Encinitas Community +senior Center 3/26

What plants are in our teacups?

ROSE Rosa spp. 

ROSE HIPS: VITAMIN C, BIOFLAVONOIDS (strengthen capillaries), ASTRINGENT. Esp. Wild rose, R. canina. in picture.

ROSE PETALS: UPLIFTING, ANTIDEPRESSANT, COOLING, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM ‘DECONGESTANT’ (mitigate heavy cycles, enhance fertility)

FAVORITE PREPARATIONS:   

GLYCERITE (petals especially): 1 dropperful as needed from 1 oz bottle 

INFUSION/STEEP (hips especially): 1 tsp dried hips to 1 cup boiling water, steep 10-15 min covered. Drink up to 3 x day. 

TOPICAL: Rose hip seed oil; Rose petal hydrosol 

PLANT SPIRIT: Queen of Flowers; The Flower of Love. Aphrodite gave the rose beauty. Dionysus gave rose nectar to create perfume. Zephyr blew the clouds away so that rose could open its petals to the sun. 

ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis

LEAF: CEREBRAL TONIC/CIRCULATORY NERVINE STIMULANT, MEMORY, ANTIDEPRESSANT, CARMINATIVE, ANTISPASMODIC, ANTIMICROBIAL

FAVORITE PREPARATIONS:

INFUSION/STEEP: 1-2 tsp dried leaf to 1 cup boiling water, steep 10-15 min covered. Drink up to 3 x day. 

TOPICAL: Hair rinse with the infusion; Respiratory steam

PLANT SPIRIT: Herb of remembrance. Grow rosemary or place sprigs in the bath for purification and protection. Wear a rosemary crown for memory. Sprigs used at funerals as protection through eternity. 

CHAMOMILE, GERMAN Matricaria chamomilla, M. recutita  

(Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile may also be used)

FLOWER: DIGESTIVE TONIC ~ carminative, antispasmodic, anti inflammatory (Azulene, blue color), NERVINE ~ mild sedative, RESPIRATORY/IMMUNE SUPPORT ~ antimicrobial 

FAVORITE PREPARATIONS:

INFUSION/STEEP: 2 tsp dried flowers to 1 cup boiling water, steep 10-15 min covered. Drink up to 3 x day. 

GLYCERITE: 1 dropperful as needed from 1 oz bottle 

TOPICAL: Infused oil; Dried or fresh in the bath (use sachet); Sleep pillow with dried lavender and hops; Infusion as eye wash 

PLANT SPIRIT: Aids meditation. Thought to attract money, good fortune, and remove curses. A plant of resilience. 

EUCALYPTUS  Eucalyptus spp.

LEAF: ANTIMICROBIAL, EXPECTORANT 

FAVORITE PREPARATIONS: 

TOPICAL: Respiratory steam (leaves or essential oil Eucalyptus 

globulus); Essential oil diluted in fixed carrier lightly rubbed on chest 

PLANT SPIRIT: Burn leaves and visualize health for yourself and others. Hang branches over the bed of those who are sick. Carry leaves for good health and to protect from jinxes. 

Place leaves by the front doorway for reinforcing rest (koala spirit). 

LAVENDER  Lavandula spp. Most commonly Lavandula angustifolia (formerly officinalis) English lavender 

FLOWER: RELAXING + UPLIFTING NERVINE, RESPIRATORY/IMMUNE SUPPORT ~ antimicrobial, diaphoretic, decongestant, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic

FAVORITE PREPARATIONS:  

GLYCERITE: 1 dropperful as needed from 1 oz bottle  

LEMONADE: INFUSION/STEEP: 1 tsp dried flowers to 1 cup boiling water, steep 10-15 min covered. Strain, cool, and mix with an equal amount of organic iced lemonade.

TOPICAL: Infused oil; Dried or fresh in the bath (use sachet); Sleep pillow with dried chamomile and hops; Essential oil on rashes, stings, burns; powerful antifungal. 

PLANT SPIRIT: Scatter or burn (dried) flowers to sanitize & maintain a peaceful home. Greek Goddess of the Hunt Artemis used lavender to bring peace to the wild. Lavender-scented clothes worn to attract love. Place lavender flowers under the pillow while thinking of a wish. Also associated with Greek Goddess of Sorcery Hecate, flowers are carried for protection when connecting to the otherworld.

* as with any botanical, review safety considerations (pregnancy, with children, with Rx, etc).© Sally Seitz, www.thepeaceapothecary.com