Inner Peace Holistic Herbal Therapy

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

Inner Peace will be offering FREE Acute Care Consults once a month for the rest of 2024 from the amazing multi-modality space through SoL Healing Crystals- SoL Healing Space at 70 Main Street Lithgow NSW. Initial times will be from 9am- 12.30pm. 

This space will also allow Inner Peace to run workshops like our FREE Community Healthy Lifestyle Program and others throughout the Spring and Summer. 

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/

Our Summer weather, in the Southern Hemisphere has finally started to kick in. We are always pretty much going to get these hot days, as it is Summer Down Under, but we are not always that prepared for it. Especially when it comes to our pets.

Our pets can really suffer in the summer heat and as owners we need to make sure we have their back and do what we can to make sure they are safe and kept cool during the extreme temperatures. As owners, we have a responsibility to ensure that we provide what our pets need to stay cool and need to remain vigilant in offering our pets ample shade, cool areas and plenty of clean, cool drinking water.

Our dogs particularly can feel the heat and can end up suffering from heat exhaustion and/ or heatstroke, which can make them really quite ill, or even cause them to die. Dogs can not sweat to cool themselves, and they pant heavily in the attempt to cool, however this leads to the evaporation of water from the tongue which then leads to dehydration.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by fatigue and weakness but may also include vomiting and diarrhoea. In the heat exhaustion phase, the pet will likely still have a normal or slightly elevated temperature and dehydration.

Heatstroke is the most severe condition in a spectrum of heat-related illnesses. The first sign a dog may be developing heat-induced illness is typically heat cramps, characterized by muscle spasms.

The transition from heat exhaustion to heatstroke is central nervous system signs such as disorientation or seizures, an elevated temperature, and often, multiple organ dysfunction. Heatstroke results from an inability of the body to cool down. This results in damage to the tissues of the body (inflammation), which leads to decreased blood flow to the organs and can ultimately cause organ damage and failure.

Older pets, pets with thick coats, those with short noses and pets adapted to cooler climates are particularly susceptible to the heat.

Some signs of heat distressed pets can be some of the following:

• Excessive panting
• Reddened gums/mucous membranes
• Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
• Dehydration 
• Head tilt: This is often an indication of heat exhaustion, but it has also been seen in dogs who have gone through heat stroke. The head tilt is the result of excess fluid build up in the head and neck and does not necessarily indicate that the dog is actually experiencing heat stroke.
• Elevated temperature 
• Vomiting (with or without blood) 
• Diarrhoea (with or without blood)
• Disorientation/stumbling
• Weakness/collapse
• Seizures/death 

Heat stroke can occur very quickly and is an absolute medical emergency and pet parents need to get their animals to the nearest vet clinic immediately.

If your pet becomes heat stressed, it is critical to cool them down. You can do this by following this technique: When cooling your pet, never use ice, as it can increase the risk of shock (drop in blood pressure, further damage to organs) and even cause hypothermia. Try to move your pet to a cool or shaded area with a fan if possible. Wet your dog with room temperature water and drape wet towels on the back of the dog during transportation to the hospital.  

Some simple tips to keep our dogs and cats cool:

• Ensure water bowls are not stainless steel and keep them out of direct sunlight. Add a few extra drinking areas in case one gets knocked over, cats and dogs also love flowing water from pet fountains.
• Keep dog beds and cat perches out of the sun.
• Create cool zones, hose down under trees, and create ample shaded areas.
• Do not leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes. Animals on utes need extra consideration- the tray can become very hot very quickly and can lead to burnt paws. Dogs transported in dog boxes need air flow so the sides should be mesh and they need a cover. Again it can become very hot very quickly in a metal cage. The ute needs to have an insulating material to avoid the dogs coming in direct contact with the metal surface. Avoid transporting them this way if possible on hot days.
• Only exercise your pet during the cooler parts of the day- early morning or late evening.
• If your pet is exhibiting any symptoms of heatstroke seek veterinary treatment quickly.
• Allow your pet inside to lay on the bathroom and kitchen floors. Plus; they will also benefit from a fan or the air-conditioning.
• If it’s too hot for a run at the dog park, consider teaching your pet a new trick. Flexing their minds can be just as beneficial as a big run.
• Consider clipping thick-coated breeds.
• If your dog is outside, a shallow container of water (a child's paddle pool or 'clam shell') they can sit or lie in will help them cool down.
• If you know it is going to be a hot day and you will be at work, close the blinds in one or two rooms to keep the sun out. This will help the rooms to stay cooler.
• Animals can get sunburned too. Protect hairless and light-coated dogs and white cats with sunscreen when your animal will be outside in the sun for an extended period of time. Put sunscreen or zinc on exposed areas of pink skin (ear tips and noses).

We can all enjoy the summer a little better if we take care and look after our furriest family members!

References:

PetMD https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/systemic/heatstroke-dogs

Pet Insurance Australia https://www.petinsuranceaustralia.com.au/heatstroke-in-pets

Animal Welfare Victoria https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/dogs/health/heat-and-pets

CIVT Animal First Aid