Herbal Wisdom Quotes

Am I witch? I don't know. That's what they call me. They say it's because I follow the rhythms of the earth, honor the seasons, dance under the moon and seek the ancient herbal wisdom of our ancestors. "Folk Lore, poppycock, myths," they say as they sneer at the rosemary in my cup, the comfrey brewing on the stove and turmeric stains on my hands. "Western medicine and science have replaced all that nonsense," they say. They make witches out to be evil and then call me a witch because I am seeking the knowledge & ancient wisdom that the world seems hell bent on forgetting. Well, they can call me what they like, but I know I am not evil. This is what I know: I am an intuitive woman who instinctively knows that this sacred earth holds healing that western medicine will never be able to replace. I will be here holding space. I will be their witch. So, here I am- A kitchen witch sipping her Rosemary tea, mixing up her herbal potion, dancing under the moon, and fighting for the knowledge & wisdom of our grandmothers to not be forgotten.

The fact is, inner peace isn't something that comes when you finally paint the whole house a nice shade of cream and start drinking herbal tea. Inner peace is something that is shaped by the wisdom that 'this too shall pass' and is fired in the kiln of self-knowledge...

The tree does not end at it's skin but exists also in the rain that falls downwind, many miles from the forest. In the seed exists the acorn, the oak, and the shade.

In this process of unlearning, in the process of feeling and hearing the plants again, one comes to realize many things. And of these things, perhaps stronger than the others, one feels the pain of the Earth. It is not possible to escape it. One of the most powerful experiences I had of this was the year when I traveled to the Florida panhandle. One day Trishuwa and I decided to go out and make relationship with the plants and offer prayer to them. The place we chose appeared quite lush, with huge trees and thick undergrowth. But as we sat there, a strong anger came from the land and the trees. They had little use for us and told us so in strong language. We spoke with them for a long time and did not cower away from their rage and eventually, as we received their pain and anger, they calmed down a little. They told us that we could do our ceremonies if we wished and that they appreciated the thought but that it would do no good. It was too late for that place, it could not be helped, the land would take its revenge for the damage done to it and nothing would stop it. I wondered then how everyone who lived in the area could just go on with their daily lives when this communication from all the local living things was crying out so loudly. I wondered if anyone else felt this rage and anger.

Meditation is both the symbol and expression of our intention to grow. Sitting still, alone with our thoughts and feelings, we can honor missed opportunities, passing desires, remembered disappointments, as well as our inner strength, personal wisdom, and ability to forgive and love.

Calendula was used in German folk medicine as a remedy for wounds and glandular problems.

The medicine wheel represents the circle of all life. When you sit in the wheel and evoke the sacred, all life comes to sit in council. The human, only one member of the web of life, can use the ceremony of the wheel to restore contact with all the relations of life. The animal relations, plant relations, stone people, spirit relations, all things come to sit in council. Our connections with the world are thus restored and the healing of the Earth begins anew.

Ayurvedic Clinic in Vadodara: Natural Healing for Body and Mind A Journey to Wellness: Top Ayurvedic Clinic in Vadodara Introduction Vadodara, a vibrant city steeped in history and culture, is also a hub for holistic healing. Ayurvedic practices have been deeply ingrained in the city's heritage, and today, it boasts a plethora of reputable Ayurvedic clinics offering a wide range of treatments and therapies. Understanding Ayurveda Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, emphasizes holistic well-being by balancing the body, mind, and spirit. It incorporates natural remedies, herbal formulations, and lifestyle modifications to address various health concerns. At Dhanshree Ayurveda, we believe in the transformative power of ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. Our clinic in Vadodara is dedicated to providing authentic Ayurvedic treatments, combined with modern approaches, to cater to the diverse needs of our patients. Experience the natural healing essence of Ayurveda and embark on a journey towards optimal well-being.

Fevers are a mixed blessing. They damage good tissues in the body, and some runaway fevers end up killing people. Also, for as long as people have had fevers, they’ve used herbal medicines (including ones containing the active ingredient in aspirin) to relieve them. But it’s also possible that ancients knew something we don’t: that helping along a fever may actually be beneficial.

The ONLY time the human MIND start to work well is when the human START to think well.

Food itself is such a foundational and integrated part of our collective tradition that some people might miss just how meaningful it is as a form of herbal medicine. It is arguably the most tenacious, intact, aspect of our ancestral botanical wisdom alive today. Our traditional recipes themselves are balanced formulations we may not be conscious of, but we maintain in the continuation of our ancestors who first developed them, and are empowered by our union with one another in both their conjuring and consumption.

Medicine Lodge Root is the remedy for people who are fighting against natural and divine order, or who are losing the battle to remain a separate, conscious individual. The personality, ego, or spiritual will is weak; they are battered down by outside influences and too easily dominated. They need to make a ninety degree turn or they will die—spiritually or physically.

Werewolf Root is for changes that are complete, so that one cannot go back to the old life one was living.

(Right angles and switchbacks in the pattern of plant growth are signatures for gall bladder remedies—see Chelidonium as well as Apocynum.)

Nettle is also used to help remove stagnant mucus.

You know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that winter is cold and moist; then you may know as well the reason why nettle-tops, eaten in the spring, consumeth the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of man, that and coldness and moistness of winter hath left behind.

Just as it reins in profuse discharges of mucus, Nettle is useful for postpartum hemorrhage, bleeding piles, bloody diarrhea, bloody urine, and excessive menstrual flux.

Applied externally, it gives “almost instant relief of pain, and rapid healing,” she says. At least in burns of the first and second degree it will prevent vessication, inflammation and scarring.

signatures remain like dreams, a tumble of different messages without order.

Interestingly, even though horsetail’s silica is not well extracted by alcohol, the tincture appears to be useful for breaks and sprains (often combined with Solomon’s seal and mullein roots, per the wisdom of herbalist Jim McDonald).

The body yearns to return to ancestral wisdom and connection. And the body becomes a great wake-up call when disharmony enters to change our pattern of thinking and living. These issues come up so they can guide us to wholeness and integration. If you are here, the ancestors chose you to begin this vital work. This book will guide you through this process of self-healing and ultimately healing past and future generations. Know that you are enough and step forward.

A practice that helps me connect to my heart each day is to ask: What does my heart want to eat today? What does my heart want me to wear today? When someone invites me somewhere, does my heart want to go? Then I act accordingly. The more we can tap into the heart’s innate wisdom, the more decisions come naturally, as we trust our heart and intuition—this is the path to a heart-centered life.

When we'd arrived in Céreste, our neighbor Arnaud said we should go to the Musée de Salagon, in Mane. In addition to its twelfth-century church and Gallo-Roman ruins, the museum has a wonderful medieval garden. The monks used these herbs to heal as well as to flavor. I've met many people in Provence who use herbal remedies, not because it's trendy, but because it's what their grandmothers taught them. My friend Lynne puts lavender oil on bug bites to reduce the swelling; I recently found Arnaud on his front steps tying small bundles of wild absinthe, which he burns to fumigate the house. Many of the pharmacies in France still sell licorice root for low blood pressure. We drink lemon verbena herbal tea for digestion. I also like the more poetic symbolism of the herbs. I'm planting sage for wisdom, lavender for tenderness (and, according to French folklore, your forty-sixth wedding anniversary), rosemary for remembrance. Thyme is for courage, but there is also the Greek legend that when Paris kidnapped Helen of Troy, each tear that fell to the ground sprouted a tuft of thyme. All things being equal, I prefer courage to tears in my pot roast.

Modern doctors have also noted that cancers set in where there has been a trauma from a blow, bruise, or chaffing years before. They also understand that many cancers prefer to grow in an oxygen-depleted, stagnant, venous blood supply. This gives us a great tip to the treatment of cancer. Herbalists have followed up on this hint, but doctors have not. They do not understand the thinking behind traditional medicine, which attempts to treat general conditions of hot and cold, excess and deficiency, etc., rather than specific pathological lesions and entities.

Magic or “good medicine” is sometimes simply a matter of the proper timing of events, while poor timing can be the source of “bad luck” or “bad medicine.” Someone might say it is “the spirit” acting through our lives. I wouldn’t object to that sentiment. However, I would add a further idea: plants can influence this element of timing. They participate in the life of the spirit just as we do. We should not be so chauvinistic as to believe that we are the only ones on this planet who enjoy that life. Whether we find the right healing remedy or not may be a matter of timing, or being open to the spirit, or believing in the possibility of healing from an unorthodox source, or believing that miracles can happen. Plants, just like any of us, would like to participate in the occurrence of a miracle.

Habitat. The environmental niche occupied by a plant reflects stresses and conditions which it has had to adapt to, and these often correspond to conditions in the organism. Plants which grow in wet situations often relate to organ systems which handle dampness in the body, such as the lymphatics and kidneys. They correspond to diseases produced by an excess of dampness—respiratory problems, mucus, lymphatic stagnation, swollen glands, kidney and bladder problems, intermittent fever and rheumatic complaints (rheuma = dampness in Greek). Here we think of Horsetail (low, wet sands/kidneys), Eryngo (salty, sandy seashores/kidneys), Gravel Root (swamps/kidneys), Swamp Milkweed (swamps/kidneys), Hydrangea (sides of streams/kidneys), Boneset (wet soils/joints and fever), Willow (low ground/joints and fever), Meadowsweet (low ground/rheumatic pains, intermittent fever), Northern White Cedar (cedar swamps and margins of lakes/lymphatics), Labrador Tea (cedar swamps and margins of lakes/lymphatics), various Knotweeds (low ground/kidneys), Sweet Flag (swamps/mucus, lungs and joints), Angelica (damp, shady, cool valleys/damp, cold rheumatic and respiratory conditions).

Jung named the four functions intuition, thinking, feeling, and sensation. (We are, of course, dealing with the English terms used in translation, which are not as expressive as the original German.) Everybody has all four functions, but there is a tendency to favor one. The intuitive person tends to look for connections, patterns, and relationships between different objects and people. He or she tends to see how a pattern will work itself out in human society, in individual psychology, or even in the physical organism. The thinking person looks for what makes sense according to deductive reasoning and rational thought. The pattern does not matter as much as the logic behind the process. The feeling person does not care whether the experience makes sense or fits a pattern, but what it feels like emotionally. (Unfortunately, English is a little ill-prepared for these concepts. “Feeling” is used to describe emotional experiences, physical sensations, and intuitive “hunches.”) Sensation people are somewhat more difficult to recognize or define. They do not look for the pattern, the logic, or the feeling, but learn from the sensation of what they are doing. These people are the ones who have to learn from experience. Theirs is a hands-on knowledge, a physical feeling of “what it felt like,” which helps them to proceed from one experience to the next. They have a hard time trying to explain why they did something or what somebody else should do; they would rather just show you how to do it. And if they have not had the experience, they will not attempt to explain it. The four functions match the four elements: intuition (fire), thinking (air), feeling (water), and sensation (earth). Jung laid out the four functions on a cross, as follows: Jung found that each person tended to have a dominant function, a secondary function that he or she was fairly good at using to supplement the first, a third function that could support the others, and an “inferior function” that was difficult to grapple with or use with ease. This function was the Achilles’ heel of the psyche. On the cross, the inferior was always the one opposite the dominant function. The two supporting functions were on either side. In addition to these four functions, Jung identified a fifth which he called the “transcendent function.” He placed this in the center of the cross, or quarternio, like the quintessence. This function was not immediately available to ordinary consciousness, but through special development or critical experiences, it could be brought to bear on solving the issues of life. This function tended to look above and go beyond ordinary functioning with the four regular faculties of the psyche. These, after all, tended toward domination and inferiority. The “transcendent function” was so named because it jumped above these prejudices and brought in new solutions for the soul. Jung identified this function with the “active imagination,” or the imaginative faculty actively used.

The five phases are associated with the five basic flavors received by the human tongue: bitter (fire), sweet (earth), pungent or acrid (metal), salty (water), and sour (wind). Although the flavors fit the elements neatly, they function very pragmatically, as guides for knowledge about herbal properties.

The simple beauty of the yin/yang system is based on the observation that everything has two sides. The word yin designates the shady side of a mountain; the word yang represents the sunny side. By extension, yin came to mean all things dark, cool, damp, hidden, withdrawn, interior, feminine, while yang represented all things light, warm, dry, exteriorized, visible, masculine.

I always used to say, “Herbs work on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels of existence.” Later I came to understand that they also work on the magical level.

Habitat. The environmental niche occupied by a plant reflects stresses and conditions which it has had to adapt to, and these often correspond to conditions in the organism. Plants which grow in wet situations often relate to organ systems which handle dampness in the body, such as the lymphatics and kidneys. They correspond to diseases produced by an excess of dampness—respiratory problems, mucus, lymphatic stagnation, swollen glands, kidney and bladder problems, intermittent fever and rheumatic complaints (rheuma = dampness in Greek). Here we think of Horsetail (low, wet sands/kidneys), Eryngo (salty, sandy seashores/kidneys), Gravel Root (swamps/kidneys), Swamp Milkweed (swamps/kidneys), Hydrangea (sides of streams/kidneys), Boneset (wet soils/joints and fever), Willow (low ground/joints and fever), Meadowsweet (low ground/rheumatic pains, intermittent fever), Northern White Cedar (cedar swamps and margins of lakes/lymphatics), Labrador Tea (cedar swamps and margins of lakes/lymphatics), various Knotweeds (low ground/kidneys), Sweet Flag (swamps/mucus, lungs and joints), Angelica (damp, shady, cool valleys/damp, cold rheumatic and respiratory conditions). It is interesting to note that sandy, gravely soils are also a signature for kidney remedies (Horsetail, Eryngo, Gravel Root, Gromwell, False Gromwell, Uva ursi, etc.)

He matches the plants to the human frame, part by part. This follows an ancient tradition. The idea that the human body is a representation of the world around it, a microcosm of the macrocosm, is intimately associated with the doctrine of signatures. The

Images, similars, signs, correspondences, and coincidences infer a different way to look at the world; they give rise to a different kind of knowledge.

Let us bring our account to a summation. Burdock acts so widely on the system that it is somewhat difficult to pin down its exact affinities. Yet, we can say that it opens pores and promotes secretion from internal and external surfaces. It seems to act particularly through the liver, lymphatics, and kidneys. It stimulates metabolism through the liver, cleansing and feeding through the lymph, and waste removal through the veins. Thus, it strengthens, wrings out and lifts tissues and organs, including the uterus and prostate. It acts strongly on the skin, to promote or correct perspiration. On the psychological level, Burdock helps us to deal with our worries about the unknown, the “Hedge Ruffians,” the bears, which lurk in the dark woods beyond our control. It seizes upon deep, complex issues, penetrates to the core and brings up old memories and new answers. It gives us the faith to move ahead on our path, despite the unknown problems which may ensnare us along the way. It helps the person who is afraid become more hardy, while it brings the hardy wanderer back to his original path. It restores vigor and momentum. Preparation,

An orderly approach to cardio vascular disease, according to Beach, was to first relieve the inequality in the circulation, so that the burden is removed from the heart. After this has been accomplished, it is possible to see the real condition of the heart, and to treat it with heart-specific remedies, if necessary.

The highly stimulating and heating properties of Cayenne Pepper rouse the circulation, move the blood to the surface, and engorge the capillaries.

According to homeopathic literature, Capsicum is called for in patients of lax fiber and flabby muscles, who don’t exercise and eat the wrong foods. Has a red face, yet the face feels cold to the touch and is generally chilly. At times he or she gasps for breath, or can’t catch the breath. Worse from slight drafts, cold air, cold water, uncovering, dampness, bathing, drinking, and eating, better from continued motion and exercise.

As far as can be determined at the present time, Dandelion seems to have a small scope when used in a specific or homeopathic manner. Perhaps this can be enlarged upon in the future. When used as a general “liver cleanser,” as it is in Western herbalism, Dandelion may accomplish much, but it is difficult to determine exactly what it does in any given case. It is a medicine illustrating the differences between the specific and a general approach.

Whenever we have a mental state where there is anger, frustration, and fighting against the flow or a lack of confidence in the natural progression of events, the liver will usually be involved.

The medicinal properties are resident in the resin which are concentrated on the underside of the flower heads, less so on the petals, leaves, and stems.

In simple green Wounds or Cuts, it has such an exquisite Faculty of Speedy Healing, that it cures it at the first Intention, Consolidating the Lips thereof, without … suffering any Corruption to remain behind.” If a wound becomes infected, “it is one of the best of vulneraries, for it digests [corrupted material] if need be, absterges or cleanses, incarnates [new tissue], dries and heals, almost to a Miracle.” It is useful for hollow wounds, ulcers, fistulas, and sores. It is most amazing how Lady’s Mantle can restore the integrity of torn, ruptured, or separated tissues, as seen in hernias or perforated membranes. It not only supports the cohesion of the cell wall, but of the muscle wall and other such structures, at every level of the body. It is well to remember that Lady’s Mantle was used in folk medicine to “restore virginity,” i.e., reseal the hymen. This sounds like a folkloric absurdity, but I have no doubt it could restore this membrane, as I have seen it restore others.

We sent her Lady’s Mantle tincture, which she applied externally on the ear and took internally as well. The eardrum sealed up

It is an excellent thing also against Bruises, Cuts or Punctures of the Nerves and Tendons; for it suddenly eases the Pain, and alleviates the Inflammation, and thereby induces the Cure.” (Remember, it contains salicin.) Lady’s Mantle also staunches bleeding, making it “effectual against all sorts of Bleedings both inward and outward,” so that it “stops the Over-flowing of the Terms in Women, and cures the Bloody-flux, as also all other Fluxes of the Bowels.” And it cures “Bruises by Falls or otherwise, whether inwards or outwards.

Alchemilla to warm and dry the joints, removing pain, gout, and arthritis. For this purpose, he prefers that it be preserved in oil and applied externally. In this form, “it is a famous thing against a cold Gout, and all Pains or Aches proceeding from a cold Cause in any Part of the Body.” As a warming and drying remedy it would be effectual against that “cold, wet” complaint, arthritis. “Outwardly applied to the Gout, Sciatica, or other like Pains of the Joints, proceeding from Blows, Over-straining, or the like, it gives Ease, and speedily cures them, adding also Strength to the Part.

By no means is Lady’s Mantle exclusively a female medicine. Maria Treben learned from folk healers in Burgenland, Austria, that it strengthens the heart muscle. As a result, she applied it to enhance the muscular tone in general. She used it for muscular atrophy, weakness of the muscles, serious and incurable muscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, poor nutrition, prolapse of the uterus, and hernia. She combined Lady’s Mantle with Shepherd’s Purse for treatment of prolapse and hernia. I have seen it work several times for hernia.

A tincture made from vinegar has the same virtues, but “it opens the more, and removes Obstructions of Stomach, Liver, Spleen, and other Bowels … whereby it effectually stops Vomiting, strengthens the Stomach, and causes a good Appetite and a strong Digestion, but it stops not Fluxes of the Bowels so well as some of the former Preparations.

The oil of Lady’s Mantle, taken internally, eases colic, expels wind, and opens obstructions of the kidneys, ureters and, bladder, expelling gravel, stones, and sand, “cleansing them from any Tartarous Mucilage lodged therein.

Burdock helps the body remember what it was like to be healthy” and is suited to chronic cases “where the thread of health has been lost.

I find that Burdock seed (or root) is beneficial for both profuse sweating and lack of perspiration.

The true physician should have a therapeutic eye, which notices disease whenever it appears, not just when the time clock is running

(Rash, boils, profuse sweating, and lack of sweat are usually good indications of clogging in the lymphatic glands.)

7Song made a comment which is significant in this regard. He said that Burdock is for “liver acne,” when the pimples are singular, large, and nasty, while Goldenrod is for “kidney acne,” when they arise in little sheets of fine pimples accompanied by a general patch of reddish, dry, irritated skin. The

If you just juice, drink herbs, herbal teas and juices, even herbal coffees, herbs-added hot chocolate... You can drink any of that. Whether your problems are as simple as migraine or knee pain or small back pain or as difficult and complicated as cancers, any level, any problem, any disease - ‘langanam parama aushadam’ is the medicine.

Most herbal knowledge was kept alive as folk medicine, handed down from mother to daughter, a kind of inheritance.. But a woman in control of her own body was a dangerous thing, .. The wise women who continued to practice their art were considered witches. Between 1450 and 1750 in Europe and North America, an estimated thirty-five thousand to one hundred thousand people, most of them women, were accused of wildcrafting and put to death.

Prior to European contact, the Americas were home to nearly 100 million Indigenous people, who between them spoke some one thousand to two thousand languages. The number of different plants they relied upon was enormous. Across North America, it is estimated that pre-contact people used over twenty-six hundred different species, nearly half exclusively for medicine. Less than one hundred of these plants were cultivated. The rest grew wild.

William LeSassier, of New York City, one of our most experienced contemporary practitioners, ranks Yarrow highly as one of the most important digestive medicines. He uses it for diverticulitis and colitis. It is especially indicated, he says, when there is a crack down the center of the tongue which opens up to display a “chaining” effect (little lines crossing back and forth.) It looks like a little red feather running down the center of the tongue—think of the feathery leaves of Yarrow. “This configuration indicates that heat is burning down to the blood level,” says William. It commonly occurs in the middle of the tongue and downwards, indicating irritation of the mucosa of the digestive tract, possibly even bleeding. I have several case histories that demonstrate this use.

Chapter 5 Eyebright For Eye Strain The other night, I took a break from writing and went for a walk. It was dark, but the moon was bright giving me the light I needed to see my way up the road and back. When I returned I could see a few lights on in the house, but what really stood out was my laptop that I had left open; it’s bright white light standing out. I thought, “man, I stare at that light for hours at a time!” No wonder my eyes feel tired so often. Many people do this for eight or more hours every day. When we are viewing the screens of our devices, we blink less than normal which can cause dryness and soreness. The intense focus can also be the root of headaches and other eye related symptoms. Relief can be achieved by taking frequent ‘eye breaks’ which involve looking at something in the distance every twenty minutes or so (there are even apps to remind you!), and making sure your screen is just below eye level. But the reality is many of us are spending a lot of time focusing intently on electronic devices and straining our eyes. Symptoms of eye strain range from dry, sore, or itchy eyes, to headaches, light sensitivity and blurred vision. Mother Nature in her infinite wisdom has provided us with a wild herb that works directly to reduce the discomforts of eye strain and many other eye issues. Eyebright, a tiny flowered, weedy looking herb found wild in Europe, Asia and North America can be used to treat all eye disorders. Eyebright’s tannin content, which acts as an astringent, and its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, combine to make the perfect eye wash. Its 3 major antioxidant vitamins bring in eye-specific support as well:  Vitamin C, in conjunction with Eyebright’s high content of Quercetin, assists in reducing swelled and runny eyes; Vitamin E has been shown to help improve visual sharpness; and Vitamin A protects the cornea and prevents dry eyes. Eyebright is the perfect solution for eyestrain symptoms, but it can also be used for many other eye disorders including conjunctivitis and itchy or runny eyes caused by allergies. Traditionally it has been used to improve memory and treat vertigo and epilepsy. Harvesting and drying Eyebright is easy. The high tannin content makes it a fast-drying herb. Simply cut the flowering tops of the plant and dry for a day or two in an oven with just the pilot light on, or in an airy spot out of the sun for several days. The dried herb will have retained its colors, though the flowers will have diminished considerably in size. How To Use Eyebright How to make an eye bath:   Boil 2 cups of water and pour over 1 cup of dried or fresh herb and let sit for 20 minutes or more. Strain well using cheesecloth or an unbleached coffee filter, store in a sterile glass jar (just dip in the boiling water before adding the herbs and let stand, open side up), cool, lid tightly and place in refrigerator for up to a week. When you wash your face in the morning or evening, use a sterile eyecup or other small sterile container to ‘wash’ your eyes with this herbal extract. If you are experiencing a painful eye condition, it is better to warm the eye bath liquid slightly before use. You can also dip cotton balls in the solution and press one on each eye (with lid closed) as a compress. Eyebright Tea: Using the same method for making an eye bath, simply drink the tea for relief of eye symptoms due to eyestrain, colds and allergies.

Enslaved Africans had some of the most detailed knowledge of the natural environments of the Americas, as they often looked to wild foods to supplement their insufficient rations or foraged for medicinal and shamanistic herbs. Poisoning was one of the only ways enslaved people might overpower their masters, and knowing the properties of wild plants could mean the difference between freedom and bondage.

St. John’s Wort is indicated in chronic illness associated with chronic pain, nervous exhaustion, emotional depression, mental and physical weakness.

Here are the indications I look for in Sweet Leaf. The stems should be somewhat flexible and soft, as Gilmore remarks. One should be able to feel the volatile oils on the stalk, leaves, and flowers. The taste should be sweet, pungent, peppery, hot, and (most important) “buttery.” There need to be enough volatile oils to cause this “buttery” sensation in the mouth.

In short, Sweet Leaf is a plant which will draw out the fire.

I do not know how to answer you, Raven. I am not nearly the forgiving man you believe me to be. I want to be that man. I want to be better for you, but I fear I will never get the sight of you lying there with all these deep wounds bleeding from my mind.” He kissed each one of them, and then blazed a trail to the underside of her breast and kissed her even more possessively. Raven didn’t protest; she simply cradled his head to her, offering him solace, seeing into his mind. This was what he wanted for them, lying together, close, his hands and mouth in a leisurely exploration of her body while they came to know one another intimately. He wanted the soft laughter and stimulating conversation. He wanted chess matches and visits together to the priest where they could drink herbal tea and enjoy the wisdom of his friend. “I want to take you into the forest, Raven, my forest, where the trees are thick and few people have ever set foot.” Mikhail’s tongue flicked her nipple, and then his mouth settled for a long, heart-stopping moment while he suckled.

The place of women in society has also degraded, and ecofeminist theories have linked the status of women in society with environmental awareness and the nature of our cultural relationship with the Earth. When the planet is honored and respected, women are similarly treated; when the land is seen simply as a resource from which to profit, women’s lives and bodies experience the same treatment. Whether literal or metaphorical, there is a connection between women and the land, and the degree to which culture at large is in balance with one is mirrored by its relationship with the other. It makes sense that we who are seeking Sovereignty do so by taking an accounting both of our inner and outer landscapes—the realms over which we preside.

It only not calms and tones the nerves, but it acts very deeply to restore and improve the nerves of sense and thought.

Like many members of the mint family, Sweet Leaf is a sedative acting on the nervous system.

The square stem of the mints, or the ridged stem of other plants (such as Cleavers), are a signature pointing to the nerves, both in American Indian and European herbal tradition.