tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57386940620656827532024-03-06T23:12:49.727-05:00A Radicle(L. radix, root) The first root to emerge from a seed.
[with apologies to D. Hoffmann]Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-69544009384459901592018-09-24T06:56:00.000-04:002018-09-24T06:56:36.736-04:00Fall equinox - terre sicule<i>The myth of the seasons usually highlights the renewal of spring - stark contrast to the winter months. But in the southern Mediterranean, things are different. At this equinox, balance comes in unexpected ways.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
What you call the end<br />
Is the opening thrust:<br />
Wild yeast charges the fruit<br />
And the air is sour with must.<br />
Jasmine blooms along stone walls,<br />
White stars on prickly, furrowed fields<br />
That sprawl, burlap-brown, in the bite of heat,<br />
Bitter, craggy, water-starved.<br />
<br />
The landscape is the medicine,<br />
If you can stomach it.<br />
<br />
Kore couldn't, but now returns<br />
Because she felt wheat berries push<br />
Into that earth, all acrid-red,<br />
That soon will see a new green blush<br />
Spread, and grow, and bring the bread.<br />
She knows new wine will flow at last.<br />
Ede, ede! Tachy, tachy!<br />
Come now, come now.<br />
Come fast, come fast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJX-cW00o530J8kBvRWUsC_w9p2phg0aFrZ5QTqx8rvjEs6kFQZ8xU5xxqqHB6TBLIhhvusy9aF6qxjrJx9JjlCte8VgXmX7njt7TBvl5kZsMnFCjtxFVnI8oljeaqflUCgHCSU0npQ/s1600/20180918_124159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJX-cW00o530J8kBvRWUsC_w9p2phg0aFrZ5QTqx8rvjEs6kFQZ8xU5xxqqHB6TBLIhhvusy9aF6qxjrJx9JjlCte8VgXmX7njt7TBvl5kZsMnFCjtxFVnI8oljeaqflUCgHCSU0npQ/s320/20180918_124159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-55321181261496392602018-06-04T11:41:00.000-04:002018-06-04T11:41:01.717-04:00Herbal Medicine: the thread that keeps us connected to the ecology<div>
<i>The following are some thoughts that were part of my presentation to the Bastyr community during the recent <a href="https://bastyr.edu/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=2909" target="_blank">Herb and Food Fair</a> (20th anniversary!). I am an endless optimist - in sum, I believe we can have access to the amazing technologies we've developed as a species, and stay sustainable, too - but only if we use those technologies judiciously, do not let them drive our lives, and stay connected to the ecological context that shaped, and still shapes, our phenotype (the physical incarnation of our genetic instructions). Cell phones, yes - but put them down and walk outside without them sometimes. Antibiotics, yes - but not as a first-line intervention. Cars, yes - but not if walking or biking is practical. Cities, yes - but not without green roofs, community gardens, and living machines. You get the idea. Herbal medicine can teach us all this, and more.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The technologies that we've developed stand tall, almost overpowering, on the horizon as we move into the 21st century. The present us with remarkable, powerful tools. They allow us to build and work in ways we never would have thought possible even one hundred years ago. But at the same time, we're finding that these technologies present new and complex challenges: from the ecological sustainability of energy and food production, to the sometimes overwhelming hold that our information systems can have on our attention and psyche, it seems that our modern tools could eat us alive. Already people feel a loss of connection to spirit, and creativity, and focus - which begs the question: do our technologies work for us, or are we working for our technologies? Is there a way to harness our modern tools but also keep a firm footing in our shared humanity, our shared life on this biosphere, our shared creative source?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am reminded of the story of Ariadne, Theseus and the minotaur. When Theseus, heir to the throne of Athens, arrived on Crete to enter the labyrinth and challenge the minotaur (generations of children had been lost to its unyielding hunger), Ariadne (the master weaver) presented him with a thread he could use to find his way back out. After killing the minotaur, his work done, Theseus was indeed able to wind his way out of the twisting passages by following the thin thread Ariadne had tied to the front entrance. Without it, even if his work had been successful, he still would have been lost. But as the story goes, Theseus quickly forgot Ariadne, and left her behind, though she'd been the true hero in this story. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For me, plant medicine and the art of herbalism are what can help us stay connected to what really matters. There are many reasons why this is the case, but they all come down to this: nature has built-in threads everywhere that serve to keep all the pieces of an ecological system connected and engaged, so that the whole can function well. We see them in the stream of phytochemistry that travels from the plants, through mycorrhizae and bacteria, into the animal kingdom. This stream connects to long-preserved genetic memory: we hold plasticity in our genes, the ability to alter who we are based on environmental conditions. And, just like <a href="https://www.urbanmoonshine.com/blogs/blog/adaptive-plasticity-guido-mase" target="_blank">caterpillars who modify the plants they consume to help deal with infections</a>, our behavior is different when we are exposed to the phytochemical signals that weave their way through the ecology. Our appetite and metabolism change. Our mind and spirit change. <a href="http://aradicle.blogspot.com/2014/08/hawthorn-legends-pharmacology-recipes.html" target="_blank">Our heartbeat, the elasticity of our vessels, change as well</a>. Without this thread from the world around us, we suffer - especially if we work, day in and day out, in an environment that is radically different from the one in which we evolved. Most of us do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid85Khh6z64MKF64MLsQMesGDeRTSWwXRmyc62RjzRnLCA-ldaBaWLhmTJ5ouPBfZ2Z07cZJdJv-tyZegJ_JvrDawI4DOGPM4UbOzp7KRgmtQGLKF4b7YyK9p7yuAM6DQX6pJSdNLtjI/s1600/Bastyr-gardens-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid85Khh6z64MKF64MLsQMesGDeRTSWwXRmyc62RjzRnLCA-ldaBaWLhmTJ5ouPBfZ2Z07cZJdJv-tyZegJ_JvrDawI4DOGPM4UbOzp7KRgmtQGLKF4b7YyK9p7yuAM6DQX6pJSdNLtjI/s400/Bastyr-gardens-2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So when we engage with the world, we incarnate into our individual reality, and inevitably we are changed by that with which we interact. This is a good thing: we learn, we grow, we evolve. But the world demands its pound of flesh: we may leave some of ourselves behind, and in some cases, we may leave it all behind. This is dangerous: the minotaur can devour us, or we can get lost forever in the labyrinth. What we need is a charioteer, one that holds the reins of the creative spirit, the inspiration, the deep connection to life that we're all born with, and also the daily work, the technology, the physical progress we use to make our mark in the world. Give too much power to one, and you fly apart, and accomplish nothing. To the other, and your spirit dies, congeals, gets stuck, accomplishes nothing. This charioteer is not an overpowering force, a dictator, or a containing power - rather, it is thin, and subtle, like a lighthouse in the mist. It is a thread that allows us to engage, accomplish our work, and find our way home, too, once the day is done. It is Ariadne's thread: for many, a spiritual practice, a loved one, or a shared passion provides this tether. But our <em>soma</em>, our physical body, needs this as much as our spirit does: as plant people, we are lucky to have a thread that holds both, reuniting us to the memory of home and our evolutionary context by helping to regulate our gene expression, while also igniting our spirits with the fire of the wild world, our birthright and our creative source. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The art of herbal medicine, who is Ariadne, the wise and beautiful one, hands us this thread - how can we help but fall in love? But unlike Theseus, let us not abandon her wisdom, rather let us fight to keep her by our side. Then, we will be able to help others find her too, and they too will grasp that all-important thread, and live full lives, and thrive in the modern world. What greater gift could we dream of? We all here are so lucky.</div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-23523597798805992732017-11-27T11:49:00.000-05:002017-11-27T11:49:18.728-05:00Connecting the ecologies: micro-macrocosm awareness and patterns that nurture the creative spirit<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>This piece originally appeared in <a href="http://www.folkherbalism.com/" target="_blank">Plant Healer Magazine</a>. Forgive its length; the subject focuses on spirit sickness and how, often by using herbal medicine techniques, we can begin to recognize how to fill some of the voids we feel as we travel through our modern lives.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Culture has
powerful, and often unseen, consequences. We are all steeped in our cultures:
we make assumptions, engage in behavior, and even form opinions on ethics and
beauty based on the culture we inhabit. It might be tempting to think that we
retain individual control over every aspect of our lives, but this is not the
case: where we are born, the halls in which we walk our daily lives, shape us
almost as much as any conscious choice we make. Our choices are, in fact,
constrained by our cultures: think of something as simple as clothing or food
to get a sense of this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In Western
culture we’ve been seeing some interesting threads over the last few decades.
There are obvious pieces, like the dietary choices and approaches to food
processing, which have become pervasive and are spreading globally. But there
are also more subtle pieces, linked to mood, mental health, and spirit, that
are less discussed but nevertheless important pieces of our culture. Prescriptions
for mood-altering medications have been increasing for some time. Opioids –
prescribed for pain, but abused for other reasons – are pervasive. Overall, a
combination of escapism (through media, chronic alteration of mental states, or
a literal reframing of reality) and an obsession with material gain seem to be
important drivers of Western culture today. Our appetite seems, at times,
insatiable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the same
time, there are other threads too. Through popular fantasy, and reflected in an
increasing interest in what is magical, wild, or more generally “green”, people
seem to be drawn towards that which is unknown, powerful, and somehow linked to
nature. This is a good thing! But in many cases, this non-specific desire isn’t
clearly articulated, nor are the reasons for it explored with any clarity:
we’re all so busy, so tired at the end of the day, expected to be constantly
“on call” and plugged in to endless streams of information, that the idea of
spending time nurturing an unknown, hidden side of life seems like a luxury at
best.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Many think
we may have this backwards. Nurturing the creative soul, digging into the soil
to find the well of inspiration for our lives, may be our most important task –
not an afterthought to be observed, far removed, in movies or literature. The
lack of emphasis on this basic need may be at the root of what we see as
“spirit-sickness” in our culture – and while the raw uncertainty and shifting
truth of the postmodern world may have precipitated it, we are doing ourselves
no favors de-emphasizing the rituals, ceremony, and attention to dreamtime so
valued by all traditional cultures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
MarionWoodman, a Jungian researcher and therapist, puts a fine point on this issue by
contrasting this attention to “stuff” (entertainment, cars, homes, etc…) with
the root of true nourishment in human life, which crops up as a veiled desire
for magic, a longing for the green world. Interestingly, she frames it in terms
of the difference between “matter” (stuff) and “mater” (literally “mother” in
Latin): we’ve replaced the nourishing all-mother with a lot of material
possessions, in the hopes that we’ll get the nourishment we need. Of course
this will never happen: this nourishment comes from something much deeper and
mysterious – something you can’t buy! – and the lack of this matrix, this yin,
leaves us feeling untethered and permanently homeless. We’ve built ourselves up
and surrounded ourselves with all sorts of neat things, and many of them are so
useful, but the practices that truly feed us have been left behind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She goes
further, to discuss how the archetypal masculine – the yang that strives for
clarity and seeks to explore new spaces and horizons – has been shackled into a
dominating, oppressive force that – of course – serves to suppress the
archetypal feminine and pervert its essence to a drive for material substance
(matter vs. mater). Couple this with an unrealistic expectation for perfection,
and you have a recipe for the forces that shape Western culture. Nature, on the
other hand, favors imperfection: but this argument rarely gets traction in the
boardroom or halls of government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fortunately,
culture is not static: it grows and evolves, much as a living being does, and
we have the opportunity and privilege to participate in its remodeling. But as
we herbalists move into the twenty-first century, we may need to think of our
role as cultural stewards as a responsibility instead: more and more, we are
seeing that the threads of Western culture do not always come together into
sustainable patterns. From the medicalization of spirit-sickness, to our
relationship to resource extraction and capital markets, can anyone see this
trajectory continuing for the next fifty, not to mention two hundred, years? So
the question becomes: in what ways should we work towards cultural remodeling?
How can we, who are drawn together by the experiences we’ve had working with
plants, begin to build the case for a mindful, nature-based, cultural
remodeling program?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I believe
the answer lies in observing nature – the matrix in which we are inextricably
embedded. But this is not a straightforward task, even if we can see and hear
the signals she offers us. Part of the difficulty lies, again, in the paradigm
we’ve created for ourselves in the Western world, so different from the
paradigm that underlies almost all other traditional cultures. If we are to
restore a collective mythology that can create cohesion and meaning in our
daily lives, we will quickly run into resistance, a sort of paradox: for a
collective, nurturing matrix stands in opposition to the cult of individual
power, it implies that the good of the community should come before our own
personal interests, and this is a difficult idea to embrace in the western
world at the threshold of the twenty-first century. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you take
the time to observe traditional cultural systems, still intact in many areas of
the world, you uncover a very different perspective: the apparent paradox of
living a life that simultaneously values self and community melts away. The key
is recognizing that we are shaped and directed by our culture, and that no will
is truly ever completely free: the community in which we live has as much to do
with our behavior, health, and happiness as do our individual choices. My
friend Mangoye, part of an extended Maasai family, makes daily choices related
to his children, cattle, hunting, drinking and foraging, along with longer-term
plans that help trace the arc of his individual life. But as we were talking
about his plans, and I was wondering why he unquestioningly followed his
father’s recommendation on whom to marry, how to trade cattle, and what
priorities to focus on, I came to realize that Mangoye feels deeply that, in
order to be happy and successful, he must follow the cultural and familial
practices that his community has followed for generations. “We will fragment
and die”, he told me, “if the wedding ceremonies are not followed, if the
architecture of the <i>engang</i> is
changed, if the <i>morani</i> stop hunting
the lion.” And while arranged weddings, the health hazards of living in a
cramped, smoky mud hut, and the death of warriors during a lion hunt may be
difficult for us to accept, they form the underpinning of a collective
mythology that has allowed the Maasai to thrive in a hostile environment that
might otherwise swallow them whole. But this mythology, this context, Woodman’s
“mater”, does more than just cohere the community: it acts as a source of
stories and creativity, and both generates and constrains the forward-moving
impetus of the culture. All native traditions seem to have something like this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maybe,
proceeding from the idea that life is self-similar at multiple different levels
(from bacteria to biospheres), we can learn not only from traditional cultures,
but from the behavior of nature itself. Being an herbalist, I look to plants.
And some fascinating research over the last decade is pointing to the idea that
plants don’t see a conflict between individual health and the health of their
communities, either. First off, Richard Karban and others at the University of
California, Davis have documented in detail how plants are able to communicate
with each other by secreting volatile compounds into the air. These compounds
are monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, along with some phenolics, usually found
on trichomes studding the exposed surfaces of leaves and stems. The minty
quality of mint, the pungency of rosemary, the brightness of eucalyptus and the
tea tree, the dry camphorous quality of sagebrush – all are examples of these
volatiles, usually released when we rub a leaf and damage it, and often
referred to as the “essential oil” of a plant. Karban and his team have found
that, in response to the presence of these molecules in the air, neighboring
plants will initiate defensive processes, including the up-regulation of
immune-like molecules known as phytoalexins, to prepare for damage or invasion.
One plant raises the alarm, and its neighbors hunker down. As a result, the
plant community stands a better chance at surviving and reproducing: but, part
and parcel, the individual may be damaged or destroyed. Interestingly, Karban
has gone further to show that plants can behave selfishly, too, at least to
some extent: for while I may not be willing to get injured or killed to save a
community of strangers, I’m willing to endure a lot to safeguard my close
friends and family. And wouldn’t you know that the sagebrush plants Karban
monitored do the same thing: they are able to recognize volatile signals from
genetically-similar individuals (aka their “family”), responding with greater
urgency and almost ignoring the signals that come from unrelated <i>Artemisias</i> transplanted from far away.
Have you noticed how mugwort and sagebrush plants can often smell incredibly
different, even within the same garden or field? These cocktails of volatile
molecules are not only signals for danger, but ways to recognize kin. Protect
and cohere. Channel collective behavior.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ted Farmer and
his team from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland traced exactly what
happens in a plant when the first whiff of volatile chemistry is detected.
Plants are able to relay this information to distant tissues using a series of
ion gates, which open in response to the presence of volatiles and then cause
an electrical shift to occur across the plasma membrane of the plant’s cell.
Like a series of dominos, these ion gates then open, one by one, carrying an
electrical wave along with them and thereby transmitting the initial signal
down the leaf, through the petiole, and into the stem. This is a remarkable
finding: human neurons work in almost the same way, albeit with more complex
and diverse ion gates. And the initial stimuli for our nerves, the neurotransmitters,
often show striking structural similarities with the volatile molecules found
in plants. Plants’ essential oils are neurotransmitter cocktails – quite
literally, for the botanical world, but maybe also for us, which may be part of
the reason why they can have such powerful effects on our minds and spirits.
The mechanisms plants use to hold their families and communities together, to
communicate danger and plan their responses, are the same mechanisms we use to
think, to move, and to unite our internal ecologies. Once again we see the idea
of individual health – in this case, individual plants or individual human
neurons – as being important both for its own sake, but also as a part of a
greater whole. Human neurons are often trimmed, or even eliminated, in order to
help cement useful patterns of thought and behavior. Should we mourn this? Or
celebrate it? Or, perhaps, both?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What about
mechanisms of communication between humans and their environments? If this
pattern of caring for individual health by simultaneously advancing community
and ecological health is visible at all levels of life, then we should be able
to find some evidence of it in the dance between humans and fields, people and
forests. I’d argue that the act of smelling the camphor, thujone and pine in a sagebrush
desert is already evidence enough – we’ve got structures cued to detecting
these smells, after all – but is there anything more? Stafford Lightman,
professor of medicine at the University of Bristol, UK has spent years studying
the effects of stress on the human system, and recently discovered that a
common species of bacteria, found in most living soils, is able to modulate the
serotonin system in our brain. Bacteria that live inside our guts seem to have
this ability, too – but <i>Mycobacterium
vaccae</i>, the species studied by Lightman and his team, lives outside of our
bodies. When we get bare hands into garden soil (which, crucially, must be
living soil teeming with organic material to support healthy bacterial
colonies), <i>M. vaccae</i> speaks to us
using our own signal molecules, and impacts our mood. We’ve known about the
benefits of gardening on mental health for a long time now: recently, Masashi
Soga from the University of Tokyo and Kevin Gaston from the University of
Exeter conducted a comprehensive review of over 30 years of research and found
substantial benefits from even short stints of gardening, including “reductions
in depression, anxiety, and body mass index, as well as increases in life
satisfaction, quality of life, and sense of community.” As our mood lifts and
we become healthier, our sense of community increases, too. Could bacterial
(and perhaps fungal) signals be a part of this? Channeling behavior, but also
building resilience and nurturing creativity. Soil – and its thriving ecology –
is the yin-like matrix, perhaps the most literal embodiment of Woodman’s
“mater”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maya
Shetreat-Klein, a pediatrician living in New York and author of The Dirt Cure,
has researched this effect and applied it in her private practice. Her focus is
on childhood development, and particularly on the attention and mood challenges
some kids experience in today’s world. Now, it should come as no surprise that
our kids are living in a different world than they might have even fifty years
ago: as Richard Louv documents in his work, you can’t help but see “nature
deficit disorder” when you hear a third grader questioning the value of playing
outside because “there are no outlets there!”
But what Dr. Shetreat-Klein discovered is that, when you move away from
the obsession with antibacterial soaps, “microban” plastics, and
“helicopter”-style parental handwashing and bathing of children, you start to
see a change in mood and attention even if the child spends a lot of time in an
urban environment. Exposure to soil, and the microbes found everywhere, might
be a crucial part of growing up well-adjusted. Again, we might not feel
comfortable with baths just once a week, or with eating snacks with grubby
hands. But isolating the individual from the surrounding microbial riot may, in
the long run, do more harm than good. The microbes shape our moods, they set
the stage for our spirits to run free, to course creative through clear
channels. Without them we become untethered. Paradoxically, exposing our kids to
more potential for illness and contamination makes them healthier and happier.
Maybe, as we’re starting to see, this isn’t a paradox at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And it’s not
confined just to soil and dirt: Andrea Taylor, a professor of natural resources
and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, has
been researching the connection between time spent in unstructured outdoor
environments (even city parks) and the frequency and severity of
attention-deficit-like symptoms. In one dramatic study, she found that a
one-hour walk in a park was as effective as a single dose of Ritalin in
managing symptoms. And while this is a great result, it also highlights the
conflict between individual health and community health: sure, if we all
embraced the idea that walks in parks were good for everyone and an important
part of our shared cultural mythology, and we looked with concern on folks who
hadn’t been for a walk outdoors for a day or two, we might see a whole lot less
Ritalin prescribed. But who has the time for this? Who has the political will
to set aside green islands across our urban environments? Isn’t it easier, more
targeted, more “individual” to just administer a treatment on an as-needed
basis? We might have to pay taxes for parks, take time out of our mornings, put
down our phones and let our kids guide us through mucky cattails and get
distracted from our task list. And while I say this tongue-in-cheek, it
nevertheless requires personal sacrifice: subsuming the individual for the
health of the family, the health of the community. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But in the
long run, what might seem like a personal sacrifice could actually become a
gain in happiness, productivity, and health. Traditional cultures have always
known this, though to be fair it has historically been difficult to evade time
outdoors (until now). We’ve been hearing a lot about the traditional Japanese
practice of “forest bathing” (shinrin-yoku) lately, and how being in a forest
environment, rich in sounds, sights, smells and chemical traces, can affect us
in many positive ways. It seems that, particularly when it comes to stress (as
Lightman found), forest-bathing can help reduce the symptoms of being alive in
the twenty-first century: lowered blood pressure, lowered cortisol levels, and lowered
neurological stress indicators all follow. Bum-Jin Park, from Chiba University
in Japan, recently reviewed trials from over 20 different forests in Japan and
confirmed a substantial, repeatable effect from this practice. Maybe with
enough evidence we can begin to say that setting aside unstructured forest
time, though it seems to not immediately advance our careers and contribute to
individual success, might be a crucial medicine for modern life. What’s most
important to me is that the creative impetus, that feeling of inspiration and
flow that we are attempting to find with all our “matter”, springs effortlessly
from the “mater”, the mother, who lives in the woods (and other more wild
places in your neighborhood, even if it’s just a park). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have
wildness, or the potential for wildness, within us as well: for if the ecology
around us is alive, we also contain multitudes of life – fungal, bacterial,
even vegetal – all over and inside us. We’ve lived in symbiosis with our
internal fauna and flora since well before we were humans, and there are
innumerable lock-and-key systems that have evolved over our history that are
reliant on a teeming internal microbiome. For example, there is an argument
that our bitter taste receptors, which are found not only in our guts but also
throughout the upper and lower airway, are looking for molecules (known as
“quorum-sensing” molecules) secreted by potentially hostile bacteria when they
start to get an upper hand. Our immune system kicks into gear, secreting stored
defensins and immediately getting a handle on the population shifts. But what
is most fascinating is that the quorum-sensing molecules that pathogens
produce, known as <i>acyl homoserine
lactones</i>, are virtually analogous in structure to lactones produced by
plants like the common dandelion. If we consume these plants, we get a similar
immune-enhancing reaction – and stay healthier. Could it be that plants are
conspiring to keep us happy and well? Do they see us as their kin, as part of
the web of life that sustains them, too?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eva Selhub,
from Harvard Medical School, has documented extensively how the state of our
internal ecology affects our mood – a counterpoint to Stafford Lightman and
Andrea Taylor’s work on the connections between external ecology and human
moods. In an excellent two-part review, she documents how, at the turn of the
twentieth century, the idea of “autotoxicity” (articulated by Nobel-winning
microbiologist Elie Metchnikoff) was held forth as one of the major drivers of
mental illness: essentially, an overgrowth of harmful intestinal bacteria was,
at that time, seen as the root cause of the problem. Over the course of the
twentieth century, that hypothesis was rejected in favor of a top-down approach
that put the origin in the brain and neural tissue. Now we are realizing both
ideas are part of the picture, but it is interesting to note that, with its
reliance on the myth of the “self-made man” and the cult of unfettered,
individual free will, the twentieth century chose to say that the brain itself
is the source of all mental illness. Again, it’s hard to admit that our
thoughts and feelings might not be under “our” control, and therefore we might
want to reject the idea that bacteria are “controlling” us – but this is
because we have such a limited definition of what “our” means, of who we are.
If we look at things through a more traditional lens, we might find that our
edges are not clearly defined, that we overlap chemically and physically with a
range of internal and external ecologies, and that nurturing all of them, while
it might not seem to be self-care, is a big part of our long-term wellbeing. Internal
flora, though genetically distinct, might be part of “us”. Flora and fauna in
our immediate environment might, at least in part, be “us” too (beyond the fact
that we’re all made up of the same recycled stardust). By the same token our
neurons, with their ability to recognize plant volatiles as neurotransmitters
due to a conserved mechanism of action between the plant and animal kingdoms,
might not be fully “us”. Recently, scientists are exploring the benefits of
bathing less (or sometimes not all) on productivity, mood, sleep, and more. As
you can imagine, this is yet another case of personal sacrifices and
culture-shifting leading to improved health outcomes – all through growing
gardens on our skin, in our hair, in our armpits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Exploring
our edges can have interesting consequences, but I believe it is essential we
do so. First of all, it helps better explain what some have called the “bond”
human beings have with nature: if we are willing to accept that the boundary
lines of “self” and “non-self” are more like a great wetland at the estuary of
a broad river, where fresh water and salt water mix and blend and create unique
ecological niches, instead of stark dividing lines, then the “bond” becomes
more of an “overlap”, and the mutual interdependence becomes more intuitive.
Michael McCarthy, who writes articles on ecology, the environment, and nature
for <i>The</i> <i>Times</i> of London and <i>The
Independent</i>, attempts to convince us that this bond is an essential part of
being human, and that we recognize its importance when we experience the sheer
joy of being in nature. This joy, as he articulates it, is a combination of
peace, happiness, transcendence, and creative inspiration: in short, it is that
place traditional cultures attempt to engender through ritual, ceremony, and
spiritual practice, for it is the source of our fullest life, it is the
“mater”. But, upon reflection, I do not think that wild, human-free spaces are
the only way to build this feeling. I have felt it many times from music, art,
writing, even buildings – all quintessentially human constructs. Which leads me
to the second consideration brought up in the exploration of our edges: is
there something in nature, in the whole of nature of which we and all our
creations are an inextricable part, that can help build and nurture this
feeling of transcendent, inspired joy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We will come
back to this point in a moment. But first, consider this when exploring were “we”,
as individuals, have edges: philosophers searching for the nature of our
consciousness have been turning over this idea forever in a search to pinpoint
consciousness, self-awareness, and what exactly thoughts are made of. One camp
posits that, in a sufficiently complex system, “emergent” properties such as
consciousness (or even life itself) come to be as part of the synergy of the
system’s components. The whole, in this sense, becomes way more than the sum of
its parts: it becomes self-aware. From this perspective, our thoughts and
feelings (and everything else we associate with being conscious) is a
by-product of our complex physiologies, and particularly the neural networks in
the central nervous system. Another camp (whose position is well-articulated by
philosopher Alva Nöe) subscribes to the idea of non-local consciousness:
meaning that what we consider self-awareness isn’t limited to what’s in our
heads, it overlaps with many other pieces of the world around us. Note that,
though it may not appear so at first blush, these two ways of looking at
consciousness aren’t necessarily incompatible – though I do think it is
important to think of consciousness as non-local, not contained simply in our
skulls. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are a
few reasons why this seems like a plausible viewpoint to me. First, we’ve
already seen how our thoughts and feelings are affected by a range of factors
from the world around us and also from the world inside us. Additionally, we’ve
known for some time that somatic processes (like cold hands and feet, or
gassiness from a difficult meal) send feedback to the brain that affects
perception of stress and tolerance to it. But second, the idea of non-local
consciousness helps explain how, every so often, we seem to share thoughts with
those who are close to us: blurting out the same thing at the same time,
thinking about a new topic right before a friend starts talking about it,
sensing that a loved one is in trouble even on the opposite side of the world.
I don’t pretend to know what the mechanism of consciousness is (the so-called
“hard problem” of translating structures made of matter, like the brain, into
the processes of consciousness), but it does seem that we can have definite overlaps
with other consciousnesses in our life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But is it
truly just an overlap? I would posit that what we may be experiencing is a
larger consciousness, one in which our own is “embedded”, or nested, sort of
like our microbiome’s bacterial organisms are nested inside of us. And just as
our microbiome can affect our mood and thoughts, perhaps we can affect the mood
and thoughts of this larger consciousness: so the “telepathic” experience with
a friend isn’t actually mind-reading, it’s just the you-and-your-friend
relationship (the larger consciousness) having a thought that each of its
nested consciousnesses is experiencing simultaneously. If you look at things
this way, a family becomes a living, breathing being. Your garden, a
neighborhood, a city, the local bioregion – all are alive and conscious, all
teem with nested consciousnesses that have their own lives, thoughts, hopes and
feelings. This of course proceeds both inward and outward, through the
microbiome and the solar system, in a recursive, self-similar fashion: as above,
so below. But it’s always important to remember that, at each level, no fate is
completely fixed, and no will completely free: we belong to the bioregion,
transients though we may be, the same way our microbiomes belong to us. And a
final, interesting corollary is that, at a galactic or universal level, there
must exist a consciousness too, of which we are all a part: perhaps this is
what so many have known as “god”. But just as we are, sometimes, at the mercy
of bacteria that live in our GI tract, so also any “god” is tied inextricably
to all its nested consciousnesses. We affect each other. We think through each
other.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
With all
this context, it becomes clear to me that our inextricable bond with everything
around us, the experiences and emotions that flow through us when we perceive,
with our limited minds, what the super-organisms we’re nested in are thinking,
are the source and sink, the beginning and end, of life for us. They truly are
Woodman’s “mater”. But when delving into the quality of these experiences and
thoughts, the “language” that life uses as it expresses itself, we do start to
notice some consistency. This might serve us well in our quest to become more
mindful and aware of all the different threads of consciousness moving through
us at any given time: after all, as all students of divination know, the trick
isn’t having prescience: it’s recognizing when you’re having it! So is there
something universal, expressed in nature, that we can hold as an anchor and
touchstone? Does it have to be non-human, or do humans possess it too? Why do
we feel it more when we’re out in the forest, or on the open savanna, than when
we’re in an enclosed classroom?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It turns out
that there very well might be. When we look at an acacia tree on a vast plain, for
example, and feel a sense of joy, transcendence, and creative inspiration,
we’re recognizing a pattern that has deep resonance for us. The resonance may
be in part for survival reasons: recognizing natural patterns successfully
helps us survive. But it also feels very much like coming home: there’s
something familiar to it, and even in wild spaces that might seem daunting and
scary, we feel held, embedded, connected. Look at mountains, river deltas, the
rippling of waves on a lake or ocean, tree branching, veins branching, spirals
in seeds, in clouds, in galaxies: the examples are endless, and they all feel
familiar somehow. The examples extend into the human realm, too: we see it
mostly in art, where buildings, paintings, sculptures – even if abstract –
evoke peace, comfort, belonging, and inspiration when we perceive them. Perhaps
the most stark example of this – because it’s clearly not attempting to mimic
nature, which might be one argument as to why art feels good to us – is the
work of Jackson Pollock, the abstract American painter who worked during the
1940s and 1950s. When we look at his paintings, which appear to be random
streaks and splatters on huge canvases, we feel something similar to what we
feel when we look out onto a wild landscape, or into the eyes of the person we
love. What’s going on?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Richard
Taylor, from the University of Oregon, presents a compelling hypothesis. To
grasp its full import, we will have to take a short digression into mathematics
and art: the first will give us a semi-objective context to understand the
hypothesis, and the second a compelling example of how human creation, when
driven by a connection to Woodman’s “mater”, can produce paintings like
Pollock’s that evoke the same rich, vivid, transcendent experience we get from
being in wild nature.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We remember
dimensionality from geometry class: a point has dimension zero, a line
dimension 1 (length), a square or plane dimension 2 (length and breadth), and a
cube or space has dimension 3 (length, breadth and height). But take for a
moment a line with a kink in it: this figure is more than just a straight line,
it expands somewhat into two dimensions, but not enough to actually span a
surface, to have two full dimensions. It is arbitrary and abstract to do this,
but one might assign a “dimension” to that kinked line of 1.05 – somewhat more
than just 1, which is a straight line. Now, if you make a more and more kinked
line, one with kinks within kinks, you begin to get closer and closer to two
dimensions the more complex and intricate the line becomes. Because of the
amount of twists within twists, the line starts to define a surface – though it
never quite reaches dimension 2. Mathematicians call this state a “fractal
dimension”, somewhere between 1 and 2, and this is of course the origin of the
term “fractal”, that mathematical construction that is self-similar at any
level, exhibits repeating motifs, and straddles the line between perfect, rigid
order and total, wild unpredictability. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Richard
Taylor set out to mathematically analyze Jackson Pollock’s work by looking for
patterns of self-similarity hidden in the apparent random paint splashes: was
it indeed self-similar? Did a big splash over here have a smaller echo over
there, and yet another one about half again as far away? Did all the different
colors of splashes follow similar patterns and, if so, did they exhibit any
kind of fractal dimensionality? The results are fascinating: during the early
years, Pollock’s paintings had a little self-similarity, with fractal dimensionality
close to 1.1. But as his work matured, the fractal dimension increased, and the
paintings showed more and more recursive self-similarity, until reaching 1.4,
when all of a sudden art critics began to really like his work. Taylor’s
hypothesis is that Pollock hit upon a universal fractal dimensionality, one
that you see as the dominant resonant fractal dimensionality in nature. That’s
why the critics came to love the later paintings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It turns out
that if you map out the branching patterns of a river delta, or of that acacia
tree on the savanna, they have a fractal dimension very close to 1.4 – just
like Pollock’s work. In fact, almost any system found in nature has this same
quality. What’s more, you see fractal
dimensionality close to 1.4 in some of our most beloved pieces of classical
music – in Bach, for example – that encode the right level of complexity, just
as natural systems do. Many pieces of literature do this as well. What’s going
on here? Were Bach and Pollock doing complex math before sitting down to be
creative? Or were they somehow tapping into a very basic, underlying process?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Taylor and
others decided to investigate. They conducted an experiment that mapped the
rapid, subtle eye motions (known as “microsaccades”) that we unconsciously make
when looking at anything. We don’t actually just “look” at stuff – our eyes
scan the visual field, taking in details that our brain then uses to assemble a
composite image. What Taylor found was that the pattern we use to scan is a
fractal pattern: a big swipe first, then a series of successively smaller
swipes across smaller and smaller pieces of the visual field, in recursively
self-similar fashion. The fractal dimensionality of this scanning pattern is
close to 1.4. So perhaps part of the reason we find Pollock’s later work
appealing is that it is “in sync” with the way our eyes look at the world: we
find splashes where we expect to find splashes. Unconsciously, we recognize it.
It makes sense. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Researchers
have found similar patterns in the neural network firing of our brain and in
the heart rate variability patterns of our pulse – two of our most basic
physiological processes. Ary Goldberger from Harvard Medical School, who
documented much of this, describes this fractal organization with dimensionality
1.4 as a happy medium between rigid order and complete chaos – a system wild
enough to adapt, grow, and create but not so wild as to become unstable. Taylor
and Goldberger both speculate that our conscious process, just like the act of
looking, has this same quality. And interestingly, Taylor goes further: when we
connect with a painting, or a natural scene, that exhibits fractal
dimensionality of 1.4, he found that our levels of stress decrease by up to
60%. We feel in synch. Friction drops off. We resonate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Perhaps this
is what we’re recognizing when we feel an overarching consciousness thinking
through us – perhaps this is why we feel alive, unburdened, joyful and
inspired. Our internal processes are synching up with the basic fractal
dimensionality of the world all around us. Like allowing ourselves to get lost
in an incredible piece of music, we can transcend the limits of our own
individual consciousness, leave behind the rigidity of individual self, and
resonate with a larger community: be it a relationship, a neighborhood, a
planet, or the whole field of stars. We add our own note to the symphony – and
the whole symphony is richer for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
What does
this mean in practice for us, as we live and move through our daily lives? Though
I can’t pretend to have a universal answer, I do think we can draw a number of
lessons from the balance of the evidence before us, and the consequences of
putting these lessons into practice might have profound implications for our
individual well-being and beyond. First, we have to remember than any answer
will include a daily practice: this is Marion Woodman’s “mater”. We can’t focus
on the microbe, the plant, the thing, Gaia: this is just “matter”. The answer
probably isn’t in a particular herbal formula, or probiotic cocktail. It’s more
about the daily renewal and the processes we use to identify and connect with
the nested consciousnesses in which we are embedded. Similarly, sticking to
rituals for their own sake (“taking the finger for the moon”, as the Zen priests
might say) won’t work either: life is ever-changing, and our driving goal
should be to enhance connection within and without, so that the super-organism
can be nurtured and nurture us in turn. We may have to become comfortable
subsuming our individual free will in this case – but all evidence seems to
point to the fact that this is worth it in the end, and make us happier and
healthier. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Specifically,
pieces of this practice might include connecting to soil, dirt, and microbes
wherever we go (mindful, naturally, of the obviously risky bugs). Every day,
touch some wild water. Touch dirt and tree bark. When you travel, get dirty.
Put things in your mouth. Allow your internal and external ecologies to connect
by simply bringing them into contact. The evidence from Elie Metchnikoff,
through Stafford Lightman, Andrea Taylor, and Maya Shetreat-Klein all points in
this direction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Consider
fermentation as a source of interesting internal denizens, but also consider
adding to your ferment mothers from other people, places, and starter cultures.
Think about wild yeast in your brewing – maybe even collect strains from places
you’ve lived. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Engage in
the practice of tonic herbalism: the daily use of plants and mushrooms, ideally
from really close by though also from far-flung places with which you’ve had
the pleasure of overlapping consciousness, renews both the internal and
external ecologies (after all, you’re going to have to find those herbs outside
somewhere). This seems to me a more important, foundational discipline than
using plants as remedies for disease and complaints. It speaks to forging and
maintaining important friendships, to building alignments with other
consciousnesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And speaking
of building alignments, consider rituals and ceremonies that use those special
plants and mushrooms we know as entheogens, the ones that change our brain wave
patterns in ways similar to those Ary Goldberger saw when we resonate with the
fractional dimensionality of the universe. But do it mindfully, intentionally:
when building an alignment with a spirit of place, plant, animal, or whatever
broader consciousness you choose to align yourself with, we’re making a
long-term, sacred commitment that feeds us deeply but also demands to be fed
(don’t make this commitment lightly). <br />
As we build cities, let’s look to the patterns and systems nature exhibits and
move away from rigid, dimension-1 construction style. As we teach and learn,
let’s allow for elements of chaos to inject creative diversity into the
curriculum. As we relate to each other, let’s avoid either/or, male/female,
us/them ideas and try to embrace the creative fullness of the “imperfect”
in-between. It really comes down to paying attention and being willing to flex!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the end,
this becomes true tonification: like a tonic note that is echoed fractally
through a musical piece, our living becomes a self-similar pattern that echoes
the same self-similarity found across all of reality. The process will feed the
individual soul, to be sure, but only because it feeds the collective soul,
too. It is the road to healing spirit sickness, rediscovering our shared
mythology, and remodeling our culture so that it, as a super-organism, can move
forward in resonance with its own internal and external ecologies. But there is
a note of warning here, too: as humans, we have spent our collective childhood
playing with our special abilities, our drive for progress, for innovation, for
boundary-breaking. We’ve achieved remarkable things, but have remained firmly
planted in our species’ own individual self-interest. Now, at this moment in
time, we know better. It is time for us to grow up, to join our ancestors, to
move forward as a species through a ritual of initiation that will align us
with what the microbes, mushrooms and plants already know. It will be
transformative, and not without struggle – but how much more incredible will be
the application of our human gifts if we just allow ourselves to listen with
respect. We will take the power of life and amplify it to the stars.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
May you look into the vessel,
into dream, into wind<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And may you not find them empty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
May you see the light of the dark
sun<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The tangents, the off-tracks, the
fantasy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The gravid emptiness of liminal
space<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Interstice of inspiration.<o:p></o:p></div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-2552751528040779282017-08-08T08:24:00.001-04:002017-08-08T08:24:28.338-04:00A flora of western Norway<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"So quickly, without a moment's warning, does the miraculous swerve and point to us, demanding that we be its willing servant." </i> - Mary Oliver</blockquote>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6ouB1VaaTghYAaAn8" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-TAtVnNBi5YAZsAwYBOy_O6xxYyuvdKnqyKuOVJaZS3DmbZ9nG-ior_Rr6gyVTcX4KB-ZcnJ5ZNvHoARlLGG5Lq32L50qkK_oaAULAAuf2eBkAdfoF3A5FL33_XSon4trgW6P_SbYFE/s400/20170729_155433-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6ouB1VaaTghYAaAn8" target="_blank">Top of the waterfall at Kjeasen, end of the Eidfjord</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a combination of driving and hiking, we made it to an improbable cluster of stone dwellings set on a ledge 1,800 feet above sea level. Still a working farm, we found vegetables, grains, animals - and a range of plants common to the places that have long known humans. In the surrounding forests, where glacial runoff feeds an endless stream of water during the warmer months, we also found bogs with more rare, wonderful plants.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvHovRUL5qXauJ-bkXqFOyY455ea62iBxdBVKnmpWdyh7HR8YH7Y_tEo3xhLESTRgr5J44WWDTKdNJlCINQYreikvBjbXJpXuJdflw95zclReNjWQQocM94lvaSeazKseSuTk3VPIFsc/s1600/20170727_201230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvHovRUL5qXauJ-bkXqFOyY455ea62iBxdBVKnmpWdyh7HR8YH7Y_tEo3xhLESTRgr5J44WWDTKdNJlCINQYreikvBjbXJpXuJdflw95zclReNjWQQocM94lvaSeazKseSuTk3VPIFsc/s400/20170727_201230.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lupinus perennis, common lupine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S7v9amVfS4O2-efwx1HzbbNGJDtEgZ07Zq8mfb5uoQMul7yOUOShILVpRdOX3WTTNJuq7XuqfJMJq80RoG6hoWmLpIgPTc0HqWeU_-GsVoyk01v0_Zv1PSouSCN_xj34LaKuafBTxp4/s1600/20170801_161609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S7v9amVfS4O2-efwx1HzbbNGJDtEgZ07Zq8mfb5uoQMul7yOUOShILVpRdOX3WTTNJuq7XuqfJMJq80RoG6hoWmLpIgPTc0HqWeU_-GsVoyk01v0_Zv1PSouSCN_xj34LaKuafBTxp4/s400/20170801_161609.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impatiens noli-tangere, touch-me-not</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In late July, the waters of the fjord - far below us, a dizzying drop - are fully opaque, a light turquoise color. We had been out on the water in small boats before climbing to our vantage point, and had run our hands through it. It was so cold! I cupped some of it and brought it to my lips, expecting the familiar saltiness of the sea (the fjords are, after all, fingers of the Atlantic ocean reaching over 100 miles inland), but the water tasted soft, and sweet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgQxzzwZ_vJpTCW1iYlfP5eREV9z8aVJjLJU-zYXBNjZqMX9zw52nhK7_1BsuGgk3Q3jBeThUhe17-4OsReLJxebTw_LCfZeBANe3LjRZodhH0M50_EuJZbSWIIPVbtpcf9rDzD533Ns/s1600/20170801_154751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58ey2VdV9uzlVw0qAtiP8Vwaa3TGkfPn24Md63DcW7G964YspmfCAwkXx9kYUJgJaSTFD8M6UjxNUludxvx8S3k8golUJdiOMat1ai7KBTIxRWQuQgOURORpiMdTLAjV-wVjaxTrRsvM/s1600/20170729_130423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwKrGBoIEDlekjF8oJ1RM0YNkkOTys-d_lhyZa-NMirboDvue4rWDGsaLkPafCjDeMPfqHjMHCSXeLiW-mPplbPBg1ZljXDLrofw9tn9Ak7kooNHAssYyc1BQ-OUktDWg_bHtcZ2i9MU/s1600/20170731_091648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwKrGBoIEDlekjF8oJ1RM0YNkkOTys-d_lhyZa-NMirboDvue4rWDGsaLkPafCjDeMPfqHjMHCSXeLiW-mPplbPBg1ZljXDLrofw9tn9Ak7kooNHAssYyc1BQ-OUktDWg_bHtcZ2i9MU/s400/20170731_091648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosa rugosa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3Tqw_smHVXrn-Kd02lUC2L-7yZnr6ov6QHDJvapPw7diGOA4xZE_k6PW6jMN-0t9HbqhUZn7rjoMDbc8CYQ-dv3LrmvWuLA0JF1UQgxPEZL4bbBQZ_GJzIlyGdLqPvnOr70ciXxxV_Y/s1600/20170729_131416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3Tqw_smHVXrn-Kd02lUC2L-7yZnr6ov6QHDJvapPw7diGOA4xZE_k6PW6jMN-0t9HbqhUZn7rjoMDbc8CYQ-dv3LrmvWuLA0JF1UQgxPEZL4bbBQZ_GJzIlyGdLqPvnOr70ciXxxV_Y/s400/20170729_131416.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58ey2VdV9uzlVw0qAtiP8Vwaa3TGkfPn24Md63DcW7G964YspmfCAwkXx9kYUJgJaSTFD8M6UjxNUludxvx8S3k8golUJdiOMat1ai7KBTIxRWQuQgOURORpiMdTLAjV-wVjaxTrRsvM/s1600/20170729_130423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58ey2VdV9uzlVw0qAtiP8Vwaa3TGkfPn24Md63DcW7G964YspmfCAwkXx9kYUJgJaSTFD8M6UjxNUludxvx8S3k8golUJdiOMat1ai7KBTIxRWQuQgOURORpiMdTLAjV-wVjaxTrRsvM/s400/20170729_130423.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alchemilla vulgaris, lady's mantle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWsl9IYba8WLd2ep88I1qiVgH5AnzvcOiX0ex6sjceCPQv_lmXNcqxzH69PoGf26P1v_wfk9PNz7wjUn4rRZ1BiCvHmiU9jQKL7ZqKW5hoVYuvcc5lcyYjluqqadSKE-c0otgESLIDVo/s1600/20170729_120750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWsl9IYba8WLd2ep88I1qiVgH5AnzvcOiX0ex6sjceCPQv_lmXNcqxzH69PoGf26P1v_wfk9PNz7wjUn4rRZ1BiCvHmiU9jQKL7ZqKW5hoVYuvcc5lcyYjluqqadSKE-c0otgESLIDVo/s400/20170729_120750.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valeriana officinalis, valerian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpNld3x0Zn0g8OFDkPt4AsMNHM5wolquiCecVLcHTmP3j4w7gfuTkKafZLouTGFOizC0FZDZrwyC2CJJIt1Fm8lLW-URsNI0a4M8lid5_G7tfCBvxcudZUvl5-t-zyWt4hmXthF1INfc/s1600/20170730_120636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpNld3x0Zn0g8OFDkPt4AsMNHM5wolquiCecVLcHTmP3j4w7gfuTkKafZLouTGFOizC0FZDZrwyC2CJJIt1Fm8lLW-URsNI0a4M8lid5_G7tfCBvxcudZUvl5-t-zyWt4hmXthF1INfc/s400/20170730_120636.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mess of nettle and cleavers (Urtica dioica and Galium aparine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/s4UubRgs4VPocJxQA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oD68xWAergI5Nc9zU_tFt38dXmht1YAiat9O_ZncRFjqWJOKx4VSy3LROjCbXKqA-UeMyGumQHLW_UrJ58SK6PydLlgPu2uibEW9cTbclnuJievW84mgbTngwIvDXEk6wn7PcfXUASU/s400/20170729_161707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The milky turquoise whiteness comes from the glaciers. The fresh water runoff - more than six feet of it in the summer - floats, frigid, over the warm, dense salty sea below. The white comes from anorthosite, a bright mineral deposit that's mostly feldspar, found only here in Scandinavia and in parts of Newfoundland (once the same land mass). The glacier, grinding boulders beneath its huge weight, powders it into a fine flowing dust, and the melt waters wash it away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-bbLifk9Godj010tFdC1Dou7Y0pd51rcUhs0L0gYXKOIUa-ZwFvcFix1CkgNlSFfgt871Q-TN3gMA0mnRWDySRuKukO-xSNku-UeGEQZYkbf64WYg3YEZT394Z4_TK17QLau0pVb0Zk/s1600/20170727_201248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-bbLifk9Godj010tFdC1Dou7Y0pd51rcUhs0L0gYXKOIUa-ZwFvcFix1CkgNlSFfgt871Q-TN3gMA0mnRWDySRuKukO-xSNku-UeGEQZYkbf64WYg3YEZT394Z4_TK17QLau0pVb0Zk/s400/20170727_201248.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geranium robertianum, herb Robert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlddJeFknq4H-Xu5pQN_TF9hQE6AEjTHsvQK5IZnaJQLHqVSKOyuR2XsaqMlVhGWZkuBpitDpfMvfykEDR2uO01gPVqySQ4GTjLMxLyu2f7qHGkLAmFrD2TH9BwzlljcKvnBEzlBF7VA/s1600/20170727_210227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlddJeFknq4H-Xu5pQN_TF9hQE6AEjTHsvQK5IZnaJQLHqVSKOyuR2XsaqMlVhGWZkuBpitDpfMvfykEDR2uO01gPVqySQ4GTjLMxLyu2f7qHGkLAmFrD2TH9BwzlljcKvnBEzlBF7VA/s400/20170727_210227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhodiola rosea, rose-root</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgQxzzwZ_vJpTCW1iYlfP5eREV9z8aVJjLJU-zYXBNjZqMX9zw52nhK7_1BsuGgk3Q3jBeThUhe17-4OsReLJxebTw_LCfZeBANe3LjRZodhH0M50_EuJZbSWIIPVbtpcf9rDzD533Ns/s1600/20170801_154751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgQxzzwZ_vJpTCW1iYlfP5eREV9z8aVJjLJU-zYXBNjZqMX9zw52nhK7_1BsuGgk3Q3jBeThUhe17-4OsReLJxebTw_LCfZeBANe3LjRZodhH0M50_EuJZbSWIIPVbtpcf9rDzD533Ns/s400/20170801_154751.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corydalis lutea, fumewort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/Yg4rYNEV3NWcJ81DA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLiok2ADvIDQJXbodGuSMSBEw_G4kwwVY2FXvgenEnxg4Xqggcsi_LG1yKEMFyOqfRDlce-ckspiyOqQ_tYnj8Utt5Lr23HEh59c5Ro-gbdnTtlToTLq606Z0poDADheuem3EvaEcDlg/s400/20170728_170115.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/Yg4rYNEV3NWcJ81DA" target="_blank">Alchemilla alpina</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
But the anorthosite deposits may have a deeper, fantastic origin: long ago, when the Earth was very young, a gigantic rock covered almost entirely in this mineral slammed into her, and the moon (who still glows white with anorthosite) was born. Perhaps the rocks that are here are part of a smudge, a scar left over from that early, seminal encounter.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/aaUWWJ1JGXSZ6EYNA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTkXKhKphkZQCUvNFH0lWjPltinXY0xSdxZ-fTr45enXZHhL5W-bYqsZ8IggrnGEPn5hhYrEwLJt-eHRM_hpmu7tzC5ym7wA1hw2mBve4Qb-N-3McshxOwZNvNbD2YSM1BrIdz7XBMyU/s400/20170728_165928.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/aaUWWJ1JGXSZ6EYNA" target="_blank">Pinguicula vulgaris, butterwort (purple flower on the left)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuivyfnFBGkeF60NDAd0vXMllOXtdbI6w3cTG4-maUn4NnMzJ6OWp7oGrWUK-WjVMBxIiNzueEmRgbTZHWzsMaPlmN5P0xvdMsTRmH8vtj49CgzFd3yKH5ron-pGQzL_FIfV4DaoVp7OU/s1600/20170728_170043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuivyfnFBGkeF60NDAd0vXMllOXtdbI6w3cTG4-maUn4NnMzJ6OWp7oGrWUK-WjVMBxIiNzueEmRgbTZHWzsMaPlmN5P0xvdMsTRmH8vtj49CgzFd3yKH5ron-pGQzL_FIfV4DaoVp7OU/s400/20170728_170043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eriophorum angustifolium, swamp cotton-grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/7yVYkw3Gya1rhpNZA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jEvFAEaEmJ4M8pvJWCUEcLM-CJIUCd12uEfVtr2Mf8rRTiGCpqa4i_66CrxWydaTLdioU78ueqIm4iT9dt28bTgACGCGkyN7fS4nQDIV6i1sjz6yYVqyA4nLSN0cc6jSgP6ZqXIcouw/s400/20170729_125250.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/7yVYkw3Gya1rhpNZA" target="_blank">Melampyrum sylvaticum, cow-wheat</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/b8kMmbmprqqfRdPMA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEJcSHAVj8Iju-NSmXIwyBrJvPI7ANYzrM-4V3MYLkbsvj7tOgsy4bkzZOgCacsb6s_NrcdrdXTsoXMSy0OhlFbOFG2wcBDSPYaIo8HLrpp-dil_DBaWf6DKzefzdQScehPh5_lRfaPk/s400/20170729_153855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/b8kMmbmprqqfRdPMA" target="_blank">Dactylorhiza maculata, bog orchid</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEJcSHAVj8Iju-NSmXIwyBrJvPI7ANYzrM-4V3MYLkbsvj7tOgsy4bkzZOgCacsb6s_NrcdrdXTsoXMSy0OhlFbOFG2wcBDSPYaIo8HLrpp-dil_DBaWf6DKzefzdQScehPh5_lRfaPk/s1600/20170729_153855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEJcSHAVj8Iju-NSmXIwyBrJvPI7ANYzrM-4V3MYLkbsvj7tOgsy4bkzZOgCacsb6s_NrcdrdXTsoXMSy0OhlFbOFG2wcBDSPYaIo8HLrpp-dil_DBaWf6DKzefzdQScehPh5_lRfaPk/s1600/20170729_153855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTkObSPQHYMS6TtL90Cf1E_xTXQuzh6gja1H8caLk4oiXwTqyeRs7yqQlrEkJZ8YU7va25uNvC17fqJORu9x_op1GlbpfIVlg0_cya-XcO-ajEIqbPZP2LvG-gU-YXKfpett4AFJ6JgQ/s1600/20170729_153904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTkObSPQHYMS6TtL90Cf1E_xTXQuzh6gja1H8caLk4oiXwTqyeRs7yqQlrEkJZ8YU7va25uNvC17fqJORu9x_op1GlbpfIVlg0_cya-XcO-ajEIqbPZP2LvG-gU-YXKfpett4AFJ6JgQ/s320/20170729_153904.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
But it's not a scar: it's turquoise water and it's sweet and now I'm standing almost two thousand feet above it, at the edge of this waterfall that's pushing moondust past my feet. And it's then I become fully aware of the plants around me. They are suffused with an inner light, like a glow that makes them seem to stand much taller than the eye reports.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYIqA-rSBFeZRgHKFdXvc3jxakSO0pUvCtYyZgYD5t1qgbIqLfKexykt_B2IS_v_kd-b7bsjPbHxeH83mjvoK08N-WmY3jBM3Oyrw_tGXxJZfSxHPo0OzlWipCl8tmoAVdg-1ziGYBLA/s1600/20170729_160512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYIqA-rSBFeZRgHKFdXvc3jxakSO0pUvCtYyZgYD5t1qgbIqLfKexykt_B2IS_v_kd-b7bsjPbHxeH83mjvoK08N-WmY3jBM3Oyrw_tGXxJZfSxHPo0OzlWipCl8tmoAVdg-1ziGYBLA/s400/20170729_160512.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Achillea millefolium, yarrow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/jpy4p1ymF5Wmzhzn9" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoMJkwHWGvL1JSGR3ovjCpie5lsC6VUYXm2tI2pJnxjsVPIFuUVAwNwyUqiWfZ2eTGQA7NBYASz911h63nwKJS0SM4plXz8Y1IM7TViBBOgVNQHmsnbJvSfIcmOj2XPYVSD0I6e67S0w/s400/20170729_160948.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/jpy4p1ymF5Wmzhzn9" target="_blank">Hypericum perforatum, St. John's Wort</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6xAuqSBrKREEij2WA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZMy0ojNTEezfxl5CS34KiT7asFGozyvjND8HPOATc40dczY1hR6qgTKNcCH6hkUO0XkkR5jbNoKbbkT0YcRA3dNTS42Ys3spJtlao5aKSMAH8d2dTFwaAlF245Gsp6zVB4iBUsBmmms/s400/20170729_161723.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6xAuqSBrKREEij2WA" target="_blank">Angelica archangelica</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf2aGRXT4Wlm-uRAQhwLozZVy_-2Ey6IGBCcB0oLuoJuGRLe-rBcFLoPtmbRQCOyd55rX_Q5gv2uKJGKDa6YsiZKOZgiUPpPioEjCaINUihG_Fhps6ay4_hPF8A4vFee9os11_pl86S4/s1600/20170729_160722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf2aGRXT4Wlm-uRAQhwLozZVy_-2Ey6IGBCcB0oLuoJuGRLe-rBcFLoPtmbRQCOyd55rX_Q5gv2uKJGKDa6YsiZKOZgiUPpPioEjCaINUihG_Fhps6ay4_hPF8A4vFee9os11_pl86S4/s400/20170729_160722.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galium boreale, bedstraw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And there is yarrow, and angelica, St. John's, clover, bedstraw, daisies and dead-nettle, thistles and the lanky speedwells, rising tall and bright, aware of me as much as I am of them. A quick nod, the gratitude for the time we took to get to know each other, then they return to bending in the wind, and I begin the climb back down.<br /><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-91241605957040233532017-02-27T07:31:00.000-05:002017-02-27T07:31:56.061-05:00Herbalists as cultural stewards<i>Below is the transcript of my remarks at the <a href="http://floridaherbalconference.org/" target="_blank">2017 Florida Herbal Conference</a>. The whole event was an amazing experience - from the warm, humid air, to the live oaks, to the old friends and new, each one a shining star. We talked about connection, passion, and our shared experience as plant people.</i><br />
<br />
On this late winter morning, I find myself in Florida. I set out for my morning run just as the sky begins to lighten, the warm air humid and fragrant, birdsong and the last few stars overhead. As I run, I watch tendrils of mist rise up from the lagoons and circle around the treetops. When I return to camp, I am greeted by live oaks hanging thick with moss, music and song, sacred smoke, and cedar on the prayer mound. I am grateful for this gathering of plant people, doing what we do together, the way it's always been done. I am thankful that the trees give us space to be here - but I also like to think they rejoice to see our joy at being together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8XqXZx8gcBUof4meB_u8IJUbit_a9S78oliig3EgnXmp3c-6D3RAN3FQHyiep1N0pu3JOeHDWcdfU6ukYs2qE9wx3R2VFUBXQgXXxQC1Cmk9zMgpO6yq2kj6LFr68z6ZgohUf8qgOP4/s1600/20170224_081051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8XqXZx8gcBUof4meB_u8IJUbit_a9S78oliig3EgnXmp3c-6D3RAN3FQHyiep1N0pu3JOeHDWcdfU6ukYs2qE9wx3R2VFUBXQgXXxQC1Cmk9zMgpO6yq2kj6LFr68z6ZgohUf8qgOP4/s400/20170224_081051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Herbal medicine is different from most of what goes on today. Of course we know this intuitively - but I've been so curious as to what this actually means, how to articulate this difference, because I believe this difference holds a secret that can change lives, change communities, and change culture. I know it because, at least in small part, we herbalists all live it. Fundamentally, it's about awareness of interconnection and the will to act on that awareness. But how to convey this message to others?<br />
One of the first and clearest pieces of evidence for me came from my studies of bioflavonoids, a class of botanical polyphenols found in abundance in berries, but present in almost all medicinal plants. While we've talked for a long time about their potential as antioxidants, recent research is finding that this isn't really what they're up to in our physiology. When we consume blueberries, or hawthorn, we aren't engaging in a war with free radicals. On the contrary: we are tapping in to some of our most basic physiologic processes, we are interfacing with the expression of our genes. A complex and beautiful dance, one that rivals misty sunrises, egrets and fish, live oaks and palm trees, is taking place in our every cell as DNA is methodically turned into proteins that become our physical shape on a moment-to-moment basis. By inserting themselves into this dance, bioflavonoids regulate inflammation, increase cellular resilience, and prevent cancer. They ensure that our genes express a smooth, efficient incarnation. They take care of us (or, rather, without them we get lonely and our physical expression becomes sad and less resilient). When I first put this together, I couldn't help thinking that this was real, tangible evidence that plants love us. Which of course they do.<br />
Another example is how bitter-tasting plants work to ensure normal activity in our processes of self-nourishment. It turns out that without bitter plants, we lose the ability to control our consumption of food. Our guts stop being able to digest well. Our livers become more sluggish, less resilient in the face of challenging chemicals. But after a few weeks of bitters, this all gets better. It's amazing!<br />
<br />
We have to recognize that this is a fundamentally different way to approach chronic inflammation, obesity, and digestive complaints. First of all, what we're observing here is a living system at work: plants and humans locked in a co-evolutionary dance that is very difficult to disentangle and understand by looking at its isolated components. We have to watch the living system at work to really get what's going on. Secondly, bioflavonoids don't lower your blood pressure (well, they do - but bear with me). Bioflavonoids set the stage in the heart, and in the endothelial lining of our blood vessels, for a physiologic expression that includes no high blood pressure. But there are many other consequences beyond that: our emotional hearts open and we become more flexible, and fall into love more easily. Our circulation opens too, and we feel more warm and comfortable, less cold and withdrawn. Our cells begin to think that cancer isn't necessary, and they settle in to a more loving rhythm of their own. This resonates across our entire being. Modern science is just beginning to discover this level of medicine - and as of today, there are no approved drugs that work this way. Modern science also just discovered, in the last decade, that we have bitter taste receptors on our heart that help coordinate the smooth shifting of blood flow necessary after a meal. Imagine that! Another mechanism for addressing blood pressure hiding in plain sight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmTgmz4K5J1i2i7YJcmgL1evBXmwN0QFtV-_IdWOOCiN0c_y4878tEn4K1iAB-2G23EdhSpMHBtkjGVdRep4CsqRCF2KP_44PssMK6SFsavwl7Qcl2bnWUrghE2cVwUlE64ne8LgdbNs/s1600/20170224_124121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmTgmz4K5J1i2i7YJcmgL1evBXmwN0QFtV-_IdWOOCiN0c_y4878tEn4K1iAB-2G23EdhSpMHBtkjGVdRep4CsqRCF2KP_44PssMK6SFsavwl7Qcl2bnWUrghE2cVwUlE64ne8LgdbNs/s400/20170224_124121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Of course, as herbalists we also understand that as within, so without: shifts in our internal physiology are coupled with shifts in our external perception, in our homes, gardens, and ecologies. We know this is true because we've learned that we are a living system that is interlocked and nested within larger living systems, and when we affect a part, we affect the whole. Gardening changes our life. Drinking tea changes the way we garden. I am sure everyone here has had an experience like this: when you're brewing tea for someone you love; when you're blending a new tincture formula and a perfect, new flavor synergy emerges; when, deep in winter, you marvel at the bright notes of last summer's lemon balm; when you walk through a grove so familiar it is suffused with a sacred vitality that nourishes and calls you; when you learn the name of a new plant, and a flood of memory and recognition fills your heart. I remember once, on a wild-harvesting walk, I had trapsed over hills, across a bog, and was following the small stream that drained the wetland down into the valley floor. A hemlock tree had fallen across the stream, and I stepped over it to find a bank of reishi mushroom growing out of the opposite side. The mushrooms looked beautiful, I was so happy! I started to pull out my knife, but you know, as herbalists we're trained to take a moment and speak to plant and mycelium, to connect before we harvest. So I stopped, crouched down to get at eye level with the glossy red shelf mushrooms, and just said hello. It felt good. Just a gentle smile, like when someone you love comes home from a weekend trip and you're reconnecting. You feel it in your heart. At that moment, as I felt this flutter in my chest, I had a thought - "turn around!". It was puzzling: was I supposed to go home without these mushrooms? Had I done something wrong? It didn't feel that way, it felt good, like when you're about to give someone a present. I had the thought again - "just turn around!". So, without really thinking about it rationally, I slowly got up and just turned around to face downstream. There, not more than twenty feet away, was a young white-tailed doe that had slowly snuck up on me while I was crouched talking to the reishi. She looked at me for a period of time - I'm not sure how long - and just walked away. Now my heart was really full! Even as I write this, it's filling again. I turned back to the reishi, harvested five beautiful fans, and made my wy back home. Now, every time I suggest reishi to a client in clinic, that moment in the forest comes right back. It's part of the medicine for me. I'm grateful I listened and tapped into that life-moment.<br />
<br />
What is it that we're tapping into during these experiences? It's something that all humans instinctively know is possible (I believe we all long for it), and hopefully have experienced at least once. One story that sticks with me was told by Daniel Sarewitz, who is a scientist and researcher focused on public policy, particularly around climate change. He's a professed atheist, straight-ahead science guy, but at the same time is struggling with how to connect with people who, possibly driven by religious belief, reject the scientific interpretation of current events. I so appreciate his compassion in this regard. So he published this <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/sometimes-science-must-give-way-to-religion-1.11244" target="_blank">beautiful opinion piece in the journal Nature</a>, back in 2012, after he had returned from a visit to the Angkor Wat temples in the jungle of Cambodia. These temples, hidden for centuries under vegetation, reveal an architecture that reflects mathematical patterns resonant across all levels of reality. The buildings are designed to elicit transcendent experiences in those who visit, experiences of fullness and connection, where the boundaries of self and non-self begin to disappear (much like what happened to me with the reishi and the doe). When he visited, that's exactly what happened. It may have been the first time for him, but even if not, it was powerful enough that it led him to write this beautiful article about the temples, the jungle, and the value of art as a way to convey transcendent mystical, emotional experiences in a way science cannot. Perhaps we need both in our culture, he thought. Perhaps these transcendent experiences are an important part of what it means to be human, how we find meaning and truth in our lives, how we are nourished - and if scientists could find a way to speak to this part of our shared humanity, they might be able to connect with those who retreat into religion when science seems inaccessible, who deny humanity's role in climate change, who harden their hearts to the beautiful work he and his colleagues are doing. "Angkor," he concluded, "demonstrates how to achieve an authentic, personal encounter with the unknown." I know we could all use a little more of that! Whatever it is, it holds some serious meaning and power.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWa0DYb24fOKz88rTIG4Gojmyb0drxsBm_gWylA7M8SjQuGui9R8aR-gLKAXYWrQA0cTpIDb4I8Y8KbkRlNanSOkfPueAEuR8z28oQjEHBmhjuXkHiccl7SMsj8u9z-3l8gG6sIOQx-g/s1600/20170225_115314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWa0DYb24fOKz88rTIG4Gojmyb0drxsBm_gWylA7M8SjQuGui9R8aR-gLKAXYWrQA0cTpIDb4I8Y8KbkRlNanSOkfPueAEuR8z28oQjEHBmhjuXkHiccl7SMsj8u9z-3l8gG6sIOQx-g/s400/20170225_115314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But as I came to the end of his article, I saw the comments section. The general tone there was one of anger, with some going as far as to say his article was dangerous and misguided. Others told him he should resign his position as he clearly wasn't a scientist. There were few, if any, comments of support - and these were quickly torn into by the collective, and any chance of conversation immediately squelched. The administrators have since taken down the comments section for that article, and I don't blame them, because is was mean, divisive, and frankly quite rude. What a roller-coaster ride from Dr. Sarewitz's thoughtful, inclusive piece to the reactive, divisive responses.<br />
You probably have seen similar examples of this pattern at work in our culture. We use adjectives like "divided", "polarized", "factional" when talking about our society. We attempt to isolate and separate entire areas of the world because of ideological differences, ethnic differences, language differences. Even our conversations on medicine and healing are filled with words like "inhuman", "quack", and other even less savory monikers. It truly is a pervasive cultural pattern, and it isn't too difficult to see that it is based in large part on fear: fear of the unknown, fear that others will steal from us, hurt us, tear us down, fear that a hidden longing for mystery will never be fulfilled. Our culture wears this fear like a dark cloak, wrapping it tight around us during these modern times when strong winds blow all around us, trying to insulate ourselves from that which would harm us or those we love. This may give us the illusion of security, but as any herbalist (or student of biology) knows, a living system that isolates itself from its surroundings accelerates its path to death. The tighter you squeeze your fist, the more life slips through your fingers. This dark cloak our culture is wearing - it's something herbalists are trained to recognize. Sometimes I think it's my job to dance with darkenss, to find the cloak when it's just coming off the rack and help a person understand that they should put it away, or if it's already been put on, try to loosen it and see if it might fall off.<br />
<br />
Disease is a dark cloak - it's often a learned pattern, or a pattern the physiology has been forced into, and part of my job is to know the pattern of that darkness, learn to recognize it, and find a way to untangle it so that a new pattern can take its place. This doesn't mean a return to the same pattern that existed before - rather, it just means trying to establish a new, life-affirming pattern. To do this, you have to seek darkness out and spend a little time with it so you can recognize what it looks like, especially when it's still just getting started, so that you can learn to talk to it in a way it can understand. Of course knowing the light is important too - but this is usually easier and almost always more fun. There are so many examples: unexpressed resentments. Insulin resistance. Depression. Kidney failure. One case I will always remember was of a woman who, in her early 60s, had received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The malignancy had spread to her pelvic bones and liver, and while she did a few rounds of chemotherapy, no one expected this to resolve the cancer. This darkness was well-established, and cancer is an awful beast that often comes for no reason at all, invading life and stealing its essence in a way that can be impossible to resist. But in this case, I was more concerned with another pattern I saw emerging in my client: the combination of pelvic pain and despair at her prognosis had made her reach for another cloak to wear, and she was starting to wrap it tight around herself. She had retreated from her husband, closing off communication with him. She had begun to eat less - and when she did, it was often just the same combination of rice and chicken. Normally engaged with friends and active in the community, she stopped going out to events and would just stay home. She took narcotics even though they made it impossible for her to converse effectively. It was at this point we started working together.<br />
It is not hard to understand why, afraid of what her life journey held, she chose to retreat behind the warmth of this new, dark cloak. Some might call it depression. Call it what you want - but it is not a life-affirming pattern. So we worked together using a lot of plants and mushrooms. We were able to reduce and then eliminate her use of narcotics using Cannabis and Corydalis. We established a nervine tea ritual, where linden, green tea, and licorice became welcome companions. She tried small doses of digestive bitters. Slowly at first, she began to walk outside again and after a few months, despite the fact that her cancer hadn't slowed down at all, her eyes began to brighten again and her appetite led her back to a diversity of tasty foods. One afternoon, as we were sharing tea in her sunroom, she asked me what I thought the afterlife held. I said I wasn't sure, but that maybe right before we die, time dilates like it does when we dream, or when we lose consciousness. Maybe, I said, what seems like a second to observers is experienced as many lifetimes. All I can hope, I concluded, is that I enter that final moment feeling happy and loved. She smiled.<br />
Over the course of the next few weeks, she invited her family and close friends into her sunroom to share tea. To each she asked the same question: what did they think the afterlife held? I watched her, over her last few weeks of life, become clear, calm, and loving. To each of her visitors, some of whom were in obvious distress, she extended a warm hand and words of comfort. It was one of the most incredible lessons I've learned from any of my clients (always my best teachers), and when her time came to pass away, I am sure she moved on feeling happy and loved. I am still so grateful she shed that dark cloak when she did.<br />
<br />
So how do we do this? How can we help re-frame destructive patterns in ourselves, our families, our communities, and our culture? Well, by following the lessons that we learn as herbalists. I think the basic principles at work are relatively simple: first, we have to start from a place that respects the living system. Without this foundation, without the belief that life itself has the capacity to affirm and renew itself all on its own, nothing can follow. Second, most living systems thrive when you increase the diversity of inputs: if you provide more options, increase the amount of connections, the system usually becomes more resilient (and, of course, the opposite is true). We can try to open the cloak, just a little bit. Finally, when attempting to intervene to adjust a dark pattern, we can choose to focus on supporting, rather than controlling, the living system. This of course follows naturally if we start from a place of respect. Those are three principles I try to apply when working with clients: start from a place of respect and trust. Increase biodiversity: expose them to a wide range of botanical chemistry. And rather than picking strong, pushy remedies, try to emphasize the ones that support our vital processes: herbs that nourish digestion, soothe and rebuild the nerves, balance the expression of our genes and immune systems. This is tonic herbalism, and it's unique to our art. It is also, in most cases, incredibly safe. Anyone can start. And if you do, you're building resilience and vitality person by person, family by family, community by community.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlziUY0WzGf9BgxLvr_OcMPdtuc1VQb6cxNtJDJCn6sL-W4vZJer6LonMfM4hKh2ROYmr6M-MPaJnXwZiI3s0GeO4N7SEjrDdzql11ENIV-GNm56CgccM2xDKA7AO1iBd1cx_nq1n-bU8/s1600/20170224_080903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlziUY0WzGf9BgxLvr_OcMPdtuc1VQb6cxNtJDJCn6sL-W4vZJer6LonMfM4hKh2ROYmr6M-MPaJnXwZiI3s0GeO4N7SEjrDdzql11ENIV-GNm56CgccM2xDKA7AO1iBd1cx_nq1n-bU8/s400/20170224_080903.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of my favorite stories that illustrates these principles (in a sort of magical way) is the story of Airmid, the Irish fairy-goddess who brought the use of plant medicine to the world. Way back when the fairy folk, the Tuatha de Daanan, landed on the shores of Ireland, they encountered a fierce warrior race known as the Fir Bolg who wanted nothing to do with the new arrivals. The Tuatha de Daanan, led by Brighid the fairy queen, decided to engage in battle. Nuada, Brighid's consort and king, led the fray. Dian Cecht was chief healer, and he set up a magical well that would heal any wound, with the one exception that, should a body part be severed, the well could not reattach it. This meant that one of the only ways to kill the Tuatha de Daanan was to sever their heads completely.<br />
One day, Nuada met the leader of the Fir Bolg on the field of battle. Back and forth they went, until Nuada made a misstep and the Fir Bolg leader was able to cut his hand clean off. Nuada ran back to Brighid, who told him that he could no longer be king because he was not whole - a piece of him was missing, and he could not lead the people. Desperate, the former king ran to Dian Cecht who told him that, while he couldn't restore his severed hand, he could craft him a new one out of silver that would work just as well. Nuada's new hand was strong and he was able to weild his sword again - but this was not good enough for Brighid, who reminded him that he was still not whole.<br />
Dian Cecht's son Miach and daughter Airmid had been observing all this from the sidelines. Cautiously, Miach approached Nuada and asked if he could try to restore his hand. Granted permission, he and his sister returned to the battlefield, found Nuada's hand, and together, using deep, now-forgotten magic, they restored Nuada's true hand. This satisfied Brighid, and the fairy folk returned to battle.<br />
Dian Cecht, however, was not pleased. Upstaged by his son, he challenged him to show his true healing skill. Three times he swung his sword at Miach's head, and the first two times, though the cuts were deep, they didn't go clean through and Miach was able to heal himself. But the third time, driven by anger, Dian Cecht completely severed his son's head. It was too late when he realized what he'd done, and he ran off in grief. But Airmid remained, and sat with her brother's body as light rains washed over it. After a few days, plants began to emerge from around Miach's body. Airmid sang to them, and they sang back, telling her their secret healing powers. And even though Dian Cecht returned and scattered all of Airmid's healing herbs, she remembered them and has shared the knowledge with us through a lineage of Irish wise women that continues to this day.<br />
<br />
Airmid's deep magic isn't actually lost. While we can't reattach hands, we can provide medicine that restores people, communities and culture back to their whole state - connected to all the parts of life and nature that actually make us human. Of course our culture needs this right now! The reason we treat each other with such anger, and attempt to isolate and divide, is because we feel afraid, alone, disconnected. But look at what happens when herbalists gather to sing, speak to plants, and dance around the fire together! We learn to be inclusive, to stand strong but accept different perspectives, to provide a safe place where everyone can grow, together. This is our culture because the plants shape our culture. It is the plants' culture, too.<br />
Airmid's story goes futher, however. It helps clarify what made my experience with reishi so powerful, what illuminated the last weeks of life for my client. And it puts a point on how we can discriminate, in our daily activity, between what is life-affirming and what is maybe less so. For you see, there is a difference between a mechanical silver hand and one of flesh and blood. Brighid, the mother of life, could tell the difference. But we all have the same gift.<br />
Vandana Shiva, the pre-eminent physicist, activist, and ecological steward, <a href="https://livestream.com/mmctv/DrShivaKeynote/videos/149881148" target="_blank">describes this as the difference between the mechanistic mind and the biological mind</a>. The mechanistic mind legislates from above: an intellectual understanding creates a framework into which it attempts to fit reality. The biological mind builds up from the grass roots: evolution, trial and error, and interconnection create a resilient system that emerges from its components, valuing and nourishing each one. The mechanistic mind creates blueprints, while the biological mind self-assembles. If something doesn't fit in to the mechanistic models, it is ignored or pushed aside. In a biological model, nothing can be ignored because it was integral to the development of the model itself. The mechanistic mind sees natural resources as commodities. The biological mind sees natural resources as the beginning and end of all life, the source to which we all return. The mechanistic mind, in pursuit of commodity, is able to spill millions of gallons of oil into the gulf of Mexico and brush the problem aside as a temporary setback, the cost of doing business. And crucially, the mechanistic mind tells us all that we are only as good as our productivity. No wonder we don't feel whole anymore, no wonder we feel afraid. But our response shouldn't be to cloak ourselves with that fear - that only serves to isolate us further, deepening our alienation. It is a dark pattern.<br />
<br />
I am in no way saying that systems created by the mechanistic mind are somehow inherently bad - they are not. Look at the information systems we've created, for example. There is incredible potential in these tools. All I am saying is that, especially when we're trying to understand how to heal disease, or heal the rifts in our culture so we can support all beings who live on this planet, it is going to be useful to adopt the biological mind. And it's really an easy exercise: when you're working in clinic, or when you're gardening, or talking to a member of your community, or planning an event, ask yourself: are you using a mechanistic mind or a biological mind? It's not difficult to tell the difference: when we interface with a biological system, we feel it immediately in our hearts. It is full, it is vibrant, it is undeniable. When we interface with a mechanistic system, all the thoughts and emotions associated with that interface just seem a little dull in comparison. I've had plenty of thoughts when out wild-harvesting, or when working in the garden. Sometimes it goes a little bit like this: "well, I know there's not a lot of scullcap here, but I need it for tincture, and it will be ok to harvest it". Or, "well, I'm not sure what's around that bend, but I need to get back to my car if I'm going to be home in time for this appointment". This is our mechanistic mind at work, and it's great, it's practical - but these thoughts originate inside us, and their flavor, their color, is much less vibrant. Compare that to the simple "turn around" I experienced. This was the biological mind speaking, it was me and the reishi and the doe and our shared consciousness resonating at that moment in time. It was a full, vibrant, delicious thought that I felt in my heart as much as in my head. And it rippled into my harvest, my medicine-making, my dispensing. Ground-up, not top-down. When the heart perceives it, it is the living system speaking, it is the biological mind. Love is perhaps the best example.<br />
<br />
If we seek the input of the biological mind in clinic, we will gravitate more towards nurturing and supporting rather than to strong, powerful herbs. This is not to say we shouldn't use heroic herbs in an appropriate context - it's just to say the input of the biological mind needs to be brought to bear. The same applies to our families and our communities. But we herbalists, we who understand these things, also have a responsibility to bring the biological mind to the halls of power locally, nationally, internationally - because Western culture is showing the signs of disease similar to those you would see in wounded animals, in cancer patients, in depression. As herbalists, our joy and our bright, shining light grows from the heart experiences that come from engaging with living, biological systems - our kitchens, our gardens, our forests and our fields. It is precisely the support that Western culture needs today.<br />
I am here to say that it's not enough to just rejoice in this. We need to shine this light into the larger community. It will take effort, but it is certainly not impossible! Just as the old alchemists wrapped their remedies in layers of extraction, digestion, maceration and language that invoked concepts from the Christian trinity, we today need to wrap our joy and light in layers that reflect society's preference for the mechanistic mind. We need to make an effort to speak the language of science and to understand the laws that govern our land, not to become compliant and appease, but to inject ourselves, virally, like green tendrils, into the concrete wall built up by five centuries of unfettered mechanistic dominance. We can enter the cities, the courtrooms, the government and show a clear and different way of doing business, one that values and respects life, increases biodiversity wherever and whenever possible, and relentlessly strives to support rather than to control. It is the next turn of human evolution, and we need the plants beside us as we move forward. Herbalists are the perfect agents of cultural renewal, because we deeply understand these principles, and we are united in our common love for plants and the resonant experiences of renewal they provide.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4o7LcoXFsf3DjDiOXdK2TynkwojVvDmZzQszDhFVgt1JaGbKv0E6bzPfFTl65bPDnZn2WJAqXV9WQ-6DCd5rYQ06VcYJqo400zy1YgoMPSWjMX-_yLxYGSYCgNBKf7-MOtt0KBYJST8/s1600/20170225_121447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4o7LcoXFsf3DjDiOXdK2TynkwojVvDmZzQszDhFVgt1JaGbKv0E6bzPfFTl65bPDnZn2WJAqXV9WQ-6DCd5rYQ06VcYJqo400zy1YgoMPSWjMX-_yLxYGSYCgNBKf7-MOtt0KBYJST8/s400/20170225_121447.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When I travel to East Africa, I always make it a point to connect with my friend Sangau. <a href="http://www.mollybhagan.com/?p=713" target="_blank">He is a local traditional Maasai healer and herbalist</a>, and taught me a lot of what I know about the plants there. We speak (sort of) through an interpreter, share tea, talk about the hospital where I work. He listens because I speak the language of plants, and I am an American. Many people say Sangau is a witch doctor. The Christian community says that he speaks with Satan. But when I ask him about this, he tells me that he sits under trees in the forest and speaks to their spirits. This misunderstanding is the root of the schism between the mechanistic mind and the biological mind, and it won't be easy to heal. But where I work in East Africa, we've trained hospital staff to use usnea and honey for wound care, and simple ginger compresses for swelling and pain. They listen to us, because we speak the language of science and come from America - we speak the language of the mechanistic mind. Hospital staff start asking more questions about other plants, and what they might be used for. So we create a decent guide to over 40 local medicinal species, along with all their names (in 3 languages) and uses. Slowly, folks start to say that maybe what Sangau is recommending is not so bad. And in the end, it's all to the patients' benefit.<br />
<br />
I will leave you with one last story, it is a very old fable, probably one you've heard before, but it's a good one. The sun and the wind, always having to share the sky, would get into a lot of arguments about who was the strongest. The sun would say, I light up the whole sky. The wind would reply, I wear down mountains and reshape the land. The sun would reply, I raise water up into the air and create clouds. The wind would retort, I whip the waters and clouds into powerful storms - no one can stand in my path. One day, tired of arguing, the sun and the wind decided to test their skills. "Do you see that traveler on the road down there?" the wind asked the sun. "Yes, I see him," the sun replied. It was a cool day, and the traveler was wearing a heavy, dark cloak. "Will you agree," the wind asked, self-assuredly, "that whoever can remove his cloak is the strongest?" The sun agreed. The wind went first, blowing gently, then harder and harder until the traveler was barely able to walk forward, the gale was so strong. But every time the wind blew harder, the traveler just pulled his coat tighter and tighter around his body. Finally, exhausted, the wind turned to the sun. "Your turn," he gasped. Then the sun shone his light, beaming down on the traveler, filling the air with warmth. After a few minutes, the traveler, amazed at the beautiful weather, took off his cloak.<br />
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-89766307656805740282016-05-19T19:06:00.001-04:002016-05-19T19:06:21.982-04:00Integrated technologies: building capacity and resilience<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>A case study
at the Wasso district hospital, rural Tanzania</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This year the
work at a rural hospital on the edge of the Serengeti was with a team comprised
of two other herbalists, my wife Anne (gynecologist and surgeon) and two
medical students from the University of Vermont. Herbalists Molly Hagan, Annie
SewDev and myself worked on the inpatient wards, gathering daily case details
and tracking patients’ improvement; we cared for wounds and trauma in the minor
surgical theater (using only honey and botanical treatments, along with
occasional iodine, lidocaine, and lots of gauze, tape and bandages); we
harvested and processed many plants, notably Usnea, Lippia, Lantana,
Eucalyptus, Zingiber, Opuntia, Ocimum, Galium, Acacia and Aloe; and collected
samples of many more with the help of knowledgeable local folks. After a few
days there, people started to seek us out where we were processing medicine:
the guesthouse common space, where we had access to a blender, hotpot, and
storage space for herbs. They were curious to see what the herbalists were
doing, to share their thoughts on plant medicine, and to seek out our help for
a range of complaints.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5csjf1eOGnqCX2JE_m1y7SJhyphenhyphenYTu7oQADbv34UjoEOjfSJUXLRiqhJ1a7mRLeV-3wqvFKv8cJ9uzh8Odq1GoLeegH5sb1Q4TWd3pMtwWjVAmtvS41S0SoCwZyvLTGTSFaiuhEAVuSIKk/s1600/20160426_164621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5csjf1eOGnqCX2JE_m1y7SJhyphenhyphenYTu7oQADbv34UjoEOjfSJUXLRiqhJ1a7mRLeV-3wqvFKv8cJ9uzh8Odq1GoLeegH5sb1Q4TWd3pMtwWjVAmtvS41S0SoCwZyvLTGTSFaiuhEAVuSIKk/s400/20160426_164621.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild-harvesting adventures: Annie climbing through a tangle of vines while Molly watches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One day my
friend Joseph came over. He is a cheery man, always ready to engage in the long
greeting ritual and exchange of news. We find a way to understand each other by
making the best of our limited language skills – I get to practice my Swahili, he
pulls out a little English. The answer to the standard “Habari?” (what news?)
is always “nzuri” (good), and we began this way. But today, Joseph started to
complain that he hadn’t been sleeping very well for some time: he was restless,
waking up a lot, and not feeling refreshed. He works physically all day long,
helping to tend the hospital grounds, and his workload had been particularly
heavy as of late. I noticed an unexpected weakness in his pulse, and so we
decided to walk him over to the stand of wild ashwagandha (Withania, called
ol’asaiyet by the Maasai). He dug up a huge, gnarled, very fragrant root and we
instructed him to peel it and simmer some of the root bark in milk every
evening (hot boiled milk, rich and super-creamy, is somewhat of a staple – and
perfect for ashwagandha extraction). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS7TE-P1tzdvnP_OtFOl91hh7MQE2ZFx1MlDWigVUaKltmTMuXwUYM8HmmaQsLzFV3Yv3J-42f6jLrCaZY1QI4H29wiWUiRS99el7H4MEQgynnr_aVHIZUSSI7FImqAwy-6B6YtAfbCU/s1600/AshwagandaRoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS7TE-P1tzdvnP_OtFOl91hh7MQE2ZFx1MlDWigVUaKltmTMuXwUYM8HmmaQsLzFV3Yv3J-42f6jLrCaZY1QI4H29wiWUiRS99el7H4MEQgynnr_aVHIZUSSI7FImqAwy-6B6YtAfbCU/s400/AshwagandaRoot.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Withania somnifera</i> root</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p>A few days
later, I ran in to Joseph as he was cutting grass. He was using a sort of long,
hooked metal blade – not quite a scythe, more of a blunt machete with a short
90 degree bend at the bottom. He would swing at the grass with this tool,
chopping and flinging off big clumps of the tall weeds that grew between the
hospital ward buildings and lawns. No wonder he was wiped out! This is tough
work – but all the grass is cut this way, week after week, all around the
hospital and the access road. Nevertheless, when I asked how he was doing, he
said his sleep was much improved, he loved the ashwagandha, and felt like he
had plenty of energy for his work. He smiled, gave me the thumbs up, and kept
swinging at the grass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was
surprised, the next morning, to hear the loud, choppy sound of a small engine
as I walked to our morning meeting. There was Joseph, somewhat awkwardly
pushing a gas-powered lawnmower through the tall grass left unfinished from the
day before. We smiled broadly at each other, and I thought to myself how this machine
was really going to make my friend’s work easier. Granted, it was a little
surreal to see the lawns, where the Maasai women sit every morning in the sun
airing their red, black, and purple checkered cloaks, mowed in visible lines
more characteristic of an American suburb. But still, I thought, maybe this is
progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two days
later, Joseph was back at it with the machete. I gave him a puzzled look, made
a lawnmower-pushing motion with my arms, and asked “wapi?” (where?). He looked
at me with a half-grin and said, simply, “kaput” (a pretty universal word for
“broken”). I later learned that the belt had snapped, and that they had tried
to repair it, to no avail. Perhaps a replacement could be found in Arusha, over
9 hours away, but one would have to coordinate purchase and delivery somehow.
This was hard enough for medical supplies; I was skeptical that a new,
functional belt would be arriving anytime soon. And so the lawnmower sat in the
garage, like a fish out of water, its potential untapped because it was
disconnected from the supply chain it needed for survival.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is
important to contextualize any technology. Our tools, like everything else, do
not exist outside of their environments, of the cultural and environmental
niches they occupy. One cannot simply say “a lawnmower is great at cutting
grass, let’s get one” and use it regardless of where the grass is growing.
Joseph’s circumstances and environment are as important to the function of the
lawnmower as is the gasoline it uses. Technology’s impacts and effectiveness
cannot be measured in absolute terms: like anything else, the relationship and
connections that technology has in any given situation have as much to do with
how well it will work as the nuts and bolts of the technology itself. Sometimes
tech is so powerful that it changes its environment: witness the widespread
adoption of cell phones around the globe. Commerce has changed as a result.
Maasai bomas (dwelling communities) install small solar panels for the sole
purpose of charging their phones, so they can send funds back and forth and
connect with friends and family. Still, the way the cell phone works in rural
Tanzania is very different than how it works in America: even if a technology
is powerful enough to alter its new environment, its expression is still bound
to its context. Technology must be effectively integrated into its cultural and
environmental context to be successful, sustainable, and non-damaging.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nowhere else
is this more evident than in global development work. If our goal is to
increase capacity, resilience, and sustainability in the developing world (or
anywhere, really), we must consider context when discussing the application of
technology. Consider the example of water: in East Africa, year-round water
supply is essential. In the 1980s, when the country was still stable, my father
(a geologist and soil engineer) worked in Somalia digging wells in desert
areas, so local communities could have water security. I remember him (and my
mother) being gone during all of Summer vacation. When he returned, he told
stories of the fancy wells the Italian government had dug, only to have them
break and be left, abandoned, after a few months’ use. He worked with local
engineers to develop a pump system that relied on donkeys walking in circles,
strapped to a central, rotating piston. Primitive? Perhaps. But much more
effective and resilient in the context of East Africa. Here we had a merging of
the modern and the ancient: sophisticated geological surveys found the water,
drilling rigs accessed it, and donkeys kept the water flowing. This is
integrated technology.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While
working on wound care and support at the Wasso district hospital, the team of
herbalists was confronted with this reality every day. There are old, broken
pieces of Western medical tech littered throughout the hospital: rusted, broken
leg braces; dysfunctional surgical lights with no lightbulbs; ventilator bags
with tape over the cracking plastic. So when there is an issue, we must find a
solution not by bringing our technology (be it essential oils and tinctures, or
laparoscopic surgery equipment), but by developing integrated technologies.
Perhaps the best example of this was the improvised traction splint we made for
a woman whose femur had been completely broken when she was hit by a car.
Hospital staff had applied a makeshift cast on the leg, but it didn’t even come
up to the femur fracture. And now, because there are no orthopedic surgeons in
Wasso, they were suggesting she get into a Land Rover and travel 9 hours to
Arusha, the nearest facility that could properly set her bone. Now, the femur
is the longest bone in the human body. It keeps the powerful quadriceps muscles
stretched out, ready to help us walk, run and jump. But when it’s broken, the
quads contract back, pulling the jagged edges of the fracture until they
overlap and dig into muscle tissue, ripping vessels. Patients can lose huge
amounts of blood inside their leg, risking compartment syndrome and even death.
I’ve been on the road to Arusha – “bumpy” is a gross understatement. What this
woman needed was traction: something to pull her ankle and pelvis apart with
enough strength to counterbalance the quad’s contraction, so the two pieces of
the femur would remain in line and separated, preventing them from destroying
tissue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When we made
this suggestion, staff laughed. “You cannot hold traction for the entire ride
to Arusha,” they exclaimed. And they were right: the force needed to pull back
against the quad requires two people, one at the ankle and the other at the
armpits, pulling with all their might. What she needed was a traction splint: something
to hold the tension and stabilize the femur at the same time. Of course, no
such device exists at Wasso hospital. So, remembering my wilderness first
responder training, we decided to make one. Molly, her Maasai sime (long
machete) in hand, went out to hack off yellow-bark acacia limbs: one for the outside
of the leg, up past the pelvis, and a shorter piece for the inside of the leg.
She also fashioned a cross-member for the bottom of the splint and a smaller, “twisting
stick” to increase and secure traction. I started tearing up a bedsheet into
long strips to lash the splint together. Annie stayed with the patient and
helped explain our plan to the hospital staff, who were now gathering around,
very interested.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Khd-b8mUJCgMEzUhoL5VKm0vgo_JJxHU7Nb7DdV7ayEOKjaYUZ8DniO5tsqHzWNEeCfGZSzpqEEOHnZFvUWkL2zJkaYUnTknxGocwpba8XV731rVs2bZu5p5HkNcwbpxdbc9ZVsHtWY/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Khd-b8mUJCgMEzUhoL5VKm0vgo_JJxHU7Nb7DdV7ayEOKjaYUZ8DniO5tsqHzWNEeCfGZSzpqEEOHnZFvUWkL2zJkaYUnTknxGocwpba8XV731rVs2bZu5p5HkNcwbpxdbc9ZVsHtWY/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to apply traction. Molly at the shoulders, Annie and I get the splint ready.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
We lashed
the outer and inner sticks to the cross-member (which was about 6 inches under
the patient’s heel), padded the tip of the inner stick so it could rest
comfortably in the crotch, and loosely tied a strip of bedsheet around her
ankle. This strip was also secured to the cross-member, and the “twisting stick”
slid between the loop just under the heel. Then, giving it all we had, Molly
and I applied traction, pulling the femur bone apart so that the heel almost
touched the cross-member while Annie turned the twisting stick to make sure
there was no slack between the heel and the cross-member of the splint. Annie
finished by tying the two sticks together, under the knee, above and below the
fracture, and then placing a final belt around the outer stick and across the
woman’s pelvis. Molly and I released traction – and the leg didn’t move.
Success.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3z0KSlmGohQ9fQ8owcO8O_N7toDZYg6BbAuykI6-vGojqfusot-67uYQljjTSCpi_2ItGZYO6ZJ7DTHuTT1pqEzUxeBYAH9k7Y0ftX6DEnm_g27dADtyRyuLnzPH7ldLI6p6EqYMJcE/s1600/ChildTractionSplint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3z0KSlmGohQ9fQ8owcO8O_N7toDZYg6BbAuykI6-vGojqfusot-67uYQljjTSCpi_2ItGZYO6ZJ7DTHuTT1pqEzUxeBYAH9k7Y0ftX6DEnm_g27dADtyRyuLnzPH7ldLI6p6EqYMJcE/s320/ChildTractionSplint.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splint ready for traction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We remarked
to ourselves that we would probably never make another improvised traction
splint. But never say never: just two days later, a seven-year-old boy came in
to minor theater, having been trampled by an elephant. He was moving in and out
of consciousness, and showed abrasions on his head, chest, and arms. But his
pupils reacted, and when he was conscious, he could respond to commands well.
So what concerned us most was the right leg, which was floppy and bleeding at
mid-thigh from a compound femur fracture. We moved quickly, repeating our work
(but this time on a smaller scale). After getting everything ready, we applied
traction. Dr. Anne remarked that she heard a slight “pop” as the leg extended
and the femur moved back into position. We secured the splint, and the boy was
moved to the intensive care ward to await transfer to Arusha.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYvGkUfvmnAA87iftEmcvJRChfSUk-wjdJU1ZsaBmut-SMMDROGwVjby1vaFxtn9GKL5LvtuAlqKoIvDBZa-NFZIauoWodJn-GdhCdb_R_aOKQXvOfChiEMrJNLaTZKbsahPp9Zg97kg/s1600/IMG_9247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYvGkUfvmnAA87iftEmcvJRChfSUk-wjdJU1ZsaBmut-SMMDROGwVjby1vaFxtn9GKL5LvtuAlqKoIvDBZa-NFZIauoWodJn-GdhCdb_R_aOKQXvOfChiEMrJNLaTZKbsahPp9Zg97kg/s320/IMG_9247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After applying traction and securing: heel is closer to cross-member</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In America,
you can buy fancy traction splints. They are amazing, quick and
super-effective. Our work was probably not as effective, but it did the job
(especially considering the long car ride ahead for both patients). And it was
simple enough to replicate: hospital staff can make similar splints now, and
improve outcomes for those who come through Wasso. Similarly, hospital staff
now uses honey and herbal treatment for wound care, and after extensive
research this time around, we look forward to continuing to enhance the hospital’s
portfolio of low-cost, effective herbal interventions that come from the local
environment. These are sustainable, improve the hospital’s capacity to help
others, and build independent capacity rather than dependence on Western
intervention. These are integrated technologies.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yet another
example of success building hospital capacity with integrated technology came
from our partners, Dr. Anne Dougherty and medical students Sabrina Bedell and
Melanie Ma. They followed pregnant women in the hospital, screened for
gynecologic complaints, and performed surgery when necessary (using old-school,
open laparotomy). They traveled to outreach clinic to perform prenatal checks
and vaccinate babies against polio and other diseases. Beyond all this
(including middle-of-the-night work on complicated deliveries), they worked a
whole week of 16+ hour days screening women for breast cancer, HIV, and
cervical cancer. In so doing, they also helped establish and cement a cervical
cancer screening and treatment program at the hospital where none existed
before.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOSRArqp7y3uopfE6vbw0WQ4z42WNo9FH9FxHrjLobZxhsTiV9ykbLC8L5xANvr8C43anPAhpZoWGjZF__IotcQWctA2bQ3bYLS4vqMg7_ZZlvkf7I7PTtAFEz1WdsLw5Ufp0bclHeFY/s1600/ITW3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOSRArqp7y3uopfE6vbw0WQ4z42WNo9FH9FxHrjLobZxhsTiV9ykbLC8L5xANvr8C43anPAhpZoWGjZF__IotcQWctA2bQ3bYLS4vqMg7_ZZlvkf7I7PTtAFEz1WdsLw5Ufp0bclHeFY/s400/ITW3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Anne in outreach clinic, showing a mom her baby using portable ultrasound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cervical
cancer is a huge problem in Tanzania. While in the US every year there are 7.5
cases out of 100,000 women, in Tanzania there are 54. Out of the 7,300 cases
diagnosed in Tanzania in 2012, over 4,200 died. It is the leading cause of
cancer-related deaths in Tanzania for women aged 15-44. One of the biggest reasons for the differences
between the US and Tanzania is essentially an issue of integrated technology:
in the US, frequent screenings and the pap smear have made early detection and
treatment easy and effective. An abnormal pap brings a call from your
physician, and you can decide on a range of treatment options, from herbal and
nutritional strategies to LEEP procedures and beyond (depending on the nature
of the problem), and come back for re-testing. But this technology just doesn’t
work in East Africa: first of all, you need a pathology lab to analyze pap
smears (there is one, but it’s nine hours away in Arusha). Secondly, after
getting results, you need to find a way to inform the women, and get them to
come back to the hospital (often hours, if not days, away) for treatment. This
is difficult. As a result, if women are screened at all, they are often lost to
follow-up and worrisome screening results are left untreated – until they
return to the hospital with persistent vaginal bleeding and weight loss from
advanced, invasive cancer. Our Western technology fails in this case, because
the context in East Africa is so vastly different from the context in the US.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The medical
team relied on a simple, yet surprisingly effective combination of screening
and treatment to circumvent these issues. First, the cervix is swabbed with a
solution of simple white vinegar (available everywhere). After one minute, the
cervix is examined. Any white lesions indicate a potential issue with cervical
cells, most likely from dysplasia or early cancerous changes. If such lesions
are found, staff performs cryotherapy: using compressed carbon dioxide gas, a
metal tip is super-cooled and used to freeze off the top layer of cervical
cells. The tip is relatively inexpensive, and can be re-used forever; the
compressed CO2 can be flown in from Arusha and allows for between 25 and 30
cryotherapy treatments. This see-and-treat model completely bypasses the
followup problem. And in the end, it saves lives (<a href="http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/cancers/9789241503860/en/" target="_blank">to read more, see this WHO report</a>). Dr. Anne and her team screened over 300 women, treated almost 30 for
pre-cancerous lesions, identified 6 others who needed more advanced treatment
in Arusha, and discovered one case of invasive cancer. This last case was sad
to hear about – but now, this screening program is established in Wasso, and
such cases will hopefully be prevented in the future. This see-and-treat model
may not be the gold standard in the US, but it is much more effective in East
Africa. It builds sustainable capacity. It is a well-integrated technology. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In all these
examples, we see a few common threads. There is an awareness of the context in
which the technologies are being applied: what’s the nature of the problem?
Where does it live? What are the social, cultural, and environmental factors at
play? There is also a focus on empowering the system, rather than building
dependence. When Western resources are used, they are often just catalytic –
the technology is meant to stand on its own. Finally, the solutions are built
with resilience in mind: in the parlance of systems theory, all the examples
described increase the system’s capacity for “disturbance rejection”.
Integrated technologies are like herbal adaptogens: nutritive, gentle, familiar
ways to enhance adaptability and build sustainable energy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
I would
argue that herbal medicine is a quintessential example of an integrated
technology. It shows awareness of context, strives for empowerment rather than
dependence, and increases resiliency (not only of the person taking the herbs,
but also of the community that embraces herbal medicine). And to push a little
further, let me suggest that context, in the case of medicine, means more than
culture and environment: it means the ecosystem of diseases with which we
struggle. Modern tech medicine sometimes loses awareness of this facet of context:
cardiovascular disease, for example, is as different from acute infection as
the Western woman is from the Maasai bibi. How can we develop truly integrated
technologies for handling the chronic diseases of our culture? Part of the
answer lies in letting go of labels like “advanced” and “primitive”. Let us
think more about effectiveness, rather than pursuing new technology for its own
sake. We may find that the plants that have evolved side-by-side with us for
hundreds of thousands of years can help create a more sustainable, effective,
and resilient system for medical care. In so many ways, and on so many levels, consuming
plants is an exquisitely fine-tuned integrated technology. I am grateful to the
people of Wasso, and the Wasso phytotherapy project, for reminding me of this
with such simple clarity.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZGdyw1EhYklfR18DH38uCnB5TbVkGnsTTr7UgenuH3iQa8dGWcoOLx3Rwqpr1DEBbmuiP-03_9-7JK1m_GO1lRBd9sdaGR9vH7RwUezIzf5m5nX_kWNAHmHfuNwQUEVQPAJMfvMjzEs/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZGdyw1EhYklfR18DH38uCnB5TbVkGnsTTr7UgenuH3iQa8dGWcoOLx3Rwqpr1DEBbmuiP-03_9-7JK1m_GO1lRBd9sdaGR9vH7RwUezIzf5m5nX_kWNAHmHfuNwQUEVQPAJMfvMjzEs/s400/DSC_0161.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our team for 2016 (L>R): Guido, Molly, Anne, Uli, Annie, Melanie, Sabrina and Niclous Rotiken, cultural liaison</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-50548118209389347112015-12-23T22:26:00.001-05:002015-12-23T22:29:03.678-05:00FDA cGMP compliance project updateThis week saw an excellent development in the quest to provide open-source resources to the herbal community in our efforts to achieve compliance with FDA cGMP regulations: AHPA (the American Herbal Products Association) has posted hundreds of document templates, including manufacturing record templates, testing method templates and specifications, policy templates for almost anything you could imagine (and more) that might be involved in making an herbal dietary supplement. This is a great resource (thank you Ellen Kahmi, <a href="http://www.naturalnurse.com/">http://www.naturalnurse.com</a> for bringing this to my attention the day it was released). Find it here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ahpa.org/Resources/cGMPSOPTemplates.aspx">http://ahpa.org/Resources/cGMPSOPTemplates.aspx</a><br />
<br />
As you can see, the list of available documents is quite extensive. It is available for members of AHPA (base-level membership for a small-scale manufacturer is $1,000 per year. AHPA is a fantastic organization. $1,000 is a lot of money).<br />
<br />
Another development is that I will no longer be posting updates and documents at this site, but rather at a new dedicated site where you can find all previous information and also future updates. Find it here:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_906786138"><br /></a>
<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/gmpopensource/home">https://sites.google.com/site/gmpopensource/home</a><br />
<br />
Hopefully this will be a more practical way for us to communicate about this. Over the next few weeks, I will be reaching out to folks who have expressed interest in helping, to make them contributors to the site and allow them to edit and add material as they see fit.
There are a few items I might suggest putting on our agenda and to-do list for this project:<br />
- live online forum discussion to help us meet, define the work, and agree on goals<br />
- working through explaining the pieces of cGMP compliance (more documents and voice-overs of why they are structured the way they are, and how to customize them for your own business)<br />
- the problem of testing, and its cost: even a testing program that takes random annual samples (which requires some baseline level of confidence in raw materials and in-house manufacturing, and data to support it) still can run hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on how many products you make<br />
- the lingering uncertainty around defining identity and strength specifications, and testing for those specs, for a multi-botanical herbal dietary supplement.<br />
<br />
I'm taking next week off. Stay tuned at <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/gmpopensource/home">https://sites.google.com/site/gmpopensource/home</a> for further updates in the new year.Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-35036937292504711852015-12-17T00:43:00.005-05:002015-12-17T00:50:30.999-05:00FDA cGMP project - raw material identity specifications and testing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
**<i>NOTE: all the information presented under the "FDA cGMP compliance open source project" is not intended to be legal advice, nor is it in any way guaranteed that my interpretation of the statute and system for compliance is going to satisfy any individual FDA inspector or compliance officer. These pages are a synthesis of my own understanding of the regulations and how to achieve compliance.</i></div>
<i><br /></i>
When manufacturing any dietary supplement (herbal or otherwise), the guidelines on current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) require that specifications be established for everything that goes into what you're making. This essentially means that you have to define a few things and set a standard that you find acceptable, and then test the relevant material and record the results of that test. The regulations under 21CFR111 tell us what specifications we need - sort of. Let's take a look.<br />
<br />
A great outline of all of 21CFR111 is here:<br />
<a href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=111">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=111</a><br />
and, for the details on specifications, see section 111.70:<br />
<a href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=111.70">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=111.70</a><br />
<br />
The key pieces are identity (what is it?), purity (for a raw herb, is it all the herb in question? Is there dirt and/or foreign non-herbal matter?), strength and composition (for a raw herb, this is full-strength 100% raw herb), and contamination.<br />
The identity, purity, strength and composition for whole or cut-and-sifted (NOT powders, which require a microscope) can be assessed through organoleptic testing (using sight, smell, feel, and taste) if conducted by a qualified herbalist. The contamination, unfortunately, requires help. This is even if you get a certificate from your vendor telling you that there is an acceptably low level of contamination, if any. This is one of the big pieces that we still have to solve as herbalists: the cost for contamination testing of each batch of raw material can get steep. Is there a way to consolidate results on lots of herbs so all can benefit and/or spread the costs?<br />
<br />
<b>Identity </b>specifications are established in an herb monograph, and there should also be a voucher sample of the herb in question, as well as a sample of the cut-and-sifted material if that's how you purchase it. Additionally, details should be included about potential <b>adulterants</b>, if an herb is known to be adulterated (goldenseal and yellowroot for instance). <b>Rejection criteria</b> - meaning, if you find this you mail the herb back to sender - should also be included.<br />
AHPA has begun to collect excellent information on botanical identity, including microscopic identity. You should visit:<br />
<a href="http://www.botanicalauthentication.org/index.php/Main_Page">http://www.botanicalauthentication.org/index.php/Main_Page</a><br />
<b>Purity </b>specifications can include details on adulterants, but also a way to assess (and reject if necessary) how much filth and foreign matter is present in a sample.<br />
<b>Contamination </b>specifications include:<br />
- microbiological testing. What's an acceptable total bacteria count? What about yeast and mold? Note that in many cases, bacteria, yeast and mold are a normal part of, say, a fresh berry. Without them there would be no wine. But sometimes there's too much. And certain specific bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella, should never be present.<br />
- heavy metal testing. How much arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium are in the sample? It's tricky to determine what an acceptable level could be for a raw herb. Additionally, there is good evidence that tincturing actually removes heavy metals from the final product (because most, if there are any, remain in the discarded marc).<br />
- pesticide testing. Our argument so far has been that using certified organic herbs shifts the burden of responsibility to USDA, and that we are not required to test for pesticides. We do use only certified organic herbs. This may or may not be enough - the jury is still out. I'd be curious to hear of other's experience here, especially if there has been pushback from FDA even for those who use certified organic raw material.<br />
<br />
AHPA has put out great guidance documents to help define these specifications. For an overview, see:<br />
<a href="http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/2009/10_0120_Guidance_Policies.pdf">http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/2009/10_0120_Guidance_Policies.pdf</a><br />
And, for much more details on heavy metals specifically:<br />
<a href="http://www.naturalhealthresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/09_1214_AHPA_Heavy-Metals-White-Paper-Revised.pdf">http://www.naturalhealthresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/09_1214_AHPA_Heavy-Metals-White-Paper-Revised.pdf</a><br />
<br />
The above is good, but the heavy metals specifications refer to daily total maximum intakes, not how much can be in an herb you're planning to use. This is a complex question that has to do with the weigh-to-volume ratio of your tincture(s), the dose, and how much heavy metal is left in the tincture from the original raw herbs. Working backwards from the daily limits, you can make a case for how much should be present in a raw herb. Here is an example of how to make such a case, and includes the final heavy metal limits:<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAT0RrWUJnX2JpM28/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Heavy metals contamination rationale</a>.<br />
<br />
Again, the problem isn't necessarily defining the specification, but testing for it. These tests can get quite expensive. There are ways to reduce the amount of testing you do, especially once you have some data to go on - but getting there can be an overwhelming financial burden. <b>We need to find a way to collaborate on these types of tests - to spread the financial burden and somehow, effectively, share results if we want to support small-scale manufacturers</b>.<br />
<br />
What follow are a <b>couple of examples</b>: the first is a raw material monograph (the specifications) for <i>Echinacea purpurea</i> root. The second is a specification sheet, where the results of testing are recorded to ensure they comply with the specifications. A voice walk-through is below as well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt7JJDqPmBp0hYXXCB7rvQHf1fYr3KSqPgAXgmS-FJP2uHMgbO1NVtLWJCBMqlKGmmCaUd71Wu2ESkNTUkcPAJIjjjnVGC3pjyyRaQhEOXEkAO6XcRcnAbCmsJ7gUlKHo515JHWHTjPY/s1600/EchinaceaTM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt7JJDqPmBp0hYXXCB7rvQHf1fYr3KSqPgAXgmS-FJP2uHMgbO1NVtLWJCBMqlKGmmCaUd71Wu2ESkNTUkcPAJIjjjnVGC3pjyyRaQhEOXEkAO6XcRcnAbCmsJ7gUlKHo515JHWHTjPY/s320/EchinaceaTM.png" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBASHZTT2dkY1ozS3M/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Full document .pdf file</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3iyDfIxQzQIMXop79IvSiuqPQJWzP_dxA0OZxD73w8FMwtTKsTeSOrbnd-Y-ow37FNVjv-U9BNJ28b8yyay7WBq19en0lmo-jFcD_vzDV10VMt-frXuSp93jQbTe7UK21XMN2-lh0o0/s1600/EchinaceaSpecs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3iyDfIxQzQIMXop79IvSiuqPQJWzP_dxA0OZxD73w8FMwtTKsTeSOrbnd-Y-ow37FNVjv-U9BNJ28b8yyay7WBq19en0lmo-jFcD_vzDV10VMt-frXuSp93jQbTe7UK21XMN2-lh0o0/s400/EchinaceaSpecs.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAc1RubmdGWE56czQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Full document .pdf file</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<audio controls="controls">
<source src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAVXdFS1lMekx2TEk/view?usp=sharing" type="audio/mpeg"></source>
<embed height="80px" width="100px"></embed>
Your browser does not support this audio
</audio>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAVXdFS1lMekx2TEk/view" target="_blank">mp3 file download</a></div>
<br />
One note: these are "controlled" documents. They must be signed, dated and approved by whomever is in charge of quality control; revision numbers must be advanced if any changes are made; and they should be "secure" (i.e. not easily tampered with or alterable). Filled-out spec sheets must be in hard copy, filled out in ink, and stored. Until this documentation exists, and is signed off at the bottom, you cannot use the herbs for manufacturing and they should be stored in a designated "quarantine" area (blocked off by fencing, walls/doors, or even tape on the floor to distinguish the area from one of active use).<br />
<br />
Finally, one cannot necessarily rely on organoleptic testing unless the person conducting the test(s) is <b>qualified to do so.</b> While you don't have to convince me that you know what dry, cut-and-sifted Echinacea purpurea root looks, smells, and tastes like, you will have to convince FDA. Plus, herbalist qualification does raise some interesting questions: could you tell the difference between E. purpurea and E. angustifolia? Perhaps. What about Actaea racemosa and Actaea pachypoda dry, cut-and-sifted rhizome? It's not always so straightforward. Again, AHPA is doing a great job putting together a lot of the specifications and images necessary for herbalists to conduct these tests (see, for instance, the <a href="http://www.botanicalauthentication.org/index.php/Actaea_racemosa_(root_and_rhizome)" target="_blank">detailed Actaea racemosa monograph</a>), but unless you are a botanist or pharmacognosist with a degree, you will have to prove to FDA that you can competently identify herbs. Essentially, you have to find a way to "test the tester", or qualify the analyst, who is ensuring that the organoleptic specifications are being met. Here are two document that give an example of how one might do this:<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/a/vtherbcenter.org/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAR0F4OUhBUjFWTUE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Analyst testing method</a> (how we test our testers)<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAcFhQVWo0SlNTOG8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Analyst testing record </a>(where we record the test results)<br />
Ideally, you will build a testing record that shows you can competently identify all the herbs you use. Now, the question remains: how do you know that the sample you're using as a way to certify the herbalist's skill is actually what you think it is? This requires either the purchase of a validated sample, the assistance of a qualified botanist or pharmacognosist, or validation through an external lab test. This can add extra cost. Is there a way for us to centralize this somehow? Could analyst certification be offered at herb conferences?<br />
Any additional training seminars, certificate programs, or herb schools that you can attend (and collect certificates!) serve to bolster your case that you are, indeed, qualified to conduct these tests. Build a strong case, and identity of raw (non-powdered) herbs can be tested using our senses and good reference materials.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, specifications need to be developed for everything - including packaging and labels - and you have to maintain a record that you checked everything that comes in against those specifications before using material to make any kind of product that will go to the public. This is a big undertaking. In the coming weeks/months we'd like to share as much of what we have as possible. Hopefully these documents can be edited, improved, and custom-tailored to adapt to different individual situations. <b>But the scope of the project has already outgrown this blog: we need a platform that allows for collaborative sharing, posting, and discussion</b>. So next week, I will provide links to a separate website that will hopefully be more interactive and allow us to leverage the excellent experience and advice, as well as offers for help and contributions, that have been coming our way. Thank you for supporting the FDA cGMP open source project and stay tuned!<br />
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-32934484509826449122015-12-09T23:58:00.000-05:002015-12-16T21:34:31.428-05:00FDA cGMP project - labels and languageThough not technically part of the regulations that govern good manufacturing practices, product labels, websites, and social media pages and the language they contain are also regulated by FDA and are, unfortunately, a ripe potential target for government agents who enjoy browsing the internet at their desks. Lately, warning letters have been issued just for unapproved website claims (<a href="http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2015/ucm471279.htm" target="_blank">for example, here</a>). Regardless, it makes good sense to start by having compliant packaging and marketing materials: anything else invites scrutiny.<br />
<br />
<br />
**<i>NOTE: all the information presented under the "FDA cGMP compliance open source project" is not intended to be legal advice, nor is it in any way guaranteed that my interpretation of the statute and system for compliance is going to satisfy any individual FDA inspector or compliance officer. These pages are a synthesis of my own understanding of the regulations and how to achieve compliance.</i><br />
<br />
We'll look at the label itself in a bit. <b>First, what about claims on labels?</b> There are two types: ingredient claims (this much Vitamin C, for instance, or these many calories), and structure/function claims ("supports healthy immunity" and other such language). It's rare that herbalists will need to make nutrient claims - but I've included a label for a product that contains some honey, so you can see how to articulate the carbohydrate count on a label. But structure/function claims are a source of perpetual befuddlement. What can be said? What cannot? Are there code phrases or tricks?<br />
<br />
I will start by saying that there really aren't tricks. You can't get away with saying "this statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease" and then making any claim you want. You can't say "traditionally used" in front of any claim you want, and think this exempts the language. You can't get tricky and say things like "useful during the cold and flu season", because colds and flus are diseases, and herbs can't be useful during disease season because "useful" can only mean "medically useful" in this context. You can make a claim that a supplement supports the normal, healthy function of an organ, system, process or function of the physiology, provided those processes and functions are part of the normal, healthy course of life. You can also use language that FDA doesn't understand, or considers meaningless - like "enhancing yin" or "unblocking stagnant liver qi".<br />
<br />
This is the tricky part. It really is up to FDA to decide what a normal, healthy course of life looks like and I have to say that, based on my experience, it appears FDA (and/or their medical consultant squad) spends a little too much time sitting at desks on the computer, eating a questionable diet, feeling stressed and not sleeping too well. This is in part because anxiety, tension and stress, occasional heartburn, gas, upset stomach, PMS and insomnia are all considered part of a normal, healthy course of life. But I digress.<br />
Blood-based parameters - like blood sugar, cholesterol, pressure etc... - are fair game as long as it is clear that the herbal product "supports healthy blood sugar levels <i>that are already in a normal range</i>" (emphasis mine, and is required). Anything else would imply disrupted blood levels, which means disease. Certainly can't mention diabetes.<br />
I have found the following document very helpful:<br />
<a href="http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/98fr/010600a.txt" target="_blank"><b>http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/98fr/010600a.txt</b></a><br />
It gives a good background on how we got here (namely, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, or DSHEA), which is interesting to read if you like context. But you can also search the document right in your web browser. Try typing in "heartburn". Or "blood pressure". Or "insomnia". Then, try "potency" (improving sexual potency is not an acceptable claim, but improving sexual performance is - poor performance is apparently part of a normal, healthy course of life).<br />
These searches give you ways to approach herbal actions from an acceptable structure-function perspective, and more importantly, if you spend a little time reading, you can get a good sense of what will be acceptable, and what might get you into trouble. There are some tricks - "occasional" heartburn and sleeplessness are fine, but without that qualifier, they are diseases (though of course this wouldn't work for "occasional" migraines). Best of all, FDA explicitly says "this is acceptable" after a good many statements, and you can use these statements as you see fit. Beyond this, you have to prove that a claim refers to supporting something that happens anyway as part of being a healthy human if you want to use it.<br />
All claims - even mentioning the word "immune" in a product name - must have an asterisk next to them. This asterisk must point to the <b>FDA disclaimer</b> somewhere on your label, which must be enclosed in a hairline box: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."<br />
<br />
<b>These regulations around claims apply to print and internet material, too</b>. Brochures, business cards, shelf talkers and sales sheets, catalogs, websites, and social media pages - even, perhaps, audio and video - must all comply (and must include the FDA disclaimer). You can't control what others post on your sites - but don't "like" or acknowledge them. Testimonials, if not properly worded, aren't acceptable either. Personally, this is a big loss: I remember back in the day herb companies often had some of the best information on herbs, their pharmacology and applications, in their print and web media. Now, you can't even post a study that references one of the herbs you use because it's seen as implying that the herb can actually do what it does in the study.<br />
One way around this is to set up, or ally yourself with, a few personal social media pages and weblogs. You can link to these from your product pages, even if these external sites say outlandish unacceptable things like how herbs prevent heart attacks. Some warn that such sites must be "two links" away from your herbal company's website - I haven't seen this distinction in action yet.<br />
<br />
<b>Once you have defined what acceptable claims you want to use </b>(and I do recommend connecting with <a href="http://ahpa.org/">ahpa.org</a> to find a lawyer to review these, if you have the financial means), you are required to submit them to FDA, just to let them know that you're saying herbs do things, within 30 days of beginning sales of the product. Here's an example of what such a letter might look like, including the address to send it to:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov/contentStreamer?documentId=FDA-2014-S-0024-0564&attachmentNumber=1&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf" target="_blank">Herb Pharm Liquid Herbal Extract Vein Health Letter</a>.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, you are required to have files that substantiate the claims you're making: if, for example, your elderberry syrup says it supports the immune system, you should have a file that references actual research and dosing, and/or traditional sources (such as 19th century texts), pointing to elderberry's effectiveness (you just can't ever share any of that information with the public on your website). <br />
<br />
How to build such claim substantiation files? In the near future, I'd love to start sharing some of what we've put together and would welcome anyone else's support in this. Perhaps a shared online repository? To a certain extent, some of the files are customized for a particular formula or extraction - but there is still the possibility for substantial overlap. For now, start at Health Canada (in many ways more enlightened on this particular regulatory topic), where monographs on many plants are included with references that back up a range of claims. Note, however, that most of these claims are unacceptable to FDA - such as Ashwagandha's effect as a sleep aid - but you can rephrase it as "helps with occasional sleeplessness" and use the Health Canada reference as part of your claim substantiation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/monosReq.do?lang=eng&monotype=single" target="_blank">http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/monosReq.do?lang=eng&monotype=single</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px;">Now, we can look at the <b>specifics of label regulations</b> themselves. There are rules for how a food label generally, and a dietary supplement label specifically, must be structured. There are also variations in requirements depending on the label size. And there is a specific <b>exemption</b>: if there are no nutrient claims or structure/function claims on the label, <i>and </i>there are no wholesale sales, <i>and </i>total annual sales are less than $500,000 or there are less than 100,000 units of a product sold, then having a supplement facts label is not required. If you want to sell your products through a store or distributor, this exemption is not an option. It really only applies to herb shops, farmer's markets, and direct-to-consumer sales.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px;"><b>General rules on food labeling</b>, including the details on exemptions (found in subsection (j)) are in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21, Part 101, subpart 9 (abbreviated as 21CFR101.9). Find the whole thing here:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.5px;"><a href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.9" target="_blank">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.9</a></span><br />
<b>Specific rules on dietary supplement labeling</b> are in 21CFR101.36, which is available here:<br />
<a href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.36" target="_blank">http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.36</a><br />
I'll go over these regulations while looking at some specific label examples, which makes it much more clear. But a few pieces to note:<br />
- less that 12 square inches on a label allows you to use 4.5 point font. Anything bigger than 40 square inches requires 6 point at a minimum for text, and 8 point at a minimum for the serving size text in the supplements facts box.<br />
- note the requirements for hairlines, lines, and columns in the supplements facts box. There are some good examples included in 21CFR101.36<br />
- list plants by common name and include the part (root, rhizome, leaf, seed, flower, etc...)<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">- many herb supplements only need a proprietary blend listed, along with a symbol pointing to a footnote that says "% Daily Value not established". If you add honey or other sweeteners, you </span><i style="text-align: center;">may</i><span style="text-align: center;"> need to list the carbohydrates/sugars, and perhaps the calories, per serving (if the amount per serving exceeds 1g of carbohydrates, and/or if it exceeds 5 calories). The website </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.com/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">nutritiondata.com</a><span style="text-align: center;"> gives good carb/sugars counts for various foods (and a whole lot of other stuff, here's an example for honey: </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5568/2" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5568/2</a><span style="text-align: center;">). Just remember, if your serving is 2ml, and there's less than 1g of carbohydrates in there, you don't have to list them on the supplements facts panel.</span><br />
<br />
So, with a little of the background information available, let's take a look at some example labels for two different sizes of a dietary supplement that also contains a little honey. Because writing it all out would take too long, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sS7hFR1TBAVm9jOEhXMmMyUFk/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here is a voice walk-through</a> identifying all the important pieces of a (in this case liquid) herbal dietary supplement:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSJWhVTUIGQ7y1jUMRs5irLJIBcSSuHmKpoEVykADebnTZ-4pgwYtXt7-f794wD7Kstf3iMYXHUIGMez3zqQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
And here are the labels: first, a larger size with a complete supplements facts panel.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZMDT2Cmlkq65CGU4Z_5JcWb_2_WFCfkZWQV1rgHTkPFQ2XlI99ybruSGawOeqY1CYWMbru87Frvv9rh1UvQBx0G2C6yV429nqev0yp6Bo-DGbmZN_9c-gTgvnCNJwKqYyeTTDnLV0kU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-25+at+10.48.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZMDT2Cmlkq65CGU4Z_5JcWb_2_WFCfkZWQV1rgHTkPFQ2XlI99ybruSGawOeqY1CYWMbru87Frvv9rh1UvQBx0G2C6yV429nqev0yp6Bo-DGbmZN_9c-gTgvnCNJwKqYyeTTDnLV0kU/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-11-25+at+10.48.44+AM.png" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Next, a small size with a "linear" supplement facts declaration (only for labels smaller than 12 square inches, though you could make a case to use this way if it's under 40 square inches and there's no room for a big panel).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrcBF1txWWm0fnx1qbETJKvzDi_VZ6_M3PK0EBL55KpRLjO-zSdBKsvZXnf5kwzbMklXXvq1OWvl8zl-K_k_trZ5G-TwUzxaAuYA_pb6NO12iyAqjWfkFhID681qAjJk-UYayUYIwbxg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-25+at+10.48.25+AM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrcBF1txWWm0fnx1qbETJKvzDi_VZ6_M3PK0EBL55KpRLjO-zSdBKsvZXnf5kwzbMklXXvq1OWvl8zl-K_k_trZ5G-TwUzxaAuYA_pb6NO12iyAqjWfkFhID681qAjJk-UYayUYIwbxg/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-11-25+at+10.48.25+AM.png" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next week we'll start to talk about the ingredients and packaging that go into making dietary supplements: from herbs and other ingredients, to your labels, bottles, closures and seals. We'll look at specifications and hopefully get to some ideas on testing. Another piece to cover (if we can get to it) is getting to know your vendors and "qualifying" them to help streamline future work. As always, questions and comments are welcome and I will do my best to include your experience in the conversation. Anyone who has had labels vetted by FDA inspection or legal counsel is really encouraged to send examples to guido at urbanmoonshine dot com. Thank you!<br />
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-1841830499851118962015-12-02T23:48:00.000-05:002015-12-16T21:34:06.538-05:00FDA cGMP project - overview**<i>NOTE: all the information presented under the "FDA cGMP compliance open source project" is not intended to be legal advice, nor is it in any way guaranteed that my interpretation of the statute and system for compliance is going to satisfy any individual FDA inspector or compliance officer. These pages are a synthesis of my own understanding of the regulations and how to achieve compliance.</i><br />
<br />
The landscape of FDA compliance may seem vast, and, indeed, it is. I will tell you, however, that it is not as vast as the landscape of human health and disease: it is much easier to understand than medicine and healing are, and certainly easier to learn. If we are to approach this landscape, which includes forms, research papers, logs and checklists, documentation and reference samples, specifications and lab journals, scales and thermometers, and more, I contend that the best way to begin is to do what herbalists do best: start by finding broad patterns, understand intent and intention, and look at the landscape from high above.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
Being an herbalist means you can really improve a friend's condition without fully describing the fine details of their pathophysiology: you can observe the state of their tissues, address imbalances using macro-level energetic descriptions, dovetail them with safe herbs, and achieve excellent results. As you gain experience and deepen your study, you add detail and complexity. It can be a similar process - thought much simpler - to understand what goes into FDA compliance. Bringing that understanding into action can be more difficult - but less so if you know the big picture all along. Essentially, complying with regulations isn't a proscribed set of steps - you have to have a, b, and c done in exactly this way. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), FDA expects manufacturers to think for themselves within established parameters. So we can't just "copy" something and expect it to work for us (though having examples is really useful). There isn't a "secret formula" to achieve compliance. We've got to understand the patterns and intentions behind the regulations.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If there is a central point to FDA compliance - something akin to the herbalist's understanding that a living being will attempt to nurture and increase life if given the chance - it would be that one must present proof. <b>You can do almost anything if you can present proof</b>. Ask yourself: how do I r<i>eally know</i> that this is the case? <i>Where's the proof</i>? It isn't that lab tests are what you need to ensure your dandelion tincture is dandelion. You just need proof: an herbalist looking at that tincture, savoring it, shining light on the dropper may be just as good (in fact, like any good sommelier will tell you, the human palate is way better than a machine). If, that is, you can prove the herbalist is competent. Part of why labs are used so often is that it's actually cheaper than to train a competent herbalist. But for those of us who have followed plants from seed to harvest, who have intimate knowledge of how the veins branch in the leaves, how he flowers change when they dry, how the flavor changes with age - identifying plants is a skill woven into our very fabric. We just have to prove it. Do you have a journal where you record your observations of the plants you harvest and use? Having one will improve your skill, but also serve as an important piece of the <i>proof</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When you make and sell an herbal product, there are four key areas that require attention to proof.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, <b>what goes in to your product?</b> We need to know about everything - from herbs, to bottles, to your chopping surfaces, to labels. It all must be controlled from start to finish: not used until it's proven to be the correct component, secured, sanitized if appropriate, accounted for, and tracked. If you harvested four pounds of <i>Echinacea</i> root, how do you prove it was four pounds? You weighed it? Really? How do you know your scale is accurate? When did you last check? How do you know it's <i>Echinacea</i>? Because you're an herbalist who grew it from seed? Really? Who says? What seeds? </div>
<div>
You get the idea. It may seem daunting, but once you've got the basic pieces together (we can share examples), you don't have to do it again: you calibrate the scale daily with a standardized weight at a standard temperature. You studied herbs for over 10 years - here's the conferences you attended, the field work you did, the teachers you studied with and when, and furthermore, you conduct blind taste tests on yourself a few times a year and you're consistently accurate. These are all examples, but you get the sense of the work. Lay a solid foundation, and you can get to making products confident that what you're using is what you think you're using - and you can prove it to FDA.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next, <b>how is the product made?</b> If you're going to build a cabinet, you won't just go get some wood from the lumberyard, make some cuts, and put it together. Hopefully, you will make a plan first. Ideally, the plan will cover everything you need to make that cabinet: materials, cuts, tolerances, specialized processes. Making herbal products requires a plan, too: to ensure consistency of execution and also to prove that product consistency exists, and that no errors were made. How do you know this gallon jar of <i>Echinacea </i>tincture, made from 2 of your 4 pounds, is the same as the next gallon jar made with the other two pounds? There are some specific requirements here, mostly related to the possibility of human error. For example, one part of the plan should be to gather all your ingredients first, then mix them. This may seem obvious, but let me give you an example: when I was first starting with tincture making, I'd want, say, a pint of 50% alcohol. So I'd take a pint-sized measuring cup, measure out 8oz of grain alcohol (let's assume, just for simplicity, that grain is 100% alcohol), then pour water into the alcohol until I got to 16oz, and there you have it. Do you see a problem with this? If you do, you are correct. We'll need to cover the checkpoints necessary to prove that the product is made consistently and accurately. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, <b>what is the product - and what is it not? </b>We have to describe and define what our tinctures are so that we can check to make sure, once they're pressed and ready to go, that they turned out right. We have to prove that the <i>Echinacea </i>tincture actually is <i>Echinacea</i> tincture. If you've ever tasted <i>Echinacea</i> tincture, you might think I'm silly. But try watering it down 10%. Come back a few days later and taste it again. Is it <i>Echinacea</i> tincture? How do you know? You need some kind of reference standard. We'll cover ways to make one, and in our experience with FDA, this way works - without expensive lab tests. Part of the solution relies on covering your bases in the two previous steps. </div>
<div>
But you will also need to define what your product is not: not contaminated with bacteria, not loaded with heavy metals, not laced with pesticides. These are harder questions to answer, and may require a lab. One of the big questions I have is how to create a way to reduce these costs for small-scale herbalists. We know some things that <i>don't </i>work (for example, believe it or not, FDA doesn't buy the argument that 60% alcohol basically kills all bacteria in a tincture. At least not in blanket fashion. Has anyone made such an argument successfully? I'd love to know). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, <b>where does your product go? </b>You need to establish a way to trace specific lots, with a granularity of each bottling run, to where they go: what stores, what customers. If you bottled half your pressed <i>Echinacea </i>tincture in 2oz dropper bottles on one day, and the other half a week later, they should have different lot identifiers. FDA wants you to be able to account for each and every bottle. Records of bottling = sold product + what's still on the shelf (no more, no less). You sold some product? Really? To whom? Prove it.</div>
<div>
For many businesses, this will be part of an already-existing inventory control and invoicing system. But you can do it using modern e-commerce tools (like Square) too, as long as you enter the lot of the product for each sale. Part of what FDA inspections involve is a mock recall: they'll pick a product and a lot, and ask where every single one went.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The areas where we need proof are, to the best of my understanding, described above. It's pretty broad, but if you keep those four key areas in your mind, you will stay mindful of the intention behind the current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs). Once we start getting into specifics, don't lose sight of those overarching areas of proof that are needed. </div>
<div>
But before that, there is an important area which, as has been suggested, has well-defined guidelines (mostly) and just requires following rules: <b>labeling and language</b>. As David said, "Labels are your brand's face to the world". And, increasingly, so is your website and social media presence. Compliance on this front can be easily achieved, because the rules are fairly clear, especially if you refrain from saying your product does anything at all. Since that's pretty ridiculous, there is a law that says we can make "structure/function" claims about our herbal dietary supplements. What this means is less clear - but there are good resources available to help. Next week I'd like to start here: what does a label need? what is a supplement facts panel and how must it be formatted? what kind of language can go on a label / website / facebook page? If folks have experience and resources, please share them next week and I will add them to the page for everyone to reference. I will start out with some detailed examples (vetted as compliant and FDA-tested), links to the relevant pieces of the statute, and a voice walk-through for both to help navigate the examples. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for reading, feedback always welcome, stay tuned.</div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-29609870107993683682015-11-25T16:37:00.000-05:002015-12-16T21:33:42.792-05:00FDA cGMP compliance open source projectOur strength as herbalists is that we come together. We share processing tips and secret harvest spots (sometimes - depending on who's asking), discuss difficult cases, and generally help each other learn. This has been evident to me all the way from herbalist pot-lucks to the biggest herb conferences. Now I believe it is time for us to come together on another critical issue: the modern regulatory environment, enforced by the FDA, in which we find ourselves.<br />
At <a href="http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/" target="_blank">Urban Moonshine</a> (we make bitters and other tinctures and blends), I can't say we've come to a complete understanding with FDA. The issue of how to identify a liquid formula made from multiple herbs remains. But we have been through every step along the way, and have discovered successful strategies that FDA agrees are valid, and that rely on traditional methods for evaluating and identifying plants - the way herbalists have always done it. These strategies have been tested through multiple inspections. And now it's time for us to share them, share templates of the paperwork, share the research that justifies the specifications we've developed, and help explain what the regulations are, what FDA wants, and how to get there. Not because we've got all the answers, but because we want to open the conversation and create a forum where small-scale producers can get actual news they can use - not just copies of the rules, but actual examples in action. If we can have an ongoing conversation and herbalists across the country can share their collective wisdom, I know we'll have the tools to support anyone who wants to make tinctures for sale in their local communities or across the country.<br />
I won't lie - this is a complicated task, and there are a lot of moving pieces. It's not something you can understand over a weekend and implement with a few days' work. This complexity may have deterred a lot of you, and in the future, may make it impossible for some to keep their heart-centered, small-scale herbal products on the market. FDA welcomes consolidation in the industry - hoping that herbal medicine will become concentrated in the hands of a few, and thus easier to control, easier to oversee.<br />
<br />
**<i>NOTE: all the information presented under the "FDA cGMP compliance open source project" is not intended to be legal advice, nor is it in any way guaranteed that my interpretation of the statute and system for compliance is going to satisfy any individual FDA inspector or compliance officer. These pages are a synthesis of my own understanding of the regulations and how to achieve compliance.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We reject the idea that our medicines can only be made by
large-scale manufacturers. Despite the pressures today, there is a safe way
forward for the community herbalist to make medicine, to keep this vital and direct link between plant
and health alive. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, we must show that we herbalists – not physicians, not
research scientists, not machines, but herbalists – understand the plants we use, and know
the intimate details of their growth, their smell, their taste, their essence.
We must show how herbalists have a clear, practical and safe way of
successfully matching plants with people. Second, we must support a model that
relies on customized, individualized medicine making for the local community: a
practitioner-based, rather than product-based, economic relationship that
focuses on plants, not pills; that encourages client self-care and
self-resilience, rather than product-based dependence. And third, we must reach out to our partners in
all fields, to weave green tendrils into places where they’ve all too long been
absent: in the halls of medicine, in the offices of urban planning, in the minds of FDA compliance officers, in the
backyards of clients everywhere. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So starting today, we are committing to unfold an ongoing open-source project to achieve FDA compliance for small-scale producers. Every Wednesday I will post information here, including some audio recordings, starting with an overview of the regulations in layperson's terms and a clarification of what FDA is after, then progressing through the moving pieces from documentation to batch records, all the while providing specific examples of documents that have worked for us and helping to tailor them to your needs. This is starting today, and will continue for as long as it takes. I urge you to take part in the conversation: post comments, questions, concerns, and examples. Ask for more detail, ask <i>why</i>, not just <i>how</i>. We will do our best to answer. But ultimately, we are doing this because everyone involved will get stronger as a result. Our collective experience, once open-sourced, will home in on amazing solutions with the ruthless efficiency of nature. This will help Urban Moonshine as much as it will help everyone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Posted below find an outline of the curriculum you can expect. Check back here in a week for our first installment and an overview of the compliance landscape. Contact us if you want to help. But before you go further, I ask you to please consider the idea that this could be done more efficiently than blog posts, uploaded documents, and audio recordings. <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2032475629/railyard-herbal-apothecary-classroom-clinic" target="_blank">We are trying to build a fully-interactive online classroom for just this type of conversation</a> - where you can be present, ask questions and get answers in real time, and ensure this open-source process is a two-way street. In fact, we need you here contributing: how do <i>you</i> make medicine? How can we make FDA compliance work for <i>you</i>? It's going to be a lot less effective for this to just be an exposition of information - we all need to know what <i>your </i>experience looks like so we can build a truly resilient and adaptable compliance model for actual herbalists. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This endeavor needs a lot of infrastructure, and we can't afford to do it alone. From fit-up costs for the space, to AV and telepresence equipment, we are relying on your help to make this a rich, interactive process. There will be a lot of other good stuff along the way, too - but what excites me most is the opportunity to create an open-source compliance conversation that happens every week, with intensive on-site experiences as required, and is available free of charge to anyone who wants to join up. But as you know, nothing is actually free. So please consider supporting Railyard - our herb center project. Hiring consultants for FDA compliance can cost thousands of dollars - even a weekend workshop can cost hundreds. If everyone from a group of engaged herbalists who want to maintain control over their own medicine-making contributed even half that much to the project, we can make Railyard happen. Think about it, and I hope to see you next week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2032475629/railyard-herbal-apothecary-classroom-clinic">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2032475629/railyard-herbal-apothecary-classroom-clinic</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tentative curriculum (we can customize it together):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Intro to federal regulations<br />
<br />
A detailed breakdown of the federal regulations under CFR 21 part 111 (good manufacturing practices), part 101 (labeling requirements), and parts 174-186 (food contact surfaces and packaging requirements) will give the us the tools to critically evaluate a sound master manufacturing record, compliant dietary supplement label, and scientifically valid testing regime.<br />
<br />
<br />
Herbal Product Manufacturing<br />
<br />
The details involved in making a range of herbal products: research, formulation, safety considerations, process control steps required for compliance (FDA cGMPs), extraction, dosage forms, considerations of large-scale operations, packaging supplies.<br />
<br />
<br />
Facilities and Equipment<br />
<br />
We will become familiar both with the basic tools needed for manufacturing and larger-scale equipment such as floor scales, macerating vessels, presses. Maintenance and calibration requirements and tracking.<br />
<br />
<br />
Records and Paperwork<br />
<br />
We will cover the recordkeeping methodology for maintaining a cGMP compliant manufacturing operation, based on requirements from CFR 21.111, and grounded in specific examples currently in use. We will become familiar with creating: master manufacturing records and their associated batch production records; specification sheets for raw, in-process, and finished products as well as eccipients, solvents, and packaging materials; and valid testing methods and documentation.<br />
<br />
<br />
Marketing, Sales, and DSHEA-compliant language<br />
<br />
We will cover design and marketing concepts and suggestions, as well as thoroughly review what constitutes compliant language under DSHEA (regarding promotional material, labels, social media and websites, video, and product trainings).<br />
<br />
<br />
Quality Control Laboratory<br />
<br />
We will become thoroughly familiar with the requirements for identity testing under CFR 21.111, be able to access and compile relevant resources to aid in identity testing (voucher specimens, e.g.), and understand how to contract with third-party laboratories for identity, microbiological, heavy metal, pesticide and herbicide contamination testing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Orientation to Industry<br />
<br />
We will familiarize ourselves with the resources and connections in national professional organizations for the herbal products industry, such as AHPA, as well as legal and consultant resources that might prove useful. Additionally, we will talk about the requirements and practicalities of launching an herbal product: from interfacing with large retailers such as Whole Foods Market, to making barcodes for products, and more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-51413853757645602502015-10-15T14:39:00.003-04:002015-10-15T16:23:27.556-04:00Herbal bitters: their role in appetite, blood glucose management, and obesity<p dir="ltr"><i>I am excited to be traveling to the annual American Herbalists' Guild symposium. I'll be presenting a few classes, but below are the notes for a review of the recent research on herbal bitters. Lots of interesting material has come out in the last few years to improve our understanding of how these medicinal plants work in our physiology. I include some practical clinical observations and implications as well.</i><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Summary: Bitter herbs have a well-deserved reputation as digestive aids in most systems of traditional medicine, and in many systems of cuisine. The ability of bitters to support balanced secretion and motility, especially in the gastric phase of digestion, relies on a few important mechanisms that are mediated through taste receptors (T2R family) and involve neuronal, hormonal, and vascular effectors. New research is uncovering additional interesting facts about bitter tasting herbs: first, not all bitter flavors are alike, and a certain degree of variability exists in their effects and spheres of action. Second, additional mechanisms involving adipose tissue, inflammatory mediators, the microbiome, and hepatic glucose balance reinforce the idea that certain bitter herbs may be one of the best strategies for the management of blood sugar and lipid imbalances, the regulation of appetite, and the reversal of the metabolic syndrome.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Background: bitter taste receptors: traditional and modern understanding</p>
<p dir="ltr">The current understanding of our ability to sense taste transcends the classical notions that specific areas on the tongue correspond to specific flavors, or that taste perception is indeed localized to the tongue. Wolfgang Meyerhof studies molecular genetics at the German Institute of Human Nutrition and has provided extensive research into the structure, coding sequences, and function of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs, aka T2Rs, a family of G-protein coupled receptors). Some interesting points include the facts that T2Rs present numerous different isoforms, able to sense over 100 different bitter tastants and their combinations [Ref: Meyerhof W, Batram C, Kuhn C, Brockhoff A, Chudoba E, Bufe B, Appendino G, Behrens M. 2010 The molecular receptive ranges of human TAS2R bitter taste receptors. Chemical Senses. 35(2):157-70]; they relay information from the tongue to the nucleus tractus solitarius (medulla) and from there to the hypothalamus using proteins such as alpha-gustducin; and participate in parasympathetic activities such as increased oral and gastric secretions [Ref: Meyerhof, Wolfgang, et al. "Human bitter taste perception." Chemical Senses30.suppl 1 (2005): i14-i15.] More recent research by Meyerhof and others indicates that, unlike most stimulus/receptor pairs in human physiology, the expression of T2Rs increases (to a point) the more stimulus is presented: that is, the more we taste bitter, the more we are able to experience its effects [Ref: Behrens M, Meyerhof W. Bitter taste receptors and human bitter taste perception. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006 Jul;63(13):1501-9.] What we may, in fact, be noticing is that the human physiology _under_expresses T2Rs until an adequate amount of bitter stimulus is present, at which point a "normal" level of expression is achieved.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Perhaps more interestingly when we consider the inflammatory nature of chronic disease, especially the metabolic syndrome, emerging research is indicating that high levels of pro-inflammatory compounds also serve to _over_express T2Rs, leading to a highly aversive response to even small amounts of the bitter flavor [Ref: Feng, Pu, et al. "Regulation of bitter taste responses by tumor necrosis factor." Brain, behavior, and immunity (2015).] Taste-sensitive cells throughout the body have highly tuned TNF receptors (tumor necrosis factor, a pro-inflammatory compound).<br>
Reducing inflammatory load seems to reduce bitter taste receptor expression, which is of interest when we consider that the effects of phytochemicals associated with bitter taste often are anti-inflammatory.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The neuronal feedback elicited by T2R stimulation (via cranial nerves VII-facial, IX-glossopharyngeal and X-vagus) helps control the cephalic and gastric phases of digestion, coordinating secretion and motility by increasing the former and decreasing the latter. This process has been extensively studied and is well-reviewed by Catia Sternini [Ref: Sternini, Catia. "Taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. IV. Functional implications of bitter taste receptors in gastrointestinal chemosensing." American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 292.2 (2007): G457-G461.] The net result is improved molecular breakdown of macronutrients in the chyme that enters the intestinal phase of digestion, as well as slower delivery of those digested products. This underlies the traditional indications for digestive bitters: dyspepsia, indigestion and reflux, gas and bloating. But the slower delivery of metabolized carbohydrates to the small intestine also has a role to play in post-prandial (after-meal) glycemia.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It has been clear for some time that T2R stimulation modulates levels of hormones associated with appetite: ghrelin, a hunger hormone, increases at first. But reduced gastric motility leads to a feeling of fullness, and this, coupled with increased levels of hormones associated with satiety (fullness) such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like-protein 1 (GLP-1), leads to less caloric intake overall [Ref: Janssen, S. et al. Bitter taste receptors and α‑gustducin regulate the secretion of ghrelin with functional effects on food intake and gastric emptying. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 2094–2099 (2011).] The modulation of these hormones was long thought to be connected to neuronal reflexes, but emerging research shows that the taste cells themselves function as enteroendocrine cells, are present throughout the GI tract, and secrete appreciable levels of their own hormones into the gastrointestinal circulation. Bitter-tasting substances can harness these enteroendocrine cells and contribute to local secretions that affect absorption, appetite, and the metabolism of fat and carbohydrates [Ref: Posovszky C, Wabitsch M, Regulation of Appetite, Satiation, and Body Weight by Enteroendocrine Cells. Part 1: Characteristics of Enteroendocrine Cells and Their Capability of Weight Regulation. Horm Res Paediatr 2015;83:1-10] and [Ref: Palatini, Kimberly, et al. "Diverse Classes of Bitter Phytochemicals Modulate Carbohydrate Metabolism and Immune Responses through Gastrointestinal Bitter Taste Receptors." The FASEB Journal 29.1 Supplement (2015): 405-5.] Thus, bitters may act directly as endocrine triggers, not requiring intervention by the central nervous system.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Another fascinating result of experimental research underscores yet another effect of herbal bitters. A recent review article by Julie Whitehouse and others [Ref: McMullen, Michael K., Julie M. Whitehouse, and Anthony Towell. "Bitters: Time for a New Paradigm." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015 (2015).], lends evidence to the hypothesis that certain bitters (particularly the more strongly-flavored, classic "eupeptic" herbs gentian and wormwood) increase blood flow to the GI tract. This post-prandial hyperemia is achieved, interestingly, via peripheral vasoconstriction and localized (mediated by enteroendocrine cells again) vasodilation. The overall shifting of circulatory volume can act as a negative cardiac chronotrope and inotrope (reducing frequency and strength of heart muscle contractions), and is most likely the reason (rather than increased tone along the vagus nerve) why this phenomenon has been observed after the consumption of bitters. Practically speaking, this suggests that herbal bitters should include at least one of these classic "eupeptics" for maximal effect - for not all bitter tastants elicit the same effects, and not all reduce ingestion of calories equally, as Lindsay Schier observed [Ref: Schier, Lindsey A., Terry L. Davidson, and Terry L. Powley. "Ongoing ingestive behavior is rapidly suppressed by a preabsorptive, intestinal “bitter taste” cue."American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 301.5 (2011): R1557-R1568.]. Additionally, Whitehouse notes that the vascular shift is almost instantaneous (within 5 minutes) after T2Rs in the tongue are stimulated by strong bitter flavors. This implies that one can take bitters before, during, or even after a meal and that the effects can still be beneficial (consuming them 10-15 minutes before eating is not necessary).<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Clinical implications: Appetite, glycemia, lipidemia, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome</p>
<p dir="ltr">It appears that our ability to detect and respond to bitter tastants such as those found in bitter herbs is variable, and connected to the internal and external environment. This is the first step in realizing their therapeutic potential: as we age, the expression of T2Rs decreases naturally, and sometimes (in the absence of any bitter stimulus) appears to decrease beyond "normal" expression. This "normal" level can, however, be restored by applying regular bitter taste stimuli. The "bitter deficiency syndrome" hypothesized by James Green in The Male Herbal (J. Green, 2007) has indeed been documented. Women [Ref: Feeney E, O'Brien S, Scannell A, Markey A, Gibney ER. 2011 Genetic variation in taste<br>
perception<u>:</u> does it have a role in healthy eating? Proceedings of the Nutritional Society.<br>
70(1):135-43.] and children [Ref: Negri, Rossella, et al. "Taste perception and food choices." Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 54.5 (2012): 624-629.] have much lower levels of obesity when they perceive higher levels of bitterness. Additionally, individuals with high bitter sensitivity have improved blood glucose control, as extensively investigated by Cedrick Dotson at the University of Florida [Ref: Dotson, Cedrick D., et al. "Bitter taste receptors influence glucose homeostasis." PloS one 3.12 (2008).].</p>
<p dir="ltr">The intersection between bitters and inflammation is of particular interest, as is the potential for a post-prandial GI hyperemia (and a resultant reduced load on the heart and arterial system). First, a strong aversive response to bitterness by an individual who has little experience with the flavor may be indicative of a high background level of pro-inflammatory compounds such as TNF. As the aversion decreases, one could expect that the cholagogue, GI anti-inflammatory, hepatic "cooling" effect might be contributing to reduced inflammation (an interesting balance point between increased expression through T2R stimulation and decreased expression via reduced TNF). Second, reduced inflammation plus reduced cardiovascular load and stress are essential components to any therapy designed to address the metabolic syndrome - and through a wide range of mechanisms, bitters appear to do just that. The connection between the bitter flavor and the heart in some traditional healing systems is of note here, as well. Kimberly Palatini's research, mentioned above, suggests that bitters modulate immune responses in the GI tract and in the physiology overall - while balancing and regulating every aspect of carbohydrate absorption and metabolism, increasing glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Of course, improved insulin sensitivity is a direct consequence of reducing high levels of pro-inflammatory compounds: TNF, as well as series-2 prostaglandins, have all been linked to insulin resistance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Regulation of appetite, leading to the epidemiologic results observed (lower obesity rates), occurs by a variety of mechanisms. The first is related to motility: through cranial nerve feedback, bitters delay gastric emptying leading to a more rapid sensation of fullness. But just as importantly, wide-ranging effects on satiety, appetite, and carbohydrate metabolism, storage and processing are mediated through enteroendocrine cells - which turn out to be sophisticated "tastebuds" with chemoreceptors on the luminal side and the ability to secrete hormones on the basolateral side. T2Rs are found on P/D cells in the stomach, which secrete hormones involved in fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity (increasing both); on I cells in the duodenum which reduce food intake and stimulate CCK; and on the all-important L cells in the small and large intestines, which secrete PYY (satiety) and GLP-1 (insulin sensitivity) [Ref: Posovszky, Carsten, and Martin Wabitsch. "Regulation of appetite, satiation, and body weight by enteroendocrine cells. Part 1: characteristics of enteroendocrine cells and their capability of weight regulation." Hormone Research in Paediatrics 83.1 (2015): 1-10.]. The recent research and potential of bitter tastants in regulating appetite, obesity and the metabolic syndrome are well-reviewed by Sarah Calvo and Josephine Egan in Nature Reviews [Ref: Calvo, Sara Santa-Cruz, and Josephine M. Egan. "The endocrinology of taste receptors." Nature Reviews Endocrinology 11.4 (2015): 213-227.].</p>
<p dir="ltr">And while bitters have important effects on preventing (and perhaps treating) insulin resistance and diabetes, as we have seen from the mechanisms above, I have also seen them correct episodes of transient, non-emergent hypoglycemia on many occasions. Since hypoglycemia in a non-insulin-dependent patient may actually be evidence of disregulated glucose homeostasis and metabolism (a consequence of insulin over-secretion earlier), this does not come as a surprise. Another mechanism whereby bitters correct transient hypoglycemia may involve "tricking" the hypothalamus into believing food is being consumed. This effect may seem like a simple novelty, but it becomes very clinically relevant when you consider the intense sugar cravings experienced during these episodes. If we had a tool to trick the hypothalamus into believing the craving had been satisfied, our patients could make more rational judgements for nutrition (nuts or other sources of fat and protein). Bitters can provide just such a tool.</p>
<p dir="ltr">T2R receptors, and enteroendocrine G-protein-coupled receptors in general, are receiving sustained attention as potential targets for reversing insulin resistance. Exciting research is coming out of Cedrick Dotson's office (mentioned above), who is stimulating T2R receptors with bitter tastants and comparing the insulin-sensitizing effects to the opposite effects found by stimulating sweet taste receptors (T1Rs) [Ref: Dotson CD, Vigues S, Steinle NI, Munger SD. T1R and T2R receptors: the modulation of incretin hormones and potential targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2010; 11: 447–454.].</p>
<p dir="ltr">Finally, many bitters (especially the more "nutritive" bitters, such as dandelion, chicory, elecampane, angelica and burdock) possess appreciable quantities of pre-biotic starches and can deliver these important nutrients when consumed at clinically relevant doses. Oligosaccharides such as inulin can have useful regulatory effects on bowel function, and over time contribute to lower blood glucose, lower lipid levels, and better satiety [Ref: Nishimura, Mie, et al. "Effects of the extract from roasted chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) root containing inulin-type fructans on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and fecal properties." Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2015).]. This may be in part due to mechanical effects (such as an osmotic laxative effect), but may also be due to changes in enteroendocrine cell hormone production associated with a shift in microbial populations. A fascinating study by Patrice Cani hinted at just this type of effect in a small (n=10) group [Ref: Cani, Patrice D., et al. "Gut microbiota fermentation of prebiotics increases satietogenic and incretin gut peptide production with consequences for appetite sensation and glucose response after a meal." The American journal of clinical nutrition 90.5 (2009): 1236-1243.] As Steven Abrams noted, this effect is best observed with long-term, habitual use: prebiotics, when combined with calcium (see dandelion root), reduce body mass index better than a placebo control (n=96, one year)[Ref: Abrams, Steven A., et al. "Effect of prebiotic supplementation and calcium intake on body mass index." The Journal of Pediatrics 151.3 (2007): 293-298.].</p>
<p dir="ltr">Conclusion: The digestive-enhancing effects of bitters are well documented, but may be just the beginning of what these traditional preparations have to offer. When consumed in a formula that includes both "eupeptic", strong bitters such as gentian and wormwood, and "nutritive" bitters rich in pre-biotic starches, and taken habitually in material doses, they exert clinically relevant effects on the metabolic syndrome. Appetite, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism all are regulated. Inflammation and cardiovascular load are reduced. Bitters accomplish this through a variety of mechanisms, including neuronal, endocrine, immunologic, and vascular. They most likely need not be consumed too far ahead of a meal, but at any point before, during, or after, and at relatively high doses for the most substantial effects. Given the resurgence of interest in these traditional preparations from those well-versed in the beverage alcohol and cocktail world, we as herbalists may have at our disposal a powerful, flavorful tool for addressing obesity and the metabolic syndrome - one our patients can relate to, and easily incorporate into their lives as a daily habit.<br></p>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-36086533489252172772015-09-23T21:30:00.000-04:002015-09-23T21:30:13.594-04:00Plant saponins<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;"><i>This is the transcript of a talk I gave recently (at the Traditions herb conference in New Mexico), and focuses specifically on a class of plant chemicals: the saponins. However, it is also a great example of how plant chemistry, in general, works: "promiscuous" phytochemicals (as Chatterjee describes them) finding effects in multiple areas of the body, and being affected by the body in turn. This is the beauty of herbal medicine: the context matters as much as the chemical does. No wonder we obsess about "constitutions", "energetics", and other systems-based ways of describing phytohominid interactions.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">We
are moving away from the idea that isolated, targeted chemicals – be they
steroids, antibiotics, or other agents active at specific receptor sites in the
human body – are the only way (or even the most efficient way) to achieve health-promoting
effects. This is progress. But herbalism
has more to offer to the field of medicine than simple polypharmacy: medicinal
plants and their chemical cocktails don’t just <i>act</i> <i>on</i> the system, the
way a drug might, they <i>interact with </i>it.
This means that, when taken habitually the way most herbal prescriptions are,
herbs enmesh themselves into our tissues and processes, and their effects have
as much to do with what the body does to the herbs as with what the herbs do to
the body. Plant saponins are perhaps the best example of this, acting on every
level from the formula to the internal organs and everything in between,
changing their conformation and altering their behavior as they move through
the physiology and interact with its denizens. If we can understand how a human
being and a cocktail of botanical saponins relate to one another, then we don’t
just open a door to new formulation tricks and pharmacodynamic mechanisms – we get
a visceral sense of how truly non-static herbal chemistry is, how it flows and
changes, how different contexts affect it in different ways. And this may be
the most important piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/3/1891/ag" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/3/1891/ag" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">What is a
saponin?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">In
its simplest form, these chemicals consist of a water-loving (hydrophilic)
chunk attached to an oil-loving (hydrophobic) chunk. Often, the hydrophilic
piece is a sugar molecule, or perhaps a short chain of sugar molecules, and
there can be more than one chain on each saponin. The hydrophobic side is
usually a hydrocarbon – either a net of carbon rings (triterpenoid) or a
steroid-like structure. But since one piece of the molecule mixes well with
water and the other doesn’t, saponins (as the name implies) can have noticeable
soap-like effects, forming foams and acting as cleansers (soapwort, <i>Saponaria</i>, has long been prized as an
easy and abundant botanical detergent). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
basic test for saponins in a plant is easy. Make a strong infusion (leaves) or
decoction (roots/barks) of the plant in question. Strain into a 250ml graduated
cylinder, and cool. Shake it vigorously for one minute. If a honeycomb-shaped
bubble lattice at least 2cm (a little less than 1 inch) persists in the
cylinder for ten minutes, you can be positive that the plant is rich in
saponins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Have
you ever tasted soap? You may not have. It is quite bitter, eliciting the
typical aversive responses of moderate-to-strong bitter flavors. Saponins, with
a few exceptions (like licorice), are generally just as bitter. Their flavor is
an important part of their medicinal effects, especially early on in their
journey into the human physiology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">It
is still a matter of debate as to why plants produce these molecules. Some
believe they act as browsing deterrents, because of their bitterness. Others
have documented antifungal and antibacterial qualities which may help protect
plants from infection. Still others hypothesize that the hydrophobic backbone
serves as a sort of “ferry” for the sugar molecules, allowing them to cross
barriers they normally couldn’t. I suspect that all these stories are true, at
least in some part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The physics of
saponins</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"> <b>in water solutions<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
foam you see when shaking a cup of licorice tea is only the most macroscopic
part of the picture. Inside the cup, the soap-like molecules are arranging
themselves into interesting little “bubbles”, known as <i>micelles</i>, with the hydrophilic sugar tails sticking out into the
water and the hydrophobic backbones clustering together in the middle of the
bubble. This is quite interesting in and of itself, as we will see, but imagine
for a moment if there were other molecules in the tea – say, for instance, that
you had added some propolis tincture to really help with your client’s
bronchial cough – that weren’t very water-soluble. If you’ve ever tried adding
a dropper of propolis tincture to a glass of water, you’ll know that the resins
it contains immediately separate from the solution, turning the glass cloudy
and leaving a ring of sticky material behind. If you add that same dropper to a
strong, foamy licorice decoction and shake it up quickly, the effect is much less
pronounced: the hydrophobic resins are trapped inside the saponin micelles,
mixing with the hydrophobic backbones, and stay in solution much better. This
effect is known as <i>emulsification</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">These
two effects – the foaming, and the emulsification – have numerous practical
applications, and you don’t need a lot of saponin to achieve them. For
instance, soft drink manufacturers add saponins to their products to improve
the quality and persistence of the foam “head” [Ref: A.J. Mitchell, Formulation
and Production of Carbonated Soft Drinks]. I favor a combination of hawthorn,
gotu kola, and turmeric for chronic ligament and connective tissue injury, and
for a long time formulated this tincture blend with two parts hawthorn and
turmeric, and one part gotu kola. But the turmeric tincture, extracted at a
much higher percentage of alcohol, would always separate, sometimes clogging
the dropper, once it got diluted by the other two and all its hydrophobic
constituents fell out of solution. The problem was solved by adding horse
chestnut tincture, from a saponin-rich seed,
to the mix (one part out of five). The curcuminoids stayed in solution,
no more clogging, and horsechestnut’s anti-inflammatory power helped make the
formula even more effective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
British Pharmaceutical Codex recommends a ratio of 1 part <i>Quillaja</i> tincture (the soapbark tree, from Chile) to 8 parts resins
or fatty acids to achieve an effective emulsion. This highlights the
effectiveness, even at low concentration, of saponins as blending agents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
emulsifying, blending quality of plant saponins in a multi-constituent herbal
formula, especially if it contains high- and low-alcohol tinctures mixed
together, is really useful. And it may underlie the traditional wisdom of using
plants like licorice as “harmonizers” and “binders” in the formula: not only
does the pleasant flavor help in compliance, but the physics of the saponins in
solution ensures that all constituents remain equally suspended in the blend –
in harmony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUNTYTLx-3s8nJghf9dS2e_C5J8bSu5Z5Mg7MoJP258xIg6yoiIoa2NcRP8SVoDkWcZOBUsMREkY_PJbW7lU3tsYM_qc1MdEv-fzdB6ydPftpvvFAG7MvddYxf8xdoaagJ7KlGJmbkgY/s1600/20150923_212154.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUNTYTLx-3s8nJghf9dS2e_C5J8bSu5Z5Mg7MoJP258xIg6yoiIoa2NcRP8SVoDkWcZOBUsMREkY_PJbW7lU3tsYM_qc1MdEv-fzdB6ydPftpvvFAG7MvddYxf8xdoaagJ7KlGJmbkgY/s640/20150923_212154.png" width="395" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Act I – the
gastric phase of digestion</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">First
off, taste. The activity of saponin-rich plants like yucca, fenugreek, and even
ginseng begins with their ability to stimulate bitter taste receptors – soap-like,
after all. From here you get many of the benefits of bitter tastants, and these
actions are reinforced once the saponins reach the stomach and duodenum:
secretions increase, movement of smooth muscle in the gut becomes less
spasmodic and better synchronized, valves close up. This may be part of the
reason why so many saponin-rich plants (again, with the exception of licorice)
are good at controlling blood sugar spikes: the food we eat doesn’t get to the
intestinal phase as quickly, so it doesn’t flood the bloodstream with glucose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Another
interesting topical effect of saponins relies on the intimate connection
between the mucous membrane of the GI tract and the respiratory system. Pick
your saponin-rich herb: licorice, Senega snake root, yucca root, <i>Platycodon</i>, fenugreek – almost all have
at least some degree of expectorant activity. This is probably due to what
Simon Mills calls “acupharmacology” – the fact that our gut lining is connected
to other tissues in the body via nerve fibers, particularly the vagus nerve,
allows a slight irritation to affect those other tissues by reflex. So saponins
encourage the upward movement of material from the lungs by slightly irritating
the stomach lining with their soap-like quality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Yet
another effect relies on the physical properties of saponin micelles. When
bile, which contains appreciable quantities of cholesterol, is released into
the duodenum, some of the hydrophobic cholesterol is trapped in the micelles.
It is then excreted at higher levels in the stool, instead of being re-absorbed
and circulated in the blood. There has been a lot of animal research confirming
this mechanism [Ref: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sautier, C., et al.
"Effects of soy protein and saponins on serum, tissue and feces steroids
in rat."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Atherosclerosis</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>34.3 (1979): 233-241], but it also
helps explain the cholesterol-lowering effect of ginseng saponins [Ref: Kim,
Seung-Hwan, and Kyung-Shin Park. "Effects of Panax ginseng extract on
lipid metabolism in humans."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Pharmacological
Research</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>48.5 (2003):
511-513.]</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">At
this point, the molecules are still very similar to what they were in your tea
or tincture. But once they enter the duodenum and start to meet pancreatic
amylases (starch-digesting enzymes) and eventually gut flora, things start to
get interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Act II – the
intestinal phase of digestion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
entire GI tract is a sophisticated chemosensory organ – meaning, it’s really
good at tasting, and not just the tongue. While bitter taste receptors persist
throughout the gut, you also start to see lots of lymphatic tissue associated
with the mucous membrane once you get past the stomach and its high-acid
environment. In these areas, immune cells proliferate and sample the contents
of the food we eat, all the while interacting with members of the microbiome.
It’s a deep and rich conversation down there, and we are just barely beginning
to understand the language. One thing that seems clear is that many of the
signals that travel back and forth are expressed in sugar chains, or chains of
sugar, fat, and protein – because that’s
what is found on the outside of most viruses and bacteria (with some
exceptions, like the cyst form of <i>Borrellia</i>,
the Lyme disease spirochete, which is naked can thereby evade immune
detection). What is so interesting is that the saponin micelle, with its core
of hydrophobic molecules and all the little sugars sticking out, looks a lot
like a small microbe. Couple this with the fact that it’s never just one kind
of saponin, but the sugar chain shapes and sizes vary dramatically (ginseng,
for example, has over 100 [Ref: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Shin, Byong-Kyu,
Sung Won Kwon, and Jeong Hill Park. "Chemical diversity of ginseng
saponins from Panax ginseng."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Journal
of Ginseng Research</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(2015).])</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">, and you have the potential
for a very fascinating little micelle to interact with the microbiome and the
immune cells in the gut’s lymphatic tissue. Plant saponins are one of the most
powerful ways for the vegetable kingdom to participate in the immunologic
conversation that takes place inside the human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
interaction with the microbiome continues. Many saponins get broken in half
once they meet pancreatic amylases, which can break sugar-to-sugar bonds, or
gut flora, which can digest sugar chains for energy. But not all members of the
microbiome feel the same way about saponins: probably because they are so
ubiquitous in the traditional human diet, our long-term partners (the
beneficial flora) aren’t harmed, and can harvest the sugars for energy. But
yeasts and pathogenic bacteria that may be overgrowing in the case of dysbiosis
can be damaged by saponins, whose soap-like quality melts their outer
membranes. Many saponin-rich plants, like chapparal (<i>Larrea</i>) are excellent anti-parasitics and can help correct
dysbiosis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">When
you stop to think about the recent interest in the microbiome and immune system
for modulating our mental health and perception of stress, our inflammatory
balance, and our overall relationship with the world, you can begin to see how
relevant a cocktail of plant saponins might be. The effects on immunologic
tissue in the GI tract and gut flora balance is a big part of the adaptogenic,
anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating effects of saponin-rich plants like <i>Panax</i> and <i>Astragalus</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Some
[Ref: Robb Wolf, Paleo Solutions] worry that the soap-like quality of plant
saponins can “punch a hole in the lining of your gut,” contributing to
leaky-gut syndrome and inflammation. In fact, these molecules can be quite
toxic to fish and reptiles who lack the ability to metabolize them, and have
been used as fish poisons. In these cases they do actually cause a breakdown
reaction in tissues and blood cells of the animals. Fortunately, mammals seem
immune to these effects (as long as the saponins aren’t injected
intravenously), because our digestive enzymes and gut flora separate the
hydrophilic sugars from the hydrophobic backbones, thereby destroying the
soap-like effect. The hydrophobic metabolites are often absorbed into the
blood, sometimes pretty quickly (less than 90 minutes), but they do no damage once
they’re separated from the sugars [Ref: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lee, Jayeul, et al.
"Studies on absorption, distribution and metabolism of ginseng in humans
after oral administration."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Journal
of ethnopharmacology</i>122.1 (2009): 143-148.] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">It
is these metabolites that feature prominently in the final act – but what is
fascinating is that the metabolites would probably never be absorbed whole into
our bloodstream if they didn’t come attached to those sugar chains. In essence,
the sugars protect the hydrophobic metabolites from digestion and breakdown in
the gastric phase and shield them from microbial metabolism by locking them
into those little micelles. A sort of molecular enteric coating. Without it,
glycyrretinic acid (the metabolite of glycyrrhizin, a licorice saponin) would
never make it into our bloodstream [Ref: </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'MS Gothic';">崎谷陽子</span>, et al. "Rapid estimation of glycyrrhizin
and glycyrrhetinic acid in plasma by high-speed liquid chromatography."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Bulletin</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>27.5 (1979):
1125-1129.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Act III – the
blood and tissues<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Now
stripped of its sugar chains, what was once a saponin is now an <i>aglycone</i> – a sugarless molecule. The
first tissue it encounters may be the liver (though being hydrophobic, many
aglycones are absorbed into lymphatics and wind their way up to the heart
instead. Soon, though, they all will visit the liver). Here, the aglycone
travels across the cell membrane and begins to interact with the expression of
DNA, affecting the types and quantities of proteins that are produced. Some
aglycones from fenugreek saponins, for instance, seem to increase liver cells’
sensitivity to insulin, and decrease cholesterol production – thereby reinforcing
the effects the saponin had in act I. Still in the liver, aglycones may
interact with enzymes responsible for metabolizing sex and steroid hormones,
contributing to a balancing and adaptogenic effect. Sometimes this can be quite
powerful: glycyrrhetinic acid, the aglycone from licorice, slows the breakdown
of secretions from the adrenal cortex such as cortisol (a stress steroid) and
aldosterone (which makes us retain sodium). Taken in large quantities for long
periods, it can cause fluid retention and high blood pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Many
saponin aglycones have noticeable anti-inflammatory effects, through a wide
range of mechanisms. Some inhibit cyclooxygenases – sort of like a gentle
aspirin – while others increase the presence of anti-inflammatory hormones,
still others (like the aescin aglycones from horse chestnut) tone the tissue of
the capillaries and venules, decreasing leakage, swelling, and pain. These
actions synergize with the immunological activity exerted in act II, where the
saponins talked to lymph tissue and microbiome, to reinforce the overall
anti-inflammatory effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Because
of their fat-soluble nature, a good portion (though not all) of saponin
aglycones can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the production,
distribution, and balance of key neurotransmitters, particularly the ones
involved in the stress response. Many adaptogens (like licorice, codonopsis,
ginseng, eleuthero) rely on this activity. That horse chestnut and fenugreek
lack adaptogenic activity speaks to the circulation of their aglycones: they
may not be as effective at modulating the relevant hormones because they simply
can’t get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">In conclusion</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">, we can use the example of plant
saponins to illustrate the complex and multiple ways that herbal medicines
interact with our physiology. They change us, in gentle but profound ways, and
yet they are also themselves changed. Without this two-way interaction, none of
the activities we reviewed would be possible. But what is even more interesting
is that, depending on the context, all or none of these actions may be present:
the same root may work differently in different folks. Codonopsis saponins
might help correct dysbiosis in one individual, by preferentially feeding
beneficial flora and contributing to the destruction of pathogens. This,
coupled with the interaction of saponin micelles with immune cells in gut
lymph, might help restore emotional and spiritual balance for that specific
individual. But for another, it may be the codonopsis aglycone, interacting
with the metabolism of stress hormones, that keeps their mood balanced: adrenal
spikes flatten out, blood sugar normalizes, emotions stop their roller-coaster
ride. The physiology can avail itself of any or all of these actions depending
on what is lacking, or out of balance: and unlike single molecules like
caffeine or convallotoxin, none are ever strong enough to disrupt a system
already in balance. Consider saponins as great harmonizers: first in your
formulas, then in your gut, and finally in your blood vessels, liver, and endocrine
cells. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-20150744266944891562015-07-16T22:02:00.000-04:002015-07-16T22:02:30.360-04:00Waterfowl, new moon<i>... with due respect to the loons ...</i><br />
<br />
The great blue heron, so still, is like<br />
a standing piece of driftwood, silver-gray cyan,<br />
like when wood sees the pond water too long<br />
and then, pushed up by a frost heave,<br />
sun-bleaches and molders, gathering color.<br />
Her neck feathers are fine grain exposed by years,<br />
the pith and heartwood interweaving,<br />
immobile, strong, fixed quiet to watch.<br />
<br />
But when the neck coils down to spring<br />
and wings open, stretching out tips<br />
to catch sun rays in between,<br />
you can feel the air compress<br />
and watch her rise<br />
as if a cord had lifted her from the granite<br />
that lies half sunk beneath the glassy surface.<br />
<br />
In my time I too<br />
hope to rise that way,<br />
fast and light and lifted,<br />
not like the loons, who cry and flap,<br />
and beat the water,<br />
needing their slow, heavy ascent<br />
to raise red eyes over the treeline.Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-91237649789756992592015-04-28T12:27:00.000-04:002015-04-30T22:14:39.834-04:00The Kitipa boma<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"The house is like a dark womb - and heavy, smoky - with a giant red eye at its core."</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8wJ8CDjvc8PBKetMD-H7y6TGBgMna8KTrdorqQTPnJhn4Yk-ROnmqOl7TM-8aRGCDjfeznwgnPUKkE1tn4vkqj17_wu8ngkAwfNN97ws5xSgQ63R7CZEIOIHS2x8tV0yZWZPWOURaXM/s1600/20150425_065842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8wJ8CDjvc8PBKetMD-H7y6TGBgMna8KTrdorqQTPnJhn4Yk-ROnmqOl7TM-8aRGCDjfeznwgnPUKkE1tn4vkqj17_wu8ngkAwfNN97ws5xSgQ63R7CZEIOIHS2x8tV0yZWZPWOURaXM/s640/20150425_065842.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This boma - a Swahili word that means fence, or fortification - was about a two hour drive from Wasso hospital. We rode with ten other people in a broken-down Toyota pickup, pausing at river crossings to fill the radiator with the thick, greenish-brown water. The Maasai call their homes "engang" - the dwelling - and we arrived just before sunset, after walking about half a mile over short grasses and rocky outcrops.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kitipa, the patriarch, was waiting, resting on a stoop just outside his home. The huts are arrayed in a circle around a thorny fence that holds the cattle at night - safe from the lion's attack, guarded by young men of the boma. Kitipa's hut is first on the right of the entrance to the cattle enclosure, a place of honor. We gave him our hand to shake, Uli bowed her head in respect and he touched it lightly. Then we moved on to his first wife's house, the next one on the right. She is the mother of my friend Nicholas, who invited us here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"We will go into the house now," Nicholas said. It is hard to describe the home well. A small wooden door guards the entrance - about five feet tall and two feet wide. There are no windows. The outside is covered in cob made of cow dung - worn-down patches are updated with fresh dung from time to time. Thicker sticks are interwoven with a special branch - a wattle, of sorts - which serves as a scaffold for the cob. On either side of the door are branches of the sandpaper tree, Cordia monoica, placed there to protect the home from storms.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We entered into a very small antechamber. It was very dark. Immediately the senses were overwhelmed by an oppressive, acrid, hot smoke, only somewhat relieved by bending over and keeping the head low. Right in front of us, a small door led to the calves: their room occupies a third of the house. A left turn, then a right turn, led to the central dwelling space.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here, surrounded by three gray stone slabs embedded vertically in the ground, the hearth fire was glowing. Two built-in beds, enclosed almost completely by some wattling, faced the fire and also served as sitting places. Built-in wattle shelves held cups, metal plates, calabashes of milk, tools - but you couldn't see anything, even after our eyes acclimatized to the dark. The ceiling had a crisscross network of sticks, wattle, and twigs disappearing into the darkness. Smoky cobwebs hung everywhere. The beds, made of thin sticks laid across a support structure, were covered in rawhide.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"We will not be cooking in here," Nicholas said. "It would be too hot". I was grateful. We were joined by Nicholas' brother Mangoiye, whom I had helped through a deep, feverish illness last year, and spent hours drinking hot, sweet milk, eating beans and rice, and telling stories of Maasai rituals, childhood and marriage, strange shape-shifting flesh-eating demons, warriors and cattle - all while sitting around the unblinking red eye of the hearth-fire embers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Time came for sleep, and we reclined on the rawhide beds. It was warm, pitch black, and we could hear the low breathing of the calves. Nicholas bolted the door shut, from the inside, with a short stick polished from years of use. I fell asleep quickly - though Nicholas reminded me that at least one of the young men from the boma would be outside, guarding the cattle, keeping them safe inside their acacia thorn enclosure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The season had been dry: no rain to green up the grass, to fatten the cattle. Almost everyone we talked to, from Wasso to the outlying bomas, complained that crops were failing, animals were hungry, rain was missing. But when I got up that night, slid the long, smooth stick out of its leather guide, and went outside to go to the bathroom, I was grateful for the cloudless sky. A huge field of stars, the galaxy silver and rippling, bright blazes of meteor trails filled my view from horizon to horizon. No human light in sight. I went back inside, overwhelmed and yet somehow so peaceful. I bolted the door, imagining what a privilege it would be to sleep out under those stars, resting with the cattle.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next morning we woke with the roosters. A bright shaft of sunlight pierced through the home from a small hole in the eastern wall. The inside was so smoky, so dusty - you could see the beam like a shaft of pure glittering gold. We touched it, played with it like little children. Then, after some hot sweet milk, we walked outside. Mangoiye and boys were branding calves, using red-hot irons from a fire started by friction (using myrrh-tree fireboards). Immobilized by ropes, the calves made no sound as their skin, singed, let off trails of smoke into the morning air. Before walking back to the main road to get a ride back home, we talked of trees, medicine, colonial times and old games Kitipa used to play. He has many cattle, many children - a rich man.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cT98nyHx_kBaoXft6lOIT0WEF2Cm6cz4d2QAZhWGElvsypr75Srwq99i-8rRHnclrqLHofNlDmQHb2VHV6wbYZ9aVk4oiENoUsMRQAJ7uKNz7Wpan4C1JAdZffR0G8ddT52AWNYXe4/s1600/20150425_072533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cT98nyHx_kBaoXft6lOIT0WEF2Cm6cz4d2QAZhWGElvsypr75Srwq99i-8rRHnclrqLHofNlDmQHb2VHV6wbYZ9aVk4oiENoUsMRQAJ7uKNz7Wpan4C1JAdZffR0G8ddT52AWNYXe4/s640/20150425_072533.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The road home was dusty, hot and sunny. We were glad to return to hospital work, our home and our friends (and a hot-ish shower). That night we sat and talked by porch light, telling stories of the Maasai: the heat, the smoke, the dirt, the milk, the stars. We had made plans to return, speak with those who know more of the medicine trees, spend more nights in the dark of the boma home. Maasai life. If is difficult, conservative, in many ways oppressive. But in many places it is still an intact tradition - mostly, at least - and it feels special to interface with such a slice of human experience. It was an honor and a privilege.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next morning, we experienced another privilege. The call came in - lion bite! We rushed to the minor theater. A young man, Maasai by dress, was lying on the table. Anne began chest compressions - his heart had stopped - while I took his head and positioned it to open his airway. Suddenly, he drew a huge, raspy breath. Intermittent, struggling breaths followed. I found a rapid, thready pulse on the carotid, Steve counted beats per minute on the radius. 145. We inspected his body: nothing on the legs, but his left arm had a series of deep punctures. Then we came to his head. Eye - lacerated. Pupils - fixed. Fracture above the nose. Through two gashes on either side of his head, white matter, thick and sticky, was exuding. We all realized his injuries were overwhelming: the lion had hit him in the head, his breathing sped then slowed, his heart was jumping fast and erratic. So, over the next twenty minutes, we held him as his breaths came fewer and fewer between, as his heart rate slowed, his pulse weakened. Sister Philippina poured holy water over his forehead. "Because we believe God is great." Steve lost the radial pulse. I lost the carotid. Robin stopped hearing heart sounds. He was gone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then the story came in from the family. He had been outside, underneath the stars, the night before, guarding the cattle in a boma's acacia enclosure. A lion had come and surprised him, he didn't have a chance to protect his head. The lion then took a cow and retreated into the night. The man was strong - he struggled a long time, refusing to give up - but in the end passed on to the fields and forest. As we felt his pulse slip away, a light rain started to fall, beating on the hospital's tin roof.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9mKqmV7hbQpaD2onSdsOCqMHiNMRVa5d9lfonIiA9eCaABG5RWZwah4QFH6lU8XDH_VpwCk3FlnNBZ3PbYfC3Lxg5h3gJ8zStkq8bW9wojAQ1VpV90rqHV72TAaFEkC6avRzAn-8IvE/s1600/20150419_171521%25257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9mKqmV7hbQpaD2onSdsOCqMHiNMRVa5d9lfonIiA9eCaABG5RWZwah4QFH6lU8XDH_VpwCk3FlnNBZ3PbYfC3Lxg5h3gJ8zStkq8bW9wojAQ1VpV90rqHV72TAaFEkC6avRzAn-8IvE/s640/20150419_171521%25257E2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a> </div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-31350455730824831462015-04-23T19:30:00.001-04:002015-04-23T19:30:28.841-04:00Wasso beat<p dir="ltr">Rhythm courses blood red <br>
In waves of morning clouds <br>
Marked by cattle bells. <br>
The day breathes hot and wide, <br>
Shadows race across the hill <br>
Until they tire into long blue threads. <br>
Then the cows return, in line, <br>
Brown and white and black, <br>
Driven down the long cracked wash, <br>
Dusted rusty red<u>.</u> </p>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-51510130313211938742015-04-11T19:25:00.003-04:002015-04-11T19:25:55.067-04:00Herbal Medicine in East Africa - our first weekThe last leg of our journey to Wasso was on a small, six-seater airplane. In fact, we needed two planes to carry our team of four herbalists, one medical doctor, two medical students and my daughter Uli. It was a beautiful day to fly. A slight overcast, with a cloud ceiling at 7,500 feet, prevented the jarring updrafts that can make for very bumpy rides. We kept low, just under the clouds, flying close to mountainsides covered with cedar forests. Crossing over the Rift Valley, we flew just north of Ol Donyo L'Enkai, the Maasai volcano god, and over the spectacular Lake Natron which was swirling with all sorts of colors: blue to muddy brown, pink, white, emerald green, and all the shades between. As we approached the highlands of the Serengeti (Wasso is on the Eastern edge), the clouds and land met and we flew closer and closer to the hills.<br />
Our pilot, Pat Patten, leads the Flying Medical Service and has well over thirty years of service under his belt in this part of the world. Everyone knows him, and he serves not only as a physician but also as a sort of messenger between the far-flung communities in the area. To signal our arrival at Wasso hospital, he flew down close, pulling a hairpin turn right over the hospital on his way to the long, grassy airstrip. "Only a few termite hills left of the center line," Pat remarked. "Should be a smooth landing." It certainly was. We were greeted at the airport and rode the short distance to the hospital in a land rover and on the back of an open Toyota pickup. It was Easter sunday. The town was still.<br />
<br />
After the long weekend, we began our work at the hospital. We were lucky to have had a few days to explore, building our improvised apothecary from the abundant local plants. I noticed that everything seemed about a month behind where it had been last April. Perhaps this was because of a long drought: the rains hadn't come when expected, and rather than beginning in February had waited until March. But now, after just a few strong thunderstorms, the land had burst into green. Resurrection plants were blooming. The aloe sent up tall, riotous red flower spikes. The acacias were covered in delicate, fern-like new leaves - a stark contrast to their long white thorns. We collected Usnea, Bidens, aloe, local mallows and nettles and even a species of Spilanthes. We picked leaves of holy basil off bushes that were ten feet tall. As we were walking by the stream, we found an old Acacia nilotica. The bark is used for intestinal complaints, and has a fantastic combination of tannins and demulcent starches, along with bitter compounds. I'd been chewing on small twigs for myself, and wanted to collect some for patient use. But as we were looking at the tree, an elderly Maasai couple came up to see what we were doing. The mzee (elder) began to explain that the inner bark of the main trunk is the best part to use. But as he attempted to harvest some with his panga (machete), the bibi (grandmother) pushed him aside and pulled out a stout hatchet, long-handled with a metal head. She made short work of the trunk, stripping the rough, dark outer bark from the soft middle layer which we collected for medicine. We left with a backpack full.<br />
<br />
Now here for our first week, we are beginning to get into a good workflow. Minor theater is always busy, especially in the mornings: crush wounds with fractures from stonework; burns, cuts and lacerations. An infant with an extensive wound, from the hip to past the knee, revealing underlying muscle and a completely visible knee articulation. A tibia fracture right above the ankle. We are using honey, aloe, and usnea powder and cutting down on iodine (and completely cutting out the bleach that is still used by hospital staff). But perhaps more importantly, herbalists are following physicians on morning rounds in the inpatient wards - male, female, and pediatric - to take case histories, conduct physical exams, and formulate plans for herbal support. We take turns harvesting and preparing medicine, juicing plants and brewing teas and decoctions, for dispensing on the wards. Many blends are nutritive - Urtica and Chenopodium - for the ever-present malnutrition and anemia. Others support organ function, enhance circulation, and provide herbal antibiotic support, using primarily Bidens pilosa, Leonotis species, and Usnea (the latter for urinary complaints). There are a few cases of cholecystitis, with thickly coated yellow tongues, for which we are using a rough, bitter plant in the genus Aspilia. Ginger compresses provide anti-inflammatory support. And finally, respiratory cases of asthma, bronchiolitis, and tuberculosis receive twice-daily fresh whole-leaf eucalyptus steams. One barrel-chested man who may perhaps have obstructive pulmonary disease and pleurisy is always of good humor, smiling and laughing after his steam treatments. The obvious crackles in the lower left lobe of his lungs have disappeared after two days. A three-year-old boy, bright-eyed and curious, has stopped coughing from a combination of antibiotics and herbal bronchiodilators/antispasmodics.<br />
<br />
I am extremely grateful to Steven Byers, Iris Gage, and Rob Shapero for their work at the hospital. By acting together as a team, we are able to reach all cases that are amenable to herbal support in a way that would be impossible for a lone herbalist. We spend hours wild-haresting in the countryside and making simple medicine. We help hospital staff by cleaning, folding gauze, and treating wounds. We improve the quality of life of patients who rarely have access to pain and inflammation control. And today we will walk the countryside accompanied by my friend Manasse, who was born and raised just a few miles from here, received his degree as a nurse midwife, and has been studying and practicing herbal medicine. He speaks English well and also knows the Maasai language, so with his assistance we can begin a more systematic catalogue of local medical knowledge - relying on recordings to document informed consent. Our long-term goals include training local staff to continue the practice of herbal medicine here. Everyone is so receptive and interested: our role is to help the hospital administration to realize the benefit of traditional knowldege, judiciously applied, for improving patient care. If we succeed, we will be out of a job here. And that is by far the best possible outcome.Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-39284650202476978482015-02-18T09:02:00.000-05:002015-02-18T09:02:24.833-05:00Should you feel lostIt's cold enough to start the car<br />
ten minutes before<br />
it's time to leave -<br />
try to find an island of warmth<br />
in the sharp, vast morning,<br />
set aside respite as you<br />
rush through,<br />
scrape off soft, thin frost<br />
as if it weren't a miracleGuido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-85390066756174640862014-11-24T07:26:00.000-05:002014-11-24T07:30:21.467-05:00A Dram of Bitters<i>A little something to start the week. It comes from Rebecca Seiferle's excellent collection, called "Bitters", which holds poems that explore, and sometimes celebrate, the challenging times of life. And isn't it curious that, at these times, we as humans have turned to bitter herbs? Bitters are endemic. They are a part of us, as surely as we are a part of this green world. If you're traveling far afield this week, may your road shine clear before you. If you are finding comfort in the warmth of your own kitchen, may your hearth fire burn bright. Either way, may you taste sweet earth.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>A Dram of Bitters</b><br />
Rebecca Seiferle<br />
originally published by Copper Canyon Press, 2001<br />
<br />
"Bitters" are not bitter, are not<br />
injurious, ancient instruments<br />
of torture, cruel flavorings<br />
of death, are not "the proper pain<br />
of taste" (according to Bain, the baneful),<br />
but a small bottle of bitters, a drop<br />
or two, makes the orange juice brilliant<br />
in a glass of gin and quiets<br />
the stomach when it is unsettled<br />
by true bitterness - whatever<br />
in the world is "hard to swallow"<br />
or admit, the crumb of cruelty<br />
caught in one's craw, the iron bit<br />
gnashing in one's teeth, the baleful<br />
bile of "what has to be"<br />
tasted to extremity.<br />
Which is probably why<br />
the British, intoxicated<br />
in South America, copyrighted the recipe<br />
into the colonial world<br />
to try and make purgative,<br />
a medicinal substance,<br />
out of their own doubtful history,<br />
caught between sour peevishness<br />
and virulence of action<br />
and of feeling - chugging the wild plenty<br />
of the bitters down. But, no, bitters<br />
is something more than "a noggin<br />
of lightning, a quartern of gin." A secret<br />
recipe distilled from the bark of the tree<br />
of life, the original verb of an aboriginal sensitivity, the surviving<br />
noun of a cloud canopy in Venezuela, the genealogy<br />
of a mindful tribe, the undiscovered draught<br />
of mercy - not extract of gentian<br />
or quinine or wormwood, those Old World<br />
poetic distillations - but something vegetable,<br />
persistent, extending roots into the world.<br />
An autochthonic brew. Who tastes it,<br />
tastes sweet earth.Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-45032018806152672262014-11-17T18:31:00.001-05:002014-11-17T18:31:24.944-05:00Eddies<i>A short stroll on a warm day in early winter. The white flowers of black hellebore. The push and pull leaves eddies.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
When the sun grows weak, extinguished<br />
By time too long spent in southern seas<br />
And tricks you, who know the season<br />
(The last squash rotting in the field,)<br />
There still comes a prodigal warmth<br />
That settles over the green,<br />
Unlocks the frost,<br />
And stills the coldest wind.<br />
Set loose the scent of leaf-mould,<br />
Flower Helleborus black,<br />
The lovelies grace the forest path<br />
As you pull back.Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-59917401502215996202014-08-04T09:26:00.002-04:002014-08-04T09:26:27.013-04:00Hawthorn - Legends, Pharmacology, Recipes<i>The following is a summary of a class on ecological integration, bioflavonoids, and the Hawthorn tree</i>.<i> I will present these stories and review the research at the <a href="http://planthealer.org/herbfolk.html" target="_blank">upcoming 2014 HerbFolk gathering </a>- I hope you can attend!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGsBW_3-cqAD8rtXfIiTFza5UH3u2t8Kdl7pafn3wFl5SGMI5VNpIRicfo2daa23d_qTnHQWzGURujN10U_qMqW6RDaPxzkf0sxgUA07qKGUY2eqOQsEc5kb_y3-DSOfkX-3XOva3tpQ/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGsBW_3-cqAD8rtXfIiTFza5UH3u2t8Kdl7pafn3wFl5SGMI5VNpIRicfo2daa23d_qTnHQWzGURujN10U_qMqW6RDaPxzkf0sxgUA07qKGUY2eqOQsEc5kb_y3-DSOfkX-3XOva3tpQ/s1600/image.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hawthorn blooms in May, often in the first week of the month in warmer climates, though it takes a little longer to get into bloom in Vermont. Often called "lady of the May", the tree has always been associated with a feminine energy, an embodiment of the white Goddess. The May is a time of fertility - newly tilled fields are rich and ready to support abundant growth. Lambs, newly born, are active and running over short, fresh grass. It seems that all of life is pollinating and growing with rich and brilliant green. Over all this cavorting rules the Hawthorn.<br /><br />A compound is secreted by its flowers, almost a pheromone to us and certainly attractive to pollinating insects. You'll find this compound in some other flowers of the <i>Rosaceae </i>- cherry blossoms smell similar, for example. It's called <i>triethylamine</i>, and its odor is very characteristic. When Hawthorn flowers first bloom, locals say the trees smell of arousal, juicy and enticing. So it is perhaps no coincidence that triethylamine is found in abundant concentrations in human semen and vaginal secretions, and is in part responsible for their characteristic odor. The lady of the May gets us thinking about fertility right away.<br />But triethylamine is also a byproduct of the degradation of flesh - or, to put it more bluntly, it can smell like rotten meat. It all has to do with the aromatic context, the floral versus the musky, and can evoke very different reactions. As Hawthorn's blooms begin to fade, the smell shifts, and the locals say the tree smells of death. Hawthorn, with her flame-red berry, reminds us that fire kindles, but it also destroys. Don't bring her into your home when she's in bloom, or death will surely follow.<br /><br />As a ruling, archetypal spirit, for me Hawthorn embodies the flux of creation and destruction more than any other plant. She represents the circulation between activity and rest, between systole and diastole, between love and anger, life and death. Sitting at the bookends of the time of growth, she guards the seasonal shifts - but rooted at the edge of the field, she also guards the border between the wild and the hearth. She loves humans, and thrives with our touch, but she remains forever untamed, her children unruly, her thorns toxic. Her leaves, flowers, and berries yield a medicine that governs the fluxing heart, the person, the community, the culture. No wonder the locals leave any lone Hawthorn well alone: you don't mess with such a powerful ecological thermostat.<br /><br />What does it mean to be such a nexus in the ecology? What does it feel like? I'm not sure Hawthorn knows - at least not in the way we imagine "knowing". Picture an old clearing, now surrounded by forest on all sides, where a Hawthorn has been living for a hundred years. She's more ragged now than in her youth, but still produces abundant berries, and remembers the farmer who planted and tended her many years before. It's late September, early morning, the air is cool and smells moist but not heavy. A thrush on her way south flies in. There are asters and goldenrods in the middle of the clearing, mixed with the grasses. Field mice look up as the thrush alights on a branch. Try to feel that whole thing. Fill in the pieces - what insects are on the plants? On the soil surface? What spiders spin between the branches? Wind and water, morning sun and moist soil, all that grows and moves and lives and dies and rots, if it all wanted to send a message to the thrush, how would it? How would the thrush hear?<br /><br />***<br /><br />The first story comes from the epic of Gilgamesh, which is a four-thousand-year-old tale from the fertile crescent, the land we now call Iraq. Gilgamesh is the ruler of a city, the first city, which he holds almost in defiance of the gods who created the world. In punishment for his arrogance, the gods bring forth Enkidu, who is as wild as Gilgamesh is civilized. Raised by the beasts of the mountains, Enkidu sets out to destroy the city of Uruk and take down its ruler. But Gilgamesh uses a prostitute to seduce Enkidu, and tames him, seeing in his rival a shadow-side of himself. The two become like brothers. Uruk thrives - and the pair of warriors now sets out to cut timber from an ancient cedar grove, and slay the giant who guards it. They succeed, and return to the city with their bounty.<br />Ishtar, the goddess of the evening star, of love and war, who conquered the underworld and was the undoing of many before Gilgamesh, attempts to seduce him upon his return to Uruk. This effort fails. Enraged, she attempts to kill him using a magical bull, but this too fails: Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the bull, and sacrifice it not to the goddess, but to their own glory, and to their city. Ishtar demands retribution, and the gods curse Enkidu with a slow, fatal disease that saps him of energy, wisdom, flesh, and, finally, life. As Enkidu descends into madness, he struggles against the wildness that inexorably eats away at his civilized life.<br />After his companion dies, Gilgamesh despairs. He casts away all the glory of Uruk and wanders through the wilderness, trying to find a way to restore his companion to life, while at the same time confronting his own mortality. He is about to give up his quest when, finally, an ancient hero from the time before the floods reveals to him the secret of immortality: if he journeys to the bottom of the ocean, he will find a white-flowered Hawthorn that bestows eternal life. Gilgamesh plunges into the depths, and emerges with the flowering branch, immortal and radiant. <br />Immediately he seeks to bring this power back to Uruk, to share the secrets of his quest. But in a final cruel twist, a serpent steals the Hawthorn branch away from him. The specter of death returns. He makes his way to Uruk, wiser but also resigned to his human fate.<br /><br />This is a story of the taming of the wild, but it also reminds us that the wild - whether we find it in the wasteland, or in the depths of our internal ocean, is the sine-qua-non of eternal life. And there, guarding, giving and taking away, is the Hawthorn tree. What does it mean to be immortal? How would we achieve long life, even immortality? How would the thrush hear?<br /><br /><br />***<br /><br />An ecology may not be immortal, but it certainly transcends our human experience. Just as the Hawthorn holds the key to immortality in the old mythology, it may also hold the messages that the ecology uses to knit its components together. These messages are how the thrush hears, it is how we hear, and if we listen to them and allow our organisms to commune with them the way the thrush communes with the Hawthorn berry on her way south, we may indeed achieve a measure of immortality. At least a transcendence that allows us to become a fully integrated part of the ecology. We have been walking around half-dead, unable to mix with the energies and fluxes of the world around us, sort of like a brain half-removed from its blood supply, sluggish, forgetful, tired.<br /><br />The ecology has hormones, just as any living being has hormones. These are chemical messengers secreted into the distribution channels of the organism, the usefulness of which is evident locally but also systemically as they travel from their sites of secretion to their target organs. The flavonoids and other allied polyphenols are some of the best examples of such ecological hormones, and show us tangibly how cross-kingdom signaling knits the ecology together. For example:<br /><br />- flavonoids, as pigments, serve as pollinator "on-ramps" guiding insects to nectar and anthers. They also guide beneficial insects (like the silkworm to the mulberry tree via the compound morin). [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031942200004532" target="_blank">Simmonds, Monique SJ. "Importance of flavonoids in insect–plant interactions: feeding and oviposition." Phytochemistry 56.3 (2001): 245-252.</a>][<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1570-7458.1969.tb02552.x/abstract" target="_blank">Ishikawa, Shigeo, Tuneo Hirao, and Narihiko Arai. "Chemosensory basis of hostplant selection in the silkworm." Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 12.5 (1969): 544-554.</a>]<br />- anthocyanidins, a type of flavonoid polymer, are sensitive to pH and as an unripe, sour fruit ripens to sweetness, their color changes from green to pink to purple. The thrush knows this, and so do we. [<a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf202465u" target="_blank">Liu, Pengzhan, Heikki Kallio, and Baoru Yang. "Phenolic compounds in hawthorn (Crataegus grayana) fruits and leaves and changes during fruit ripening." Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 59.20 (2011): 11141-11149.</a>]<br />- flavonoids (isoflavones in particular) are secreted by rootlets of legumes to attract symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria, which participate in nitrogen fixation, nourishing the plant, the bug, the soil. It's how the ecology harvests nitrogen from the air using all its players and the hormones that knit them together. [<a href="http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/95/3/797.short" target="_blank">Hartwig, Ueli A., Cecillia M. Joseph, and Donald A. Phillips. "Flavonoids released naturally from alfalfa seeds enhance growth rate of Rhizobium meliloti." Plant Physiology 95.3 (1991): 797-803.</a>]<br />- flavonoids also control unwanted bacterial and fungal incursions, by stimulating plant immunity and altering local flora so it can out-compete pathogens. They do this in part by inhibiting quorum sensing in pathogenic bacteria, so the bad bugs can't tell when there are enough of them to cause damage, and never begin the secretion of toxic chemicals. [<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04677.x/full" target="_blank">Vikram, A., et al. "Suppression of bacterial cell–cell signalling, biofilm formation and type III secretion system by citrus flavonoids." Journal of applied microbiology 109.2 (2010): 515-527.</a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2553885/" target="_blank">Quave, Cassandra L., et al. "Effects of extracts from Italian medicinal plants on planktonic growth, biofilm formation and adherence of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>." Journal of ethnopharmacology 118.3 (2008): 418-428.</a>]<br />- flavonoids and polyphenols, which taste bitter to us (see citrus bioflavonoids in the white albedo of an orange, or the potent quercetin in Solidago species), are strong neurotoxic insecticides that help protect plants and are overexpressed when an insect feeds on a plant. We, who consume them in limited doses, derive an adaptive benefit from the challenge they pose. [<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=SEZdLxbep4IC&pg=PA587&dq=harborne+and+grayer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qobfU-vDENW3yATY3YKACQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=flavonoids%20and%20insects&f=false" target="_blank">Harborne, Jeffrey B., and Renée J. Grayer. "Flavonoids and insects." The Flavonoids. Springer US, 1994. 589-618.</a>]<br /><br />What becomes really interesting is noting that plants under stress begin to overproduce these important ecological hormones. Wendell Combest, a pharmacologist at Shenandoah University, analyzed the various parts of ground ivy (Glechoma), comparing the leaf, flower, stem, and gall. You may have seen these small green-red balls that occasionally swell on the trailing stems of ground ivy. Out of all the parts analyzed, the red tissue of the gall showed the highest concentrations of polyphenols. Others have studied crops exposed to different stressors - and found higher concentrations of these important eco-hormones [<a href="http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/11/3/807/htm" target="_blank">Treutter, Dieter. "Managing phenol contents in crop plants by phytochemical farming and breeding—visions and constraints." International journal of molecular sciences 11.3 (2010): 807-857.</a>]. When a plant is challenged, it expresses chemistry to help it, but also to help those who consume it. In the clearing, the Hawthorn elaborates chemistry that directly represents the state of stress of the clearing itself. Its inhabitants, and its visitors too, get to plug into this signal net and adapt.<br /><br />And who is to say that a well-adapted human, exposed to a cocktail of challenging polyphenolic chemistry from the berries and fruits she consumes, isn't a better component of the ecology? Hawthorn would say she is. Hawthorn would encourage her to consume flowers, leaves and berries - thereby to live long, realize the benefits of herbal medicine, and spread the wild trees and plants for the benefit of bacteria, soil, air, and thrushes. Maybe immortality means connecting to these wild signals. We live forever, if only for a moment.<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
>> Elixir of Immortality - Hawthorn Wild Weed Blend<br />The key for this one is that at least one of the ingredients be a plant you harvested close by, one that knows your ecology as well as you do. In this sense, the local plants you find are the most important ingredients.<br /><br />Hawthorn berries (fresh ideally, though dry will do) 2 cups, packed well<br />Cinquefoil (Potentilla spp., fresh or dry) 1 cup chopped, or cut-and sifted herb<br />Rose buds (dry is ideal, more aromatic) 1 cup whole buds, coarsely chopped<br /><br />Use a quart-sized mason jar. Fill with herbs, then cover with a mixture made of 50% vegetable glycerin and 50% apple cider vinegar. You will probably need around 9-10 ounces of each fluid depending on the amount of dry herbs. Close tightly and shake daily for two weeks, then strain and enjoy 2-3 teaspoons a day. <br /><br />This is a Rose family blend. It is loaded with the important chemistry - bitter, astringent tannins; sour bioflavonoids; aromatic volatiles; demulcent starches and sugars; and many trace minerals. Cinquefoil, a favorite of Jupiter and the Earth element, grounds the blend while Rose lifts it up and Hawthorn holds the center. For a more bitter blend, substitute Agrimony for Cinquefoil if you have it available. If you can't find either one, try common Avens (Herb Bennett, Geum urbanum) as a substitute.</blockquote>
<br />***<br /><br />The next story comes from modern-day Ireland - or, at least, it's only about thirty years old. Apparently, during the construction of a car factory there, workers were at a loss as to what to do with an old Hawthorn in the middle of the site. Not being fools, they refused to uproot it and worked around it until construction had to grind to a halt. The project manager called in a bulldozer operator from England (of course) who promptly ripped the old Hawthorn out of the ground, casting it aside. There are numerous other stories of these fairy trees getting uprooted: one tells of hundreds of white mice escaping from the hole, another talks of dark vines grabbing and swallowing the unwitting humans who disrupted the tree. In this particular tale, nothing that dramatic happens. Everyone gets back to work, and the task of the day is pouring massive concrete foundation columns, fifteen feet tall and three feet wide, to serve as supports for the roof of the factory. They finish the day's work in good order, and the workers go home to sleep.<br />The next morning, upon returning to the job site, there is surprise and consternation because every single concrete column has been moved three feet to the left. No one can explain exactly how this could have happened, and no evidence of the heavy machinery that would be required can be found. Undaunted, the foremen order the columns moved back. The work is done, and everyone goes home to sleep.<br />As you might guess, the columns are moved again the following morning, this time three feet to the right. Stubbornly, orders are given to reset them in their proper place. But of course, the next morning the columns are all off again. Now quite angry, the project managers call a meeting to determine who's responsible for the three days of lost productivity, hoping to correct the problem once and for all. From the back of the room, a rather short gentleman stands up and says, simply, "You must give us back our tree". Anything's worth a try, came the wise (though reluctant) response, and the Hawthorn was rescued and replanted in its hole. It remained in the courtyard, twisted and gnarly, and construction proceeded without further setback.<br /><br />So, perhaps Hawthorn isn't simply a gift we can connect with on our journey to immortality. Perhaps it's also an important element of proper function. Acting as an integrated organ in the ecology isn't a luxury for us - it may be a necessity.<br /><br />***<br /><br />The story of the Blutsauger is the story of a German vampire. In the north, this being is also known as a Nachtzehrer or "Night Waster". These twisted undead creatures roam the night looking for blood to fill their empty hearts, and their lot is cast by being the first person to die of an epidemic disease, or by dying in a particularly violent and gruesome way. In many different ways, the Hawthorn is seen as the primary protective force against these bloodsuckers, against the wasting and weakness they cause in their victims. The first is to carve sharp stakes of Hawthorn wood and nail down the corpse of the deceased, through the head or heart, so that it cannot escape its coffin. Another is to scatter Hawthorn flowers over the grave, so that the Blutsauger has to stop and collect the blossoms and, forgetting all else, be surprised and destroyed by the rising sun. Finally, Hawthorn boughs can be hung around the house (outside, of course) to protect the family from the night wasting.<br /><br />In all of these examples, we see that Hawthorn can play a role in the interplay of life and death, as we've seen in the old myths, but it can also have an effect on influences that disrupt the flow of blood. The Latin name of the tree, <i>Crataegus</i>, is thought to derive from the Greek <i>krataigos</i>, which means strength and resilience, but it also is a direct cognate of <i>crataegon</i>, a word the Romans used to refer to the heart itself. The crataegon was not only the heart, where life-giving oxygenated blood mixed with the spent venous flow, but it was also a great bowl used at feasts to mix water and wine together. It is important to remember that, although the grape was the primary fruit fermented into wine, the Romans (and likely many others before them) fermented Hawthorn berries and honey into meads as well. Mixed in the crataegon, the liquor gave life to the heart, and the tree of resilience inherited the name.<br /><br />Of course we know now how valuable Hawthorn is for the human heart, strengthening it in times of weakness and protecting it from over-exertion, keeping it supple and responsive [<a href="http://www.researchgate.net/publication/10716111_Hawthorn_extract_for_treating_chronic_heart_failure_meta-analysis_of_randomized_trials/file/5046351dac75a4a92e.pdf" target="_blank">Pittler, Max H., Katja Schmidt, and Edzard Ernst. "Hawthorn extract for treating chronic heart failure: meta-analysis of randomized trials." The American journal of medicine 114.8 (2003): 665-674.</a>][<a href="http://intl.bjgp.org/content/56/527/437.full" target="_blank">Walker, Ann F., et al. "Hypotensive effects of hawthorn for patients with diabetes taking prescription drugs: a randomised controlled trial." British journal of general practice 56.527 (2006): 437-443.</a>][<a href="https://www.realfoodnutrients.com/BP/Studies/CrataegusOxyacanthaCardioProtectiveHerb.pdf" target="_blank">Verma, S. K., et al. "Crataegus oxyacantha-A cardioprotective herb." Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology 1.1 (2007): 65-71.</a>]. If there is a single place in our bodies where the essences of life are mixed and circulated, it would have to be the heart - a tireless pulsing flow, holding two aspects of our vital fluid side by side. The arterial blood on the left glides powerfully out through the aorta while the venous blood on the right seeps slowly into the heart and is gently pushed along to the lungs. Any hardening or stiffness, eddies in the smooth flow, pinches or restrictions can compromise this great mixing bowl over time, and sap vitality from its host. Hawthorn addresses all these concerns, and it also balances the active pushing, the systole, with the rest and refilling, the diastole - the muscle works more efficiently, pressure stays balanced, vitality holds poise. Many berries and their polyphenols can contribute to this cause - grapes, with resveratrol; blueberries, with anthocyanins; goji, with is diverse flavonoid cocktail. But it is the Hawthorn that is the crataegon itself.<br />So much of a necessity is this tree, that without it, the heart's failure becomes the first reason we die. Like the spirit of a child from whom love is withheld, our great mixing bowl of life withers and fails, weakened before its time. Heart disease in the western world is a painful example of plant deficiency syndrome: we pass by the clearing, we can't see the Hawthorn exchanging hormones with the thrush, we wall ourselves off from the dance that we can truly never leave. The brain of the unloved child doesn't choose its fate: that's the family, as an organism, at work. In the same way the American heart doesn't choose to fail: that's the culture at work. And don't you think the Hawthorn suffers too?<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
>> The Red Ones - Hawthorn Heart Blend<br />All the herbs in this formula reinforce the action of the heart while helping it relax and work more efficiently, too. The addition of chile should be to taste - I have attempted a guideline dosage but everyone's preferences vary.<br /><br />Hawthorn berries (fresh or dry), 2 cups, packed well<br />Dan Shen root (fresh if you have it, or dry Salvia milthiorrhiza), 1 cup, chopped and packed well<br />Chile pepper (fresh, ripe red Tabasco chile), 2 peppers, coarsely chopped<br /><br />Use a quart-sized mason jar. Fill with the herbs, then cover with 20-24 ounces of 100 proof (50%) vodka. Cover tightly, and shake daily for two to four weeks, then strain and take 1/2 teaspoon twice a day.<br />The herbs in this blend are traditionally used as cardiovascular tonics, particularly indicated in the prevention of or recovery from heart attack and stroke. Use caution mixing this blend with conventional blood thinners: Dan Shen may potentiate their effects. If you can, spend some time looking at the fresh root of Dan Shen - it's red, remarkably so, and its branched taproots are very similar to the branching coronary artery.</blockquote>
<br />***<br /><br />The last story is from Italy.<br />Once upon a time, out in the countryside, lived a young girl and her aging grandmother. They lived in a very small, thatched-roof cottage with a very small fireplace, surrounded by a barren, prickly hedge and yellow grass. Every day the grandmother would go out and collect what little wood she could find to start a fire and cook the meager food the two had to share. But it happened one day that she became quite ill, and did not have the strength to rise from bed to do her chores.<br />It was winter, and a cold fog hung over the fields. The fire had long since burned out, and the two were hungry. So the young girl, whose name was Serenella, resolved to venture out on her own. "Perhaps I can find some twigs for the fire, and warm my grandmother," she thought. Pretty soon she came to the stump of an old oak tree, and was trying to pry off pieces of bark for the fire when she felt someone tugging at her hair. When she turned around, she stood before a beautiful woman, cloaked in thin fabric that looked like wisps of valley fog, radiant and white. <br />"Those pieces of wet bark won't do anything to warm your house or fill your belly" she said. "Take this wool from me instead," and she handed Serenella an armload of freshly-sheared fleece. "If you spin this wool into yarn for me, and bring the balls of yarn back to this tree stump, you will have a roaring fire and a pot of soup in your hearth every day."<br />Serenella was overjoyed, and gladly took the fleece, though all she could think on her walk back to the cottage was how she hadn't spun a day in her life, and how was she going to comply with the fairy's wishes? But when she got back a fire was blazing and hung over the flames was a bubbling pot of soup. She warmed herself and poured some soup into a bowl for her grateful grandmother. Then she began the work of spinning. <br />Inside the pile of fleece was a small wooden drop-spindle. She fastened some of the wool to it, and, twisting and pulling, she slowly began to spin some yarn. It was tedious work, and the thread broke often at first, but with patience she got better and better until, after a week's time, all the wool was spun. Serenella set out immediately to find the oak stump again. When she got there, she placed the ball of yarn into the stump. But before she could turn around to go back home, the fairy reappeared to take her gift. <br />"The yarn is lumpy and uneven, I know, but it is the first wool I've ever spun, and I will do better next time," Serenella pleaded. <br />Looking at her with kind eyes, the fairy broke off pieces of yarn from the ball and handed them back to her, along with a fresh pile of fleece. "Take these threads and fashion them into stars, and hang them on your hedge for me," she said. "And spin this new wool into more thread." At that she disappeared into the mist.<br />Serenella walked back homeward, overjoyed that her work had been good enough, and when she got to the dry hedge that encircled her cottage, began to fashion tiny, white, woolen stars. She was about to start hanging them when a little thrush landed on the ground next to her.<br />"How strange to see you here in the cold season," she said to the bird. <br />"Alas, when fall came I hurt my wing and couldn't fly away with my brothers and sisters! So now I am trapped here in the cold, and I will surely die if you don't give me your white stars to make a warm nest..." the bird replied.<br />Serenella was torn. She had promised the fairy that she would hang the woolen stars on the hedge. But in the end, she felt so sorry for the thrush that she gave him the stars.<br />Inside the cottage, a strong fire burned as it had been doing for the whole week, fresh soup was in the pot, and bread in the cupboard. The grandmother, though still gravely ill, was smiling more and her appetite had improved a little. Serenella started spinning.<br />After another week, she had finished more yarn, stronger and more even this time. She returned to the oak and the fairy reappeared, and again asked her to hang more stars on the hedge alongside last week's, and again gave her fresh wool to spin. But again, right as Serenella was about to hang the stars, the thrush came asking for a fresh lining for his nest.<br />"The rains came, and my nest is cold and wet!" he pleaded. "Sweet girl, please give me more of your wonderful stars that I might outlive this cold winter." And again, Serenella gave him her white, woolen stars.<br />Week after week this ritual repeated itself, the cottage fire kept burning bright, food was always in the pot, and grandmother kept getting stronger and stronger. Finally, the cold began to let up. It was a rainy April, and so every week the thrush kept asking for fresh stars to keep his nest dry. Every week there was new yarn to spin. The valley started greening up, and the early spring flowers were blooming. Until one day, when Serenella brought her yarn to the old oak stump, the fairy had no new fleece to give her.<br />"Your grandmother is better now," she said, "and I need you to collect all the stars you hung on the hedge and bring them back to me." And, as usual, she disappeared into a swirl of fog.<br />Crestfallen, Serenella made her way back home, knowing she had no stars to collect. When she got close to the cottage, the little thrush alighted on her shoulder.<br />"Why so sad?" he asked.<br />"The kind fairy wants me to return her magic stars, but I have none because I gave them all to you!" she exclaimed.<br />"Don't worry, little one," the thrush replied. "My brothers and sisters are back home now, and we are all most grateful to you. Tomorrow is the first of May: go out tonight, under the moonlight, and you will find your stars." <br />Unconvinced, Serenella went straight back home, her downcast eyes fixed on the path, to find her grandmother stirring the soup and stacking firewood. Grandmother truly was better now, the pink color back in her face and the sparkle back in her eyes. They shared a meal, and went to sleep. But in the late hours of the night, the young girl awoke to the sound of thrushes singing in the hedge outside. She went out barefoot, and under radiant moonlight, found that her whole hedge had burst into bloom, white blooms like stars. An incredible fragrance filled the air, rich and floral and wild.<br />"My stars!" she cried out, overjoyed. "I will pick these to bring to the fairy!"<br />As she spoke these words, the fairy appeared before her and took her hand, which already held one of the fragrant flowers. <br />"Dear Serenella," she said, "I am the Lady Whitethorn, and you have shown me the true kindness of your heart. From now on, your hedge will bloom and fruit and give you what you need to keep your grandmother strong. You can trade the berries for meat and grain. It will help you as you helped the thrush." <br />She disappeared in a cloud of mist, leaving Serenella there on May eve, under the moonlight, surrounded by thrush-song, wild fragrance, and a field of stars.<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
>> The Three Flowers - Appreciation and Open Heart Blend<br />Despite containing a root, this mix makes a great and effective infusion. Consumed regularly, its side effects include a more balanced blood pressure. Since it's made with equal parts by volume, the recipe can easily be scaled up to make a big jar full of tea herbs.<br /><br />Hawthorn leaf and flower (dry), one tablespoon chopped or cut-and-sifted herb<br />Linden flowers (dry), one tablespoon chopped or cut-and-sifted herb<br />Peony root (dry), one tablespoon coarsely chopped root<br /><br />Use a large (12-16 ounce) tea mug, or a 16-ounce French press. Place the herbs in the bottom and add hot water just off the boil. Cover promptly and steep, for at least 20 minutes but up to 4 hours. Strain, press and drink daily. This tea blend opens the heart in many different ways, helping us to appreciate the simple things that are in front of us, like family, a warm hearth, wildflowers, and birdsong. The addition of antispasmodic, sweet Peony root helps to relax tissue and vessels, reinforcing the tonic and aromatic Hawthorn and Linden.</blockquote>
<br /><br />***<br /><br />I leave you with a poem by Kathleen Raine. We are the ecology. It enmeshes in us, and we in it.<br /><br />The Traveller.<br /><br />A hundred years I slept beneath a thorn,<br />Until the tree was root and branches of my thought,<br />Until white petals blossomed in my crown.<br /><br />A thousand years I floated in a lake<br />Until my brimful eye could hold<br />The scattered moonlight and the burning cloud.<br /><br />Mine is the gaze that knows<br />Eyebright, asphodel, the briar rose.<br />I have seen the rainbow open, the sun close.<br /><br />A wind that blows about the land,<br />I have raised temples of snow, castles of sand,<br />And left them empty as a dead hand.<br /><br />A winged ephemerid I am born<br />With myriad eyes and glittering wings<br />That flames must wither or waters drown.<br /><br />I must live, I must die,<br />I am the memory of all desire,<br />I am the world's ashes, and the kindling fire.<br /><br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-35184731792148823002014-06-02T21:47:00.002-04:002014-06-02T21:50:48.805-04:00Our dream is real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<i>This is a transcript / copy of my presentation at the recent <a href="http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/conference/" target="_blank">Urban Moonshine herbal conference</a> up here in Vermont, on the shores of Lake Champlain, at beautiful Shelburne Farms. It was a great event, I was honored to be able to address the whole group and talk about how to leverage the strengths of herbal medicine to address some emergent threats to medicine as a whole.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
Herbalists are all anarchists to a certain degree. In the sense that we want weeds, diversity, and decentralization. Of course we're also dreamers... Sometimes we dream for a really long time! Did you hear a couple of years back about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/science/new-life-from-an-arctic-flower-that-died-32000-years-ago.html?_r=0" target="_blank">this seed researchers found in Siberia</a>, buried by some squirrel almost 32,000 years ago? They coaxed it into germinating, and it grew and flowered into this beautiful white flower, a plant the world hasn't seen for thousands of years, and that seed held its essence for so long, perfectly encapsulated. That's amazing to me. When I was in Ireland, I was speaking to a botanist who told me how, during the last glaciation, the tops of some hills were left uncovered by the ice sheets, like islands in a slow, white river, and pre-glaciation plants survived up on those hilltops, kept the memory of those old times and re-populated the island after the glaciers retreated. Dreaming of warmer times. Holding the essence. Herbalists are kind of like that too, in a way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I'm not here this morning to talk about herbalists. I'm here to talk about medicine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One thing I noticed in East Africa, where I had the privilege of working for a bit this Spring, was that the system of traditional medicine is being forgotten. Old timers took me around, stripped bark off trees, pointed out how to prepare it in different ways for different conditions. They know this stuff! But the younger folks know it a lot less. They understand that this knowledge exists, they are very curious about it, but it felt very strange when it was me telling them about the medicinal uses of plants that grow all around them, and not the other way around. This is happening all over the world, I fear - it's happening in Italy and the rest of Europe, in Central and South America, and native plant knowledge is endangered in the United States too (<a href="http://lib-ojs3.lib.sfu.ca:8114/index.php/era/article/viewFile/134/119" target="_blank">see Carlos Ramirez, 2007</a>). Maybe the exporting of Western culture is displacing these older, native systems of medicine - the young Maasai could show me pictures from their Facebook feeds on their cell phones, but couldn't tell me much about the different Acacia species growing by the river. Who's going to keep the <i>roots</i> of medicine alive?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another thing I noticed, and this was mostly in conversation with the physicians at this rural hospital, was that antibiotics don't really work very well anymore. Pathogen resistance is a very real problem down there. Part of the issue is that folks can buy amoxicillin over the counter, and they do, and take it for every minor respiratory complaint. They take it for three or four days, feel better, then stop. We know it's not the antibiotic making them feel better, it's just a self-limiting viral infection, but the trend continues. So amoxicillin doesn't work at all anymore. Other antibiotics are failing, too - because specific testing is difficult, docs will just prescribe strong, broad-spectrum agents and pathogens are developing resistance to these, too. One physician told me of an untreatable urinary tract infection in an 8-month-old child. She had tried a series of antibiotics. None had worked. She developed a fever - and of course here we're getting concerned about her kidneys, but no antibiotics were working, not penicillin, not sulfa drugs, not cipro. She had multi-drug-resistant E. coli. The physician needed this stuff vancomycin, a ridiculously strong intravenous antibiotic, but unfortunately it was a 9-hour drive away. Eventually it happened, probably not timely enough, and the child improved but having to use vancomycin for a UTI is crazy, because it's the end of the line in terms of antibiotic treatment: if it doesn't work, that's it. </div>
<div>
The WHO is recognizing this, and just this month <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/amr-report/en/" target="_blank">put out a strongly-worded position paper</a> advising physicians to drastically cut back on antibiotic prescriptions, especially in the developing world where they are so often overused. And you know bacteria are savvy, and very well connected: if they're learning these skills in Africa, they'll soon have them the world over. It's kind of like carbon emissions.</div>
<div>
We know more and more that the "war on germs" is misguided, for many different reasons. <a href="http://time.com/105552/triclosan-anti-bacterial-minnesota-ban/" target="_blank">Minnesota just passed a law banning Triclosan</a> - you know about this stuff? It's the agent in antibacterial soaps and cleansers. Promotes bacterial resistance, is a known endocrine disruptor, and is no better than regular soap and water to slow the spread of infectious germs. So great, good job Minnesota, thank you WHO, we're thinking about these issues now - but who's going to help the little girl with the multi-drug-resistant UTI? She has a fever <i>today</i>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another thing I noticed is that there aren't enough people in medicine. The hospital I worked at is understaffed - especially in terms of those who can provide basic wound care, nutrition advice, nursing care. Those who practice medicine one-on-one, intimately, are hard to come by. This is hardly a problem limited to the developing world! Primary care providers are scarce here in the US. <a href="http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2013/09000/Toward_Graduate_Medical_Education__GME_.31.aspx" target="_blank">One in five graduates go into primary care after training</a>. Why? Because all the docs choose to specialize - they go into cardiology, they go into oncology, they fill these specialties because that's where all the patients are, that's where all the money is. Everyone has heart disease. Everyone has cancer. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that if we had more health care providers working one-on-one, intimately, with patients, we might make headway in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. The way to meet these diseases isn't years after they develop, with high-priced and specialized interventions. Why are healthcare costs going up? I wonder. Who is going to work <i>intimately</i> with patients to help prevent the top causes of mortality in our culture?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So medicine is facing huge challenges. They move through the landscape of modern healthcare like giant, unseen beasts we can't seem to control. Everyone is looking for a way to stop them. No one knows what to do, how to track the problem, what the problem even is. Is it economic? Do we need better drugs? Where's the enemy? And at the same time here we are, in our meadows, in our gardens, in our clinics, kitchens, production labs. Where we experience deep, blissful connections with plants and place. Where we watch body, mind and spirit heal and grow. In a dream where there is no separation between us and ecology, between spirit and form. In our dream of flowers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But there's another problem, too. It's very obvious in this country, but it has occurred, at different times and in different ways, all over the world. We have been wounded - wounded with weapons like the <a href="http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/publications/medical-education-united-states-and-canada-bulletin-number-four-flexner-report-0" target="_blank">Flexner report</a>, which basically outlawed herbal medicine in the US at the beginning of the 20th century. Wounded by witch hunts, wounded by imperialistic culture and colonialism, wounded by a creeping poison that would seek to co-opt and dilute our diverse, anarchical traditions. Wounded by organizations that would seek to outlaw, trademark, or patent our tradition for profit. Wounded by harsh skepticism (which sometimes borders on racism) aimed at ideas such as qi, vital force, viriditas, the healing power of nature - aimed at our dream.</div>
<div>
So that's where we closed the last century, and where we begin this new one. In a dream of flowers, but wounded, wary, unsure if our dream can help to solve the challenges that medicine is facing all over the world, unsure if we even want to wake up and help to fix medicine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd like to tell you a story about the Maasai lands. I was drawn to it because it's ostensibly the story of a young warrior, the best endurance runner of his tribe, and those of you who know me know I like to run, I had a great time running in the savannah and exploring. But really, like all good stories, it's about more than that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When young Maasai men begin puberty, they stop cutting their hair and leave their villages to gather in "warrior camps", where they train in survival, tracking, endurance, fighting and hunting. Usually this training continues until age 30, and during this time warriors help keep everyone in the surrounding areas secure. Sankei was one such warrior. He wasn't the strongest, nor the bravest, and certainly not best with the spear, but there was one thing he could do well: run for a long, long time without getting tired. This served his companions well on hunting expeditions, where he was often the scout.</div>
<div>
One night while they were sitting around the fire, Sankei and his companions heard a rumble which began to grow stronger and stronger, until they could feel the ground shaking beneath them. It was like thunder deep underground, under a clear starry sky. After a minute or so, the sound retreated and faded into the distance. Everyone went out to see if they could discover its source, to no avail. The next night the sound returned, and it was stronger than before, to the point where the warriors were a bit scared to go out into the night to investigate. When, on the third night, the sound came so close they feared their camp would be overrun, the warriors decided that they must track down its source during the day, lest it trample them completely when night returned. Looking at each other, they were all reluctant to accept the mission. Finally it was decided that Sankei would set off the next morning, and that if he wasn't back by early afternoon, his companions would come find him.</div>
<div>
It took Sankei little time to find the first tracks. They were enormous, bigger than an elephant's, and led off into the dry savannah. He followed them at a good pace, mindful of his water supply which he carried in a hollow calabash gourd secured with a beaded leather strap. Eventually he reached a dry riverbed, and the tracks stopped completely. No trace on either side, nor upstream or down. Sankei looked up at the noon sun straight overhead, and took another sip of water. The supply was getting low. Time for a rest, he thought.</div>
<div>
Perhaps it was the heat of the day, or the exhaustion of the run, or the frustration at having lost the tracks of the giant beast, but Sankei didn't stop to think before lifting a large stone to use as a seat under a shady acacia nearby. As soon as he picked it up, a scorpion hidden underneath climbed onto his foot and stung him with his sharp tail, injecting him with venom. If you know scorpions, you know that while they may not always be lethal, their sting can cause serious distress. Sankei knew he was in trouble. His foot was sore already. Soon it would be throbbing in pain. Forget about running - he would be lucky if he could walk using his stick for support. </div>
<div>
In a strange way, this made his resolve all the more adamant. He walked back to the tracks and now, somehow, saw that they clearly crossed the river and headed towards distant hills. Hobbling on his wounded foot, he started to follow them. The sun began its journey down from the top of the sky. He took his last drink from the calabash.</div>
<div>
Soon, Sankei felt like he was in a new country. Could I have wandered so far to have lost my bearings, he thought to himself. The trees were unfamiliar. The boulders unrecognized. But still the tracks continued, and still he followed them, with a severely swollen foot and a piercing pain spreading up his leg. He was beginning to feel light-headed, and knew he needed water. That was when he saw the silhouette of a giant baobab tree, halfway up a short hill, not too far away. There he knew he could find shelter, food, and water. He could rest there, and his companions would find him. With his last bit of energy, he dragged his bad leg behind him in a quest to reach the baobab.</div>
<div>
He was almost under the tree's branches when he heard the sound, except now it was impossibly close, shaking everything around him, appearing out of nowhere with a deafening roar. His only reaction was to spin around, and in so doing he lost his balance, falling backward just as a colossal rhinoceros charged past him, missing him by inches. The rhino kept charging, straight towards the baobab tree, and when he reached it, head down, plunged his horn deep into the trunk. Sankei watched, stunned, as the rhino bellowed and heaved trying to get loose - to no avail. Finally, with all the muscles of his powerful neck and shoulders rippling with strength, the rhino gave a final twist, and the horn splintered and cracked right off his head. Howling in pain he ran off, defeated.</div>
<div>
Slowly Sankei crawled to the tree. From where the horn was embedded in the tree trickled a stream of fresh water. He washed his face, and drank deeply. His wound still throbbing, he propped himself up against the trunk, and fell asleep as the sun went down.</div>
<div>
Now what you may not know about baobab trees is that they only flower once a year, at night. The sweet flowers are pollinated by bats, then drop from the tree before sunrise. It happened that, as Sankei slept that night, the baobab bloomed, and was covered with a mass of delicate white flowers. And as the night wore on, before the first rays of the sun, Sankei was covered with them too as each one floated gently to the ground.</div>
<div>
The first thing to wake him was the sound of his companion's voice. His friends were crowded around him, shaking him, trying to get him up. He opened his eyes and smiled, telling the story of the huge rhinoceros, the thundering beast he'd tracked, how it had been defeated by the baobab tree. He tried to get up to point out the tree to the other warriors, and show them the massive horn - but his foot, red and throbbing, could not hold him. </div>
<div>
His friends looked puzzled at his story. As they stepped aside, Sankei saw a different landscape: acacia trees, a dry riverbed, a large stone. This was where he'd been stung by the scorpion! What was going on? Finally one warrior spoke, saying that they'd found him here, passed out, his foot obviously wounded by a venomous creature. "Your story, Sankei," they told him, "must have been a dream". </div>
<div>
As they made their way back to warrior camp, Sankei began to believe that, in fact, he had only been dreaming. The story did seem remarkable, both because of his endurance and because of his sheer luck. Still, he had a strong feeling that the rhino or whatever it was wouldn't return. After the ol'oiboni treated his foot, he left the group to go rest. Sitting there, alone, inside a small mud hut, he began to remove his cloaks in preparation for some good, well-deserved sleep. When he took off his last layer, a delicate, white baobab flower fell to the ground at his feet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My friends, our dream of flowers isn't a dream. We were all at that baobab tree, we all know it can stop the unseen beast in its tracks. We all drank of its life-giving water. That's why we are all here now. Knowing our dream is real is exciting, it's inspiring, but it should be sobering too. It's up to us to move forward, to track down the challenges of modern medicine until they run smack into the deep, rooted plant wisdom we all have tasted. We have to move forward in spite of our wounds, in spite of how comfortable our dream may feel, in spite of the bullying, derision, co-opting and outright murder that may have wounded us. What does moving forward mean? Think about it today. As you talk about new, accessible models of clinical practice. About using our bodies to relate to and understand a new kind of medicine. About building spirit-bridges to heal people and place. About growing medicine, and applying it to new and intractable diseases - or learning how to treat old problems in new ways. About how to do all this with respect for tradition and a powerful sense of honor. Think about it as you walk by the lake and through the forest and meadows. Our ancestors are counting on us. Twenty-first century medicine is counting on us. </div>
<div>
In moving forward, one thing that seems clear to me is that there can be no "us" and "them". Maintaining these distinctions only keeps the wounds open. In truth, we are all just warriors training together: companions on the journey of medicine, be we herbalists, nurses, physicians, or pharmacists. Companions who work in hospitals, in offices, on tilled soil, in wild valleys, over a massage table, in laboratories. It just so happens that we are all struggling with scary, unseen threats right now, and our companions need help. It just so happens that our companions think we're in a some sort of dream when we tell them about the baobab tree, about the medicine we've found in a weedy, flowering, abandoned lot. Friends, I am here to tell you that the medicine is real. I am here to tell you that the dream is real.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-76664595626729973912014-05-06T16:17:00.000-04:002014-05-06T16:17:07.083-04:00The Year of Botanical Medicine<div>
I am probably naïve. I am sure every generation experiences this. But I am convinced that this will be the year for botanical medicine in the United States: the year when we move from dreaming in wildflowers, from building roots in the forest floor, from holding precious seeds in moist moss, into a time of great action. We are everywhere, and our experiences and connections are deep and rich. This will be the year when our culture will call on us, when our neighbors will need us, when we will all collectively realize how important these wild plants really are. Not as alternatives to drugs, not as replacements, but as a whole cultural system that rewilds, renews, and strengthens our species and our ecology.</div>
<div>
There are many signs: the addition of Chinese herbal medicine in one of the nation's premiere hospitals, the crafting of medicinal cocktails in cities across the country, the myriad integrative clinics where massage, herbs, and food work alongside modern technological medicine are but a few examples. But what excites me is how the research focus in medicine is shifting to ecology and systems, and away from molecules and receptors: what is our microbiome and how does it affect us? how do our ecologies and our communities impact public and individual health? how can we blend psychological and somatic interventions in crafting treatment protocols for chronic disease? These are all questions for a new kind of medicine.</div>
<div>
This is, in fact, twenty-first-century medicine, and at this crossroads of research and practice sits the herbalist, picking up weeds and scattering seeds, talking about the flow of weather and energy, speaking the language of systems. I am probably naïve, but if you're sitting here with me, I think we are going to have to get up soon and become seriously engaged in this conversation. What is twenty-first century medicine? Folks will turn to herbalists for answers - because herbs work, because our physiologies and ecologies recognize and miss them, because the research basis is there (and is so solid), and because twentieth-century medicine is running out of answers. I hope I will be ready, and I hope you will be with me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We are going to have this conversation this spring, on the shores of Lake Champlain, up here in Vermont, just as the trees and flowers burst into bloom. <a href="http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/conference/" target="_blank">Urban Moonshine has organized what promises to be a new kind of gathering</a>: one where, yes, we learn and have a lot of fun. But also one where we start talking more specifically about twenty-first-century medicine, and how we, as plant people, fit in to the puzzle. You can come to hear some amazing teachers. You can come because all the proceeds go to the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, where people can get to know plants and experience this new (old) kind of medicine by trading currency, work, or receiving it as a gift. Or you can come because we need to hear your voice as we intentionally discuss the future of botanical medicine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To me this last reason is the most important. Please come and join us. I'm excited to hear a bunch of short, informal presentations on the work herbalists are doing today and their visions for tomorrow - through this interesting PechaKucha format. There are still spots available for you to tell your stories. And I'll have some stories to share with you as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/conference/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.urbanmoonshine.com/conference/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4zxxGzq9W8pDS2M7vd1Ap3SJjwdRARhaMAXTyQ504YrwZk6dXOmOSmC7FjDqjvflpXf8QtI0ivpfSpJtiWS-V_wnr4WntPrpj8tAAgMIhcoTSRcYbFgcwsKbhcYAF3IQ_Emd-9dje2g/s1600/umc.png" height="158" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-14835623759565488972014-04-17T15:50:00.000-04:002014-06-09T18:10:03.908-04:00An East African Materia Medica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqrXkz2HAr7RNdrDSTT1ARbQwaK9jwj-nG99U7DQQR-usoHBLVZ5b73HkhbMMWH4qi_OZizBjo7BpDnz2ROpQz-4y9MqidaGXHouv8oWShvzXc4H-wlsq1otDDSXUl3cWPYuPpNckafw/s1600/serengeti.jpg" height="328" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="590" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serengeti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i>Introductory notes: the plants referenced here are ones I have been using in the highlands of north-central Tanzania, at an elevation between 7,500 and 8,500 feet from sea level. The climate is generally moderate, with mornings in the 50s and daytime highs in the 80s. It is the rainy season right now - the flora will be different in the drier months (May to October). Generally, one could find these species in a broad area from lake Victoria in the west, north past Nairobi in Kenya, out to the Ethiopian highlands in the east and down past the Ngorongoro crater in the south.<br />I reference plants that I have been able to positively identify, gather, prepare and apply myself. Preparation notes are included. Botanical names, as well as Swahili (Swa.) and Maasai (Maa.) names are included if known. Clinical outcomes and observations are from my herbal practice in the context of Wasso District Hospital over the course of about four weeks of work. Patient volume varies; on a typical day there will be five or six patients returning for acute wound care, two or three new acute wounds of varying severity, two or three chronic wounds or infections, and between two and six cases from the internal medicine wards (chronic asthma, diabetes, hypertension, peptic ulcer, HIV and its complications).<br />Patient diets are generally similar, and quite simple: rice and cornmeal are the chief carbohydrates, and beans the chief source of protein. There are some tomatoes, cabbage greens and carrots used, and occasional meat (goat, beef). Sources of fat (used in abundance) are questionable, consisting mostly of refined vegetable oils. In the context of the hospital, dairy products are virtually absent. One conspicuous factor is the ubiquitous use of soda (often up to six or more bottles a day) which is in large part at the root of the cases of diabetes and gastrointestinal ulcer - the latter also connetected to the near-universal Heliobacter pylori infection and the frequent, indiscriminate use of antibiotics.<br />This inappropriate use of over-the-counter (black market) antibiotics, as well as prescribed antibiotics in the hospital setting, have led to both gastrointestinal disturbance and antibiotic resistance, particularly in cases of cutaneous staphylococcus infection (but also typhoid and pneumococcus). This makes the use of herbal medicine all the more valuable and important. Wound management in acute cases usually involves simply a liquid iodine solution, though in chronic wounds I used herbal treatment exclusively. Aside from that, unless otherwise noted in discussing specific cases, treatment used was entirely herbal.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa7KnUVY72IbC9VYtmi7q8qEVttQ5A6zOyPjou6TchDmPhMVZSkl4IJUry2WDj_n5Wic1wzaP3WGcfPAem3vBCAIwSSHdyCPD0a9xVfD7y34dmNx6wESlOaLSXvh_NhJoS-bR6WJIuY/s1600/achillea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa7KnUVY72IbC9VYtmi7q8qEVttQ5A6zOyPjou6TchDmPhMVZSkl4IJUry2WDj_n5Wic1wzaP3WGcfPAem3vBCAIwSSHdyCPD0a9xVfD7y34dmNx6wESlOaLSXvh_NhJoS-bR6WJIuY/s1600/achillea.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Achillea millefolium (Yarrow): truly a wound plant like no other. Luckily, there is a fair supply planted as an ornamental in the hospital garden. Daily preparation involves gathering a large handful of leaves and a flowerhead or two, coarsely chopping, placing them in a bowl and using just enough hot water to cover the herb. Then the mixture is blended and the juice strained and pressed. Yarrow juice is used as a wound wash for chronic ulcerations in cases of leprosy, diabetic foot ulcer, or unaddressed infected wounds. Apply liberally to gauze and use to scrub and irrigate the wound, cutting away necrotic tissue as necessary, twice daily. Saturate and pack gauze into deeper wounds if prurulent discharge is present (wet-to-dry dressing, iodine alternative, very effective).<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3zJC_xlpLcLey660lwSwQBlnZcYsJdWG-NDq5buYQsrMAi1ap2dqOEVfUiuFLSP-94-xThXMv47Dcrcu7kKsgMJMHU2P2Jg3I8yoaOvJ1k38ZJD8XglDX_YaQUbEbPDhOoBcsHV87wo/s1600/zanthoxylum-_chalybeum_-loisugi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3zJC_xlpLcLey660lwSwQBlnZcYsJdWG-NDq5buYQsrMAi1ap2dqOEVfUiuFLSP-94-xThXMv47Dcrcu7kKsgMJMHU2P2Jg3I8yoaOvJ1k38ZJD8XglDX_YaQUbEbPDhOoBcsHV87wo/s1600/zanthoxylum-_chalybeum_-loisugi.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Zanthoxylum chalybeum (Maa: loisugi): a bitter, pungent preparation is made by collecting the bark (outer and inner, after removing knobs and thorns), cutting into coarse strips, and decocting about one cupful of shredded bark to 1/2 gallon of water for 15-20 minutes. The decoction is yellowish-brown and can be used to irrigate wounds (mixed with yarrow juice) and internally for peptic ulcer and as a bitter digestive tonic, dosed at about 2 ounces of decoction twice a day before meals. One patient (who began his treatment with two days of goldenseal [Hydrastis] powder, 1/4 tsp. twice daily before food but then switched to this decoction) remarked that his after-meal symptoms of burning pain were completely resolved. He had previously tried a range of antibiotic treatments with no success.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuA1hxjOM_Dcy7-G73y1P6PIpqFzJy62waQgCugckZHtvVZUwSg9vAo90BmJzSv1nSTKRSolh9DkPxu1ON_fqtuWed75ZI-98OQtH63y4P4pmqP-UwOY-0jW_11gkn4d5h3_Gi8mG8dk/s1600/bidens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuA1hxjOM_Dcy7-G73y1P6PIpqFzJy62waQgCugckZHtvVZUwSg9vAo90BmJzSv1nSTKRSolh9DkPxu1ON_fqtuWed75ZI-98OQtH63y4P4pmqP-UwOY-0jW_11gkn4d5h3_Gi8mG8dk/s1600/bidens.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Bidens pilosa: I tried this weedy plant as an alternative to yarrow for washing wounds, with limited success. It seems to lack some of the topical astringent hemostatic effect of yarrow. However, it is quite useful taken as a juice for internal use, particularly in cases where vitality is weak, there is anemia and/or fatigue, or the tissue (internal or external) seems in need of drying or toning. When these constitutional signs accompany infection, Bidens provides valuable systemic anti-infective support. This was particularly evident in a case of leprosy, where yarrow and usnea powder helped the lesions considerably, but failed to completely resolve the issue until Bidens was added. The aerial parts are harvested daily from specimens that have just started flowering (no seedheads), the leaves garbled from the stems, placed in a bowl and barely covered with cold boiled water. Then the mixture is blended and the juice strained and pressed. Patients take around two ounces of juice three times a day. The juice will keep at room temperature for 48 hours, but any leftovers should be discarded after that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4M9CmUmPZO_PZjIFs3sz3CnYIRHCY92gc-vYzkr5oToWgGUrpFcTn8TJ3ctBauIldgFtWQyq9HPwfqpqGEEuxnsGhSB-FhTJF1E20f94wmZBmMAKSRjlm_RXTPeO9_cO50aWCA2PWGw/s1600/usnea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4M9CmUmPZO_PZjIFs3sz3CnYIRHCY92gc-vYzkr5oToWgGUrpFcTn8TJ3ctBauIldgFtWQyq9HPwfqpqGEEuxnsGhSB-FhTJF1E20f94wmZBmMAKSRjlm_RXTPeO9_cO50aWCA2PWGw/s1600/usnea.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Usnea spp. (barbata / longissima): this hardy and cosmopolitan lichen can be identified by the white inner fungal cord (medulla) and the green outer algal cortex which can be "stripped" from the medulla as one might do with electrical wire. It grows at higher elevations, hanging off old tree branches closer to the hilltops, blowing in the near-constant wind. Here you can find it by the bagful. I have been using it primarily as a wound powder, particularly in long-standing damp lesions where I leave it embedded in the tissue for two days at a time before cleaning it out with yarrow/loisugi mixtures. It helps to form a nice matrix for granualtion tissue, while preventing infection and drying suppuration very effectively. In the leprosy case, it actually embedded itself into new skin, forming a sort of hybrid usnea-callous that closed the wound while also providing excellent protection from the pressure and friction that caused the lesions to re-open (Mycobacterium leprae can infect peripheral nerves leading to loss of sensation, certainly the case in my patient). My preparation method involved sun-drying the lichen until it was brittle (thereby increasing usnic acid content, too), then just cutting it for 15-20 minutes with a serrated blade until it became a mass of green powder and tangly white strands. The mass gets passed through a mesh strainer to leave only a fine, green powder which is liberally applied to wounds.<br />
A note regarding leprosy: dressing the wounds is often counterproductive. They are moist and ooze quite a bit, and enclosing the discharge actually retards healing. Twice daily application of usnea powder to replace any that fell off during walking does the trick after a week to ten days, along with Bidens internally and good foot hygiene. Patient was discharged with a big wad of lichen to use and apply as a spit poultice (small amount at a time) should any further wounds develop. He had been in the hospital for six weeks before we began herbal treatment. Antibiotics had been used (internally and topically), along with bleach soaks, to little effect.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1rBy2PLNC1YBwHQG0NTSkvN2bwINFnrKfGCT4gf6-LfON4WtzE15ptmStbaEUw3rxc4rEy9FsG9gamgxvVN8dxPaAAn_cXGJtE4VFe7TbFncKGThua82z0lr1K2cifP_3G_URLjXahE/s1600/argemone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1rBy2PLNC1YBwHQG0NTSkvN2bwINFnrKfGCT4gf6-LfON4WtzE15ptmStbaEUw3rxc4rEy9FsG9gamgxvVN8dxPaAAn_cXGJtE4VFe7TbFncKGThua82z0lr1K2cifP_3G_URLjXahE/s1600/argemone.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Argemone mexicana (Maa: langanum): a britsly Papaveracea with a bright orange latex and beautiful flower, it usually grows as a weed in planted fields. It is used by the Maasai as an immediate antiseptic and hemostatic treatment for minor cuts and wounds - really useful on trail walks. The latex, which flows profusely when any part of the plant is broken, tastes remarkably like celandine's. I regret not having had the opportunity to try it in cases of cholecystitis, though there was one patient who did come through minor theater with that condition. It was a very instructive abdominal exam, with all the classic signs in the right upper quadrant and referred scapula pain too. Ultrasound was inconclusive in her case. She was sent home and told to avoid fats before we got a chance to start herbal treatment.<br />
<br />
<br />
Zingiber officinale (Swa: ntangawezi): this famous rhizome needs no picture nor description. It is readily available, still covered in red soil, at the weekly market in town. I purchased a big pile of it for the equivalent of about $2. While I made the occasional anti-nausea tea (for Westerners), the main use of this plant was as an anti-inflammatory circulatory stimulant to support the healing of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. I had two patients whom I followed with this treatment, along with caring for their primary wound and conducting daily foot and leg massages to promote lymphatic drainage. The procedure for preparation was simple: grate the fresh rhizome (about 1 TBS), add about 1 cup boiling water, let steep five minutes or so, then saturate a clean cloth with the infusion and apply hot to the foot. Before applying, I would take the leftover grated rhizome and apply it to the dorsum of the foot, then wrap it up. This happened twice daily.<br />
A note regarding diabetic foot ulcers: one patient developed the ulcer after stepping on an acacia thorn which pierced her flip-flop and went straight through her foot, emerging from the top a bit lateral and proximal to her big toe. The resultant abscess had to be surgically opened, and a chronic wound developed. It was about the size of a nickel when I first saw it, and the whole foot was noticeably edematous. She could not walk on it. Daily bleach soaks and antibiotics had not really helped for the five weeks she'd been doing them. Within three days of using ginger and eliminating the bleach, the swelling began to subside and peripheral pulses returned. After about a week, the foot was almost normal in size, and the ulceration had reduced dramatically in diameter and depth (yarrow juice + usnea powder). Her course of antibiotics had ended a few days before. After two weeks she was walking pain-free, the ulceration was gone and fresh pink skin remained, and she was discharged with a big bag of prickly pear cactus pads.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGjBp9IkFEKv0sv97QgJosKWZARsp6vLdXzO0bPu2dUJuKXUpPDv3J5P0rJkT8Nhhs6Fw54-rdZbPOQnXgqjjvBOjgEN-ys0C8VFXnHVrSWOwi42yz_x87V_HTZoxRE3NBYOJ-wdw42A/s1600/opuntia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGjBp9IkFEKv0sv97QgJosKWZARsp6vLdXzO0bPu2dUJuKXUpPDv3J5P0rJkT8Nhhs6Fw54-rdZbPOQnXgqjjvBOjgEN-ys0C8VFXnHVrSWOwi42yz_x87V_HTZoxRE3NBYOJ-wdw42A/s1600/opuntia.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear, Swa: freisha): an exotic cactus, the prickly pear has naturalized extensively across the Tanzanian highlands. Some specimens I've seen are over ten feet tall, bristling all over with long spines and tiny, fiberglass-like hairs that are perhaps even more of a hazard than the visible thorns. The fruits are starting to ripen here right about now, and can be used medicinally, but I harvested the wide pads by scraping them clean of spines with my knife's edge, then cutting the pads. Some clinical research looks at the fire-roasted pads (used as a food source in the American southwest), but I just went ahead and juiced them fresh. A little water is added to the chopped, cleaned pads (scraped, washed, and towel-dried), then they are blended and the juice is taken, at doses of about 1/2 cup full, twice daily before meals. I used this juice, sometimes spiced with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder if available, for managing elevated blood sugar associated with diabetes.<br />
A note on diabetes: this is a relatively new disease here. None of the Maasai I worked with knew of any diabetics in their community. The cases were in overweight, non-Maasai community members, and staff members at the hospital. Once again, it seems to be a disease of relative affluence connected perhaps to that wonderful American export, the sugary soda, which is shared at almost every social gathering and can be a bit of a branded status symbol. Blood glucose levels are measured here as they are in Europe: in millimoles per liter, unlike in the US where the units are milligrams per deciliter. The conversion is based on the molecular weight of glucose (one mole of C6H12O6 is 180 grams), so 10mmol/L = 180mg/dL. That's a pretty high fasting level! The guideline is 6mmol/L, or about 104mg/dL, for a fasting blood glucose. One staff member at Wasso Hospital went from 10.4mmol/L to 7.8mmol/L in less then a week using Opuntia and cinnamon (and strictly avoiding soda). This result was a bit amazing to me, but isn't out of the realm of possibility (she was certainly pleased). Some confounding factors: I'm uncertain whether she had drunk any soda before her first test (would definitely have skewed the result, but even after a soda your BG shouldn't be 180); two different lab techs conducted the two tests (you might say lab work is objective, but I'm not so sure). Regardless, her BG levels have been a lot better in the mornings with the Opuntia juice than suggested by past test(s).<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnB87MvsGA_WIDKvR7ntO0YzoUXVRnAmweXGy-MSDCmLMc1U7qhA-ojgt-Qvdk2lkBHWDM5NBtXXgFxtKOKbBcBSqfEZt43ydu81AFPq2Kb4SJblyhdUTIogtyxkroNrBxhXBJHeY8n8/s1600/aloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnB87MvsGA_WIDKvR7ntO0YzoUXVRnAmweXGy-MSDCmLMc1U7qhA-ojgt-Qvdk2lkBHWDM5NBtXXgFxtKOKbBcBSqfEZt43ydu81AFPq2Kb4SJblyhdUTIogtyxkroNrBxhXBJHeY8n8/s1600/aloe.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Aloe spp. (vera, alata, ferox. Swa: msubili): This succulent, rich in soothing gel, is a classic burn remedy. To be honest, I used it mostly for our family and other Westerners transiting through the guest house - but was also able to apply it on the more superficial burns I saw in minor theater. It is excellent to relieve pain and speed healing for superficial burns, but I'm not confident enough in its antiseptic power to recommend it on full-thickness burns after the top charred layer of skin sloghs off. However, with extensive burns, one of the major risks after infection is dehydration - and aloe can help a lot for that. One child who had been sweeping the floor of her home was extensively, though not deeply, burned when her wrap caught fire. Both arms and the back and front of her torso suffered partial thickness burns, and the evaporative fluid loss was high. The healthy skin on her legs showed pretty substantial dehydration, despite a lot of drinking. We used aloe five or more times a day (training her parents on how to apply it), and silver cream just twice over a week, and there was no infection and much less dehydration.<br />
Preparing aloe is fairly easy. You cut whole leaves, then remove the spines on the sides of the leaves (taking care not to cut too deeply and expose the demulcent pulp). Then, simply cut cross-sections of leaf, peel off the green parts, and mush up the gel in a container. Apply liberally to the affected areas. One note: the stuff is remarkably bitter. Wash your hands after preparing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTykot3bRH8332rhoCYdDFUZCspU7VeZ23P3GS5tionYWl7Gldfq55wwdlbHQwfgN8-wZmq97beS0_U85LDJllHDiklRA-hxbkbrnWmLXLe5VoVvH1Mu5mahb0afxgFGb9cYyXwzs_bqk/s1600/phytolacca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTykot3bRH8332rhoCYdDFUZCspU7VeZ23P3GS5tionYWl7Gldfq55wwdlbHQwfgN8-wZmq97beS0_U85LDJllHDiklRA-hxbkbrnWmLXLe5VoVvH1Mu5mahb0afxgFGb9cYyXwzs_bqk/s1600/phytolacca.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Phytolacca dodecandra (Maa: ol'diangorras): I was excited to find the orange-red berries of this local species of pokeroot. It grows vigorously, more vine-like than its American cousin, and has a thick and juicy root. With some coaxing, I was able to harvest a fairly sizeable chunk. From this I cut wide slices, which were then pounded and the juice strained out. I used about 1/2ml of this juice on myself at first, then closer to 1ml twice daily for an HIV patient who had lymphatic swelling in cervical, axillary and inguinal nodes. She saw some improvement from this approach - not a dramatic reduction in swelling, but a marked reduction in tenderness. I searched extensively for cleavers (Galium), but was unable to find this species outside of the Ngorongoro crater rim. Needing a lymphatic, I opted to try this Phytolacca and was not displeased with the results. The flowers smell amazing, kind of like lilacs. The Maasai (at least those I spoke with) only know it as a poison plant and warned me against eating the berries.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFPz9hBS5N5kj7bJuGTJsde9dhT-tH-BbltJDtGoz8bg8Y5xEHDt0cRJRLWoDGZp9VZV3yg5u6gtx9Go9XuRN9dzPJnqStqMRSdpqIP4A-nEZ9vHGapgnLUKM4cyHjwmqTl7TKLUw1NQ/s1600/eucalyptus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFPz9hBS5N5kj7bJuGTJsde9dhT-tH-BbltJDtGoz8bg8Y5xEHDt0cRJRLWoDGZp9VZV3yg5u6gtx9Go9XuRN9dzPJnqStqMRSdpqIP4A-nEZ9vHGapgnLUKM4cyHjwmqTl7TKLUw1NQ/s1600/eucalyptus.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Eucalyptus globulus (Swa: Makaratusi): These trees were planted by colonists, and now there are some huge specimens, usually along main roads but often in the more secluded (and less fumigated) corners of the villages, by streams. Many trees have been cut down, especially those next to cultivated fields, as they tend to suck up all available water and can contribute to crop loss during drought. Nevertheless, the leaves are abundant and quite fragrant, and I would place whole branches, slightly broken up, in pots of steaming water for patients in the pediatric ward who had chest congestion. The steam smelled nice, nobody complained, and some of the patients remarked that they were breathing more easily after taking big inhalations of the steam. This was especially evident in a case of chronic asthma, aggravated by the dusty conditions here, where eucalyptus steam inhalation provided almost immediate relief. Use a towel over your head for maximum steam concentration.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuFE4JJz3ubMrCmm973Fl2HMhNq87BOuBiiRt3IYyuknM4OZJwv35VcOlL6zplAGt0CzqDUldNyeb24-dI9b97lQClXqOrEg3guq-VxfjtC6HcPSO9T54lxujkxC-SlF_ODbo3gNirkI/s1600/olea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuFE4JJz3ubMrCmm973Fl2HMhNq87BOuBiiRt3IYyuknM4OZJwv35VcOlL6zplAGt0CzqDUldNyeb24-dI9b97lQClXqOrEg3guq-VxfjtC6HcPSO9T54lxujkxC-SlF_ODbo3gNirkI/s1600/olea.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Olea africana (Maa: ol'orien): These strange looking olive trees live quite a long time, and have thick, gnarly trunks that end in a burst of spindly branches, loaded with leaves and olive-like fruits with little seeds that mature to an unpalatable orangeish color. I harvested the leaves to use as a treatment for hypertension. This condition is relatively rare (most blood pressures were in the 100/60 range) but more and more folks are experiencing higher blood pressures and atherosclerosis these days - even in the Maasai community. I'm not sure exactly why this is. Nevertheless, I'd give out bagfuls of fresh olive leaves, with the instructions to chop or pound a good handful and steep in a pint of hot water, drinking daily in two divided doses. Results took time - at least a couple of weeks - but I was able to see a small but consistent drop (5-10pts systolic) in blood pressures for those taking these leaf teas consistently.<br />
The Maasai used the leaves for malaria and fever. Given their anti-inflammatory and potentially antiviral effects (extrapolating from research on the European cousin of this tree), these traditional uses make sense.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC5cn6xfhWMyZo2pZH2X7uaFNEeZLjojIEp8kMn-b_KRpkH2RmLxLbX1DXSuVxRMljF9oO5dVTn-D7ugxk-9xabVnSDLN_DIJYMNXpZnXUbEcSqlOyW9-PVKzyA4WxAgkz52VQMNqYgs/s1600/commiphora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC5cn6xfhWMyZo2pZH2X7uaFNEeZLjojIEp8kMn-b_KRpkH2RmLxLbX1DXSuVxRMljF9oO5dVTn-D7ugxk-9xabVnSDLN_DIJYMNXpZnXUbEcSqlOyW9-PVKzyA4WxAgkz52VQMNqYgs/s1600/commiphora.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Commiphora africana (Swa: mturituri): I was introduced to this species as a remedy for colds: the resin that exudes from the bark of older trees is traditionally steamed and inhaled. Also, the root of younger trees is wonderfully fragrant and actually sweet - a remarkable surprise. But seeing as how I couldn't find enough resin, and eucalyptus was working well for chest congestion, I recommended the bark of this plant be chewed as a remedy for high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. I am extrapolating here from research on its cousins C. mol-mol (guggul) and C. myrrha (myrrh), and it is too soon to tell what kind of effect it may have had, but between that and the daily 3-4 cloves of garlic I am optimistic. One gentleman accosted me for a consultation on cholesterol and atherosclerosis while I was buying bar soap to do my laundry at the little shop across the street. He needed some exercise too - I suggested some brisk walking and less hanging out at the shop drinking soda.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUDwPlCR-MTE4-ve4gI8TwHCSkZQDsOfBZHhhhyphenhyphenf3lER8IoxuvAb-byRSPMg1RhOUWgAI3Ca9BLUraEaHbvf3F65lJaYAL5QTF9eSpVjI4NLGduY3xv_X29NeKy6KJznpaHrjyzsTNT8/s1600/urtica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUDwPlCR-MTE4-ve4gI8TwHCSkZQDsOfBZHhhhyphenhyphenf3lER8IoxuvAb-byRSPMg1RhOUWgAI3Ca9BLUraEaHbvf3F65lJaYAL5QTF9eSpVjI4NLGduY3xv_X29NeKy6KJznpaHrjyzsTNT8/s1600/urtica.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Urtica massaica: Oddly, the Maasai didn't have a name for this ferocious species of nettle, preferring instead to give it a wide berth on the trail. The stinging hairs on this plant are stiff and potent even after drying, and can be two to three inches long on the stem. The plants grow to over six feet in height, out in the full sun. The sting persists for 24-48 hours, depending on how deep you're stung, and caused an immediate urticaria rash on my skin (U. dioica just doesn't do that for me). So I started using scissors to harvest the green tops, pre-flowering, and would juice them to a dark-green-black frothy fluid. Delicious. I'd combine it with the juiced berries of Cyphostemma (see below) to make a nutritive tonic for anemic patients. One cupful a day seemed like a good dose. Good nutrition, especially for moms and kids, is really important here: many are anemic, blood is difficult to obtain, and malnutrition is rampant.<br />
Another use of this juice was for symptoms of allergy and upper respiratory congestion in Westerners unaccustomed to the dust and allergens of this environment. Half a cup of fresh nettle juice, once or twice a day, reduced eye itching and nasal congestion. Overall, it is a very nutritious, very drying herb.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3fOFrigd0MaMJ1mAqbX5llR0Y7XzX9mPJ4svB8CSZISSzh9fJpUrSkZmVkkNN51oJFZiQuU6we6Un8tc2UiSuGBvu2iwEAHSY_zVcqx_W1VCOwCgFoHCp3r16bflaPC6IfozsvUiny8/s1600/cyphostemma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3fOFrigd0MaMJ1mAqbX5llR0Y7XzX9mPJ4svB8CSZISSzh9fJpUrSkZmVkkNN51oJFZiQuU6we6Un8tc2UiSuGBvu2iwEAHSY_zVcqx_W1VCOwCgFoHCp3r16bflaPC6IfozsvUiny8/s1600/cyphostemma.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Cyphostemma serpens (Swa: mwengele, Maa: ol'kilenyei): this viney, trailing plant drapes itself over low acacias and on termite hills. It produces clusters of berries, which the Maasai harvest while still green to use as a food and especially as a tonic for children. The tuberous root can also be boiled and eaten, though I didn't try this. The fruits have an agreeable sour green flavor, and I expect they contain a fair amount of organic acids and perhaps even ascorbates - a great supplement indeed! So I'd harvest clusters of the berries and juice them up, often with nettles, to add into the diets of those needing a special boost. 1/4 cup of the blend for kids, 1/2 cup or more for adults, once or twice a day. <br />
Traditionally, the Maasai add the fruit pulp to milk and feed it to kids to help them grow stronger.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The bitters</b>: I used the bark of Acacia species for this purpose, primarily for myself, my family, and the Westerners with digestive complaints. I preferred loisugi for local folk, as it seems to be more of a tissue tonic for long-standing gastrointestinal inflammation. The acacias are bitter and, depending how they are processed, possess a varying amount of tannins which can be useful if there are digestive complaints accompanied by loose stools or diarrhea.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf24dZKc0-OA9Wvnw23n4z1CNXQeV4gVDYKxKp2HH4CtusZ4ayY_9Hl2mWlyqrw26S-dsccixZxAsWcHxxLay43S_9kYJiqYHdL1kiCvaciXCHW7Jq3EUgFKL3i5UIhwNNct1riYSeRzg/s1600/acacia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf24dZKc0-OA9Wvnw23n4z1CNXQeV4gVDYKxKp2HH4CtusZ4ayY_9Hl2mWlyqrw26S-dsccixZxAsWcHxxLay43S_9kYJiqYHdL1kiCvaciXCHW7Jq3EUgFKL3i5UIhwNNct1riYSeRzg/s1600/acacia.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Acacia nilotica (Maa: ol'kiloriti): this is an excellent and useful tree though, like most Acacia species, it is viciously thorny. It has a characteristic shaggy, dark brown bark and rounded, yellow pom-poms for flowers. The Maasai go at the trunk with a machete, gathering the middle, soft, tannin-free bark layer. The outer bark is very astringent, and serves as an anti-diarrheal. The innermost layer is very bitter, and acts as a purgative. But the soft middle stuff - just right. At special dates two or three times a year, they boil handfuls of it in a goat stew which is eaten to "cleanse and renew the belly". It is moderately bitter, somewhat reminiscent of yellowdock root in flavor, and small sips (1-2 oz) of the decoction before meals improve appetite and regulate bowel function well.<br />
I myself became quite fond of using the younger branches of this tree, adopting another common Maasai habit. Stripped of thorns, they make excellent toothbrushes and lack the inner purgative bark layer. So, after the morning run and before breakfast, I'd walk around chewing on a six-inch chunk of twig, swallowing the bitter and slightly astringent juice, and rubbing my teeth and gums with the juicy fibrous end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHh1KIQyacBr0JtSeEmLRlOLMj4TvUHItylBK6CKlpPVA3iBamaqNz9-7fa6gcWppU4jqN8Nq3KckBlTcnSTLpnnhMRxboVGtCtz_7gqvZ7ZVQ5YpmRZ2zNC3AciZNGD5oDAg5Q4th1w/s1600/acacia-gall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHh1KIQyacBr0JtSeEmLRlOLMj4TvUHItylBK6CKlpPVA3iBamaqNz9-7fa6gcWppU4jqN8Nq3KckBlTcnSTLpnnhMRxboVGtCtz_7gqvZ7ZVQ5YpmRZ2zNC3AciZNGD5oDAg5Q4th1w/s1600/acacia-gall.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Acacia drepanolobium (Maa: ol'munishui): nicknamed "whistling thorn" because of the big, dark, hollow galls that catch wind with a characteristic whistle, the Maasai use its roots as parturients to help expel the afterbirth. This is actually a big issue in the local community, with many women suffering prolonged post-partum hemorrhages that can be life-threatening. But I didn't use this tree for that. The inner bark makes another excellent digestive bitter, but it is a bit more pungent and almost numbing to chew, reminding me slightly of kava. Another traditional use is for sore throats, which makes sense (though no throats were sore at Wasso). I used an infusion of the inner bark, about 1 TBS per cup of hot water, with a little honey as a pleasant evening after-dinner digestif. Supposedly these trees, which can grow to 15 feet, are the giraffe's favorite food. I witnessed them browsing on some one afternoon. They have some tricky lips, getting around those thorns.<br />
Walking through the bush, you move from green grass, yellow-barked acacias, red soil and a winding stream into denser forest with loisugi, vines, and epiphytes. Then you pass under a nilotica branch and find yourself on rich, black soil in a sparse forest of whistling thorns. There is a hiss in the air. The trees have a conical growth pattern and a grayish, mottled bark. This, along with the dark galls that look like black spruce cones, makes you feel like you just stepped into a grove of old spruce, towards the top of a mountain on the East Coast of the US. For a moment, the thorns look like needles. Then you see two Maasai kids, long sticks in hand, pushing goats through the thicket - and you're back under the hot sun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbY3lHjIWKGZp9QYxvfXgLekWlDXtJWx3Em8dVoVp9qZ3rA4UdJ9eQLdKHOUL_kvPP4Pnhj7I-vjTxQOgGrhFgGOjrhV_YhsGCRciOEAIoWdk4JGjKukuKvU5zOqJiS_3nU3sURuhsss/s1600/leonotis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbY3lHjIWKGZp9QYxvfXgLekWlDXtJWx3Em8dVoVp9qZ3rA4UdJ9eQLdKHOUL_kvPP4Pnhj7I-vjTxQOgGrhFgGOjrhV_YhsGCRciOEAIoWdk4JGjKukuKvU5zOqJiS_3nU3sURuhsss/s1600/leonotis.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Leonotis mollissima (Maa: ol'bibi): I first grew this plant back in Vermont, where I knew it as "wild dagga". I've smoked the leaves, and it is a mild euphoriant (very short acting). Here, it is an ever-present weed. If the bark of the whistiling acacia is a bitter with mild carminative action, leonotis is first and foremost a digestive antispasmodic, and a decent digestive bitter after that. It is a Lamiacea after all. I recommended the fresh leaves, two or three at a time, for intestinal cramps and spasms where it provides fairly rapid and welcome relief. It is similar to horehoud (Marrubium) in flavor and texture, and shares with it the presence of the bitter lactone marrubiin.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The aromatics</b>: there are numerous scented plants everywhere. Most don't have specific uses, though the locals will rub them on their bodies as perfume, both to increase attractiveness and to repel biting insects. One aromatic plant, Hosnum suave, is eaten by hunters to improve focus during early morning hunts and also to disguise their body odor as the aromatic oils exude through their pores ("that's all the animal will smell", I was told). But there are a few that are, like most aromatics, used as diaphoretics, carminatives, and nervines - as pleasant beverage teas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvslITbRp2o95_Z6geUTxoxSOTbN3YRBv2aRNhOREUgapDJiaUOsH6-X-qsQASgXH3-m3G5yLfTosLduBFisTii1wlM3Fp4afPO74oOmRt7vUtLvmRKK4xTPSG3gvGI1UdeOGJdn7uUg/s1600/ocimum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvslITbRp2o95_Z6geUTxoxSOTbN3YRBv2aRNhOREUgapDJiaUOsH6-X-qsQASgXH3-m3G5yLfTosLduBFisTii1wlM3Fp4afPO74oOmRt7vUtLvmRKK4xTPSG3gvGI1UdeOGJdn7uUg/s1600/ocimum.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Ocimum kilimandsharicum (Swa: kirumbasi): spicy and rich in eugenol and camphor, this plant reminds me a lot of O. sanctum (tulsi, holy basil). It doesn't have quite as intense of a bite. Traditionally, it is used for fevers and upper respiratory infections where I have no doubt it functions as a mucolytic, diaphoretic, and antiviral (it is also rich in rosmarinic acid). I mostly recommended it as a tea, refreshing and carminative after meals, and also as a morning beverage for those who didn't want chai or coffee. It's stimulating and enlivening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGfPBdX0LG3tbU0UeKRJibwhgoDT2NzQ2XUBsPLvQtKG3nQWBnP_phGYxtjUP8hrqSlF1lSJGHO1v4-fC84HVV7AsmFYeVUfW4R83SGw3XdSojLR2rpwLlkxwFNNFppeHdhye7s69Eo/s1600/lippia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGfPBdX0LG3tbU0UeKRJibwhgoDT2NzQ2XUBsPLvQtKG3nQWBnP_phGYxtjUP8hrqSlF1lSJGHO1v4-fC84HVV7AsmFYeVUfW4R83SGw3XdSojLR2rpwLlkxwFNNFppeHdhye7s69Eo/s1600/lippia.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Lippia kituiensis (Maa: ol'sinoni): an indigenous species used by the Maasai for its carminative and diaphoretic effects, it is also called simply "wild tea", because its leaves make a delightful, airy, somewhat citrusy infusion that is excellent in the early evening after a day's work. I consider it a gentle local nervine, similar to lemon balm in its effects though less dry. There is ongoing research looking at its potential antimalarial activity.<br />
<br />
<br />
There are many other interesting plants. Solanaceae: I harvested and dried Datura stramonium leaves, but was unable to convince an asthma patient that steeping them in Konyagi (some kind of distilled Tanzanian spirit that may start with fermented ginger root) was actually going to yield anything medicinal. Withania somnifera grows wild (I did point its root out to a gentleman who was interested in greater sexual vigor, translating the Ayurvedic name "ashwagandha" as best I could). Solanum incanum, the "Sodom's apple", is everywhere and used for everything from scrubbing pots (its gritty leaves) to dressing wounds (the fresh fruit juice), though I never felt drawn to using it. Lamiaceae: wild patchouli was an awesome discovery. Rosaceae: so many different kinds of wild hybiscus, red flowering, yellow flowering, delicate white flowering. Asteraceae: the important Artemisia annua and some of its cousins grow wild, a treasure against malaria. Very few if any plants are truly dangerous, if you're careful about where you step and avoid the thorns. Euphorbia candelabra, which drips a caustic white latex, may be an exception: it blisters the skin and causes temporary blindness.<br />
<br />
In the end, I can only repeat what I've said before: plants are communion. If you get to know them, if you allow them to become a part of you by eating them, drinking their infusions, merging their tissue with yours like usnea in a wound, you become part of the land you're in. If you want to know a place, walk outside. Hold people's hands. Eat what grows. You'll never be the same.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxUZR5kofHTHgvR_k2bxNuoGjtuMhYFuNf8qrbu95cyRydtl9Z_qvW3Ri7sJz2FqLAPVw87As38IwrmvutdZHwWPJI4aL9jUZmaFZe7fMZHG5oV6_4qvxc3j6Qdg8lahu9RS1-ODmwjQ/s1600/commelina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxUZR5kofHTHgvR_k2bxNuoGjtuMhYFuNf8qrbu95cyRydtl9Z_qvW3Ri7sJz2FqLAPVw87As38IwrmvutdZHwWPJI4aL9jUZmaFZe7fMZHG5oV6_4qvxc3j6Qdg8lahu9RS1-ODmwjQ/s1600/commelina.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>So I leave you with one last plant.<br />
Commelina benghalensis (Maa: engaiteteyai): this is a simple and common spiderwort, and grows in shady places. I'd find it covered in dew on my way back home, in the early morning. The Maasai ol'oiboni, or shaman-healer, uses it as a way to bless and protect those who have come seeking health. Dipping the fresh plant fronds in raw milk, he sprinkles the petitioner with the magical infusion, releasing negative influences and promoting wellness and growth. May your life be blessed. May no thorns find your feet. And may you have joy in simple things, wealth in those you love. <br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738694062065682753.post-73661085980683645882014-04-10T16:27:00.001-04:002014-04-10T16:27:36.636-04:00The Dark SideThe Maasai are semi-nomadic. They set up living fences, made of thorny acacia branches covered in spikes that are rock-hard and often six inches long. These branches take root, sprout again, and create an impervious barrier for the "boma" - an enclosed compound with round mud huts and ample space for the cattle and goats to stay safe during the night. Cattle is wealth - the daily ritual of grazing, up the rocky hill slopes to reach the open grass, where the wind is strong and you can see forever, moves life here. And in the evening, when the shadows lengthen and the air gets cold, you hear the bells again and you see the boys driving the cattle back to the boma, long sticks in hand, flowing red and blue wraps covering everything but the bottom of their skinny legs.<br />The old-timers will tell you with disdain that only animals eat grains and vegetables. To the Maasai, food is meat, milk, and blood. The cows are often bled daily, their life-essence fed to the children. And the family follows the needs of the cattle: they will leave the boma, and move to an abandoned living fence, setting up a new dwelling where they may live for a few months. Though they do not eat plants, they do believe in plants as medicine: everyone takes "ol-chani" (special trees), though many don't remember why. These herbs are often simmered with goat meat, particularly at ritual holidays, and thought to purify, strengthen, and balance they body and spirit.<br /><br />The Sunjo are agriculturalists. One of the biggest Tanzanian tribes, they wear rich greens, yellows and blues and till fields of maize by hand. The grain, white-kerneled and rugged, is ground into a cornmeal that is boiled into "ugali", a cross between porridge and cornbread. It is rich and somewhat cloying, and is mixed with stewed beans, peas, eggplant, tomato and squash. In some fields you can even see bean vines planted between the cornstalks, twining up in a surprisingly new world way. <br />Every week, they travel from Sunjo in the East down the long dirt road to sell their goods at the market here in Wasso. You'll find everything from sugarcane to ginger, beans and grains and fruits, recycled sandals and Adidas track jackets, cell phones and gasoline. The banter is cheerful, the faces more round, and the negotiation skills superior. And you find concoctions, "changu", generally dark liquids brewed from a range of unspecified plants. They are sold for stomach troubles (particularly worms and amoebas), malaria and fever, and to build the blood. I find myself a little reluctant to try the formulas, often sold in recycled water bottles with no label.<br /><br />I've had the pleasure of helping all these folks over the past weeks, and the work had been largely routine. There were wounds from motorbike falls, cleaning knees and shins scraped down to the bone and dressing them, stitching if needed; cleaning and removing the stitches from massive vertical cesarean sections; dressing head wounds in children whose arms are as thin around as a young, green sapling; splinting and slinging the ever-present distal humerus fracture. Yet another young Maasai came in with a lion bite, this time to both of his hands (only his right was fractured, and severely swollen). We are still helping previous weeks' injuries heal, and most patients who come through the minor theater with trauma are doing well. <br />I have been following my own group of patients. One showed up at our little house asking if I was around and if I had any remedies for the "sugari", diabetes. I was able to point her to a local species of Opuntia, and to the bark of the cinnamon tree - not a bad juice blend. The Maasai elder with probable leprosy is almost completely healed, using only herbal therapy. One small lesion remains on the ball of his left foot, but we hope to have that cleared up by early next week (if he would just stop walking). When he's discharged, he says, he will gift me a goat. The woman with a diabetic foot ulcer is also on the way to complete recovery, despite my own skepticism that we could heal her wound using herbs. But with twice-daily hot ginger compresses, yarrow washes, usnea powder, my own "changu" (details forthcoming soon), and the strict avoidance of bleach soaks, we're seeing daily progress - including the return of a good dorsalis pedis pulse. Many have come in for other troubles, like their severely malnourished children, and lack the funds to take care of the open wounds they themselves have. One young mother, for instance, came to me while I was working out in the grassy space between the hospital wards. Her child was in the pediatric department with pneumonia. But she had a deep, somewhat infected wound on the inside of her big toe, incurred while chopping wood for the boma. She healed quickly - young, strong, and otherwise healthy - and free of charge. So all things considered things are going well, and I am again reminded how excellent herbal medicine is for wounds, as well as for chronic disease. You just have to apply it diligently and consistently.<br />So another big part of my daily rhythm is gathering plants and preparing medicine for my folks. I am using a lot of fresh plant juices, which are excellent though time-consuming to prepare. My mantra has been "ninaenda kuanda dawa sasa" (I go to prepare medicine now), while I disappear from minor theater during a lull. But I am so grateful to have this opportunity: exploring the land, gathering, making, and applying. I often harvest plants and stick them in my camelback during runs. We come back together as a family at the end of the day, and share simple (and greasy) meals. We sleep deeply. In many ways, this is the life.<br /><br />This morning was no different. I joked (half through an interpreter) with the Maasai elder that it seemed that a side-effect of his herbal regime was strong morning erections - something he'd been missing. Good enough. I felt the near-scalding warmth of ginger tea on my hands as I wrung out a fresh compress before applying it. I smiled at the kids whose wounds I have come to know as I clean them and re-bandage them, usually about every other day. One of the most heartbraking cases has been that of a five-year-old whose entire right arm suffered full-thickness burns from a synthetic jacket that caught fire and melted onto him. I use aloe on the superficial burns on his chest, but we are using silver cream and vaseline gauze everywhere else. I have to remove and change the bandages daily, and lots of tissue gets removed with them. He whimpers quietly, under his breath, as his mom holds him in a big, white blanket. I can see his pain increase day after day, as more tissue sloughs off. But this morning, like every morning, I still got him to smile after I was done by puffing up my cheeks, sticking out my tongue, and crossing my eyes. White people are weird. These kids are so strong.<br /><br />Then the first call came in. I knew someting was off when I saw Father Thomas, the hospital administrator and chief medical officer, run across the courtyard from his office. People don't run here, especially at work. Then the 4x4 ambulances started going out. All of them. I was told to gather supplies from the farmacy: gloves, tape, surgical blades, and to make sure we were well-stocked with gauze and bandages. I went right to it. Staff was briefed on the incoming multiple casualty event.<br />A week or so ago, a Maasai tribesman had been caught as he attempted to graze his cattle in a Sunjo field. This, apparently, was an act of provocation and the Sunjo tribesmen cut him down - killed him. In a story that repeats itself here like the seasons, the Maasai planned and executed an act of retribution. Every morning and evening, a small bus travels from Sunjo to Wasso carrying about a dozen people. This morning, it had been ambushed by Maasai with Somali (American??) machine guns, and machetes. There were mostly high school students on board, a Sunjo driver and some other folks. Apparently, one of the kids walked right up to the Maasai gunmen and attempted to explain that they weren't tribesmen, that they had no quarrel. He was shot in the head.<br />I ran to the front entrance of the hospital with two boxes of gloves. Someone put a robe on me. Then the ambulances started offloading casualties. We wheeled them into minor theater as they came in, car by car. Anne and Father Franco directed rapid triage - is he alive? I checked for breathing. Nothing. Radial pulse was weak and thready, intermittent. Then I noticed the exit wound on his skull. Soon there was no pulse - we had to move on. Another young man was dead on arrival - a massive slice across his neck had severed his carotid artery. He didn't even make it into minor theater. Anne and I started working on the driver - a large man, probably in his thirties. As I cut off his pants, I saw his foot was fully turned inward, tissue was everywhere, blood was coming quick from his lower leg. As I attempted to elevate his foot and apply pressure, it just flopped free, disconnected from the rest of his leg. He screamed in pain. So I got a splint and secured his leg in place, continuing to strip off his clothes. No other wounds. He pulled at me as I held his bloody jeans and told me "money, money in there". I packed gauze into his leg, trying to slow the bleeding a bit.<br />Meanwhile, a girl had a deep wound on the top of her head. She was marginally conscious, had a pulse and was breathing well. The skull had been compromised, but hopefully not too much. Father Franco was stitching her up, calling for more lidocaine and yelling "cut" periodically. I helped as I could with local anestesia and scissors, while staying with the driver. Another girl had a smaller head wound, and Teresa, a visiting OBGYN resident from Germany, was stitching her up. She seemed stable. Yet another woman had a gunshot wound to the right leg that had shattered her fibula. Other patients were being treated outside of minor theater, one with a bullet in his pelvis, another with an uncomplicated gunshot wound to his upper leg. They were ok.<br />Anne had to leave to act as one of three surgeons in major theater attempting to repair the shattered fibula. I stayed with the driver, applying pressure behind his knee in an attempt to restrict blood flow through the popliteal artery. He was going into shock, and we got fluid going into him through a deftly-executed IV (the nurse was so smooth, calm, precise - amazing). While squeezing behind his knee, I squeezed the bag of saline. The foot was pale. His lips were going pale. He was getting cold; we covered him as best we could. A unit of blood arrived, typed and matched from the sample taken from the IV port, and they were ready for him in the major theater. Anne, Father Franco, Dr. Peter and the team would be in there for hours. <br /><br />I let him go and took a moment to breathe. The young girl Teresa had helped was resting in minor theater. Two other patients came in, walking on their own or with just a little assistance - I was so grateful to see this. I cleaned and dressed a simple, small head laceration (boy do they bleed though) in a woman who was seven months pregnant. How was her baby? Could she feel it move? Yes, everything seemed normal. No cramping. No vaginal bleeding. I shaved between her tight braids, cleaned and dressed her wound. She was shaken, but fine. Another man had a small arm wound that was most likely a graze from a bullet - lucky. No stitches needed. <br />Cleaning up minor theater felt like an honor and was a welcome respite. We worked slowly, methodically, in silence, mopping up blood and bleaching every surface. When we were done, I looked at the blue gown that covered me from my neck to my feet. Blood. I took it off, folded it, and put it into the bin where we dump contaminated laundry. I walked slowly back towards the entrance of the hospital, now under high security. Police with machine guns. People everywhere, crying. Blood trails on the concrete pathways. There must have been over a hundred people outside the front entrance of the normally quiet hospital. <br />After checking with Father Thomas I walked out, almost on autopilot, and crossed the parking lot to our little house. My daughter was waiting there, home from school for lunch. I just gave her a big hug for a long time. <br /><br />All told, there were eleven casualties. Two died. Four had major wounds. Five had minor wounds. I will tell you, herbal medicine is fantastic, even for first aid. But the team at Wasso hospital worked smoothly and well today, exemplifying the best that technological medicine has to offer, even in such a low-resource setting, and I am so grateful. When I returned to the intensive care unit to visit the driver and the other three major casualties, all were stable - although I bemoaned the complete lack of narcotics, even a simple opium poppy tincture (next time I will bring an unlabeled bottle). The driver's pulse, which had been so strong and almost flooding when I first took it, was barely noticeable at the radius. In many ways, this is the life. The land is wild and strong. The tribal ways are pure and uncluttered by heavy modern baggage. But there is a dark side too.<br />Guido Mase'http://www.blogger.com/profile/08186818316201584509noreply@blogger.com1