Plant Medicines for Earth Protectors, Land Stewards & Sacred Activism Part 3: Rest Medicines
Hearing the Call of Mama Earth, the call to Rest ♥
As we deepen into Summer, wandering into Fall, and collectively continue to hold so much grief, rage & overwhelm I felt called to complete this series with Rest + Nourishment Medicines.
Fam, we must continue to rest, to nourish ourselves & one another, to find moments of JOY, pleasure, hope & play. Remember Colonization + Capitalism want us to be exhausted. These systems want us to be overwhelmed, sad, anxious. They want us to feel powerless. Rest & Nourishment help sustain our bodies + minds + spirits to continue forward. To dream (I can’t speak on the importance Dreams are enough, our Dreams are direct portals to Spirit, our Ancestors, new ways, old ways, all that is ~ if we aren’t making space for true rest, we lack the space to Dream, literally & symbolically through insights that come while actively resting through play, art, meditation, etc).
Rest can be anything that re-fills & rejuvenates you…
Aanii, Shíx Pachway, Welcome to Part 3: Plant Medicines for Earth Protectors, Sacred Activism & Eco-grief <3 Published 2019
It has been 2 years (!!) since part 1 & 2 of this series were released. Yes, I am not great at keeping up blog spaces :) As we deepen into Summer, wandering into Fall, and collectively continue to hold so much grief, rage & overwhelm I felt called to complete this series with Rest + Nourishment Medicines.
As more truths are revealed, as we are in late stage Capitalism and witness/bear effects of the harms done, it may feel counter-intuitive to rest. But Fam, we must continue to rest, to nourish ourselves & one another, to find moments of JOY, pleasure, hope & play. Remember Colonization + Capitalism want us to be exhausted. They want us to be overwhelmed, sad, anxious. They want us to feel powerless. Rest & Nourishment help sustain our bodies + minds + spirits to continue forward. To have the energy & capacity needed to take action. To continue our work. To create change. To dream (I can’t speak on the importance Dreams are enough, our Dreams are direct portals to Spirit, our Ancestors, new ways, old ways, all that is ~ if we aren’t making space for true rest, we lack the space to Dream, literally & symbolically through insights that come while actively resting through play, art, meditation, etc).
Rest can be anything that re-fills & rejuvenates you. It doesn’t just mean sleep, though it can! To me, it often means play, dancing, being silly with my child, even harvesting Medicines & tending to the garden feels restful for me sometimes. Other times rest means watching something that brings me joy in bed. Reading. Painting. Or taking a day to just listen to my body & follow pleasure, I love those days. Mmmm. Often it may means a homemade hair mask, tending to my physical body, or a delicious herbal drink. Truly though, it will be different for each of us. The important thing is that it is a calling from your Soul + Body, and feels restorative ~ *without* guilt for tending to yourself this way.
We could do a whole course on Rest & decolonizing our relationship to it. As well as food + nourishment sovereignty. I grew up with a Mama who is a waitress, and passed on beliefs of rest as weakness, of ‘bad.’ Being a hard worker was an *identity.* In a corrupt system, rest may mean there is no pay-check, which means bills cannot be paid, etc… a cycle of traumas passed down. Growing up I was not allowed to take a day off school if needed, or not go in to work if we didn’t feel well. This became internalized into developing an eating disorder & being an extreme perfectionist through my teens & early 20s, which took years to heal. {And there is no judgement in this cycle as well, or shame, we also live within systems that often require money, which then can prohibit rest. I am so grateful for all of the other beautiful things my Mother taught me. For parents as well, who don't have help, rest can feel impossible. I have been in both situations & know the advice to "rest" can feel extremely frustrating because it is not easy/possible without support. Rest is part of community care}.
When I speak on rest, on nourishment, I hope it is felt that this has been a lifelong process of unlearning for me. Of choosing REST, of choosing MY BODY, of choosing to honor myself & say fck you to all systems that want to exploit us, use us, extract from us… and, I hold deep compassion for us all as we unlearn these oppressive ways, create new systems, take care of one another & really remember our sovereignty + interconnectedness <3
Rest Medicines
There are so many rest medicines, it was hard to choose. These are 4 that came up most strongly, but there are so many more… {Rest not just meaning Sleep, but also relaxation, flowing energy to be able to play, create, be in ways that feel rejuvenating & restful for our bodies, nervous systems, spirits} As a reminder, this is a very brief overview of some Medicines. Please ensure to seek more information regarding proper dosage, preparation, interactions, indications, contraindications etc. And where possible, connect with the Plant themselves for deeper relations + understandings <3
Valerian Root {Valeriana officinalis} Kw ’íya
Kw ’íya, Valerian is a beautiful, and potent Plant Medicine that helps us drop into deep sleep. Various species of Valerian are Native to so called North America, Europe & Asia. Some folks find the root to have a very distinct odor, and not so palatable taste. I particularly enjoy the taste & fragrance, but for many, this part of their Medicine is quite distinctive. They are a beautiful ally that may help promote overall relaxation, calming & sedation in the body + mind + spirit. Their mechanism isn't fully understood, but they seem to also act on GABA receptors, promoting relaxation & easing anxiety.
They may help to ease insomnia that includes both falling asleep and frequent night waking. Whereas some Plant allies help us fall asleep, Valerian may also help us stay asleep so that we feel refreshed. Some folks do note a bit of grogginess with Valerian, sort of feeling like a ‘hangover’ the next morning. I personally find this usually means I'm working with them too late in the evening, or that the dosage is maybe a bit too high. Typically aim to work with them 8-9 hours before you plan to wake up (depending on your own individual sleep cycle).
Valerian is also anti-spasmodic, and overall relaxant. They are often a beautiful Medicine when there is also a bit of melancholy and/or anxiety paired with the lack of sleep ~ helping our bodies & nervous systems to relax. Valerian seems to work in a similar way to benzodiazepenes and may assist with withdrawal & anxiety symptoms by calming the nervous system. They are considered a sedative nervine, antispasmodic Medicine {though there are many other actions & ways to work with this beauty, including as an emmenagogue/moving energy especially blood around moon time, as well as carminative/digestive aid}.
California Poppy {Eschscholzia californica}
California Poppy is a beautiful, orange & sage green, soft Plant relative who carries big Medicine. They are Native to Western so called North America, from so called Southern Washington down to Baja Mexico and over to so called Sonoran desert. A powerful Plant Ancestor. Supportive during this collective time of rebirth & dismantling of harmful systems, healing through collective pain & reclaiming our birth rights, our Medicine, our authentic identity(s).
California Poppy flower essence may help us *embody* our Ancestral + Cosmic connections. Really helping us to stay tethered in our bodies. Connecting us to our lineages, and healing traumas held here {esp if centred around addictions}. Allowing us to inhabit our Humxn selves, to REST, to feel ease in our bodies, so that we may continue to create change & walk forward with these gifts shared with us for this time. They may help us when we feel called to dissociate from our Bodies, when the pain becomes overwhelming, when we turn to 'unhealthy' coping with substances or behaviors.
They’re calling right now to help ease collective pain, sleepless nights, tension as we birth this new way. I also love working with them for folks postpartum {after ANY amount of years passed} who experienced traumatic births, births w/o supportive traditions/Ceremony as well. Also for children who experienced traumatic births, births without supportive Ceremony + with any sort of birth traumas.
They are lovely when feeling overwhelmed, uncentered, irritable, frustrated, slightly hopeless and unclear on the path forward. When facing ascension symptoms or big changes in ones path/life.
They pair well with Shooting Star Flower Essence, as Shooting Star helps us open to our gifts & integrate our purpose/original instructions for choosing to be Humxn at this time. Whereas California Poppy helps us to STAY in our bodies, and work through the pain & past traumas that may arise as we birth the new way rooted in Traditions & harmony. {Xálish California Poppy & Shooting Star}
Blue Vervain {Verbena hastata L.} Zhawaseshkoohnse
Zhawaseshkoohnse, Vervain is an important ally for the current over-culture we’re living in - many of us have some stagnation of some sort which can prevent true rest + relaxation. It may be physical, mental, emotional, or even in our subtle bodies due to past lives, ancestral trauma causing stagnant energy, or for current oppression & aggression toward racialized kin causing energy to be stuck. When faced with fear, with aggression, with oppression there is the fight or flight action, but there is also the freeze. This freeze response may be particularly common among racialized folx. It may come from a lack of feeling safe (and in some cases actually being not safe), there may not be a conscious awareness of breath holding or tension held in the bodies.
Many folks also do not live as close to the Land as we are intended to. We live a faster paced life than we ever have. More stressed. More tired. More pressure, from ourselves and from a capitalistic + patriarchal + colonial society. Vervain is a beautiful ally espcially with femme energies because often femme folx have been taught to suppress their feelings, anger, & true nature in a patriarchial society. Masculine energies have also been suppressed in certain ways, especially regarding sensitivity + emotions, and Vervain may also be helpful for allowing the smooth flow of emotion from masculine manifestations as well as the healing ‘unmasking’ energy. Speaking to this further, marginalized groups also have had to (and still have to for safety) conceal or protect their feelings, anger & authentic expressions. Remember anytime we are suppressing or blocking anything in our bodies & energy fields, we are creating space for stagnation and tension which leads to - physical symptoms. I believe Vervain can be of support here, supporting folks in who they are, safely, even if they cannot share this with the outside world.
They are a calming & relaxing nervine. They may help relax & soothe tension held in the Body. They aren’t necessarily a strong anodyne (pain reliever), but they do help to remove some tension in the muscles that can cause pain. An interesting thing about relaxing the muscles in our bodies is that the physical relaxing can often lead to an emotional relaxation as well - as if our bodies are holding on to so much tension, caught in that stress response, and when they let go and relax it sends a signal to our brain saying - ok, it is safe to breathe again. It is safe to relax and be in a calm space. Sit with this message for a moment and see how it feels. They are a bit drying, so just keep this in mind when balancing them with other Plant kin or in folx who tend toward a dry/hot constitution.
Due to the bitter qualities of Vervain, they are also supportive of the Liver and Gallbladder. {Find Vervain in Womb Wisdom {All Gender} ‘Tea’ Blend}.
Wood Betony {Stachys officinalis}
Wood Betony is a common name for a couple of different Plants that I am aware of, both Stachys officinalis & Pedicularis canadensis. In this case I am referring to Stachys, though Pedicularis is also a rest Medicine in their own way, and a really beautiful one at that (helping with skeletal muscle relaxation, which is an important indication ~ among many other beautiful aspects to their Medicine). Wood Betony is beautiful nervine that is Native to Europe & Asia.
They may come to our aid when we get stuck in our heads, ruminating or even just ‘stuck’ in logic mode. Maybe playing a certain scenario over and over, or trying to come up with the ‘right’ choice but not being able to feel it in our bodies. In this culture & time, the emphasis is often on productivity, on thinking, on our brains leading the way & knowing best vs. integrating the wholeness of our experience & perceptions. Working with our bodies awareness to inform us as well. They also support our digestion as they are carminative & slightly bitter (not to the same degree as Vervain I find). Helping us to move from our Solar plexus, that ‘gut’ knowing, intuition, feeling. Strengthening our sense of self, and identity as a Humxn of the Earth.
Wood Betony may help us to get out of our heads, and drop into our bodies. Making decisions, and gaining insight through our whole self, rather than just using our brains to keep spinning the same patterns & un-truths {‘liming beliefs’} we may tell ourselves. For folks who tend to overthink, overwork & who have physical manifestations as a result of not listening to the wisdom of the physical body {Which often comes from a patriarchal + colonial society + trauma, broken trust; this isn’t to shame anyone for not listening to the body. We can always choose to now & acknowledge the healing that also we embark on when healing our relationship to our bodies as well <3}. They may also be supportive for certain types of headaches, personally they aren’t my go to for headaches but worth mentioning as I know a few folks who they have helped in this way. Wood Betony may help us to embody this Humxn form, to feel grounded & within ourselves, within our authentic being. May help bring feelings of calm & peace, as well as acting as a trophorestorative (restoring) the nervous system after burn out/exhaustion.
Nourishment Medicines
Ashwaganda
Ashwaganda is an Adaptogenic root ally that grows well here in the Xálish Medicine garden, and is Indigenous to Africa, Asia, India, Sri Lanka & Mediterranean Europe. Ashwaganda may help with recovery after a period of chronic stress: activism, child birth, break ups, loss of loved ones, chronic illness, chronic fatigue, exams, grief, capitalism, fighting colonization, etc. Ashwaganda supports our bodies:minds to rebuild. Nourishing us from deep w/in. Rooting.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some Adaptogens can be stimulating, but I find Withania is quite calming. Lovely for anxious folks. Think: exhausted but can’t sleep. Often supporting balanced memory, concentration, energy & sleep cycles. Often supportive for chronic fatigue & fibromyalgia, as well as dementia & anemiahey are often worked with to help reduce stress, calm anxiety, and feel nourished from deep within. Ashwaganda may also be helpful for overall vitality, energy, concentration and may reduce inflammation.
Ashwaganda is what is known as a neurotrophorestorative, meaning they help to actually restore the nervous system after periods of intense stress on the body. Ashwaganda is unique in that they aren’t physiologically stimulating, as some adaptogens can be (ex. eleutherococcus). They build, so we can sometimes notice increased energy and/or vitality, but it is from within. Ashwaganda is particularly helpful for promoting restful sleep. Look at the end of the latin name ‘somnifera,’ Latin for somnus or sleep. It is interesting however that Ashwaganda doesn’t actually make one sleepy like Passionflower or Lavender might. Ashwaganda actually helps our bodies to naturally enter a more harmonious sleep pattern at night even when taken during the day. This is likely due to their effect on the HPA axis and cortisol levels. Ashwaganda also has an effect on blood sugar levels in the body, being overall a hypoglycemic herb, meaning they can help to reduce blood sugar in those who have difficulty in keeping their blood sugar levels stable. Additional protection to the cardiovascular system comes from Ashwaganda’s ability to also reduce cholesterol levels. Working w them brings a sense of strength, vitality & nourishment. I feel - good. I feel inspired to act, but also supported to sleep & rest as needed. An ally for those bringing change, justice & love to this world. And those fighting against the current systems. {Ashwaganda is one of the primary Plant Medicines in Revitalizing Elixir, also with Chaga + Shatavari}
Burdock
Burdock helps us to Root into our dreams, into who we are. They support us to ground & take in all the change we have gone through. To integrate the shifts that have occurred. Medicine for times of great transition, integration, change & expansion. With some immune supportive properties, they also have a bit of protection medicine; allowing us to not take in or take on harmful energies/tasks.
Their tap root is long {often 2-3 ft} reaching deep into the cool, fertile, dark soil - pulling those nutrients up & anchoring to the Earth. In this way they also help us to anchor & assimilate nutrients in our bodies. Not just food nourishment, also spiritual nourishment, soul filled relationships & anything that feeds us from deep w/in.
Physically Burdock Root is an alterative; ‘cleaning the blood’ (detoxifying), improving digestion & increasing bile secretion. In this way they help us digest & process what we take in to our bodies/spirits, as well as release what we don’t need. They are helpful for dry skin conditions like eczema & psoriasis.
They are a moistening(demulcent) Root that can help to balance the Leo fire of Summer. They are amazing for Yin deficient types:irritable, dry, false heat, low fluids, exhaustion, weak, easily fatigued,. The leaves & seeds are also Medicine. I had a dream where Burdock came to remind me to not forget the leaves. They are an amazing poultice for skin conditions, joint pain, sprains, bruises. I wonder too if they may help placed over the low back to strengthen kidney function & nourish Yin in this way.
Burdock may also help healthy aging, from within & topically. Part of their medicine actually inhibits collagen & elastin breakdown. Helping our connective tissue (skin!) & joints, which also may be nourishing Postpartum (I love them in postpartum soups).
They are a Bear Medicine, offering rest, integration, protection. Burdock helps us to make peace w where we are on our path, calling us to the present moment & helping us to move forward in an aligned, respectful, way. {Find Burdock, along with other Liver Supportive & Adaptogenic Root Medicines in Rooted Coffee Alternative}
Nettle
Nettle is what sometimes referred to as ‘nature’s multivitamin,’ because they contain so many vitamins and minerals. They are a ‘superfood’ that grows in abundance in the Xálish Medicine garden. We lovingly harvest this Nettle in the Spring and early Summer for maximum potency. High in magnesium, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, B vitamins, amino acids, folic acid, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Also rich with oxygenating chlorophyll. Nettle is one of my favourite Plant medicines - even my 4 year old enjoys a good Nettle infusion. Awakening & nourishing all of the cells in our bodies! Nettles are Native Nettles are Native to so called North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
They are part of the Urticaceae family. Nettles have been an important food Medicine & Plant
for many of our Ancestors. While all Nettle is very nourishing, provides nutrients & strengthens the body, fresh Nettle is even higher in some B vitamins and Vitamin C. You can cook with Nettle greens in a stir fry, use them fresh in a pesto, make soup, etc. Essentially you can substitute them for any greens. They are high in Vitamin A, C, K, Protein, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium Iron & other trace Minerals. One study found that an infusion of dried Nettle contains 76 mg of magnesium which is about 20-25% of the daily suggested requirement {20g infused into 500mL boiling water, steeped for 30min}. They are often worked with as an overall tonic, as mentioned. Essentially meaning they are providing tone as well as being high in many nutrients. They are quite astringent which may help to tone tissues throughout the body. They are particularly supportive for tonifying and strengthening the uterus. They may be worked with for symptoms related to a lax or prolapsed uterus, as well as dampness or heaviness felt in the womb space. Seeing as they are also a diuretic, they also may help with any fluid retention or swelling that accompanies one’s moontime. They also contain caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid which have been shown to reduce inflammation and offer a protective effect to the immune system, potentially reducing incidence of Cancer growth as well as other oxidative stressors such as premature aging and osteoarthritis.
acid may also help improve insulin sensitivity, which is also important for our immune health, reproductive hormones & diabetes prevention. I would also consider Nettle for overall depleted states, including anemia and overall fatigue, and weakness. As Nettle is tonifying it tends to remove dampness and laxity from tissues to nourish and strengthen the tissues, essentially brining back vitality - bringing the tissues back to life. Sometimes dampness can show up as feelings of heaviness in the body, or even body parts {ex. a heaviness in pelvic area, or heaviness in sinuses}. Dampness is a bit different feeling than stagnation though both can lead to feeling a lack of motivation, fatigue, no desire to ‘move,’ etc. These of course can also be absolutely ‘normal’ manifestations of low mood and even natural cycles we all ebb and flow through. {Find Nettle in abundance in Green Vitality; a deeply nourishing herbal blend with hormone balancing & remineralizing properties}
As always, there is so so much more to these Medicines than a few paragraphs can cover; however I hope this offered some insight, inspiration & a brief introduction or deepening of knowing with these relatives. Please also keep in mind we don’t cover dosage, preparation, duration, contradictions, growing, or harvesting protocols here either. Please be sure to work with our Plant kin respectfully, and seek guidance + more teachings as needed, xo
With so much Love for each of you, may we hold each other up in gentleness & remember our Rest is Medicine ♥
xo,
Dr. Jacqui, ND
Part 1 & 2 of this Blog series also covers some Heart supportive Medicines & Nervous System supportive Medicines.
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