Thriving Everywhere: Self Heal Plant Profile

When I moved to Nisenan and Miwkoʔ Waaliʔ land / Sacramento, one of the first plants I noticed that was new to my eyes was this little purple flower that seemed to show up in everyone’s front lawn.¹ A careful look through plant identification books revealed to me that this was Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), a plant I’d learned about in my studies as an herbal student, but not one that I’d ever seen in person before. It’s always exciting to meet a plant friend you’ve only read about and since then I’ve worked a lot with beloved Self Heal.

In the part of California that I’m in, Self Heal grows everywhere much like California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) or Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). It’s a common wayside herb and it’s healing gifts are tied up with the health of working people out in the fields, carpenters and farmers, laborers and Travelling folk. I find their energy to be steadying, their ability to inspire hope in the healing process enduring. Self Heal is a wonderful herb to work with and I hope that you’ll find the following plant profile of use to your own studies and practice.

Enjoy!

image source

Self Heal
(Prunella vulgaris)

Common + Folk Names : Heal-all, common selfheal, all-heal, blue curls, carpenter's herb, dragonhead, heart of the earth, Hercule's woundwort, hook heal, pimpernel, sickle wort, woundwort, consuelda, ingijbinaa

Tarot Cards : The Chariot, The Tower, The Devil, The Tens (Minor Arcana)

Element : Water, Earth

Zodiac Signs : Virgo (Guardian & Remedy), Gemini (Remedy), Aries (Remedy)

Planets : Venus

Moon Phase : New Moon

Parts used : Aerial parts

Habitat : Naturalized throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. Often found in shady edges of woods, fields, roads, and yards.

Growing conditions : Low growing perennial that prefers moist soil and part to full sun.

Collection : Spring and early summer when it has started to flower.

Flavor : Bittern pungent, sweet

Temperature : Cold

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Heat, Tension, Stagnation (learn more about traditional western herbalism energetics)

Constituents : Beta-carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, vitamin K, zinc, flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenes, rosmarinic acid, essential oils, tannin.

Actions : Alterative, antibacterial, antibiotic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, bitter, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, febrifuge, hemostatic, hypotensive, immunostimulant, kidney tonic, liver stimulant, stomachic, styptic, vasodilator, vermifuge, vulnerary.

Main Uses : Self Heal is one of my "how about a little" herbs, in that I'll come to the end of making a blend and I'll think "how about a little Self Heal" and add a pinch of it to the herbs already assembled. As Culpeper writes, "Here is another herb of Venus, Self-heal, whereby when you are hurt you may heal yourself: It is a special herb for inward and outward wounds.”²

One of the reasons that Self Heal is so useful and easy to add to many an herbal blend is that it addresses inflammation in the body in multiple ways. Reducing inflammation can be a key component to alleviating many diseases and imbalances making Self Heal so versatile. Self Heal clears heat from the body by improving the efficiency of the liver and kidneys, as well as by acting as a blood tonic. As a lymphatic tonic, Self Heal addresses stagnation and the issues that can arise from it such as congested and swollen glands, which can lead to infections. Finally, Self Heal addresses inflammation as an immunomodulator, appropriately enhancing the body's immune response and helping to moderate an over-responsive immune response. 

Many of the key indications for Self Heal are related to excess heat and especially excess stagnant heat which results in swelling and engorgement. Conditions like mastitis can often be helped using Self Heal both internally and externally (alongside other mastitis herbs like Phytolacca americana), as well as alleviating the pain of fibrocystic breast tissue, sore nipples, and general swelling. Other indications for Self Heal include pain caused by tension including tension headaches, neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as dizziness and vertigo caused by hypertension. The herb can be useful in autoimmune conditions "as manifested by joint pains, low-grade fever, fatigue."³ As an anti-inflammatory, cooling tonic, Self Heal is also a good herb to turn to in case of fever (combine with Eupatorium perfoliatum to help with painful fevers). The herb is useful in damp lung conditions including wet coughs and congestion as well as more serious conditions like tuberculosis. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, Self Heal continues to be used in treating tumors both malignant and benign and there has been research showing that Self Heal might be useful in the treatments of some cancers. In general, it is a good ally for processes of detoxification.

image source

Self Heal has long been used as an herb for all complaints of the mouth and throat including sore throats, tonsillitis, laryngitis, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and gum disease in general. Use as a gargle and as a tea, but it can also be applied externally as a compress to the neck. In fact, the Latin binomial for Self Heal, Prunella, "was originally Brunella or Brunellen, a name given to it by the Germans as it was used to treat die Breuen, an inflammatory mouth and throat problem, common to soldiers in garrisons."⁴ As I mentioned earlier, many herbalists like myself reach for Self Heal to help harmonize and enhance an herbal blend, but also help to tend to the emotional wounds that can appear alongside physical ones. Herbalist Deb Soule writes:

“For years I had felt that a plant with the name self-heal must have the gift of healing internal wounds that cause feelings of sadness, grief, despair, anger and hopelessness. I began adding small amounts of the tincture of self-heal along with other herbs to enhance the healing properties of a formula. Sometimes I add a few dried flowers of self-heal to a tea mixture to help facilitate a deeper, more inward healing process.”⁵

Self Heal was one of the first flower essences I worked with and it was introduced to me as the type of essence that most anyone would benefit from working with. Self Heal helps us to connect with the belief that healing is even a possibility. I like making an herbal massage oil with both the herb and essence of Self Heal, using it for general body care, reducing lymphatic swelling, and supporting the emotional body through the physical one.

Topically, Self Heal continues to act as a useful anti-inflammatory that draws out heat from wounds and injuries alongside its antiseptic qualities. Many of Self Heal's common names like "carpenter's herb" and "sickle wort" refer to its use by laborers working with sharp tools who were able to harvest this freely growing herb easily. Use the herb as a wash for wound care, liniment, and/or salve for bruises, sprains, strains, boils, and burns. Also a good choice for bug bites and stings (great to use alongside Plantago spp. if you happen to get stung by a bee or other insect when out and about). Used internally and externally, Self Heal is a good ally for hemorrhoids, piles, and ulcers, as well as acne, rashes, and other skin irritations. Use as a compress for back pain, muscle and joint pain, as well as headaches. For those prone to tension headaches, consider combining with Blue Vervain (Verbena officinalis) and/or Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Self Heal is also useful as an eyewash for cases of conjunctivitis.

Finally, I want to share a description from Anishinaabe mashkikiiwikwewag, Keewaydinoquay, about Self Heal that so succinctly sums up the beauty of Self Heal's (ingijibinaa) healing gifts:

“If it has a nice place to grow in, a moist and sunny or semishaded place, this plant can grow to be eighteen inches tall, but if it is growing on a suburban lawn that is dry and regularly mowed, it can be two inches tall. In either extreme it will endeavor to put out its little flower and live a full life. As Kee used to say, ‘If a little weed can do that, so can people.’”⁶

Magickal Uses : A great herb to add to any healing bundles, spells, rituals, and charms. Helps to give courage to those seeking healing, especially those folks who have been worn down and feel hopeless about their ability to feel well again. Dr. JJ Pursell shares in her annotated guide to Culpeper's Complete Herbal that she was "taught to use self-heal topically whenever I was bitten in a dream because the energetic bite must be treated." I love this bit of herbal tradition of tending to wounds sustained in dreams in the waking world. While Self Heal was not recommended to me specifically, I received similar instructions on working with plants and dreams, and find that it's such a lovely way of helping the body settle after a particularly intense dream or nightmare. It is a very sweet form of somatic magick and calling the spirit home to the body. 

image source

The Self-Heal Personality : There are two key Self Heal personalities that I've most often come across. The first is the person who on the surface appears to have given up any responsibility for their own healing. They strongly cling to the belief that it is only something or someone outside of themselves that will make them well and that their ability to feel well is not something they have any control over. Sometimes this ties into patterns of addiction to substances, people, and experiences as a way to cope. Deeper beneath this is a belief that not only is feeling well not something they can access through their own effort (alongside appropriate therapeutic, community, and medicinal support), but that they do not deserve to be well. This wound is a deep one and often stems from early childhood experiences, but not exclusively. Self Heal can help them to realize that to feel well and supported in their wellness is a human right and to begin to question their own beliefs around their deservedness. Ultimately, Self Heal helps the to feel a sense of empowerment in being responsible for seeking, cultivating, and receiving what they need to feel well.

The second Self Heal personality I've come across is a person who has done a good amount of inner work, they have a rather secure belief in their ability to seek out and know feelings of wellness, and then something bubbles to the surface that they were not expecting. It may be a familiar pattern that they had thought they had already addressed but are now seeing from a different angle or an issue that they had not faced before because it needed to be uncovered by the healing work they've already done. Self Heal acts as an ally and guide in this process of understanding oneself and one's responsibilities even in areas of life where they believe they've already addressed it all. Instead of shame or humiliation or a feeling that they should've "healed better" before, Self Heal helps them feel humbled by the magick that is healing and responsibly empowered wherever this part of their healing journey is guiding them. 

Contraindications : Generally considered safe.

Drug interactions :  Avoid with insulin and hypoglycemic medications. Because of its liver stimulating qualities, it may reduce absorption of prescription drugs and supplements.

Dosage : Standard dosage. Anne McIntyre recommends an infusion of "two flowering spikes per cup of water 3 x daily."

᠅

If you would like an easy to access, downloadable, and printable version of this and all of my plant profiles, including Self Heal, you’re invited to join The Plant Ally Library.

As you explore the energies of Self Heal and other plant allies, you might be interested in other ways of supporting your healing practice from finding your rhythm with lunar rituals, creating your own oracle of care or cultivating a healing daily practice with tarot.

May you thrive wherever you find yourself, growing steady into the spaces that feel like home.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤ Thank you, friends. ❤

---

Footnotes

1. There is a joke that if you take your herbalist friend for a walk where there are plants that it is less likely to be a walk with any momentum and more of a “Ooo! What’s that plant?” and “Oh! The {insert name of beloved plant} is looking lovely today!” stop-every-few-steps meandering. I say “joke” but it is more of a common reality for many an herbalist’s friend.

2. Nicholas Culpeper and J. J. Pursell, Culpeper's Complete Herbal: A Compendium of Herbs and Their Uses, Annotated for Modern Herbalists, Healers, and Witches (Portland, OR: Microcosm Publishing, 2022), 244.

3. Michael Alfs, 300 Herbs: Their Indications & Contraindications (New Brighton, MN: Old Theology Book House, 2003), 96.

4. Anne McIntyre, Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996), 186.

5. Deb Soule, 'Self Heal' Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners, Spring 2005, https://www.mofga.org/resources/herbs/self-heal/ (accessed March 2023). Be sure to check out the beautiful recipes for massage oils and more that Deb provides in this profile.

6. Mary Siisip Geniusz, Plants Have So Much To Give Us, All We Have To Do Is Ask: Anishinaabe Botanical Teachings, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2015), 253.

7.  Nicholas Culpeper and J. J. Pursell, 244.

8. Anne McIntyre, Dispensing with Tradition: A Practitioner's Guide to using Indian and Western Herbs the Ayurvedic Way (Cheltenham: Artemis House, 2012), 106.

Liberatory Rest: California Poppy Plant Profile

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a beautiful flower growing in the hot and dry areas of the Golden State, covering hillsides in their orangey-yellow glow. An ally of the restless and a provider of deep sleep, I’ve come to know them best living up in the northern part of California where they freely grow on hillsides, front yards, and sidewalk cracks.

In many ways, California Poppy reminds me of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) which shows up in unexpected places, often in very low quality soil, and thrives. While Dandelion is known for its gifts as a digestive bitter, California Poppy works in many ways as a sleep bitter, helping us to process the stress of the day, release it, and move on into a state of rest and relaxation.

Ready to learn more? Come this way…

image via @megaanmarie

California Poppy
(Eschscholzia californica)

Common + Folk Names : Flame flower, gold poppy, copa de oro, dormidera

Tarot Cards : The Moon, The Hanged One, The Star, 4 of Swords (find out more about the connections between the tarot and herbalism)

Element : Air, Water

Zodiac Signs : Pisces (Guardian & Remedy), Gemini (Remedy), Aquarius (Remedy)

Planet : Sun, Moon, Mercury

Moon Phase : All Phases

Parts Used : Aboveground parts.

Habitat : Native to southwestern United States.

Growing conditions : Full sun in poor, well-drained soil.

Collection :  In spring and summer when in flower.

Flavor : Bitter

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Heat, Tension (learn more about traditional western herbalism energetics)

Constituents : Flavonoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, volatile oil.

Actions : Analgesic, anodyne, anxiolytic, antispasmodic, febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, soporific, uterine stimulant.

Main Uses : A beautiful wildflower that covers hillsides throughout the Golden State, California Poppy has long use as an herb of relaxation, nervous system restoration, and sleep for both adults and children. If you're looking for an herb to help reset disruptive sleep patterns but have found other herbs like Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) or Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) leaving you too drowsy, California Poppy might be a good ally to work with. I find it to be less sedating but just as relaxing as the other two herbs mentioned which can be useful for folks who are more sensitive to the effects of herbal medicine.

The plant can be used internally as a tea or tincture, but it also makes a lovely compress when it comes to supporting sleep. After taking the tincture, use an herbal compress (with a few drops of tincture added to it if you like) along the spine before bed to help calm the nervous system and bring on sleep (make it extra special by listening to calming music, combining with breathwork, and/or being read to). Of course, if you're struggling with a chronic pattern of disruptive sleep it's important to reach out beyond herbal medicine and seek additional modalities like therapy and/or bodywork to help you invite healthy sleep patterns back into your life again.

One of the ways that California Poppy helps us to get a good night's sleep is that it helps to bring energy down from the head to our roots, calm racing thoughts, and reduce pain that can come with restlessness. California Poppy is a nervous system restorative and when combined with other herbs like Milky Oat (Avena sativa) it can be used in low doses on a daily basis to help recover from burnout or a period of intense stress. Consider combining with herbs like Vervain (Verbena officinalis, hastata) if there is excess tension and a tendency to overwork or Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) if there is excess anxiety and racing thoughts. Combine with Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) if heart palpitations are also present. Can be used in small doses for children who struggle with hyperactivity and restlessness, especially at bedtime.

The flower helps to reduce pain not only as a nervous system restorative but as a cooling anti-inflammatory. Useful in cases of arthritis, shingles, hypertension, menstrual cramps, tension headaches, and toothache. Use internally as well as externally as a compress or in baths. Traditionally used by the ʔívil̃uqaletem in small doses for cases of colic in infants.

With children, California Poppy can be useful for restlessness and insomnia as well as bedwetting or enuresis. One of the indications for California Poppy for enuresis in children is "nervousness" but I think a more modern term would be dysregulation - there is a restless and dysregulated nervous system which can lead to poor sleep, bedwetting, and so on. California Poppy can be useful in the treatment of ADHD in the young but I highly recommend working with a skilled practitioner to help you formulate the right blend as sedating herbs like California Poppy can sometimes feel more disrupting than useful.

Topically, the herb can be used for inflamed conditions of the skin from acne to eczema. Use as a wash or in herbal baths or steams. The flowers can be made into an herbal oil and used in the scalp to calm irritated skin and help promote hair growth especially when stress is causing hair loss. Combine the tincture with St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) herbal oil for a topical treatment for nerve pain.

image via @theeastlondonphotographer

Magickal Uses : Use California Poppy to help you achieve a magickal flow state for ritual, divination, and more. Especially useful when combined with Rose (Rosa spp.). Use in charms for bringing good dreams, psychic vision, and in trancework. A good addition to Moon spells of all kinds.

The California Poppy Personality : One of the ways of understanding the California Poppy personality is to compare it to Vervain (Verbena officinalis) folk. There is a tension present in both types of folk leading to a rigidness of opinion and belief. With Vervain folk this rigidness can be tied to more acceptable forms of tension (i.e. workaholism) whereas with California Poppy folks the tension is more often about the restrictiveness of the radical. They often start of as restless spiritual seekers, perhaps suffering from the insomnia of the soul, but find themselves becoming rigid in their spiritual seeking, often attaching to one form of practice, devotion, teacher, and/or school of thought which requires extremes in behavior. Their seeking is externalized (i.e. the wisdom I seek is out there in someone or something other than me) and working with California Poppy can help them to relax into their own internal wisdom, reconnect with their intuition, and rest deeply in the process. Herbalist Anne McIntyre describes California Poppy's effect as helping folks to "develop a more solid inner life" and I've found this to be true.

One of the costs of extreme devotion to outside forces is disconnecting from one's gut feeling of when boundaries are being violated or beliefs have become nonsensical to the point of harm. California Poppy acts as a restorative to the spiritual nervous system, calling home the intuition, releasing folks from the ceaseless wakefulness harmful belief systems (and the media systems that keep us hyperconnected) to come home to a restful ease of the soul at home with itself.

Contraindications : Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Contraindicated in glaucoma.

Drug interactions : Do not take if on MAOIs.

Dosage : Standard dosage.

᠅

If you would like an easy to access, downloadable, and printable version of this and all of my plant profiles you can find it in The Plant Ally Library.

For the month of November I’m hosting a fundraiser for BIPOC herbal education. If you love my writing and would like to support a great cause at the same time, please donate if you can.

I hope you get to meet and work with the lovely remedy that is California Poppy one day or deepen your relationship with them if you’re already acquainted. What are some of your favorite flower remedies?

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤ Thank you, friends. ❤

Nourishing the Soul: Milky Oat Plant Profile

I’m not exactly sure when I met Milky Oats as plant medicine. I feel like it was probably during my first few herbs classes, but it took a few rounds of meeting them for me to recognize how profoundly healing their gifts are. Milky Oats grow abundantly and are easy to harvest making them a great and versatile ally for many plant folk, especially those just starting our on the path. I find endless inspiration with Milky Oat and some of my most beloved memories of making herbal remedies are with Milky Oat.

So let’s meet the remedy for the soul known as Milky Oat.

Milky Oats
Avena sativa

Folk Names : Dousar, haver

Element : Water, Earth

Moon Phase : New Moon

Zodiac Signs : Cancer, Capricorn

Planets : Moon, Venus, Jupiter

Parts used : Unripe seeds (milky oats) and stem (oatstraw)

Habitat : An annual grass that has naturalized throughout much of North America and is indigenous to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.

Growing conditions : Full sun and rich soil with moderate water.

Collection : Collect the Milky Oat tops in early spring, when they excrete “milk” when squeezed. My favorite time to harvest Milky Oats is on the Spring Equinox or a New Moon (better it be when both are happening at the same time!).

Flavor : Sweet

Temperature : Neutral to Warm

Moisture : Moist

Tissue State : Cold/Depression, Dry/Atrophy

Constituents : Beta-carotene, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, silicon, zinc, lipids, alkaloids, vitamin E

Actions : Antidepressant, alterative, demulcent, diaphoretic, nervine, nutritive, reproductive tonic, diuretic, endocrine tonic

Main Uses : Milky Oats are the best example of a trophorestorative for the nervous system found in traditional western herbalism. I love them because not only are the nourishing to the nervous system, but nourishing to the soul. Milky Oat is best used over a long period and even when you stop using the herb they body remembers the medicine, continuing to act as if it were still taking it. Rich in calcium, iron, manganese, and zinc, Milky Oats are very nourishing when the body feels depleted and exhausted. The herb is a great ally for convalescence and recovery after a period of debilitation whether from the flu or longterm illness or from a heightened period of stress and anxiety (like living through a global pandemic).

Milky Oats have a combination of qualities that make them useful for folks suffering from nervous tension whether brought on by anxiety, depression, injury, overwork or excess stress from a variety of life circumstances. They are mildly anti-depressant, helping to increase energy without being overstimulating which is great as insomnia is often a symptom of nervous tension. The herb can be very useful for those who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction as it will help to rebalance their damaged nervous systems. Seniors benefit from Milky Oats, especially if they are experiencing paralysis and wasting diseases. In general, Milky Oats helps the frazzled personality who have become oversensitive to life. Oats are helpful, too, in increasing stamina and helping with overall endurance.

image via @outimarjaana

They relieve tension headaches and melancholic states that might occur before and during menstruation and also help to relieve menopausal symptoms as they are gently balancing to the hormonal system. High in silicon, Milky Oats are strengthening to hair, nails, teeth, and bones when used internally and externally. Deeply healing to the nervous system, Milky Oats help us to experience life through a more pleasurable filter. The herbs are great postpartum, helping support the big life transitions that happen in the fourth trimester. 

Milky Oats can help with digestion as many restorative herbs are, and especially useful when constipation is present, as they are mucilaginous and can help with the passage of stools. Oat meal can help with the regulation of blood sugar as well as assist with digestion and being an overall good choice for folks looking to increase energy.

We’ve been using Milky Oats for a long time in traditional western herbalism and I wanted to share an interesting historical description of their use. Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th century herbalist, writer, composer, and mystic amongst many other things, wrote about Oats in her book on health, Physica. Using the limiting language of the time, Hildegard describes using Oats within a sweat bath for those suffering from mental illness which has brought on feelings of emptiness and a “split mind.” Her advice is:

“But let whoever is worn out with paralysis and as a result has a split mind and empty thoughts, so that the person is somewhat insane, be in a sweat bath when the wheat in the hot water in which it has been cooked is poured over the hot stones. Let them do this often; they will return to themselves and gain sanity.” (Hildegard’s Healing Plants, 7)

Her description aligns with modern understandings of Milky Oats usefulness: it is rebalancing to the nervous system, helps in recovering energy after a period of debilitation, and is a general restorative. Would a sweat bath as Hildegard described it be useful today for supporting someone struggling with nervous exhaustion? Probably - sweat baths used to be much more common in traditional western herbalism and eclectic medicine and I support their re-emergence. A bath of Milky Oat would be useful, too. Use Milky Oats in baths or as part of an herbal oil blend to relieve itchiness (eczema, psoriasis), lessen pain, and strengthen the skin’s elasticity. Neuralgia, rheumatism, eczema, and fibromyalgia are all helped by Milky Oats.

Milky Oats can be prepared in many ways and its mild flavor make it easy to add to most blends. As I look back on my time training and working as an herbalist, it is Milky Oat which has taught me a lot about how one plant can be prepared in a multitude of ways to bring about healing. I don’t use a lot of alcohol-based remedies for myself, but I always make sure to have Milky Oat tincture around because it is so effective in helping to settle the nerves and restore a sense of peace. You can prepare Milky Oat as a standard tea infusion, but it really shines as a decoction, helping to draw out its nourishing qualities. It is great in baths (either as an infusion or grinding up oatmeal). Oatmeal is also a great topical treatment for a variety of skin complaints and I like to combine ground oatmeal with Milky Oat tea to make a healing paste. Homemade oat milk can be wonderfully healing, too. Of course, you can also get a lot of similar benefits of Milky Oat by eating Oats as oatmeal or in other baked goods. Milky Oat is a versatile plant to befriend and I hope you’re feeling inspired to welcome them into your healing practice.

Magickal uses : Milky Oats are not generally associated with the moon, but as a warming nutritive tonic that builds the blood and alleviates nervous exhaustion, I find Milky Oats to have a special affinity for the New Moon. The white milk of fresh green Oat seeds makes me think of magickal Moon milk and the herb helps us to deal with the ever-changing experiences of life, much as we learn when working with the lunar rhythms. As the New Moon calls us to begin a cycle of emergence and to slowly expand our energy after a period of waning contraction, Milky Oats are richly nutritious lending us foundational strength for the work ahead. The generous nutritive qualities of Milky Oats give us a hint to its magickal uses, which are primarily for prosperity and abundance rituals. 

image source

The Oat Personality : The Milky Oat person is exhausted. Completely and utterly. They feel debilitated and lacking in energy, unable to sleep and struggling to wake. It is as if they move through a waking, blurry dream. Unable to focus for long on any one thing, Milky Oat folks struggle to determine their sense of purpose in life. Their energy seems to be flung far and wide with little to harvest in return. Even though they are exhausted they can be excessive in the way that they expend energy and fine themselves prone to regular burnout. Part of the struggle of Milky Oat folks is that they are interested and good at many things, yet fall prey to the idea of having a singular and sudden epiphany of their purpose and calling that they might even over-use drugs in an attempt to access such a “instant breakthrough.” The beauty of Milky Oat folks, though, is that they are good at so many things! Milky Oat medicine will help them learn to embrace the diversity of their passions into an interconnected melody of calling.

Contraindications : Generally regarded as safe. Be cautious with the use of oats if you have a gluten allergy.

Dosage : Standard dosage. Decoction is one of the best ways to enjoy Milky Oats. Decoct 1 tablespoon of oats per 2 cups of water for at least 15 minutes.

🌿

Milky Oat is one of my favorite herbs for eclipse season and during the summer months I like to use Oat milk it to my rainbow lattes. And if you want to explore more about the connections between plants and the Moon, here’s a good place to start.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

In All Our Brightness: Calendula Plant Profile

It feels appropriate that just before Beltane, the start of the summer season in the wheel of the year, I’m writing about a plant with a common name of Summer’s Bride. Calendula is a celebrated in traditional western herbalism as a reliable, inexpensive, and easy to grow plant ally.

For me, the magick of Calendula is in the way that the blossoms seem to chatter amongst each other, encouraging each other to shine brighter, to unfold just a bit further, to scatter seeds wider across the landscape. The plant has a community energy to it and to sit amongst a Calendula plant in bloom is to be privy to a steady energy of encouragement. “Who said you shouldn’t shine so bright?!” Calendula will ask you, shocked. “Better shine brighter then!”

I hope you find a bit of bright inspiration reading about Calendula!

image by author

Calendula
(Calendula officinalis)

Common + Folk Names : Pot marigold, ruggles, holigold, gowan, bull's eye, Mary bud, ringelblume, summer's bride, spousa solis

Element : Fire, Earth

Zodiac Signs : Sagittarius, Leo, Taurus

Planets : Sun, Venus

Moon Phase : Full Moon

Tarot Cards : Temperance (sacredness of balanced incarnation), Judgement (consciousness raising), Four of Wands (celebrations), the Sevens (healing of all wounds). Learn more about the intersections of herbalism and the tarot.

Parts used : Flower

Habitat : Native to Eurasia but found worldwide.

Growing conditions : Full sun and thrives in a variety of soil types. 

Collection : Collect the flowers as they bloom. Deadheading the plant will guarantee flowers for much of the growing season.

Flavor : Bitter, pungent

Temperature : Slightly Cool to Cold. Alternatively, the Greeks classified Calendula as Warm.

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Cold/Depression, Heat/Excitation

Constituents : Iodine, manganese, potassium, saponins, caretonoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, mucilage, bitters, phytosterols, polysaccharides, resin.

Actions : Alterative, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, calmative, choleretic, demulcent, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, immunostimulant, probiotic, vulnerary.

Main Uses : I love Calendula. It's one of the first flowers to bloom on the land I live with and it's endlessly interesting in the variety of colors and shapes a single plant can produce. And Calendula will continue to flower for months if you continue to pick the blooms, being sure, of course, to leave plenty to go to seed so they can pop up again next year.

Calendula is prized as a healer of wounds and herbalist Thomas Bartram recommends its use after any and all surgical procedures. One way that Calendula assists in the healing of skin through promoting the formation of granulation tissues. In addition to its tissue repairing qualities, Calendula protects against infection through the stimulation of white blood cells, protects against E. coli and staph infections. The herb reduces fevers and can be included in herbal baths and teas for feverish children as well as adults. Herbalist and gardener Deb Soule recommends the herb as tincture for measles and chicken pox. It's a good herb to include in post-illness restorative blends especially if the illness was long or someone is recovering from a chronic condition. The plant brings restorative sunlight after a period of damp and unwanted darkness. 

image via @myriamzilles

Use Calendula in helping to clear congestion both from the lymph nodes and from the gut. As a cleansing herb and digestive aid, Calendula helps to eliminate worms and parasites while clearing out accumulations of toxins in the gut. An indication for Calendula is excess heat in the gut which causes gastritis and inflammation. Anne McIntyre points out that Calendula is helpful in reducing excess pitta and kapha from the body - while not a perfect comparison, in TWH we would say that excess heat and inflammation (pitta) combined with damp stagnation (kapha). Some of the signs of damp heat are swollen glands, congestion both digestive and in the upper respiratory system, a feeling of over-fullness, and thirst but not a strong impulse to drink. Another general indication for Calendula for damp heat is yellowishness to the skin, eyes, and in mucous.

Notice how your fingers are sticky after picking Calendula? That's from the plants' rich resin content which is why it is such a prized topical treatment for the skin. Topically the herb is used for wound care in a variety of forms including as an oil, compress, liniment, herbal wash, and hydrosol. It is a well-loved and effective vulnerary, helping skin and tissue to heal after wounding and bruising. Use as a gargle for gingivitis and mouth sores, in nasal washes for sinus infections and nosebleeds, as well as an eyewash for conjunctivitis as well as tired, irritated or scratched eyes. Useful as a compress for eye strain from staring at screens too long. Helpful in clearing up acne.

It is useful in treating varicose veins, leg ulcers and abscesses, ringworm, as well as aiding the skin after exposure to the elements including sun and wind burn and general air pollution. For animal and insect bites, it can be used topically and internally to help prevent infections. Those who are suffering from sore nipples because of nursing can find relief through Calendula compresses followed by application of the herbal oil. Include the herb in sitz baths for hemorrhoid relief and postpartum care. Use as a douche for vaginal infections.

Many herbalists I know, myself included, add the bright petals of Calendula, carefully preserved from spring and summer, into autumn and winter tea blends, The brightness of these petals bring a certain warmth and magick to the tea cup and help to enliven weary spirits who perhaps struggle with the darker half of the year.

One more note on the astrological correspondences of Calendula. You'll usually find Calendula categorized as a herb of Leo given its color and that it is an herb of the Sun, Leo's Guardian Planet. Or it is classified as a Sagittarian herb because of its deep connection with the skin. While there are certainly a number of ways that Calendula embodies Leonine and Sagittarian energies, I also use it as a Taurean and Venusian herb. As already discussed, within Traditional Western Herbalism it is primarily used for topical skin complaints (especially wound care), general inflammation, and as a digestive aid, all of which are associated with Venus' healing powers. The plant self-seeds, grows abundantly and is beautiful and cheering to see, qualities found amongst Taurean and Venusian plants. So I use Calendula for Leo to help balance their leonine energies and effectively direct solar power, as well as a Taurean plant and Venusian ally.

Magickal Uses : Calendula makes it appearances on altars from India to Mexico and is a beautiful plant of offering and devotion. Scott Cunningham recommends picking the flowers in the middle of the day under bright sunlight to create charms to strengthen and gladden the heart. St. Albertus Magnus has further recommendations for the gathering of Calendula including picking it in August when the Sun is in Leo while wearing a crown of Bay leaves and then adding a tooth of a wolf to what you've gathered to create a charm where only peaceful words will be spoken to and about you. These days just a Bay leaf with Calendula petals and perhaps the photo or drawing of a wolf would suffice in making a similar charm.

In more ways than one the plant is protective and garlands can be hung throughout the home to keep out unwanted energies and spirits. Use the plant in incense and infusions to help you find a thief and to locate your stolen goods. Add the petals to dream bundles to aid you in your night visions and psychic dreaming. Cunningham describes a curious tradition whereby if a girl walks barefoot on Calendula she'll be able to understand the language of birds - useful for witchfolk and those with avian familiars.

image via @yoksel

The Calendula Personality : Admittedly, it was a bit hard to try and succinctly sum up the Calendula personality. The plant and its accompanying spirit have a wide light cast with ease and abundance - it reminds me of Mustard Flower Essence but with more diffusion and broader application. It's a great essence for most folks and you really feel that when sitting amongst a wild spreading bush of Calendula blooms. As I continued to sit with Calendula one message that came through was that they were an essence that helped folks who have been told that they are a bit much - whether repeatedly since they were a child or situationally such as women frequently being dismissed as "a bit much" by male colleagues. Leonine energies of the essence can help support us in the work of confronting microaggressions brought on by misogyny, racism, homophobia, etc. Calendula helps us to take up space instead of bending ourselves into that were never big enough to hold us.

Calendula also offers lessons in learning to live with the abundance of self-expression for those who live with greater intensity than the general population. It helps folks to learn moderation when necessary but more importantly the essences helps folks to open back up to the warmth and light of close relationships after being shut-down by their peers for being "too much." Calendula helps us to make wise decisions on who we relate to through accepting the beauty of our intensity and sensitivity and finding others who are ready to do the same.

Contraindications : Generally regarded as safe, but avoid during pregnancy because of emmenagogue qualities.

Drug interactions : None known. Caution with sedatives and insulin/hypoglycaemic medications.

Dosage : Dry before tincture for a more potent extract. Standard dosage.

Bright Calendula is a plant that I carefully preserve for my winter apothecary and it’s been making an appearance in my winter solstice recipes for years and years. For other summer inspired magick, here’s my guide to weeds and witchcraft of the hottest season. Calendula is part of The Plant Ally Library where you can find all of my plant ally profiles from all of my courses in one easy to access and download space.

Calendula is a great herb for herbal baths and is an all around friendly and easy to grow herb to get to know. I hope you find yourself amongst their blooms one of these days.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

Restoring Joy: Lemon Balm Plant Profile

One of the first herbs to emerge in my garden in the early spring is Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). It’s an herb that is usually introduced early in the education of a traditional western herbalist because it is not only versatile in its use, it is pleasant in its taste, and has very few contraindications. It’s a prized plant in the collection of remedies for children - gentle, effective, and a plant that little ones can learn to harvest from a young age. I’ve loved Lemon Balm a good long while for they are easy to love and love generously in return.

Along with Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), I think they are a plant of our times, helping us to navigate the rapidly changing world of social engagement and technology without losing our connection to the collective soul. Lemon Balm helps us to resonate within ourselves and in the world around us, leading us back into community through our healing. And when we arrive back home, sweet Lemon Balm is there, shining our joy right back at us.

image source

Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis

Folk Names:  Balm, Bee Balm, Dropsy Plant, Heart’s Delight, Melissa

Element : Water

Moon Phase: Full Moon

Zodiac Signs : Carries the energy of Cancer, Libra, and Pisces. A remedy for Aries, Leo, Virgo, and Aquarius.

Planets : Jupiter, Mercury, Venus

Tarot Cards: The Chariot (focus), The Wheel of Fortune (adaptation), 5 of Cups (to uplift the spirit), 10 of Wands (burnout). Learn more about the intersections of herbalism and the tarot.

Parts used : Aerial parts

Habitat : Native of southern Europe, but widely cultivated.

Growing conditions : Full sun to partial shade with moderate watering and well-drained soil. 

Collection : Collect leaves and flowers throughout spring and summer.

Flavor : Sour

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Heat, Damp/Stagnation

Constituents : Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, essential oils, polyphenolics, resin, flavonoids, succinic acid

Actions : Antibacterial, antidepressant, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antiviral, aromatic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hepatic, nervine, sedative, digestive, vasodilator

Medicinal uses : Paracelsus, an alchemist and astrologer, prized Lemon Balm as a remedy that was said to be capable of restoring life. Within traditional western herbalism, Lemon Balm is most often used to lift the spirits, invigorate stagnate body systems, nourish the nervous system, and improve overall vitality. English herbalist, Thomas Bartram, notes that Lemon Balm is used “[t]o strengthen the brain in its resistance to shock and stress” as well as its effectiveness in “protect[ing] the cerebrum of the brain” and treating “autonomic disorders - an action similar to modern tranquilisers… usually combined with Peppermint.” (1) Acting on the limbic system of the brain (instinct and mood), the herb is gently sedating and useful for hyperactivity, tension, and nervousness.

In my experience, Lemon Balm has been one of the most reliable herbs when it comes to not only helping to alleviate stress but to restore joy. An extended practice of drinking Lemon Balm tea over the period of a few months can help to support our ability to heal after traumatic events but also the accumulation of stress over the years. But it is also good for times of transition which is why it is an herb that I frequently recommend in the postpartum period which can test our ability to hold joy amongst lack of sleep, changing hormones, big life adjustments, and the general stresses that life with a newborn can bring. In general, I find that Lemon Balm helps us to walk that line between the things which stress us out and bring us joy. It’s a good herb for those dealing with general social anxiety, for example, where there is a need for connection but sometimes difficulty in showing up in community spaces.

Lemon Balm helps alleviate colds and the ‘flu as well as recovery from debilitating illness. It’s a great herb for feverish children - consider combining with Elder flower and berry (Sambucus nigra), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), and Peppermint (Mentha piperita). Alternatively, use as a bath for those children who are resistant to taking tea. The hot tea is antiviral and can be drunk internally or used externally on cases of herpes simplex lesions.

As a carminative herb, Lemon Balm is excellent in cases of spasms along the digestive tract, relieving flatulence and indigestion. As it is tied to uplifting the spirits and relieving anxiety, the herb is well used in cases of “nervous stomach” where an upset stomach is caused by tension, depression, and stress. Headaches, migraines, insomnia, and other anxiety-induced symptoms are soothed by Lemon Balm. A great herb for children, Lemon Balm can be drunk as a tea before bed to alleviate nightmares and is good for those children who are prone to anxiety about school, exams, and general performance. In cases of hyperthyroidism, Lemon Balm has shown to have hormone-regulating effects that help to rebalance thyroid function. Anne McIntyre notes that Lemon Balm is used in Carmelite water for heart complaints which combines Lemon Balm and Lemon peel with nutmeg and angelica root as “a useful remedy when nervousness, agitation or depression cause heart pains, palpitations or an irregular heartbeat.” (2)

The sour taste of Lemon Balm helps to awaken the energies of the liver, helping us to process the sluggish and slower energies of winter (or wintering/stagnant states of the body regardless of the time of year) bring the energy of spring into our bodies. Sour tastes in herbs often let us know that vitamin C and other nutrients are present and usually indicate astringent qualities to a plant helping to tonify the body system it works on.

I love taking a bath infused with the hot tea of fresh Lemon Balm leaves and flowers. The plant has an energy that is similar to a soft caress, helping us to quiet our busy minds and be guided by our own healing. I suggest Lemon Balm to many who are in the healing fields, as well as empaths and highly sensitive people, since I find that it helps to open us up as conduits of healing energy without burning out from always trying to assist others and end up overextending ourselves. The herb is grounding without being overbearing which can be especially useful with Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) who respond best to grounding energy that allows them to still float gently in their energetic currents.

Topically, Lemon Balm can be used as an oil or liniment for its antihistamine properties. It’s a great plant to add to herbal steams to clear up congestion and relaxing spasmodic coughs. Use in mouthwashes for ulcers, gum infections, and general toothache. Combine with Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Garlic herbal oil for ear infections.

image source

Magickal uses : The powers of Lemon Balm are of the ancient Bee Priestesses of Greece from which the herb gets its Latin binomial Melissa. The Melissae or “bees” were Priestesses of the Goddess Demeter, at other times said to be of Venus, and Melissa was also another name for the Moon Goddess Artemis. Bees are messengers of the Goddesss and so Lemon Balm imparts a certain quality of peaceful wisdom to those who ingest it. As an herb sacred to the Goddess and her Priestesses, it is an excellent addition to charms of loving, healthy relationships between friends, family, covenmates, and lovers. An excellent addition to baths, Lemon Balm fills the bather with amorous energy that can be applied to any number of goals.

The Lemon Balm Personality : The Lemon Balm person tends to be nervous and on edge. Panic attacks are a familiar experience and sometimes seems to be a primary way of engaging any stressful change in their life. Such constant state of worry and stress can lead to mental fatigue and burnout. Lemon Balm folks are often the helpers and givers in their relationships - they not only worry for themselves but they worry about everyone else, too. This brings about a state of spiritual restriction and emotional tension that often leads to debilitating burnout if not tended to preventatively. Lemon Balm folks need a release valve and the plant helps to reconnect the heart to the head, and deliver messages of calm when all seems topsy-turvy. One of the most healing works that Lemon Balm folks can take is finding a way back into community, learning how to be seen and held by others, adding their song to the buzz of those who love them.

Contraindications : May interfere with thyroid medications.

Dosage : Standard dosage. 1 – 30 drops 1:5 extract up to three times daily. 2 -3 teaspoons dried herb or 4 -6 grams fresh herb per 1 cup water.

image via @phillip_larking

Recipes

Spring + Summer Magick Herbal Tea

A simple tea to help you transition into the magick of the warmer seasons. Cooling, calming, and heart-supporting. Blend together the following herbs:

• 2 parts Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• 1 part Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• 1/4 part Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

This recipe can also be adapted into a tincture or herbal honey. Make into an herbal oil for a soothing topical treatment for bumps, bruises and sore muscles.

Dream Pillow

Make a dream pillow with blue fabric and the dried leaves and flowers of Lemon Balm at the Full Moon, charging it overnight under the Full Moon’s light. Place it under your pillow or bed to encourage divine dreaming and communication.

Lemon Balm Honey

Infuse raw honey with fresh Lemon Balm leaves and flowers to create a deliciously cool syrup for sore throats, fevers, and to aid recovery from illness.

I hope that you’re finding time to dwell in gardens during this season of Aries - whether it’s the unfolding season of spring in the northern hemisphere or the slow inward journey of fall in the southern hemisphere.

My Lemon Balm profile is available to download from The Plant Ally Library where you can access all of my plant profiles. If you want to learn more about Lemon Balm, they’re an ally I turn to during fire season, for community care, and they’re a wonderful friend for empaths and highly sensitive people.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

 (1) Bartram, Thomas. Bartram's Enyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Robinson, 1998. 48.

(2) McIntyre, Anne. Flower Power: Flower Remedies for Healing Body and Soul through Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Flower Essences. Holt, 1996. 158.