Lore of the Mighty Oak
In Worship of Trees
Written and Compiled by George Knowles
Grandfather Oak -
The Oak tree (Quercus robur) was thought to have been a primary focus of worship long before the Druids of ancient times give prevalence and significance to other trees. It was believed that the oak was the first tree created by god and its fruit, the Acorn, the first food of mankind. there have been some notable exceptions down through the centuries. The most famous perhaps is the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, once associated with Robin Hood. Still standing today though it requires support to prevent its collapse, it measures 64 feet (20 meters) around its girth. The Fairlop Oak in Hainault Forest measured 36 feet in girth, the spread of its branches extending above it reach out to some 300 feet in circumference.
Of old, the strength and elasticity of the oak made it particularly valuable for house building and shipbuilding. The "Wooden Walls of England" is an old phrase of many connotations; one meaning refers to the stately homes of England which gave rise to another phrase "hearts of oak", for the Englishman literally made his home from oak.
Folklore and Myths:
Since time began the oak was revered by many cultures, the Greeks held it sacred, the Romans dedicated it to Jupiter, and the Druids venerated it. The Greek historian Herodotus (often called the "father of history" 484? - 425? BC.) reported that the sacred oak grove at Dodona had the greatest reputation for the gifts of prophecy. An ancient legend tells of two black doves that flew from the Egyptian city of Thebes, one flew to the Libyan Ammon and the other flew to Dodona. Each alighted on an oak tree and so began the oracular oak cults dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses. To the ancients this was a channel through which the power of the thunder gods reached down to mankind and so the oak became associated with the element of fire.
The god most associated with the oak tree is Thor (also known as: Thorr, Thunor, Thonar, Donar, Donner, Thur, Thunar, or Thunaer), who in Norse mythology was the supreme god of thunder and the sky. Thor was the eldest son of Odin, and was second only to him in the hierarchy of the Norse pantheon. He was also one of the most popular of the gods due to his relationship with mankind. Thor is often depicted as a tall, muscular and vigorous man with a red beard. He had an enormous appetite and his ability to eat and drink great quantities is featured in several of his legends. Thor was the principal champion of the gods and the chief protector of humans against giants, trolls, demons and other evil beings. Mjolnir the magical hammer was reputedly made by dwarves from the wood of a sacred oak tree. When travelling Thor rode in a chariot made from oak drawn by two goats, Tanngnjostr (Tooth-gnasher) and Tanngrisnir (Tooth-grinder) , and when moving across the heavens dispensing weather, it produced the rumblings of thunder and sparks of lightening from its wheels. Thor and his followers undertook many expeditions to Jotunheim (Iceland) the land of the frost giants, and there erected high-seated pillars of oak.
Oak through the ages was revered by many cultures particularly for its protective qualities, and in Britain it still stands proud as the "King of the Forest". In early Celtic times certain oaks were marked with a protective symbol, a circle divided into four equal parts (symbolic of the four elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water), this was probably a forerunner of the magic pentacle (an up-right five pointed star in-side a circle, symbolic of the four elements plus "spirit"). Other myths and legends involving the oak include "Merlin", the mystical wizard, magician and seer who helped King Arthur. It was believed that Merlin was born in Carmarthen in Wales, and there worked his magick in a grove of oaks supposedly using the topmost branch of an oak tree as his wand. According to history, the oak tree was a place of worship where the people could be preached too, the trees used for this purpose became known as "Gospel Oaks".
Bark:
Oak bark is grey-brown in colour and distinctly gnarled and furrowed. It contains some 15 - 20 per cent of tannin, and is used universally for tanning leather as well as making dyes. The bark is collected from the tree normally during April and May it being easier to strip at this time before the leaf buds open and its sap begins to flow again. For dyeing purposes an infusion of the oak bark mixed with a small quantity of copperas yields a dye of a purplish colour, and was used by Scottish Highlanders to dye woollens and yarn. Mixed with "alum" it produces a brown dye, with "salt of iron" a black dye, and with "salt of tin" a yellow dye.
In August at the height of the summer when most other trees are wilting from the heat, the oak produces a new leaf called "Lammas shoots" thus adding new colour and freshness to the tree. These new leafy shoots are golden-pink when young, turning from pale to dark green as they harden. In autumn the oak tree is at its most majestic as its leaves change colour again turning from dark green to various shades of yellow, orange, russet and a pale golden brown. The leaves sometime stay on the tree until the following spring or until the new buds forming for the next year push them off. Once ripe the oak drops its fruit providing food in abundance for many of the forests animals. Left uneaten, the acorn will sprout tiny shoots and root in any fertile earth, thus producing a new sapling tree and the cycle of life and growth begins again.
Medicinal uses:
Most parts of the tree are used medicinally and its healing effects are many and varied. The distilled water of the oak leaf bud can be taken internally or used externally to relieve minor inflammations. Bruised oak leaves applied externally to wounds and haemorrhoids will also help reduce and ease inflammation. The bark of the tree is the part most used in medicine being tonic, astringent and antiseptic. As with other astringents it is recommended for use in agues and haemorrhages.
The medicinal qualities of the bark can be extracted both by water and by spirit. As a decoction it has a strong astringent and bitter taste with a slightly aromatic odour. To make it, collect some bark (best in the spring April or May) from some young trees and dry it in the sun before chopping it. Use 1 oz. of bark in a quart of water and boil it down to a pint. It can then be taken in a wineglass measure or dose, and used as a gargle mouthwash for chronic sore throats, or applied locally to bleeding gums and piles. Also used in hot baths for chilblains and frostbite or as a hot compress for inflamed glands, hernias and haemorrhoids. A stronger decoction taken by the spoonful is useful in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery.
Oak bark when finely ground and powdered makes a remedial snuff that can be inhaled to arrest nosebleeds. It has also proved beneficial in the early stages of consumption. Sprinkled onto bed sheets it will help to alleviate bedsores. A pinch of powered oak bark mixed with honey and taken in the mornings will help and aid ladies with menstrual problems. Ground and powdered acorns taken with water was considered a useful tonic for diarrhoea, and a decoction of acorns and oak bark made with milk, was used as an antidote to poisonous herbs and medicines. In old times, the thin skin of the acorn was used to cover open cuts or wounds, and ground and powdered acorns taken in wine was considered a good diuretic.
Magical Uses:
Due to the oaks many associations and characteristics, it is used symbolically on many ritual occasions, for instance in February during the festival of Imbolc, the spirits of the oak tree can be invoked to aid and lend strength to the goddess as she sleeps having given birth to the new god. It can also be asked to aid and acknowledge the new God as he grows in strength to become the new light of the year. In March at the festival of Ostara (the Spring Equinox) when the Goddess returns from the Underworld, the oak tree can be invoked to aid her as she blankets the earth with fertility bringing new life to the lands and pastures, also to lend strength to the new god as he stretches and grows to maturity inducing all living creatures out of hibernation to mate and reproduce.
The Beltane festival in May marks the courtship of the Goddess and God and the renewal of the ancient marriage of polarity. The oak tree is invoked for its associations with weddings and fertility. In June, Litha the Summer Solstice festival embraces the beginning of summer when earth is awash with the fertility of the Goddess and God. The oak is again invoked for its associations with the gods of thunder and rain to aid the growth of crops. At the Lammas festival in August it's the time of the first harvest and the time when the plants of spring begin to shrivel and die. At this time the oak is called for its regenerative powers, for as the other plants begin to wither and die the oak produces its Lammas shoots in conformation that the cycle of life will continue.
September (Mabon) is the Autumn Equinox and completes the harvest begun at Lammas. Nature declines and draws back its bounty in readiness for the winter and it's time of rest. At this time the oak is revered for now it drops it own harvest of acorns, these then feed and nourish the forest animals as they stock their larders ready for hibernation and the bleak cold months of the coming winter. The God now dies as a willing sacrifice and descends into the earth to the Underworld, there to await his renewal and rebirth by the Goddess. The oak trees spirits can be invoked and all the trees attributes called upon to ease the gods decent with strength, courage and comfort while aiding the goddess with its male procreative qualities and powers of fertility.
The protective qualities of the oak were well known and used in magick, and many of the old customs are still practiced in country villages. Carrying a small piece of oak on your person will bring about a sense of security and well-being as well as protection from harm. Two twigs of oak tied together with red thread to form an equal armed cross is an age old talisman that can be worn or hung up in the home for protection, strength and security against evil. Acorns placed on window-ledges will guard against lightening strikes. As the oak tree is so firmly planted and deep-rooted it symbolizes permanency, and as our feet are constantly in touch with the ground this symbolism can be used magically to aid our feet. Before going on a long journey, be it in your own country or abroad, soak your feet in a footbath infusion of oak bark and leaves. This will not only relieve weary feet, but also guide you on your journey and ensure you're save return.
To catch a falling oak leaf will bring you luck and prosperity, and you shall suffer no colds throughout the winter. If someone is sick or poorly in the home, place an oak log on the fire to warm the house; it will help to "draw-off" the illness. Carrying an acorn is thought to guard against illness and pain, it is also thought to aid longevity and preserve youthfulness. The acorn with its symbolic representation of the glans penis was much used in love magick and fertility rites, for which use phallic shaped wands were made and tipped with an acorn. In olden days young women would place two acorns in a bowl of water to find out if she had found true love, if they moved together "yes" if they moved apart "no".
The ancients and druids of old used the oak tree for divination purposes when planning the next seasons farming work. By carefully studying the leafing sequences of different trees, they could determine when to plant the next seasons crops. An old proverb relating to this has been passed down through the centuries and is still used to predict the weather in many country districts:
"If the Oak's before the Ash,
Then you'll only get a splash;
If the Ash before the Oak,
Then you might expect a soak."
Another more precise method of divination is the use of "oak galls" or "oak apples" as they are commonly known. I can do no better here than to quote a paragraph from one of the many books I have used to compile this writing, a brilliant book called "Tree Wisdom" in which "Jacqueline Memory Paterson" quotes from "Gerard" who states:
"Galls were broken into at specific times of the year (probably spring and autumn) and what was found in them foretold the sequence of the coming seasons. If an ant was found inside the gall it foretold plenty of grain to come, if a spider, there would be "a pestilence among men", if a white worm or maggot, there would be a "murrain" of beasts or cattle. If the worm flew away (presumably found at its metamorphic stage of becoming a gall-wasp or flying insect), it signified war, if the worm crept, it foretold scarceness of harvest, and if it turned about, it foreshadowed the plague. Such a record also gives us an indication of the harsh concerns of earlier times."
Galls:
The longevity of the oak and its statuesque nature makes it a veritable "garden in the forest". Animals, birds, plant life, fungi and insects of all kinds find a home within its massive frame. Of all the insects that find sanctuary, the most persistent and harmful is the "gall wasp". The gall wasp (Cynipidaie) is a tiny hymenopteran insect that attacks the tree and lays its eggs. The eggs develop into larva, which in turn produces the galls. The galls (commonly called oak apples) appear sometime on the leaves but mainly on the bare branches of the tree during winter. Looking like hard brown balls at the end of its twigs and feeding on the sap of the tree, they do much damage and mischief to the tree by checking and distorting its growth.
Medicinally galls are the most powerful of all vegetable astringents. It is used as a tincture internally in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea and cholera, and as an injection in gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea. Preparations of gall are usually applied as a local astringent externally, mainly as a gall ointment (1 oz. of powdered galls and 4 oz. of benzoated lard) and applied to painful haemorrhoids. It can also be used to arrest haemorrhages from the nose and gums. An infusion may be used as a gargle for inflamed tonsils etc.
The oak is known by many folk names such as: Father of the Woods, King of the Forests, Royal Oak, Tree of Britain, White Oak, Duir, Jove's Nuts, Gospel Oak and Juglan. Its deity associations are with: Hecate, Dione, Diana, Rhea, Cybele, Circe, Athene, Demeter, Bridgid, Bridhe, St Briget, Blodeuwedd and Cerridwen. Zeus, Hercules, Pan, Jehovah, Esus, Odin, Thor, Dagda, Herne and Janus. Its planet ruler is Jupiter, with close associations to the Sun. Its associated element is Fire. It is used to attract the powers needed for: Protection, Health and Healing, Fertility, Luck, Money, Joviality and Potency.
Astrologically oak people (i.e. those who are born during the month of May) are robust, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent and sensible. They do not like change, keep their feet on the ground, and are people of action. Even when faced with over riding stress, hurt or pain, oak people come out on top better and stronger and more grounded than before. Instead of bending under stress, hurt and pain, they adapt and grow until they overcome it.
http://www.controve rscial.com/ Oak.htm
Lord of the Trees
A poem by Mike (Nature1) -
Strange how my mind thinks, as I walk beside the trees.
The ancient oak trees forming links, with their breath of wisdom reaching me.
Their lineage is unbroken in the vastness of time.
How do I respond as I walk past their line?
My thoughts are of sharing in their wisdom and dark.
Sensations of floatation as my hands clasp around the bark.
Knowledge of ancient wisdom transcends the calm thoughts of time.
A warmth deep inside forms as I acknowledge his sign.
Energy flows upwardly from below my knees.
Awareness takes over me, it comes from the Trees.
Thoughts of yesterday's anger begin to fade.
As the pieces of broken lives are being re-made.
My mind is with the leaves as they float down to the ground.
My pain has all gone without but a sound.
Who can tell me better than the trees?
How to live life, like the birds and the bees?
Knowing always that everything comes in three's,
The words, the wisdom, and The Lord of the Trees.
http://uk.groups. yahoo.com/ group/allseasons
Myths and Lore.
Since time began the tree has been recognized as a symbol of life and regeneration and to some of sacred knowledge. To primitive man the tree and its by-products were a source used in all aspects of life. It offered Shelter from the elements, Food from its fruit, Heat from a fire, Clothing from its bark and Tools as well as Weapons from its wood. Little wonder then that the tree evolved as one of the earliest symbols of reverence to worship.
Of old the Oak tree was thought to have been the primary symbol of worship and then other trees were given prevalence. Trees in general were believed to have been the God incarnate. Kings, Queens, Emissaries, Priests and Priestesses all carried branches of Oak (or those of the other sacred trees) as symbols of their authority. The Staff (also made from rowan, walnut, birch and beech) became a symbol that the bearer was an emissary of the gods.
Tree symbolism was common throughout continental Europe and the British Isles and appears in the lore and mythology of many cultures. Some believed that giant trees supported the World, others like the Greco-Romans believed that the Gods themselves transformed into trees. The Celts and Teutons believed that the first human beings were descendant from trees.
In many Pagan beliefs the tree was considered magical, it's roots extended beneath the earth and beneath the earth was a realm of great mystery. This was the Underworld, the predominant place of the God and ancestral spirits. But so did a trees branches bare fruit and reach up into the heavens another realm of great mystery and the predominant place of the Goddess, where the physical manifestations of both the God and Goddess could be seen in the Sun, Moon and Stars. Birds were thought to be the messengers of the gods and they often nest in trees to rear their young, so the trunk of the tree itself became a bridge between the worlds.
The old mystical belief of 'as above, so below' came from trees. The tree has two equal parts, the top that reached into the heavens - 'as above', and a virtually identical part that reached deep down into the earth - 'as below'. This refers to the belief that whatever is in the unseen world is replicated and manifest in the physical world (one of the basic principles behind all magic). As the tree physically unites the heaven with the earth, so the Goddess and God became one.
In folklore many pagan gods sacrificed themselves on trees, an act that reunited them with the 'all that is' and the afterlife of reincarnation. In some traditions it was believed that only women could enter the afterlife (known to some as 'Tir-na-nog' , or the 'Land of the Forever Young') and that man must first be reabsorbed into the womb before passing on. The tree with its all-reaching circle of life, death, earth and sky fulfills this symbolism.
Nature spirits and elementals are believed to dwell in trees, normally indisposed to helping humans, they could under certain circumstances be partitioned to aid in magic and to communicate with deities. Tree fairies lived high up in the branches watching out for children and laughing at human folly, while gnomes the earth elementals were said to make their homes in the roots of oak trees. There they could watch out and protect all of earths creatures.
Trees were also used to bind and trap evil spirits. This was normally done through the use of prayers and spells. In folklore trees were often planted over the graves of evil magicians and wicked witches to keep their spirits from returning and harassing the living. It was believed that the trees roots trapped their souls beneath the earth in that realm of great mystery.
While trees had always been considered sacred, much of their associations have been credited to the ancient Druids. It was the druids that developed the practice of tree magick particularly in relation to healing. They devised rituals and methods of divination using trees, and codified the Celtic calendar by allocating a tree to each of the 13 yearly phases of the moon, each tree being sacred to either the Goddess or God.
Starting with Samhain in November the original beginning of the Celtic new year, I list here the 13 trees (actually 12 trees and one plant the 'Ivy') with their noon associations and their general magical properties. Other associations and correspondences can be found under their individual titles:
Birch - November - Samhain - also known as the Moon of Inception and/or Moon of Beginnings. Magical properties - Protection of children and Purification.
Rowan - December - Yule - also known as the Moon of Vision and/or the Astral Travel Moon. Magical properties - Healing and Empowerment.
Ash - January - Ostara - also known as the Moon of Waters. Magical properties - Prosperity, Protection and Healing.
Alder - February - also known as the Moon of Utility, Moon of Efficacy or Moon of Self-Guidance. Magical properties - Completeness and Spirituality.
Willow - March - Imbolc - also known as the Witches Moon and/or Moon of Balance. Magical properties - Love, Healing, Protection and Fertility.
Hawthorn - April - Beltane - also known as the Moon of Restraint and/or Moon of Hindrance. Magical properties - Fertility, Peace and Prosperity.
Oak - May - also known as the Moon of Strength and/or Moon of Security. Magical properties - All positive purposes.
Holly - June - Litha - also known as the Moon of Encirclement and/or Moon of Polarity. Magical properties - Protection, Prophecy and all magick for animals.
Hazel - July - also known as the Moon of the Wise and/or Crone Moon. Magical properties - Manifestation, Protection and Fertility.
Vine - August - Lughnasadh - also known as the Moon of Celebration. Magical properties - Prosperity, Protection, Healing, Inspiration and Spirituality.
Ivy - September - Madon - also known as the Moon of Buoyancy and/or Moon of Resilience. Magical properties - Healing, Protection, Cooperation and Exorcism.
Reed - October - also known as the Moon of the House, Hearth Moon or the Moon of Truth. Magical properties - Fertility, Love and Protection.
Elder - Last two days of October and first day of November - also known as the Moon of Completeness. Magical properties - Prosperity, Healing, Banishing and Exorcism.
Thanksgiving Blessing By Abby Willowroot
Thanksgiving, of course, is a day to give thanks. Light candles in white or
harvest colors, and place them in front of you.
Also surround yourself with images of things you are thankful for.
Speak this blessing:
Thank you, Earth,
For your abundant bounty.
I gratefully receive your gifts and blessings.
For the air I breathe,
I thank the plants and trees.
The air, the fire,
The water, and the earth.
Thank you for sustaining my life
And nourishing me.
For the blessings of loved ones, who help me along life's path.
I am thankful.
My life is full to overflowing
with gifts of ancestors.
Courageous souls who
survived,
And made my life possible.
Thank you great spirits of the cosmos,
for the lessons I sometimes try to avoid,
But which I need.
And for the joys and pains which open my spirit and expand my heart.
I am grateful for health, abundance, and challenges, each unique.
Thank you all who have touched my life's journey.
Each new day is a gift,
To which I pledge the best of myself.
For the blessings of life's great circle continue in me.
From the cave to the stars,
I have always been and will always be.
I am rich in the things that matter.
With my deepest gratitude,
I offer my blessings to all on this day.
Source: Llewellyn
BERGAMOT CITRUS BERGAMIA
Uplifting, refreshing and relaxing. Encourages cheerful emotions and ideal for depression. Its delicate, sweet aroma can also be used to freshen and uplift a room. Citrus Bergamia is a small tree about 4.5m high with smooth oval leaves. It belongs to the same family as the orange tree. The essential oil comes from the small round fruits which ripen from green to yellow, similar to oranges in appearance.
Distribution
Native to Morocco and tropical Asia it is grown commercially in the Ivory Coast and is extensively cultivated in Southern Italy. It was first cultivated around Bergamo, from where it takes its name.
History / Traditions
The fruit has been used for hundreds of years in Italian folk medicine. However the fruit was unknown outside Italy and wasn't exported until recent times. The oil was primarily used for the treatment of fever and intestinal worms.
Extraction
The essential oil is produced by cold expression of the peel of the nearly ripe fruit. Although many oils are produced by mechanical processes, the best quality oil is produced by hand.
General Description
The oil is a light greenish yellow liquid with an uplifting citrus aroma and balsamic overtones. On aging the oil turns to a brownish olive color. The oil is known to have about 300 components the main being linalyl acetate 30-60%; linalol 11-22% and other alcohols, sesquiterpenes, terpenes, alkanes, and furocoumarins 0.3-0.39%
Aromatherapy uses
Bergamot oil has a strong affinity for the urinary tract and is valuable in the treatment of cystitis and urethritis. It should be used in the bath or as a local wash at a 1% dilution. In helping with mental and psychological states, Bergamot is most valuable for its uplifting effects. For tension anxiety or depression, bergamot should be used in a massage oil or in a dally bath. The fragrance blends well with lavender, neroli, jasmine, geranium, chamomile, lemon, cypress and juniper. bergamot can be used in the treatment of tensions causing dietary problems such as over and under eating. The antiseptic qualities of Bergamot make it ideal for the treatment of skin complaints such as acne, oily skin and all infections of the skin. Bergamot is cooling in feverish conditions and has effective insect repellent properties. Bergamot has an inhibiting effect on certain viruses, in particular Herpes simplex 1 which causes cold sores. Bergamot will also reduce the pain of shingles and ease chicken pox in small children. Bergamot is used extensively as a fragrance and is also found in toiletries and cologne.
Safety data
Certain furocumarins (including bergapten found in Bergamot) are photo toxic on human skin. This causes sensitivity and skin pigmentation when exposed to sunlight. Therefore exercise caution when using Bergamot in sunny weather. Bergamot should never be used undiluted on the skin. Severe burning may result.
Sandalwood sachet
2 oz. sandalwood chips
1 1/2 oz. cut orris root
1/4 gum benzoin
1/4 oz. whole cloves
1/8 oz. mace powder
approx. 30-40 drops scent blend (see below)
Mix well and sift. Tie up in small fabric bags.
Natural Remedies to clean your cutting board.
If you like the smell of Lavender, make an antibacterial spray by mixing about 20 drops of pure essential oil of Lavender to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on the cutting board and don't rinse.
Plain Old Soap and Water:
The Environmental Protection Agency notes that soap and hot water kill bacteria. Wash the cutting board with soap and water (note: use real liquid soap, such as Dr. Bronner's); it is effective to do this using a good scrub brush, to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Hydrogen peroxide and white distilled vinegar:
Wash your board with hydrogen peroxide followed by straight white distilled vinegar. Leaving each one to rest on the cutting board for 10 minutes or so before rinsing. (The smell of the vinegar will dissipate.)
A straight 5 percent solution of vinegar-such as you can buy in the supermarket-kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).
Daily Aromatherapy Tip
brought to you by AromaThyme.com
Scent of the Month Club
http://www.aromathy me.com
~~used with permission~~
Anti-Fungal Blend
Your Daily Aroma Notes
October 27, 2007
5ml Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
1 tsp alcohol
2 cups of water
Put in spray bottle and shake well. Spray wherever mould or mildew is a problem. This spray is also great for cleaning countertops to help keep them clear of germs and bacteria.
This will keep for a long time.
Sore Throat/Laryngitis
Shared by StormyRed
1 part marshmallow root
1 part mullein
1 part licorice root
1 part blue malva flowers
Mix in equal parts. Steep 1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup boiling hot water. Sweeten
with honey or rice syrup.
(EverythingNatural)
Peppermint Bath for Calm
(c) Wystira's Herbal BOS
Add peppermint tea to your bathwater to relax after a hectic day at the office. This will also treat skin eruptions triggered by stress. To make the bath additive: steep 5-6 t. of peppermint leaves in 1 qt. boiling water. Pour this into a tub filled with warm water and then get in and soak away the stress and worries. Inhale the vapors for a relaxing experience.
Motion Sickness Relief
(c) Wystira's Herbal BOS
As a preventative, drink 1 cup of peppermint tea 3 times a day for 3 days before travel. You should also take along a thremos filled with war tea just in case you need it while traveling.
Skin Problem Relief
(c) Wystira's Herbal BOS
1 oz. chamomile
1 oz. dandelion
2/3 oz. fennel
Use 1 t. of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep 5-10 minues; strain. This tea will stimulate metabolic activity, which will help promote healing.
Horehound Cough Syrup
(c) Wystira's Herbal BOS
1/2 oz. horehound herb
2 cups boiling water
1 lb. brown sugar
Place the hergb in the boiling water and cover then remove from heat till it gets cold. Strain out the herb using a cheesecloth or very fine strainer (I prefer the cheesecloth) . Add the brown sugar and melt over low heat, stirring constantly till all of the brown sugar is incorporated. Bottle, seal, and refrigerate up to 4 weeks. Take 1 tbsp, 4-5 times a day.
For Nervous Tension
~author unknown to me~
1 1/3 oz. St. John's-Wort
1 oz. lemon-balm leaves
1 oz. valerian
Use 1 tsp of the above herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and steep for about 10 minutes. Strain; drink. Dink this tea before bed each night for several weeks to calm nerves, lift mild to moderate depression and help you fall asleep more easily.
Cough Relief
~author unknown to me~
1 1/3 St. John's-Wort
2/3 oz. thyme
2/3 oz. linden flowers
Use 1 tsp of the above herb mixture per coup of boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain; drink. This is good to help soothe irritations of the upper respiratory tract that cause coughing. This tea is helpful in treating bronchitis and whooping cough.
Migraine Soother
(c) Wystira's Herbal BOS
1 2/3 oz. St. John's-Wort
1 oz. valerian
1 oz. linden flowers
1/4 oz. juniper berries
Use 1 tsp of the above mixture per cup of boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and steep for about 10 mins. Strain, drink. This tea helps dialate blood vessels and improve circulation. If you headaches are triggered by weather, drink the tea as the weather is changing.
"It is your responsibility - Your obligation to your self, to Creator & to the Spirit World
to become aware of all that is you." ~ Blackwolf
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Original Authors ALWAYS credited whenever possible.
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Giessen Griffins
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/GiessenGri ffins/
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