Nosodes for Dogs

Homeopathic nosodes can be a good resource when it comes to preventing certain diseases in dogs. Rather than over-use of conventional vaccinations (and their side effects), one can use nosodes as a complementary booster throughout the life of the animal.

The best approach is a holistic one. Evaluate the animal under consideration and then weigh the risks before making a decision that will affect their long-term health and well-being. Dr. Charles Loops is a strong supporter of nosodes as a preventative; just as in any other health care specialty, veterinary homeopaths often disagree on when and how to dose with nosodes. Some recommend only giving them after exposure to an infectious agent, while others like Dr. Loops recommend nosodes if you think the dog might be exposed. Another vet who is on-board with homeoprophylaxis is Dr. Cooney of Indiana; he wrote an article for "Dogs Naturally" titled "Immunity Without the Needle" and it's well worth the read. Further, it's well known that vaccines aren't 100% effective; there are many articles stating this but here is one that goes through the various reasons (excuses?) as to failure when using vaccines: "Causes of Vaccine Failure."

Based upon my own research and training (I received my Diploma in Veterinary Homeopathy from the British Institute of Homeopathy in 2004), I am fully on-board with the benefits of using nosodes as preventatives and to reduce the adverse effects of exposure and/or vaccination. Please consult with a professional veterinary homeopath if you are interested in this.

For those of you new to this blog or to Homeopathy, you might want to read my post "The Substance of Homeopathy: Fact or Fiction?" That essay, toward the end, directly presents a situation using nosodes for the widespread prevention of a human epidemic of Leptospirosis.

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DISCLAIMER: This approach does not affect the protocols required by state law in administering 3-year vaccinations for Rabies. That said, there are studies being done that show one form of the Rabies vaccine is effective for up to 7 years and dog-lovers are working towards changing the laws. Until that happens, however, these Rabies vaccines must be given if legally mandated. (As a side note, a similar study had already been completed in France showing these results but the USA would not accept it. Someday, perhaps, countries will be more accepting of results obtained elsewhere instead of feeling the need to keep reinventing the wheel and causing increased suffering in the subjects of the studies.)

Mortality

We're all going to die. This isn't a mystery to any of us, and yet many people shy away from addressing this reality head-on. I'm not referring to a simple acknowledgement such as that contained in the oft-repeated comment about how the only sure things in life are death and taxes. I'm referring to real conversations about living well even while dying, and it's best if we don't leave the talk for the final days or weeks.

As we settle into autumn and head into winter, I've generally found myself drawn into reflection about dying. How could I not when the seasons are revealing this process all around me? This beautiful song by Carrie Newcomer is one of my seasonal favorites; she sings how "leaves don't drop, they just let go, and make a space for seeds to grow":

When I lived in Maine, the year after my dad died I volunteered for a short while with the local hospice. I would go out to sit with an old woman who was bedridden and dying at home, providing a few hours of respite for her son and granddaughter. They all lived on a working farm, and the dying woman's bed faced a window where she could watch the birds and flowers, and even glimpse someone walking to or from the barn. Her surroundings were simple, as were her needs. My purpose was also simple: to sit with her while her family stepped away for some time to themselves. Not everyone has this kind of opportunity to meet death from their own home, but it would be nice if they could. But in order to even have a chance to do so, the conversation must happen first and early enough to make a difference.

Recently, I listened with pleasure, and a definite poignancy, to the On Being with Krista Tippett conversation with surgeon and writer Atul Gawande. Their talk was based upon his most recent book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. The show (I always listen to the unedited version, but both are available) was titled "What Matters in the End." I would strongly urge you to listen or read the transcript; this is vital conversation for all of us to engage in.

The above-referenced conversation between Tippett and Gawande wasn't focused on hospice, though, or the end-stages of the dying process. Rather, as does his book, the talk revolved around aging, as well, and how to meet old age living well and not with frustration, anger, fear, and suffering as our constant companions. One of the unique aspects of Gawande's book was that it came from the perspective of a doctor and surgeon, a man trained to "fix people," who realized that there were always times when fixing might be stopping aggressive treatments. He realized that he needed to ask "what does a good day look like" for that person and where they were at that moment in their life.

"The conversation I felt like I was having was, do we fight, or do we give up?
And the reality was that it’s not do we fight, or do we give up? It’s what are we fighting for? People have priorities besides just surviving no matter what. You have reasons you want to be alive. What are those reasons? Because whatever you’re living for, along the way, we’ve got to make sure we don’t sacrifice it; and in fact, can we, along the way, whatever’s happening, can we enable it?"

Gawande's book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End is absolutely brilliant and beautiful and much needed. I hope you will make the time to read it, share it, and have a conversation with your loved ones about living well ... now and through the aging and dying process.

Heal Thyself

Sharon Blackie in If Women Rose Rooted quotes a woman herbalist, Nikki Darrell, at length in the chapter “The Fertile Fields” and says that, 

“It is clear from everything she says that Nikki strongly believes that community empowerment is the critical ingredient that’s lacking in traditional herbal training. That, in refusing to acknowledge the long traditions and great strengths of folk medicine and community herbalism, it runs the risk of becoming — like conventional medicinal training — both exclusive and excluding.” 

I wholeheartedly agree with Nikki Darrell (from what I read in Blackie’s book); she seems to have similar, valid concerns as I do that the natural healing modalities are removed from lay people by initiating a fear in them that these methods have to be practiced by so-called professionals with licenses and degrees and college medical training. Practical, base-level healing can be easily learned by the average person with an interest in personal empowerment, with minimal risk. Entry-level training is quite effective for the majority of acute ailments and would result in reduced visits to emergency clinics where an over-prescription of drugs is the common outcome. 

This is one of the reasons that I do not support or seek mandated state or federal licensing of Herbalism, Homeopathy, or Ayurveda. I abhor the thought of Ayurveda going the way of Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is tied up in red tape and restrictions and too expensive for most people to benefit from. The medical establishment has been disempowering people and segregating them from their own health management for several hundred years now and it needs to stop. Books and/or classes (or now the easy availability of online seminars) provide all we usually need for starting our learning journey.

Poke

Let's talk Poke -- often referred to as Pokeweed or Pokeroot, aka Virginian Poke or, in the Homeopathic pharmacopeia, the Latin name is Phytolacca Decandra (syn. P. Americana). 

I have a big patch of Pokeweed growing at the lower edge of our hillside open space (it's pictured to the far left in the photo), so I've been researching it's history as a native plant of the Americas. There is a good article on this plant at Herbs2000.com; the author of the article cautions about side effects, which is advisable due to the toxic nature of the plant, so if you should decide to try the Homeopathic remedy on your own, please use a potency of 30C or higher and NOT a lower potency.

First, please note that Pokeweed is poisonous unless properly cooked (boil it down numerous times, pour off the water each time). Indigenous people used it mostly for medicinal purposes, but there are also ways to cook the early spring shoots, leaves, and even the juice of the berries to make them safe.

Pokeroot tea was used for a variety of ailments, including rheumatism, by many people in the Ozarks (of Missouri and Arkansas). Boiled Pokeroot was also sometimes used to cure "the itch" but most old-timers said the cure was worse than the the ailment (the way it was administered topically "burned like fire".* Since Poke is an American plant, chances are good that these remedies originated from the indigenous people, and settlers took it up from them.

The Homeopathic remedy Phytolacca Decandra is made from the root (Pokeroot) and can assist the body system to heal from a variety of symptoms including the one that works like magic for me (remember that remedies are individualized): sore throat. Whenever I feel the first tinge of a sore throat coming on, I take a dose of Phytolacca 30C and, 99% of the time, the sore throat never worsens and often disappears entirely within a few hours. In relation to the throat, this remedy may work well, also, for mononucleosis or strep throat; one of the beauties of Homeopathy is that it addresses similar symptoms and, since mono and strep often feel the same and produce very similar outward symptoms,  Phytolacca might help the body system to relieve either or both, depending upon the individual.

Please feel free to contact me if you want to learn more about Phytolacca Decandra (Pokeweed) and how it might help you heal.

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* Ozark Magic and Folklore by Vance Randolph (1947).

A Mild Remedy

Although I've never been to a Ball, I have many remedies at my disposal that offer the symptom relief of an aperient (generally, a mild laxative although here being promoted to remove the potential for headache). What natural remedy do you prefer as an aperient?

Ticks, Lyme, and Healing

Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise for decades now, and one of the most prominent has been Lyme. This one is tricky to address for several reasons.

One is that we often don’t know that we have acquired the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria (specifically, a spirochete) until symptoms begin; the often mentioned “bull’s-eye rash” that can occur after a tick bite where B. burgdorferi is introduced into the system only occurs in about 37% of people infected.[1] And, second, generally speaking, antibiotic reversal is only effective when used during the first few months following infection; after that, treatment is much more challenging due to the intelligent nature of the spirochete. I won’t go on at length about the bacteria and its co-infections because, while fascinating to explore (you can find lots of information online), most of you reading this post will be more interested in how to reduce your symptoms (or those of someone you love, be it person or animal; seeking support for my dog who contracted Lyme disease about a decade ago was the impetus for my own journey into how non-conventional modalities could help him recover).

That said, before getting to treatments and lifestyle shifts, I do want to mention that my perspective is not that of conventional medicine, which should be no surprise to anyone who is on my blog. I am firmly in the camp that versions of this syndrome have been around for thousands of years, and that the degree to which we are each affected by an infection is a direct result of our susceptibility to the bacteria, and is not something to be turned into a battle against the bacteria, which would be a battle against the natural world. My primary focus is to increase vibrational harmony in one’s own system so that it is no longer appealing to the bacteria and they die naturally without reproducing and spreading.

How do we do this? We move through my Five Petal Path of Healing. At the core of this approach is understanding one’s own Nature through which lens we then look at Lifestyle, Food & Spices, Cell Salts, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences, and how each of these might assist in bringing ourselves back into holistic vibrational harmony. Much of the process is distinctly individualized, rather than a one-size-fits-all, which is why few specific remedies are mentioned below.

Knowing our Nature, or innate temperament and/or constitution, is important because not being aware of our tendencies is often part of how we get out of balance. I evaluate a person’s basic nature via the five elements and the dosha in Ayurveda. Once understood, we can then shift Lifestyle and/or Food & Spices to better support the journey back to harmony. Using Ayurveda’s wisdom, I would agree with Gerard Buffo, MD, that the primary physiological effect, when chronic symptoms emerge, is one of deranged Vata dosha in the system; we can see this derangement in the most common Lyme symptoms.[2] The inflammatory response of the body, however, is distinctly Pitta dosha – and ties into a majority of Lyme patients tending toward a Type A personality (which makes them more susceptible).

The next two petals considered are Cell Salts and Homeopathy. Use of these related modalities can depend upon where you are in the phase of infection, whether acute or chronic. They can provide support for tissues or render subtle detoxification; they can build strength or lend prevention to further infection, and much more. There are some remedies quite specific to Lyme dis-ease, while others are broader in their scope.

The final petal can also be the first one, depending upon how we decide to approach your individual situation. This is the phenomenally powerful modality of Flower Essence therapy, and affects everything we do in bringing back a life and body of harmony. In particular, I incorporate a flower essence research protocol developed by Delta Gardens, which also addresses energetic recovery from co-infections of Lyme.

As always, please contact me if you would like more information and/or a consultation. I would be happy to help.

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[1] Stephen Harrod Buhner. Healing Lyme.

[2] https://kripalu.org/resources/ayurveda-support-healing-lyme-disease

A Teacher of Ayurveda

I have listened to many teachers of Ayurveda since my training began in 2008. During the past year, I've enjoyed hearing the wisdom of Ayurveda as taught by Dr. Indu Arora; here she is providing a very brief Introduction to Ayurveda. Beautiful!

Why Not Try It?

I'm always puzzled when I mention natural remedies or a change in food choices, and the person responds with a resounding and negative "that won't work." They usually cite reasons like "you'll find studies supporting anything if you look hard enough" or "that doesn't make sense so why bother" etc.

Now, I wouldn't have even mentioned the topic to these people except that he or she is complaining about health issues and the expensive drugs they are taking (drugs that even the doctors admit are only to try to reduce symptoms but have no effect upon reversing or curing the dis-ease itself). My puzzlement around the person's vehement objections then arises from the simple perspective of: "it can't hurt and might help so why not try it?"

Based upon that premise -- it can't hurt and might help so why not try it -- I would urge you to watch the film What The Health and at least consider trying a vegan diet for a month. Or even just a couple weeks. Commit to eating only a WFPB diet (that's Whole-Food Plant-Based) and see how you feel. Isn't the possibility of getting better worth trying something new, especially when it won't cost you a dime? There are people who experience phenomenal results and those who see little to no change, but wouldn't it be exciting to be one of those with the life-changing results? Just imagine!

Here's the link for the film and how you can watch it: What The Health.

For information on a vegan diet as well as free recipes, go to: Forks Over Knives.

And, as always, if you have questions, I'm happy to help -- just contact me!

Listening to Life

One of the aspects I enjoy about an holistic approach to healing and wellness is the sacred mystery embedded within life, how listening to life is of vital importance to seeking true healing.

Taken further, consider, for instance:

"All ancient and indigenous peoples said that they learned the uses of plants as medicines from the plants themselves. They insisted that they did not rely on the analytical capacities of the brain for this nor use the technique of trial and error. Instead, they said that it was from the heart of the world, from the plants themselves, that this knowledge came. For, they insisted, the plants can speak to human beings if only human beings will listen and respond to them in the proper state of mind." ~ Stephen Harrod Buhner in Secret Teachings of Plants 

With this in mind, consider how science can often describe what appears to be happening within life systems, even in its reductionistic approach, but rarely can it fully explain the complexity of life. In a beautiful conversation between Marilynne Robinson and Marcelo Gleiser (called "The Mystery We Are" at OnBeing), Robinson points out the error in how science overuses "explain" when the appropriate word is "describe."

Scientific investigation, however, does provide description for many of the inner workings of bodies and life systems (I am in no way excusing or approving any form of abuse and/or cruelty to animals; we must evolve and abandon those types of atrocities). In his book The Secret Teachings of Plants, Buhner points out that:

"All living organisms--all self-organized systems ... retain an exquisite sensitivity to perturbations of the equilibrium that occurred when they self-organized. They remember that moment of equilibrium; they are attuned to it."

In this way, all living organisms, whether plants or animals, continually seek equilibrium. Our human bodies seek this; when we listen to our bodies and hearts, we have a better chance at healing, and plants (via food, herbs, spices, flower essences, and homeopathic remedies) can help us move in that direction.

When something occurs (a perturbation), whether outside ourselves or within, Buhner says that:

"the form [it takes] is merely one possible language of communication out of myriad possibilities. In the end it is the meaning inside the behavior that is significant, not the behavior itself. It is not the chemical released, nor the movement of the body, nor the electromagnetic field that is important, but the information, the meaning, that it carries."

This meaning is what most holistic practices point to and return to, again and again. The meaning is the Big Picture in our lives and entails deep listening to life.

Borage Flower Essence - Courage

(c) Delta Gardens

I want to share a personal experience with Borage. 

Usually, I make dosing bottles, but one day I felt called to simply add some drops of Borage flower essence to my pitcher of daily drinking water (I often do this with essences, letting intuition guide me in selection). 

The next day, I felt tremendous confidence in my actions and body; I felt hardly any fear, moving throughout the day as if my body had returned to normal.  

The back-story is that 9 months ago, I fell backwards, downhill on our property, shattering my left wrist and fracturing my left tibial plateau in several places. My recovery has been slow and frustrating at times, and I have been using flower essences to help me move past my fear about it happening again (it was just one of those clumsy accidents so it kind of freaked me out) and to regain confidence in my body. 

Well, after only the single day of taking the Borage-imprinted water throughout the day, I woke up and didn’t even hesitate in getting down on the floor to clip my dog’s toenails. It was only in hindsight that I fully realized how at ease and unconcerned I was with getting down on the floor all on my own. This may not sound like much, but it was a huge advance for me — I no longer felt like my body was going to give out on me or “betray” me! I had already felt like I was moving in this direction, but Borage sailed me right over the last hurdle — phenomenal!

Borage flower essence can share many qualities of healing with us; the one that seemed to lift me up the most in my current state was courage ... the courage to trust my body and the healing process. This wasn't a conscious shift, however, but one that simply happened, thanks to the Spirit of Borage.

The Borage flower essence that I took was from Delta Gardens; there are other flower essence lines that carry it, too, such as Green Hope Farm. I'm so grateful to the people who co-create these marvelous healing remedies!

Live Fully

"Healing is not about whether you die. Healing is about how fully you live."

~ Eliot Cowan, Plant Spirit Medicine

The above statement is one that I carry into every healing situation, whether for myself, my family, the animals in my care, or clients. While alleviation of symptoms may indeed occur, the greater perspective is upon quality of life. This is why I give no separation to body, mind and soul within the healing journey.

Learning More

I want to take a moment to encourage you to learn more, whether it's with me or someone else in the holistic health care, multi-modality field.

We already know that most people in today's on-line world can and will research whatever their condition is, check out the symptoms, and explore the many options available to them. The wise consultant or practitioner will encourage this -- we want people to be knowledgeable and involved with their own healing process. We live in a complex modern world that is quite different from that of 200 years ago, or even 75 years ago.

Whoever you choose to help you work toward wellness, don't limit yourself, whether it is a practitioner or medicine. What options appeal to you? Which ones make sense or draw you intuitively toward them?

Embrace the abundance provided. Get involved. Learn more. Become empowered. It's your life.

Snake Bites and Emergency Care

I'm posting this note, prompted by having just seen a venomous Copperhead snake on our front porch. While I know what the top remedies are for treating snake bite in an emergency situation, especially when an ER is too far away to get to quickly, seeing one tonight impelled me to share a couple articles for informational purposes.

The first article deals with homeopathic treatment of a dog bitten by a Copperhead.

The second article is for a dog bitten by a Rattlesnake.

Both snakes are venomous and, depending upon where the individual (whether dog or human) is bitten, can be life threatening so it's good to have a few remedies on hand in case of emergencies. The two top remedies? Lachesis and Crotalus. Better yet, also have Ledum and Echinacea A. If you don't already have these in your emergency remedy kit, but live where snake bites might present an emergency -- get them. They just might save your dog's life.

As a side note, I've read that a few drops of cinnamon and clove oil in a large spray bottle can be a good snake repellent, so I'll be spraying our porch flooring tomorrow!

Healthy Gut

Our digestion, our microbes. What’s inside us? Dr. John Douillard talks about this topic in free videos; one of many is “Does Your Microbiome Determine Your Body Type?”  I studied with Dr. John at Kripalu School of Ayurveda, and he is well-known in the alternative health care community.

Recently, one of Dr. John’s videos reminded me that I have the additional resource of Bowel Nosodes — a natural resource remedy created by Bach (through homeopathic preparation methods) for helping to rebalance and re-colonize our intestinal flora energetically. Interestingly, Bach also felt that certain bowel flora pointed to particular personality types. This coincidence goes to my strong feeling that we “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” … that a return to healthy conscious eating doesn’t mean we ignore natural, sustainable remedies of support. 

We’re all human … and, I dare say, most of us are so impacted by the culture that we are constantly challenged in balancing body and soul. It’s easy to say that we “know” intellectually, but equilibrium is a path of practice. I don’t want to fall into the trap, however, of harping on everything being “HARD” … I was there at one point in my life (or several times really) and that is depressing and negative when we think everything is “hard.” 

Rather, I continually seek to witness my life as human and be aware of each step on my path as my practice. Blessedly, Mother Mature through wise humans who are in communication with her, has provided many natural, non-invasive, non-harmful methods and remedies to help. 

(c) LifeSpa.com

So, back to the Bowel Nosodes — I experienced the support of Syc Co for my stress hives (while living in Arizona). Those results prompted me to order the rest of the Bowel Nosodes in 30c potency (unavailable now in 6c potency, probably due to increasing regulations worldwide). The 30c will, however, be fine because the flora imbalances within us are complexes from culture and lifestyle of generations and lifetimes, adding in the past 70 years of changes, not the simpler imbalances of Bach’s day. Rapid degeneration in recent decades! 

We’ve become not only physically affected by our cultural transgressions of the Industrial Age, but most of us are psychologically affected. And the old “rules” probably no longer apply either because our bodies constantly deal with a different level of influence from technology to frequency to toxins to GM foods to cellular resonance effects all around. One might even say that our bowels are fertile ground for miasma influences of bacterial proliferation. Our generations, mine and those people younger than me, grew up with refined sugars, white flours, the chemical additives and factory-processed foods. We’ve shifted, our bowel flora has shifted, and the protocols of 70 years ago may no longer be effective all the time. We have to pay attention to change and context. 

As with everything taught as principle and philosophy of Ayurveda, Homeopathy (of which the Bowel Nosodes are part), and Flower Essences … INDIVIDUALIZE the treatment. Every organism is operating in a unique blend of prakriti and lifestyle. All the “rules” are mere guidelines — helpful, not hard and fast. We need to allow the feminine principle of intuition her part in the healing process and we will see the individuality emerge with the blending of intuition and intellect. VITAL … to remember this is vital. The one needing treatment is unique and so is the one providing the treatment. 

Within the wisdom and power of vibration, everything is up in the air, out in The Field, inside our subtle bodies, and working with — LABORing within — the pattern of the unique situation. Guidelines can help us starting out and when we get confused or need to return to square one but the spiral of reality is to move into free flow of technique and pattern becomes art. I run into more problems following the “should” of therapy, including the “should not” that often manifests indeed as a tangled knot/not. 

Our bowels have been referred to in recent decades as our Second Brain; we need to offer greater healing endeavor into this area of our systems, through how and what we eat, as well as through the remedies we choose.

Herbs or Subtle Energy Remedies?

I’ve been listening this week to The Plant Medicine Summit hosted by David Crow. I greatly admire David Crow and all his guests for their dedication to healing — healing body, mind, spirit, community, and planet. Most of these herbalists are distinctly holistic in their views, and I applaud and honor them.
A few of the presenters' perspectives on the use of herbs as a primary medicinal approach to healing is different than mine, however, and provides me with the opportunity to share an aspect of diversity (of many diverse aspects) in healing paths, which each of us must address whether we are recipient or practitioner.

One key difference is that many Western herbalists (especially lay herbalists) are still maintaining their foundations in the material world of treatment, like an herbal allopathy. And, while I certainly respect that approach and the healing that can result, and occasionally use direct herbal support as well, my path lies more within the realm of subtle energy support for holistic healing. From a Western view, herbal medicines are most often used simply as a natural version of pharmaceuticals; the herbal preparations do have an energetic component (Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine address this, from the actions upon subtle energy bodies to the actions as derived from astrology), but their use in the Western world is often primarily based solely upon their physiological actions within the body system. With acute ailments, this can be great; with chronic dis-ease, a holistic approach is vital.
There are herbalists who encourage a more holistic and energetic approach to understanding and using herbs, so I don't want to lump all into a single group. This is the area in which most of the speakers on the Plant Medicine Summit reside. 
For instance, one of the speakers (who was one of my teachers at Kripalu School of Ayurveda), William Siff gave his talk on the Herbal Lifestyle; that particular approach resonates with my own. He speaks of creating herbal habits in our diet and how it can create a "saturation" of energy from the ongoing use of herbs. Vasant Lad, another of my teachers, gave a brilliant talk on What is Prana? Understanding the concept of life force in Ayurveda and its relationship to medicinal plants. The third talk that addresses my own approach to a great degree was that of Acharya Shunya titled Thus Spoke the Sages: Ayurveda on the natural environment of plants and dharma. In his work, Matthew Wood refers to the personalities of herbs, so his understanding aligns with the holistic one taken by many indigenous people and shamans; David Winston also presents a talk "more than this herb for that disease." And Chanchal Cabrera took our relationship with herbs and plants in a beautiful direction when she provided a brilliant, illuminating talk called Tree Medicine: Shinrin You - Forest Bathing as a clinical practice; this is an accepted medical prescription in Japan based upon ancient wisdom combined with modern studies showing tremendous benefits to being in nature.

Subtle energy remedies are, conversely, working their wonders from within and upon the vital force of the individual. That is where the action begins, whether with homeopathy or flower essences. It is the mistunement of the life force that creates a functional disturbance in the individual, eventually followed by structural manifestations if not addressed early enough. Thus, we are working with energy at a deeper level within the system and the healing moves outward to address symptoms. This does not mean that energy remedies do not heal structural manifestations. Roberts says about homeopathic remedies, in his classic work Principles and Art of Cure by Homoeopathy:

“This medication may control and retard the development of pathological conditions. Thus tumours may be retarded or completely arrested, and absorption increased, and finally the disappearance of the grown; secretions or excretions increased or decreased; ulcers healed; but all this is secondary to the real cure which takes place solely in the dynamic sphere, restoring the patient to health and harmonious functioning of his whole being by the dynamic influence of the symptomatically similar remedy.” [Emphasis mine]

At the same time that we are using subtle energy for healing (or herbs), it is certainly best to also address any “obstacles to cure,” which can be diet, lifestyle, spirituality, and more. In my approach to healing and health care, herbs usually fall into the “diet” category rather than the medicinal one, per se. Herbs and spices are valuable in their support to the body, just as food is. This is why in my Five Petal Path to Healing, you will find herbs coming under the heading of “Food & Spices” rather than shown as a distinct petal of healing. 

I believe that the future of healing -- when a conscious lifestyle does not achieve health and/or an accident occurs -- lies within energy medicine. Not only does it get to the source of how dis-ease occurs within us, but, in our environmentally challenged world, the energy remedies encourage a far higher degree of sustainability than the production and harvesting of large quantities of herbs (or the aromatics used in essential oils, which do have a profoundly energetic effect), because only a minute amount of the original substance is needed to create vast supplies of remedies.

There is a healing path for each of us; open your heart as well as your mind, and yours will make itself known.

Holistic Lifestyles

Discovering Ayurveda has been a true gift in my life, as it touches upon every aspect of one's life and lifestyle, offering insights for deep, continued healing and wellness. This healing and wellness is for soul and mind, as well as body, and is a truly holistic system.

The other marvelous aspect of these teachings has been that all of the teachers seem to emphasize that they, and the sages who developed the system five thousand years ago, desire to share this healing wisdom with anyone who wishes to learn. Unlike some cultures who prefer to keep their wisdom isolated (often because of historic harm), most Indian teachers take the approach of offering the Ayurvedic benefits into the world. They were taught that these wellness teachings are a gift to all people, not only to those born in India.

I was completely enthralled by the latest free audio by SoundsTrue, a conversation with the delightful and wise Acharya Shunya - HERE.

Yoga for Wrist and Knee Recovery

I came to Yoga late in life. It wasn't until about 2009 -- when I was 48 -- that I really began exploring Yoga, which then led me into studying Ayurveda. Since then, it's one of the few body-movement programs that I've enjoyed long-term, other than walking and hiking. I think I've stuck with it because it is conscious movement, it encourages an embodied and mindful approach to moving the body on multiple levels including the subtle energy level. I'm not an "exercise person" but the holistic approach of Yoga suits me.

Anyway, since my accident last year, when I broke my leg and arm, I've been feeling frustrated by not being able to get back to Yoga very well. I've been able to maintain certain parts of the practice through modifications while sitting in a chair, but now I want to get back to the mat, if possible. The following videos have been quite helpful, so I wanted to share them with you. Even with these, I do have to make my own mindful modifications since both my knee and wrist are in recovery process. So, be mindful of where you are at, and maybe these videos will be helpful to you or someone you know, as they have been for me.

This first video is for recovery from knee surgery, or if there is knee pain.

This second video is for recovery from wrist injury.

Also, I am not a Yoga instructor, so if you're unsure about anything in the videos, please contact your personal Yoga teacher.

The Alchemy of Our Dark Emotions

We all know what the so-called negative emotions are, and how we try to avoid or suppress them, both in ourselves and in others. But what if we dug into a true healing of self, and allowed our friends and loved ones to do so as well, from these emotions?

Miriam Greenspan, in her evocative, inspirational book Healing Through the Dark Emotions: the wisdom of grief, fear, and despair, writes:

"When I call them dark, I don't mean that they are bad, unwholesome, or pathological. I mean that as a culture we have kept these emotions in the dark--shameful, secret, and unseen. As a result, we tend, for the most part, to shun them. But the emotions that we reject and suppress can become dark in an altogether different sense: like a rich, fertile soil from which unexpected flowers can bloom."

Matt Licata, in a recent post on his blog A Loving Healing Space, writes of these dark emotions that:

"While it may appear otherwise, this very disturbing material is not a mistake, but is sacred. It is not pathology, but path."

While the effort may seem daunting, I can confirm that it is worth the space and time we allow for the process to unfold. And, unlike conventional drugs (anti-depressants, etc.) that promulgate avoidance of these dark emotions, flower essences instead provide subtle, gentle support as we move through the emotions. For an intense "dark night of the soul," Waratah (image to the left) is a powerful partner; for the variety of other ways in which despair (or grief or fear) may appear in one's life, there are myriad other flower essence choices. We are not alone on the path of healing.

The Five Petal Path of Healing

Different people are drawn to the systems, methods, and/or remedies that seem to resonate with them. This is why we see such a plethora of energy healers or teachers, natural health consultants, or holistic practitioners using different approaches. We all want to heal and offer healing to others, be they people or animals, but we find our own unique way into this healing. It can appear confusing or even contradictory, but I have faith that you will find what calls to you; all you have to do is open up your heart, body, and mind.

Through nearly 20 years of study and experience, the system of healing and wellness that has evolved for me is what I call the Five Petal Path. I am putting together a slide show video that I hope will explain this system clearly to you, so that you can apply it in your own life, if you wish, or inspire you to create your own unique system. However, in the meantime, the next few posts will offer some introductory thoughts.

All of these modalities or petals interconnect and flow into each other, so while I may present them as separate, they are an integrated holistic approach to healing. You will see that there is a pale pink circle around the flower; this represents many aspects of subtle life, from soul or spirit and inner work to pure energy work such as Reiki, prayers, mantras, mudras, ritual, including working with energy fields/bodies. All of the petals of healing -- Flower Essences, Homeopathy, Cell Salts, Food & Spices, Lifestyle (including Ayurveda and Yoga) -- are enhanced by pure spiritual or vital force energy. And, at the core of flowering on the Five Petal Path is the ancient wisdom of "know thyself" or knowing one's nature, inside and out. I have found that when this holistic weave is embraced, we don't have to worry about what is called a "healing crisis" by some practitioners.

As always, if you have any questions or need help, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Blessings!

Broken Bones & Natural Support

Everyone will tell you that broken bones hurt. Unfortunately, I can now confirm that personally.

In September 2016, I fell and broke both my left arm and leg. The leg did not require surgery, but the arm did, as I had a complete fracture of both the ulna and radius near the wrist. As you can see from the photo, which was taken about 10 days after my surgery, fixing my arm was in itself traumatic to the tissue (plate, screws, and pins were required) as are most surgeries.

The reason for this post is to share some of my experience in using natural remedies during the healing process. I chose not to use the prescribed pharmaceuticals for pain (which were opioid derivatives, as are most strong pain-killers), and stuck instead with homeopathic remedies, flower essences, cell salts, and therapeutic herbs.

We're Not Alone

Whether one is recovering from a physical injury or struggling with an emotional situation, flower essences can help. We are not alone!

Americans, in particular, seem to think that we have to "go it alone" or "do it ourselves." Oh sure, we may obtain a therapist or attend group meetings or read books, but then we figure our improvement has to be made through either willpower or contemplation or creativity without any assist from natural remedies. Even many so-called natural approach practitioners are so averse to conventional medicine that they refuse to even consider allying themselves with Nature in her essential form.

As you've probably guessed, I'm more than willing to accept help from the Plant Kingdom and its emissaries, the Flowers (and other plants). Flower Essences are energetic, not material substances (other than the liquid their vibrations are suspended within), yet they are dynamic and powerful infusions of loving support from a world that wants to connect with us and help us create beautiful, peaceful lives.

Open yourself to infinite possibility and accept a flower's help in your life.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Blessings!

Befriending Our Dark Emotions

Many of us can struggle when feeling grief, fear, or despair. But what if we were to befriend those emotions when they come upon us?

I invite you to consider the thoughts shared by Miriam Greenspan in the article Through A Glass Darkly. The author uses a term -- emotional alchemy -- to describe the journey through our dark emotions, and I find it beautiful.

When asked if "negative" emotions can make us sick, Greenspan replied:

Yes, I do, when they are unattended to. When we don’t know how to handle their intense energies, they can become stuck. Research shows that depression and anxiety have a connection to heart disease, immune disorders, cancer, and other ailments. This doesn’t mean that emotions cause cancer. Thinking so makes it easier to ignore research on how environmental contaminants, for instance, are linked to cancer. But stuck emotions do put stress on the body. That’s one reason why mindfulness and the metabolism of emotions are so important. If we don’t digest the emotion, it just sits in our bodies and contributes to ill health. 

And remember that giving attention to these dark emotions and processing them can be gently, subtly assisted by our friends the flowers in the form of flower essences.