This post was inspired by my friend
and the Herbal Hive Community’s monthly challenge to write about detox.
I realize I’m too late for the challenge but I thought I’d post anyway because I really appreciated the opportunity to consider what “detox” means and to introduce one of my favorite local herbal allies.
For me, “detox” is a general term and can be confusing and over-used. For that reason it is often dismissed by “science-minded” individuals. So, I personally prefer using the terms bioremediation or terrain modification, because these are both practices with observable actions and clear benefits in regenerating our environment.
Thus, my personal protocol for healing the human body from dis-ease, involves a combination of helpers (plants, fungi, bacteria, minerals, clays, algae) and practices (bodywork, sun-gazing, sun-bathing, earthing, breath-work, fasting and nature immersion) to create the optimal context for awakening the human organism’s innate capacity to clear obstructions and regenerate.
Why do we need assistance in regenerating?
Well, perhaps the same reasons our planet does (anti-life chemicals, sterilization of living and bio-diverse soil/biome, by-products of industry and build-up of waste, practices/habits that work against natural rhythms and cycles, stagnation and obstruction in pathways necessary to support life).
As within, so without…as without, so within.
And to everything…there is a season…
The change of season brings a lot of shifts under our feet as critters begin to re-emerge from their winter slumber.
One thing I’ve appreciated through my many years of land-dancing 😉 is that the human organism mirrors these shifts from within and without.
Our inner soil/microbiome/viome shift subtly constantly and occasionally dramatically affecting our sleep cycles, our mood, behavior, hormones, overall health and even our relationships. We also tend to go through predictable cycles of nesting/cleaning our external space.
For hundreds of years, farmers have tuned into these seasonal/lunar cycles and have shaped their deworming rituals in accordance with what they have observed in nature.
For example, many animals coming out of hibernation will eat specific plants (found to be anti-helminthic and/or adaptogenic) to prepare for the change in season.
This upcoming Full Moon on March 18 is purportedly called “Worm Moon” for this very reason. Native Americans observed an increase in worm/larvae activity around this particular full moon.
I personally like to use my favorite local plant ally Creosote/Chaparral (along with other tools) for internal bioremediation/terrain modification to assist my personal organism (including all of my micro-helpers) through my own cycles of erosion and renewal.
I believe that the best plant helpers are the ones just outside our door and the ones who we can observe directly. They are typically the first ones to spring up to regenerate the land around us.
Some call these plants “pioneering” plants, many see them as weeds…but when you tune into them, they are like Cinderella’s of the plant kingdom…she is a hard-worker, obscure, neglected and her beauty is hidden by her drab appearance.
Creosote is a plant teacher that awakens you to the dream world and the realm of subconscious programming. She can assist you in unlocking your higher self by showing you the insecurities that keep you stuck in self-abusive patterns...releasing you from the bondage.
She is also commonly used as an antibacterial and antiviral medicine, for healing intestinal problems, relieving kidney pain and “purifying” the body.
There is a ring of Chaparral bushes, known as “King Clone”, in the Mojave desert that is estimated to be 11,700 years old…making it one of the oldest living organisms on earth. source
I typically consume her sacred medicine in a tea form in the evening. This allows me to use my dreams for accessing subconscious programming that is often difficult to reach when I'm awake. For this reason, I think she may have some subtle psychoactive components.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, I’ve also observed her to open her first blossoms around the Worm Moon every year.
Cheers to loving ALL of YOU!
Pachee
If you made it this far…thank you for joining me in celebration of our plant-human symbiogenesis.