Tap into the healing powers of seasonal plants with our youth guru Jayney Goddard
Tap into the healing powers of seasonal plants with our youth guru Jayney Goddard
As we draw closer to Christmas, I thought that it would be fascinating to take a look at some of the plants that we are traditionally surrounded by at this time of year and examine how they can be used medicinally. A lot of them can be incorporated into our own health and wellbeing regimes, easily and safely.
HOLLY flower remedy . I find that these helpful remedies are extremely useful in my practice and have seen great results with my patients. These are gentle, fast-acting and easy to use.
Holly is often thought of as the flower remedy for anger – but this isn’t always accurate. In the Bach system, anger is considered to be a secondary emotion and we need to look more closely at the underlying cause of the anger. For example, anger based on impatience needs another remedy, as do those angers based on feelings of personal unfairness or impersonal injustice, or where there is a simple loss of control.
So, Holly is actually the remedy for very negative, aggressive feelings directed at others – feelings such as hatred, suspicion, envy and spite. Destructive emotions such as these poison us on every level and destroy health – mentally, physically and emotionally. The underlying problem is an absence of love, and the remedy works to encourage our generosity of spirit and an openness towards others.
IVY Ivy is used in herbal medicine. It is a bitter aromatic herb which has an emetic effect and a nauseating taste. Over the millennia, it has been used as a handy folk remedy – particularly in the treatment of rheumatism and also as an external application to skin eruptions, swollen and painful joints, burns and suppurating cuts.
Recent studies have shown that the leaves contain the compound ‘emetine’, which is an alkaloid that has amoeba killing properties. It also contains ‘triterpene saponins’, which have been shown to treat liver flukes (a parasite) and fungal infections. Taken internally, ivy is used for the relief of gout, rheumatic pain, whooping cough, bronchitis and as a parasiticide. An infusion of the twigs in oil is recommended for the treatment of sunburn. However as the plant is mildly toxic it is imperative that it should be used under supervision of a qualified herbalist.
CRANBERRY
MISTLETOE
As early as 1961, laboratory studies demonstrated that mistletoe, along with other immunostimulant plants (such as eupatorium, astragalus, echinacea, acathopanax, chamomilla, and sabal), inhibited tumours in mice, mistletoe continues to be studied for its anti-cancer properties. In addition, a range of conditions including convulsions, delirium, menopausal symptoms, neuralgia, urinary disorders, and heart conditions have benefited from the activity of mistletoe. It has also been used to temper the spasms of epilepsy.
Article by
Jayney Goddard
President of the Complementary Medical Association
is the president of the Complementary Medical Association
Discover more
Article by
Jayney Goddard
President of the Complementary Medical Association
is the president of the Complementary Medical Association
Discover more
By Jayney Goddard
