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by Patrice Green The miracle of herbs and plants is that when taken responsibly and respectfully they do not deaden the emotions. As gentle, loving, supportive allies, plants help us work through the lessons we are here to learn. In particular, roses do this beautifully.  Rose petals and their medicine help to move and open a heart which has tightened emotionally and spiritually. In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Unani (Greek-Arabic medicine) traditions, the heart is believed to be a physical organ and the seat of consciousness. TCM uses the term shen, while Unani medicine talks about pneuma. Both schools teach that rose has a powerful affect on the spiritual state of one’s heart. Unani medicine has a category of heart herbs termed as “exhilarants”, which help the spiritual heart feel joy. Rose is considered both a shen tonic in TCM and an exhilarant in Unani medicine. A wonderful nervine, great for uplifting the mood and alleviating depression, rose also has antispasmodic, aphrodisiac and sedative qualities, as well as being anti-inflammatory. Rose helps regulate menstruation as well as stimulate the digestion. Rosehips, which come along after the bloom has faded, are a wonderful source of vitamins C, B2 and E.
One may use rose as an herbal supplement, essential oil or flower essence. Rose petal tincture is often used in heart formulas. Dried rose petals make a lovely addition to teas. One of my favorite ways to use rose is to make a glycerite of the fresh flowers of Rosa rugosa, the fragrant wild rose found near many beaches. I have found it to be a powerful yet gentle remedy which truly gladdens the heart while easing sorrow and grief. I’ve given rose glycerite to many people over the years who are experiencing depression or loss. Every single person has reported back that rose glycerite helped them through the grief process, making it easier to bear. For deep grief, I also recommend the homeopathic remedy Ignatia amara. Ignatia amara comes from the seeds of a large tree found in the Philippines which was beloved of the Jesuits, an order founded by St. Ignatius, hence its name. I find the combination of Ignatia amaraand Rose glycerite both powerful and soothing to the wounded spirit which is trying to heal. Rose essential oil, made from Rosa damascena, helps alleviate depression and anxiety. Rosa rugosa flower essence is love. It raises negative vibrations and helps purify the heart/shen. The alchemy between Rosa rugosa and the sea enables this flower essence to physically balance out negative ions, release grief & transmute negative vibrations into love/compassion. Rose petals are soft and can soften the heart. The thorns offer protection. This is truly a beautiful flower essence and plant. To ease your heart, visit the Rose spirit. You can do this by meditating on the Rosa rugosaeither while taking its essence or holding it in your hand. Trust in the rose spirit to help you release that which no longer serves your highest good. This year I infused some local honey with rose petals. It adds a wonderful touch to a cuppa and many recipes which call for honey. Spend some time with Rosa rugosa, as an herb, essential oil, flower essence, and next summer with the plant itself. Let her inspire you to work with her in whichever way seems most appropriate. Experiment and open yourself to whatever lessons she has to teach you. Feel free to share your experiences by sending me an email, [email protected]. I’d love to hear how Rose has revealed herself to you!   Patrice’s holistic journey started in 2010 when she began a mentorship practice with master healer Catherine Miller. Within six months, a transformative experience among the coastal redwoods of Muir Woods and its beach inspired further studies, eventually leading to the foundation of Green Aromatics, a holistic practice offering education and consultations in many healing modalities. Patrice is a cum laude graduate of Boston College and received her herbal training from The Boston School of Herbal Studies. A certified aromatherapist, herbalist, and flower essence practitioner, Patrice also incorporates reiki, energy healing and shamanic techniques into her work. She is a regular contributor to the Herbstalk blog and teaches at various locations in Eastern Massachusetts.
 by Patrice Green Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and if you have been, may I join you?), you’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot of negative energy floating around these days. It can be very wearing for everyone, but most especially for those of us who are empathic. The good news is that there are things you can do to help ease the burden many of us feel in this distressing time. Herbally, this is a great time to cozy up to that wonderful group known as the shen tonics. Shen tonics are a group of herbs that have a direct affect on the spiritual heart and nervous system. In some cases they are adaptogenic as well as nervines. In all cases, they ease stress and help restore balance and joy to what Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners call the “shen,” that energetic part of us which houses our spirit. There are many shen tonics, but some of my favorites are Holy Basil (Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum), Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), Hawthorn (Crataegus), and Rosa rugosa. Holy Basil is considered a sacred plant in India. An adaptogen, Holy Basil works to restore balance to the body. As a shen tonic, it works to restore balance to the emotions. Although you can use Holy Basil as a tincture, my preferred method is drinking a soothing Holy Basil tea. If I’m feeling particularly depleted, I like to use Madelon Hope’s holy basil, nettles and licorice combination for a relaxing and rejuvenating tea. It also combines well with rose and linden. Mimosa or Silk Tree, Albizia julibrissin, is another marvelous shen tonic. Its flowers and bark are used in Chinese medicine to relieve anxiety and depression. Albizia is a wonderful herb to use when you need to feel grounded. For that reason I particularly like to use it in combination with Wood Betony, another wonderful nervine and shen tonic. I prefer using Albizia as a tincture. I find that it works beautifully with Rose also, and helps restore tranquility to a bruised spirit. Hawthorn, Crataegus, is one of the premier herbs to strengthen the cardiovascular system. It is a powerful shen tonic that seems to add joy to the spirit and restore a sense of wellbeing. Hawthorn is one of the main herbs I use in the protection formula for awakening a spiritual heart. Hawthorn is also lovely in tea form, and is a beautiful complement to Rosa Rugosa. Rosa Rugosa is the fragrant wild rose we find growing most often near the seashore. A beautiful plant with a heavenly scent, Rosa Rugosa as a glyceride truly does gladden the heart. I will be forever grateful to Linda Patterson for teaching me about this beautiful plant. As a flower essence, Rosa Rugosa helps to balance the emotions, releasing grief and transmuting negative vibrations into love and compassion. So, if you are having a hard time blocking out the seemingly omnipresent negativity, it may be time to develop a deeper relationship with one or several of these herbs. Treat yourself to a lovely shen tonic tea. Meditate with the plants, use them as glycerides, tinctures, flower essences or essential oils. I think the best thing we can do for the planet and ourselves during stressful times is to work with gentleness and compassion towards all. Shen tonics help us restore balance and serenity. Couldn’t we all use a little more kindness?  Patrice Green is an Herbal Educator, Certified Aromatherapist, Energy Medicine and Reiki Practitioner and founder of Green Aromatics. She is also the Assistant Director at the Boston School of Herbal Studies. She received her herbal training at the Boston School of Herbal Studies, and shamanic training from Isa Gucciardi, Ph. D. at the Sacred Stream in Berkley, CA. Inspired by time spent among the coastal Redwoods of Muir Woods and its beach, Green Aromatics strives to imbue its products and services with the same resilience, joy and equanimity of these majestic beings. Patrice may be reached through the Green Aromatics website.
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