Awesome! I feel like I'm still getting to know her because I've just been working with her over the last couple years, but more than any other plant I feel the effect immediately when I take motherwort.
Oh! I learned that at a foraging class, maybe that was only locally applicable. I'll have to do a little research. Regardless, sounds like a little editing is in order for the time being.
Wonderful! I am looking forward to when I have 30 year long relationships with plants. I’m glad I was able to add some richness to your relationship with motherwort.
Reason why herbalism is denigrated by pharma industry is because most of herbs are free and anyone can make tinctures/ powder at home . If used correctly herbs don’t have nasty side effects unlike pharma drugs . That is loss of huge profits for them .
I shrunk 2 pea size spots in my lung by having 1/3 meal of steamed broccoli and red juices . I avoided biopsy.
It’s true that pharma can’t make money off of plant medicine, but I actually think western medicine’s resistance to herbal medicine is older than that. In my opinion, it goes back to the separation of mind from body and man from nature that occurred during the enlightenment, and our desire for control. You can’t practically know how much of an active ingredient is in an individual plant you are making medicine with (I would argue that you often don’t need to). After writing about dandelion and plantain a couple months ago (which are incredibly powerful and incredibly safe medicines), I have been thinking about this a lot. If you are interested in my more in depth thoughts about it, I wrote about it here https://thenettlewitchmd.substack.com/p/what-does-the-thirty-years-war-have
Ancient Indian medicine, Ayurveda is a perfect example as to how medicine is looked as humans in holistic terms . This has been practiced for 1000’s of years .
This is practiced in conjunction with NADI SHASTRA, a practice of reading various beats of pulses .
Problem is too many Ayurvedic practitioners aren’t deeply imbibed in Ayurveda but those who have studied and passed their exams .
Ayurveda is a beautiful system and I think you are right that many people take these beautiful cultural technologies from other places and try to apply them without also trying to get well-versed in the context it's rooted in. Someday, I would love to travel the world talking to healers about their world view and what types of cases are best managed by those modalities and what types of cases are most frustrating. I think we have so much to learn from each other. Though in many realms in western medicine it may be more as cautionary tale.
Thank you! An herbalist friend told me just picks 1-2 plants per year to learn, it’s not much to begin with, but it sure adds up. Depending on where you live, you may find a good supply growing wild too.
That’s a really good approach. I’ve got the time, the climate (the South), and the sunshine. This might sound trivial, but I need a hobby or two that aren’t work related. Something I can’t monetize, something I do for the love of. I’d been thinking about plants in general, but I think I need this added depth of herbalism.
I work in medicine, so I definitely know how important it is to have some separate spaces in life. you could monetize herbalism, but there’s no need to (I don’t, but it is sometimes nice for gifts or in trade), and once you get into it, you really do build beautiful relationships with the plants. I write about one plant per month, so you’ll probably pick up a few (or have a 12 plant mini-encyclopedia) this year.
Motherwort grows profusely in my small urban lot. The more I take out, the more it comes back! I finally realized it was there to offer me something, so I now tincture it and take it every day, for its heart-strengthening properties. It is one of my best plant, allies, along with nettle, which also grows around my garden. I appreciate this article – I learned more about Motherwort. Thank you.
Wonderful! It does seem sometimes that plants find us when we need them, like mullein (which is good for the lungs) was EVERYWHERE around me in 2020. We have a lot of wormwood here in my yard. That’s one that’s trickier to use from an herbalism perspective, but I’m trying to listen and learn more. Also, you know I love nettle lovers, so welcome! :)
Your newsletters are always like a little encyclopedia filled with all the amazing things I wasn't aware I needed to know. What a beauty in your work. Thank you so much, Amy!
Thank you! I've been meaning to tell people that I view these like little references rather than to be sat down and read all at once, but I keep forgetting, and now I think I'll just stop trying to tell people what to do and just use them how they use them :)
Thank you for all of this, Amy! I have grown motherwort for years - or, actually, I planted it once and it took it from there - but did not realize the depth of its versatility.
Wow! How cool and informative. Thank you for this wealth of info, Amy. I will have to check into it locally- now that I have found a forager/herbalist teacher! There are SO many amazing and healing plants right under our noses. Every day I am more and more grateful. I grow lemon balm and just asked for sweetgrass seeds. Next on the list to find locally is nettles (inspired by you!) and maybe I can grow motherwort in my apothecary garden? I like the idea of drying and putting it around the home. I have been on a dehydrating kick lately. I recently bought a tobacco plant because of how sacred it is so I can dry it and offer it as exchange when I harvest.
Thanks Nessa! You can definitely grow motherwort. LIke other mints it's pretty prone to spreading, so take that into account in choosing your site (if you're particular about that kind of thing). I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding nettles once you start looking, and it's a good time to look because you can probably find lots of seeds wild to plant for next year. Maybe next spring after I harvest my red willow kinnickinnick we can exchange some tobacco for kinnickinnick (it's another plant that carries messages/requests to the spirits).
I loved reading your article on this beautiful plant. It's a stalwart remedy in my dispensary. I didn't know there was a motherwort festival in Japan! Wouldn't it be brilliant to honour plants like this in the UK! Let's campaign to bring back these celebrations! Motherwort grows widely in the hedgerows round about the Cornish lanes. I wonder how many people pass it by without realising how valuable it's medicine is. Thank you for sharing your work. I appreciate how much effort goes into an article like this. It was fascinating to read.
Thanks Sarah! I love the idea of festivals to celebrate plants. Maybe I'llstart with an elderberry festival between Fall Equinox and Samhain :) What you are saying is reminding me of what Linda Black Elk said about dandelion, how it is one of the most powerful plant medicines, but most people (at least here in the states are trying to eradicate them from their yards). And you're right, I know before I started foraging, a walk in the woods was just a wall of indistinguishable green.
Love this, thank you! I brewed strong Motherwort infusions during my immediate postpartum period and drank them relatively often. It felt like a small but meaningful way to mother myself and help combat the PPD I was experiencing. I love what you share about the “lionheart” meaning, I never knew that. Now I want to procure some to keep around my home as a supportive reminder of that beautiful sentiment.
Oh, the motherwort infusions sound like such a tender way to create for yourself. I love the idea of keeping some around the house. If you don't have any motherwort in your area, DM me your address and I can send you a few stems.
She is my all time most important plant ally. She is such portent medicine 🙌❤️
Awesome! I feel like I'm still getting to know her because I've just been working with her over the last couple years, but more than any other plant I feel the effect immediately when I take motherwort.
literally just made a motherwort tincture today! how fitting :) thank you
Gladly, I'm excited that you'll have a fewmore ways to use motherwort once it's ready. Enjoy!
Very interesting!
Thank you!
There are a few poisonous plants in the mint family. Best known for liver damage is Mentha pulegium.
So be careful.
Oh! I learned that at a foraging class, maybe that was only locally applicable. I'll have to do a little research. Regardless, sounds like a little editing is in order for the time being.
so cool! I love motherwort.
Thanks Kenza! It’s definitely a special plant (though I suppose I say that about them all once I get to know them) :)
Motherwort has been a special ally to me for 30 years…thanks for the addition to my plant wisdom!
Wonderful! I am looking forward to when I have 30 year long relationships with plants. I’m glad I was able to add some richness to your relationship with motherwort.
Reason why herbalism is denigrated by pharma industry is because most of herbs are free and anyone can make tinctures/ powder at home . If used correctly herbs don’t have nasty side effects unlike pharma drugs . That is loss of huge profits for them .
I shrunk 2 pea size spots in my lung by having 1/3 meal of steamed broccoli and red juices . I avoided biopsy.
It’s true that pharma can’t make money off of plant medicine, but I actually think western medicine’s resistance to herbal medicine is older than that. In my opinion, it goes back to the separation of mind from body and man from nature that occurred during the enlightenment, and our desire for control. You can’t practically know how much of an active ingredient is in an individual plant you are making medicine with (I would argue that you often don’t need to). After writing about dandelion and plantain a couple months ago (which are incredibly powerful and incredibly safe medicines), I have been thinking about this a lot. If you are interested in my more in depth thoughts about it, I wrote about it here https://thenettlewitchmd.substack.com/p/what-does-the-thirty-years-war-have
Ancient Indian medicine, Ayurveda is a perfect example as to how medicine is looked as humans in holistic terms . This has been practiced for 1000’s of years .
This is practiced in conjunction with NADI SHASTRA, a practice of reading various beats of pulses .
Problem is too many Ayurvedic practitioners aren’t deeply imbibed in Ayurveda but those who have studied and passed their exams .
Ayurveda is a beautiful system and I think you are right that many people take these beautiful cultural technologies from other places and try to apply them without also trying to get well-versed in the context it's rooted in. Someday, I would love to travel the world talking to healers about their world view and what types of cases are best managed by those modalities and what types of cases are most frustrating. I think we have so much to learn from each other. Though in many realms in western medicine it may be more as cautionary tale.
I wish you well on your journey and keep enlightening general public who are slowly but surely getting to accept the wisdom of ancient knowledge.
It’s a great shame that I awoke late in my twilight years .
But whatever time I have left I keep propounding and spreading the information and sources like you are few gems I came across.
At present I suffer from Morton nuronoma and trying to read for alternative therapies .
Really great info! I’m just now (slowly) getting into growing herbs like this. So much depth! Thank you!
Thank you! An herbalist friend told me just picks 1-2 plants per year to learn, it’s not much to begin with, but it sure adds up. Depending on where you live, you may find a good supply growing wild too.
That’s a really good approach. I’ve got the time, the climate (the South), and the sunshine. This might sound trivial, but I need a hobby or two that aren’t work related. Something I can’t monetize, something I do for the love of. I’d been thinking about plants in general, but I think I need this added depth of herbalism.
I work in medicine, so I definitely know how important it is to have some separate spaces in life. you could monetize herbalism, but there’s no need to (I don’t, but it is sometimes nice for gifts or in trade), and once you get into it, you really do build beautiful relationships with the plants. I write about one plant per month, so you’ll probably pick up a few (or have a 12 plant mini-encyclopedia) this year.
Motherwort grows profusely in my small urban lot. The more I take out, the more it comes back! I finally realized it was there to offer me something, so I now tincture it and take it every day, for its heart-strengthening properties. It is one of my best plant, allies, along with nettle, which also grows around my garden. I appreciate this article – I learned more about Motherwort. Thank you.
Wonderful! It does seem sometimes that plants find us when we need them, like mullein (which is good for the lungs) was EVERYWHERE around me in 2020. We have a lot of wormwood here in my yard. That’s one that’s trickier to use from an herbalism perspective, but I’m trying to listen and learn more. Also, you know I love nettle lovers, so welcome! :)
Thank you!
Gladly, I love learning about plants from so many different perspectives.
Your newsletters are always like a little encyclopedia filled with all the amazing things I wasn't aware I needed to know. What a beauty in your work. Thank you so much, Amy!
Thank you! I've been meaning to tell people that I view these like little references rather than to be sat down and read all at once, but I keep forgetting, and now I think I'll just stop trying to tell people what to do and just use them how they use them :)
Thank you for all of this, Amy! I have grown motherwort for years - or, actually, I planted it once and it took it from there - but did not realize the depth of its versatility.
Gladly! I love how many of our strongest medicines are so abundant.
Wow! How cool and informative. Thank you for this wealth of info, Amy. I will have to check into it locally- now that I have found a forager/herbalist teacher! There are SO many amazing and healing plants right under our noses. Every day I am more and more grateful. I grow lemon balm and just asked for sweetgrass seeds. Next on the list to find locally is nettles (inspired by you!) and maybe I can grow motherwort in my apothecary garden? I like the idea of drying and putting it around the home. I have been on a dehydrating kick lately. I recently bought a tobacco plant because of how sacred it is so I can dry it and offer it as exchange when I harvest.
Thanks Nessa! You can definitely grow motherwort. LIke other mints it's pretty prone to spreading, so take that into account in choosing your site (if you're particular about that kind of thing). I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding nettles once you start looking, and it's a good time to look because you can probably find lots of seeds wild to plant for next year. Maybe next spring after I harvest my red willow kinnickinnick we can exchange some tobacco for kinnickinnick (it's another plant that carries messages/requests to the spirits).
Thank you, Amy. Wonderfully thorough.
Glad you enjoyed it! Mullein will be coming up Sept. 3.
I loved reading your article on this beautiful plant. It's a stalwart remedy in my dispensary. I didn't know there was a motherwort festival in Japan! Wouldn't it be brilliant to honour plants like this in the UK! Let's campaign to bring back these celebrations! Motherwort grows widely in the hedgerows round about the Cornish lanes. I wonder how many people pass it by without realising how valuable it's medicine is. Thank you for sharing your work. I appreciate how much effort goes into an article like this. It was fascinating to read.
Thanks Sarah! I love the idea of festivals to celebrate plants. Maybe I'llstart with an elderberry festival between Fall Equinox and Samhain :) What you are saying is reminding me of what Linda Black Elk said about dandelion, how it is one of the most powerful plant medicines, but most people (at least here in the states are trying to eradicate them from their yards). And you're right, I know before I started foraging, a walk in the woods was just a wall of indistinguishable green.
Love this, thank you! I brewed strong Motherwort infusions during my immediate postpartum period and drank them relatively often. It felt like a small but meaningful way to mother myself and help combat the PPD I was experiencing. I love what you share about the “lionheart” meaning, I never knew that. Now I want to procure some to keep around my home as a supportive reminder of that beautiful sentiment.
Oh, the motherwort infusions sound like such a tender way to create for yourself. I love the idea of keeping some around the house. If you don't have any motherwort in your area, DM me your address and I can send you a few stems.
that’s so nice. my plant nerd husband just confirmed that it does grow here so I’ll be on the lookout next time I’m out and about :)