Carrying resentment, anger, or grudges can be emotionally burdensome, imprisoning - and forgiveness is clearly presented as an act of liberation from these difficult emotions. The transformative power of letting go and moving forward with a lighter heart and mind is a practice known throughout time - and so challenging to implement at times. Yet, it is so simple? What are the steps to take?
There are many ways to prepare infusions: for Sidertis, Greek Moutain Tea, it is important to simmer (cover) for ten minutes, aftern having brought to a boil. It makes a big difference in taste, but also in extracting medicinal components from the plant material.
Can medicinal plants be beneficial in promoting the process of self-forgiveness or forgiveness of others (or both), a highly individual and complex process, whose importance for the well-being of the injured person is sometimes even questioned? This is a rhetorical question because, of course (scientific studies on demand.)
Yet... What if it were good and healthy to maintain a form of anger in the face of an injustice which has not yet legally or publicly been sanctioned by a judge or simply acknowledged or heard - so as to preserve the energy and courage for the steps to be taken?
And what if the balance of the body and heart depends on non-forgiveness to function, once it has been so wounded?
What is certain is that forgiveness and its impact on the body are very ULTRA TOP TOP individual to each.
Quote by Brian Solis (not sure though - will update as soon as I am 100% sure of the author of this little gem.)
What always surprises me is when people in consultations are still surprised to learn that plants can be (and are great this way!) specifically used to treat, explore, heal, transform, understand pointed and chronic psychological and emotional aspects of an illness - often a root even. Finding and treating an emotional causes ripples into physical effects: those who have experienced it are always enthusiastic when they realized how healing plants can be thus.
And now you might ask me: since there are so many plants and that the process of nurturing for forgiveness and mourning is so very individual, why would a write a newsletter to a large audience? Why even deceive ourselves and make us believe that there is ONE plant that can change everything? For everyone? How ambitious are you, dear herbalist?
Mainly because herbalists worldwide love to share. Here is a free ressource of the process I recommend to follow alongside sipping your herbal love: free ressource from a master meditation teacher
Back to my AMBITIOUS question: is there a medicinal plant that everyone could take to clarify, accept, facilitate, accelerate, heal this form of mourning, self-forgiveness, or forgiveness of others (and often both) - at whatever stage it is?
A plant that we could slip into the infusion or remedy of each person --- because fundamentally, who doesn't have someone to forgive? Or to forgive oneself?
Not to mention a collective forgiveness that we all aspire to, in these times of conflicts reminiscent of the last century and beyond, and faced with silence and cowardice and powerlessness in the face of horror or abuse. So, what if, accompagnied by plants, we asked the earth for forgiveness for so much pollution and cowardice --- forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness?
And also forgiveness towards us, for often being so much in survival mode, not taking the time to simply "be" with our children or our bodies, friends and families ---- when, deep down... do we REALLY need to run so much, for this or that new thing, activity, shawl, distraction, gadget made under conditions of slavery or so much food - expecially ones that only takes energy from the body?
Rosemary @petiteherboristerie.ch, January 2024
So, let's stop all the theories and the speeches. And let's stop hiding lies and all the bad excuses under the carpet.
May we rather drink infusions and contemplate our next steps - different, loving, sexy, and respectful towards oneself and each other. And not too much ChatGPT, unless and if it really moves humanity forward.
So, I'll tell you: yes, I believe there is a plant that could support all humanity.
It's the one you choose to discover, one you're looking at. One you choose. One you prepare with gratitude. One you drink like a FINE WINE, saying: mmmmmmh! WOW.
The one that makes your cells dance, and you with them. The one your heart knows, without a doubt: it's you. Only you. I can't help it, it's like that. Yes, I know, it's very strange and beautiful.
And if you don't have all these certainties yet (and that would be normal - you can't be good at everything, and your herbalist is here for those who don't master that art), it will be the plant or plants that I will propose to you in treatment.
Do you want a simple example? Everyone knows that for someone who has drunk and eaten too much, or too fatty and too salty, it will be Rosemary officinalis. For someone who has taken too many medications, it will also be dear rosemary - and we'll add plenty of other plants because it's not trivial for the body to "binge," overeat, and anesthetize itself. The body doesn't like it. It reminds it of the end of the Roman Empire.
Less trivial: for someone who may feel ugly, useless, or incapable, it will be the delightful Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), with a lot of lavender (Lavandula officinalis), a plant that "washes" away old memories, transforms what weighs, and even is a major antiviral. And even, what if we were to suggest adding drops of lavender to a solarized oil of meadowsweet? In massage! So many possibilities. So much potential for healings.
Another day, it will be something else: a plant that she will have stumbled upon by chance in an orchard and which - mirror, oh beautiful mirror - will have revealed the depth of her truths and therefore, her very specific beauty.
One of the very first flowers announcing the end of winter,
Salève hill, early February 2024.
Other examples: one who is too tense, from so many betrayals and obligations, can turn to relaxing, soothing plants - and there are powerful ones.
To not disappoint you if you were expecting one single plant for humanity, I will admit that I still - fruit of my research - chose a medicinal plant that I will add to all my remedies soon.
It's a plant that doesn't look like much, that may even you barely look at. Yet what a mistake (if I gently may.)
Warriors and herbalists from around the world have sung it since time immemorials and with the same conviction, even without consulting each other ( a consensus which existed before the Internet did and which always fascinates me.)
No, it's not the daisy, a plant most human beings probaly recognize - even if that one too, it has medicinal virtues that are beginning to attract researchers.
The plant that we could all tame and learn to know and consume, in the context of forgiveness and mourning, is Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
It comes to heal wounds, halt powerful leaks of all kinds. When you're sensitive to how your body functions, you can actually feel how it powerfully comes to heal. Plus, it's a great protector, according to many herbalists (references on request and soon written here as soon as an assistant or assistant comes to help me a little - :)
Better known for external use as a healing agent and to stop bleeding, Yarrow takes its name from the Greek hero Achilles (remember, according to legend, it was used to heal the wounds of soldiers during the Trojan War.) Beyond legends, it's probably the most known and widely used medicinal plant worldwide, as it is so versatile: astringent, coagulant, and antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic (it treats digestive disorders, spasms of the stomach and intestines, spasmodic colic as well as excessive menstruation and irregular menstrual cycles.) Moreover, it is emmenagogue as it stimulates blood flow to the pelvic region and uterus. In a sitz bath or massage, this plant relieves menstrual pain. And then it's also a tonic, effective in case of general fatigue.
Promoting the elimination of toxins while being a mild diuretic, yarrow is also known to be effective in case of cystitis or urinary inflammation. According to my latest readings, in inhalation or infusion, the latter with a few drops of 🌶️ chili and honey (only when the infusion is lukewarm and if you're not vegan), yarrow would be effective against respiratory infections in case of flu or cold.
All this and more.
And when we recover life forces, we more easily let go of what weighs so much.
In support of deep health ✨
Erika Scheidegger Gardet
Herbalist and ASCA phytotherapist
Also a beautiful free ressource summarizing here specific steps you can take: this, with medicinal plants, has helped me so much - and I recommend these steps to all: free ressource
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Sources of scientific articles for this article on-demand.
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