Coronation, or the Act of Crowning, with Mullein

When I was dealing with Corona in my lungs a couple months ago, I utilized Mullein in my formula.  I had some already harvested and dried at that time, but decided that I should also harvest some more to have on hand with this respiratory virus going around.  Mullein is heavy this year, as plants seem often want to do when they are needed, showing their perfect timing and immersion in the flow.

While harvesting I began to sing to Mullein about what was going on and why I was harvesting her leaves and then to sing to the virus that was meshing with my body. 

I'm not singer, but I am a long-time student of breath as a mindfulness practice, and the virus had made me short of breath, just doing simple activities like picking Mullein.  This shortness of breath for no real reason* (I wasn't running up a hill - nor did I have a knee on my neck) was a new experience for me (having never had asthma or pneumonia or anything like it) and I felt it important that I try to deep breathe and stay in touch with my lungs.  I think this is why the singing happened, this undeniable connection to breath.  I felt compelled and I obliged. 

The vibrations from singing with what little breath I could take felt healing for my body, just as I feel the cat's healing medicine when they lean against my chest and purr.  I am thankful for the ~sound.~  I sang to the virus as yet another way to connect to this other part of life that was finding its terrain in my body - lyrics of a willingness to hear its song too.  A mutual expression of meeting, of life, of relationship, of learning.

And here, this weekend, Mullein comes to me again in the most majestic form.  Truly a crowning.  <3

Corona is teaching us to look at what we are giving birth to; various things are coming to term that have long been in the works, but we still have choices to make as to have they are received and what we do with what is born unto us.

Also, I wanted to share my formulary for those who know the herbs well enough by sight.  I do not want to simply share a list of the herbs I utilized to get through the acute stages as they may not be the right ones for you.  There is not a one size fits all answer in Herbalism as the body that a pathogen engages plays a role in how the pathogen manifests - and even if it manifests at all.  This means that herbs are utilized for the specific body that has symptoms and what those symptoms are; Herbalism is not a 'take this for that' modality.  So my formula for Corona may not be your formula for Corona and you do not want to make yourself worse; so please consult with a qualified practitioner if you are wanting to utilize herbs for Corona.  But for those who know the herbs and understand differential diagnosis, I will share pictures for you to see what I utilized, and feel free to talk to me privately.

Mullein, Raspberry Leaf, and Boneset were infused with the decoction below.

Many of you will recognize fresh sliced Ginger root and dried Citrus peel; these support digestion among other things.  This is the formula I used at the peak of acuity with Corona when I felt I was going toward cytokine storm territory.  Severe lung pain that had began at the bottom and worked its way up to feel it was encompassing them, wracking "bone" pain, could hardly take a breath, headache, strange heartbeat, severe fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, neck pain.  I noticed immediate results from the formula.  I had been on a different formula leading up to this point, and after peaking and feeling "better" I moved to formulas more nourishing and recovery oriented. 
I am still doing this now, but seem to have been left with a strange, but not severe, "achiness" in my whole body and strange pains I am not used to along with hands or fingers going to sleep for no reason.  I am working to alleviate this, focusing on Blood.  I no longer have the list of symptoms I had before, all that is cleared up except I still have fatigue, though it's nowhere near what it was.

Uplifting! Rose Vanilla Sesame Cookies

Your tastebuds will dance a jig!

These cookies are chewy and crispy at the same time.  A delight for the mouth!

And using this quantity of real Roses makes them medicinal! 

Rose is cooling, assists with digestion including lessening gut inflammation and creating a healthy gut mircrobiome (anti-infective), supports good mood by addressing Liver stagnation, and as such is used for insomnia, frustration, depression, resentment, and fatigue.  In TCM, we'd say Rose, Mei Gui Hua, moves Qi and harmonizes Blood.  It can be useful for menstrual complaints.

Grind dried Roses until powdered.  You can use a coffee bean grinder.

Ingredients and Directions:
1 2/3c. flour
(you can use and mix various flours, I like these to use sprouted whole grain flours because they are better for you and also quinoa as it is a complete protein)
1/3 c. powdered Rose petals or buds
mix above in separate bowl with 1 tspn. baking powder

In another bowl mix:
2c. sugar
1/2c. coconut oil, melted/soft
1-2 tspn. vanilla extract (amt. depends on how strong you want the vanilla)
1c. sesame tahini, well mixed first
2 eggs

Blend together, place on greased baking sheet by the teaspoon scoop
Bake 350 degrees . 8-12 min. (less time for chewier, more for crispier)

Makes about 80 cookies; this is 8 minutes cooking for chewier.

This is 12 minutes cooking for crispier.

These cookies will delight your senses, first when you bake them and smell them, then when you eat them, and lastly when Rose works her magic!

You can harvest your own Roses for this; just make sure they are chemical-free!
These can be wild-grown or from your organic garden.

Digging Medicinal Roots - Yellow Dock

These roots can be decocted fresh, or cut and dried for later decocting.

Here in the mountains of Virginia we've had unusually warm weather and are beyond two months past our usual killing frost date without having had one.  This has given us a long season in which to harvest roots, whether for medicine or food, because not only is the ground far from freezing, but it's actually been warm enough that the top growth of many plants is still happening (this helps for identification and locating).

Note the paper sheath that surrounds the petiole, or leaf stem, and how each individual leaf arises from the ground.

One plant whose roots I've harvested this fall, is Yellow Dock, Rumex spp.; if you have a garden, or a plot of un-manicured land with some sunlight and moisture, it's likely you have Yellow Dock.  It's a tenacious weed whose roots are medicinal (what we'll mainly be discussing today) and it's leaves and seeds are edible.  Harvesting this root was actually a case of "killing two birds with one stone" as it needed to be weeded out of some of the garden area anyway.  I totally dig this efficiency.  :)

The leaves are best eaten when fresh and young in early Spring, but with a warm, late fall like the one we've had,        there is often a second flush of fresh, young leaves.  These pictured here are getting to be mature, but still edible.

    Note that the leaves contain Oxalic acid, like many of our store-bought vegetables, so cooking in water and then pouring it off is ideal.

Here it is with the prior seasons seed stalk - a great identifying feature.

Seed stalk up close.

Just run your hands up the stalks to collect the edible seeds

Yellow Dock root is an alterative; it's cooling, astringent, and bitter (leaves sour) so it's good for Damp Heat conditions and as such has traditionally been used for stimulating digestion, blood cleansing, constipation, food stagnation, wet/red eczema, nervous dyspepsia, liver detoxification, lymph congestion, jaundice, sore throat, fatigue, ovarian cysts, gout, tumors, and chronic skin conditions.  It is also good for anemia as it helps the body to better utilize Iron (combine with Iron rich foods or herbs).

Roots scrubbed and ready to slice.  I "slice" them with pruners though one could use a knife.

After a couple days of drying by the wood stove, still a few more to go before jarring.

How to: Herbal Infusion for Eye Strain, Injury, or Infection - for humans and cats!

So this kittie came in with a weeping, half-closed eye the other day (not in this picture)... since it was in one eye and not both, I assumed it to be an injury versus an infection, but I address both similarly, being more adamant about repeat application with an infection, which will usually end up affecting both eyes, so in that case, I put this infusion in both, but since this was injury, I only put it in the injured eye.

This is a blend I have made many times to great effect for both humans, and especially, my cats.  I have had a multiple cat household of indoor/outdoor cats for over 20 years, and having been an Herbalist for all that time too, I often use herbs to help my cats and eye issues are one of the most common with them.

(Btw, I am not suggesting you do this without a qualified practitioner's recommendation.  You need to make the decision for yourself, or with the help of someone qualified, as to whether or not this is the right thing for you or your cat; I am not saying it is.  Eye problems can lead to serious consequences, so they aren't something to mess around with.  That said, this is what I do).

This time I used Calendula and Eyebright.  I also sometimes use Chamomile.  I used about a tablespoon of each dried.

Pour boiling water over, just enough to cover the herbs.

Cover and let steep for 10 minutes or longer.  If fighting an infection you can add about a teaspoon of colloidal silver later, after straining, if you want.  The herbs alone though do fight infection.  Colloidal silver was used in the days before antibiotics and is a powerful ally against infections of all sorts.

Strain, pressing the liquid out of the herbs.  Make sure that your hands and any utensils are very clean as we must be particularly careful with anything we put into the eye.

This will likely leave bits.  

With anything put in the eye, it must be well strained, I also use a coffee filter.

After straining and cooling, you may saturate cotton balls with the liquid if using for a cat.  For humans, use an eye cup or dropper.  For cats, I hold them and pet them getting them relaxed and then I put the saturated cotton ball over their closed eye with their head up and squeeze out some of the liquid so that when they open their eye the liquid goes in.  Another option is to use a dropper and drop several drops into the eye(s).  Do not re-use the cotton ball, wash any applicators between applications.  Remember to keep things very clean that are going in or touching the eyes.   I apply this 1-3 times a day.  If dealing with an infection that has lots of ooze or crust, you need to remove this first with a warm wash cloth.  If it is dried, use the warmth and wet of the cloth to slowly and gently dissolve and remove it.  .  Then apply your herbal infusion.  Or another option would be to make a lot of the infusion and soak your wash cloth in it and use it for cleaning the eyes.  If your cat does not cooperate; I find the easiest way to control them is to wrap them tightly in a towel so only their head sticks out.  This takes two people.  I've never had this not work for my cats and I have dealt with some serious infections with them.  It's so much easier to use this with humans though!

May the force be with you.

Chinese Medicinal Wines

I make an assorted selection of these "Longevity Elixers" and often get asked what were traditionally used for, so am putting together this post for easy reference...many of them are Blood tonics.

Eucommia bark, Du Zhong - Kidney Yang Deficiency, weak and/or sore lower back and/or knees

Angelica root, Dang Gui root including tail - build and move Blood, regulate menstruation

Astragalus root, Huang Qi - build Qi and Blood, move Blood, immunity (not for acute infectious stages)

Jujube Date, Da Zao - build Qi and Blood, move Blood, tonify Spleen Qi (digestion)

Ginseng, Ren Shen - tonify Lung and Spleen, Heart Qi, calm Shen, generate fluids, body fatigue, vacuity after illness

Goji berry, Gou Qi Zi and Fo Ti root, He Shou Wu blend:
Go Ji - tonify Kidney, nourish Liver, brighten the eyes, Wind, night blindness, blurred vision, upper back pain
He Shou Wu - tonify Kidney, nourish Liver, boost Jing, darken gray hair, insomnia, blurred vision, calm Shen, thinning hair, early gray

These are made with Sake and can be drank straight or with a little water or juice.

Pressing the infused sake to remove the marc, or spent herbs, and decanting.

Here is great book if you want to know more, or do this yourself. 


As with everything else on this blog, this information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; but rather is simple educational material. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for your health needs.

The Honey Bee in Bloom and the Garden Humming

          "Be careful what you set your heart on, for it will surely be yours." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rows of Garden (Beans, Potatoes, Curcubits...)

Rows of Bees...inside Balsamic

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." 

 - Arundhati Roy

Butterfly Hummingbird Garden; though their numbers have been less this year.

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. 

What you'll discover will be wonderful. 

What you'll discover is yourself." 

- Alan Alda

Great Spangled Fritillary, Speyeria cybele, on Echincacea purpurea

“Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower.“ - Shigenori Kameoka

Hives:  Balsamic on left, Monkey on right

                                                                                         “Live to the point of tears.” - Albert Camus

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the Earth are never alone or weary of life.” 

                                                                    - Rachel Carson

Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus, on Verbena bonariensis

I expect to see Jack any minute...

The Haul

“Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.” 

                                               - James Oppenheim, 'Bread and Roses'

Milk Thistle

"Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing
There is a field. I will meet you there.
When we lay down in that grass
Our souls are too full to talk about."
- Rumi

Dinner:  Lamb's Quarters and Beans...

"There's little risk in becoming overly proud of one's garden ‘cause its very nature is humbling. It has a way of keeping you on your knees.” - JoAnn Barwick

Lorax

                                

                               “Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” - Victor Hugo

Stella - a split this year from Monkey

“Live like you're going to die tomorrow, but garden like you're going to live forever.” 

 - Rudyard Kipling

"Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?"

                                                                                                                - Mary Oliver

Edible Flower Decorated Spiced Shortbread Cookies

There are lots of edible flowers you could use; for these today I am using Calendula and Chicory as both are abundant in my herb garden right now.

First though, we want to make the dough and get it in the fridge to cool, then we can harvest the flowers...

To make the dough:
Mix 2 c. whole wheat flour and 2 c. Millet flour (or some other combination of your choosing)
with 1 tspn. baking powder.

Then cut in 2 sticks of butter and use your hands to mix it until crumbly.  If you haven't done this before, it may seem like it'll never work, it will, cut the butter into small pieces and just keep at it until thoroughly mixed and looking like wet bread crumbs.

Grind 1 c. raw sugar with 10 Cardamom pods until fine.  Make sure to smell this - utterly divine!  Mix with 1 tspn. ground Nutmeg.  After grinding and mixing stir this into your flour butter mixture.

This is half the dough.

Then mix in 6 Tbspn. yogurt, then 4 Tbspn. hemp milk (or other milk of your choosing).  Just mix until mixed, no longer, no kneading.  Spatula this onto wax paper and roll into the desired diameter of your cookies (they will bake about 50% larger).  You may want to divide in half and then roll if you want smaller cookies.

Nature's Confetti - no need for artificial sprinkles. 

Put in fridge for half hour or longer.



Now we can harvest the flowers.  You will just use the petals, so pull them out and mix them.

It's a party in your kitchen; later it'll be a party in your mouth!

Preheat the oven 350 degrees, pull out your chilled dough and cut into slices about 3/8" thick and place on ungreased sheet.  Sprinkle with petals and press them into place.

Bake about 20 minutes, give or take depending on size of your cookies.  Makes about 32 large cookies.  What can I say, I like large cookies and I cannot lie.  :)  (The recipe could make 100 small ones).

"Come forth into the light of things; let nature be your teacher" 

                                                  - Wordsworth

The beloved Chicory - a medicinal wild plant.  The root makes a great coffee substitute.

The beloved Calendula - an important herb to cultivate - so many uses.