Anxiety

Energetic Heart Cramp (or Heart Crush Syndrome) is where Panic Disorder and Anxiety begin to impact the Soul body, particularly in the area of the heart center – and the result is literally crushing (hence the name)! We need to Up our protection, our awareness and our energies, or risk being sucked into the vortex… I’ve been working with Anxiety for years now. I’ve also had the ‘lived experience’ of Anxiety. This condition had its way with me for many many years, even though I thought I was a fairly aware and educated person. Turns out… I completely missed the signs. You see, I was pretty lucky, I did well at my studies, and work wise… well, I was always lucky in that respect, at least as far as getting the job goes! But when it starts to get up around 40 jobs or so, well… you really have to start wondering about yourself! To the point that I was almost ready to give up on life. Awareness helped, but was it the answer? It was at around this time in my life that I went to study Psychology. I had wanted to study psychology since my early 20’s, but this was a goal my mind couldn’t accept. My anxious mind that it. So far, I had already studied Nursing, Medical Herbalism and Iridology… but I still felt like something was missing. And interestingly enough, it was in this emotionally and mentally depleted state, that all of my ‘egoic reasons’ for not studying, melted away. And I have to say, that studying Psychology in a lot of ways, was the making of me. For one, I did well – so it gave a real boost to my sense of self, and my self esteem. Secondly, it was also when I had the opportunity to start putting the pieces of the anxiety puzzle together… I had so many ‘aha’ moments it was ridiculous! One of which is that sometimes you have to go do the thing that you fear the most, so you have something to say back to that nagging picky little ‘you’re not good enough’ voice. Fast forward another 15 years or so… And I have now had the opportunity to marry together my own lived experience, my studies in health and mental health, and the thousands of people I have had the opportunity to share space with through my work. I have been listening and observing closely – while they ‘shared story’ with me… and I have to say, anxiety has absolutely exploded in our communities! The world has changed, has it not? On every single level you can imagine, and even on the ones you can’t. As a consequence of my experiences and observations however, I have come to see the experience of anxiety as very different to how it is currently ‘promoted’ or viewed. Whether that be in mental health circles, pseudo-psych offerings, or social media. I understand that at times it is trauma driven… and by heavens there’s a lot of trauma in our societies at the moment (my heart hurts even thinking about it!). It can also be due to generational trauma, inherited pre-dispositions, and it can even be the consequence of drug use. So many contributing factors. However there is also another story going on… and this is where I start to get a little esoteric – so it might be time to tune out if this really isn’t your thing! You see, it’s been my observation (and I’m talking several thousand people here)… that those who are susceptible to anxiety are the more creative, gentle, intuitive, empathetic, and sensitive ones amongst us. And I’m going to go out on a limb here… and say that these souls are also likely to rate quite high on Emotional Intelligence as well as Intellect on some of the more popular personality tests out there. In addition to Sensitivity, Openness, Creativity and Imagination. This is a personality type prone to anxiety, and so I have come to see Anxiety as the Spiritual Quest of our age… Awareness = Opportunity (to do things different) Why would I think that? Well, I now know that the way through (for many of us) is by working with spiritual values and practices, from a physical, cognitive and more importantly – energetic perspective. Because left unchecked, we are at risk of developing what I would call Energetic Heart Cramp and/or… the Energetic Heart Crush Syndrome. This is where Panic Disorder and Anxiety begin to impact the Soul body, particularly in the area of the heart center – and the result is literally crushing. More and more people are becoming susceptible to this. The energy on the planet at the moment is chaotic, and we really need to step up the whole idea of self-care (caring for self) and get our daily practices in order. This needs to taken seriously, and it needs to be approached through physical practices, cognitive or mental practices, and spiritual or energetic practices. We need to up our protection, our awareness and our energies… or be sucked into the vortex, because that is what it feels like. You may also be particularly susceptible to this experience if you work with people on a daily basis… and have your energies mingling and tingling with others (sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not so much). There are a number of things we can do to protect ourselves however, and a good start is to work on strengthening our vessel (mental, physical and spiritual bodies)… and then fill it up with good stuff! Having the right energies around us will also help to keep us in good shape. From an energetic perspective, make sure you are surrounding yourself with the right colours, sounds and scents. Create a harmonious environment by being more aware of resonant vibrations – this is more individual than most of us realise. Exercising, eating the right foods, and being consciously aware of our thoughts is...

Mind + Body + Spirit = YOU So another blog about healing…why not! 🙂 I’m captivated about stories of old where spiritual advisers were also physical healers and psychologists – it was all one science, one approach, and one way to be ‘whole and healthy’. In my own meandering way, I have made that idea my life’s work. The definition of ‘Holistic’ according to the Miriam Webster dictionary is: “relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts; holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body”  It’s a word and a concept that is much bandied about these days, however I feel that this definition has been lost in the practice a little.  To me (and to Miriam it seems) addressing the whole is treating mind and body together – rather than simply using an ‘holistic approach’ that is by and large, still reductionist in application, but using something other than pharmaceuticals. So often these days we hear or see of ‘this one thing’ that will fix all that ails us. One exercise, one herb, one oil, one vitamin, one practice. Self compassion is a wonderful tool, but we can’t self-compassion our way out of everything. Sometimes it takes a different strategy. So for me, ‘healing holistically’ speaks to the ability, the potential, the skills and the knowledge to take it all on, and by that I mean, being as the healers of old, and willing to improve the functioning of the mind (through mental alchemy), as well as the body. And going further still – I believe the spiritual self also needs to be activated and part of the process! This may mean working with the energetic body, or it could also mean activating the soul mind and spirit to assist in the healing process. This holistic (or whole-istic) approach is so important. The further we go with the science of brain and body, in addition to mind and vibration – we can truly start to see that we sell ourselves short if we try to look for one cause or one remedy. Give yourself some credit – you are far more complex than this reductionist view. Everything impacts everything else… Mind is the light, the builder, and the bridge between spirit and body… Edgar Cayce To address the physical self we must also approach the mind, as every thought we have causes a cascade of chemistry to be released in the body (yep, you have your own little pharmacy going on up top there). So the mind interfaces with this beautiful world through an organic structure – the brain. This is exciting, as it means that through intention, thought and will, we can use mind to release particular chemistry that can help us to be balanced, strengthened, relaxed and restored! This is how mind can aid in the recovery of the body, as well as in recovery from brain states such as anxiety, depression and other unhelpful psychological experiences. The physical body though, is of the Earth, and so often needs physical remedies (in addition to assistance from our mind). In his over 9,000 psychic readings on physical health conditions, Edgar Cayce would often direct people to passages in the Bible to assist with healing, stating (and I’m paraphrasing) – ‘you have to get your head in the right place first’. These passages often spoke of love, acceptance, forgiveness etc. So, before getting deep into the physiology of the body, he went to mind. In my own practice, I also find this so helpful, because now we are reaching out to the higher parts of ourselves, we are reaching out to our soul – our spiritual self to give us the strength of heart and direction of mind to send the right kind of chemistry flooding through our system. Mind yes, but we working through the brain to impact the physical. And what of the spirit? That which imbues every aspect of our existence… When we truly learn to open up to this energy – it becomes impossible to deny. It goes from being a nice idea, or something we better take account of because we’re just not sure what is coming next – to that which causes us to tingle, takes our breath away, makes us giddy and moves our heart to sing. That universal force or creative energy or vibration – moving through every cell, every colour, every sound, every emotion, every thought…. every experience… every moment. So we employ practices and strategies to heal and attune our whole mind-body-spirit complex. This doesn’t need to be overwhelming or over-complicated. Is it ambitious though? Absolutely. But how can it be otherwise? How can we do it any other way and have real and lasting change. Real and lasting growth. More and more therapists are coming online with multiple modalities in their tool kit, and this is fabulous. For me, my gathering of skills has included (from physical to energetic) nursing, herbalism, psychology, spiritual mentorship and dowsing of energies. I love science and I love mysticism. Even my practice of Psychology is now more openly spiritual or mystical, particularly as I lean more into the study of Hermeticism. I have always had a touch of the Alchemist about me though – which is why I love my herbs. And there again, I have always loved to add the practice of dowsing or divining to the development of my herbal formulas. It is all one science at the end of the day – the science of life, the science of energy. We are spirit, we are mind, and we are body. Let’s embrace that and start acting like ‘it’s a thing’. If you’re interested to learn more about my ‘holistic’ therapeutic’ offerings – here’s a link to my Signature Therapies page. #soulutiontherapy #signitureprograms #integrative therapy

Manifesting happens 24/7 There is so much written today about Law of Attraction, or on how to ‘Manifest your dream life’ – that it makes my head spin. Many of these people are simply sales experts, however it IS possible to learn how to attract more positive influences and outcomes into your life. It takes time, and it takes a bit of effort… but most of all it takes a greater level of conscious awareness, in addition to, activities to ‘program’ your unconscious mind (meditations, affirmations, self-hypnosis etc.) The good news is, that as you tread the path of awakening – the very practices you learn will help you to let go of the ideas, habits, and emotions that not only don’t serve you in day to day life, but also serve to lower your mental, physical and spiritual ‘tone’ on a vibrational level. It’s important to understand this piece of the puzzle, so that when you work with attraction exercises, you don’t have be fearful of unconsciously (or consciously) thinking and behaving in a way that will cause you to lose the very thing you desire! There are many different thinking styles that can drum up the wrong chemistry, the wrong feelings, and the wrong energies, however one of the main ways that this can happen is through the day to day fear of being our authentic selves. Fear of being judged, fear of feeling like an impostor, or even… fear of success. We are, in the end, repetitious experts – so how do we take advantage of that?  So, I guess what I’m saying is that you need to let go of your fears and your anxieties BEFORE you start working with concepts around ‘Attraction’ and ‘Manifesting’. Or at the very least, be attuned to the narrative and catch hold of it while it’s an active force in your mind – when you can, and as often as you can. We are, in the end, repetitious experts – and we need to use that to our advantage. So, let’s start with the ‘fear of being judged’. Keeping it simple, ‘fear of judgment’, or of ‘being judged by others and found wanting’ is one of the key drivers of anxious living (and breathing). Often, this takes the form of a little voice in your head that convinces you that… ‘They won’t understand…’ ‘They don’t understand me, they see me as different’ ‘They’ll think I’m stupid if I say that’ ‘They don’t want to hear what I have to say…’ ‘I’m wasting their time’ etc. etc. etc. This results in an increase of cortisol and adrenaline. Your brain is interpreting (because of what you’re saying to yourself’) that there is something not quite right in your world, and that you need help to deal with it…. So off you go into Flight and Fight Mode! This is judgement of self, or Self Judgement. It can happen when we’re sitting on the lounge, in a meeting at work (or even in a coffee break), in a lecture room or classroom… Anywhere – Everywhere And it’s not only bloody uncomfortable, it creates all the wrong vibes! Remembering here, that law of attraction is always in play. Law of attraction is always in play. But I am being judged!  Yes indeedy, it actually happens… sometimes it’s not all in your head. Sometimes you really are being judged by others! Bullying, harassment, arrogant attitudes, and the spreading on non-truths… the proverbial Witch-Hunt or Village Stoning… sadly, still happens! 🙁 This yucky little voice inside, or the archaic practice of a Witch Hunt… where do they come from? And why you? Sometimes it’s not so easy to pin down, so here is another idea for you… Your anxiety may also be manifesting as a consequence of a previous life experience… there’s some Karma to be sorted out here. This is my experience, and I’m thankful to say that I’m not the only one talking about this! Now, if all of this isn’t difficult enough… The response is often just to complicate it further by judging right back!! So to recap – I/We/You judge others – judge ourselves, and judge those we believe are judging us! And it’s so prevalent in our society it is almost impossible to escape. It’s in the media, in social media, in our friend groups, in the study halls and in the workplace… yep… Anywhere and Everywhere! Awareness is the first step So, how do we manage anxious thoughts and feelings, and get a handle on this thing called ‘judgment’? There are many practices that can assist with this, however you can start by developing some awareness around your own language, and your own thoughts. To what extent do you engage in judgement of others, or just as important… in judgement of yourself? This is a good start. It’s a key practice to step aside and see ourselves go by. However I work holistically, so we also need to engage the deeper mind through meditations that draw out and enhance those more positive aspects of the self. A wonderful way to do this is through the practice of Loving Kindness Meditation. I love love love this meditation.  It’s centers our mind around – well – LOVE! However, it is also a creative practice in that it builds the emotion and vibration of love in the heart centre, and beyond. Working with ideas around Judgement/Non-judgment has the potential to make a huge difference to your life. I have to say that this would be one of the top 3 ideas or practices that helped me to simply ‘shrug’ off unhelpful Anxiety (*cause sometimes it is helpful)… like an outdated and over-worn smelly old coat! Till next time *It’s important to understand that anxiety can show up because we truly are in the wrong place, or with the wrong people. I’ll expand on this idea in a later blog, for now though – I recommend using your values as your guide. Want to kick...

  Know Thyself It is so important to understand how the mind and the body play together in states such as Anxiety. And to ‘Know Thyself’ is the first step to taking your power back, because let’s face it – we are often left feeling powerless in the face of this really powerful chemical cascade. And it is a cascade, which occurs with every single thought we have – all being released into your body. Every single thought. Anxiety happens in the mind, but it is experienced in the body… As you think, so you are. So this post goes to understanding the process of anxiety in your body. Why is this important? Because knowledge is power, and empowering. There is nothing worse than feeling out of control – and that is exactly how you feel when ‘anxiety’ kicks in! By the time it’s in your body though, it’s a helluva lot harder to do anything about it! 🙁 That’s why it’s important to learn about the process of Anxiety, so that the work can happen in those ‘inbetweensy’ times – as that, my friends, is where the difference is made! This part of therapy is normally referred to as ‘psychoeducation’ – and it’s where I always begin. Here’s why: 1) Understanding takes away the fear and helps prevent one of the biggest traps of Anxiety – getting anxious about feeling anxious! That just confuses the whole thing even more… 2) You can see how different practices and processes (often called interventions) fit in. It all just makes a bit more sense, and helps you have the ‘conviction of your courage’, as well as the courage of your conviction to dump anxiety. Well, to dump the unnecessary and unhelpful anxiety, because sometimes it shows up for good reason! So let’s dig a little deeper 🙂 Sun and Moon At the most basic level what we’re talking about is the ‘fight, flight and fear response’, or sympathetic arousal. There are lots of people talking about this now (Joe Dispenza is a good one) – so its an easy one to get more information on. What we have here though is not a textbook, it’s a blog post, so here it is as I tell it in counselling… The fight and flight response takes place in the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous System has two aspects to it, like most things in our experience they can be seen as opposing forces that need to be held in balance – Yin Yang kind of stuff The two parts are known as the Sympathetic (S) and the Parasympathetic (PS) Nervous System One gets you up and going (S), the other (PS) calms you down. When I was nursing many moons ago the PS system was simply referred to as the ‘resting and digesting’ system. And that’s exactly what it does – helps you relax so that so that you can eat and sleep, rather than stress and pace when the whole thing is out of balance! I like to refer to these two arms of the Autonomic system as Sun (S) and Moon (PS); so when you are in a state of Anxiousness – or sympathetic arousal – it’s like your out in the sun for too long – you start to feel a bit burnt out. How does this happen? As stated earlier, it is mostly triggered by thinking – which is impacted by emotions and memories – however it can also be as simple as ‘you’re mind telling you crap’. Just because you think something, doesn’t mean it’s true. This is why we need to challenge our thoughts from time to time. So, when we have a ‘negative’ thought (judgemental, catastrophising, self critical etc etc),  it gives our brain the idea that there’s something not quite right in our world, and we need help to deal with it. This happens next… It responds by pumping out adrenaline and cortisol to help us deal with a perceived threat – but we could be just sitting on the lounge thinking about stepping out the front door! When this happens on a daily basis, it builds up in the system and we get to a point where we just tip over into ‘flight and fight’ mode, really really easily. And what does this system do? Prepares us to fight or to flee, so that’s what we feel like doing! A part of our brain yells – ‘there’s trouble afoot! quick – get ready to run!’ Sound familiar? We get agitated or aggressive, or alternatively, avoid… run away, and hide. Sometimes behind closed doors, sometimes behind the couch, sometimes in the bedroom, sometimes under the bed! With a bottle of Whiskey… cause that might help (not). And while this might sound silly – I’ve been in that exact space 🙁 Shifting Energies Understanding this process better also helps us to understand that some practices will encourage the sun to set (just have a rest buddy), while others are all about bringing up the moon! For eg: Cognitive therapy changes your self-talk and therefore the chemistry you release, effectively bringing down the sun (sympathetic arousal); breathe work (oh so powerful) will help to raise up the moon. When you get a handle on the physiology behind this, you start to find your own ways to break into it and make a difference. This ‘difference’ can be felt as a shift in perspective, a shift in how your body feels, or even a shift in your energy body… Yep, our thoughts have a huge impact on our vibrations! So, start to ‘know thyself’ better 🙂 While this is a very basic introduction to what can seem a complicated process – you don’t need to understand it for the changes to happen! Be compassionate, rather than self critical, and for now, simply breathe with intention 😉 And feel free to ask some questions! Finally, it’s important to understand that while ‘awareness’ is important – it’s not the...

A mindful exercise to let go of Judgement and help you live a non-anxious life! Who has anxiety? Just about everyone it seems these days. Is it just jumping on the band wagon or is something else going on? As an anxiety sufferer (and yes, I am going to use that term)  and a Psychologist – I’ve wanted to dig deep in a whole lot of different ways to truly understand what is going on, and where my anxiety was coming from, so that I could get my hands on it and make a difference, and hopefully make a difference with others. Make a difference, a positive difference –  to me, to my life, and to the lives of others. What I’ve learnt is that it is the more sensitive souls amongst us that are predisposed to anxiety. I definitely came in with mine, and perhaps it is a vulnerability in the nervous system that I have inherited genetically, but then, did I choose that? Is there something more here to understand? If you are a sensitive, empathic or creative person then read on… If we look at the whole person (rather than the holes within a person!), you can see that it is often their sensitive nature that predisposes them to states of anxiety. Which often comes down to a fear of judgement. Judgement of self – Fear of judgement of self by others – and YES – sometimes we can also get a little judgey, even if it’s only toward those we think are judging us! 🙂 Complicated much? So today I’m going to share a little practice that I developed a number of years ago, that can really help us to open up and become more accepting – of ourselves as well as others. And the motivation for this? To develop our spiritual nature and grow in life and soul. In this way you can start to see your anxiety as a gift – it’s definitely how I’ve come to see it, as it forces you to do the work to grow. Otherwise life is just too damn uncomfortable, and we never really get to achieve all that our souls want is to. So here we go… BIRDY BIRDY First a little context. While studying herbal medicine a number of years ago, I was fortunate enough to live on a beautiful rural property… one that even had its own waterfall! It was pure Bliss 🙂 And every morning I would walk to the waterfall to sit on a rock perched high up top, and meditate. One spring morning, I can remember being particularly enchanted by all the gorgeous blossoming flowers, as well as all the insects, birds, and fruit trees. I was relishing in their colour, their form, and their beauty… and then a thought struck me! Why do we love love love the diversity of nature, and appreciate all that it offers us, and then turn around and expect everyone out there to be just like us, or there’s something wrong with them!??? Always forming little groups… you know, ‘birds of a feather flock together’… and really… it is great to hang out with like minded souls, as long as we are able to leave ‘judgement’ at the door when it comes to others. Otherwise, look around, it just becomes another excuse to manifest an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mindset. A separation mindset. And that just won’t do at all. It’s evolutionary probably, I get it – but as noted before, anxiety is often experienced by sensitive, creative souls… empaths if you will, and this is higher order stuff! Spiritual stuff. It’s almost as if we’re stuck in the middle of our evolutionary urges designed to keep us safe, and our evolving spiritual awareness and competence. And this us against them mentality is not always helped by media or social media. This gathering and ‘herding’ the masses in one direction or another is old magic. Scarily though, it seems to be becoming more prevalent… One way that you can disengage from this, is to consciously choose not to buy into ‘judgment of others’. Learn to let that go and be more free and easy with others – and you will – over time – become more free and easy with yourself, and by that I mean, less judgmental. Trust me on this! MINDFUL WALKING So here’s the fun bit… I want you to try a kind of creative mindfulness exercise, one that is directed by an open heart and an open mind (that part is very important!) Lets go… Mindful Walk The best way to walk is mindfully, otherwise you risk taking all of your ‘stressie thinking’ with you, arriving home just as tired and just as disgruntled as when you left, and having missed all the good stuff on the way! Ok, so this is easy when you don’t have any worries catching you up, so I am speaking to those times when you’re head is a mess. So shake it off, take a few breaths before you leave, and then step outside the door with a smile on your face… or on your liver if you like! (little eat, pray, love reference there ) And while your walking I want you to remember how much you love the differences in color, in size, in form, in smell and sound… within the natural world Flowers, trees, insects and birds… could you imagine the world if they all looked the same?? BORING! Keep this in mind as you come upon different people, see if you can open your heart and your mind, and view them with the exact same appreciation. In whatever way they choose to express themselves in that moment, celebrate it… smile and give thanks – for they are indeed an expression of the creative forces – just like you! Big hair, no hair; tattoos or no tattoos; orange, blue, black, brown, white, red, yellow skin; short skirts, long pants; ear-rings & piercings or...

The genie has the magic right? In this blog I discuss why I prefer to use the whole plant (herbs) remedies vs an isolated synthesised chemical (pharma), usually derived from the herb! This is like pulling apart the radio to see where the music is coming from… Many years ago I studied what is known as Physiomedicalism, which is an understanding of herbal prescribing that has come down through the European tradition over the last 2000 years (at least). This knowledge was then blended with that of the Indigenous Peoples of America. So, for those who don’t know, we have a very strong European tradition of herbal prescribing which is a little different to Chinese Medicine. In the European tradition we develop the formulas based on the specific need of the individual (rather than by condition), building it up herb by herb by herb. Generally, European herbalists utilise what are also known as Galenical Preparations, because they have actions over and above the isolated, or ‘active principle’ of the herb. This is using liquid extracts of the whole herb, that combine together with other herbs, into one big bottle of yucky tasting liquid gold. However, Professor H E Bock makes no distinction between the active principle of a plant and the use of the whole herb when he states… “Herbal medicine, either using the whole plants or isolated principles, is called phytotherapy. It presents itself as a gift of nature…” He emphasis’s the scientific application of herbs. Which is ok, as herbal medicine as it’s practiced today is based upon the latest science based evidence, in addition to the empirical use (verifiable by observation & experience) of plant therapy over thousands of years. It’s a blend of knowledge, which is really quite exciting. And yet, most herbalists would disagree with the above statement as they believe that there are a number of valuable differences between ‘galenical’ preparations and the use of isolated constituents. I know I certainly do! Nature as powerful wisdom keeper With a healthy regard for nature, herbalists know that the whole plant contains within it several other constituents that work to buffer the side effects observed when potent plant chemicals are administered in an isolated state. Like with a drug. This is not only understood, but valued. And this is something that speaks to the wisdom of herbs – they have a brilliantly complicated and potent chemistry that is put together in a way that is supportive and/or protective, when it comes to benefiting from the chemicals that pack the most punch. To see why this matters let’s look at a few examples. Rauwolfia Firstly, lets take the example of Rauwolfia Serpentinia. This is a herb that works mainly through the central nervous system to reduce blood pressure via reduction in the heart rate. It also appears to have a balancing action on the emotions, gently tranquilizing the nervous system. In this respect it has been used in India for several centuries, being mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts as far back as 1000 BC. One of the many people to savor it’s sedative effects was Gandhi, and in its long history of usage in the whole plant state, there have been no reported side effects. According to Dr R Wilkins, previous Director of the Hypertension Clinic at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital “it had a type of sedative action… the patients appear to be relaxed, quiet and tranquil…”, and this effect was noted without any accompanying grogginess or ‘fogginess’ being present. Viewed by Herbalists as a superior plant in the treatment of Hypertension, the main alkaloid of Rauwolfia, Reserpine, was eventually isolated and used as the basis of a pharmaceutical medication known as ‘Serpasil’. A quick search on the internet shows that this medication is still recommended for the treatment of High Blood Pressure. In the isolated form however, Reserpine produces unfortunate side effects, such as melancholia and depression, often severe enough to require hospitalization. Whilst it may be correct that reserpine contributes much toward the therapeutic action of the plant, there are at least 161 alkaloids found in this herb! It is believed that the combined action of all of the alkaloids improve tolerance and reduce risk of sensitive reactions to any one individual alkaloid. Ephedra (Ma Huang) Another example would be Ephedra sinica, or Ma Huang, a powerful bronchodilator used safely by the Chinese in the treatment of Asthma for many thousands of years. Working via the parasympathetic nervous system it is able to subdue bronchial spams, that was until the isolated active Ephedrine was made into a pharmaceutical drug, followed by pseudo-ephedrine. In the whole plant state however, it has a gentle ‘awakening’ activity, and formed part of a tea blend used by Indigenous peoples – known as New Dawn. I often used this tea as a substitute for coffee. Now, sadly, due to the abuse of the pharmaceutical versions, which have a much stronger (and addictive) action – the plant can no longer be used. Meadowsweet We don’t lose them all to pharmaceutical companies however. Take Meadowsweet – this beautifully gentle herb contains salicylic acid (or aspirin), however it also contains tannin and mucilage within its chemistry. These compounds are known to be protective and healing to the gut wall. Aloe Vera is example of a plant that is very high in mucilage, which is a slippery slimy kind of compound that places a barrier over the mucous membranes, so-that when you take Meadowsweet as a whole plant preparation, you get the pain relieving benefit of the salicylic acid, without any damage occurring to the gut wall! Win-Win I hear you say – and I would respond with a resounding Most Definitely! So as you can see…there are numerous constituents found in all plants, which together work synergistically to offer something more in the way of restoring and regulating bodily functions. The myriad of plant chemicals contained within any given remedy contribute their own special bit, and then there is the more metaphysical concept of...