skin. This herb has very detailed leaves and when it spoke to me and others through very aesthetically transmitted messages it brought them to mind. This plant is used as an ornamental (unlike agrimony which is not quite so pleasing to the eye, sns) and it seems to put a lot of emphasis on the ability to heal through creating pleasing visuals, this could include art.  Above you can see the details in Cinquefoil's silhouette in my Freedom Quilt.   While mild in flavor, this plant has abundant tannins, as one participant tasted. It is recommended that the entire top of the plant be harvested in June. Dry carefully to avoid any risk of mildew, as the plant is prone to dampness. This plant has a relatively large root which was used for making bread during times of famine (called the 7th bread in Gaelic).  While not as commonly known these days, this helpful herb was a staple in the medicine cabinet.    Invitation Have you worked with Cinquefoil, aka Potentilla? Please share your experiences in the comments. References Coon, N, Using Plants for Healing, Hearthside Press, 1963, p 179. Harris, B The Compleat Herbal, Barre Publishers, 1972, p 82-32. Wood, M, The Earthwise Herbal: A Compleat Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants, North Atlantic Books, 2008, pp 399-400.

WARNING: In its unprocessed form, Fúzǐ (zhi), 附子(製), Aconite is a deadly poison, even though skin contact! Known as “King of 100 herbs,” Aconite was a highly valued herb in classical Chinese medicine, where the off-shoots of the main tuber of Aconitum carmichaelii were used after careful and thorough preparation. It is less commonly used today, and it is more challenging to find the herb prepared appropriately. In the West, Aconite, also known as Monk's Hood, is one of the strongest poisons and used primarily as a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted. For example, a 200c Aconite homeopathic preparation has been diluted from 100% to 1%, 200 times. Historically, it was also used in very diluted preparations only, topically, as even topical exposure to inadequately diluted plant material can be life threatening. In Chinese medicine, this herb is also considered highly toxic, and there is quite a bit of information on the herb’s use as poison, as well as antidotes in historical Chinese literature. It was first cited for medicinal use in the Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica, c. 100-200 CE (trans Wilms, 2017, p 312). The name indicates the prepared root appendages are used medicinally, not the plant, or a component of the plant, in general. There are around 70 methods of detoxifying aconite described in the Chinese materia medica (Fruehauf: article here). Levels of the main toxin can vary greatly; it is highly sensitive to heat so many processes involve boiling or steaming for hours. Traditional processes can remove the majority of toxins. These days it is rare to find the herb grown and processed by time honored methods. After processing, this herb remains one that needs to be used with conservative or well-researched dosing, such as a skilled and experienced herbalist can provide.  Plant Meditation Club  Expecting a strong impression to be delivered by this plant, we consumed a few sips of lightly steeped tea prior to each meditation. We used prepared Fúzǐ (zhi), Aconitum carmichaelii.  Premeditation/Taste We experienced this herb to have a slippery and soapy taste; it was a little astringent in feel: like a cleaner.  We did consider the possibility of soap in the cup, but we were in different locations, participating in Zoom, so this common experience, that we didn’t notice with other herbs, seemed unique to Aconite. Meditation 1 • I felt strong metal and fire. This reminded me of a meditation with Devil’s Club, where I felt like I was inside a cone of steel that protected me from the energies of others. Devil’s Club gives a strong sense of boundaries, but when taken in more than drop doses, it can create overreactions and aggressive behavior. In meditation with Aconite, I saw a metal cone filling the inside of my body. This is a strong herb. It said, “Put metal in and pull the sword out.” I interpreted this as meaning if you restore or establish metal/strength in the body, you could wield it intellectually or for combat (yang as weaponized action, metal as death) as needed. In his interview with Bob Quinn, Fruehauf explains that Aconite was used to bring yang to a position of storage when it has been pushed to the exterior during “stress”. In this case stress is referring to a significant level of challenge, such as an intense acute illness or experience or a prolonged intense chronic condition. In Chinese medicine, the element of metal is associated with the air element and the season of autumn/”killing,”and the lungs and large intestines, both of which are associated with discernment, such as being clear about what to retain and what to release. The season of fall is a time where much is harvested and dies, returning the earth to an internal state. Metal nurtures the kidneys/water element, restoring core energy before action comes again in the spring/wood element.  I felt my body as though I was red/hot and sweaty from running, and then stopping to look around and take in the world.  Heat on my face, sharpish traveling pains* moving on the left side of my body, a couple of places over five minutes or so. A mild neck ache. *Moving pains are associated with wind/liver imbalance. •I felt pulsating pressure in my head, brief pain in my abdomen in general and right of center, prickly back of neck, then cooling.  Overall a very stable feeling.  It feels like a strong herb that can impart some of its strength to you.  •I slept with no dreams or feelings. I feel hungry, tired, feverish, and like the herb is “really making me angry”.  Second Taste This time the taste is pretty neutral. “It feels like a refreshing stream.”  Meditation 2  •I feel more heat, frustration, anger (liver/wind stuff). I feel the idea of “you get what you want” For example, “You want mental clarity? You get it, not a desk full of lists.” I sense a person trying to stuff yang into me–it is an act of giving, but they are frustrated.  I see/feel I have a wide smile like a frog. A mouth that has a wide flat opening. I don’t understand, but my tongue goes out, like a long uncurl, and I understand it is frog time. I associate frogs with cleansing. They breathe air and water, so the image of frogs brings up interesting ideas with this herb being associated with the metal element/lungs, again bringing to mind the connection between air and water in the body. In this case, a tongue movement is often to catch a bug. The fly eats out of the air and is also able to live and breathe in water.  •I had visions of spiders injecting me with venom and my body being itchy all over.  • I had the opposite experience as last meditation where I felt centered and strong. This time I felt agitated, cool, and itchy.  A tiny amount is good but too much is not. Summary and Traditional Use This herb is considered warming and drying. In Western homeopathy it is often used for chills, exposure to cold wind, sudden fever, and the personality that may be sedentary, fearful of going out, fearful of death, anxious, paralyzed by fear. It is also used for both pain (often acute, intense nerve pains) and paralysis (nerve issues). Homeopathy is a subtle science and this is a very brief explanation of possible benefits of homeopathic aconite. Even though this is a highly diluted form of the herb, it should be used with caution and ideally with an experienced guide. This is not because it will cause poisoning, but because the herb is powerful even without its toxins. Historically, the herb was diluted and used topically for numbing and nerve pain. Topical poisonings have occurred. Internal wind often impacts the liver, this imbalance is associated with moving pain, itchiness, and neurological issues, in general. Increasing the element of metal “destroys” wood energies (imbalance of which can be associated with wind disturbance).  Let’s explore a small amount of the use of this herb in Chinese medicine. This herb grounds the yang by bringing it into storage in the Mingmen. The Mingmen (命門) is translated as the gate of vitality, life, destiny, or power. It is an energy center nestled between our core qi reserves, the kidneys. Heiner Fruehauf states that all chronically ill (and some others) will eventually benefit from a formula with fúzǐ (zhi) in it to redirect their energy to the Mingmen, reinforcing the vital energy. Bensky describes it as restorative to devastated yang, an example of a chronic condition that responds well to the warming, drying, and energy shifting properties of fúzǐ (zhi) is congestive heart failure (CHF). In this condition, there is a build up of fluid all over the body, because the heart is not able to function properly. CHF can lead to death because of the failure of the heart, or by other organ failure related to severe internal fluid overload. Note that this is a life threatening condition in need of a very strong energy to correct course. Because this herb is strongly heating, all conditions this herb treats will have a component of coldness. Think of it in cases of hypothermia. Or, a milder example: arthritis that is worse from cold. However, it may be used for hot flashes with low thyroid symptoms, where the cold of the low functioning thyroid is less obvious, but the yang, which is escaping as a hot flash, will benefit from being brought back to the center. It is important to note, Chinese herbs, especially this one, are not usually used by themselves. This is an intense herb that, when used precisely, can effectively treat many serious and difficult conditions. Aside from a similar low dose plant tasting with well-sourced herbs (see footnote 2), leave recommendations about fúzǐ (zhi) to knowledgeable and experienced herbalists.  Invitation Have you used aconite yourself or with a client? In what forms and what is your take on the herb? Please share in the comments.     Resources Used Bensky, D and Gamble, A, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Eastland Press, 1986, p. 430. Fruehauf, H, The Flagship Remedy of Chinese Medicine: Reflections on the Toxicity and Safety of Aconite, Classical Pearls, published 2012, accessed 3/14/25. https://www.classicalpearls.org/resources/flagship-remedy-chinese-medicine-reflections-toxicity-safety-aconite/ Grieve, M, A Modern Herbal, Aconite, first published in 1931, accessed digitally 3/15/25 https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aconi007.html Quinn, B, The Importance of Aconite (Fuzi): an interview with Heiner Fruehauf on 2/19/2009, accessed 3/15/2025 https://classicalchinesemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/fruehauf_fuziinterviewENG.pdf  In this interview you can learn about the lengths that Fruehauf’s company, Classical Pearls Herbal Formulas, goes to in order to offer traditionally prepared fúzǐ to their customers in this interview. Inadequately prepared fúzǐ can be toxic, less potent, or not medicinal.

Curious about energetic medicines known as flower essences, gem essences, and rare animal essences? I speak with Sabina Pettitt of Pacific Essences and Star Riparetti of Star Essence about their long careers working with gem, animal, and flower essences. We are all members of Herbalists Without Borders a global humanitarian organization the supports local health and food justice projects. Herbalists Without Borders supports local projects and provides loads of herb information to members. Get involved at: https://hwbglobal.org/ Shop Brown Bear Herbs Essences here Sabina Pettitt and her online store Pacific Essences: https://pacificessences.com/ Sabina's Five-Element Energy Medicine Retreat: https://pacificessences.com/en-us/pag... Star Riparetti's Shop: https://www.staressence.com/ 

Looking for fun alcohol alternatives? Herbal mocktails are really fun because they aren't just fun tasting and cute to look at, the herbs also support your health goals. Add our flavorless gem and flower essences to direct the vibe of your next special evening or gathering :) Here is a recipe from Portland's herbal mixologist:  Amanda Furbee's Ginger, Cayenne Lemonade Mocktail Nothing like jumpstarting your metabolism with a little Lemon, Ginger and Cayenne as we mosey into Spring. This delicious mocktail is a play on the Lemon Cayenne Master Cleanse. Flush out all the stagnation from winter and start fresh. This lovely mocktail has The Herb Shoppe's Signature Bitters to help jump-start and nourish your digestion. You first want to infuse honey with the Ginger and Cayenne. This will stay fresh and delicious for a long time. Make sure you strain all the Ginger out of the honey while the honey is still hot!  This mocktail is delicious warm like a Hot Toddy, or chilled over ice. Enjoy it all year long! Ingredients: 7 oz. Lemonade or fresh squeezed lemons (try Meyer lemons for a little extra flavor) 1-2 Tablespoons of chopped, fresh Ginger Pinch of powdered Cayenne 16 ounces of local honey THS Signature Bitters Optional: Ginger Beer/Zevia Ginger Beer Step by Step Instructions Infuse honey with Ginger and Cayenne. Take your lemonade and warm it up for a few minutes in a double boiler add approximately 1-2 ounces of infused honey to it. Mix it up till the honey is dissolved. Add 1-2 full droppers worth of the THS Signature Bitters to blend. Shake til all ingredients are blended. Pour into your glass and enjoy! If you want it to be bubbly, add 2-4 ounces of ginger beer of your choice. Serve hot or chilled. For a little extra spice add an extra dash of bitters on top of your shaken drink. Try it with Brown Bear Herbs' Addiction Recovery Support gem and flower essence for added support enjoying making healthier decisions. <3 Note that bitters and flower essences typically include a small amount of alcohol as a preservative. The amount in 5 drops of an essence is about the same as a yogurt. Tinctures can have a higher percentage of alcohol, but they are used in small quantities. If you are sober, know your comfort zone and adapt mocktail recipes to suit your needs.      Herbalist and Mixologist Amanda Furbee Amanda Furbee’s passion for herbalism led her to the Pacific Northwest in 2011, where she immersed herself in plant medicine and holistic healing. As the owner of The Herb Shoppe, she expanded its mission by launching The Herb Shoppe Community Clinic, a nonprofit dedicated to accessible wellness. She actively volunteers with organizations like Herbalists Without Borders, Rahab’s Sisters, and PCHP to bring herbal support to those in need. In 2023, she transitioned the business fully online to focus on education, consultations, and building a future wellness retreat space. 

At the beginning of my herbal career I had a tea shop in my backyard garden. It was beautiful and I worked with the fairies to make amazing herbal truffles to be enjoyed with Chinese teas, while the crows drank leftover chai. How did the fairies help? They did some inspiring, including getting me interested in flower medicine, but mostly they just let me know that I didn't need to stress out. They said "Just ask us to help and the recipes will turn out great!" They always did! (Also, remember to never get water on melted chocolate.) This truffle recipe is an easy introduction to adding herbs and essences into your chocolates. Watch the video of this recipe on YouTube, or add it to your Pinterest board. Enjoy this recipe and experimenting with your own.  Easy Lavender Amethyst Truffle Recipe Ingredients: 21 ounces milk chocolate 1 cup heavy whipping cream 3 Tablespoons lavender flowers 5 drops of our amethyst gem essence and unsweetened cocoa powder for rolling Instructions Place the chocolate in your double boiler with about 2 inches of water in the lower part. Start melting the chocolate. Stir frequently as it starts melting. In a separate small pan, heat the heavy whipping cream. Add in the amethyst gem essence now. Just as the cream is starting to boil, turn off the heat, stir in the lavender, and let steep for 3 minutes. Strain the lavender, try to squeeze out all the cream from the lavender. If needed add cream to make the total amount 1 cup.  Reheat the infused cream and stir into the chocolate. This may finish the melting process. If not, continue to melt until there are no lumps whatsoever. I use a fork to check.  When it is completely melted, set aside and allow to cool to room temperature. This can take hours or overnight.  Roll the ganache into quarter sized balls. Keep your hands cool during this. Sometimes I like to have a cool pack nearby so that things don't get too melty, especially with this milk chocolate recipe. Roll the truffles in unsweetened cocoa powder and you are done!  Make some new friends by giving them samples.  Key Points for Making Herbal Truffles •Fat soluble herbs can be steeped into the cream. Examples include fragrant, oily to touch herbs like: fresh lemon balm, young pine needle tips, ground fennel, and... lavender. Check the end quantity of the cream after steeping and straining out the herbs. If the plant matter has absorbed a significant amount, add cream to 1 cup total volume and then reheat the infused cream before adding it to the chocolate.  •Add 5 drops of gem* or flower essences into the cream--NEVER add water or alcohol directly into melted chocolate, or it will likely seize and you will have lost the batch. *Our gem essences contain no fragments or material components of gemstones. They are energetically charged waters preserved with a small amount of brandy. Pisces Season Truffle   I chose this recipe because of all the Pisces energy right now and to give a gift to my favorite Pisces. Lavender and Amethyst are balancing, they soothe anxiety when worried and promote clarity when feeling droopy. Even though it is especially lovely for our sensitive Pisces friends, this truffle is a crowd pleaser. The lavender flavor is subtle, add more if you roll strong :)   Recipe from Lily Arati Michaud She is a passionate herbalist, founder of Brown Bear Herbs, and Board of Directors member of Herbalists Without Borders. She also loves being a mother and making art. Goals include: sharing and enjoying natural medicine and working for social justice. Imagine making ooey, gooey, yummy herbal treats for social justice--it is just one option! Add flower and gem essences and start co-creating. 

This week we meditated with Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata.    Areas for Further Investigation: Blue Vervain for improving hearing if compromised due to tension.  Pre-Meditation/Taste Hilariously the group decided the taste was "horrible" and was willing to put no further effort into describing the flavor or smell. It is a bitter herb. The conversation was relaxed. Meditation 1 •The colors of blue and black (like the kidney colors in Chinese medicine) at the heart. Makes me think of the kidneys being able to better support the heart.  •I had a negative reaction to the bitter herb. Then felt pleasant, my mind wandered. I thought about my plans for the week. I found it slightly warming. •"Backstage at a sandwich shop" (meaning in the kitchen of a panini place). There was a man shaving a parmesan slab onto a sandwhich, he added some of this herb on top. He then wrapped it in white paper, cut it in half, and dinged the bell. The front end staff brought it out to the customer. The person unwrapped it a bit, ate a bite, the plant entered his body, I see the pathway it took down into his stomach, then he barfed it all out. •I feel the tension releasing around the edges of my face like a heart shape, like an Elizabethan era hair pull back shape. I see back then I had privilege and I imprisoned people as I liked (including a PMC group member). I did what I liked. I see this is a time I can release the tension I still hold from that bad way of treating people. I can let it go. It is over. I have experienced the karma of it. Done. Meditation 2 •This time I had a restful, deeper meditation. I was focused on my sense of hearing, slight ringing in my ears. Slight pressure in the back of my head (base of head/top of neck).  • I see butterflies, a unicorn, and a rainbow. I saw someone sitting at a typewriter and rainbows were coming out of the typewriter as they worked. I don't think this vision came from the herb.  •I feel more of my face muscles relax around teeth, jaw, and upper neck. Back in the Elizabethan time, I had demanded money from this current PMC group member and they did not think I deserved it and I locked them up as their consequence. On a soul level they thought "when you deserve it, I will give it to you" and now (lifetimes later) they are comfortable inside that I do deserve it (as a consumer exchange).  Summary & Traditional Use Tense Personalities and Necks: Blue vervain is known for being helpful for people who live with a high degree of tension and very high standards for both themselves and others. They often have high ideals and have trouble relaxing, because their ideals do not allow it. It could be used with rock water essence for this, which helps with freeing oneself of rigidity too. Blue Vervain is considered good for "strong above, weak below" (mentally strong, especially women, less energy going to digestion and sexuality) another option for this is blackberry. Blue vervain treats neck tension (we experienced release in this area, as well as jaw and face), headaches, earaches. Can be used for flus and illnesses that include neck tension in the symptom picture.  Social Tension: This relaxation effect appears to be helping out when Astral in Body is smoked socially and when my Worker's Woes tea is consumed (also includes hops), both illustrate how neither alcohol nor illicit substances are needed to kick back and have a good time--herbal allies are there for you. Blue Vervain is also used in Astral in Body for its magical and concurrent protective effects.  Herb for Menopausal Symptoms: Although it can also be helpful for "nymphomania" in menopause. Well known for use with hot flashes for tense, "list writers" per M Wood, vs Black Cohosh for hot flashes in dark brooding types.  Liver tension--the liver works on hormone processing. I would look at the personality clues first. The plant meditation revealed how well it reduced tension and opened up a healthy level of relaxation to the group. In clinical practice I see it helping bring in some lax time in individuals that meet the personality traits, which in combination with other physical effects seems to ease physical symptoms, particularly associated with peri menopause and menopause. Menstruation: A side note, this herb supports the following menstrual symptoms: anger or intense food cravings before menstruation, painful or irregular periods. It did bring on my period the next day (several days early) which I was not happy about. I did have a lot of tea! It is unclear whether this was a proving for showing it helps with irregular periods or bringing on the reds. My period is normally shipshape thanks to all my herb friends, so it was definitely different because of this herb.  As a Bitter...: Last, but not least, if you take too much of this herb (it is a bitter!) it can cause vomiting. Because it is so bitter, it is unlikely that a person would consume enough to induce this effect by accident. The vision does remind us that it is not a "food herb"! Enjoy in amounts that are comfortable to you. Other adverse effects will be bypassed by vomiting, lol. In general bitters support digestion, pick the right ones for you and more is not better.  Invitation Have you used Blue vervain or related flower essence Vervain? Please share your insights and experiences below. Interested in Plant Meditation Club? We will be starting a group in April 2025. I hope you join. :) Herbalist Lead Lily Arati Michaud (she/her) is a passionate herbalist, founder of Brown Bear Herbs, and Board of Directors member of Herbalists Without Borders. She adores learning about herbalism directly from the plants, through elders, accounts of personal experience, and scientific inquiry. Goals include: sharing and enjoying natural medicine and working for social justice. She also loves mom life, making art, and cooking. 

If you’ve been looking for natural ways to support focus, calm, and overall well-being with ADHD, this video is for you. It explores the connection between inflammation, food allergies, and ADHD symptoms. I discuss Hawthorn and Linden, which can help bring more balance by reducing inflammation, along with several flower and gem essences that can offer energetic support. Find hawthorn in our Humanity Tea in the Apothecary and all essences are in the flower and gem essences collection. In our herbal smokes section Blue Vervain in Astral in Body and Linden in Clear Mind.  

Offered by Pacific Essences. Five Element Acupuncture aligned energy medicine training! I would love to see you there. It is at the magestic western Canada ocean side.    In this course you will: Immerse yourself in the beauty of Canada’s Pacific Northwest Learn how to use the Essences and the five elements easily and effectively for your own health and healing Learn how to select Essences for your friends and family Become an Energy Medicine® Practitioner* Practice Qi Gong to enliven the five elements in our own Body/Mind If you are an LAc enjoy getting all 50 of your CEUs during one fabulous week! The course is approved by NCCAOM for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practitioners. Learn more and register at Pacific Essences (click here). The prices are in Canadian dollars, so it starts at around $2300 (all inclusive). Check it out :) It is an amazing way to get the full feel for essences and helping others with them, as well as a great way to dip your toes into the fascinating world of 5-element Chinese medicine if you are not already a practitioner. 

This week we meditated on the fruit Longans or Lóng Yǎn Ròu, 龙眼肉. We took this fruit as a tea, which is how it has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine. Translated literally as "Dragon Eye Flesh" or Dragon's Eye. Botanical name: Dimocarpus longan, Euphoria longan, or Nepheliam longana. Taste and Smell This tea seemed to ask for a longer steep, so we did that, steeping for 8-10 minutes. Notwithstanding this was a mild tea with a slightly sweet, neutral flavor. We experienced its smell as a smell of Asian cooking during the first drinking, and later it had a more easily identifiable miso smell and a sweeter, nourishing flavor.  Meditation 1 • I felt this focused on my upper body. It was really relaxing. Tension drained from my neck and shoulders. It felt like a sedative.  • Earth was in space. Two giants from Hilda were on it, playing frisbee with a giant moon pie. The giants looked big compared to earth.  I had a hard time breathing, but I am also sick. • The energy from the plant's intelligence when directly to my heart, then shifted to my stomach. It points out, 'When you have a problem with your stomach bleeding, it creates a cascading effect in the rest of the digestive tract. The spleen isn't happy with things because it is a mix of food and the body. The small intestines encounters a mix of bile and blood." The energy moves down just lateral to my midline on the right (stomach vs kidney channel) side of my abdomen, then down the interior of my left leg (kidney channel), then back and forth between the soles of my feet, until I ask it to settle down (although I guess it is a similar energy to walking, which I like), and it did in both.  • The plant spirit explains that eventually I will see that as I do hard things (like difficult conversations with community leaders) that makes it easier for others to eek their way along. In that knowledge, I will be able to I sleep at night. I see myself taking up a lot of space in a dark, broad, floor-length, cloak, like you would see in historical clothing. I feel a sense of justice.  Meditation 2 • One participant slept deeply through the second meditation. • This felt like a tranquilizer. Whereas before it relaxed my upper body, this time it spread through the rest of my body, relaxing me, with some pulsation in my legs. I experienced some yawning. I had a really deep meditation. • I felt a sense of relaxation, like I had no idea how much tension I had been holding. I had some great insights but they left my mind as quickly as they came in.   • A delightful drink recipe involving this and other herbs came to me. It suggested tincturing it, so more people could have it.  Summary and Traditional Use Traditionally this herb was used for nourishing the blood and tonifying the heart (the heart is the seat of the mind; an agitated mind can cause insomnia) and spleen (an imbalanced spleen is associated with worried thinking), not surprisingly it is in remedies for insomnia. It is also used for heart palpitations, forgetfulness (associated with age), and dizziness--this symptoms are related to deficient heart and spleen. (Bensky's Materia Medica, vol. , pp 480-481)  We all experienced deep relaxation and release of tension. I felt like there was a connection between forgetfulness and the type of mind needed for sleep (a mind that doesn't grasp). It is worth experimenting with this being a modulator of thought--kind of a tuning of thought. We all felt this herb was warming--not hot, but gently warming.  I found it interesting that it traveled the what may have been the kidney channel for one meditator. This herb is primarily associated with the heart and spleen channels (Bensky). In Chinese medicine anemia is thought of as blood deficiency. When it impacts the heart it can cause restlessness and poor sleep. This herb is also known to treat "evil qi" in the five zàng organs (the solid organs: heart, liver, lung, spleen, and kidney). This may suggest that the stomach bleed is related to an underlying issue involving evil qi in the kidneys (associated with reasonable goals and fears). Or, part of this herb's treatment strategy for heart deficiency may involve supporting the kidneys which are involved in blood production. According to Chinese medicine the production of blood involves two pathways, one involves proper nutrition coming through the stomach. The other involves the kidney's jing (inherited essence) traveling to the bone, becoming marrow, which in turn produces blood. Without adequate blood the heart experiences deficiency symptoms. Literature suggests this herb supports the blood through the stomach (or primarily so), however, this experience suggests that it also works through the kidneys. It may be its directives are not primarily associated with channels but functions, which as this condensed description of blood production indicates, may involve many pathways...this may be an herb that just gets the job done, rather than supporting certain channels. I have yet to meet an herb that just works with an organ or meridian, rather they have unique personalities and offer their own kind of support. We may fit that into our systems of knowledge, for ease of comprehension, but that may restrict our understanding.  This herb has strong antioxidant properties and some anticancer properties that are being researched.  Invitation I am fascinated to begin this journey with Longan, an herb I was previously unfamiliar with. Have you worked with Dimocarpus longan as a food or herb? Please share your experiences in the comments, we would love to hear. Please contact us for herbs of past plant meditations, or join the Plant Meditation Club if you would like to join future experiments. 

Bring these to your Valentine's date or Galentine's social. See the video and screenshot your ingredient list on YouTube or Pinterest.  I love cooking with herbs and gem and flower essences. This recipe includes both! Thanks to the fairies (don't forget to ask for their help) and nature medicine, I get to enjoy my recipes bringing lots of smiles. This Strawberry Agar Agar Jelly Herbal Recipe is light, playful, and romantic. Here is the skinny: 5 cups water (the recipe yields about 4 cups of sauce that will gel in your silicone mold, or use another dish, cut into shapes, or use a small cookie cutter.) 20 grams powdered agar agar (agar agar is a plant based gelatin alternative used in many Japanese desserts, soups, and sauces) 2 Tablespoons dried rose petals (rose petals open your heart) OR use 1/4 cup fresh (untreated) rose petals 2 teaspoons dried hibiscus (hibiscus reminds us of our life, vitality, and especially physical or creative joy) 1 Tablespoon rose hips (see our latest Plant Meditation Club post on rose hips) it is a wonderful herb for deep heart resuscitation, as in healing after tragedy or heart break that may have put your heart on hold).  1 cup of strawberry purée (strawberry helps you feel queen energy no matter what the circumstances, enjoy the medicine of this perky crowned fruit) 150 grams of honey (local and raw if possible) add the raw honey after the sauce has cooled to below 104 degrees F, if you don't care about it being raw, at least cool to under 130 degrees F, otherwise honey can release toxins)  5 drops wild rose flower essence (What, more rose? Yes!! Wild rose flower essence is amazing for helping feel like life is fun again. Do you feel bored and like it's all the same thing over and over? Try wild rose flower essence.  Granulated sugar to sprinkle Note: As you may have gathered, different parts of the same plant have slightly different actions and results. Rose is so special. I am lucky to be surrounded by them, in the City of Roses, Portland, Oregon. Treat yourself and your buds to some rose medicine for Valentine's or Galentine's. Once you try it, I hope you will want to enjoy more good feelings courtesy of plant medicine, year round. Life should not be blahsville. If you don't want to gather all the dry herbs, substitute 4 Tablespoons of Sexy Smokes herbal smoking blend, it will give a similar feel, but with more of an earthy sensuality than a light feel. Get it here.  STEPS: • First make your pretty red tea base, by boiling your herbs in 5 cups of water for 1-4 minutes. • Slowly add in and wisk the agar agar until it dissolves fully.  • Turn off the heat and stir in 1 cup of strawberry purée. • When the temperature is around 100 degrees fahrenheit, stir in the honey til it melts • Finally, add 5 drops of wild rose flower essence.  Pour into molds and allow to cool. When cool, cut your sheet, use cutter shapes, or pop out of molds. Sprinkle with sugar and you are ready for a good time!  About the herbalist, Lily Arati Michaud: Lily Arati Michaud (she/her) is a passionate herbalist, founder of Brown Bear Herbs, and Board of Directors member of Herbalists Without Borders. Goals include: sharing and enjoying natural medicine and working for social justice. She also loves mom life, making art, and cooking.   

This post is from guest herbalist Amanda Furbee of The Herb Shoppe Community Clinic. Learn more in her bio at the bottom of the post.  Intro In our fast-paced world, the search for natural remedies that bolster resilience and promote well-being is ever-present. Valerian Root, a cornerstone in the world of herbs for resilience, has captured attention for its remarkable properties in alleviating stress and enhancing sleep. As an ancient herb with a rich history, Valerian offers a multifaceted approach to improving mental and physical health. Join us as we explore the diverse benefits of this herbal powerhouse, while gaining insights into its use and the fascinating tales that surround it. Medicinal Uses of Valerian Root Valerian Root, or Valerian officinalis, this very stinky herb, has earned its reputation for calming the central nervous system, making it a trusted ally for those dealing with anxiety and stress-related conditions. Its soothing properties extend to the soothing achy muscles, helping to ease discomfort in the uterus, colon, and bronchial passages. Valerian can be a heavy sedative and is excellent for relaxing the nervous system. This antispasmodic action is particularly beneficial for alleviating muscle cramps and spasmodic coughing. Valerian's versatility doesn't end there; it is often combined with herbs like Passionflower, California poppy, or Hops to enhance its sleep-inducing effects. Whether seeking relief from daily stress or improving sleep quality, Valerian offers a holistic approach to mental and physical wellness and relaxation. The Magical Properties of Valerian Valerian Root’s allure extends beyond its medicinal uses into the realm of the mystical. Historically, it has been revered for its ability to invoke tranquility and offer protection. In many traditions, Valerian is believed to create a calming aura that transcends physical well-being, promoting an overall sense of peace and security. Its roots have been used in various rituals and practices aimed at warding off negative energies and fostering inner harmony. Many herbal enthusiasts incorporate Valerian into their daily lives, hoping to tap into these magical properties to enhance their journey toward resilience and personal growth. The magical essence of Valerian not only adds an intriguing dimension to its use but also enriches the holistic experience it offers. Fascinating Folklore Surrounding Valerian Valerian's rich history is intertwined with captivating folklore spanning numerous cultures and periods. In ancient Greece, Valerian was often associated with divine protection, believed to safeguard individuals from enchantments and malevolent forces. This potent herb found its place in medieval European households as a talisman against the plague and other ailments. Furthermore, Valerian was a key ingredient in love potions, believed to spark affection and romantic attraction. Norse mythology even recounts how warriors would carry Valerian into battle to stave off fear and anxiety. These captivating tales enrich Valerian’s legacy, blending its practical uses with a sense of mysticism and cultural reverence. Managing Stress and Anxiety Naturally Managing stress and anxiety naturally involves a holistic approach, and Valerian Root can be a valuable part of this journey. By calming the central nervous system, Valerian helps to soothe the mind and body, creating a sense of tranquility that many people find beneficial in their daily lives. For those who experience anxiety-related symptoms like muscle tension or spasmodic coughing, Valerian’s antispasmodic properties can provide much-needed relief.  Integrating Valerian into your wellness routine can be as simple as incorporating it into a relaxing evening tea or using it in conjunction with other calming herbs like Passionflower. The key is to approach your stress management plan with a multifaceted strategy—combine Valerian with mindfulness practices, regular exercise, and a balanced diet to support overall mental health. As with any herbal remedy, it’s essential to listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional to tailor your approach to your unique needs. With the right combination of practices, Valerian Root can be an effective and natural way to navigate the challenges of stress and anxiety. Improving Sleep Quality with Valerian Root Valerian Root has long been cherished for its ability to enhance sleep quality naturally. For those who find it challenging to drift off or stay asleep, this herb can be a game-changer. Valerian works by promoting a sense of relaxation, making it easier to unwind at the end of a hectic day. Its gentle action on the nervous system helps to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and encourages deeper, more restorative rest. Many individuals prefer Valerian Root over conventional sleep aids due to its minimal side effects. Unlike some prescription medications that can leave you feeling groggy or disoriented, Valerian offers a more natural pathway to a good night's sleep. It’s often paired with other calming herbs like Passionflower and Hops to enhance its effectiveness, creating a synergistic blend that supports a peaceful slumber. Incorporating Valerian into your nightly routine can be simple and soothing. Consider a warm cup of Valerian tea as part of your pre-bedtime ritual, or explore tinctures and capsules if you prefer an alternative method. Creating a calming environment—dim lighting, soft music, and a consistent sleep schedule—can further enhance the benefits of Valerian, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized. As always, listen to your body and consult a healthcare professional to ensure Valerian is right for your sleep needs. When Valerian Doesn’t Work: Understanding Individual Reactions While Valerian Root is celebrated for its calming effects, it's important to acknowledge that it doesn't work for everyone. About 5% of individuals may experience an unexpected reaction, feeling more stimulated rather than relaxed. This unique response underscores the diversity of human body chemistry and the importance of personalized healthcare. If you find Valerian isn't providing the expected relief, it’s essential to explore other options and consult with a healthcare professional. There are many natural alternatives and complementary practices that can be effective in managing stress and promoting sleep. By staying attuned to your body's signals and seeking expert guidance, you can find the right balance to support your well-being. Fortunately, if you fall into this category, there are numerous herbs classified as nervines and many other options to explore.  -- About Amanda Furbee Amanda Furbee’s passion for herbalism led her to the Pacific Northwest in 2011, where she immersed herself in plant medicine and holistic healing. As the owner of The Herb Shoppe, she expanded its mission by launching The Herb Shoppe Community Clinic, a nonprofit dedicated to accessible wellness. She actively volunteers with organizations like Herbalists Without Borders, Rahab’s Sisters, and PCHP to bring herbal support to those in need. In 2023, she transitioned the business fully online to focus on education, consultations, and building a future wellness retreat space.

This week we meditated with rose hips, Rosa spp. As usual we meditate with the herb prior to learning its identity to avoid overlaying it with  preconceptions. Taste, Smell, Feel This herbal tea reminded us of red zinger--sort of sweet and tart, floral like hibiscus. It tasted a bit "generic" to some--which makes sense given that association. It felt warming.  Meditation 1 • Very warming, increasingly so. Calming, centering, reassuring. A sense that "everything is as it should be." • There is a red/orange/yellow vintage convertable mustang--inside sits a cartoon twig with a bunch of leaves on it. He is trying to get another twig, this one with a rose bud on it, to get into the car. She was reluctant, but got it. They flew, in the car, to the moon, on a rainbow.  • I feel my nose a lot (the nose is associated with both heart and lungs). I feel warm, red all over. There is a sense of pungent lushness. It looks like a closed-waxy, deep-red flower. It touches me in places inside. It is large. It goes to my yoni and then is in my chest, then all over my body. It says, "Right now, you need as much of me as you can get."  It explains (perhaps related to grief/the nose and lungs) sometimes tears fall down your face and into your lungs--they get caught and I can help out." Meditation 2 • Again, very warming...this spread throughout my body. It looks like red honey spreading from top to bottom. Then I had a really deep meditation. • There were some popcorn pieces* with grass growing on top of them. The grass looked a little like weed, but it wasn't. The two twigs were sitting on these very large popcorns, holding hands, orbiting the moon. Many other popcorns were orbiting the moon too.  *This person could not help but eat some popcorn between meditations and it snuck in.  • This time it tastes more sour/tart. It has a distinct flavor the reminds me of something, but I can't remember. My heart is spinning oddly. It asks, "What's this?" I say, "Those are the rings of Saturn going around my heart chakra." It understands, but it says "Now we want to see you fly." Some solutions come to me that are very straightforward. They lighten my load. Traditional Use & Summary Rose hips are wonderfully nourishing, being an excellent source of vitamins and minerals (40x the vitamin C as oranges!), antioxidants and they are a traditional treatment for anemia. This herb is not warming but rather cooling. As not uncommonly  happens in plant medittion the herb can share what it is good for as well as how it cures. This herb is excellent for treating inflamation in the digestive tract, which one participant is experiencing. Rose also helps eliminate waste through the kidneys. Rose is wonderful for relieving cold and flu symptoms like post nasal drip and "blocked chests. (Bruton-Seal & Seal, Backyard Medicine, Skyhorse Publishing, 2009--a sweet book with lore and several rose hip recipes). I use rose hips in my General Health Tonic herbal tea--it is very effective at treating the common cold, among other things. Rose, of course, is also wonderful herb to healing hearts, grief, and...love. Rose is said to be a perfected plant, it is pleasing to so many people--hence it may be seen as a bit "generic". This plant is such a joy to work with, bringing light to health ailments as well as reminding us of the nearly otherworldly joy of romance-weeee!. This is such a great herb to play around with, I encourage you to find a recipe and test it out for yourself.  Invitation Have you worked with rose and/or rose hips...or rose flower essence? Share in the comments :)

Check out my new gem and flower essence offering comfort, center, trust, and balance to empaths. I speak about how you can learn to evade narcissistic personalities. I wanted to create another option for Gentle and Protective herbal cigarettes and Mother's Little Helper tea fans. If you like either of those, I think you will really appreciate this essence too. Gem and Flower essences are energetic medicine. Add a few drops to your water bottle and sip throughout the day. Find the product here:     

This week we meditated on Yuǎn zhì, 遠志, Chinese snakeroot, Polygala tenuifolia.  Pre-Meditation This herb tastes a little like celery. We found it to be earthy and slightly spicy. It felt warming inthe throat and chest and hydrating.    Meditation 1  Energy: refreshing, revitalizing like "splashing water in the face", stable/grounding. The plant scanned from chest down to left foot, stayed at first chakra, which eventually started to spin.  Physical: cleared some congestion, dried out the chest Prompts: energy to mouth, urging to get thoughts out verbally Elements that came to mind: water, earth Meditation 2 Energy: The plant scanned down my right leg this time (as if to say it was not imbalanced or incomplete!). Said my knees were doing good and I should be grateful (because many have trouble with them). More calming and quiet this time. Feels practical and pleasant. Physical: Energy came to head, I got a headache--when this happens, it told me to put my energy in the first chakra to feel better. Released more congestion, having no coughing. "I was coughing beforehand and not since taking the tea."  Summary and Traditional Use Snakeroot is used for respiratory conditions, in particular, coughs (TWH and TCM). In Traditional Western herbalism this refers to croup and violent colds (M Wood, Earthwise Herbal: New World, Polygala senega), in TCM P. tenuifolia for counterflow coughs and lung deficiency. This herb removes phlegm from the lungs and the heart orifices. Phlegm in the heart is related to mental health disturbances in TCM. This can be caused by long term spleen deficiency. This herb calms the spirit, or heart shen--this can improve anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and emotional outburts. The mouth is related to the spleen in Chinese medicine, which is exacerbated by worry (excessive forethought is one definition) and speach is related to the heart. Expressing one's joy (emotion of the heart) supports/generates the spleen. If we are overly restrained, suppressing the heart it could damage the spleen. Yuǎn zhì is also used to improve cognitive functioning, usually in the elderly. The way that it worked for the headache reminded me of the use of tamasic herbs in Ayurvedic medicine to bring energy out of the head and to the lower energy centers to address injury to the head.  In Native medicine (Seneca, Cherokee, Iroquois, and presumably more) the root of Polygala senega was chewed and applied to rattle snake bites. I am working on a book and am exploring snake medicines and the connection with the spleen. During this plant meditation the connection between this plant, snake, spleen (practical, earthy, mouth) came up. It discussed its ability to ground and using energetic grounding techniques. While these are related more towards my exploration of grounding the kundalini, the association with managing snake bites feels very relavant. I am not finding much information on the efficacy of snakeroot for bites, but apparently settlers did not see Indigenous people dying of snake bites.  Invitation Do you have any experience with this herb? Please share in the comments below. If not, would you like to try it and get back to us? If so contact us. 

Gem and Flower essences can help channel energy for your emotional, creative, and physical healing goals. Learn more in the video with herbalist Lily Michaud. Gem and flower essences are energetic medicines that do not contain any material substances, only water imprinted with the flower or gem and a preservative. I usually use the traditional preservative which is brandy. If you would like another option please comment below, or reach out. Shop our essence here:  https://brownbearherbs.com/collections/energetic-medicine

This week we meditated with Anaphalis margaritacea, of the Pacific Northwest coast. We took the tea of the flowers. Pre-Meditation, Taste, etc This is a mild tea, it has a neutral pleasant flavor. This is a little bit of a pungent or spicy undertone that is similar to yarrow.  It felt warming, a little dry.  We felt happier than normal after have a litte of the tea. It has a cheerful, uplifting vibe.  Meditation 1 I am just listing things as people described them.   -I harvested this by the Washington coast during an artist residency. The plant spoke a lot about its medicine in that context. I struggled with the mold there, it was very moldy in the lodgings. It said to take (as medicine) next time I went. It also said that seasoned visiters just leave the doors open for ventilation. It reminded me of how the medicine we need is often close at hand.  -The flowers are like alveolis (air sacs in the lungs).   -Energy moving in through the crown, out through the mouth. Face like a moon. Strong clear energy throughout my face. -Overall warming, slightly calming -Cheerful, feels like springtime -Had been feeling drained but now feeling more positive. I think I can be more centered in class/at work. -I fell asleep and dreamed I was spinning out of control, I jolted awake.  -I had a vision of the Disney intro with Tinkerbell and the shooting star. The fairie was doing the arc. A bomb dropped on the castle and it blew up the entire thing. Disney music was still playing.  -I saw a whistling Mickey Mouse but the image kept catching on fire. Meditation 2 -A couple people felt the taste was more bitter this time, especially on the side of the tongue.  -I saw nothing, and counldn't keep my eyes closed. -I feel a pattern of emotional stress in my brain, pinging back and forth. I understand the underlying cause now. It is from outside myself. It is not mine. The herb lets me know I can be calm now. The kind of calm I wanted to be as a child, but, now in my home, it will be better. I will set the tone. I feel healed and like I don't have to worry about that pattern that felt outside my control. It also said my sound sensitivity I have been experiencing is not mine either. I can let it go. I can be a calm stable person and it will help those in my house. The person the symptoms are coming from will understand things are safe in my house. Then I felt my skull filled with clear white light.  -The first cup was uplifting, a little bit better mood. The second calmed me down, smoothing frayed edges. It was nice and restorative. Summary and Traditional Use This was a really pleasant plant meditation, we were definitely in good spirits, the energy was light! This plant has a few other names, these are from Matthew Wood's Earthwise Herbal; A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants: Rabbit tobacco--rabbits are said to hang out near it and use it to commune with their creator Owl's crown--this plant has a relationship with the dead, owl is messenger to the underworld--"this herb is used when the dead need to get a message to the living and cannot get through." Sweet everlasting--its scent lasts a long time even when the life has gone out of the flowers Physically it is primarily known as a lung remedy for flus, asthma, and sinusitis. Based on this meditation, use in mold situations is also indicated Used for congenital weakness including celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders. Excessive bleeding. Migraines. This is considered a lucky herb. In past work with it, issues around homes came up. It says "honor both the good and bad that has gone before" in spaces. I feel that gratitude is an aspect of its luck. After meditation this time, I was feeling into the things around homes that came up again. I thought of how both the lungs (commonly used for lung issues) and brain (specific for migraine) are inside house-like bone structures. Even though the lungs breath in everything, they are also protected from object interactions in their rib cage. The brain is very protected in its skull. This also relates to spaces where it is difficult to make a connection. I feel this herb has an affiinity towards homes and home-like spaces. Things can become stagnant in enclosed spaces and this herb gets things flowing properly.  The lungs are associated with grief. So its work with the beyond--communicating and clearing relationship entanglements makes sense. Congenital problems relate to ancestral bodies...that can be another area where releasing past entanglements (for better and for worse) can alter health. I have definitely seen long term health problems resolve with a change in consciousness.  I had the feeling that it was bringing awareness and a sense of space around areas of tension. Maybe also appreciation. There seemed to be a better sense of boundaries and "self-ness" around frustrating situations. For example, if you felt suffocated, or overwhelmed by a situation, but then you realize that your lungs are safe in their home, or your brain is safe in its space, it is a different feeling. It is a feeling of being in your own space even if you are interacting with others. How does this herb change luck? I find magical herbs can be illusive. In this case, the herb helped us have more awareness of the problems and, thereby. releasing us into a centered space. I think it has something to do with witnessing what needed to be seen, but the herb was also seemed to be doing other work to shift things. Like a ghost, the underworld, or just stuff being stuffed down, these things want to be seen, they want to come to light. So often with past life memories becoming conscious, a dis-ease can be released. I feel this herb works in a similar way, but previous meditations have taught me it is not always necessary to understand the process--it is important to honor the past or the validity of other energies at play.  I am not sure what to say about the Disney stuff--the innoncent entertainment of childhood being blown up or set on fire. It feels like something a sociopath would do, taking pleaures in hurting someone innocent. It definitly could have some ties to the underworld energies. Whatever it is, it helps for that energy to be shared or seen, because there are those that hurt children for pleasure in this world. They won't go away by ignoring them. Invitation This is such a curious herb to me. I find it effective but mysterious. Have you worked with this plant medicine? If so please share in the comments below.

Have you tried gem or flower essences yet? Many of you enjoy our smoking blends--they help you shift your emotions. Gem and flower essences can do the same and there are so many to choose from! Check out this video to learn about ruby gem essence. It is an interesting and intense essence. Two people have reported this essence is supportive for their misophonia. Dill essence is also reputed to support that frustrated problem too!   

Ziziphus jujuba, aka Jujube, or Dà Zǎo was our plant meditation subject this week. We had this as a tea. It is a food herb that can be eaten raw or prepared in the many ways fruit can be cooked or baked. Boiling brings out several times more of the beneficial properties. We consumed this as a tea from dried fruit. Pre Meditation Taste: "mild smoked gouda in need of salt", smokey and dank, musty, sweet aftertaste, the sweet flavor was more prominent as it cooled. Energy: Warming and sinking, bringing the energy downwards in a comforting way. Meditation 1 -Pleasant stable pressure at the third eye and across the forehead near the brow. I also noted/the herb pointed out that my brain was improving, as the energy of on my forehead was as balanced as it has been in a long time. There was slightly more energy on the left, but not much difference.  -I was feeling a little sick, like a cold, this tea improved the symptoms. I felt cleared out, but also like my insides were soothingly coated. So it felt like happy mucosa, at the same time as less mild post nasal drip. I mostly felt calm, which was a relief from how I had been feeling with the mild irritation from the head cold. -On the plank of a ship. Everything was in black and white. There was a big cheese on the plank, it looked like pound cake with fuz on the top, but it was indeed cheese. There was a Nightmare before Christmas style pirate character, He looked like a skeleton, and was bouncing up and down on his toes, like a ballerina. He was over-the-top weird/freaky.  During my vision I kept flashing back to falling asleep last night, this made me tired and I fell asleep. I dreamed the herb transported me into the dream.  -Calming, soothing, sedating, heavy, syrupy--like cough syrup. This felt releaving as it descended.  -Sedating, making me sleepy, mostly feeling quiet and stable.  -Slight pressure between my brows Meditation 2 -It felt like a fog lifted, with my focus. -Lightness in spleen area, this feeling spread out and was creating lightness in my lower left lung too. My lungs felt better. -I had a nice deep meditation this time, it was deep and restorative. I had the same slight pressure on my third eye. I felt relaxed, peaceful, and stable. -My sinuses cleared a bit.  -I saw the skeleton pirate again. He finished his dancing, he was tired and holding his back because it hurt him. He was thumping his peg leg everytime he walked. He started coughing and hacking. He coughed out a tooth and it landed on the deck of the ship. He picked up his tankard and downed it all in one go. It was all cough syrup. I could see it going down his body. -My spleen felt warm. Summary and Traditional Use This herb is sweet and sticky and is considered contraindicated when there is dental disease. Don't eat too many or you could end up spitting out a tooth.  This herb is considered an adaptogen. Its sweet taste gives it an affinity towards the spleen and stomach, but it works through all meridians.  Jujube syrup (try this Italian recipe) is calming for asthma and coughs. Studies show that using jujube syrup (if you are scientific use the recipe in the linked study) can reduce medication induced hepatotoxicity in Tuberculosis and reduce the severity of the cough.  This herb is used to treat insomnia. It is helpful for stress and anxiety. On another note this herb is very high in iron and vitamin C which improves utilization of the iron. It is used to treat anemia and is a supportive food during menstruation. Low iron can cause or increase insomnia.  While not a stand-alone treatment for back problems, (few herbs are used independently in Chinese medicine), it's ability to sooth and replenish the blood can be a supportive part of a larger treatment plan.  Though it didn't come up in meditation, this herb helps with constipation and is a digestive aid. Though it is sweet it can be used to help with diabetes and blood sugar managment. It can moderate or harmonize the medicinal herbs in formula (Wilms, Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica). Jujube nurtures the spleen (we all felt it!) (also, Wilms, Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica). I love having my spleen nurtured. Invitation Have you played around with Dà Zǎo? Aside from syrup and tea, it is used in many Chinese recipes for flavor, nutrition, and as a decoration. Cook something up and let us know how it goes. Have you noticed this supporting your menstruation or sleep? Please share your knowledge and/or the recipes you have tried below. I have been procrastinating the dentist, but once I am in the clear (coughing out a tooth sounds really bad, lol), I think I will play around more with this pleasing food herb. :)

This week we meditated on mullein flower, an herb of traditional Western herbalism.  Pre Meditation I thought this herb smelled like saffron (but not strong like saffron) but the taste was more typically herby. We found it to be moistening and coating in our mouths. Some thought it tasted sweet, like licorice. Meditation Me: It went into my head, balanced, above my nose/mouth. Bright yellow. Healthy feeling. Then it showed me green (healthy bright, light/medium range) going along my right side. Asymmetrical. It would help me with inner thigh and central muscle weakness that is caused by lower mullein leaf overexposure, (a special indication for me, not a use for most people). Getting a tickle in my throat. Then the energy is green and yellow (pleasant colors, like the plant) all over on the right side of my body. Previous plant meditation in my father's house: “I am all on the left, then i will go to right, then center.” Next the energy goes to my head. I check in about 7/8 chakra work I am focusing on. "How does that work?" I ask. It goes straight up and down. Up to the top of my head, and down to the ground. Like a line of energy (thin line, pale yellow, light green, white). It shows me being centered. I feel this herb part is critical for getting me back on track, after lower leaf mullein over exposure (from years of cigarette making). This is balancing for getting back to my normal energetic functioning and to do more 7/8 work instead of being slow and slightly ill.   My daughter: I was lying on my right side, curled up. It was in my belly. There was this liquid (burgundy in color), and then a tiny stream of burgundy went through my abdomen. It felt like it was going downhill. It went through my bottom arm (the red stream) it was a small stream (a centimeter or less wide). It came out my fingers, which were resting on my knee (bottom knee). It looked like melted terracotta clay. Then it went down the crease of my knee and it went down the line of my calf onto the couch. Then it went down onto the floor, and it traveled to the oxygen room across the floor. It traveled to one of the oxygen tanks and wrapped itself around one oxygen tank a lot. And then it traveled back to me, and back up between my legs. And then my ankles were crossed and it forced my ankles apart. Time passed really fast on a clock (like in a movie showing time-lapse). I opened my eyes and there were millions of little red trails all over the living room. It kind of looked like a snail trail, but red and solid. Then I actually opened my eyes, then it looked like my finger-tips were red with the stuff (like dipped in sauce). Then I closed my eyes again and all of the trail caught on fire and were blazing. Then when Granpi was talking I was imagining my tongue was on fire. Summary and Traditional Use I have recently been talking to Matthew Wood about the use of upper and lower mullein leaves. I believe this differentiation would extend into the flowers, or be further refined. That is confirmed by the flower indicating it would heal me of muscle weakness I am having. I see this as in alignment with a strategy I have for overexposures and some allergies, of using another part of the plant to balance out the problem. I may have learned it from Matthew, but I may have just learned it from corn, by using corn silk. At any rate that is a strategy I often find helpful when I holiday from an herb or other plant is not practical. I was going to use upper leaves to heal the imbalance, but they have been hard to find. I look forward to taking more mullein flower tea and seeing where things go! Stomach, abdomen warmth and activation was a common theme. Mullein is known to be anti-inflammatory and is used for inflamed and/or bleeding bowels.  Cough, the tickle in my throat which became a cough reminded me of the cough I get from inhaling mullein. It is a very common reaction to inhaled plant particles (not like the smoke which is smooth). I feel the coating and moistening quality of the flower would be a good thing to experiment with if that cough arises. I usually use agrimony, which is quite helpful. Oxygen, the vision of the red pathways seemed related to this plants ability to increase lung function, the most important aspect of which is the ability to grasp and utilize oxygen. The oxygen tank was leaking that day. Oxygen is heavier than air and supports combustion (if something is burning, it makes it burn faster).  Mullein has a reputation for integrity and for helping you hear your higher calling.  Invitation Have you worked with mullein flower? It is most commonly used in oil for earaches. I would love to hear your experiences. Please share in the comments below. Join Plant Meditation Club here. 

This week we meditated on guā lǒu shī, 栝樓實, Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit, snake or king gourd. Pre Meditation Sweet flavor. The flavor lingers. Meditation 1 Me: I have a strong headache come on in front on my right ear/below my temple (zygomatic arch, near TMJ). This passes. I have a lot of sensation in my crown chakra.  My daughter (with a stomach ache going into the meditation): There was a shadowy clawed hand, made of shadows inside of my body. My stomach ache was in the form of a black mass in part of my abdomen (upper left quadrant). The claws were scraping against it and the darkness was spreading. It was making the problem spread. Passing gas has begun (maybe helping with the stomach ache).  Meditation 2 Me: A headache started in the same spot, went right through my head to the other side, and wrapped upwards around and above my left eyebrow. Then it dissipated.  My daughter: The claw was coming towards the black "bulb" on my left side again. The bulb started radiating white light, and by doing so it drove off the claw.  Summary and Traditional Use Guā lǒu shī is considered sweet and helpful for clearing phlegm heat and qi stagnation (often manifesting as pain). The whole plant can be used, but the fruit (which we used for our tea) acts primarily on the stomach, large intestine, and lung channels. Relieving dry constipation, lung qi stagnation (manifesting as lumps or absesses in the breasts, could be sorrow), today the fruit is made into an injectable form and used for angina (often due to build up of fatty substances narrowing the blood vessel walls), used in diabetes for sugar management. This herb is also used for menstrual block and general blood stagnation (or congealed blood). It is said to cure deafness (Shén Nóng Běncǎo Jīng)--i do not know what the mechanism is for this, whether it is clearing passages in the ear that are filled with mucus, wax, or other congealed substances, or regrowth of cilia. Not to be used in large quantities by pregnant women (extracts of the plant were used as an abortifacient during "one child per family" China and continue to be used for expelling dead fetus, ectopic pregnancies, etc).  In Ayurvedic medicine, T. dioicha (leaf), is used for enlarged and edematous (damp) liver.  The ability of this herb to moisten and promote movement did seem to be experienced by my daughter. I had painful headaches arise and disappear that were positionally related to the gall bladder channel (often associated with liver issues). Helping with menstrual issues is often related to some support of the liver function. In Chinese medicine the lungs control the liver and the two organs work together to regulate flow of qi. Because of these connections and my experiences, I could see this herb being part of a formula to ease headaches in front of and above the ears, and eyebrows. Energetically I wonder about how the herb is so into stagnant and inflammed liquids (tumors, blood clots, phlegm, plaques seem to have a similar quality and are often associated with inflammation). I enjoy looking at a plant's physical characteristics and environment of preferences for clues to why they succeed medicinally and how they teach us to function better. This plant enjoys growing in marshes, home of stagnant waters. It moves the stagnate, turbid liquids up high (it is a vine)--unlike most plants, growing close to the earth, this ascends the water and transforms it. The plant takes this energy and makes the largest/'king' gourds, filled with cooling, moistening energy, with the ability to move this fluid as far as it needs to go. Movement in itself is medicine--this is a large part of the process of healing pain.  Invitation Have you worked with Guā lǒu shī fruit by itself or in formula, or other parts of the herb, or varietals? What was your experience? Our plant meditations make me curious about the emotional and/or spiritual qualities of this herb. Did you notice the plant's work on this level?     

Filaree is known to be helpful for repetitive thoughts (like OCD). I discuss second arrows, a name for emotions and judgements that compound the "first arrow" of the main condition you are suffering from. Purchase here:   

This week we meditated on an oat tops, scientific name Avena sativa.  Pre-meditation The taste is "weird and musky, a little like b.o.". I found it warming, comforting, and taste is a little slippery, a touch of grass flavor. Meditation 1 My daughter: Basically, Born to Die by Lana Del Rey was stuck in my head. There was this red baseball cap that was spinning around (in nothingness). It landed on Patrick Bateman's head while he was wearing his iconic striped suit. As soon as it got there, it pretty much disappeared. He was raising his ax up to kill someone. He brought the ax down to cut the victim in half. As he chopped through the person they became a green onion, and the ax cut the onion instead. Then the green onion started stitching itself back together with the power of the herb. It became the human again and started attacking Patrick Bateman.  Me: The herb talked about how much work I have done on my chin compared to men, who already have hair there (and are naturally subdued). This is referring to the kirtan kriya which I have been doing for years. The kirtan kriya for women is done laying on your stomach with your chin on the ground. The reasoning behind this is that men already have hair on their chins which calms their emotions. By doing the yogic practice with pressure on the chin, it helps women do this too. I first did this kriya around 20 years ago, it relieved me of intrusive PSTD symptoms from rape after 40 consecutive days of practice. This included resolving severe flashbacks, which have never returned. Because it was such a powerful kriya I decided to try and do it longer (for mastery, 500+ days) to see what would happen. I have found that it gradually eased my deeper PTSD symptoms (fear of men and intimacy due to repeated abuse) and helped me to start seeing how deeply relationships impacted men too, even though our culture encourages them to hide their emotions.  Meditation 2 My daughter: After the thing with the onion Patrick Bateman said "Screw you guys, I'm going home," à la Cartman from South Park. He jaunted off with his ax over one shoulder. Then he bumped into Reese Witherspoon (but Elle Woods in her bunny costume, not Reese of American Psycho). She pulled a Scream mask over her face and stabbed him. I feel satisfied after this herb.  Me: The herb clarifies: the significance of the above being what is it that I give to you as an emotionally mature woman, compared to what you give to me, naturally more calm, but thinking of yourself?  Summary and Traditional Use Avena is an important tonic for the nervous system, restoring frayed, exhausted nerves from overwork or prolonged stress. It helps with insomnia from mental irritation and/or feeling discouraged. Exhaustion is a primary symptom indicating oat. It strengthens connective tissue, skin, mucosa and the nerves themselves. It is helpful for some PMS symptoms including headache with panic or nausea (M Wood, Earthwise Herbal, Old World Medicinal Plants, 2008, pp124-125). I have heard many people loving avena, but I have not had much interaction with the plant to form my own opinion. I value other people's experiences so much. Together they put together of avena as deeply restoring or satisfying on both a physical and emotional level. The images of the man from American Psycho being turned upon by restored and empowered women are amazing. In Chinese medicine the pulse known as scallion, or kǒu mài, can indicate (among other things) extreme loss of blood, such as by ax, and damage of yin (the feminine, receptive principle). The kirtan kriya is another helper for restroring damaged yin (to any degree). I love the resurrection power of this herb, which appears to be very strong. The image of the onion stalk stitching itself together (the plant does have very strong stalks) and rising to retaliate is a strong indication of this herb's power. When the man walks off, without a care, a herione, budding lawyer, Elle Woods (who will not be made less by other's trying to bring her down in her bunny costume, nor submit to being less femme) finishes the job. It tells a story that we do not need to feel tired anymore, we can recover from even near life-ending injury, and we are not alone. Amazing and unexpected!  Invitation What is your experience with avena sativa as an herb? Have you found it to be calming or restorative? Please share in the comments below.

Gégēn, also known as kudzu and arrowroot, is a widely available herb that has been traditionally used to help with alcohol abuse, overeating, and some of their physical impacts. It can be helpful for many conditions with deep underlying emotional reasons for the behavior. This plant has many other uses including for other health issues, as well as crafting and cooking.  Read more about Gégēn here on the plant meditation blog post.

This week we meditated with bitter root, kū shēn, 苦参, Sopharae Flavesentis, an herb of Chinese Classical Medicine. Pre Meditation Bitter!!!! I am guessing this herb is high in alkaloids. It tastes a little milder than Calea Zacatechichi (to give both a little perspective). It is very intense.  Meditation 1 Me: I feel activated on the left side of my brain. The question is, "If you are having trouble with this side of your brain, what happens with the other side?" The other side becomes enhanced and functions better.  My daughter: I had a vision, there were some sticks, like the kind for stirring paint. They were wrapped in wool and people were pouring gasoline on them and burning them. I was seeing a lot of smoke and flames.  Meditation 2 Me: I felt a lot of stimulation in my head/brain. It started on the left side, moved across the bridge of my nose (but also within but in the area), and continued to move. It was very stimulating and motivating. My daughter: There was looked like a leaf. From the stem to the tip, a bunch of black, rotting decay was growing up it. Somebody lit the top of the leave on fire, the tip, and it was burning. I was upset about it. I then fell asleep.  Summary and Traditional Use Kū shēn is commonly used topically to heal a wide variety of skin conditions. The image above shows kū shēn (top central with peas in pods to the left) with a variety of other cosmetic herbs. It usually treats damp, hot, itchy (wind), sometimes drainging sores, which includes eczema, boils, scabies, fungal infections, some sexually transmitted infections, and more skin issues that are hot, damp, and itchy. The images of fire, give a feeling for the energy that kū shēn helps pacify. Topically it is typically prepared as an infusion or used in vinegar.  The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica (Wilms, 2017, p184) lists this herb as non-toxic. One source noted this was a toxic herb and to be used externally. Other bitter herbs (such as blue vervain) are also catergorized in this way, however due to how bitter kū shēn and blue vervain are (not the only two examples) it is unlikely anyone could stomach drinking enough to have problems with toxicity. That said, use with caution. It can cool the body/clear heat through urination. Internally it is also used for jaundice, dysentary (perhaps Alyssa's experience with the stomach ache, was showing this presentation), and cystitis (cooling through urination). The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica, also indicates this herb is good for stopping lingering dripping after urination and stops tearing. It also brightens the eyes. The eyes (in Chinese medicine) and jaundice and related to the liver and wind. Wind is related to neurological functioning. So that may explain the healing that I felt in my head/brain. I am also having some dripping issues which may be related. At any rate, this herb is a strong medicine that should be used with care for conditions that do have a strong heat component. It is contraindicated when there is a cold spleen or deficient stomach.  Invitation Have you worked with ku shen before? If so please share below. If you haven't used it yet, consider trying it for your next damp, hot, oozing skin condition (lol, hopefully that will never happen, but just in case!), and let us know what happens.