Astringents....

All over this blue and green planet have evolved systems relating to mapping out the energetics (and actions) of plants. The sensorial experiences of how they effect the body and their relationship with it. Traditional or indigenous medicines from various parts of the globe. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are probably most familiar.

I am feeling out some of the language of traditions, including the ancestry of the patterns described in Western Herbalism. There are polarities in this language that have a whole complex spectrum between them in application, but to introduce some of the signifiers, with roots heading to Galen (ancient Greek), here we have: hot/ cold, dry/damp. I am very much on my L plates with this and so acknowledge that I'm turning to other herbalists experiences as reference points, whilst working from my own limits and keeping it on the level.

I come from a lineage of women who work creatively in the kitchen, applying their taste buds and instincts to create food as medicine, and applying aesthetics creatively to make art that feeds the soul as depicting nature. The interface between people and plants came through these mediums in the lives of my mother, aunt and grandmothers. Herbalism is a place where I touch this. Energetics are a grounded use of sensations accessible to experiential learning, through a filter before microscopes were around. I am walking between these worlds in the now.

In patterns of energetics and actions, 'drying' herbs are generally associated with encouraging the flow of fluids out from the body. Diuretics make you wee more, like Nettle, Parsley or Celery seed, diaphoretics encourage sweating through the pores of the skin, like Ginger, Chilli or Fenugreek. Despite the fact these herbs bring moisture to the area they effect initially. Nothing like a spicy curry to work up a sweat!

                                                   Comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x)

Astringent herbs, constrict tissues when applied, giving the feel of being 'drying', like a glass of red (or three's), effects on the tissues of the mouth, or Witch hazels on the skin. Paradoxically when tissues tighten and bind they often hold in fluids. Like the fresh chewed leaves of Comfrey, or Yarrow, which seal and tighten the skin around a wound, whilst preventing furthur bleeding.
They are locally drying, whilst not drying out the body from loss of fluids. So to say astringent herbs are 'drying' is a simplification.
Also, as herbalist Dorothy Hall puts it, proving the old wives tale of putting cold black tea (Thea chinensis) on burns blisters. The astringency will stop furthur fluid loss into the blister, whilst also causing reabsorption into underlying tissues of whats already present. Old wives know what they're about....

                                                      Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

                                                
                                                         Heartsease (Viola tricolour)

Damp herbs moisten and lubricate. Rub a Heartsease, Plantain or Marshmallow leaf between your fingers and you can feel the moisture contained within them as mucilage. These herbs soothe and ease inflamed (or indeed dry) tissues, like Slippery Elm taken internally can soothe an agitated digestive tract or Marshmallow root can a dry hacking unproductive cough.

Resources:

'Dorothy Hall's Herbal Medicine'. Lothian. 1988.

Plant Healer Magazine http://www.folkherbalism.com/

'Traditions of Western Herbalism' by Mathew Wood. North Atlantic Books 2004. 

Comfrey 19/3/2016

We have two types of Comfrey, growing...
This morning lit, vibrant leaf belongs to Symphytum uplandica x, who has a pink to purplish flower, whilst Symphytum officinales is a white bloomer.
I just love the glow through the veins in these shots, which for me emphasise this plants ability to regenerate and encourage cell growth. The forms in the leaves, echo clusters of cells. She achievs this so potently that its said, best not to apply her to deep wounds, as if there's any infection beneath and she heals the surface, it can become trapped inside the hurt. One can add a little infused or essential lavendar oil to her salve too.

I have used her also for pain relief, particularly 'restless legs', which strike as cramps during the night. I reached for a jar of salve by my bed and rubbing it in experieneced some sweet relief. Also a dear friends sister reports, the nerve pains of MS, have been eased by her salve. These are results I had not heard of prior to experienecing them. So, mayhaps plants gifts may clarify with listening, gentle sense-ible experiements and openess....
 

comfrey salve...

My mums coming up to visit, with a broken rib. In some rather nice timing Ive been infusing comfrey leaf in oil to make up a salve, so i made up the first half so she can have some meet her when she arrives. I strained all the plant material out of the olive oil, grated up some beeswax and added that to the oil heating in a double boiler. The end result looks silky and should be pretty good for all her internal bruisings and breaks. Meanwhile my cat nomad relaxed...

As a footnote, next time I make salve Ill add something antiseptic to the brew, like lavendar oil. If a wound has infection in it, comfreys amazing properties can heal the cut, leaving the infection locked in beneath the surface. This generally doesnt apply for sprains and fractures, which is why i suggest 'using externally' when i offer someone comfrey salve.

Comfrey, is she safe?

Today i harvested some comfrey leaves to infuse in oil so i can make a comfrey salve down the track. How green and good does that look? All ready to go in  a cool dark place to brew.
Reconnecting with her , Ithought Id address the much maligned plant. Is she safe?

There are two types of comfrey, wild comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and cultivated comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x , the x means its a hybrid). Wild comfrey is a smaller plant with yellow flowers. Cultivated comfrey is a large plant often surpassing 2 metres with blue or purple flowers. Symphytum uplandica x was created post the 2nd world war by Henry Doubleday as a survival food. People tend to be growing uplandica, and that is what can be sold in stores, mislabeled.

Just to confuse things a little more, the roots and leaves of comfrey contain different constituents. Comfrey root, like most perennial roots, contains poisons. Wild comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaves contain some of the poisons but cultivated comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x) leaves dont. Comfrey leaves are protein rich, a great source of folic acid, many vitamins, minerals and trace minerals we need for a strong immune system and a calm nervous system. Comfrey ointment heals wounds, cuts, burns, itches and most skin problems.

I once cut myself with a razor, it would have needed stitches. I put a comfrey leaf poultice on the cut, replacing it a couple of times with pressure applied and it closed up and healed, so i look forward to making a batch of ointment and sharing it....even if its not harvested from our wee patch yet...