Our ancestors used herbs to treat
every aliment with their intuitive knowledge of medicinal herbs which
was passed on through generations.
Today, with the advent of modern
medicine, this knowledge has mostly been lost or forgotten.
Even some of the most therapeutic
herbs, like nettles, dock, and dandelion which bring health promoting
minerals from deep in the soil are considered "pests" or "weeds"
and are mostly unwelcome in our gardens.
Worldwide, there are probably more
than 2,000 plus medicinal plants available, which in itself, is a bit
overwhelming. I recommend beginning with a few and working from there.
We are much better suited to treatment
with herbal remedies than with isolated chemical medicines. Over
thousands of years our digestive system and physiology is geared to
digest plant based foods which often have medicinal value as well as
providing sustenance.
Gathering Herbs
"Gather
the herbs as they are growing strongly or just beginning
to wither depending whether or not the action is to
promote or to soothe. Plants used should be asked for
their co-operation in healing before being picked and
something should always be left for that specimen to
re-generate. This is a blessed action that you
undertake. This is not magic, merely a respect and an
honoring that unites plant, healer and patient in a
synthesis of healing actions, united within the field of
God’s loving actions."
Healing Deva (7.2.97
The healing
‘power’ of plants does
change during the day, during its growing cycle and with
the phase of the moon. The roots of a plant are at their
most powerful just before a full moon, whereas the plant
itself is best not collected at the time of a full moon.
The Tibetans also collect some plants by moonlight and
others by the light of the midday sun.
Flowers are best just after they have
opened and leaves are best collected just as the flowers
are starting to appear. Roots are generally most
effective just as the flowers are dying down. Only take
the parts of the plant that you absolutely need and as
little as possible, even if the plant seems to be a
common one. Respect its life and ask its permission to
be used for healing and helping others. If you are
sensitive to the voices of the plant it may indicate
that this is not the right time for it to be used,
whatever the textbooks say. Gather the picked parts in
natural containers, that have also been cleansed and
blessed for their purpose. You are taking part in a
ritual and whatever you believes, it is the purpose and
intent and focus that the ritual helps to reinforce.
Wild herbs growing
in a natural habitat are more potent than home
cultivated
Herbs that grow on the north side of
a mountain are more tonifying and strengthening (ginseng
grows naturally in this location)
Never more than 1/3 of the
foliage
Never strip bark around the
entire circumference (you will kill it)
