Irish Herb Lore

by Jaime McLeod

Nearly every country and culture has its own herb lore – native plants that that were long believed to promote good health, and even good luck, to those who ate, drank, or carried them. Ireland, especially, had a wealth of herbal lore passed on by local healers well beyond the start of the Industrial age, much longer than many other European nations. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a look at some herbal remedies passed down by the “fairy doctors” of old Éire.
Comfrey Root: Used for healing minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, battling inflammation from diaper rash, varicose veins, and arthritis, and reducing swelling from bruises, sprains, or pulled muscles.
Dandelion Leaves: Used externally on wounds as an antibacterial, and to remove corns and warts. Used internally to promote healthy kidneys, prevent gallstones, fight jaundice, ease constipation, and soothe edema, joint pain, gout, eczema, and acne.
Eyebright: A solution of eyebright was used as an eyewash or compress to reduce inflammation from conjunctivitis, eyestrain, styes, and general eye irritation. It was also taken internally for allergies, bronchitis, colds, and sinus infections.
Feverfew: Used as a remedy for headaches, arthritis, fevers, skin conditions, stomach aches, and asthma. Also used to promote more regular menstrual cycles and ease childbirth.
Garlic (wild): Used to soothe coughs, asthma, and shortness of breath.
Hoarhound: Used as a cough expectorant and mild laxative, and to bring on menstruation.
Marshmallow Leaves: Used in dressings to soothe sprains and swelling.
Meadowsweet: Used to treat arthritis pain. (Contains salicylic acid, which is chemically similar to an active ingredient in aspirin).
Muellin: Used as a decongestant and expectorant for respiratory illnesses. Also used to soothe sore throats, treat diarrhea, and cure earaches.
Nettles: Used to treat rashes, eczema, arthritis, gout, and diarrhea.
Sphagnum Moss: Used to dress wounds.
Vervain: Used to promote a healthy liver, fight fatigue, reduce fever, prevent insomnia, soothe asthma, and promote more regular menstrual cycles.
Willow Bark: Used to treat arthritis pain. (Contains salicylic acid, which is chemically similar to an active ingredient in aspirin).
Yarrow: Used to reduce bleeding in wounds, ulcers, hemorrhoids, etc. Also used to reduce inflammation and treat aches and pains. (Contains salicylic acid, which is chemically similar to an active ingredient in aspirin).

Conscious Breathing

Becoming aware of your breath forces you into the present moment---the key to all inner transformation.  Whenever you are conscious of the breath, you are absolutely present---Eckhart Tolle

            Being conscious of our breath is very important, and deep breathing is a wonderful tool for centering.  The breath is one of the greatest, most natural antidepressants available to us.  Our breath is the pathway to our God-center; it can help us to quiet our fast-paced minds.  It can refresh us like cool water on a hot summer day.

            When we get upset, the shallowness of our breathing causes a buildup of toxins, which can create a feeling of tension and grief.  Take a deep breath and slowly release it; do this three times to release tension, and to become fully present.  Watch each breath, following it down to the opening of your lungs.

            My personal prescription for tension, fear, depression or confusion is a brisk walk.  A walk around the block or inside your office building can help to clear your mind and body of toxins and will bring grater clarity, and an awakening of the brilliance that lives within you.  Try conscious breathing.  It’s free!  It will free you and your mind for greater clarity.  Have fun!

In this moment, allow the breath of life to be breathed in to you.  Welcome the calmness as you follow the fresh air into your lungs. 

Our Authentic Self

Self-importance hurts us, limiting us to the narrow world of our likes and dislikes.  We end up bored to death with ourselves and our world.  We end up never satisfied.---Pema Chodron

Finding our authentic self is a process of opening, learning and uncovering our unique expression.  The more we honor and embrace our individuality, who we are and all that we are, the more fully we are able to discover the true holiness of our lives.

Accepting everything we think and feel, laughing at our quirks and idiosyncrasies, allows us to go deeper into uncovering the origin of true self. 

If you view life as working against you, thinking that you are not enough, you can be left feeling empty and afraid.  Comparing yourself to others and feeling as though you are not as good or worthy means you are separate from the greater truth.

Within each of us is a sacred essence, and the tip of the iceberg we see is only a small part of our greatness.  The authentic self is the majesty of Good, alive within each and every one of us.  We are filled with a divine intelligence, and our job is to uncover our uniqueness within it.

The purity that lives within each one of us is our quest.

Stories

Live out of your imagination, not your history---Stephen Covey

We tend to live in our “stories”…those negative events of our lives we just can’t let go of.  It’s easy to repeat the stories of how we have been cheated or victimized by life.  In repeating these stories to anyone who is willing to listen to them, we keep the negative event alive.

If we truly want life to be different, we must give up our stories.  As long as we keep watering those experiences, we give life to the pain they created.  I believe that if you are stuck in your past story, it keeps you from seeing the self-destructive patterns and habits that you’re engaged in the present.

 We keep our stories alive by believing our old experiences are all that we deserve.  It is clear to me that when we are conscious of our negative self-talk, we can begin to find freedom from negative patterns.  It’s essential to develop a compassionate understanding of who we are. 

          The heartaches of the past are the devils of the present and the creators of evil in the future.  When we live in the past, we no longer can create in the present.  We live on what was, continuously watching old reruns over and over.

          Since the present is where we create our future, we choose our thoughts carefully and bless and release the power of the past. 

We give thanks for the power that operates in us now---DJ

Spiritual Awareness

You have been invited to meet the Friend.

Hafiz, I Heard God Laughing

          I have become completely convinced that our destinies as human beings are to become spiritually self-aware.  I am not  talking that  this awareness as something that is delivered up by any particular religion, as much as I believe that our individual, spiritual journey is what brings us light.

          I also believe that we have come to a time in human development when we must become spiritually involved and evolved.  If we don’t, we may become dangerous.  What could be more spiritually unaware than killing other people in God’s name?

          It is not for us to walk away in uncaring apathy; nor can we waste time in anger and dismay when we have at hand the best of all inspirational tools:  prayer, meditation, and acts based on love.  Talk and prayer begin healing, but healing is promoted through self-acceptance, forgiveness and acts of humanity.

          We have gifts to bring, the gifts of ourselves, our love and our service to life.  We don’t need permission to behave in this way.  We simply choose it, do the best we can and know that light is behind us and before us.

We have a mission, a spiritual mandate, and this is to bring the best of ourselves, our thoughts and our actions as our gifts to life.  So to become spiritually evolved, we must become involved.