Slowing Down the Druid Way: A History of Time

What continues to drive me is to live more in line with my principles: to grow my food, to take care of my basic needs, take charge of my health and healing, and to live fully and honestly with myself in line with the living earth. For a while, as I have discussed on this blog, I ran a homestead as well as worked full time to pay for it, something that I stopped doing about a year and a half ago. Part of why I had to walk away from my homestead in its current model (and regroup) was that it was physically exhausting me, especially as a single woman. I was trying to do everything: hold a full time job, grow my own food, tend my bees, tend my chickens, tend my land, make lots of things, write my blog, engage in my druid studies…and I couldn’t do it all. It was a painful and hard thing, leave a year and a half ago and open myself up to future possibilities. It also has been good in that I’ve been working to confront some of the fantasies that made me pursue things in the direction that I did when that direction was, for me, unsustainable. I had a hard time understanding how my ancestors made it–how they were able to do so many things, when I seemed to be able to do so few effectively.

“Annually, many Americans wait to see the ultimate and final “Big Game” of the year which just concluded in our own backyard, here, in Houston. But also there are many who may not be football fans but annually look forward to the next installation of the heart tugging, mini-sagas put forth by Budweiser featuring the gentle giants of the equine world, the Clydesdales. This year, the fans of horses were disappointed when Budweiser benched the ponies and went a totally different direction and suffered poor reviews on their attempt to document immigration history. The result was a lose/lose on both-sides with Bud slipping in the ratings and the Clydesdales fans left without a horse fix, so we are here to help correct that oversight, today.

We issue a “tissue alert” in advance and would also like to add that we are not endorsing any one horse rescue but instead tipping our hats to all of the fine organizations out there filled with good folks who donate their time, their money and their lives to the effort of finding good forever homes and futures for equines in need. There is no need to identify them as you already know who you are and we love each and everyone of you bright points of compassion, caring and love. May you have a wonderful ‘Feel Good Sunday’ and never give up the good fight. Keep the faith!” ~ R.T.

Source: Feel Good Sunday: Clydesdales Help Purina Deliver Surprise to Horse Shelter in Need | Straight from the Horse’s Heart

Health Benefits of PassionFlower – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

As always … Check for contraindications with any prescriptions you are taking.

Passionflower is the common name of any one of the approximately 400 species of the plant genus Passiflora. Native to warm climates in North and South America, many species are now cultivated around the world for their colorful flowers and tasty fruit. Passion flower is also known for its therapeutic benefits. For hundreds of years, people used it as an herbal sedative, stress reducer, sleep aid, and many other applications.

History and Etymology

Natives of both North and South America used passion flower for food, drink, and therapeutic purposes for hundreds of years before the plant was first introduced to European explorers. By the 18th century, passionflower gained popularity in Europe as a remedy for epilepsy and insomnia. Today, the plant is cultivated worldwide.

With a name like “passionflower,” you might think the plant was traditionally used as some sort of aphrodisiac, like horny goat weed. Nothing could be further from the truth. The “passion” in passion flower actually refers to the passion of Christ. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish missionaries in Peru saw the unusual flower as a symbol of the crucifixion. The blue and white colors of the flower were thought to stand for heaven and purity, the radial filaments symbolized the crown of thorns, and the tendrils represented Roman whips.

PassionFlower Species

The genus Passiflora contains over 500 different species, many of which are hybrids. Passiflora incarnata is the species most appreciated for its therapeutic benefits. Also known as maypop, P. incarnata is native to the southern United States but used throughout the world.

Passiflora edulis

Passiflora edulis is a South American species widely cultivated for its fruit. While many species of Passiflora bear edible fruit, P. edulis is the one that bears “passion fruit.” Passion fruit comes in two forms—the standard purple fruit and a yellow variety.

Passiflora alata

Passiflora alata, also known as wing-stem passion flower or fragrant granadilla, is another South American species. It’s known for its therapeutic applications and prized for its fruit. It’s earned the British Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, a prestigious distinction of excellence in the gardening world.

Passiflora quadrangularis

Passiflora quadrangularis, also known as giant granadilla, produces the largest fruits (about the size of a football) of all Passiflora. These fruits are used in desserts, juice, and medicine. The leaves are made into tea and poultices.

Health Benefits of PassionFlower

In the United States, passionflower is regarded as alternative or complementary medicine, but it has more mainstream acceptance around the world, particularly in Europe. The plant is listed in the European Pharmacopoeia, a book that provides Europe’s legal and scientific standards for medicine. In Germany, P. incarnata is approved for nervous restlessness, sleeplessness, and anxiety-related gastrointestinal problems. All the above-ground parts of the plant—the stem, flowers, and particularly the leaves—are thought to be helpful.

Promotes a Balanced Mood

Passionflower is best known for its relaxing and calming effects. Multiple human and animal studies have confirmed it’s effective at supporting a balanced mood without harmful side effects. Studies have found that while prescription medications work faster, they also produce problems, including dizziness and job-related impairment. Passion flower is far more gentle.

Combining passionflower with other calming herbs can increase its potency. A randomized, placebo-controlled study revealed that a combination of passionflower, valerian, and St. John’s wort had positive effects on mood without causing cognitive impairment.

Promotes Restful Sleep

Passionflower is commonly used to support restful sleep and the evidence to support this use isn’t just anecdotal. Multiple studies confirm the plant’s ability to help you get a good night’s rest. In 2011, a double-blind investigation found that participants who drank passion flower tea reported better sleep quality than the placebo group.

Effect on Involuntary Muscle Contractions

Some studies have found that passionflower extract delays the onset and decreases the duration of involuntary muscle contractions. Interestingly, it also seems to reduce unhappy feelings after involuntary muscle contraction episodes whereas standard treatments tend to increase them. No conclusions can be drawn at this time but further research could uncover hope for those who suffer from involuntary muscle contractions and irregular electrical activity in the brain.

May Ease the Symptoms of Withdrawal

Passionflower may provide gentle relief for symptoms of withdrawal. A double-blind, randomized study found that a daily serving of passionflower extract helped address both physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal. What’s more, the extract had no detrimental side effects.

Many smokers start and fail cessation programs because they can’t overcome the nicotine withdrawal. Can passionflower help? Animal studies have found that administration of passion flower extract reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms. More research is necessary to determine if these effects carry over to humans.

Other Health Benefits

Passionflower offers many more potential benefits. A compound isolated from passion flower extract was found to have aphrodisiac effects in mice. Recent animal testing also hints that P. incarnata promotes balanced blood sugar, a property that traditional Ayurvedic medicine has known for years.

Further, research suggests that passionflower could help promote comfort, respiratory health, digestive health, balanced blood sugar, and even attention and focus. Laboratory testing has found that passionflower extract may enhance the absorption and effectiveness of some types of medicine. If even half of these abilities prove effective, the therapeutic benefits could be huge.

Passion Flower Active Components

Different species of passionflower contain similar, but chemically distinct, compounds.
With so many species, identifying the exact components that account for passionflower’s health benefits can be somewhat difficult. And, despite intense investigation, the source of its calming properties is still up for speculation.

One theory attributes credit to a particular alkaloid compound in the plant. The many species of Passiflora contain many different alkaloid compounds and the most studied are harmine. Harmine is a beta-carboline alkaloid known to possess a variety of pharmacological effects. It helps slow the breakdown of neurotransmitters, improves insulin sensitivity, relaxes blood vessels, encourages bone health, and supports a balanced mood.

Passionflower is also host to several flavonoids including apigenin, orientin, swertiamarin, quercetin, kaempferol, vitexin, and chrysin. Any one of, or a combination of, these phytochemicals could contribute to the plant’s therapeutic effects. Flavonoids are a large group of phytochemicals that have been analyzed for neuroprotective activity. They also exhibit soothing, equilibrium-seeking effects.

One other possible mechanism of action could be gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means that it helps induce relaxation and sleep. It’s produced naturally in the brain. Research finds that passionflower may boost GABA levels and promote relaxation. Due to the variation of passionflower species and methods of passion flower administration, these findings are not yet conclusive.

PassionFlower Side Effects and Safety

When used as recommended, passionflower is considered safe for most people. However, adverse effects may result from taking extremely large servings. Do not combine passion flower with sedatives like drugs or alcohol. The combination can magnify their effects and cause dizziness or confusion.

Pregnant women should also avoid passionflower. One animal study found it may contribute to uterine contractions. Whether this effect carries over to humans is still unknown but exercising caution seems appropriate. Always consult a trusted health care practitioner before starting a new supplement routine.

Available Forms of PassionFlower

There are several ways to consume passionflower. The fruit can be eaten raw or made into juice, jams, dessert toppings, and smoothies. The leaves, flowers, and stem can be dried or used to make powders, tinctures, infusions, and extracts. Passionflower herbal tea is popular and frequently used as a sleep aid. Passionflower can also be found in nutritional supplements, both by itself and blended with other botanicals. Because of its support for balanced mood, we incorporate passion flower into our brain and mood support supplement NeuroFuzion.

The first Americans knew of the mood-supporting, sleep-enhancing powers of passion flower. Now, we are rediscovering these benefits and more. If you have experience unhappiness or restless sleep, passionflower might be worth a try.

Source: Health Benefits of PassionFlower – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Crystal of the Week: Turquoise – Holistic Experiment

To be given a stone such as turquoise promotes good luck and peace. It has been used as amulets since time began, defending against injury, outside influences, or atmospheric pollutants.

It was often used by Turkish soldiers, protecting riders from injuries due to falls. It’s said that the Turquoise grows pale when its owner is sick or sad and loses all of its color when the person dies. It gradually recovers when it’s transferred to a new healthy owner, its color deepening each day.

A powerful energy conduit, this stone releases old vows, inhibitions, and prohibitions, dissolving a martyred attitude or self-sabotage, allowing the soul to express itself once more. It is also good for people who suffer jet lag and deal with fears of flying.

In the workplace, Turquoise promotes leadership, helps in relocation or regular travel associated with careers, and helps avoid unwise investments. It helps overcome writer’s block and is a stone of clear communication when giving information.

This stone is a good amulet for those who work in law or for local or central government. It’s also a wonderful stone for accountants and computer operators to promotes mental relaxation. Turquoise is a great stone for those who work in radio or television to release anxiety and for laborers to protect from body harm

Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Purposes

There are many physical purposes of Turquoise, but it is often used for people who suffer from exhaustion and those who suffer from problems in the brain, eyes, ears, neck, and throat. It’s anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, reducing excess acidity and benefits gout, rheumatism, and the stomach.

It is often used to heal cataracts, migraines, headaches, and problems with balance. It’s helpful to the respiratory system and aids in healing lung disorders and allergies. It helps prevent trachetis and other bronchial attacks. By healing the breath, this stone may cure speech disorders such as stammering.

Turquoise enhances the physical and psychic immune system, supports the assimilation of nutrients, and helps alleviates pollution and viral infection. It is used for tissue regeneration, neutralizes overacidity, and is used for people who have issues with tissue regeneration, eye issues, gout, rheumatism, stomach issues, cramps, pain, and sore throat.

On an emotional level, this stone if often used to ease panic attacks, stress, guilt, shame, and even depression. It promotes friendship, loyalty, self-realization and can help with mood swings and provides solace for the spirit and well-being for the body.

This stone gives serenity and peace for those who needs it and promotes empathy and balance in one’s life. It helps one to realize the causes of happiness and unhappiness and promotes self-realization.

Turquoise empowers shy people because it calms the nerves when speaking it public. It helps dissolves a martyred attitude of self-sabotage and empowers those who are feeling bullied or suffer prejudice. It aids the user in creative problem-solving.

Spiritually speaking, this stone promotes purification of the body and mind and dispels negative energy and clears electromagnetic smog for the environment. It works with the meridians of the body and deals with the metaphysical immune system.

Turquoise promotes spiritual attunement and enhances communications with the physical and spiritual worlds. It’s an efficient healer because it provides solace for the spirit and well-being for the body. This stone shows how the creation of our fate depends on what we do each moment. It’s a stone that focuses on the Throat Chakra and the Third Eye and is a sacred stone to Native Americans.

Source: Crystal of the Week: Turquoise – Holistic Experiment