Mayapple aka American Mandrake
from "Peterson Guide to Eastern/Central Medicinal Herbs"
Perennnial; 12-18 in. Leaves Smooth, paired , umbrella like; distinctive. A single white flower, to 1 in. across, droops down from crotch of leaves: April-June. Fruit is globe shaped to egg shaped, about 2 in. long; edible but relished by rodents who collect as soon as ripe, robbing humans of a wild food ( me: heaven forbid they should do that, have we robbed them? sarcasm)July, -August, woods, clearings S. ME to FLA; Texas to Minn.
Uses: American Indians and early settlers used roots a a strong purgative, "liver cleanser", emetic, worm repellant; for jaundice, constipation,hepatitus, fevers, and syphilis. Resin from root, podophyllin ( highly allergic) used to treat venerial warts. Extract active against herpes,influenza, and vaccina viruses.
Podophyllotoxin, an important lignan from the root has anti-cancer and anti-malarial activity. Two semisynthetic derivatives, etoposide and teniposide are used in chemotherapy against several cancer types. Sales of the compounds exceed 200 million per year; etoposide is used in combination with other compounds for testicular cancers and as a primary treatment for small lung cell cancer. Also for various forms of leukemia. Teniposide is used for certain childhood leukemias. Fruits edible. Warning: Tiny amounts of root or leavess. Powdered root and resin can cause skin and eye problems.
Mayapple is everywhere in these Appalachian foothills and I am so very happy to be back here where the medicine plants are starting to come back and thrive again. Kinda like we herbalists and folks who choose to "Heal Ourselves", we are starting to remember what our ancestors knew.
"The Cherokees believed that every tree shrub and herb, down even to the grasses and mosses, agreed to furnish a cure for some one of the diseases". Sarah H. Hill from
"Weaving New Worlds"
Me , I believe in the HMO: Herbal Medicine Only.
Here is a simple liver tonic from Rosemary Gladstar( my personal herb goddess):
try www.sagemountain.com
or Search Rosemary Gladstar
Blessed Liver Tea Blend:
3 parts Nettle Leaf
2 parts Dandelion leaf,
1 part Alfalfa
1 part Chamomile flowers
2 parts Red Clover
2 parts Lemon Balm
pinch of Stevia for taste
Boil water
put all herbs into a glass container and steep
As a general rule: Leaves are for steeping, roots are for simmering ( at least 30 minutes)
This is all a part of The Simpler Method of Herbal Medicine
Peace and Happy healing, Annie B.
P.S.check out my other blog( shared with folks who came to the weeklong Strawbale Building Workshop at Blue Rock Station)
www.mayapplestrawbale.blogspot.com
I am trying to get some of the pictures from that week put onto it... from folks who were there, hint hint...but pateince, patience....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Turtle Island-Gary Snyder
IT IS HARD TO EVEN BEGIN TO GAUGE how much a complication of possesions, the notions of "my and mine," stand between us and a true, clear, liberated way of seeing the world. To live lightly on the earth, to be aware and alive, to be free of egotism, to be in contact with plants and animals, starts with simple concrete acts. The inner priciple is the insight that we are interdependent energy-fields of great potential wisdom and compassion-expressed in each person as a superb mind, a handsome and complex body, and the most magical capacity of language. To these potentials and capacities, "owning things" can add nothing of authenticity.
"Clad in the sky, with the earth for a pillow."
"Clad in the sky, with the earth for a pillow."
More From Linda Hogan
From Dwellings:
Fritjof Capra Wrote: "Doing work that has to be done over and over again helps us to recognize the natural cycles of growth and decay, of birth and death, and thus become aware of the dynamic order of the universe." And it is true, in whatever we do,the brushing of hair, the cleaning of cages, we begin to see the larger order of things. In this place life occupies, and with death. Like one of those early physicians who discovered the strange, inner secrets of our human bodies, I'm filled with awe at the very presence of life, not just the birds, but a horse contained in its living fur, a dog alive and running. What a marvel it is, the fine shape life takes in all of us. It is equally marvelous that life is quickly turned back to the earth colored ants and the soft white maggots that are time's best and closest companions. To sit with the eagles and their flute-like songs, listening to the longer flute of wind sweep through the lush grasslands, is to begin to know the natural laws that exist apart from our own written ones.
-LINDA HOGAN "Waking Up the Rake", from Dwellings
Fritjof Capra Wrote: "Doing work that has to be done over and over again helps us to recognize the natural cycles of growth and decay, of birth and death, and thus become aware of the dynamic order of the universe." And it is true, in whatever we do,the brushing of hair, the cleaning of cages, we begin to see the larger order of things. In this place life occupies, and with death. Like one of those early physicians who discovered the strange, inner secrets of our human bodies, I'm filled with awe at the very presence of life, not just the birds, but a horse contained in its living fur, a dog alive and running. What a marvel it is, the fine shape life takes in all of us. It is equally marvelous that life is quickly turned back to the earth colored ants and the soft white maggots that are time's best and closest companions. To sit with the eagles and their flute-like songs, listening to the longer flute of wind sweep through the lush grasslands, is to begin to know the natural laws that exist apart from our own written ones.
-LINDA HOGAN "Waking Up the Rake", from Dwellings
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
More recommended Reading
Recommended Reading for Our times
These two books are not new, but are new to me and very timely for many things I have been dealing with lately. The first is Being and Vibration by Joseph Rael and the second is Dwellings: a Spiritual History of the Living World by Linda Hogan. I have read many of Linda Hogan’s Books and compellations with other authors in the past
( one being The Sweet Breathing of Plants by Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson) but Joseph Rael is fairly new to me. I had been getting Vibrational and Sound healing as well as acupuncture from an amazing healer, Katie Briggs http://www.resonationacupuncture.com/ for well over a year ( maybe 2?). I came across this book at Gateways in Santa Cruz this past January and I have been reading it very slowly, often times re-reading many parts. It explains vibration and healing in a way that I can understand it. Both of these authors are a big giant Earth blessing for all us. Read ’em if you can.
A timely quote from Goethe:
“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative( and creation) there is one elemental truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans~ that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves all. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision raising in our favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man (or woman, insert mine) could have dreamed would come his (or her) way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” Goethe
P.S. I "lost" my job at the Lighthouse and was forced to leave the coast for a little while. The good news is that I may finally get my chance to begin my dream of learning to build a strawbale house. I have had this dream for many years and might have found the most serendipitous place to learn. The hardest part of leaving the coast is/was having to cancel my upcoming opening that was scheduled for June at M Coffee. I am so very sorry Max (yes he knows). Please support this long time Half Moon Bay cafe. Stay tuned. Be well. Peace, Annie B.
These two books are not new, but are new to me and very timely for many things I have been dealing with lately. The first is Being and Vibration by Joseph Rael and the second is Dwellings: a Spiritual History of the Living World by Linda Hogan. I have read many of Linda Hogan’s Books and compellations with other authors in the past
( one being The Sweet Breathing of Plants by Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson) but Joseph Rael is fairly new to me. I had been getting Vibrational and Sound healing as well as acupuncture from an amazing healer, Katie Briggs http://www.resonationacupuncture.com/ for well over a year ( maybe 2?). I came across this book at Gateways in Santa Cruz this past January and I have been reading it very slowly, often times re-reading many parts. It explains vibration and healing in a way that I can understand it. Both of these authors are a big giant Earth blessing for all us. Read ’em if you can.
A timely quote from Goethe:
“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative( and creation) there is one elemental truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans~ that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves all. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision raising in our favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man (or woman, insert mine) could have dreamed would come his (or her) way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” Goethe
P.S. I "lost" my job at the Lighthouse and was forced to leave the coast for a little while. The good news is that I may finally get my chance to begin my dream of learning to build a strawbale house. I have had this dream for many years and might have found the most serendipitous place to learn. The hardest part of leaving the coast is/was having to cancel my upcoming opening that was scheduled for June at M Coffee. I am so very sorry Max (yes he knows). Please support this long time Half Moon Bay cafe. Stay tuned. Be well. Peace, Annie B.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Finally the courage to show my art!
Thanks To Max at M.Coffee in Half Moon Bay, California, I have scheduled my first art opening. The opening will be during the first week of June 2009 and some of my art and collages will hang on the walls of this sweet long-time (surviving local) cafe for the entire month!
I'll keep looking for other places to show in the meantime but I hope that you will attend my opening. It will most likely be the first Friday of that month., June the 5th at around 7:00 pm. (TBA)
Peace to all, Annie B. see the next few posts from today for more glimpses and gratitudes!
How Acupuncture and Art have saved my ass ( and er my spirit as well)
It has been a long time since I have been able to blog as I crashed my laptop a few times and it took a while to get it back. Thanks to Steve the computer magician in Santa Cruz, for saving me, once again. A big portion of my personal healing, through a spring/ summer of what I will just call blessings and difficulties on the road to transformation
has been facilitated with the help of many amazing spirits and forces... , a few of which I would like to Thank now via this universal blog, my eddy in the river o'life.
For over a year now, I have been fortunate enough to be experiencing the kaleidoscope of healing modalities offered by one, Katie B. in Santa Cruz. Thank You KB from all the corners and edges of my being.
Thanks too for my Mom and Dad, Trish, Kristen and Teresa , and Emily for listening, loving, trying to understand.
Thank You for the art of Frida Kahlo, some of which is currently on display in the SF Moma.
By seeing it ( Thanks too to the woman at the info desk on July 11th who had the wisdom, compassion and love, to hand me a free ticket! ) I will be forever changed and now understand oh so much more about the origins and universality of my own art.
Wherever you are, Frida Kahlo, I truly understand who you were, and why you are so very important for this time in which we live.
Thanks to all -of -all of my ancestors and dna, that makes me who I am today. My love of this planet, love of art,writing,books,travel,herbal medicine, mysticism, spirituality,plant healing,music and laughter, all come from you, the ones who came before.
And Thank You, oh Thank You to Meryl Streep (my favorite actress) and all of the divine folks who had anything to do with the making of the musical, Mama Mia. I will never forget the joy, the dancing, the laughter and that BLUE that is within us all.
I saw it last night (7/31/08) and again, forever changed.
Thank You Great Spirit, for everything...ALL THAT IS.
has been facilitated with the help of many amazing spirits and forces... , a few of which I would like to Thank now via this universal blog, my eddy in the river o'life.
For over a year now, I have been fortunate enough to be experiencing the kaleidoscope of healing modalities offered by one, Katie B. in Santa Cruz. Thank You KB from all the corners and edges of my being.
Thanks too for my Mom and Dad, Trish, Kristen and Teresa , and Emily for listening, loving, trying to understand.
Thank You for the art of Frida Kahlo, some of which is currently on display in the SF Moma.
By seeing it ( Thanks too to the woman at the info desk on July 11th who had the wisdom, compassion and love, to hand me a free ticket! ) I will be forever changed and now understand oh so much more about the origins and universality of my own art.
Wherever you are, Frida Kahlo, I truly understand who you were, and why you are so very important for this time in which we live.
Thanks to all -of -all of my ancestors and dna, that makes me who I am today. My love of this planet, love of art,writing,books,travel,herbal medicine, mysticism, spirituality,plant healing,music and laughter, all come from you, the ones who came before.
And Thank You, oh Thank You to Meryl Streep (my favorite actress) and all of the divine folks who had anything to do with the making of the musical, Mama Mia. I will never forget the joy, the dancing, the laughter and that BLUE that is within us all.
I saw it last night (7/31/08) and again, forever changed.
Thank You Great Spirit, for everything...ALL THAT IS.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)