Motherwort....Leonurus cardiaca....

I have two Motherwort plants, that Im mentally willing to grow, so that I can top up my tincture stocks. This plant is the 'in your pocket' remedy for anxiety. Take 5 drops of the tincture then rest for 10-15 minutes, if she's not kicking in for you take another 5 drops, upto 20 drops, you will then know your base dose for when nerves hit next time round. This herb is effective without being addictive and can be taken several times a day, if needed.
Her soothing nature can help to bring on menses which are held because of stress or tension, and to ease uterine cramping, but if your prone to heavy bleeding, she might not be the best ally for you.
She can chill out menopausal  processes, like the severity and length of hot flashes.
The 'cardiaca' part of her is that those with a rapid or irregular heart beat can slow it down with her help. 
Motherwort was demonised during the burning times for her part in midwifery, along with the women who worked with her.
As an incense she is specific to protecting women and children.

A mother of a herb...

Tangents....

Summers in full swing here. I set up a cut up mozzie net like a tarp to provide shade for the herb garden, between that and the sugarcane mulch, the green folk are doing just fine. Everyones about twice the size they were a month ago. Tropical weather will do that for you. We could do with more rain, but me n my watering can get pretty good coverage. I enjoy my pottering around checking in on plants as I water em. So the herb gardens coming along...

Been swimming in the tea tree lake of late, water stained brown by the leaves, now thats gotta be medicinal. Its surrounded by melaleuca and reed wetlands. People are getting more clued in as to the value of wetlands. Landscapers are incorporating them into swimming pools as an alternative to chlorinated water, or building them in to household grey water filtration systems.

Most of my energy has been going into playing with ideas for a kids book, for big and small, something I've wanted to do for years. The tangential illustrations are morphing into a world of their own and adjusting techniques is helping. Every reading Ive done says go for it. So I am playing away, although there's actually a lot of work in putting it together. Ive done a rough outline of a story and am now drawing up some more detailed images. Even managed to squeeze in something about leaving offerings when you harvest medicine herbs... 

 

 



 

shaman in the woods....

From little things big things grow...

You'll have to excuse the difference of my last post and this one, but I feel a shifting change on the winds. A bit of whimsy has touched me somehow and I have the urge to create images that make me smile. Theres so much harshness and difficulty in the world at times, I long for a gentler place that watercolours evoke. Ok, my skill levels not great, but I have to say Ive enjoyed painting them. Hope they bring a little rising of your mouth corners, even if they are tangential....