07/03/2024
So I will talk about Artemisia today. The family members are coming up for me in a few ways and include many powerful allies like the sages (cullinary, prairie, fringed, sagebrush, white and more) and the cousins (motherwort, wormwood, mugwort and more).
Artemisia draws out emotions, memories and our inner demons/doubts/insecurities. We draw them out to release to the universe as a sacred offering. It can provide clarity, clearing and insight when respected, and when disrespected we see loss, distortion, dryness, and fragility. Be mindful when asking artemesia for aid and be prepared for the emotions and issues it brings up.
Artemisia is water's ally in that it helps it to move. Sage (Artemisia and Satvia) draws out sweat in lodges, pulls and redirects moisture in and around the body, it takes water from bacteria to prevent infection (draws out infection), and moves stagnent water associated with edema/swelling in the veins and limbs. Fringed or woman's sage helps draw menstral fuids out and encourages labour/water breaking for childbirth. In the air, it helps innoculate and reduce moisture molecules to combat viruses, and was often used in smokes for meat presevation. As salves, these herbs work to loosen phlem, dry wet coughs, help reduce swelling and inflammation associated with bruises, wounds, and edema. Sages were used in sweat lodges, mefitatoon and vision quests to cleanse and bring forth issues needing to be addressed.
Sages are safe to eat as seasoning in small quantities when pregnant but should be avoided by those who struggle to hold pregnanies, especially in the first trimester.
Herbs like motherwort (Leonurus) helps to balance feminine water energy and is a mother's hug as a nervine for anxious conditions and it's also a heart stimulant. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a powerful vermifuge (anti-worm) and is often a key ingredient in parasitic cleanses, as well as the key ingredient in absinthe. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is commonly used in lucid dreaming. All are powerful bitter herbs (tea is incredibly bitter and drying) to stimulate the liver, and anything with a mucosal lining. These specific can help encourage menstral flow and should be avoided in pregnancy altogether unless being used as a labour aid under the supervision of an experienced midwife, ND, herbalist, or meducine man/woman.
Many of these herbs contain compounds like thujone (also in cedar) that in small doses provides cleansing properties and neurotoxin that induces dreams and visions. In high doses, it's a fine balance between hallucinogen and toxic to the kidney and brain (seizures, vomitting, kidney failure, purgative, severe abdominal cramping). Other compound include things like camphor and certain terpentines). This family is powerful medicine and deserves respect and moderation.
Caution: not intended as medical advice.
