Matching an herb to an ailment? Here's a better way to go.

Just a comment about using a certain herb for a certain ailment. I know that's how 90% of people using herbs look at it: that you match an herb to an ailment. So if that's right, how come when one person takes an herb for a certain problem its fixes it? Then another person decides, hey, that worked for them, I have the same ailment, I'll take that herb. For them, it doesn't work. So now the person either decides that herbs don't work, or that herb herbs doesn't work.

What is missing here is the 3rd element in herbalism, which is the main focus of my herbal course. You have to take into account a person's energetics or constitution.

Lets say a person takes Cottonwood tincture & it relieves their aches & pains. Cottonwood is suited to those who have tense muscles & nerves, dry crackly joints, and who are 'cold' constitutionally. So for those people it will help relieve their pain.

For people who are overheated & have a lot of moisture in their bodies, it is not the herb of choice.

The other aspect I address in my herb course is the ROOT CAUSE. In the above example of pain again. Its fine to take an herb to relieve your pain. But WHY do you have pain in the first place? Is it acidity in the body from poor food choices? If so, taking an herb to relieve the pain is only addressing the symptoms, you need to address the root cause & look at your nutrition.

So, when choosing herbs, (and our food) we need to look at more than just matching an herb & ailment. When you find the right herb, you often just need to use a couple drops of the tincture (so your tinctures last waaaay longer than if you are taking a dropperful several times a day). And when you address the underlying cause such as nutrition you are going to have long last results.

HERBS IN MY YARD FROM EARLY JULY

Foxgloves just opening

Yellow Dock in bloom

Fireweed, I've been using this for people who need extra stomach enzymes, and have
boggy damp tissues.

Feverfew

Mullein, this plant has huge leaves, and is just going into bloom

Mullein bloom

Motherwort just coming into bloom. Bees loves these blooms. I love the plant for its calming effects

Feverfew blooms

Soapwort. You can boil this plant in water & use the water to wash clothing

Pineapple Weed

Plantain bloom

Broad leaf & lance leafed plantain together

chickweed !

Raw (not too sweet) chocolate cookies

soaked chia & guar gum, mix with water until thick
add: a bit of maple syrup, sesame seeds,dry coconut, sunflower seeds, dark cacoa powder.

Roll in coconut & then dehydrate a few hours.

dip in chocolate: honey, coconut oil & cocoa powder melted.

RAW YAM CHIPS

How to make RAW Yam chips:

I thinly sliced a yam on the mandolin

Placed the pieces on the food dehydrator tray

Sprinkled them with a bit of Herbamare & some nutritional yeast

I let the slices sit for a while, the salt draws out some moisture
which them makes the yeast stick to the yam slices.

Dehyrate all day & keep pulling the tray out & snacking on them!

The trick with the yam chips in humid weather is to eat them right
away. I turn the dehydrator off overnight & they are not crispy any
more, so I turn it back on the next day & eat them right from the tray.

2012 Distance Learning Herbalist Course

This year's Herbalist Course is going to be distance learning, self paced. It begins in early Oct, so I need to know very soon if you are interested in taking it.

My website has full info www.dragonflyherbals.com

Eagle in my yard

These were taken through the window, so there's a bit of a reflection. We get lots of bald eagles

in the yard at this time of year. Such amazing birds.

Hummingbirds & Buddha

These were all taken in my yard  in late April

Rufous Hummingbird

Cherry tree blossoms

Goddess

Hummingbirds & Buddha