Since essences created from the flowers of medicinal plants can be quite potent, it's no surprise that they have already made their way into the pages of Vibration Magazine. Our back issues contain a number of in-depth portraits of such remedies; below are links to those articles. (Be sure to keep going all the way to the end of this page, as there are quite a few sections here.)

For a deeper understanding of these essences, we note here some of their traditional herbal uses as described in reference sources on the subject, as well as photos of some of the plants. It will be up to you to draw any parallels between the herbal and flower remedy uses! As is standard practice in flower remedy writing, to avoid confusion, the essence version of a plant is given in capital letters (e.g Arnica), while the herbal version is in lower case (e.g. arnica). A list of book and photo sources appears at the end.

THE USUAL DISCLAIMER: These listings are for educational purposes only and are not intended to serve as diagnosis or treatment. For any serious illness, consult a qualified health care practitioner.

Arnica Montana: Matthew Wood, a master herbalist, wrote the essence portrait of Arnica, and his excellent Book of Herbal Wisdom is also the source of several of the descriptions below. He notes that the herb arnica and its homeopathic equivalent is a time-honored healer of sprains, strains, and other after-effects of accidents and surgeries.

Chicory: (photo at left) Levy notes that the root of this plant is still used as a coffee substitute and that the leaves are eaten in salad. Traditional herbal lore recommends it as a tonic and nervine, meaning it nourishes the nervous system. He says it helps with liver disorders and tones up the digestion. (pp. 47-8)

Dill: The herb dill's major use is as a digestive aid, but Levy recommends it for colicky children and for relieving gas. She also notes that it is rich in minerals and improves the hair and fingernails. (pp.58-60)

Foxglove: (photo in final panel) In the form of digitalis, this plant has long been known as a potent stimulant for the heart. Beyerl notes that in addition to the heart muscle, it affects all the muscles in the body and thus can have a dramatic effect on the circulatory system. It stimulates kidney function and acts as a powerful diuretic. Parts of the plant are poisonous, though the essence made from its flowers are not.

Goldenrod: (photo at right) Wood devotes a chapter to goldenrod, which was widely used in medieval times as a healer of wounds and for its capacity to stop bleeding, being especially helpful for ulcers and menstrual bleeding. It has a long history as a kidney tonic. Known by its botanical name, solidago, this is also a time-honored homeopathic remedy.

(more below...keep reading....)

Kudzu: The Amazing Story of Kudzu cites this plant's medicinal properties which have been known both since ancient times as well as by modern researchers. A part of Chinese herbal formulas for millennia as well as used as a nourishing food, research shows it contains compounds which help reduce alcoholic cravings. Kudzu also contains phytoestrogens which may be useful during menopause.

Oak: Matthew Wood's chapter on white oak lists a variety of herbal uses, including blood in the urine, bleeding ulcers, and excess menstrual bleeding. He also cites kidney and bladder problems, such as kidney stones and suppression of urine. Herbalists find it helpful for those whose systems have broken down due to age or long bouts of illness.

Sacred Datura: (photo above left) McIntyre cautions that the plant was historically used as an hallucinogen and vision quest tool by native peoples around the world, but that the flower essence does not have that effect. Applied externally in salves and liniments, it was said to reduce the spasms of asthma, bronchitis, or whooping cough.

(more below...keep reading....)

Saint John's Wort: (photo at right) Matthew Wood devotes a chapter to this plant, which has a long history of magical uses as a protective plant, but also became known as a general healer of many ills, including pinched nerves and healing of wounds, especially those from punctures and falls. It is widely used in Europe today against depression, especially the kind that comes in the darker months of the year, for it increases light sensitivity.

Skunk Cabbage: Beyerl cautions that large doses of this plant can have a narcotic effect, but that in small doses it is useful in the treatment of asthma and arthritis, as well as helping during a difficult childbearing labor. For some kinds of pain, it may be applied externally as a liniment.

White Clover: Long used as a magical herb for good luck, Beyrl notes that clover also has helpful properties for the bronchial area, soothing bronchitis and whooping cough. In addition, he says it helps remove disease from the digestive system.

Yarrow: Matthew Wood's chapter on yarrow notes that its uses go back to prehistoric times, including divinatory uses and application to wounds and other cuts. Traditional herbalists value it for fever and hemorrhages as well as a digestive tonic.

(more below...keep reading....)

BIBLIOGRAPY AND PHOTO SOURCES

The herbal uses of plants given in these listings come from the following books about herbs:

Beyrl, Paul. The Master Book of Herbalism. Custer, WA: Phoenix Publishing Co., 1984.

de Bairacli Levy, Juliette. Common Herbs for Natural Health. New York, NY: Schocken Books, 1974.

McIntyre, Ann. Flower Power. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1996.

Wood, Matthew. The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicine. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1997.

The photographs of herbal plants used in this article come from the following excellent sources of plant photos and drawings:

Art Today for rosemary and Saint John's wort.
Reny Parker's Wildflowers collection for chicory.
Foxglove came from a clip art disk by Print Perfect.
Healing Herbs collection of pictures of remedy flowers for star of Bethlehem.
Sacred datura is part of Dean Smith's collection of Delaware Flower photos.
The photo of goldenrod came from the Alabama University collection, which we cannot find on line at present.

The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.

©2002 Vibration Magazine/The World Wide Essence Society
PO Box 285     Concord, MA 01742     978 369-8454
webmaster@essences.com

Website: Hometown Websmith and Word of Mouth Web Design