Fringe tree is regarded as an excellent stimulating tonic and in modern-day herbal medicine, it is mainly used to treat ailments related to the liver and gallbladder.
Internally, the bark is mostly used as an herbal remedy for gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), but it is also thought to be of value as a treatment and relief for gallstones, jaundice, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, pancreatitis, enlarged spleen, poor liver function and migraines or headaches due to gallbladder diseases.
In addition, the fringe tree root bark is believed to stimulate the secretion of bile from the gallbladder, strengthen appetite and stomach secretion, and act as a mild but effective laxative.
As requested by anjali06here are some herbal teas that help you maintain great skin & hair!
Lavender Tea - This tea is wonderful for reducing stress induced aging and damage to the skin or hair. It’s naturally calming properties help to relax your mind & body which helps dampen down damage caused by stress hormones. If you’re often busy, anxious, stressed or run down then Lavender tea may be of help to you!
Chamomile Tea - A tea that’s great for aiding your quest for restorative sleep. A cup or two of this before bed will help you relax at night and get the ‘beauty sleep’ your body needs to repair itself.
Green Tea - A brilliant drink to refresh you during the day, it’s great at boosting the immune system but overall it’s main benefit is it’s anti-oxidant quantity. Anti-oxidants reduce oxidative stress on cells, this oxidative stress is massively responsible for our aging especially to our hair and skin but also a cause of many diseases such as Cancer due to the chronic inflammation it leads to.
Be careful not to drink it in excess though as it’s high caffeine content can lead to nervousness and effect those who have caffeine sensitivity such as pregnant women.
It can also be used as a hair rinse or face wash, it’s great for those with dry hair or skin!
Black Tea - If you have sore, dry skin then you can apply black tea to it once it has steeped and cooled right down. You can leave it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect, this tea helps to reduce wrinkles and draws toxins out.
Ginger Tea - This tea helps to boost blood circulation which helps your cells get all the oxygen and fuel they need to perform at their best. This can have many benefits, such as increasing blood flow to the scalp which improves your hair’s health. Drinking this can also help dampen down inflammation which can reduce ‘puffyness’. A great tea if you are getting older as the aging process starts to speed up as our circulation slows down.
Redbush/Rooibos Tea - If you want to drink a refreshing and very pure, clean tea then this may be to your preference. Drunk alone it has a sweeter taste than Black Tea and a slightly thicker feel to it but if you add milk (plant-based also) it tastes very similar to a typical English Breakfast Tea!
So if you absolutely love English Breakfast Tea but want the benefits of herbal/other teas then you can drink Redbush to get both!
It has even more anti-oxidants than Green Tea (Polyphenols & Flavonoids) and is naturally caffeine free so there is less potential problems if you drink more than 3-5 cups a day.
Nearly endless in its beautiful varieties, the orchid flower almost seems to float on air as it invites one to contemplate its beauty. There are over 30,000 different varieties of wild orchids growing across this Earth, from the jungles of the equator to the arctic tundra and everywhere in-between! That’s not even counting over 200,000 hybridized varieties that florists have bred into existence. Orchids come in so many different varieties which love so many different growing conditions that, no matter where your garden, you’re sure to find a variety that’s right for you!
Energy ~ Feminine Planet ~ Venus Element ~ Water Deities ~ Aphrodite, Qu Yan
Most varieties of orchids grow in jungle conditions, clinging to tree bark with thick white roots that are adept at drawing out moisture and nutrients. Because these varieties like to grow high in the tree tops, they’re ravenous for intense sunlight and thrive on 12-hour days — close to midsummer conditions in temperate regions. Many varieties of orchids are difficult to grow, to be sure; even professional growers can struggle to bring them to bloom! But even if your thumb isn’t quite green enough to get these fussy flowers to take to your garden, there are dozens of natural varieties and hundreds of hybridized species who are perfectly content to grow on a windowsill or under lights.
If you want to give your orchid the best possible chance of growing, do thorough research into which varieties are the best fit for your region, and purchase the most mature plant you can: younger plants are very difficult to please. If possible, buy it while it’s in bloom — that way you’ll immediately know what you’re striving for! While there are simply too many varieties of orchid to give general growing instructions for all of them, a look at the plant’s physical characteristics should give some clues. Plants with few or leathery leaves will likely prefer high-light environments, while plants with soft, limp leaves are probably light-sensitive and should not be placed in sunny south-facing windows.
In addition to one variety of orchid being our source for vanilla, the tuberous root of the plant is filled with a highly-nutritious and starchy substance, which is famous for a sweetish taste and somewhat unpleasant smell. This substance, known as bassorin, can be used to replace starch as a reserve material, or to make a drink known as salep — named after an Arabic word for orchid — which was sold in stalls from the Middle East to the streets of London until being supplanted by coffee. In addition to this drink’s purported rejuvenating properties (being lauded as a strengthening and demulcent or anti-inflammatory agent), Chinese medicine has recorded uses for orchids dating back over 3,000 years, noting varieties of the Dendrobium genus of orchids as one of nine ‘faery herbs’ said to be a gift from heaven. Different types of orchids are used in remedies for a huge variety of purposes, ranging from improving memory to treating rheumatism to even easing the symptoms of tuberculosis! Many cultures, including Greece and China, use the plant as an aphrodisiac, and orchid fragrance is also used in perfume and aromatherapy.
In terms of magick, old texts tell of witches using orchid tubers in their philters, the fresh tuber being given to promote true love whilst the withered one checks wrongful passions. Culpepper refers to orchids as being under “the dominion of Venus,” and tells us that, among other things, when “being bruised and applied to the place” they cure the King’s Evil. Orchids also correspond to beauty and elegance, expressing uniqueness, ecstasy, spiritual intuition, and Goddess energy. Some varieties of orchids are also used in creating visions, entering trance-states, and inducing psychic powers.
Confucius wrote many poems on the orchid’s beauty, and even based some of his teachings on this delicate flower! He wrote, “The orchids grow in the woods and they let out their fragrance even if there is no one around to appreciate it. Likewise, men of noble character will not let poverty deter their will to be guided by high principles and morals.” Whether you ascribe to the teachings of Confucius or not, the many multitudes of orchid varieties have a great deal to give us on all levels of our life: whether contemplating them philosophically, utilizing their medicinal properties, or simply savoring their beauty, orchids are a treasure to be cherished.
Different colors of orchid have different meanings, but generally speaking, in flower language it means “Love, Beauty, and Refinement.”
As are many herbs, this one is also in the mind Lamiaceaefamily and is native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean, Iran, Central Asia and is now naturalized in the Americas. Pictured above was harvested from a plant originally foraged from wild growth in Western Washington state (Pacific Northwest). This herb has a generous scent of lemon and mint and is beloved by bees in addition to humans for it’s flowers. It grows in clusters and spreads both vegetatively and by seed. Stems will die off in winter but shoot up again in spring.
Historical use in medicine includes several traditions. Into antiquity it has been recorded as used as a wine-infused liniment by the Greek physician Dioscorides. In the middle ages in Western Europe was used as a tea or external topical for treatment of the GI tract, nervous system and liver. Carmelite Water, itself has origins as far back as the 14th century then known as “Eau de Carmes” created by nuns in the 14th c from the Abbey of St Just. In 1826 a nun named Maria Clementine Martin made her own variation known as “Klosterfrau Melissengeist” . It is an herbal tonic/toilet water, similar to the more well-known Florida Water which contains several different ingredients and is popular still in Europe (image below). Carmelite Water is believed to have contained lemon balm in addition to gentian, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger and is presently used since the 1800s for cold and GI disorders. There is also a long history of use in the Middle East, with reference to Azerbaijani folk practice of bathing in Lemon balm tea to support healthy skin. It also has uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In current production today, in addition to Carmelite Water and similar products it can also be found in certain liquors including Benedictine and Chartreuse.
Current herbal medicine considerations are numerous, often attributing Lemon balm to use for mood, cognition and indigestion. Modern medical research has been done primarily in the Middle East, Asia and Western Europe. Noted effects of Lemon balm include anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects, enhancement of cognitive capacity with regards to memory function, and even improve sexual dysfunction in women. There is additionally ongoing study with some evidence of improvement of cholesterol/lipid profile with oral supplementation and decreased cardiovascular inflammation.
In ancient Greece the association is strong between Lemon balm and honey bees and ancient beekeepers would rub the hives with Lemon balm to encourage bees to come rest Lemon balm is in some respects believed to be associated with the goddess Aphrodite . Additionally there has been a long belief through the middle ages with belief in longevity attributed to the plant. It also represented sympathy in flower language.
Modern symbolism and correspondence for attracting love, finding love, healthy sexuality, finding happiness and mental wellness all seem appropriate given the precedent from history and our current knowledge of this plant. If bees have important meaning to you it is also something to be considered to enhance a relationship with bees or associated magickal properties. Below are included a variety of recipes and sources if you’re interested in utilizing Lemon balm in your own medicinal or magickal practices.
Make Your Own Carmelite Water (from Mountain Rose Herbs - LINK)
Ingredients
½ cup fresh lemon balm leaves or ¼ cup dried lemon balm
¼ cup dried angelica root
1 Tbsp. dried coriander seed
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest (about 1 small organic lemon)
1 tsp. (cassia) cinnamon chips
2 hole cloves
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 bottle dry white wine (or cold water)
Directions
Combine all the herbs and spices into a glass quart jar.
Pour the wine into the jar.
Stir well.
Cover with a lid.
Steep for 4 to 6 hours.
Strain through several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter and compost the herbs.
Place the infused wine in an airtight container and chill for several hours.
Enjoy within 3 to 5 days.
A Relaxation Tonic (from Judy Griffin’s Mother Nature’s Herbal)
2 tbsp hops
2 tbsp chamomile flowers
2 tbsp lemon balm
1 tbsp spearmint leaves
1 tsp lavender leaves, chopped (or flowers)
DISCLAIMER:
Do NOT use any natural medicine without consulting your healthcare provider or researching the potential interactions it may have with your current medications or health conditions. It is also recommended that any essential oil used topically be tested in a small spot first and diluted so as not to irritate the skin. DO NOT use in lieu of other medical attention. For all consumption or topical application ensure that what you are using has not been treated with pesticides that can be harmful to humans.
Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1871-81. doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300230. PMID: 12888775.
Haybar H, Javid AZ, Haghighizadeh MH, Valizadeh E, Mohaghegh SM, Mohammadzadeh A. The effects of Melissa officinalis supplementation on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorder in patients with chronic stable angina. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Aug;26:47-52. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 May 19. PMID: 29908682.
Darvish-Mofrad-Kasani Z et al. “Effect of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) on Sexual Dysfunction in Women: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study” Iran Journal of Pharm Res. Winter 2018;17(Suppl):89-100. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958328/
I really just wanna get away. Close out the influences in the world. A quiet island, plenteous in Mother Nature’s nutrients. Quiet. No technology to make me dependant, no media to direct my thinking, no news, no stories of crime and violence. Simply, me, the Most High, and the voices of the wind. I want to be one with nature for a day. I want to be dependent on my spiritual strength for a day. I want to know what fruits heal, what vegetables cure, what herbs and grains can repair. I want to feel the earth beneath my feet and have strong soles to travel a million lands like our ancestors. I want to be free of processed foods, man made medicine, man made moisturizers and lather my skin in pure butters of the earth. I want to seek the earth for its wealth. I want to build with my hands and enjoy the kind of life Netflix cannot bring. I want to breathe fresh air. I want to live as a human should…sometimes…or at least for just one day. -Rena
“Chamomile” comes from Greek meaning “ground apple” because of its fragrance. The Romans used it as incense, and the ancient Egyptians used it for cooling fevers; they dedicated it to the sun god, Ra. To the Anglo Saxons, it was one of the nine sacred herbs.
Chamomile prefers sandy, slightly acidic soil as well as direct sunlight, but if it gets too hot too often, it prefers shade. To harvest, cut the flower heads as they form and hang or leave on cloth to dry. In tea, dry chamomile goes a longer way than fresh chamomile.
MEDICINAL: *Chamomile may cause allergic reactions in those allergic to ragweed. Do not use if you are on blood thinners, as some constituents may have an anticoagulant action*
Chamomile tea:
2 tsp Chamomile flowers in one mug of boiling water. Cover and steep five minutes. It tastes bitter, so honey, sugar, and milk can be added to improve taste.
Chamomile tea soothes the mind and body to prepare for sleep. It is safe for use with children and helps with teething stress and colic; to soothe a fretful baby, place them in a warm bath/infusion of chamomile (caution: babies are very sensitive to skin irritation, so make sure that the child isn’t allergic beforehand). For anxiety, insomnia, and nervousness, drink before bedtime (can be mixed with milk and honey). Infuse chamomile flowers in warm milk for a skin cleanser that fights acne and moisturizes. Use once a week, and within a week of making.
Chamomile is an antispasmodic and a muscle relaxer; it is good for reducing inflammation and muscle spasms. It is especially useful with menstrual cramps (drink two to three cups daily). When used topically, it can speed the healing of cuts, scrapes, blisters, and burns; it is also helpful with rashes, eczema, and inflammation of the skin. To treat, add it to a salve, rinse the affected area with tea, or add a few drops of essential oil to bath water. FOR BURNS: Do not use ointment/essential oil. Use a light lotion or gentle compress; oils hold in body heat and don’t let the burns heal, and the strength of the essential oil may irritate the burn. Eye inflammations can be soothed with a cool compress or a soaked chamomile tea bag.
It aids in digestion, soothes the bowels, aids with morning sickness, and relieves restlessness associated with pregnancy. To help with any of the above, drink a cup of tea on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, hot or cold.
If another plant of any kind is weak or ailing, place a chamomile plant near it to help it thrive; it can also be watered with an infusion of chamomile.
MAGICAL:
Chamomile is used in spells of money, peace, love, tranquility, and purification. It is a good protection herb; to keep unwanted entities or energies from passing through, use an infusion to wash thresholds (doors and windows). Sprinkle the powdered flowers around you or your home to remove spells cast against you and prevent fires/lightning. Use it in a ritual bath before performing protective spells. A bath can also increase your attractiveness to the opposite sex, or be used to release grief, pain, anger, or loss. Washing hands with chamomile water before betting/gambling will improve luck. Add in sachets for luck and money or tuck some into a wallet to increase cash flow. Place chamomile flowers near a weak or sick person to ease the sickness. Use in meditation incense. In a banishing ritual, sprinkle an infusion of chamomile around you and wash up with the cold tea to keep negativity away from you. In candle magic: anoint a green candle with the tea or oil for good luck and money, and anoint a black candle for banishment or exorcism.
Other names: Ground apple, Whig plant, Maythen
Gender: Masculine
Element: Water
Deities: Cernunnos, Ra, Helios, Jupiter, Lugh
Zodiac: Leo
Helps to cleanse and invigorate the throat chakra (5th).
Chamaemilum mobile
Roman chamomile, perennial, about 4 to 12 inches tall, daisy-like flowers with turned down petals, has an apple-like fragrance. Usually used in Britain/UK.
Matricaria recutita
German chamomile, annual, up to 20 inches tall, daisy-like flowers. Usually used in the USA.
I’m both pro herbal medicine and pro vaccination because you can treat burns with aloe vera juice and sore throats with lavender infused honey but you can’t rid a country of polio with plants.
THIS.
Don’t forget kids, jewelweed is a natural counteragent to poison ivy rashes but it won’t do shit against whooping cough
Mint for nausea, valerian and chamomile for sleep, antibiotics for fucking infections.
Now I never heard of this plant until I saw a video on YouTube a few years back showing the beautiful changing colors from a blue to gorgeous purple (my fave color after black) when you add lemon to the drink.
Since then, butterfly pea has become such a trend and for a good reason due to the natural intense colors it brings to drinks.
However, did you know it’s natively grown in the Philippines? And that it’s always been a part of our traditional herbal medicine? If not, well now you know.
