Hump Day

     One might think that an herbalist day is all filled with the niceties of nature, birds singing and all the woodland animals helping me do my chores, like in Snow White, well not today.  For the past 8 years I have had the responsibility of caring for my aged parents along with my young daughters.  I guess I am the sandwich generation, I've herd it labeled this anyway.  Mostly it has been a great blessing, but some days it bears a lot of weight.  Herbally speaking, it has been wonderful to be able to help everyone with their ailments that pop up, like cancer for instance with my Mom.  I've watched how the herbs have worked their magic, helping her to heal and regain strength and balance.  She has had many battles with side effects from radiation, drug therapies that she tried, and the herbs always were aiding her to recover.  Now we face MDS, from the treatments.  This is a toughy, since her bones aren't producing blood properly, she is immune compromised.  Our blood nourishes everything, all our organs, tissues, well everything in our bodies!

     As her herbalist, I have added ginseng to her tonic,( for it's adaptogen qualities), this herb is the mother of energy and building up jing.  "Jing" is Chinese term for the life force bank account we are born with, you only have so much jing to last for your life.  Few things add to your bank account, mostly we make a constant withdraw, then we run out. 
     I also put comfrey, nicknamed the bone knitting herb, in there too!  Along with kelp ( to nourish), vitex ( to balance hormones), motherwort( to govern and guide), red clover( to build the blood), St. John's wort ( to elevate mood and immune system),and licorice ( which is a carrier herb and enhances the properties of the tonic herbs).
     Now, like I said, it feels good that I could do something to try to help heal her.  Now it is time for prayer and support. 
Factoid:  The word wort is Latin for herb.