After last week's herbal post, people should have a good idea about the origins of the use of conifers as a ceremonial decoration around the winter holidays. Hopefully, there has also been some understanding created around how and why conifers can be powerful medicines. I'd like to expand upon that idea this week by looking at Western Red Cedar.
David Crow, author, herbalist, visionary, and grassroots community organizer has done a lot of work around the use of aromatic medicines especially those from trees (Check out his websites floracopeia.com and medicinecrow.com and his book In Search of the Medicine Buddha). It was from David that I first heard an excellent explanation for why the scents of conifer trees are so potent. Conifers actually use their scents, and especially their aromatic resins, as their own form of medicine. This medicine actually functions as their immune system to protect them from insect, pests, and diseases. Hence, the similar use by humans.
A fascinating side effect of these potent aromatic compounds is that they have powerful effects on our emotions, our mind, and our spirit. In fact, in many cultures aromatic conifers are burned to ward off negative emotions, energies, and even negative spirits. Examples of this include Junipers, True Cedars, Cypresses, Spruces, and the trees which produce Frankincense and Myrrh.
In the Pacific Northwest Bioregion known as Cascadia where I make my home, without a doubt Western Red Cedar takes on this role as a spiritually powerful medicine. It is both a medicine in the conventional sense and a medicine in the way that I have been describing in other parts of this blog. Let's take a closer look:
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar, Thuja Plicata, is a common coniferous tree of the Pacific Northwest that has played a profound cultural and practical role in the lives of indigenous people of the Northwest for a very long time. Note: Western Red Cedar is not a true Cedar, but is rather a part of the cypress family.
Description and Appearance:
Western Red Cedar has very fibrous deep red-brown bark. It's needle are scaly and long and are not in bundle as you will find on Pines and are not individual like you will find on Firs and Spruces. Rather, they grow in a fine branching pattern at the end of woody branches. The needles are light green and potently aromatic, especially if crushed. Cones are very small and not common. Branches also grow in distinctive drooping "U" or "J" shapes.
Uses:
1)Needles-Very Potent Aromatic Smudge for Spiritual Purification
While this doesn't fall into your typical "medicinal use", I think that Cedar's highest value may be it's use as a spiritual Medicine rather than as a medicine for colds and flus. Cedar needles can be burned over coals and the smoke can then be inhaled and also wafted close to the body from head to toe. This has a very powerful effect of dispersing negative emotions and energies. Taking the smoking needles and wafting the smoke throughout a room can have the same effect on the space you are in and remove the effect of invisible negative forces.
The herb doesn't have to be burned to activate this part of it's medicine. Cedar needles or "fronds" can simply be rubbed on the body and gently discarded. Or, you can even allow yourself to be gently brushed by the needles of a live cedar tree by walking near or around it.
When collecting the needles it may be best to look for green needles that have fallen or been blown down. When needles turn brown they start to loose some of this potency.
2)Live Tree-Very Potent Spiritual Power and Dispeller of Negative Energies
Again this doesn't exactly fall into the conventional category of medicine, but in the world of Wild Medicine the healing power of a living tree is definitely recognized. Western Red Cedars are so powerful spiritually and energetically, simply touching one can give you a very powerful energy boost and also provide a spiritual smudge in the same way that the needles do as described above. Being in a grove of Old Growth Cedars may be one of the most powerful healing places people can actually experience. Also, if you have deep and old emotional wounds simply sitting against a Western Red Cedar tree on a daily basis can be extremely healing. You can also express and let go of grief, anger, sadness, and other emotions verbally at or near a cedar. They can definitely take it. Regularly touching and spending time with Western Red Cedars will start to act as a regular emotional purifier and spiritual buffer such that you may find that you need to smudge less often and actually function as a smudge more yourself.
I am consistently flabbergasted at the number of 50, 100, or even 150 year cedar trees that are still cut down. To me this is like killing our spiritual elders.
3)Needle Tea-
Boiling WRC needles for 20 minutes or so creates a tea that can be used to treat colds, respiratory infections, and even early stage urinary tract infections. It is definitely diuretic and should not be drank frequently as there are compounds in the tea that can irritate the kidneys. When acutely sick with the above, the tea can be drunk for a few days to help clear away the illness. The notion of drinking the tea daily or using a needle tincture every day as an immune system booster strikes me as careless and dangerous to one's kidneys.
4)Ethnobotanical Uses of Bark and Wood
It is important to note that WRC can be made into a variety of items that are very useful to survive in the damp, cold climate of the Northwest. Cloths were made from Cedar bark. Longhouses and canoes were made from Cedar wood, and Cedar was used as a bow-drill or hand-drill wood to create fires. The ethnobotanical uses of the bark and wood are almost endless. There are many good resources available on this topic. One last note, in some traditions WRC was not burned as a firewood due to its importance for so many other uses and due to its sacred qualities.
Showing posts with label Wild. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wild. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
What do we mean by Barefoot Doctor?
A decade or so ago, Japanese health practitioners began noticing an odd series of symptoms in patients. These included fatigue, stiff neck, anxiety, chronic pain, and weak immune systems. What was particularly odd about the patients with these symptoms was that they were all from urban areas. There were many ideas developed about the cause of these symptoms, but ironically one of the best cures for this "disease" was spending time in the countryside walking barefoot (this story is documented in Kiiko Matsumoto's book The Eight Extraordinary Meridians). What these traditional doctors had discovered was that cities were literally making these people sick.
While these Japanese doctors did end up developing an acupuncture treatment protocol to help patients who didn't have the freedom or luxury to head to the countryside frequently, to me the more important point is that Cities were making people sick...and the best treatment was to spend some time barefoot.
In the history of medicine, in pre-modern times, there is often the assumption that people suffered greatly and died in vast quantities at the slightest illness or infection. This story reinforces the power of our modern medical system and the story of the inadequacy of traditional medicines. What most people don't realize is that historically, in most cultures there were health practitioners with local plant remedies that could treat many common illnesses. Were these remedies as powerful as modern antibiotics? Definitely not. But many of them could be just as effective, if not more so and without all of the side effects that we are now seeing from the large scale use of antibiotics for decades. Were the traditional medicines able to treat very severe trauma the way a modern ER unit could? No way. But these traditional practitioners had very powerful treatments for even serious conditions such as broken bones and internal traumas (there's a whole branch of Chinese Medicine devoted to this called Die Da medicine).
Who were these practitioners of these older medical traditions? The wise or cunning women and men of ancient Europe, the Medicine men and women of North and South America, and the traditional doctors Asia are just a few. These "barefoot doctors" of antiquity wandered around dispensing remedies from their medicine bags treating people in their local areas. Most of their medicines were made from local ingredients, with perhaps a few exotic ingredients being traded for. Perhaps when they went to gather their medicines they would perform ceremonies, sing songs, or chant mantras before harvesting plants in a sacred manner. Imagine the power of someone so connected to the Earth and Place and People and the kinds of medicine they could dispense. Contrast that with people being made sick by living in cities.
This is what we mean by a Barefoot Doctor...this is one of the medicines that we as a people need now. And, it may simply be the future of medicine in our life time or our children's life time.
Assignment: Spend some time barefoot these week. Feel the connection between the "bubbling spring" acupuncture point (just below the ball of the foot) and the deep primal energy or chi of the earth. How do you feel when there is rubber or plastic between you and the ground? How do you feel when that is removed?
While these Japanese doctors did end up developing an acupuncture treatment protocol to help patients who didn't have the freedom or luxury to head to the countryside frequently, to me the more important point is that Cities were making people sick...and the best treatment was to spend some time barefoot.
In the history of medicine, in pre-modern times, there is often the assumption that people suffered greatly and died in vast quantities at the slightest illness or infection. This story reinforces the power of our modern medical system and the story of the inadequacy of traditional medicines. What most people don't realize is that historically, in most cultures there were health practitioners with local plant remedies that could treat many common illnesses. Were these remedies as powerful as modern antibiotics? Definitely not. But many of them could be just as effective, if not more so and without all of the side effects that we are now seeing from the large scale use of antibiotics for decades. Were the traditional medicines able to treat very severe trauma the way a modern ER unit could? No way. But these traditional practitioners had very powerful treatments for even serious conditions such as broken bones and internal traumas (there's a whole branch of Chinese Medicine devoted to this called Die Da medicine).
Who were these practitioners of these older medical traditions? The wise or cunning women and men of ancient Europe, the Medicine men and women of North and South America, and the traditional doctors Asia are just a few. These "barefoot doctors" of antiquity wandered around dispensing remedies from their medicine bags treating people in their local areas. Most of their medicines were made from local ingredients, with perhaps a few exotic ingredients being traded for. Perhaps when they went to gather their medicines they would perform ceremonies, sing songs, or chant mantras before harvesting plants in a sacred manner. Imagine the power of someone so connected to the Earth and Place and People and the kinds of medicine they could dispense. Contrast that with people being made sick by living in cities.
This is what we mean by a Barefoot Doctor...this is one of the medicines that we as a people need now. And, it may simply be the future of medicine in our life time or our children's life time.
Assignment: Spend some time barefoot these week. Feel the connection between the "bubbling spring" acupuncture point (just below the ball of the foot) and the deep primal energy or chi of the earth. How do you feel when there is rubber or plastic between you and the ground? How do you feel when that is removed?
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Herb of the Week: Yarrow
As part of this blog and part of the larger message of rewilding, freedom, wild medicine, and deepening our relationship with nature and our body, each week I will post an herbal profile. This profile will focus on a different plant each time and will provide clear instructions on how to use the plant as a medicine, food, ally, friend, and partner. Along the way, different examples will provide the opportunity to delve into the myriad ways of using and relating to plants. To start off, we will begin with a plant that may be the single most useful wild green ally you can find and a plant that might save your life some day.
Yarrow, friend of Achilles
Yarrow, also known as Achillea millefolium, is one of the most widespread useful wild plants in the world. It is common in most of the Northern Hemisphere, and has been used by a wide variety of cultures since ancient times. It's name is linked to legends of Achilles, from Greek times, and it was reputed to be part of this warrior's legendary near invulnerability. While we shall soon discuss how useful yarrow is for wounds and how it could save your life, it is actually Yarrow's diversity of uses that makes it so special.
Description and Appearance:
Yarrow is a low growing herbaceous plant that has extremely lacey leaves, hence the second part of it's latin name millefolium, which means millions of leaves. It produces a single flower stalk that has many, many small white or pink, flat flowers that grow clustered together. It is very important to be able to distinguish Yarrow from members of the carrot family. Several members of this family are poisonous including the various poison hemlocks.
Uses:
1) Stops Bleeding- Far and away the most useful aspect of this plant is that it can be used topically to stop bleeding. It may be the single most powerful natural substance at stopping bleeding, and if it's not, it is definitely the most powerful common plant that can be used to stop bleeding. To use the plant this way simply apply crushed leaves to a bleeding wound to quickly stop the bleeding.
It is important to thoroughly clean a wound before using Yarrow, since it stops bleeding so powerfully that it can cause dirt or germs to be trapped inside a cut.
The leaves can also be dried and saved for future use. The dried leaves work almost as well as fresh leaves, though they may need to be chewed or macerated before being applied. Dried leaves can also be ground into a very fine wound powder.
2) Causes sweating, treats fevers and colds- Dried or fresh Yarrow can be made into a quick tea by steeping the leaves in water that has been boiled. Drinking the tea after fifteen or more minutes will cause the body to sweat. This is useful in treating fevers and early stages of cold, especially those characterized by aversion to cold, body aches, nasal symptoms, and a scratchy, itchy throat. Some Native tribes of North America used Yarrow as a drink before entering the sweat lodge as an aid to the detoxifying process of the sweat.
3) A Key to Divination- A completely different use of Yarrow involves the collection of it's dried stalks. Dried Yarrow stalks were cast in a bundle and then picked up in a variety of ways as one of the older forms of I Ching divination. While other methods such as burning of bones or turtle shells were also ancient techniques, the tossing of Yarrow stalks is a tradition that is alive and well in some parts of Asia today.
When developing relationships with plants and beginning to find allies in the green world it helps to have friends that can help you with a variety of issues. Yarrow with it's ability to powerfully stop bleeding, help treat fevers and colds, and be helpful as a tool of divination is a rare treat. Get to know it!
Yarrow, friend of Achilles
Yarrow, also known as Achillea millefolium, is one of the most widespread useful wild plants in the world. It is common in most of the Northern Hemisphere, and has been used by a wide variety of cultures since ancient times. It's name is linked to legends of Achilles, from Greek times, and it was reputed to be part of this warrior's legendary near invulnerability. While we shall soon discuss how useful yarrow is for wounds and how it could save your life, it is actually Yarrow's diversity of uses that makes it so special.
Description and Appearance:
Yarrow is a low growing herbaceous plant that has extremely lacey leaves, hence the second part of it's latin name millefolium, which means millions of leaves. It produces a single flower stalk that has many, many small white or pink, flat flowers that grow clustered together. It is very important to be able to distinguish Yarrow from members of the carrot family. Several members of this family are poisonous including the various poison hemlocks.
Uses:
1) Stops Bleeding- Far and away the most useful aspect of this plant is that it can be used topically to stop bleeding. It may be the single most powerful natural substance at stopping bleeding, and if it's not, it is definitely the most powerful common plant that can be used to stop bleeding. To use the plant this way simply apply crushed leaves to a bleeding wound to quickly stop the bleeding.
It is important to thoroughly clean a wound before using Yarrow, since it stops bleeding so powerfully that it can cause dirt or germs to be trapped inside a cut.
The leaves can also be dried and saved for future use. The dried leaves work almost as well as fresh leaves, though they may need to be chewed or macerated before being applied. Dried leaves can also be ground into a very fine wound powder.
2) Causes sweating, treats fevers and colds- Dried or fresh Yarrow can be made into a quick tea by steeping the leaves in water that has been boiled. Drinking the tea after fifteen or more minutes will cause the body to sweat. This is useful in treating fevers and early stages of cold, especially those characterized by aversion to cold, body aches, nasal symptoms, and a scratchy, itchy throat. Some Native tribes of North America used Yarrow as a drink before entering the sweat lodge as an aid to the detoxifying process of the sweat.
3) A Key to Divination- A completely different use of Yarrow involves the collection of it's dried stalks. Dried Yarrow stalks were cast in a bundle and then picked up in a variety of ways as one of the older forms of I Ching divination. While other methods such as burning of bones or turtle shells were also ancient techniques, the tossing of Yarrow stalks is a tradition that is alive and well in some parts of Asia today.
When developing relationships with plants and beginning to find allies in the green world it helps to have friends that can help you with a variety of issues. Yarrow with it's ability to powerfully stop bleeding, help treat fevers and colds, and be helpful as a tool of divination is a rare treat. Get to know it!
Friday, November 26, 2010
What do we mean by Wild Medicine?
As we struggle to negotiate the ever more challenging and complicated aspects of modern life, occasionally we discover that the antidotes to the poisons that plague us may be found in the wild. Maybe, we are overwhelmed by industrial pollution and are being labeled as having "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity". Or, we are faced with the common plague of Depression/Melancholy/Malaise that the grind of a 50-hour work week produces and which alcohol and "Dancing with the Stars" cannot cure.
Strangely enough, no matter what our "situation" often the best cures are found in wild places around us. The fresh air provided by the density of a forest, the soothing rush of the river, and the feeling of soft loam beneath our bare feet are all medicines of the highest magnitude. Our wild place may be a cedar tree at the corner park or a desert wash in our backyard or the view of the mountains in the distance. Maybe it is simply the empty lot in which "weeds" are fighting back against the oppression of concrete and broken glass. Whatever our wild place may be, it can be a threshold, a sacred place in which begin our process of reawakening our wild, vital self. Soon, we may find ourselves keeping odd hours, ducking out at lunch time to watch the birds, and pausing to really feel the wind brushing against our skin.
This is the beginning. In our future plants become friends and allies. Animals become teacher and mentors. The sun and moon become the only true clock. We are on the edge of true freedom. This is the journey towards wild medicine.
Strangely enough, no matter what our "situation" often the best cures are found in wild places around us. The fresh air provided by the density of a forest, the soothing rush of the river, and the feeling of soft loam beneath our bare feet are all medicines of the highest magnitude. Our wild place may be a cedar tree at the corner park or a desert wash in our backyard or the view of the mountains in the distance. Maybe it is simply the empty lot in which "weeds" are fighting back against the oppression of concrete and broken glass. Whatever our wild place may be, it can be a threshold, a sacred place in which begin our process of reawakening our wild, vital self. Soon, we may find ourselves keeping odd hours, ducking out at lunch time to watch the birds, and pausing to really feel the wind brushing against our skin.
This is the beginning. In our future plants become friends and allies. Animals become teacher and mentors. The sun and moon become the only true clock. We are on the edge of true freedom. This is the journey towards wild medicine.
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