The world is reeling and in shock at the moment and it can be hard to imagine what the world will be like once this disease, the Corona Virus, has had its day. I am not worried about the virus because I am using herbs. The medical profession are feeling helpless because they are powerless without a vaccine. Herbalists on the other hand, treat the person not the symptoms and there are lots of herbs that would suit people as a preventative and many that could be used to help people should they contract the disease. This is a brilliant opportunity for people to turn back to herbs for reassurance and it seems that many are.
I am being asked for advice about herbs and healthy living a lot recently but because we are all in isolation and I cannot meet people, and because people cannot go and just pick up medicinal herbs as they might have done, the best thing I can do is recommend lots and lots of Vitamin C (or Vitamin C rich food – fruits and vegetables)
and to look into their kitchen cupboards to see what herbs and spices they have.
There will be something that can be useful and beneficial for this time For example, many people will have dried Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cayenne, Ginger, Turmeric and Garlic. These are all herbs and spices with qualities that can help at a time like this. Some are antibacterial and antiviral , some are warming or anti-inflammatory. Herbal teas such as Chamomile can help reduce anxiety as well as promote sweating should you feel feverish. Use Sage for a sore throat and use Sage, Thyme and Rosemary together or on their own (depending upon what you have) as preventative and immune supporting herbs by infusing them all for at least 20 mins, in a teapot with boiling water. Take three cups per day if you are worried you might be compromised in any way. I am not saying this will be a cure, but they may be all you have access to and they will certainly be helpful for some. For all who try using these kitchen herbs and spices you will feel less anxiety because you have done something to empower yourself. This is a brilliant opportunity to become self-reliant and self-empowered in terms of your health. Your body knows how to heal itself, it needs you to help it.
Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in there is no doubting in my mind, that we have been given a brilliant opportunity to change our lives in really positive ways. For example, gyms and sports clubs are closed so people have to walk to get their exercise and this gives them an opportunity to reconnect with Nature. Whether you walk along the street, in a park, in the countryside or at a beach, this is your chance to observe the trees in bud and the spring flowers popping their heads up. It is a brilliant opportunity to breathe in fresh air and hear the birds. Seeing Nature as a living system going about her business calms and reassures – Life goes on no matter what.
Lots of people have started putting down vegetable plots and are growing their own food. I am increasing my growing space because I suppose I realise I haven’t been making the most of the space that I have. Growing my own food increases the diversity of my land, brings back the land from benign neglect and helps me to co-create with Nature. Growing your own food is one of the most revolutionary things we can do in modern times according to Mr Dervaes. Watch this! According to the Dervaes family, growing your own food is empowering and sets you free. I also love the way they live, slowly and with thought. This little film is well worth watching at any time.
Preparing the land for growing your own food also brings you into a meditative state and helps give you the time and opportunity to not only observe Nature but to be in her.
At this strange time lots of people are using social media to send positive messages and hopeful messages to one another. Perhaps this is a sign of community and altruism, “we’re all in this together”; perhaps it is a sign of co-operation and consideration. Perhaps it will all lead to a better world as many are speaking of this time as being a brilliant opportunity to assess their lives and take the time to actually think about the kind of world we want to live in and the kind of world we want to leave our children.
There are many conspiracy theories abounding and it is easy to get sucked into them – and I have been caught up in all that negative thinking. On my walk this morning though. observing Nature and thinking about the positive events that have already happened and remembering that I believe in the power of the mind, (that is, we create our world with our thoughts), I decided that this is a brilliant opportunity for me to put my mouth where my money is, so to speak.
I am fortunate to have a very powerful imagination, sometimes it can run away with me! I am going to work hard imagining a world where we are all free to live a full and happy, healthy life. Where every decision is made considering our “relations” the plants and animals, rivers and oceans, mountains and bogs that we share this planet with. I am finding it easy to imagine that we all wake up to the fact that we have been manipulated to be consumers. We have felt deep down that this consumerism can not be maintained and we know that it does not make us feel happy but we can now put blame behind us, (consumerism was thought to be a good idea post WW2 as a brief agenda to get people back to work and to kick start economies but it is a promotion that long since reached its sell by date). Let’s leave the guilt behind, (energetically it serves no purpose) and we can start afresh. We now have a brilliant opportunity to look at our amazing and beautiful world which is so diverse and rich, if we only value it for itself . Observing Nature during this spring time of renewal and rebirth is the best thing we can do for our future. Just imagine!
Self-Heal for all of us!