What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine has it's origins set in ancient cultures and is the oldest and still the most widely used system of medicine in the world today.
It is medicine made exclusively from the active parts of plants and can include the leaves, fruits, seeds, stems and bark, flowers and roots. It is used in all societies and is common to all cultures. Whilst Western Herbal Medicine has a tradition, it has been significantly influenced and validated by the development of scientific technology and medical research. Many of our current pharmaceutical medicines like Asprin or heart medications like Digitalis are derived from plants.
'Herbal medicines' can include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products. These can be prepared in various forms including liquid extracts, dried, chopped, powdered, pills and capsules, teas, topical applications, or added to bath water. Herbal Medicines are so versatile in their application, which makes it so consumer friendly.
Inner Peace utilises the use of all forms of herbal preparations including fresh and dried herbs, teas, liquid formulas, creams and ointments, developed herbal products such as tablets and powders. We use only organic where possible and only prescribe products of a high standard and quality.
Michelle Ringin
Online Herbal Medicine Consultation
Online consultation allows people to receive care and support from a place they are comfortable in and at a time that best suits them. Whilst the form is online, contact will be made with you by the practitioner via phone, email or Zoom (online video call) to discuss a treatment plan with you.
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Herbal Highlight- Mugwort
Mugwort- Artemisia vulgaris L.
Botanical Description
Mugwort is a tall perennial that can reach up to 3 feet in height with pinnate leaves that are downy and silvery-gray on the undersides. Tiny yellow or reddish flowers appear in late summer and are distributed in clustered branches. The root is light brown, woody, and about 8 inches long.
Harvesting
The plant parts used in Herbal Medicine are the leaves and the roots. For internal use, harvest Mugwort leaf at the end of summer before it flowers. Roots may be harvested in autumn as the plant has died off and going back into the ground for the winter. For use as an incense or in a dream pillow, harvest during flowering/seeding.
A little bit about Mugwort
Mugwort has long been associated with femininity and is one of the nine sacred herbs of the Druidic herbs, believed to protect against evil and poisons. It's silvery undersides of the leaves seem to glow in the moonlight making it look very magical indeed! Mugwort reveals itself this way as a herb of the moon.
It is a warming, aromatic bitter herb, stimulating the liver and the digestion as well as being soothing to the nervous system. It is a very beneficial herb in bringing balance to women's cycles, helping to ease pain and cramping, premenstrual mood swings and headaches, and is also very supportive in perimenopause and menopause bringing about balance. It can bring on menstruation and is not to be used in pregnancy.
Mugwort is an especially helpful herb for those who have developed a 'tough exterior' due to their life or work, in order to survive and helps not only women, but also men tune into and get in touch with their femininity. It is a relaxing herb and a nervine, that can soothe away the hardness that we develop when we push ourselves over a long period of time.
Mugwort has a long historical medicinal and magical use. It was used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine as the basis of Moxa, which is used in moxibustion treatments. It can be rolled and smoked which is used to bring on vivid dreaming and dream recall. It can be mixed with other herbs for this use such as Damiana.
I love Mugwort. It is one of my favourites and it calls to me all the time. I use it personally a lot and also a lot in clinic- in both tincture/ extract form and also the dried leaf in teas. It smells amazing and I honestly can't get enough.
Suggestions for using at home
Mugwort infused oil
Take some dried Mugwort leaves and loosely fill a jar with it. Pour over light olive oil so the herb is fully covered. Leave the jar on a warm windowsill with a paper bag over it for at least four weeks. Check and/ or stir regularly to make sure there is no herb popping above the oil. Once the oil is ready, strain and bottle. Store in a dark cupboard. Massage on the abdomen to relieve period pains.
Calming Digestive Blend
This tea is great for those that are finding stress affecting the ability to enjoy and digest their food. The herbs in this tea are all calming. Herbs include Mugwort, Chamomile and Catnip. Mugwort and chamomile stimulate the digestion, and Catnip and chamomile are good carminatives. Simply mix equal parts of each herb, make a tea and sip after dinner. Add honey to sweeten if needed.
References:
Jones, Lucy. A working Herbal Dispensary
Herbal Academy, Herbarium Monograph, Mugwort
Acute Care Consults and Group workshops
Inner Peace will be offering FREE Acute Care Consults once a month for 2025 (aiming for the last THURSDAY of each month) from the amazing multi-modality space through SoL Healing Crystals- SoL Healing Space at 70 Main Street Lithgow NSW. Initial times will be from 9.30am- 12.30pm.
This space will also allow Inner Peace to run workshops like our FREE Community Weight Management and Healthy Lifestyle Program and others throughout the year.
The Acute Care Consults are just that- Acute, short and sharp! Anyone can walk in with that niggling complaint they may have been sitting with and have a chat for 10-15 minutes and be offered some herbal guidance, diet advice and lifestyle support. Options to purchase supporting supplements, like herbal medicines, nutraceuticals and more will be offered as additional add-ons to support that niggling issue.
Acute Care complaints might be cold or flu relief, immune support, mood nurturing and improvement, support for sleeping, menopause or period pain relief, acne support, the list really could go on!
So please come along and utilise both the space and the time offered to support the local community with holistic health and wellbeing!
For dates and more information on what's happening check out Inner Peace's Facebook Page.
For more information on what's available in the beautiful healing space check out SoL Healing Crystals Website
https://solhealingcrystals.com.au/
https://studentsoflifehealing.com.au/services/