Personal stuff ig : p

(not a lot but I don't want to forget)

Make lentil soup with ginger root, and tea with ginger root.

Harvest dandelions and incorporate them in meal / snack.

Told Lorenzo we should start going to the grocery store to get the good water instead of having to drink tap. we'll get a gallon each (see if it is possible non-plastic option maybe?) but in general, I have to make sure I am drinking more water

No soda or chips

Cinnamon is a warming tonic & great source of magnesium, fibre, iron & calcium. It is a powerful antiseptic, with antiviral & antifungal properties & is often indicated in cases of viral infections, fungal infections & colds & flu. It is a mild emmenagogue, making it useful in cases of sluggish & painful menstruation. Cinnamon can be used as an appetite enhancer. It can also lower cholesterol & thin blood clots and best immunity booster products in Jaipur. It chases chills, prevents colds & warms the hands & feet of those who feel cold all the time. Cinnamon is used to enhance digestion, prevent nausea, treat coughs & generally for health problems of the respiratory & the circulatory system.

A cup of cinnamon tea, made by steeping a cinnamon stick or a scant teaspoonful of powdered cinnamon in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, is a good way to prevent the flu. Cinnamon tea also eases menstrual cramps, soothes sore joints, relieves gas pain & allays that feeling of fullness after a big meal. A sip or two of cinnamon tea before meals improves digestion & prevents acid reflux. Those who drink cinnamon tea regularly will have less cavities, stronger gums & fewer insect bites. Cinnamon tea is a gentle but effective remedy for both childhood diarrhea & infestations of worms. In India, cinnamon tea is regarded as a remedy against halitosis, nausea & vomiting. It is a strong stimulant for the glandular system & is very warming, so it is good for relieving the symptoms of colds, flu & sore throats. Cinnamon can be taken internally for fibroids, flatulence, intestinal cramping, inflammation, rheumatism, oral infections caused by candida. The bark of the stem & the oil obtained from it are useful as antiseptics, astringents & carminatives; the oil obtained from the leaves is used as a flavoring agent & for local application on certain rheumatic pains. Essential oil of Cinnamon has anti-coagulating, anti-microbial & antioxidant properties. Cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin, thus normalizing their blood sugar levels. The essential oil of cinnamon is a good substitute for clove oil in treating toothache. It is particularly effective in killing the organisms that cause periodontal disease. Inhaling the warm, spicy & sweet scent of this spice can boost brain activity & memory. In China, Japan & Far-East countries, women who do not conceive & wish to strengthen the uterus take cinnamon powder. In such cases, you should take a pinch of cinnamon powder in ½ tsp of honey & apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day so that it slowly mixes with the saliva & enters the body.

Polycystic ovary syndrome can also be cured by using cinnamon daily, which will help jump start a woman’s period/cycle & promote fertility.

Because of its warming & stimulating properties, cinnamon is used to boost vitality, improve circulation & clear congestion. It is a well-respected digestive aid, particularly for cases of overeating, bloating & sluggish digestion & one of the best herbs around for stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Honey & cinnamon is used as a cancer treatment which kills microbes inside the cancer cells.

PRECAUTIONS:

To be safe, caution is advised for anyone with liver problems. Due to its blood-thinning effects, people should stop taking cinnamon in quantities greater than use as a spice at least one week prior to surgery. Close monitoring of blood sugar levels in diabetics is warranted to avoid unsafe lowering of blood sugar. People with prostate problems should avoid cinnamon. Large doses of cinnamon bark can cause changes in breathing & dilation of blood vessels. Once pregnant, you should not take cinnamon because it stimulates premature labor & uterine contractions. Very large amounts of powdered cinnamon can cause poisoning. Symptoms begin with central nervous system sedation, characterized by sleepiness & depression. This is followed by tachycardia & stimulation of the vasomotor center, which causes increases in intestinal peristalsis, respiration & diuresis.

RECIPES:

The flavor of cinnamon complements cooked apples, fresh fruit, fruit punches or mulled wine & is also very tasty in spice cakes & cookies.

Simmer Cinnamon sticks with milk & honey for a warming beverage.

Mix 1–3 tsp of ground Cinnamon powder in 1 cup of hot water. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain & drink to cure diarrhea.

For Cough:

Make a tea with ½ tsp ginger, ¼ tsp cinnamon & 1 clove per 1 cup of water. Sweeten with 1 tsp honey & drink.

Expectorant Cough Syrup:

120 ml water 120 ml honey 1–2 tsp dried mullein leaves 1–2 tsp dried white horehound herb 1–2 tsp dried rosemary leaves 1–2 tsp powdered or chopped cinnamon bark 1–2 tsp dried chopped ginger 1 pinch of cayenne Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat. Simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced by about one-half. Remove from the heat & strain. Cool to room temperature. Take 1 tsp as often as every 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon & Scallion Tea for Cold & Flu:

Finely chop one scallion. Put it into a teacup & add 2 slices of raw ginger & dash of powdered cinnamon. Fill the cup with hot water, let the herbs steep & drink the tea. Cinnamon & ginger induce sweating, while scallion clears sinuses.

Cinnamon for diabetes 2:

Take at least ½ teaspoon a day, which is critical to “soften” the cell membranes. Cinnamon mimics insulin, thus it may lower your need for insulin immediately.

Cinnamon-Ginger Tea for Menstrual Difficulties:

1 tsp chopped cinnamon bark 1 tsp chopped dried ginger or freshly grated ginger root Pour 1 cup boiling water over the herbs. Cover & let steep for ca 30 minutes. Strain & sweeten with honey. Sip slowly. Prepare & drink as often as needed, until cramps subside. Both cinnamon & ginger are reliable aids for relieving stomach & menstrual cramps. A warm poultice or hot-water bottle placed over the pelvic area can also be helpful.

Herbal Decoction for Uterine Tumors:

1 part turmeric 1 ½ parts licorice root 4 parts cinnamon bark 5 parts peach seed Simmer slowly 30 g of dried herbs in 700 ml of water for 30–60 minutes in a covered pot. Strain & drink ½ cup 2 -4 times a day, between meals. Take 6 days a week. Tumors of the uterus, including uterine fibroids & cancers, very often involve blood stagnation. Ovarian cysts can also be placed in this category. Turmeric in diet helps dissolve these growths. Since the uterus & ovaries are not well-circulated area & growths there resist treatment, this decoction is invaluable for speeding the re-absorption of tumors, cancers & similar growths in the lower abdominal region.

Cinnamon Honey:

½ cup honey 1–2 tbsp cinnamon powder Gently warm the honey & then stir in the cinnamon. Stir a teaspoon of the honey into warm water or herb tea.

Cinnamon Tincture for Stabilizing Blood Sugar:

100 ml chopped cinnamon bark 80-proof alcohol (brandy, vodka) Place the cinnamon in a glass jar. Cover with alcohol. Let steep for 4- 6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through a fine-mesh, stainless-steel strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard the cinnamon, then bottle the liquid. Take ½ tsp 2x a day for 5 days. Continue in this manner for several weeks, or until blood sugar levels normalize.

A Soup for Joint Pain:

Cook until done 1 cup pearl barley with ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 pinch saffron & 1 piece Dong Quai (tang kuei) Add a pinch of following herbs as needed. For water retention: 10 juniper berries For weakness & chills: fenugreek or ginger

Warming Happiness Tea:

handful of lime flowers 1 orange,wash & slice sprinkle of cinnamon or bit of cinnamon bark Place the herbs & orange & cinnamon into the heat proof jug. Pour over ~1 l boiling water, let infuse, covered 5–10 min. Drink while warm with honey.

BEAUTY:

For Bad Breath boil 1 tsp cinnamon in 1 cup of water. Cool. Use frequently as a mouthwash.

Warming Cinnamon Bath Salts:

3 tbsp cinnamon powder 1 tbsp ginger root powder 1 cup sea salt Stir the powdered herbs into the salt. Store in a sealed glass container. Add ¼ cup of the bath salts to a bathtub filled with warm water. Stir well.

For acne, blackheads & pimples mix finely ground cinnamon powder in 1 tsp lime juice & apply on affected areas frequently.

To improve the complexion add a pinch of cinnamon powder to ¼ tsp honey & apply on the face. Let it dry then wash it with water.

MAGIC:

Cinnamon is used in magic for deep spirituality & healing, protection, scrying & power. Its can retain energy.

Cinnamon can be burned for protection & to attract money, stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers & aid in healing. Cinnamon when burned as an incense, raises high spiritual vibrations, aids in healing, draws money, stimulates psychic powers & produces protective vibrations.Cinnamon incense is one of the most common & probably the most used form of cinnamon for protection. Burning the incense works in a similar way as using it as a charm except you are converting it by burning it. To unleash its power, you can also put a pinch in your food, tea or hot cocoa. Laying cinnamon sticks along window sills will protect from the unwanted energy. You can put cinnamon sticks or fresh powdered cinnamon in your purse or a pouch to carry with you, it works in the same way & act as a protection charm.

Cinnamon has a high vibration & can be used to increase our own vibration. It can be used in this way to reach our higher selves, a higher state of spirituality. While the cinnamon spice is related to the fire element, the tree itself is ruled by the moon. The moon with her loving Lunar energy stimulates our higher selves & thinking. Cinnamon, being ruled by fire & the moon elements can provide protection as well as assist us in increasing our psychic or clairvoyant energies.

Cinnamon is great for drawing love & money & it also adds speed/force to your workings. Cinnamon can be good for bringing quick cash. Put a pinch in your wallet or your spare change jar or attach a dollar bill to it & watch your money grow.. Shop-keepers can sprinkle cinnamon chips & sugar on their door-step to encourage good trade. Cinnamon can bring luck in games & gambling.

Fill a green or gold sachet with Cinnamon to draw money & success or to use as a healing charm. A purple sachet can be used to increase your magickal &/or psychic powers. A pink or red sachet of Cinnamon can be worn, carried with you, or placed under your bed to draw love or to promote lust. Use a white sachet filled with Cinnamon to increase your spirituality & to confer protection.

Cinnamon is a very powerful herb for prosperity. You can also take this bath for five consecutive days & pray for financial improvement. Do not be specific about the amount of money or from where it should come from. Let the universe do what it wills & bring you the solution.

Prosperity Bath:

1 cup of cinnamon powder 2 cups of parsley (dried or fresh) This bath uses cinnamon to attract prosperity & money into your life. Take this bath during the waxing phase of the moon for maximum effect.

Protection Amulet:

By  Alexis J. Cunningfolk

I’ve been planning on sharing this plant profile with you for a few months, corresponding with the release of my newest course, Solace: Herbs & Essences for Highly Sensitive People (which has been a joy to create and if you have a moment, please check it out). The time has arrived and I sit here writing this, heart-breaking, as the world moves closer to what seems like another wave of impossible horror that has become all too real again.

Sometimes it feels like there are too many wars, too many social and environmental battles, too many things which need to be fought, and too little hope that anything can be won.

That old and ancient part of my brain tries to calculate what it can do, singly, and with great effort, to turn the tide. Counting resources, making maps to find hidden answers, calculating transactions of courage and desperation. It’s a part of many of our brains that has been overactive for years now as the world seems to be coming undone over and over.

And yet, an even older part of myself, the most ancient heart and seat of primordial consciousness reaches out and finds a vast collective reaching back. It takes many hands to hold a heart throughout a lifetime, to support its growth, to mend its wounds, to tend to its spark of life. And I start to remember… It is not about moving beyond the collective to become something individually extraordinary, but to tend to the weave and weft of our community web so that when a need of any one of us arises, deft hands of support mend and repair, hold and affirm, strengthen and love.

So I continue to do what I am called to do alongside the new things which must be adapted to. I teach about plants and the ways they connect us to our humanity, to our experience of and being Land, and the ways we care for ourselves when it seems like we’re all having to learn to breathe underwater. Because the point is not to win and be right and righteous, but to live fully in the immensity of the collective during times that seek to make us feel divided and small.  

Maybe Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) knew that they would be needed now and planted the seed in my mind to wait to write about them until this late winter season. It’s the sort of magick that Motherwort is known for. They are in so many ways one of the best allies to be offering insights about right now and I hope you’ll find some inspiration and comfort with the healing gifts they carry.

Motherwort

(Leonurus cardiaca)

Common + Folk Names : Lion’s ear, lion’s tail, throw-wort, parentwort, niibiishikaabijigan

Element : Fire, Air

Zodiac Signs : Leo

Planet : Sun, Venus

Moon Phase : Full Moon

Parts Used : Aerial parts

Habitat : Native to Europe and western Asia, naturalized worldwide.

Growing Conditions : Partial shade to full sun with light, sandy soil.

Collection : Collect the flowering tops.

Flavour : Pungent, bitter

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Tension, Dryness

Constituents : Beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, flavonoids, citric and malic acid, alkaloids, bitter glycosides, caffeic acid, essential oil, phytoesterols, tannins, resin, triterpenes, leonurine, vitamin A.

Actions : Antispasmodic, antifungal, antirheumatic, anxiolytic, cardiotonic, hypotensive, diaphoretic, hemostatic, hypotensie, astringent, bitter, parturient, emmenagogue, nervine, sedative, vasodilator, thymoleptic, immunostimulant, antiviral, antibacterial.

Main Uses

Motherwort is a classic heart tonic in the Traditional Western Herbalism materia medica. Look at its Latin binomial and you’ll get insight into the herb’s qualities as a “Lion Hearted” herb. Motherwort improves the condition of a weakened or out-of-sync heart including arrhythmia, angina, and a heart muscle that lacks tone. Signs to look for when considering Motherwort are heart palpitations (especially those caused by stress, nervousness or anxiety), shortness of breath, and those who need some “mothering” or compassionate parenting. The herb reduces high blood pressure, alleviates palpitations and hypertension, and generally strengthens the heart’s tone. It also reduces high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.

The herb’s connection to the heart is also closely linked to the uterus, making it an herb of the birthing room, helping to start labor, relieve the pain of childbirth, and prevent postpartum infections. Look for signs of emotional distress during labor where the birthing parent doesn’t feel like “they have the heart” to continue on with labor because they feel tired and worn down (the flower essence is especially useful in these situations, too). The herb and/or essence is also useful for midwives, birth assistants, and doulas to take while supporting labor and postpartum. After labor, Motherwort also helps with the birth of the placenta. It is a wonderful herb to include in postpartum blends to prevent and alleviate postpartum blues and depression. On an additional level, herbalist Karen M. Rose notes that Motherwort “teaches us to flow from the heart, addressing deep rooted ancestral trauma stored in the womb." 

As we’ll look at further in the Motherwort Personality section below, Motherwort is an ally that helps folks to connect with the energy of a nurturing parent who is unwavering in their love and kindness. It is one of my favorite plants to recommend to all folks who are going through the work of reparenting themselves and especially highly sensitive people who may have been rejected in some way by caregivers and/or peers because of their sensitivity. Listen for language that the inner child needs caring for.

The other medicinal reproductive qualities of Motherwort include helping to bring on delayed menses and to relieve cramp and back ache. The herb is good for PMS that brings on feelings of agitation, frustration, and anger, as well as other signs of heat, such as hot flashes and menstrual headaches. During perimenopause and menopause, Motherwort can act as an ally in these times of change both emotionally and physically (such as helping to alleviate hot flashes). Motherwort can also be used in a douche or vaginal steam for infections such as candida and bacterial vaginosis.

Motherwort is a useful herb for pain-relief and management, alleviating conditions such as neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatism, and postpartum pain. As an herb with powerful emotional uplifting qualities, Motherwort helps relieve depression and has been used in the treatment of bipolar conditions. The herb works on the sympathetic nervous system, bringing calm and soothing energy, which can help to alleviate nervousness, insomnia, restlessness, and general anxiety. It is especially useful for all of these reasons during menopause. Motherwort is like a hug in a tea cup and is an herb that shifts energy for the better faster than most other herbs I have encountered.

Digestively, Motherwort is a bitter with a side of joy. It is excellent for those whose digestion gets tied in knots because of anxiety and nervousness. Think of folks who would be best served by receiving some of their parent’s best home cooking. The herb stimulates digestion, awakens the metabolism, and helps with the absorption of nutrients. As a cooling herb it alleviates overly hot and acidic digestion which can lead to heartburn.

Other uses of Motherwort include during times of fever, ‘flu, and cold when there is debility and exhaustion. It is especially good in the recovery period. The herb calms an overactive thyroid. In general, Motherwort is calming to many body systems, especially when there is a notable influence by anxiety or nervousness.

Magickal Uses

Motherwort is protective in general but especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Keep as a charm in the home to bring about peace. Use to connect with the energy and wisdom of the Lion. The herb protects against harmful entities and spirits. I think it is especially useful in helping alleviate hauntings, whether emotional hauntings of the spirit and mind, or unwanted ghosts. Motherwort has a long folkloric tradition of being allied with those who identify as womxn. Herbalist Deb Soule has wise words to share about the connection between womxn-identified folk and Motherwort and what she writes is similar to the oral traditions that I was taught  about Motherwort, too:

Leonurus cardiaca means lion hearted. I think motherwort is strong medicine for women to put in dream pillows, to have in dried flower arrangements near our beds, by the telephone, in our workplaces, and to have growing in our gardens. We need courage to heal the various ways we have been wounded and have not been allowed to be the powerful, intelligent, wise women that we are. Motherwort gives us courage to be our true selves and to develop a strong heart, like the lion’s heart. Strong hearts filled with courage are able to do anything. It takes a lot of courage to mother ourselves and children in a world that does not yet entirely value mothering, women, and children.

The Motherwort Personality

ARGH! The Motherwort person groans and shouts. They are impatient and snappish, letting folks know they are irritated and unhappy. Their heart races, there is redness in their face, and they can’t seem to rest and calm down. Motherwort folk are frustrated and agitated. Their heart feels heavy, over-heated, and wild. They may even be feeling heartbroken. Sometimes their anger is quiet and smoldering, but it is still burning them up. Motherwort is for the frustrated folks crying hot tears. The herb will help them cool off, calm down, and find their peace. Perhaps as children anger was the only way to feel heard and/or to feel safe, but now it is an overdeveloped force that needs to be balanced with other tools of emotional expression.

They will not find their peace by fighting their way towards peace and Motherwort will help them lay down the parts of their anger that is no longer serving them. Motherwort helps folk to connect with the energy of a nurturing parent who is unwavering in their love and kindness - sometimes it helps us to connect with an actual parent, but more often it helps us to reparent ourselves. In the end Motherwort teaches gentleness, especially gentleness towards themselves, by showing gentleness, so they may be gentle towards others and find the connection they are seeking in appropriate ways.

Contraindications : Do not use in cases of menorrhagia. Use only in the last part of pregnancy with supervision of an herbalist as it can start labor.

Drug interactions : None known.

Dosage : Standard Dosage, but drop dosage is a common recommendation for Motherwort, especially for emotional support: 1 - 3 drops (1:2 fresh or 1:5 dried 60% alcohol extract), 1 - 3 times daily.

🌿

I hope this post finds folks who are need of the type of support that Motherwort can provide. And in the spirit of supporting the collective, here are a round-up of resources for supporting the people of Ukraine.

Let’s continue to work for peace, share resources, and take care of one another.

Maintaining a healthy gut is essential for overall well-being, and certain foods can help protect your digestive system. Garlic, papaya seeds, and pumpkin seeds are powerful, natural ingredients that help eliminate harmful parasites from your body. These foods support digestion, detoxify the gut, and promote a clean, healthy internal system.

Incorporating parasite-fighting foods into your diet is a natural way to support gut health and improve digestion. Foods like lemon, ginger, and raw carrots help cleanse the digestive tract, preventing parasites from taking hold. Not only do they help fight parasites, but they also improve nutrient absorption and promote overall digestive health.