Midwest Women's Herbal Conference (June 29 - northern Wisconsin) / herbal smoking & smudging

[Debbie Hillman]

Below are the basics and a link to all details about the Midwest Women's Herbal Conference, which will take place in northern Wisconsin (due east of Minneapolis; closest airport is Eau Claire).    

I just learned about it in Susun Weed's weekly newsletter.  Susun Weed is from upstate New York and does not get to the Midwest very often.  She is my personal all-time favorite herbalist and "wise woman" and she will be one of the keynote speakers at the June 29 conference.  She'll be doing all kinds of walks and workshops, from pre-conference throughout the conference.

As an example of the "wise woman" healing tradition, I've copied the section on Herbal Smoking Mixes, from today's newsletter.    Smoking means 3 possible things as Susun explains, not only inhaling.   Of course the wise woman's tradition concentrates first on good nutrition, good foods, which come from good soil.    

Wise women tradition is never a top-down, one-size fits all for all time model, but it never throws the baby out with the bath water either.   There is learning to do everywhere at every moment, and we do our best learning when we ask ourselves what we need and what's available nearby.   Just like local food economics and local food systems, wise women healing tradition is a self-regulating and self-governing model.

Susun's newsletter (and many other resources on her websites) are free.   

Here is the mission statement of the Midwest Women's Herbal Conference:  Centered in the Wise Woman Tradition, the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference provides a gathering space to focus on earth-centered healing, nourishment, and the plants that grow around us. From the ground up, we connect to weave ourselves, our families, and our communities back into the dynamic spiral of health.

Topics at the conference include:  speakers, plant walks, topics including herbs for family health, wild edibles, fermentation, permaculture, movement, herbal wisdom the Wise Woman way and much more!

-- Debbie

Debbie Hillman

847/328-7175

DLHi...@sbcglobal.net

http://about.me/debbiehillman

Evanston Food Council   (co-founder and chairperson)

Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition   (co-founder)

Illinois Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council   (co-founder)

Cook County Food Systems Steering Committee (member)

Midwest Women's Herbal Conference

June 29 - July 1, 2012

Willard, Wisconsin

http://www.moonwiseherbs.com/midwest-womens-herbal-conference/183-2/

Herbal Smoking Mixes, Part One

Let’s finish up the first month of the New Year, and our focused work withthe mint family, by making an herbal smoking mix. Any dried mint-family plants you have on hand can be used make a great healing smoke, especially if mixed with some mullein, and perhaps a few other herbs. Smoking can be good for the health of your lungs and your being.

 

Careful application of hot smoke and burning herbs, near the body (smudges), on the body (moxibustion), and through inhalation (smoking) are healing techniques that have been used for thousands of years in myriad cultures around the world. If you choose not to smoke these herbs, you may still wish to try them out as smudges.

 

Herbal Smoking Mix Number One: Combine one large handful cut and sifted commercial mullein leaf and one to three teaspoonfuls of any mint-family plant. Mix well and smoke in a pipe or roll in paper. A relaxing smoke that is good for the lungs.

 

Bergamot (Monarda varieties): rich in oregano oil, an powerful lung antiseptic

Catnip (Nepeta cataria): roll your own catnip cigarettes to relieve menstrual cramps fast fast fast.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare): bitter taste, powerful effect on the lungs.

Hyssop (Hyssopus off.): powerful penetrating healer of lung tissues.

Lemon balm (Melissa off.): liberally added to mixes to help fight viral infections.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): alters perception when smoked.

Oregano, rosemary, thyme, and sage: antioxidant, anti-infection; aromatic tastes; deep healing

Oswego tea (Monarda didyma): minty taste; harvest late summer when in flower.

Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides): just a pinch lifts the mood and brings a smile.

Peppermint (Mentha piperata): nice taste; nice to the lungs.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus off.) : as smoke or smudge, improves memory,wards off dementia, counters asthma, and pleases the fairies.

 

Medicine people and post-menopausal women are the ones most likely to smoke. Fire activates the spirit of the plants and this may prove overpowering for young or untrained people. Each Medicine person makes their own smoking mix, imbued with the spirits of the plants that are their allies.

 

Herbal Smoking Mix Number Two: Combine one handful each finely chopped uva ursi leaves, cornsilk, and mullein, plus one to two tablespoons of powdered or ground thyme or sage. This is a fair substitute for those wanting to smoke less tobacco; it is more bracing than relaxing.

 

Fire use sets humans apart. We alone have fire, the dangerous friend, as an ally. Burning herbs is a shamanic action. Inhaling the smoke from burning herbs confers both physical and spiritual healing. The smoke directly affects the lung tissues, opening them and relieving spasms. And smoke carries prayers.

 

Herbal Smoking Mix Number Three:Combine one handful each finely cut coltsfoot, mullein, motherwort, nettle, hops, and cronewort. Smoke at the dark and the full of the moon to increase your visionary powers.

 

Some plants have spirits so strong that smoking them alters our perceptions.Happy High Herbs, A Guide to Natural Highs and Addiction Solutions, by Roy Thorpe of Australia, includes these common psychoactive smoking herbs: scotch bloom flowers, California poppy, Mexican poppy, damiana, hops, wild lettuce, lion’s tail, madagascar periwinkle, motherwort, mugwort, nettle!!, passionflower, and Salvia divinorum. Some of these plants are poisonous internally.

 

Please treat all plants, especially these, with respect and care when you make use of them.

Next week – more adventures with herbal smoking mixes.

 

Green blessings,

Susun Weed

susunweed.com