Sattva - Purity

I'm still jiving on The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad, and I've dedicated this next full moon cycle, the month of February to eat foods traditionally regarded as "sattvic". A sattvic diet is composed of whole foods filled with "life force", and contributes to a sense of inner balance, peace and non-harming. To partake of these foods properly one needs to honor them by eating slow, and being grateful. I have not eaten vegetarian for many years, however I'm curious how this choice will impact my day to day mindset. I believe it will be a way of cultivating deeper self-love, therefore (we'll see) my ability to love others. Read more about my motivations here.

Lad specifies which types of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy and herbs to consume -- which I'm experimenting with. I'm fascinated how some fruits, vegetables and herbs might not qualify. I suppose within each category, the "safe" or mild tasting foods would be regarded as sattvic. For herbs and spices, Lad lists cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ginger, licorice, nutmeg, parsley, rose, saffron, tulsi, and tumuric. I thought I'd give preference to these in my cooking and tea making. It's really easy to forget this commitment without putting it in the forefront of my visual memory, i.e. keeping the list in my back pocket constantly.

I'm more curious as to which plants of the Pacific Northwest might be considered sattvic, or safe and balancing. Michael Moore's Therapeutic and Use Index delineates a few categories that probably work: alteratives, cardiac tonics, intestinal tract tonics, nervines, and bitter tonics. Tonics - "medicinal substances taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being" - are theoretically safe to consume every day, right? Some plants include: barberry, burdock, chicory, dandelion, motherwort, oregon grape, red clover, sage, skullcap, valerian, yarrow and yellow dock. I have experimented a little with these plants before and I am currently drinking a tea of chicory, dandelion, and oregon grape. Perhaps now's a time for deepening my study and knowledge of them. As well as to dedicate my year learning them, harvesting and experimenting.

The plants I know less about include barberry, motherwort and valerian. According to Moore, barberry is similar to oregon grape as - alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, intestinal and liver tonic, laxative and gall bladder stimulant. All very useful for maintaining digestive health. In addition barberry is particularly useful for treating mouth/gum inflammation, so would be a great addition to yarrow in toothpaste (which I currently need to make more of). Motherwort is described as quite mild as a cardiac tonic, a promenstrual, and for treating shingles, a stress-related nervous system symptom. Perhaps there's a connection between stress and blood health in the case of shingles. Valerian -- I have experienced it as stimulating but I will try again. Other than chamomile I don't really take many traditionally soothing herbs. Valerian is regarded as an analgesic (pain reliever), anti-spasmodic (muscle relaxant), nervine, and sedative. Perfect following intense yoga or hiking I would think.

I didn't do much this time around to celebrate the full moon for medicine making but I did finally bottle oregon grape tincture harvested at Discovery Park, and concocted last fall. Pictured below.

Works Cited

Lad, Vasant. (1999). The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies. New York City: Harmony          Books.

Moore, Michael. (2011). Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Albuquerque, NM: Museum of New
     Mexico Press.

Herbs With Heart

Poppyswap.com just sent an email out titled "Emotional Herbs" listing products prepared for easing heart pain sure to come in to the winter months. I followed one link to the "Tranquility Tincture" created by Wise Mountain Botanicals so that I can see what ingrediants they are working with. It is a blend of: Lemon Balm, Lavender, Skullcap, Motherwort, and Chamomile. I have these herbs sitting in jars right now that I may as well turn into a tincture. Many of the folks I'm talking to right now are having a hard time emotionally, just like I am. A gift just in time for the holidays.

Herb Digest has been showing posts lately regarding Hawthorn. I went to a workshop recently about the connection between Hawthorn and the heart. It's right there in the rhyme. I recently picked up Traditional Medicinal's "Heart Tea" because it was on sale at PCC for $1. Unbelievable. It's a blend of Hawthorn and Hibiscus, and when steeped produces a beautiful red color. Besides that I have a little bag of Hawthorn berries I've been saving to brew in a kombucha tea.

I am particularly interested in Hawthorn for strong cardiovascular health because heart disease runs on both sides of my family - but also for it's capacity in emotional healing. Hawthorn is said to relax the arteries, stimulating healthy blood pressure. It also acts as an antioxidant and works synergistically with the body's Vitamin E levels. Apparently in experimentally-induced heart attacks in animals, as well as in animals fed high-cholesteral diets, hawthorn use has been shown to protect the liver (aiding detoxification) and to reduce cholesterol levels by 23%.

Here is an article put out by Science Daily regarding the physiological affects of Hawthorn use: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122203321.htm

If the body and mind are intimately connected, then a heart relaxant must certainly help relax one's emotions. I am experimenting with this on my self right now. How is this plant different from the herbs in the Tranquility Tonic or something like St Johns Wort?

Salves on Sunday

Too sick to go to the April Barter at Seattle Farm Co-op. It would be rude of me to show up with healing herbal teas while emitting cold germs. Kind of funny too, but I'm not going to do it. The clouds broke around noon today. Instead I am making a couple kinds of salves - 1) motherwort / lavender, 2) calendula. I just emptied a handful of baby jars that I was storing old herbal supplements in to store the salves. For some reason that just seems like the perfect little container.

The process involves steeping oil, beeswax and the herb, then pouring that mixture into containers. Really simple. But is it worth it? <By the way when I googled "do salves work?" it brought up a bunch of information regarding slavery. Something I've never actually researched on the internet, although I should have by now> Herbal salves are useful for cold sores, dry skin, bee stings, etc. Depending on the herb base they may be produced for topical application for various internal complaints, like muscle soreness. They are basically the same thing as a balm - and who doesn't carry lip balm around with them?

There is a really interesting article about the use of herbal salves to heal skin cancer in the 19th century here. Called "Black Salve", a paste of bloodroot, zinc chloride, flour, and water applied to tumors was said to destroy them within 2-4 weeks. This process is actually the application of an "eschar" that removes dead skin cells, so is different than the affect I'm going for.

When I give these to friends I will tell them it's natural skin care that's safe and gentle - because they aren't made with petroleum or other harmful chemicals. The power is in the herb. Calendula is widely accepted within complementary medicine as useful for healing wounds. It contains antioxidants and reduces inflammation, nourishing burns, bruises and cuts. There are no known side affects! Motherwort and Lavender are both relaxant/sedatives. All of these plants can be grown here!

Day 2 News

I think I'm detoxing because I'm bored. Started the dandelion brew. Researching online how to make herbal salves.  Will be nice because I can't help myself from gardening without gloves, often times. Here is at least one resource although there are many. http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/natural-remedies/herbal-salves-how-to-make-a-healing-salve.aspx I will make a medium-sized batch from plants around the North Beach property to distribute to Dita, a few family members and friends. Before I mow the lawn. Also making a batch from dried Motherwort herb, Calendula, and grapeseed oil. Motherwort was traditionally used by midwives as a uterine tonic. Traditional Chinese Medicine regards it as a blood tonic. Calendula is a key herbal ingrediant in most natural wound healing products available at stores. Flower power!

I've also got this quarter oz of Eyebright herb sitting here. Someone I know happens to be dealing with some eye inflammation so I will make some tea today. But other than that - what to do? Not only is Eyebright happy for the eyes, but also allergies. Another compounded tea is on the way, with Stinging Nettle and Rosemary. All from dried plants although now is certainly the time to harvest baby nettle.