Medicine bowl

Bowl of herbs

I can’t tell you how much I loved creating this small bowl of herbs, all grown from my garden.

It acted as a naturally wild remedy for me to gather and create this, but, in it's own right, it holds plant medicine from herbs that I have come to treasure.

The bowl was crafted by @the_clay_shed, based in North Yorkshire, and my choice of mechanics are simply (always reusable) chicken wire and water. It has a base of Lemon Balm and Sage, topped with Mint. There are two varieties, an orange mint and a chocolate mint here, in addition to which I've added Bronze Fennel, Marjoram and Oregano. I finished off with the most underrated of all herbal flowers, the magnificent Nigella in white, as a highlight to this beautiful container.

Nigella; see her exquisite beauty

Aside from being great for pollinators, herbs have all manner of culinary uses, but they can act as gentle remedies for our bodies, too.

Plant medicine (herbal medicine) is a skill and therapy now lost to all but the most devoted of followers, but once our ancestors reached for camomile as a soother and sleep aid, and for lavender to calm a burn as a matter of natural instinct. This knowledge was handed down from skilled apothecaries, and most households held women who knew how to care for ailments with all that the forest and hedgerows provided.

Scented herbs are a must in my garden. There’s no better way to feel grounded, held by Mother Nature who continues to remind us of all the ancient knowledge of plant medicines long forgotten. I’ve found a way to use them with essential oil blends for my own daily use, and I wouldn’t be without them.

By way of examples, I offer up the use of sage oil to enhance clarity and focus. On its own, or blended with orange oil or bergamot, it is also a useful relief for stressful situations.

Lemon balm, too, assists with stress, anxiety and can often aid sleep.

Fennel used in oil can aid respiratory congestion and is soothing to the skin where it can be applied as both cleanser and toner.

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Mint, as you will know, may be used to make tea to aid digestion or respiration, and in essential oil as a wonderful pain reliever when used as a massage oil with a base oil.

Marjoram and Oregano both are rich in antioxidants, good for stimulating blood flow, and natural anti inflammatories, whilst Nigella seeds are used in oils for healthy skin and again as a useful anti inflammatory.

So this bowl of herbs sits with me indoors; as much for me to look at and take pleasure from, as well as to inhale for all the benefits I've mentioned.

For complete transparency, please know that I am a student of Aromatherapy and a user or essential oils over many years, but I hold no current qualification as yet. Please therefore carry out your own research as a safeguarding measure. As ever, always use oils with a carrier oil in an appropriate dilution ratio. It may be useful to consult your own Aromatherapist or essential oil provider if you're unsure of what to may work for you.

I simply offer up the uses of herbal oils as my preferred choice of skincare, massage therapy, and diffuser use.

I wouldn't be without them.

For additional information and interest, my essential oil supplier of choice is Oshadhi, and their website is here for your further exploration. It is a well informed site, and the company is highly regarded for its knowledge base, its sustainable practices, and its commitment to education

Occasionally I offer blended workshops where we create something beautiful with flowers and I share my love of an essential oil/plant. Let me know if this is something that may appeal to you and I can make plans for another offering.

Thank you for reading. I hope this inspires you to look at herbs and their uses in more detail.

Come back soon for more workshop news later on.

#mindful #seasonal #herbal