Grounded Gardener: Yucca

Yucca-(yucca spp)
Family: LILIACEAE
Also known as: Spanish bayonet, Our Lords Candle, Joshua tree, Soap Tree and Adam’s Needle
How to use: Topically, Orally, Pets
Properties:

Anti-inflammatory
Anti-rheumatic
Analgesic (pain relieving)
Anti-oxidant
Anti-fungal
Anti-tumor
Steroidal soponins

What Yucca Helps:
Digestive System:
Colitis, stomach disorders, liver and gallbladder disorders, diabetes
Cardiac:
High Cholesterol (serum) levels, Poor Circulation, reduces blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension
Muscular:
strains and sprains
Nervous:
Migraines headaches
Skeletal:
Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

Notes:
Steroidal Saponins-Works with natural immune functions of the body and assists the body in using and producing the steroid related hormones.
Root is used in Soaps, shampoos and food supplements.
Mohave yucca contains saponins= long lasting soaping action, used as a foaming agent in carbonated drinks, for flavoring and drug synthesis research.
Has been discovered too often times stop and sometimes reverse the effects of rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods:
Add powder to food, capsule or extract; make a mild tea, combines well with ginger, licorices and ginseng.
Apply to skin for sores, skin diseases, bleeding, sprains, joint pain, baldness and dandruff.
Therapeutic concerns:
No Known drug reactions
Might Cause: Bitter taste, indigestion, loopy feeling(I feel this way sometimes)
Pregnant/Nursing: Unsure
Therapy Length: Take a day or two break per week if using it for a long period of time.

Oh White Crane

…As you feed so peacefully, I wish I knew from which direction you flew…

Increase Energy Herbal Therapy Ideas

Prevention with Diet and Exercise:
Getting enough sleep- 6-9 hours per night

Don’t over eat- try smaller meals with healthy snacks between
Eat fresh whole foods- skip all processed foods
Cut back on your coffee- try green and black tea, and lemon water

Exercise- try taking a mid-day walk, add 10- 20 minutes of movement to encourage an increase in your energy production.
Increase your water intake- Try adding lemon or other fruits to your water.
Try a detox- apple cider vinegar, lemon water and juicing, ( Always perform detox’s with the help of a nutritionist or herbalist.)
Try adding more green juice and smoothies. Increase your outside time.

Herbs that help increase energy:
Ashwagandha- 600-1000 mg a day
Ginkgo

Lemon balm
Siberian Ginseng
Stinging nettle- use like tea, has more energy producing power then coffee
Oregano oil- added to apple cider vinegar, juice or water
B vitamins

*Be careful with over use of stimulants. You do not want to become dependent of them.*

Household Magical Tools: The Mop

Mopping is a lot like sweeping in modern day witchcraft or house cleansing. Moping uses the elements of air and water to cleanse your space. By using green cleaners, adding essential oils, herbs, and stones to your mop water to help charge your cleaning time with your intention.

It is suggested to use a use a wooden or metal handled mop with a natural fiber mop head. Although, any mop will do. The more natural materials the magical tool is made of, the more connected the tool’ energies are to the earth is.

Mopping rites should be planned with moon cycles and tides in order to increase the cleansing power of the water used to clean. 

Always dump your mop bucket out the back door, in an appropriate drain. The sooner the better, this removes all bad energies collected in the dirty mop water and sets the intention into flow.

Mop, mop up this spot, so all the slop shall be forgot.  Together we will be happy a lot.

Bright blessings,

JEM

Grounded Gardener: Astragalus

Astragalus Root
Yellow leader, milk vetch
Botanical name: Astragalus membranaceus
Family: Fabaceae
TMC Name: Huang QI
Parts Used: Root from 3-4 year old plant
Constituents: flavorioids, Saponin glycosides, polysaccharides, amino acids, Essential Fatty acids and minerals.
Taste: Sweet
Action:

Adaptogen
Antioxidant
Immunomodulant
Hepatic


Affinities: Adrenal glands, immune system, lung tonic, liver, brain, Cardio tonic and spleen
Energetics: Moistening, warming
Prabhava/specific indications:
Uses:
Cancer- works synergistically with chemotherapy and radiation enhancing their affects and reducing side effects.
Increases sperm count
Fibromyalgia
Autoimmune disorders
Lowers Blood Sugar in Type 1-2
Magical/Spiritual uses: TMC’s list of fundamental herbs, important tonic for maintain vitality (Qi). Earth, ground ones self, increase energy.
Pairs well with:
Preparations: broth, soup, infusion to cook rice, decoction, tincture
Safety/interactions:
this is the only species of Astragalus that is safe.
May be incompatible with immunosuppressive drugs; lime disease
Avoid during menstruation
Dosages:
Tincture 4-8 (1:5 in 40%) 3xday
Decoction 2-4 TSP in 1-3 Cup water, cool for 10-15 mins strain and drink 3xday

Environmental concerns: one dram of astrugalus essential oil cost $55, use sparingly.

It

Janelle McCoy 2022

What is it?
A person, place, or thing

How can we accomplish it?
Live, love, kindness

When will it show?
Past, future, now

Where can it happen?
Here, there, everywhere

Who is it?
You, me, them

What is it?
Peace

Cholesterol Control Herbal Therapy Ideas

Foods known to Lower Cholesterol:
Oats- oatmeal, granola
Whole Grains
Berries
Avocados
Olive oil
Beans and legumes
Fatty Fish- salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, herring, halibut
Nuts and Nut butters
Dark Chocolate- in moderation, 60% cacao or more is recommended
Spinach/leafy greens
Vegetables
Green and Black tea
Soy
Red wine- in moderation
100% pure grape juice
Flaxseed
Garlic
Niacin (vitamin B3)

Foods that should be avoided:
Highly processed vegetable oils
Potato Chips
Fried foods
Packaged foods
Fast food
Sugary treats- baked goods and other treats with added sugar
Processed meats- bacon, lunch meat and sausages
Alcohol
Conventional dairy products- milk, cheese and cream
Refined grains

Sage House Blessing

Home blessingBy JEM Dreamz 2017 With this sage,I set the stage, welcoming the good, banning the bad;With only blessings to be had. May this house become a home, where happiness always sets the tone. Help us be safe all day …

Keep

Keep
Janelle McCoy 2022

Keep me safely in your mind, so I may defy mine.

Keep me locked in your heart so that mine does not fall apart.

Keep me chained to the ground, for my body to now be bound.

For when my soul does part, Earth will always be in your heart, for she may blow apart.

Keep her safely in your mind; she might float away over time.

Keep her safely in your heart for she might blow apart.

Keep her chained to the moon, for she might get lost too soon.

Keep you safely in your mind, the sun glow from behind.

For egos are often bloomed and groomed.

Keep you safely in your heart, for love is where it all may start.

Keep you safely chained to the ground, so you can fully use your crown.

For when your soul does part, Earth will finally be able to kiss your heart.

Acid Reflux Herbal Therapy Ideas

Prevention with Diet and Exercise:
It is always important to keep up with a clean whole food diet. Limit what irritates your reflux.
There are a ton of great yoga poses to help with digestive issues.
Stay away from processed foods
Pick foods that promote healthy bacteria in your stomach to increase helpful probiotics and enzymes.

Change your eating times. Try eating a half hour earlier or later.
Try staying vertical for at least 45 minutes after eating.

Try taking a walk after dinner.
Limit coffee, soda and alcohol.
Limit carbohydrates especially white carbs.

Ideas to help prevent:
Warm lemon water in the morning: ½ to 1 fresh lemon squeezed in 8-12 oz of warm water in the morning 20 minutes before you ingest anything or 45 minutes before meals.
Apple Cider Vinegar: 1.5 tbsp in an 8oz cup of water 20 minutes before very meal or one capsule 3 times daily. You can also use it as salad dressing with some lemon juice.
Ginger: add to meals or to your warm lemon water
Soothing Teas: after meals
Egyptian licorice tea- after meals
Licorice root: Tea after meals
Chamomile tea- after meals
Peppermint tea- after meals
Marshmallow root- tea after meals, capsule or tincture
OR a blend of these
Acid Ease: an herbal blend in tincture or capsules form
For Pain:
Unsweetened chewing gum
Peppermint or ginger candy
Acid Ease: an herbal blend in tincture or capsules form
Any of the above mentioned teas
Baking Soda- ½-1 tsp mix in a cup of water. This is important to limit this since it is so high in salt.