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Browse published articles attributed to Susun Weed, with full-archive search.
Hormonal changes, emotional changes, physical changes, and all the attendant stresses of pregnancy may cause extreme fatigue and emotional swings, especially during the last trimester. One midwife advises: "This is the perfect opportunity to touch your own deep emotional truths … to acknowledge and resolve your inner disharmonies, and to recreate your life as you create another life. The emotional changes experienced during pregnancy are not to be avoided, but valued; they are cathartic and valid."
“Herbal remedies for trichomonas are among the least impressive home remedies. None are more than 50 percent effective.” (1) Trich is short for trichomonas: a single-celled, four-tailed, protozoan parasite. About five million new cases of trich are diagnosed yearly in the USA.
Using infused herbal oils is an easy and pleasurable way to keep your breasts healthy, prevent and reverse cysts, dissolve troublesome lumps, and repair abnormal cells. Breast skin is thin and absorbent, and breast tissue contains a great deal of fat, which readily absorbs infused herbal oils. The healing and cancer-preventing actions of herbs easily migrate into olive oil creating a simple, effective product for maintaining breast health.
Most herbalists, throughout history, have been fascinated with poisonous plants. This fascination, along with careful study, experimentation, and observation, has given rise to pharmacy - the use of concentrated poisons - on one hand, and to homeopathy - the use of diluted poisons - on the other.
“I am the Grandmother of all growth, all growing things, all life. I am the grandmother of bacteria and viruses as well as plants and animals, fish and insects. When you throb with life these other lives live with you. When your life force ebbs, they live on you, growing grotesque without the check of your immunity.
Even a single family member who is senile or afflicted with Alzheimer's is enough to make anyone dread the possibility. Since women have always lived longer than men, the Ancient Grandmothers have a thing or two to tell us about how to keep our memory sharp until the day we die (at 100+). These remedies are taken from my book New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way. They are arranged in order of safety, with the safest first and the most dangerous last.
Herbs are powerhouses of nutrition. Used wisely and regularly, herbs can replace costly pills and supplements, and even some drugs. For example, if you currently take fish oil capsules, omega-3 oil capsules, flax oil, or antidepressants, a switch to purslane could improve your health and save you lots of money, too.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks (9-11), many women find that they are fearful, anxious, nervous, or depressed. In this series of articles adapted from her best-selling book New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way (available through www.ashtreepublishing.com, herbalist Susun S Weed shares her favorite herbs and home remedies for dealing with fear, anxiety, nervousness, grief, depression, rage, fatigue, and sleeplessness. Her Wise Woman remedies are simple and safe to use, easy to find and buy, and amazingly effective.
If you live in any of the temperate regions of the world, whether at sea level or high in the mountains, some pine tree is likely to be growing very near you. If you live in the desert, you may have to get to the mountains before you find a pine. But wherever you live, north or south, east or west, so long as it isn't the tropics, you will find pine trees. And since they are evergreen, you can find them easily right now, in the deep of winter, when deciduous trees are bare of leaves. So the next time you take a walk or go for a drive, be on the look out for pines.
Most herbalists, throughout history, have been fascinated with poisonous plants. This fascination, along with careful study, experimentation, and observation, has given rise to pharmacy - the use of concentrated poisons - on one hand, and to homeopathy - the use of diluted poisons - on the other.
My favorite herbs for postmenopausal women are horsetail, oatstraw, red clover, stinging nettle, seaweeds, and the plants rich in flavonoids. These gentle green allies are more like foods than drugs; they offer bone-creating, heart-protecting, disease-preventing, sex-enhancing optimum nourishment to the woman in the second half of her life. HORSETAIL Equisetum arvenser Ackerschachtelhalm, Prêle des champs Horsetail is particularly rich in glycosides which nourish hormones, heart, and bones, making it a special ally for post-menopausal women.
Hawtho is the tree of May. Its many common names include whitethorn, hagthorn, ladies' meat, quickthorn, maytree, and mayblossom. Its magic and medicine are ancient and memorable. From the earliest records, hawtho is one of the sacred trees. Hawtho is the sixth tree of the Ogam cycle, Hath. Hath precedes Quer, the oak, center tree of the cycle of thirteen. Hawtho is said to guard the hinges and to oversee crafts. A branch of flowering hawtho placed in studio or workshop is believed to make the craftsperson skilled and successful. Hath shuts what is open and opens what is shut.
Snowdrops and crocus flowers herald the spring. And if you look in between them, with luck, you'll see a bright green creeping plant low to the ground with little white starry flowers: chickweed, a good friend of mine.
Here Comes the Flu Season Protect Yourself the Wise Woman Way © 2004 Susun S Weed Time to get out my long underwear and my warm wooly socks. Time to nourish my immune systems so cold days won't be days of colds -- and flu.
I aspire to be a joyous human being. As with most aspirations: It is easier said than done. Easier imagined than put into practice. Easier to search for than to have. I want joy to roll like thunder across the hills and valleys of my life; I want surging winds of joy to carry me through loss and disappointment; I want joy to be an electrical rush that lights up my entire body when I succeed. What does it take to create a joyous existence? Is it possible to experience joy daily, not just in special circumstances?
Mad Ophelia tells us: "There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance". In Shakespeare's day it was common knowledge that rosemary helped one remember. Today, as then, herbalists agree: "For weyknesse of ye brayne, sethe rosemaria in wyne and keep ye heed warme". The leaves of this tough, evergreen shrub, are valued for both medicinal and culinary uses. And, the powerful antioxidant vitamins found therein do help the brain work better.
Message from Susun - Garlic Honey - December 13th, 2011 http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2011/12/12/december-12-2011/ Dear friends of the green, One of my favorite remedies to have on hand for the winter is garlic honey. It is super easy to make and ready almost immediately to counter sore throats, colds, the flu, lung congestion, and sinus problems.
A pantry full of herbal vinegars is a constant delight. Preserving fresh herbs and roots in vinegar is an easy way to capture their nourishing goodness. It's easy too. You don't even have to have an herb garden. BASIC HERBAL VINEGAR Takes 5 minutes plus 6 weeks to prepare You will need: - glass or plastic jar of any size up to one quart/liter - plastic lid for jar or - waxed paper and a rubber band - fresh herbs, roots, weeds - one quart/liter apple cider vinegar
WISE WOMAN WAYS: PRE-MENOPAUSAL YEARS The actual age at which menopausal Change begins varies considerably from woman to woman; the norm is 45, with a normal range of 35 to 55. During these pre-menopausal years, menstrual periods may become noticeably different (closer together, farther apart, scantier, more profuse). Night sweats or hot flashes come, if at all, only occasionally and are usually blamed on too many blankets or a rich meal.
Your garden. What fun - and frustration - await you there! The best mentor you can choose, as far as I'm conce ed, is Nature herself. Nature likes life everywhere. Have an open field and plants magically appear! This is the way plants grow when left to themselves. We don't have to struggle so much.
Perhaps no aspect of breast cancer is more widely publicized than screening mammography. Ads on television, in magazines, and in the daily paper urge women to deal with fear about breast cancer by having a yearly mammogram. We’re even told that doing this is a way to “really care for yourself.”
FIRST AID FOR BACKACHE - Heat - a warm bath, a hot shower, a hydroculator, a hot water bottle, a towel dipped in boiling water - will provide temporary relief for most backaches. - Tiger Balm, Olbas, Zheng Gu Shui, Wintergreen oil and other homemade or purchased herbal liniments and rubs can penetrate into deep muscle tissue to relieve tension and pain. They work best if followed by moist heat.
Examples are in parenthesis: (with a few of the modalities available at each step) Step 0: Do Nothing (sleep, meditate, unplug the clock or the telephone) Step 1: Collect Information rn(low-tech diagnosis, books, support groups, divination) Step 2: Engage the Energy rn(prayer, homeopathy, ceremony, affirmations, laughter) Step 3: Nourish and Tonify rn(herbal infusions and vinegars, hugs, exercise, food choices, gentle massage, yoga stretches) Note: Healing with Steps 4, 5, and 6 always causes some harm. Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate
Natural Health and Healing in the Wise Woman Tradition c. 2002 Susun S Weed
Ease Those Bug Bites with Easy Herbs c. 2000, Susun S Weed
Does the odor of sage evoke warmth, cheer, and holiday feasts for you? Sage has long been used to add savor, magic, and medicine to winter meals. Culinary sage is available at any grocery store, and sage is one of the easiest of all herbs to grow - whether in a pot, on a windowsill, or in the garden. So, grab some sage, inhale deeply, and let me tell you more about this old friend.
Sit or lie down in a private, safe space (bathtub is fine). Bring all your attention to your breath. As you breathe out, imagine waves flowing out of you with your breath. Breathe out waves of water, of energy, of color, of sound. Allow these waves to flow out of you. Notice where you are tensing, pushing, trying to make the waves happen. And let go, let the waves flow out easily with your breath. Feel the gentle pulsations of the waves deep inside yourself. Feel every cell of your being pulsing peacefully and joyfully with these waves.
STEP 1. COLLECT INFORMATION Birth control, never simple or easy, is complicated incredibly by the erratic ovulations and unpatte ed menses of the premenopausal and menopausal years. Remember your high school chums who unexpectedly had a little baby brother or sister? The biological imperative to reproduce doesn't die without a struggle. This article is for those who don't want to have a(nother) child. STEP 2. ENGAGE THE ENERGY
Herbal Adventures with Susun S Weed The Rosaceae -- or rose -- family
Herbal medicine is the medicine of the people. It is simple, safe, effective, and free. Our ancestors used - and our neighbors around the world still use - plant medicines for healing and health maintenance. It's easy. You can do it too. In your first lessons, you learned how to "listen" to the messages of plant's tastes, how to make effective water-based herbal remedies, and how to distinguish safe nourishing and tonifying herbs from the more dangerous stimulating and sedating herbs.
In the Green Report, I will tell you a little about six or more plants that are green the first week of each month. I hope this will tickle your fancy and get you interested in going outside, no matter what the weather, to interact with the plants. It's my way of sharing the green blessings. Let me know how you like it... Learn more about adding these health-promoting weeds into your diet! And enjoy these articles from the archives... http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Wild_Food1.htm http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Wild_Food2.htm The Very First Green Report by Susun Weed
I love autumn, don't you? The days shorten and fall colors thrill my senses. Perennial roots get busy storing nourishment that will last them through the winter. And the meadows bloom with purple asters and riotous goldenrod flowers. Goldenrod (the Solidago genus, Asteracea family) is one of my favorite plants, and hopefully, soon it will be one of your favorites too.
One of my first, and still one of my favorite, reasons for learning about plants was to become more in tune with my environment: the weather, the flows of water, the places of special energy, Mother Nature herself.
Herbal medicine is people’s medicine. Herbal medicine is the primary medicine of most people on this planet, right now. It’s not something old and dusty. It’s not a bunch of doctors and chemists figuring out how to use herbs like drugs. Herbal medicine is a 3-year-old picking plantain and putting it on a skinned knee or an insect bite. Herbal medicine is the medicine of women and children. It is the medicine of the earth. It’s medicine that’s free. It’s not something that must be studied before it can help you. Start with one plant.
http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/ Dear friends of the green, Are you looking for the recipe for Allium Advantage Elixir? Then you have come to the right place. As you know, alliums are plants like garlic, leeks, onions, chives, ramps, and shallots. Consistent, lavish use of alliums in the diet helps to reduce the risk of many cancers, notably breast and prostate cancers. Sulphur compounds in alliums help counteract bacterial infections. Alliums are also known to help keep the heart healthy and to keep cholesterol in a healthy state. Plus alliums nourish the immune system.
To read the entire Wise Woman Herbal Ezine, including full color photos and recipes, visit: http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2012/05/01/may-1-2012/ The Green Report-Part 1 by Susun Weed – May 1st, 2012 Green greetings! We finally got some April showers. Hooray! Now there are so many flowers blooming, we have had to make three installments of the green report this month. First we will present wildflowers of the forest. Next week look for wildflowers of the fields. And the third week of the month will feature some beautiful flowers from my garden.
Herbalism, the use of plants for health and healing, is as old as humanity, if not older. In hunting/gathering societies, women are naturally the herbalists. This connection between women and herbs continues today. At the turn of the Century, herbalism in America is undergoing a renaissance. Throughout most of the rest of the world, especially in countries where women's wisdom has traditionally been honored, herbalism remains, as ever, the treatment of choice for many acute and most chronic health problems.
Plants feed us, clothe us, house us, heal us, and kill us. There’s no way around it, when you use herbs, you need to be alert and aware. Here are some ways to be sure you’re using herbs safely. - Identify all plants you intend to use by botanical name (e.g., Leonurus cardiaca). Only buy herbs that are labeled with the botanical name. The botanical name is specific to only one plant, while common names overlap and vary. “Sage” refers to at least five plants in at least two different families, but Salvia officinalis only means garden sage.
Read the entire Wise Woman Herbal Ezine here: http://wisewomanherbalezine.com/wordpress/2012/01/24/january-24-2012/ Greetings From Susun~ Dear Friends of the Green, Let’s finish up the first month of the New Year, and our focused work with the mint family, by making an herbal smoking mix. Any dried mint-family plants you have on hand can be used make a great healing smoke, especially if mixed with some mullein, and perhaps a few other herbs. Smoking can be good for the health of your lungs and your being.
"Corn rigs, an' barley rigs, An corn rigs are bonnie; I'll ne'er forget that happy night, Amang the rigs wi' Annie." It Was Upon A Lammas Night by Robert Burns The least known of the eight major Pagan holy days is Lammas, celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere on the first of August. (The other primary holy days are the Summer and Winter Solstices, the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, and the Cross Quarter Days of Beltane, May Day, and Halloween.)
We are adapted to survive mild exposures to radiation. After all, the sun is a kind of controlled nuclear bomb and it releases a lot of radiation. Of course, this radiation, and man-made radiation, can also cause cancer and a host of short- and long-term health problems.
Herbal medicine is the medicine of the people. It is simple, safe, effective, and free. Our ancestors used - and our neighbors around the world still use - plant medicines for healing and health maintenance. It's easy. You can do it too, and you don't need a degree or any special training. Ancient memories arise in you when you begin to use herbal medicine - memories which keep you safe and fill you with delight. These lessons are designed to nourish and activate your inner herbalist so you can be your own herbal expert.
As summer nights lengthen into autumn, the forests of the Catskill mountains in upstate New York fill with magical, mystical, medicinal mushrooms. "Toadstool" is a quaint name for the many mushrooms that spring forth between rains, while "fungi" is the more technical term. Fungi are plants, but plants without flowers or roots or chlorophyll (which makes plants green). Strange shapes (some quite sexually suggestive), the ability to grow (and glow) in the dark, and psychedelic colors make mushrooms an obvious addition to any witch’s stew.
Winter time is depression time for many women. Perhaps it is harder to look at the bright side when days are short, perhaps the holidays and family demands take their toll on us. Of course, depression can also be triggered by lack of thyroid hormone and by use of steroids, high blood pressure drugs, and ERT/HRT.
OPTIMUM NUTRITION: Cooked or Raw? c. 2004 Susun S Weed
The Medicine Wheel of Plant Uses by Susun Weed ©2003
Heart Healthy Excerpt from: New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, Alte ative Approaches for Women 30-90 by Susun S. Weed
“Pay attention now,” Grandmother Growth says, taking your hand and holding your gaze. “The Change known as menopause deserves your full attention.” “Pay attention now, and relax. Focus, allow, observe, surrender. Your egg basket empties; your memory basket grows heavier.”