|
 Herb
Lore: (Herbalism).
Hippocrates - " Let food be thy medicine and
medicine be thy food�
For the purpose of this article, herbs
are loosely referred to as the category of edible plants which can also
be used for Medicinal, Spiritual or Magical purposes.
It seems
that on every part of
the globe where humans have lived, there has developed a body of
herbal knowledge, something which has led to a special
relationship developing between herbs and people. The foundation
for this relationship is the fact that apart from herbs being
acknowledged for their nutritional value, there has been a
longstanding recognition that they also possess a variety of
curative properties, being amongst the most
important tools used by Shamen, Medicine men, Witch doctors, and
healers in general the world over. Indeed, the World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the population
of some Asian and African countries presently use herbal
medicine for some aspect of primary health care.
(15)
In addition to their culinary and Medicinal
uses, certain herbs have also adopted a reputation for having spiritual
and magical qualities. This tradition can be traced back in
various forms through the traditions and practices of Shamanism,
Witchcraft, and the Ayervedic system of the east. Their
importance in the 'journey within' is not just a symbolic one as
apart from having recognised cleansing qualities on the human
body, several herbs are known to be mind-altering, producing a
range of altered states, including hallucinations. It has been
proposed by several authors that experiencing such
altered-states, may have played a substantial role in the
development of the primitive human imagination. The role of
herbs in the religious/spiritual journey is still widely visible
today in the act of incensing (smudging), an almost
insignificant tradition which prevails in all the major
religions, yet one with roots to the dawn of human
consciousness.
Sadly, the
arguments in favour of natural herbal medicines are becoming
blurred today. As we gradually lose touch with the intimate
knowledge and philosophy underpinning the use of herbs by our
ancestors, the benefits of herbalism have become replaced by the
price, availability, controlled dosage and regulation of
ingredients in manufactured drugs. In addition, the use of herbs
in an internal (spiritual) capacity is generally frowned upon,
even illegal in many cases, effectively 'emasculating' the
ancient art of herbalism.
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The
History of Herbalism: |
It is perhaps first worth noting that there are numerous examples
in the literature regarding other animals known to use a variety of plants and minerals
'medicinally' in nature, and it is a reasonable inference that humans always
shared a similar
basic relationship with the minerals and plants around them. Observations of the comparative health of animals
in captivity and in the wild suggest that wild animals are able to do
things to keep themselves healthy that captive animals cannot
(13).
In 1632, a European doctor visiting Peru, observed a Puma with a fever
chewing the bark of the Chinchona tree. Two hundred years later, Louis
Pasteur discovered that the bark contained Quinine, a natural compound with
antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties. There are several reports in the
literature of mammals that are commonly known to eating
indigestible plants and grasses in order to relieve them from internal parasites.
Article: The Economist.
2002.
'Chimpanzees
suffering from intestinal worms in Tanzania dose themselves with the
pith of a plant called Veronia. This plant produces
poisonous chemicals called terpenes. Its pith contains a strong enough
concentration to kill gut parasites, but not so strong as to kill chimps
(nor people, for that matter; locals use the pith for the same
purpose)'. (13)
In recognition to
the first pioneering experimental herbalists, and to all those who passed on
the great lore of herbs across time it must be said that many herbs are toxic, and will kill a
person as soon as heal them. For example, Foxglove contains the compound
Digitalis, which is commonly used in heart conditions, but the prescribed
dosage is close to the lethal dosage. The accumulation of such information
into a workable art would have required much testing and tasting, leading to
much upset along the way, and the continuous transfer of knowledge from one
generation to another over such a long distances of time is a similarly
remarkable feat. Regardless of any modern arguments against herbal medicine,
the 85%
of traditional medicine
involving the use of
plant extracts (18)
is a direct result of our
ancestors relationship with herbs.
The deliberate use of herbs by humans can
be traced back at least 50, 000 years. Researchers from different countries
did a
morphological analysis of plant microfossils to identify material trapped in
dental calculus from five Neanderthals from the north Spanish site of El Sidr�n.
Discovered in 1994, El Sidr�n contained around 2,000 skeletal remains of at
least 13 individuals dating back c. 50,000 BP. It seems that the new data
substantiate earlier assumptions about the use of medicinal plants by
Neanderthals. �The varied use of plants we identified suggests that the
Neanderthal occupants of El Sidr�n had a sophisticated knowledge of their
natural surroundings which included the ability to select and use certain plants
for their nutritional value and for self-medication". The presence of chamazulene in the sample is notable since the compound occurs in yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and in
camomile (Matricaria chamomilla). These herbs, widely used in
self-medication in preindustrial Europe have moderate antioxidant and
antimicrobial activities, and a significant anti-platelet activity in vitro.(5)
Article:
Neanderthals Self Medicated: National Geographic (July, 2012)
Although there isn't
enough archaeological evidence to prove that all Palaeolithic people were
commonly aware of the medicinal properties of herbs, our
presence today suggests they were, and there is
little doubt that our Palaeolithic ancestors were at least
extremely familiar with
the edible plants which grew around them. It is now
said that the 'Hallmark' of the Palaeolithic diet is the 'Huge
number of diversity of plants in their diet',
(8)
with estimates of
20 to 25 different vegetables a day being commonplace. Something which at least leaves little doubt as to their
culinary knowledge. The specific details of the origins of the
application of herbs as medicinal plants is of course lost to us, but there
is no doubt that it has been occurring for a great length of
time and in every corner of the world as the following examples
demonstrate:
Discoveries on the Isle of Coll in
Scotland have led to suggestions of Mesolithic deliberate use of
herbs (either for culinary or medicinal use), through the
discovery of 'charred tubers and 'bulbils' (small
swellings at the intersection of the stem and leaves) of lesser
celandine, a member of the buttercup family (Rannunculus
ficaria). The frequency of the lesser celandine suggests
that this plant had been deliberately gathered rather than
entering the deposit accidentally'.
(9)
Starr Carr in Scotland was used though the Mesolithic era for
over a thousand years. Studies of the flora there have shown us
that the inhabitants had a sophisticated knowledge of the uses
of the plant-life surrounding them.
(10)
Amongst the discoveries were several plants which are recognised
today as classic examples of herbs, being both edible and
medicinal including the following:
Hemp nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit)
medicinal uses but poisonous,
Yellow water lily (nuphar lutea)
food (after boiling) some medicinal
uses, Red leg (Polygonum persicaria)
medicine (stomach) yellow dye,
Dock (Rumex sp.) food and
medicine but bitter.
One of the most cited (but now ironically
contested) prehistoric case is the Neanderthal Grave in Shanidar
cave, Iraq, which 'Contained pollen traces of eight different types
of flower, presumably part of a wreath (Soleki, 1971; Leroi-Gourham,
1968). The flowers were mainly small, brightly-coloured varieties,
possibly woven into the branches of a shrub. Soleki has pointed out
that most of the flowers are known to have herbal properties and
are used by the people today'. (3)
However, not everyone has agreed with the hypothesis that the
placement of the flowering plant offerings at the burial site was a
conscious choice of the Neanderthals. The original report described
the existence of animal holes around the burial along with the
fossil remains of the �Persian jird� (Meriones persicus). This rodent species lives in large colonies and is known to store
large amount of seeds and flowers in its burrows. Indeed excavators
identified numerous jird, burrows near the burial, and 70% of all
the rodent bone recovered from Shanidar Cave was from this jird
species. Analysis of jird burrows has also revealed the remains of
many of the same flowers that were found around Shanidar IV. Thus,
it is argued,
the presence of flower pollen around the skeleton may not have been
the result of ritualistic activity, but simply the establishment of
jird burrows following the burial (Sommer 1998).
(More
about Shanidar, Iraq)
At the 6,500-year-old site of
B�keberg in Sweden a piece of Birch bark gum has been found with
the tooth impressions of a 30-40-year-old with a cavity in one
tooth. By chewing the gum, it is suggested that he or she was
treating their ailment. Birch bark tar contains compounds which
could serve as disinfectants, and these can be slowly released
during chewing. There are historical records referring to the
use of birch bark tar to relieve sore throats. It could also be
that chewing birch bark tar was an early form of dental hygiene.
It is common knowledge today that chewing gum between meals
helps to reduce the build-up of plaque.
(7)
A pottery cauldron containing
boiled medicinal herbs unearthed in 2001 at Kuahuqiao in Xiaoshan
County, Zhejiang Province indicates that Neolithic people
had realized some natural herbal medicine use as early as
8,000 BP. (6)
Herbs have long been used as the basis of
traditional Chinese herbal medicine.
The oldest known list of medicinal herbs is
Sh�nn�ng (神农, lit. "Divine Farmer"), a mythical god-like Emperor
figure, who is believed to have lived c. 3,000 BC
(2) He allegedly
tasted hundreds of herbs and imparted his knowledge of medicinal and
poisonous plants to farmers. His
Sh�nn�ng Běn Cao Jīng (神农本草经, Shennong's
Materia Medica) is considered as the oldest book on Chinese
herbal medicine, being a
compilation of over 300 Chinese herbs that probably originates from
an even older oral tradition. (1)
There are roughly 13,000 medicinals used in China and
over 100,000 medicinal recipes recorded in the ancient
literature. Plant elements and extracts are by far the
most common elements used. In the classic Handbook of
Traditional Drugs from 1941, 517 drugs were listed -
out of these, only 45 were animal parts, and 30 were
minerals. For many plants used as medicinals, detailed
instructions have been handed down not only regarding the
locations and areas where they grow best, but also regarding the
best timing of planting and harvesting them.
(4)
 In the written record, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000
years to the
Sumerians,
who created clay tablets with lists of hundreds of medicinal plants.
The largest surviving such medical
treatise from ancient Mesopotamia is known as "Treatise of Medical
Diagnosis and Prognoses." The text of this treatise consists of 40
tablets collected and studied by the French scholar R. Labat.
Although the oldest surviving copy of this treatise dates to around
1,600 BC, the information contained in the text is an amalgamation
of several centuries of Mesopotamian medical knowledge. It has been
shown that the plants used in treatment were generally used to treat
the symptoms of the disease, and were not the sorts of things
generally given for magical purposes. The same plants were used then
as are today. At the same time in Egypt, (c. 1,500 BC), the
Ancient Egyptians wrote the
Ebers Papyrus (right) which contains information on over 850 plant
medicines, including garlic,
juniper,
cannabis,
aloe,
and
mandrake.
In the
America's, herb lore is known to have played an important part
in the lives of the North American Indians who incorporated
into their mythology. Among Woodland peoples, the spirits of
animals were often considered the source of illness, with
specific plants being created with the power to cure such animal
illnesses, a belief that was confirmed with the arrival of
Europeans who brought with them a variety of diseases including
the introduction of the ailments of contemporary life, such as
diabetes, cancer, and heart disease since the medicine of their
ancestors did not have to cope with these ailments. The ancient Aztec Emperors encouraged their
people to learn about all varieties of the region's plants. When
Cortez and the conquistadors invaded Mexico in the 1500's, they found
the Aztecs quite learned in herbal knowledge and lore. Fortunately,
some of this knowledge survived the destruction of the Aztec
civilisation. King Phillip II of Spain sent some of his personal
physician to catalogue and describe the Aztec plants. Francisco
Hernandez wrote down this information, which was to serve as the
basic text on the plants of Mexico for years to come.
Working
with �maticeuac�, a small herb �required as a cure by one
who has the nose-bleed, who cannot stop it.� Florentine
Codex, Book XI.
In India,
Ayurveda medicine has used many herbs such as
turmeric possibly as early as 1,900 BC.
(16)
Sanskrit writings
from around 1,500 B.C., such as the Rig Veda, are some of the earliest available documents
detailing the medical knowledge that formed the basis of the
Ayurveda system.
Many other herbs and minerals used in
Ayurveda were later described by ancient Indian herbalists such
as
Charaka and
Sushruta during the 1st millennium BC. The Sushruta Samhita attributed to Sushruta
in the 6th century BC describes 700 medicinal plants, 64
preparations from mineral sources, and 57 preparations based on
animal sources.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also renowned
herbalists. Surgeons travelling with the Roman army spread their
herbal expertise throughout the Roman empire, in Spain, Germany,
France, and England. Dioscorides (c. 40- c. 90) and Galen (131-200
AD.), both Greek surgeons in the Roman army, compiled herbals that
remained the definitive materia medica texts for 1500
years. (1)
As a result of the Islamic conquest of North
Africa in the seventh and eighth centuries, Arabic scholars acquired
many Greek and Roman medical texts. Iranian physician Ibn Sina, also
known as Avicenna (980-1037 AD.), combined the herbal traditions of
Dioscorides and Galen with the ancient practices of his own people
in The Canon of Medicine (al-Qanun fi at-tibb). One of the
most influential medical texts ever written, Avicenna�s Canon
spread through Europe during the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
(1)
Having seen the illustrious history of herbs, and
knowing their potential for healing to humans and generally improving the
quality of life, it is a wonder that they are not promoted more into
modern life. This is of course, in part due to the rise of
international pharmaceutical companies. The gradual proliferation of readily available
medication over the counter has led to a decline in the knowledge of
the plants that surround us.
There are many herbs in
traditional medicine that may be recognized and recommended by
herbalists and advocates of alternative treatment modalities to
cleanse the body. These herbs act to stimulate the elimination of
waste products and toxins from the gastrointestinal tract and other
systems of the body. Body cleansing is the process of removing
toxins from the body. Toxins accumulate through metabolism, the
environment, the use of drugs or exposure to hazardous substances.
Body organs and systems working together in cleansing and
detoxifying the body are the liver and gallbladder, the lungs,
lymphatic system and the kidneys along with the colon and skin.
Herbs may be used alone or in combination to help the body in
removing waste and toxins from these organs
(14)
The ability of herbs to be utilised for Infusions,
Tinctures, Ointments, and Compounds meant that they were the natural primary
source of medicinal remedy for many ancient cultures. The fact that
so many plants have healing properties beneficial to humans led to a
form of reverence in Native American Indians who incorporated them
into their mythology. The
Native American Indians adopted two different philosophies towards
their healing practices: The first is seen primarily amongst the
Plains groups, where healing power was a characteristic that
individuals obtained through personal 'shamanic' experiences, such
as in encounters with animal spirit helpers. The well-known "vision
quest" is a manifestation of this principle. The success of a healer
in this context is based in large part, on personal power obtained
through direct encounters with sacred powers. In contrast, Woodlands
groups associate power, including the ability to heal, with
possession of esoteric knowledge that exists outside the experience
of the individual. (7)
These
differences are illustrated by the fact that animals are the
source of healing power on the Plains, where healers were
often identified on the basis of their animal helpers, for
instance, as an "eagle doctor." By contrast, among Woodland
peoples, the spirits of animals were often considered the
source of illness, with specific plants being created with
the power to cure such animal illnesses, a belief that was
confirmed with the arrival of Europeans who brought with
them a variety of diseases including the introduction of the
ailments of contemporary life, such as diabetes, cancer, and
heart disease since the medicine of their ancestors did not
have to cope with these ailments.
In their
training, Woodland healers were taught how to diagnose
illness and which plants to use to counter them. These
healers also learnt procedures, rituals, and songs that
activated the curing power of plants. Woodland medicine and
the knowledge to use it was not discovered anew by
spiritually powerful practitioners but was considered to
have been provided to tribal ancestors by the Creator in the
ancient past and subsequently handed down across the
generations.
(More
about the Native American Indians)
Herbs as Cleansers:
The disinfectant qualities of certain plants would
have been of great importance to humans, and may have been one of the
triggers for a recognition of the other medicinal uses of plants. A
large number of ancient cultures used herbs and plants in the cleansing
rituals and preparation of the dead.
Throughout history, the burning of natural substances has been used
for cleansing, healing and in spiritual ceremonies and rituals.
 Smudging: Shamanic smudging or just
'smudging' is an age-old
tribal tradition which has been used for centuries for cleansing and to create harmony
and peace. There are many different shamanic smudging ceremonies,
and different tribes use a variety of herbs for smudging.
Smudging was used for centuries by the
native people of both North and South America, Europe, the
Middle-east, Africa, Asia and the Siberian shamans to open the doors
of the soul to the spirit world. In all cultures, the burning of
certain herbs and incense was seen as a way of gaining access to the
soul and power of the plants for cleansing, purification,
protection spiritual,
ceremonial and magical use, the banishment of negative
energies and creation of sacred space.
In modern use, incensing is still used as a symbol of
purification and sanctification.
One of the earliest recorded uses of smudging can
be traced to ancient Egypt where herbs were burned in religious
ceremonies, being mentioned on an inscribed tablet from
Giza, Egypt, c. 1,500 BC.
The Babylonians also regularly used smudge/incense extensively while offering
prayers or divining oracles. It was imported to Israel in the 5th
century BC to be used in religious offerings. It spread from there
to Greece, Rome and India, where both Hindus and Buddhists still
burn it in their rituals and at festivals. The smudging tradition dates back millennia and connects all traditional
cultures, from the Native Americans to the Druids, from the Zulus to
the Maoris, from Aboriginals to the Mayans, from the Chinese to the
Balinese, which have age-old forms of cleansing and blessing
rituals. Smudge (Incense) is widely used in Oriental religions
(Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Taoism) and in the ceremonies of the
Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Smudging can
therefore be seen as a universal spiritual component that runs
through and connects all the worlds great cultures and religions
throughout time.
Modern Medicine Vs
Traditional Medicine.
'Approximately 119 pure
chemical substances extracted from higher plants are used in
medicine throughout the world' (Farnsworth et al., 1985).
(18)
There are several reasons
why pharmacology abandoned whole plant extracts in favour of
isolated active ingredients. The amount of active ingredient in a
plant can vary with factors like the variety, the geographic
location, the weather, the season, the time of harvest, soil
conditions, storage conditions, and the method of preparation. All
skills which the traditional herbal healer would have known and from
which it could be therefore argued, that because the production of
synthetic compounds bypasses much of this process, potentially
lessens the other, unquantifiable 'spiritual' qualities of the
herbs.
Modern
experiments have shown that the healing process is a complex
one, with factors involved which have nothing to do with medicine. The classic example of the placebo effect is one which
raises a variety of questions which go beyond the use of medication.
While it is true that the unsolicited use of herbs can be
potentially harmful, the fact remains that they are the backbone of
modern medicine, and represent an unlimited source of discovery
still to come (if we begin to nurture ecosystems again, instead of
'harvesting' them to death). When combined with the medicinal
qualities of herbs, the research into faith healing opens the debate
further, as experiments into the apparent 'communication' between
peoples unconscious nervous systems show that people are able to
experience a connectivity that one could argue, may well play a part
in the healer - patient relationship.
(The
Power of Positive Thinking)
(A-Z
Herbs: Their Medicinal, Spiritual and Magical Properties)
The idea that a plant could be 'sacred' is
not a concept promoted in the modern western mind, but it doesn't
take long or far before the lack of such an attitude becomes a matter of
ignorance. The mind altering effects of many plants have long been
known and used in the 'journey within' by cultures around the
ancient world, and still are to this day. They are a part of the human
experience, so much so that they have been proposed by
McKenna and others to have played a substantial role in the evolution our
imaginations. Such a journey cannot be possible without a reverence
for the plants that provide entry through the
doors of perception, so it is reasonable to understand on that
level, how such plants could adopt a 'spiritual' quality. The echoes of our spiritual relationship with
herbs are still seen in religious ceremonies around the world but
the 'worship' of plants, or the effects they offer, are considered
'pagan' and frowned upon by both church and establishment in
general, such that today for example, we find that the use of
'sacred' plants such as the poppy, once revered by the Minoans
and Greeks for thousands of years for its prophetic
qualities, is now completely illegal.
Shamanism: The Shamanic tradition has prevailed
in humans for tens of thousands of years in cultures
from all over the ancient world. As well as having a
knowledge of the medicinal qualities of plants, other
roles of the Shaman required them on occasion to
communicate with the otherworld. Inducing the
trance-state is one of the recognised traits of shamanic
practices, and the use of mind-altering plants are one
of the many ways in which such states are induced.
(More
about Shamanism)
The idea of
spiritual healers can be seen as recently as Middle-age
Europe with monks also commonly operating as
healers. Today the idea has been integrated
into the Christian church, who also operate a system of
'spiritual healing', something which has been shown in
experiment to be successful whether or not the recipient is
aware of the senders wishes. Herbs are still
used in many religions. For example, myrrh (Commiphora
myrrha) and frankincense (Boswellia spp)
in Christianity, the Nine Herbs Charm in Anglo-Saxon
paganism, the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) by
the Tamils, holy basil or tulsi (Ocimum
tenuiflorum) which is worshipped as a goddess by
Hindus while many Rastafarians consider cannabis (Cannabis
sp) to be a holy plant. Siberian Shamans also used herbs
to induce spiritual experiences. An
example of this are the shamans in Siberia who used
herbs and fungi such as the
fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).Herbs were also considered sacred in European pagan
beliefs.
In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that
Common Vervain (V. officinalis) was used to
staunch
Jesus' wounds after his removal from the
cross. It was consequently called "Holy Herb" or
(e.g. in
Wales) "Devil's bane". Verbena or Vervain has long been associated with
divine and other
supernatural forces. It was called "tears of
Isis" in
Ancient Egypt, and later on "Juno's
tears". In
Ancient Greece, it was dedicated to
Eos Erigineia. Other European examples of
sacred herbs include Yarrow, and
Mugwort.
(12)
The European mistletoe, Viscum album, figured
prominently in
Greek mythology, and is believed to be
The Golden Bough of
Aeneas,
ancestor of the
Romans. The
Norse god Baldr
was killed with mistletoe. Mistletoe bears fruit at the time of the
Winter Solstice, the birth of the new year, and may
have been used in solstice rites in Druidic Britain as
a symbol of immortality. In Celtic mythology and in
druid rituals, it was considered a remedy for
barrenness in animals and an antidote to
poison, although the fruits of many mistletoes are
actually poisonous if ingested as they contain
viscotoxins.
Native American Medicine: The North American Indians are known to have
believed that there was an intimate connection with plants and the
medicine wheel. They believe that plants were given by the creator
in order to heal people.
Plants were used to induce spiritual experiences for rites of
passage, such as vision quests in some Native American cultures.
The four sacred herbs (of the four
directions) are: Cedar, Sage, Tobacco, and Sweet grass. These herbs
are used for smudging, cleansing, and for prayers. They each have
their own medicine. Some of their uses are listed below:
'Tobacco is the sacred herb of the East, the direction of Grandfather
Sun, Eagle, and the Creator. We send our prayers up in its smoke,
and Eagle takes them to the Creator. Thus, Tobacco also honors
Eagle. Cedar is the sacred herb of the South; it purifies as well as
pulls positive energy into your sacred space with its smoke. Sage is
the sacred herb of the West, used in smudging to purify, and to send
prayers to the Creator. Sweet grass is the sacred herb of the North,
a purifying herb used to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. These
herbs are also used in Ceremonies, for various purification purposes'.
(11)
(More about the Native American Indians)
The best known sacred herb used in Asia in ancient
times was the inebriant 'Soma',
mentioned often in the
Vedas.
The active ingredient of Soma is presumed by some to be
ephedrine, an alkaloid with stimulant and entheogenic properties derived from the soma plant,
tentatively identified as
Ephedra pachyclada. In both Vedic and Zoroastrian tradition, the
name of the drink and the plant are the same. The Rig-Veda calls the
plant "God for Gods" seemingly giving him precedence above Indra and
the other Gods (RV 9.42). The ritual of Somayajna is still held with
unbroken continuity in South India. The Somalatha (Sanskrit:
Soma creeper) which is procured in small quantities from the
Himalayan region is used to prepare Soma rasam or Soma juice. It is
also used in these areas in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine streams
since time immemorial.
Ayurveda is an ancient Hindu medicine system at least 2000 years
old. It stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments
including the "treatment of mental diseases supposed to be produced
by demoniacal influence".
-
Kidney Beans
actually heal and help maintain kidney
function�and they look exactly like
human kidneys:
-
Walnuts
looks like little brains, a left and
right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and
lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or
folds on the nut are just like the
neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help
develop brain function:
-
The cross section of
a Carrot looks like the
human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating
lines look just like the human eye. Science now shows carrots greatly
enhance blood flow to the eyes and aid
in the general function of the eyes:
-
Celery
looks just like bones. Celery
specifically target bone strength. Bones
are 23 percent sodium and these foods
are 23 percent sodium. If you don�t have
enough sodium in your diet, the body
pulls it from the bones, thus making
them weak. Foods like celery replenish
the skeletal needs of the body:
-
Avocadoes
target the health and function of the
womb and cervix of the female�they look
just like these organs. Avocadoes help
women balance hormones, shed unwanted
birth weight, and deter cervical
cancers. It takes exactly nine months to
grow an avocado from blossom to ripened
fruit:
-
Figs
are full of seeds and hang in twos when
they grow. Figs increase the mobility of
male sperm and increase the numbers of
Sperm as well to overcome male
sterility:
-
Slice a
Mushroom in half and it
resembles a human ear. Mushrooms have
been found to improve hearing, as
mushrooms are one of the few foods that
contain vitamin D. This particular
vitamin is important for healthy bones,
even the tiny ones in the ear that
transmit sound to the brain:
-
Ginger,
commonly sold in supermarkets, often
looks just like the stomach. So its
interesting that one of its biggest
benefits is aiding digestion. The
Chinese have been using it for over
2,000 years to calm the stomach and cure
nausea, while it is also a popular
remedy for motion sickness:
-
Sweet
Potatoes look like the pancreas
and actually balance the glycemic index
of diabetics:
Herbs and Astrology.
The connection between the celestial skies
above and the growth cycles of plants and vegetation below has
long been understood and honoured through planting and
harvesting rituals. An association with astrology and herbs can
be traced back through the writings of the Greeks, such as the
herbalists Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicen, who regarded those as
'homicides' who were ignorant of Astrology. Paracelsus, indeed,
went farther, he declared, a Physician should be pre-destinated
to the cure of his patient and the horoscope should be
inspected, the plants gathered at the critical moment. Nicholas
Culpeper, author of Culpeper's Complete Herbal (1653) remains
the most well known of these Herbalist/Astrologers today.
Herbs and Their Ruling Planets
(1653)
The following herbs and their ruling
planets was extracted from: 'Culpeper's Complete Herbal',
(1653).
-
Venus: Peppermint, Rose, Thyme, Burdock, Catnip,
Colt's Foot, Lady's Mantle, Motherwort, Mugwort, Penny Royal,
Raspberry, Yarrow, Elder, Feverfew, Mallow, Tansy, Plantain.
-
Mars: Aloe, Basil, black Pepper, Pine, Blessed
Thistle, hops, Nettle, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic, Self-Heal,
Hawthorn, Broom, Wormwood, Barberry, Tarragon, All-Heal, Nettle.
-
Sun: Chamomile, Celery, Juniper, Rosemary,
Angelica, Lovage, Rue, St. johns Wort, Bay Laurel, Eyebright,
Butterbur, Mistletoe
-
Moon: Clary Sage, White Willow, Chickweed,
Cleavers
-
Jupiter: Jasmine, Lemon Balm, Sage, Borage,
Chervil, Dandelion, Hyssop, Meadowsweet, Bilberry, Agrimony,
Costmary, Melissa.
-
Mercury: Caraway, Dill, Feenel, Lavender,
Marjoram, Myrtle, Oregano, Liquorice, Parsley, Valerian,
Horehound, Flax, Carrot, Sweet Marjoram.
(A-Z
Herbs: Their Medicinal, Spiritual and Magical Properties)
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