http://www.gnomeapothecary.org/

Gnome Apothecary, Macmasters Beach (2025)

15/04/2025

Prana as Nerve Current
We have a body which is a container of space, made of channels which are flowing the sacred nourishments of air, water, fire and earth through these channels. Essentially the body is a bag of water that is energised with the prana of the breath and of food.

This bag of water contains many receptor sites that is transforming external prana into neurological energy which is then transmitted to the brain and then transformed into perception.
For example a chemical arises on the tongue and is perceived as taste, a vibration reaches the ear and is perceived as sound, something touches the skin and it is perceived as a sensation.
All prana that touches the body’s receptor sites is sent to the brain to be transformed into perception. The body is metabolising energy into new kinds of consciousness.

This can be broken down into four oversimplified steps:
1)The energy comes in contact with the receptor site.
3)The receptor site transforms it into neurological energy.
4)The neurological energy flows into the brain
5)The brain converts it into perception and consciousness.

With the understanding that prana is arising and dissolving instantaneously from nothingness and being transformed into neurological energy as it reaches the receptor sites of the body, we see that the entire world of what we’re perceiving is nothing more than our brain creating a representation of our perception of reality.
The way in which we experience life comes from our brain creating a holographic model from the neural networks being activated by the transmissions of prana.

The mind is habitually making it so that we cannot notice the illusory nature of reality and so much of spiritual practice is about overcoming these habits of the mind.
We can deconstruct these habits by habitually perceiving the nature of prana as regularly as possible and by paying attention to what is actually happening.

The sensations of the body can be noticed and perceived as the divine intelligence of prana expressing itself and we can repititiously experience ourselves as expressions of this divinity to realise more and more that we are not the self we thought ourselves to be but we are fundamentally divine energy.

Practices
1)The Four Layers of Prana:
-Observe the body sensations that are constantly arising from both internal physiology and from external stimuli.
-Observe the body sensations as a flow of prana being bioelectrical nerve current that is flowing to the brain and transforming the sensation to awareness.
-Observe the flow of prana as the intelligence of nature, the mind of the universe, with the capacity to organise quadrillions of events simultaneously.
-Practice radical non interference. Let the mind rest, continuing to observe the flow of prana as the intelligenc of nature, allowing it to move freely as we leave it alone.

14/04/2025

Ive begun to compile my understandings of Illuminated Herbalism as taught by David Crow into an easy to understand learning packet and I reckon ill post segments as I write along the way.
Illuminated Herbalism is basically referring to using herbal medicine as a spiritual practice.
Love hearing feedback.
Art is by sister Jess. Love you Jess! 💚
Heres a section✌️

Prana as the Self Organising Intelligence of Nature

By observing Prana, we can gain a new understanding of ordinary physiological activities such as the breath and the heartbeat, and body sensations such as discomfort and pain.

Prana offers to us a way to shift out of the ordinary mundane reality which our mind is constantly pulling us towards through its neurological habits and into the magical and miraculous display of existence in every moment that is operating through the flow of prana.

Prana is a unifying field, apparent in both the macrocosmic universe and also on a microscopic atomic level and as such, we can observe prana in many ways.
Here we are looking at plants as agents of this self organising intelligence and also the physiology of the body as a container for the pranic intelligence to study, observe and unify with prana.
We aim to increase our body’s capacity to hold prana because the balance and flow of prana is the foundation of our health and vitality and it’s also a key to understanding the deepest parts of our self.

Prana is a vedic word and is a combination of the root word “pra” meaning movement, and “an” meaning constant, and it means “that which is constantly moving”.
It is closely linked to the understandings of ‘chi’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other concepts like life force or universal energy.

Prana arises and dissolves rapidly and instantaneously just as the flow of water.
When prana coalesces, there is matter, and when prana disperses, there is space and thus, emptiness is form, and form is emptiness.

Prana is a manifestation of the Divine and thought of in Hindu literature as originating form the sun and connecting all elements.
“From prana indeed all living forms are born and having been born, they remain alive by prana, and at the end, they merge into prana once more.”
This describes that it is the animating force within the body, the intelligence that is performing quadrillions of actions within the body in every instant.

As an example, pranic intelligence is what pumps the heart, breathes the air, digests the food, regulates and flows the hormones, provides our immunity, generates the nerve current and produces perception and consciousness.

Prana is constantly under the influence and interference of the egoic mind and its mindstream, which is constantly thinking, and causing physiological reactions from these thoughts.
When the nervous system is stressed and upset with emotion it contracts and disrupts the natural flow of Prana.
In a relaxed state, the heartbeat slows, the breath deepens, the nervous system and brain flows more smoothly and the mindstream of thoughts becomes calm.
In this state, the egoic mind relaxes and it gets out of the way.
The less the mindstream is active, the clearer it becomes, and the power and intelligence of the body is more able to exert itself without the interference of the mind.
The state of deep relaxation is the basis of healing. where the clouds of thoughts pass through the sky softly, and the waters of the mind become so still we can see the reflection of our Divine Nature.

Enlightenment is the state of naturalness where there is a relaxed and radical non interference with the flow of Prana.
In other words, awakening to the intelligence of prana at the deepest level is synonymous with illumination and enlightenment.

As we ingest plants, the pranic self organising intelligence they contain influences the pranic intelligence within our body and supports our own self organising intelligence, and through the repititious and conscientious use of plants we can naturally gravitate towards the state of illumination.

Practice
1)Observe everything that is manifest in your experience as manifestations of different types of Prana, observing everything that is occurring external to you as a manifestation of prana and observe that your own body and mind are also manifestations of prana.

2)Observe the different qualities of prana that are present in the food and water that you consume and the affect that this has on your own pranic intelligence.

26/09/2022

Im feeling happy with my first crop of oats, and a spanky new tincture press from Strictly Medicinal Seeds to press milky oat tincture!!
The milky oat was tinctured fresh and then I hand harvest the rest of the seed with a sickle for next season.
When in the field harvesting, a recognition arises of an inconceivable span of time - of traditional and natural farming, a humble grass and human plant relationships.

Jackson Griffiths

20/07/2022

My first season as a farmer was both unimpressive and enthralling.
Despite the hard rains that fell, making growing anything tricky, I am super inspired to continue travelling on the upwards spiral of creating a resilient fertile system.  
There are many places i would like to see fertility - though I realise that i am to only take control of the things that i can, and to take care of my own karmic patterns. Our farm and garden is the place that i can do this. 

The task at hand is converting 1.5 acres of grassland into a symbiotic and productive system of medicinal plant species.  
Ive started with a no-dig approach of laying builders plastic on the garden beds to kill the grass and return it to the ground which is clay like.
Because of our remote location it is not viable to import either compost or mulch, and so all of this has to be produced on the farm.  I had thought that the crops themselves in between the rows of trees would produce enough organic matter, though I was asking too much from the field of grass, wanting it to produce in less than ideal conditions and skip ahead of its natural successions that nature goes on towards a fertile ecosystem.  
So im giving back 1/3 of the garden beds to growing perennial long grasses which can be cut as mulch, and theres another 1/3, that are planted as tree rows, which will also provide mulch through the pruning of the trees and understory shrubs. 

Through the rain, I did however successfully cultivate a crop of skullcap, a nerve restorative herb, which loved the wet weather!
 I also fenced off an area from the wallabies to grow oats, in order to produce milky oat seed tincture. The oats are growing strong and, all going well, a deeply nourishing nerve tonic will be ready for harvest come spring.  

Whats more, Jedda has a baby in the belly, joining our family in October, and we’ve got a house to build in the meantime! 

Little by little, raising the seeds.

03/10/2021

We are back in action. Our journey has brought us to residing at a community called Bindarrabi, in the locality of Koreelah, 3hrs North-West of Byron Bay. We’re lucky to have been welcomed here and have the opportunity to apply for a share. Its exciting to have landed at home and to now continue moving forward with the vision of supporting the grassroots healthcare system and grow herbs.
On a grassroots level we can improve the nutritional and immunological status of a community through the formation of home gardens and pharmacies, as well as small scale farms and local apothecaries.  Herbal medicine is becoming increasingly popular, and we are excited to help to introduce you to our favourite botanical treasures.

Earlier this year I was introduced to Ayurveda, a most beautiful tradition originating from India yet it is universally relevant to our modern times.
Ayurveda is an ancient healthcare system complete with diagnostic tools, natural healing treatments, as well as lifestyle and dietary practices. It’s a science and art for regaining and maintaining health, and is a path of nourishing and strengthening the body on a deep immunological level.
Raw veganism is of my past as I integrate the teachings of a system that has withstood the test of time and continues to show its efficacy.

I have begun planting herbs which are specific for healing the mind and the nervous system - the Ayurvedic herbs Gotu Kola, Brahmi, Ashwaganda and Tulsi, as well as the Western herbs Oats, Skullcap, Licorice and Californian Poppy!

I hope that in a time where it may be hard to access community, the plants may reach out to you and support the mind to feel strong and the spirit empowered.
Will keep you updated on how it’s all growing 🌿

09/08/2020

✨Rhodiola Rosea is a true adaptogen, a gift from Northern Europe, an overall rejuvenative tonic for the body-mind-spirit.

🌿🌿🌿
Rhodiola Rosea grows wild in mountainous meadows near the Arctic circle of the Siberian, Mongolian and Scandinavian regions.
Its amazing ability to withstand the extreme cold temperatures, and hot dry days in high altitudes reflects its place as a significant and true adaptogenic herb, with Rhodiola being used to help the body adapt to the extreme conditions.

Whilst Rhodiola is a new herb to western herbalism, it was used by Greek physician, Dioscorides, in 77AD.
The Vikings also used this herb to enhance their physical strength and endurance, whilst the Chinese emperors sent expeditions to Siberia to harvest Rhodiola!
It has now found its place in our Western materia medica as an adaptogenic tonic to increase energy levels, regulate mood, prevent anxiety and depression, stimulate the immune system and enhance resistance to stress.

It has also become a popular 'nootropic' for improving brain function, to enhance mental acuity, improve concentration and memory, and reduce mental fatigue and stress.

Rhodiola has been included as an official medicine in Russia since 1969, as a mild nerve stimulant, memory enhancer, cardiotonic, and immune tonic.
We have the Russians to thank for much of what we know about Rhodiola, as a majority of the research has come from their attempt to find a performance enhancing tonic for their astronauts, olympians and the military.

Through their study of herbs, the Russian scientists termed a special class of herbs, 'adaptogens'.
Adaptogen herbs possess the following attributes:
1) Non-toxic in normal therapeutic dosages.

2) Produces a non-specific state of resistance in the body to physical, emotional or environmental stress.

3) Has a normalising effect on the body, helping restore normal physiological functioning of organs and systems that have been altered by chronic stress.

4) Works through the Hypothalamic/Pituitary/Adrenal axis (HPA axis) and the Sympathoadrenal System (SAS) - our hormonal, endocrine system.

Amongst the thousands of medicinal herbs that are available, there is only a handful classified as true adaptogens; Asian & American Ginseng, Ashwaganda, Eleuthero, Schisandra, Tulsi, Cordyceps, and ofcourse Rhodiola!

When Rhodiola was researched by the Soviets to use for their olympic athletes, they discovered that it not only increases cellular energy by stimulating ATP, but it also increased anabolic activity, enhancing the cell's capacity to repair themselves after increased stress loads, thus increasing muscle mass much like steroids do though without the negative side effects.
It's stimulating action on cellular energy makes Rhodiola a useful energy booster without the negative crash and burn side effect of most true stimulants.

Rhodiola 'rosea' has roots that are rose-scented. Not only is it known to bring courage to the heart where it needs support, protecting the heart from stress, and acting as a cardiovascular tonic, Rhodiola is making fame for its anti-depressant and anti-anxiolytic effects.
This is due to its ability to increase our 'positive' hormones dopamine and serotonin and reduce 'negative' hormones like cortisol - the stress hormone.
🌿🌿🌿

100ml, Handmade Liquid Extract of Organic Rhodiola Root now available from Gnome Apothecary's shop! 🧙‍♂️ 💚

https://www.gnomeapothecary.org/product-page/rhodiola

🙏

07/08/2020

✨LICORICE is a sweet, moistening, harmonising tonic herb, reputed since ancient times for its ability to restore and maintain youthfulness and vitality.

🌿🌿🌿
Licorice is said to have originated in Asia and is famously used in many Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas as a harmonising herb that helps the other herbs work better, and where it is known as a yin tonic (moistening and demulcent) and to replenish, restore and balance Qi, vital energy.
The plant was then carried through to the Middle East and was found in large quantities in King Tut's tomb, buried 3000 years ago!
It then spread through to Europe and was written about by herbalist Culpepper in the 1800's: “Liquorice root, boiled in water, makes a good drink for those who have a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or shortness of breath. It is also a cleansing agent, and at the same time softening and soothing."
This valuable herb can now be found as an official medicine in nearly all the pharmocopeia's around the world!

Licorice is a demulcent herb that is sweet and soothing to the tissues of the body, especially to inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach, intestines and lungs.

It's anti-inflammatory effects are seen most prominently in the Gi tract where its known to protect the tissues and regulate digestive juices, supporting normal functioning.

The active ingredient, glycyrrhizin, is one of the sweetest substances on the Earth, being 50times sweeter than sugar!
Though this sweet substance is not known to increase the need for insulin.

Glycyrrhizin has valuable anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as an immune system modulator, with studies suggesting that glycyrrhizin enhances immune response in cases of viral and bacterial infection.

The steroids present in the roots make it a notable herb for restoring exhausted adrenal glands. They are similar in structure to the steroidal hormone, cortisol, which the adrenals produce, helping the adrenals to produce healthy amounts of cortisol.

LaDean Griffin shares: "When people who have been under severe stress, overworking the adrenals and becoming extremely nervous and irritable, begin to take Licorice, they think they have suddenly spiritually arrived. It is my opinion that many who suffer in mental institutions could be helped with this wonderful herb."

Isabell Shippard writes: "Many who have taken licorice to support the adrenals find stress, worry and negative attitudes fall away, and that they have strength and energy to cope with daily life."

Licorice is known as a woman's herb due to it's hormonal content which has oestrogenic effects that are beneficial to some women, traditionally used in the support of female infertility, menopause, delayed and irregular menstruation, and PMS.

🌿🌿🌿
100ml handmade liquid extract of organic Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), grown in Australia.
Now available through Gnome Apothecary's shop! 🧙‍♂️

https://www.gnomeapothecary.org/product-page/licorice

Jackson Griffiths

18/05/2020

Gnome Apothecary has ben transforming along with us all and its not long now until we can start to share some of the potent tinctures we’re pressing on the full moons. 🌕🌿

We’re lucky to have had this time to redefine Gnome Apothecary’s values and understand how we can best contribute to the protection and security of our community.

We’ve been connecting with some local regenerative farmers where we are able to tincture herbs fresh on the farm - and you can truly know where medicine comes from - soil to seed to body.
If you’re sick, you don’t want to be wasting precious time on poor quality herbs that will get you nowhere.
The more questions we ask, the more we may expose what is denying our health, simplicity and harmony with Nature.

If we have a chamomile tea we can ask, where in the world was the chamomile grown?
How was it farmed, and how was the soil treated?
What is the impact on the local community and ecosystem as a result of the herb farm?
We can also enquire what was the drying process and how long ago was it dried?
With tinctured herbs, is the manufacturer using the medicinal part of the plant, how dilute is the tincture, and how long did the tincture soak for??

There are a lot of variables in growing and preparing herbal medicine that give rise to the question of the final product’s vitality.

Asking ourselves these questions we became transparent with ourselves, and combined with the recent turn of events with the virus we’ve become sure that we have to leave no stone unturned and give back to the people what has been taken away from us - high quality, vital, localised, herbal medicine. ✊

The power of herbs belongs in our hands.
We have the power to grow plants in our garden, make our own home apothecary and have food and medicine security.

We're really excited to partake in the Natural healing movement and to share the herbs with you!
We're going to take this journey slowly and surely, in time securing herbal medicine in Australia for our future. 🙏💚
Jackson Griffiths

10/03/2020

Fresh picked Gotu Kola Tincture
Fear has been permeating through me, obtaining its foothold in the broken doors of my mind, the parts that need healing. Nature will always provide a remedy to bring balance, and it is always within our reach, we just need to know where to look.
Gotu Kola presents itself to balance the mind in these times of social distress, an excellent herb to support anxiety and increase resilience to stress.
Sending out little running leaves all linked together, it represents connection and community whilst inside the human body it is medicine for connective tissues, and has long been used for spiritual communion with the divine.
He says, “Let’s come together and make it work.”
So I gathered a bouquet of this beautiful wild herb, and blended it with vodka to make a tincture, to protect my inner integrity and build courage.
For all my relations.

Jackson Griffiths

03/02/2020

🌿To all of our community, we’re putting the apothecary on hold for the moment…
It has been a big journey for us, whilst we’ve been growing the Gnome Apothecary Foundation over the past year and half, we’ve also been growing a new family!!
Our visions for a home on land where we can grow a garden, farm herbs and develop a space for natural healing to ground into the community has brought the reality of the modern housing crisis.
The entire youth is faced with the same situation of an unforeseeable home with the ultimatum of following suit; sacrificing our visions, passions and art to work for the system. To get us through these times of socioeconomic stress, community, cooperation and collaboration is essential!
We are lucky to find a family that has welcomed us to work together in building home - so we are on the move to take the apothecary to where it can grow in its purpose of sharing natural healing.
Thanks to everyone for your support in purchasing the herbs, it has helped us to pursue this vision.
Join our mailing list on the website homepage to stay updated on when we’re back in action!
And if you are in need of support in your wellness journey, please reach out!

Much love from our little family,
Jackson, Jedda & Kaya. 🙏

www.gnomeapothecary.org

Jackson Griffiths

17/12/2019

🌿Home Remedies for the lungs🌿
Our lungs in NSW have been at the detriment of smoke for over 6 weeks now. Here’s some simple home remedies that we can use to protect the health of our respiratory system.

GARLIC – Nature’s most powerful antibiotic, garlic and it’s related onions have an affinity for clearing the airways and preventing respiratory infection.

SPICES & HERBS –Aromatic garden herbs and kitchen spices; sage, rosemary, chamomile, peppermint, cumin, fennel etc.
Of the most important culinary herbs for the lungs is THYME, which is a specific tonic for the lungs, soothing the nerves, is disinfectant and clears mucus. Adding more herbs and spices to our meals, and having teas and chai will help to protect the respiratory system.

ESSENTIAL OILS – Aromatic plants contain oils which protect the plant from disease. These oils are at their highest during extreme weather changes. Using essential oils in the home through a diffuser, palm inhalation or rubbed diluted on the chest is directly using the plants’ immune system to support ours. Of the best oils for the lungs are Eucalyptus, Cedar, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Rosemary, Peppermint & Tulsi.

LICORICE – soothing demulcent herb that softens and cleans the mucus membranes of the lungs, and assists expectoration and elimination of mucus. Licorice is especially soothing where there is inflammation and is moistening to dryness and heat. Licorice also modulates and strengthens the immune system, increasing resistance to airborne pathogens whilst decreasing reactivity.

ASTRAGALUS – potent immune enhancer, especially of the respiratory system where it protects the lungs from environmental factors that affect our respiratory immunology.

REISHI – Sometimes known as the ‘Great Protector’, this is another powerful immune enhancer that has specific actions on respiratory system. Reishi protects against pathogens, speeds response to attack and quickens recovery from disease.
This medicinal mushroom is soothing to cough, assists expectoration, reduces inflammation and supports the body through stress.

HEAL TEA contains a few of the most valuable herbs for the respiratory system such as comfrey, marshmallow, plantain and mullein. They are excellent demulcent herbs that soothe the lungs and mucus membranes, reduce inflammation, and aid elimination of mucus.

To surround our homes with protection for our lungs, we can add some of these herbs into our home apothecary. www.gnomeapothecary.org
Blessings to everyone!

Jackson Griffiths

05/12/2019

🌿 I would love to see Comfrey planted in every home’s garden, for it is truly a healing plant worthy of value to our family’s home apothecary. It’s simple to grow and to have the herb on hand fresh is extraordinarily useful.
Comfrey is a healer of bone and flesh and rapidly heals anything broken including bones, cuts, burns, sore muscles, pain and inflammation. Look at those leaves and their cell rebuilding power!
Comfrey is both purifying to the body and extremely high in assimilable nutrition.
We use comfrey often in our diet, supporting the regrowth of new life. Often we juice the leaves, make pestos, salad dressings and use the root in teas.
It was an important herb all throughout Jedda’s pregnancy and just as important in this post-partum phase; for producing high quality milk, and helping the body to mend itself and return into shape, and for high amounts of silica and calcium to protect the teeth, hair, nails and bones. We now know why this was an old traditional pregnancy herb.
The healing testimonies of this plant are prolific! Comfrey is shrouded with lore and a true folk medicine.
I’ve never heard a story of anyone injured by comfrey. It is the gentlest, safest plant with a very powerful medicine, allantoin, which is a compound present in mother’s breast milk and found in the umbilical cord.
Though comfrey had gotten itself a bad name back in the 80’s, and it was banned for internal use in Australia because of potential liver toxicity of Comfrey’s alkaloids.
When the alkaloids are examined on their own they appear to be toxic yet within the whole herb, there is a balance of compounds that buffers the more powerful yet essential chemistries.
To use herbs we must listen to our own innate intelligence and apply this with skill and care.
Listen to the sight, touch, smell, and then flavour of what a plant is offering. How does it make you feel?
With this gentle yet powerful herb it need not be much at all to have a positive influence!
Start slowly always. Gentle baby steps. Little by little.
Then we can get comfy with comfrey and remember how it makes us feel whole!

Jackson Griffiths

Gnome Apothecary

15/04/2025

14/04/2025

26/09/2022

20/07/2022

03/10/2021

09/08/2020

07/08/2020

18/05/2020

10/03/2020

03/02/2020

17/12/2019

05/12/2019

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category