Favorite herbs for anxiety

     Fall is often the hardest time for me here farming. I work part time at Bainbridge Vineyards, so between getting grape harvest in, crushed and presses, I still have to keep up with farmers market, cure winter squash, dig/cure sweet potatoes and new this year- keep up with my rescue pup Willa.
     Bit of advice: get a dog in winter or spring when there's less going on. There is not loss going on in the fall, which I'll confess I forget. Every. Single. Year. But I love her to pieces and she's been pretty great, so I'll never be able to complain too much...

FUN fall things. I love making garlic braids this time of year.

    And for me, this time of year brings a certain  amount of anxiety, that is to say more as this whole year I've been pretty stressed and have been coping with this without break the last 8 or so months. The tightness of breath, jelly limbs, sudden stutter and even full-blown panic attacks have really forced me to take a step back this year (or try my best to) and re-evaluate how I deal with stress, and find ways to manage my anxiety on a day-to-day basis.
     I first developed general anxiety in college, where I was regularly taking 18 or 19 credits a semester, striving for A's, and managing two research projects (big deal for an undergrad; one was published in Herpetological Review). My sleep suffered- at one point I didn't get more than four hours of sleep a night for SEVEN MONTHS. I struggled to remember my mom's name for paperwork and when I brought it up to my doctor her only response was "If it doesn't get better in a couple more months, come back and I'll prescribe you an antidepressant." My diet suffered, and I couldn't bring myself to go out and enjoy social events because the stress would be too much and I'd end up curled up in bed trying not to hyperventilate.

     That was wholly unacceptable so I set out to fix it for myself. You can hear about my methods and tricks here from my YouTube channel where I've hashed it all out.

     But here on the blog I wanted to discuss my use of herbs and share my favorite recipes. Everything shared here is grown, prepared and used by your truly, so it is an incomplete list of herbs for anxiety, but one I look forward to expanding in the future.

*****Please do your own additional research if deciding to try any of my recommendations. All are pretty safe but individual responses can be different so exercise caution and a solid pinch of common sense when taking your health care into your own hands and use the advice of folks from the internet*****

~*~

MOTHERWORT
Leonurus heterophyllus
     Motherwort is such a supportive herb and my favorite for anxiety with nausea. I carry a half-ounce dropper bottle with me everywhere I go- it's saved me several times this summer, especially at farmers markets where talking to people for hours at a time can make me stressed and woozy.
     Three to five drops of this elixir under my tongue and I'm right as rain again. On it's own in a tincture I find motherwort to be unpleasant, especially since I don't always have a beverage to mix it in, so an elixir is preferred. My recipe is below.

Motherwort Elixir

1 cup dried motherwort tops, 2 cups if fresh

1 cup local honey

1 cup vodka

Bring all ingredients together in a jar of choice. Label and store in a cool cupboard, shaking daily or so for a month. Strain well and take 3-5 drops under the tongue as needed.

 

     Please note: motherwort is a gentle herb but contains compounds that stimulate the uterus, and so should be avoided if pregnant unless under guidance of a clinical herbalist.  Motherwort can also help those with stress-induced heart irregularities, however I have not had a chance to work with it in this fashion, so please consult a clinical herbalist for advice.  

~*~

THE BALMS
Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
     Soothing and uplifting, I'm not sure there's much nicer than a cup of lemon or moldavian balm tea. Different names, different genus's but they can be used interchangeably (and I actually prefer Moldavian Balm for drying and long term storage- the flavor and scent remains longer than Lemon Balm. Lemon Balm on the other hand is easier and more productive to grow in the home garden.). There are two ways I use these herbs- as a tea or as an infused honey (electuary experiments happening this winter!), but tinctures are also commercially available.

Balmy Tea

1 Tbsp. dried balm, 2 Tbsp. if fresh

8oz boiling water

Honey and squeeze of lemon to taste

Add the herbs to your water and steep for 5-10 minutes. Add honey and lemon juice as desired and enjoy!

 

Lemon Balm Honey

1 cup finely chopped lemon balm tops

1 cup local honey

Pack the lemon balm into a jar of choice and pour the honey over it. Stir with a chop stick to thoroughly mix the two and remove any air bubbles Store in a dark cupboard for two to four weeks before straining. If the honey gets thick after the storage just heat the jar up in a pot of hot water for a few minutes and it should be pourable again. Couldn't get all of the honey off? Spoon chucks of the herbal matter into a mug of hot water and enjoy!

     Please note: both are contraindicated in cases of hypothyroidism, and please consult a clinical herbalist for use during pregnancy.

~*~

CALIFORNIA POPPY
Eschscholzia californica
     I didn't learn about this wonderful plant until 2015 when I was working on a farm in Northern California. These small and strong little orange and yellow flowers captivated me and I buy seed every year to grow a little patch for myself here in the Salish Sea.
     Unlike most poppies, California poppies are non-addictive and safe for most people, including children. These beauties are ideal for restless, sleepless nights when you can't seem to stop thinking in circles. I take a dropper full of tincture before bed as needed, and it is a part of every sleep-related formula I make.
     A fairly bitter herb, I only take California poppy as a tincture.

     Please note: they contain uterine-stimulating compounds and should be avoided during pregnancy unless guided by a clinical herbalist.

~*~

LAVENDER & ROSE
Lavendula spp., Rosa spp.
     Subtle and gentle but effective and safe. Lavender and rose are both great employed in aromatherapy for dealing with stress and anxiety, and energetically I have found both to be very supportive herbs. Widespread and easy to use, the moon's the limit with how to bring these two plants into a holistic management plan.

Ways to use lavender and rose

- Include in tea blends

- Lavender sugar cookies

- Infused in bath salts / Epsom salt foot soak

- In body oils (I defer to Amber Hill of Mythic Medicinals HERE) 

- Essential oil diffuser

- Rose petal rice pudding

- Rose water face and room spritzer

- Delicate infused honey (see Lemon Balm infused honey above)

     Please note: lavender can bring on menses, and excessive internal use should be avoided during pregnancy.

~*~

TULSI (Holy Basil)
Ocimum sanctum
     Often attributed to all kinds of diverse life-changing, healing miracles I have found tulsi to be the most effective as a gentle, strengthening relaxant. It's amazing what lowering your stress levels, and giving your body a chance to respond better to stress can do. Tulsi is considered an adaptogen- an herb that is safe to use over a long period of time and strengthens/improved the bodies response to stress.
     There is some choice when it comes to adaptogenic herbs, but I like to work with tulsi because I enjoy the taste, it's easy to prepare in teas, food, tincture or body oil and I can get it to grow where I live. It is widely available in tea blends, and I find a nightly ritual of a hot mug-full every night to be a great way to wind down before bed, thereby improving my sleep which is one of the main limbs I've found for combatting anxiety.

     ~*~

     And there it is, one farmer's favorite herbs and recipes for managing anxiety. Mind you- herbs are merely a support to the main tenants of managing anxiety and stress, they will do little if you aren't taking care of yourself on the most basic levels (Read: sleeping enough, staying hydrated, and being mindful of your diet). And again, please use common sense and do plenty of research before deciding to treat yourself with herbal medicine.

 

Until next time, Sabrina

 

 

A Love Letter to Corn and other things

    

 Out of all the things I am growing this year, the three dry corn varieties are probably my favorite. Corn is a pretty spectacular plant if you really think about it. It is grass, elevated, exalted. There are hundreds of varieties grown around the world, there is a type for every growing condition and to top it all off are wonderful at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.

     And unfortunately, have been reduced to genetically modified animal fodder and wasteful ethanol.
    
     I grow three varieties, choses for use, flavor, and appearance. I'll make no lie, I do factor aesthetics into my farming to an extent. As a painter and al-around creative type, I want beauty and lovely things in my life (not that I only chose for appearance though, varieties need some substance if they're to be chosen to be grown here).
   
     Mandan Red Clay is a parching/ meal/ flour corn which dries to a beautiful ochre-red. Due to an experiment I did regarding seeding, the plants are a bit stressed now as adults, and I don't think living up to their fullest potential. Some of the pollen tops from the side shoots grow kernels as well and right now they're a lovely mix of pinks and red.

     Hopi Pink, a flour corn was direct seeded, and suffered some crow-nomming but the plants that survived had space to really spread and are now MASSIVE. I have never seen corn so large. Each has 2-4 side shoots I can barely touch my thumb and index finger when gripping it. It's not tall, less than six feet, but wide with leaves that dwarf any others in the field. They've only just started sending out pollen stalks, so I really hope they ear-up and dry in time.

     The largest section of corn is Roys Calais. This variety I have grown before in California and loved for its vibrant red and orange and yellow ears and magnificent taste in corn bread and polenta. These plants are tall,  most between seven and eight feet height with massive ears and plenty of side shoots. They are the happiest of my corn and I can't wait to see what the harvest is like!

    

    After a period in June/July where I had absolutely no energy despite eating enough food and getting enough rest (I would crawl right into my hammock or bed after getting off work, and never got out on Sundays or Tuesdays, my days off), I've since changed my farming habits to make time to take care of myself properly and try not to stress about everything so much.
    
     Since then I have noticed quite a difference and feel much more resilient and energetic, even if sometimes I still have no energy. I have restarted my youtube channel again and am posting every Sunday or Tuesday, and plan on sharing about farming here more frequently as well. There are plenty of plans in the works for creative projects, new herbal products as well as starting a formal website and online shop.

Remember to be kind to each other, Sabrina



Coming up:
- Self care for farmers
- Herbal product spotlights
- Favorite herbs




Fun Finds:
- A Witches Resistance and Action List
-The magic of La Abejas medicines
-Album "The Code of Flowers" by Ayla Nereo

    

Making Balance

 

    Some days I wonder what on Earth I am doing.

 

          Constantly torn between the desire to bury my fingers in the soil so deep roots sprout and the desire to load up my car and chase horizons until there are no new ones to find.

 

Barcelona, Spain

         

          There is no finding balance between a pastoral life and a nomadic one. The trick is to make it; to forge it with little more than you strength of will if need be. If you wait to find it you merely tear yourself up. I think I’ve managed to carve out a simple scale that satisfies both needs.

 

Fish at La Boqueria, a famous market in Barcelona

            It’s a delicate act as both require money; I’ve been lucky with housing and jobs to make ends meet with enough squeezed aside to make my most recent two-month trip across Europe possible. It was long and tiring but also invigorating and amazing- I’d do it again in a heartbeat (with only a few changes), especially since I know with Sun & Bee Farm expanding this year- about three times larger- wish me luck- and the possible addition of life stock or a dog looming on the horizon in a very Schrödinger’s cat manner, I won't be able to take off for weeks at a time. I am hoping this trip satisfies that need for extended travel a while.

Bern, Switzerland. Possibly my favorite city.

Tschiertchen, Switzerland. Favorite Alpine vacation town of my family as my grandmother's sister lives here.

Winemaker at work.

            That being said, while seeding beets and lettuce on Tuesday, my thoughts were already turning to the idea of a two-week hiking trip in Nepal sometime in 2019. That is my balance. Days when the travelers itch burns something fierce, making plans with rough set dates makes it bearable. It is happening, boarding passes will be printed and you’ll be on your way. In the meantime there are mountains, coasts and rivers worth exploring and my painting, poetry and learning how to fly fish to keep my mind occupied.

           

Pisa, Italy

Postojna Caves, Slovenia

Coast of Pula, Croatia

            During downtime on my trip (there was a lot of that, as afforded by train travel), I made plans for future Sun & Bee Farm projects, including new flower essence infused facial toner spray, different salves, lip balm for cold-sore prone lips, as well as a t-shirt design for a fundraiser so I can purchase some produce bins as during the summer sharing with Laughing Crow Farm gets pretty tight and the bins themselves are $19 to $23 a piece (if you know of somewhere in the Kitsap Peninsula region I could get some on the cheap please please please let me know!).

Church in Budapest, Hungary

           

          After processing all of my photos and video I will be photographing my herbal products and launching an on-line store. That’ll probably happen sometime next month, but no later than June. I will also be posting here more regularly, sharing monthly farm updates, favorite food and beverage recipes (flowers are starting to bloom so that means adventurous ice cream season is here!), wild-crafting adventure videos, herbal tutorials, books reviews and more!

 

Rock formations in Bulgaria's only desert outside Varna.

 

            This new season is going to be great. As always Sun & Bee Farm will be vending at the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market Saturdays 9-1 in front of town hall, I’m in the application process to vend at the Suquamish Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoons (more details to come), and I have plans to vend at several other events this year including the Friends of the Farms Harvest Fair, probably a Christmas show, possibly a pop-up at Bainbridge Vineyards, and maybe even a larger event such as the herbal conference on Camano I attended last year. We’ll see about those last few though.     

Parthenon from Hill of the Muses. Athens, Greece.

Here's hoping for drier days and weekend adventures, Sabrina 

PS I made a video about my trip! You can watch it below ;)

 

Love of Work

2016 has passed up by in what I’m not sure for me can be called anything less than a clusterfuck. Excuse my French. In the last year I’ve moved three times, started a business, worked full time (up to 80 hours a week in the summer), perfected a bipedal irrigation system- never again, travelled, hiked and rediscovered by love of painting and writing. All this in the shadow of a dismal election; callous abuse of native peoples; destruction of lives and whole cities; barely a month without some act of horror be it a bombing or shooting, and gearing up for the year ahead in the hopes that we as a people can come together for love.

I am tired. This past year has been long and at times- more than I’d like to admit- it was a challenge just to trudge through the day of a job I grew to hate for the promise of some sweet weekend to more often than not was sleep away. I was more tired at the end of December than I have ever been in my whole life, including my sophomore year of college when a bout of insomnia gave me little more than three hours a night for seven months.

            It’s hard to get anything done like that so just before Christmas I quit my job and decided to dive into farming full time again. Barely a week back into regular outdoors work and I feel like a normal human. Still can’t watch the news, still trying to decide how I’m best going to approach the next four years (indefinite future more likely) from an activist standpoint and still dreaming of all the plants sitting as dormant seeds.

            Farming is my hearts-work, for lack of a better term. I come home tired, sore, covered in soil and sweat and I am happy. The world seems manageable again. Political representatives can be called, donations can be made, communities can come together, and pen put to paper for nothing else than joy again. Tending for plants, whether it be a tea-cupped cactus or field of potatoes is grounding work. It connects us immediately to another being, but also to the network that crisscrosses our planet; connecting trees, herbs and interacting with humans and other animal species in ways we don’t yet understand. A relationship with the planet is crucial I think for creating larger communities, where we understand the importance of reaching out to lend a helping hand instead of jerking back in fear.

            In this spirit I am ready to jump into this new year with fervor. Seed orders are starting, and I’ve begun the process of creating a farm calendar for this year. I am excited to put together methods from farms I have studied and read about, so many creative, hard-working people have shared in book form their methods and I am eternally grateful. This year I intend to adopt what biodynamic habits I can, and incorporate interplanting and a diverse cast of crops to maximize output in a way that does not take too much from the soil.

            Returning are my tender green and red heads of lettuce that grew a small following at the market this year, more radishes and beets, and of course herbs to make salves and oils. New crops will include dry corn and beans, as well as fresh beans for hulling, a small selection of Asian bunching greens, edible flowers, and possibly dried flower bouquets and wreaths. I also plan on expanding my herbal product line to include bulk dried herbs, serums, tinctures and flower essences.

            A passionate believer in the “work hard, play harder” ethos, I will also be spending February and March travelling across Europe and visiting family. A time to relax from a year working too much, and a pre-cation for a year where I will likely work too much again, but in a much more agreeable fashion.

            At some point after that there may be a dog adoption and a small road trip with my younger brother and who knows what else. It’s good to keep life spontaneous and fun.

            As there is much to take care of these next three weeks here I leave you again, although hopefully for a shorter duration. One of my main goals this year is to share more frequently in this space, and on the other side of my big adventure I have a list of possible subjects I’d like to tackle this year.

All the best, Sabrina

 

"It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings."

The Real Work, Wendell Berry