March // The Calm Issue

i: Editorial

Make calm, and carry on Kyra Pollitt Some people have found joy in the pandemic’s pausing of all we had taken as normal— polluted commutes now exchanged for leisurely walks in local nature; constant striving supplanted by a deepening sense of gratitude and place; passing chats at the office water cooler replaced by time spent connecting with kith and kin.

For others, restrictions on travel and socialising have increased loneliness, despair and anxiety; home schooling and domestic confinement have taken their toll; loss and bereavement have worn many guises.

All of us are more aware of our vulnerability. For all of us, these times are tumultuous and turbulent.

As we face ‘re-entry’, the fortunes of both camps are likely to be reversed— gains risk becoming losses as some of what has been lost is regained.

At a low ebb, doing the washing up, a Radio 4 expert tells me that, to maintain my mental health, each day I should spent at least twenty minutes outdoors, twenty minutes exercising, and twenty minutes doing something new, explorative and creative. I am grateful for Herbology News. There is much in these pages to learn, make and do; much to take us outdoors, keep us uplifted, creative, calm and engaged.

In this issue, we take a look at the brain— what it is and a little of how it works (Anthroposophical Views) —and we explore the sensation of calm. Our Herb of the Month is the wonderfully uplifting yet calming Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Joseph Nolan tells us how to combine it with other herbs to alleviate domestic stresses (Of Weeds and Weans), Anne Dalziel suggests prescriptions from Dr. Bach (Flower Remedies), while Ann King shares an ancient calming recipe from the monasteries (Notes from the Brew Room).

We interview yoga teacher, reflexologist, astrologer and writer Mel Skinner, who specialises in restorative yoga and Yoga Nidra, and whose life work has focussed on rest— what it really means, and how to do it. She shares some tips (How to Rest), as well as an exclusive discount on her book Rest is Radical.

You can curl up with a poem from A.C. Clarke (StAnza presents…) and a tale from Amanda Edmiston (Botanica Fabula), read a review from Marianne Hughes (Book Club), or go armchair Foraging through Folklore with Ella Leith.

Or you can head outdoors with Ruth Crighton-Ward (Garden Gems) and Marissa Stoffer (Foraging for Colour), who offers us yet another creative project— making ink from Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus). Artist of the Month, Anne Gilchrist shows us outdoor, cryptic pieces that puzzle, prolong and engage. And engagement is the focus of our new column by Patrick Dunne, who encourages us not to lose sight of the bigger picture (The Climate Column).

So, this month we encourage you to make calm, herbal friends. Make calm and carry on!

Executive Editor Editor Artistic Director Illustrators Treasurer

Catherine Conway-Payne Kyra Pollitt Maddy Mould Maddy Mould, Hazel Brady Marianne Hughes

Contents

i Editorial Artist of the Month

Kyra Pollitt Anne Gilchrist

2 6

ii Herb of the Month

Marianne Hughes, Hazel Brady

10

iii Of Weeds and Weans Anthroposophical Views Flower Remedies

Joseph Nolan Dora Wagner Anne Dalziel

13 16 20

iv Our Editor in the Field….

How to Rest

Kyra Pollitt meets Mel Skinner Mel Skinner

23 26

v The Climate Column

Patrick Dunne

28

vi Notes from the Brew Room Foraging for Colour Garden Gems

Ann King Marissa Stoffer Ruth Crighton-Ward

32 34 38

vii Foraging Through Folklore Botanica Fabula

Ella Leith Amanda Edmiston

42 45

viii StAnza Presents…

A.C. Clarke

48

ix Book Club: 51 Marianne Hughes reviews Fantastic Fungi: How Mushrooms can Heal, Shift Consciousness & Save the Planet, edited by Paul Stamets (Earth Aware, 2019) x Noticeboard Contributors Looking Forward

54 57 62

i: Artist of the Month

Anne Gilchrist annegilchrist.co.uk Anne Gilchrist is a Scottish artist, whose work concentrates entirely on the natural world. By representing the non-human, she aims to bring nature into people’s lives. Her diverse approaches to landscape include drawing, painting, pyrography and installed outdoor pieces— much of her work is created and exhibited directly in the natural environment.

She has been creating her outdoor work for a number of years; producing installations and trails at Vogrie and Dalkeith Country Parks in Midlothian, in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, and at NatureScot’s (Scottish Natural Heritage) premises in Battleby in Perthshire, as well as in other localities across Scotland. from April to November, at Dawyck Botanic Garden, in the Scottish Borders, will host her self-guided outdoor art trail— Puzzle in the Garden —featuring cryptic painted pieces hung in the trees. Meanwhile, In April, her work— 8 Trees 8 Birds —will be shown in an outdoor, self-guided art exhibition at Vogrie Country Park, Midlothian Anne writes: I create works that reflect on the vulnerability and precious qualities of the natural world. The Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of nature to us, and I grow ever more aware of the ecological crises we all face. As we head into an uncertain future, I feel strongly that my art should express the lives and needs of other organisms with which we share the planet.

In our present era, as the human world consumes life on our planet and prioritises human needs, I would like my artwork to express a humility on behalf of our species; to acknowledge the ephemeral and unimportant nature of our lives, and the importance of the planet’s ecosystems.

I love being outside in the woodlands and fields near my home. It’s always

interesting and gives me a sense of deep peace and belonging. I am lucky to live in a beautiful part of the countryside, where every day I can wander out into a landscape I love. I’ve also been privileged to get to know other special places, most notably the North shores of Loch Tay. It’s important for me to be away from the heavily humanised world and take time just to be there in the landscape, quite usually with no agenda other than observation and reverence. I call it ‘being outwith’. When I join the community of plants and creatures for a while— watching, listening, observing, learning —I feel a sense of normality and ‘rightness’. I can spend hours in one spot just watching what comes by, or find a comfy branch or dry leaves at the foot of a tree for a siesta. Only by being still and silent do I fully begin to understand my surroundings. The way I approach my artwork is similar. It takes time— months, sometimes years. I need to have a relationship with a place, get to know it really well, let it become part of my life. Only then does the art happen.

My ‘cryptic’ pieces are panels painted to blend into their immediate surroundings. I juggle a fine line between representation and abstraction, keeping in mind the camouflage of moths, lizards, and other creatures. That you may not notice them if you didn’t know they were there, is the greatest tribute I can pay to the woodlands. I love the idea of one of my pieces hiding in plain sight, stepping backwards into its surroundings, leaving it for my audience to notice. My work is the opposite of graffiti; it self-effaces, letting the landscape be the major player. I think this is a reflection of how

i: Artist of the Month

we relate to the nature all around us. It is there, we just have to see it. Drawing an audience into a natural environment, moving through a landscape whilst looking and observing— an interactive variant of landscape painting —is an integral part of my work.

I like to think of my work as a silent— perhaps secret —witness to the natural world around us. Just being there is enough, as it is for the trees.

You can find Anne on Instagram: @Anne Gilchrist_artist

Images: Cover image Top of the Stump Puzzle Piece Tombreck Woodlands Oil on board 15cm x 15cm Image 1 View from the Birch Tombreck Woodlands Oil on board Approximately 60cm x 40cm Image 2 View from the Birch—verso Tombreck Woodlands Oil on board Approximately 60cm x 40cm Image 3 Woodland Floor (detail) Oil on board 120cm x 65cm Image 4 Dalkeith Pieces Together Oil on board Various sizes

Image 5 Bracken Piece, Vogrie Oil on board Approximately 30cm x 30cm Image 6 Painting in aTree Tombreck Woodlands Oil on board 15cm x 20cm Image 7 Completed Puzzle Princes Street Gardens Oil on board Each piece approximately 30cm x 30cm Image 8 One Tree - a Portrait Oil on board Approximately 20cm x 35cm Image 9 Cryptic Piece Dalkeith Old Wood Oil on board Approximately 30cm x 30cm

ii: Herb of the Month

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Marianne Hughes, with illustration by Hazel Brady In the late 10th century, Ibn Sina, the Persian scholar more commonly known as Avicenna, wrote: balm causeth the heart and mind to become merry Perhaps this is where the botanist John Gerard (1545-1612) sourced his own comment on Lemon Balm, that it: comforteth the hart and driveth away all melancholie and sadnesse Lemon Balm has been used ever since for treating the symptoms of stress, to aid sleep and for promoting memory. In the 14th century, Carmelite nuns mixed extract of Lemon Balm with Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and Angelica (Angelica archangelica), to produce Carmelite water— ‘Eau des Carmes’ —which was known for its sweet scent and healing properties. Kress (2013) suggests adding Eau des Carmes to fruit brandy to make ‘Carmelite brandy’— and perhaps, secretly, the nuns did so.

Ody (2017) lists the active constituents of Lemon Balm as volatile oil (which includes citronellal), polyphenols, tannins, a bitter principle, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. It is the essential oil that binds to those brain receptors linked to reducing anxiety. In 2014, the rosmarinic acid content of Lemon Balm was also found to have anxiolytic effects (i.e., to reduce anxiety) when taken in a water-soluble form in a drink with natural fruit juices (Scholey et al). In addition to the anxiolytic effects, the study found that the Lemon Balm solution improved working memory, mathematical processing and psychomotor performance.

These are important findings, as pharmaceutical anxiolytics can often impair cognitive performance and working memory capabilities. Additionally, Martin and Preedy (2020) focus on the neuroprotective properties of rosmarinic acid; their research suggests a potential therapeutic application for people with dementia, or those who have had strokes.

ii: Herb of the Month

However, the authors point out that rosmarinic acid has poor water solubility, low bioavailability and limited permeability through biological barriers, which suggests that nasal administration would be the preferred mechanism for delivering rosmarinic acid to the central nervous system (CNS). So, smelling Lemon Balm delivers more than a beautiful scent— there is a direct and positive impact on our central nervous system.

When the European AGFORWARD project grew Lemon Balm through mulch mats in alleys between Cherry trees (Prunus padus), a high value timber crop in Spain, the Lemon Balm supressed weeds and forced the Cherry tree roots deeper, providing greater resilience for the trees against climate change. In return, the shade of the trees delayed the flowering of the Lemon Balm, which increased the level of rosmarinic acid in the leaves (Stobart 2020).

References Kress, H. (2013) Practical Herbs 2, Tammerprint Oy: Tampere, Finland Martin, C.R., and Preedy, V.R. (eds) (2020) Oxidative Stress and Dietary Antioxidants in Neurological Diseases, Academic Press: Amsterdam Ody, P. (2017) The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs, Skyhorse: New York Scholey, A., et al. (2014) ‘Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods’, in Nutrients (6):4805-4821 Simmonds, M., et al. (2016) The Gardener’s Companion to Medicinal Plants: An A-Z of Healing Plants and Home Remedies, Frances Lincoln: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew Stobart, A. (2020) The Medicinal Forest Garden Handbook: Growing, Harvesting & Using Healing Trees & Shrubs in a Temperate Climate, Permanent Publications: East Meon, UK

iii: Of Weeds & Weans

Weans’ brains: Teen edition Joseph Nolan Our brains have two great periods of development: babyhood and adolescence.

During babyhood, we learn to use our senses and our brains adapt to the environments in which we are living. In adolescence, all the adult wiring is done; we learn about sex and adult society, and our brains finish their development. How old are you inside? 18? 20?

22? That’s when your brain finished developing. Of course, we mature— we add knowledge and experience —but our core selves, as defined by our brains, are fixed.

Now, if we cast our minds back a few years to adolescence, most of us will recall that this was a challenging time, even if we were lucky enough to hit it before the rise of social media.

And adolescence is particularly difficult now, in the time of COVID and social distancing.

Standard academic testing is suspended, jeopardizing years of effort; lockdown means stifling house arrest with family; sports, events, and activities are cancelled; community life is suspended; and time with friends is limited.

Stress is high, and it is hitting my teenaged patients hard.

So, what can we do to help adolescents, preadolescents, and younger children, cope with normal and not-so-normal stress? How can we help their amazing, dynamic and adaptable brains to set themselves in healthy ways? Well, we can give them herbs.

Herbal helpers for the head There are many herbs which have beneficial effects on the brain. Some improve nerve conduction, others work on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), some act on the pituitary or pineal glands inside the brain.

There are anti-inflammatories and circulatory stimulants, and others that have no particular orthodox medical designation. One principle of traditional medicine systems, and something that I use often, are directional herbs. They have such a strong affinity for an organ or area

of the body that they direct or focus the medicine on that part. So, for the brain you might add Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)— which improves circulation and memory —or Stachys betonica (Wood Betony) to a blend, concentrating the herbal actions on the head and brain.

For the purposes of home herbalising, the brain problems you are going to deal with mainly fall under the ‘stress’ umbrella. So, to back up for a moment, the ANS regulates our fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest responses.

These two responses encompass a constellation of regulatory functions affecting almost everything happening in our bodies; circulation, digestion, breathing, eliminating, thinking, perceiving, healing, sleeping, sexual function, and countless other processes that go on within our systems. The ANS has two modes: fight-or-flight, termed the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS); and rest-and-digest, called the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). To try and make a long explanation shorter, when we are in an SNS dominant state, we are ‘stressed’. In a PNS dominant state, we are relaxed and at ease. And this is where the herbs come in.

For stressed young people, or indeed any aged people, you cannot beat Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). For reasons which I hope are obvious, we want to be in a PSN state most of the time. Lemon Balm soothes an overexcited SNS, and supports the rest-and-digest function. Its wonderful, mild, ever-so-slightly floral scent and flavour makes the herb easy to take and appealing to young palates, even fussy or contrary ones. For anxiety and breaking the cycle of prolonged stress, Melissa is an excellent remedy. I give it to my patients during exam time, University admission time, and when competition at school becomes overwhelming. It is perfect, too, for hyperactive toddlers and children who struggle to calm down. Because Lemon Balm settles the ANS

iii: Of Weeds & Weans and promotes PNS dominance, it also helps with problems getting to sleep, and cramping, windy digestion. Lemon Balm is easy to grow, being in the Lamiaceae or mint family, and a tea made with the fresh leaves is nothing short of divine. You can use it in tea, tincture, aromatic water or hydrosol, and the eyewateringly-expensive essential oil. Because the essential oil is the essence of the remedy, any preparation you use or make will focus on it.

You can use Lemon Balm essential oil in preparations like ointments and creams, as well as in diffusers or burners, and you can add it to oil for massage. It is quite efficacious against viruses of the Herpesviridae family, so Lemon Balm oil can be used topically for colds sores and shingles rashes. I see these two maladies with unfortunate regularity in high school students around the time of their exams, even more so with the coronavirus about.

Not to dissuade you from trying, but it doesn’t dry very well at home— acquiring a strange, fishy smell and taste. So, do be prepared to buy your Melissa herb. To preserve the herb’s oil content, drying quickly and at a low temperature is the best way, but it is difficult.

Frankly, I have never managed it. When tincturing, add Melissa to alcohol for only a couple of hours, then remove and replace with fresh herb. Repeat until satisfied with the results. Lemon Balm aromatic water is an ethereal and beautiful thing. I have a tiny bottle of hydrosol received as a gift, from which I dole out to the worthy by the drop. If you are lucky enough to get some, adding a few drops of Melissa hydrosol to cool water makes everything right with the world. Taking the aromatic water this way is safe and efficacious for even very small children, helping to comfort, calm the mind, and raise the spirits.

Lemon Balm is a versatile medicine, working equally well on its own as a simple, or combining with other anxiolytics like Matricaria recutita (Chamomile), and Rosa damascena (Rose).

Stachys betonica (Wood Betony, Betony) is an interesting herb, sometimes overlooked outside of herbalists’ circles. It has a strong affinity for the head, drawing anything put with

it north to act on the brain and other structures.

I use it especially for anxious teens, prone to migraines and headaches. I use it, too, for calming intense or over-stimulated young people. It is perfect before and after sporting events, presentations, performances or exams.

Betony turns down the intensity, helping— like Melissa — to soothe the ANS and, if the event went badly, the herb aids in letting it go. Most of the unpleasant symptoms teenagers and children experience with an amped up SNS— restlessness, irritability and volatility, headaches, tired or strained eyes, difficulty getting to sleep —Wood Betony soothes away.

Children and adolescents with neurological challenges, like ADHD and autism, suffer a lot of anxiety and frustration trying to negotiate a neurotypical world; Betony aids in regulating thoughts and emotions. The herb is native to Britain and easy to grow, putting up stately spikes of scalloped leaves and ridiculously cheerful racemes of bubble gum pink flowers.

Traditionally, the flowers are made into a medicinal— and doubtless delicious — conserve for use year-round. These days, we use the aerial parts dried or tinctured, and the pleasant mild flavour— a bit like the smell of straw —is very well tolerated in medicines.

Betony combines well with flavoursome anxiolytic herbs like Lemon Balm, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender), Chamomile, and Rose.

Everyone knows that Viscum album (Mistletoe) is poisonous, which adds a bit of a thrill to using it medicinally, but actually only the berries are toxic. The leaves and stems— the parts used in medicine —are quite safe in tea or tincture, and have a very mild, nearly undetectable flavour.

The first thing about Mistletoe though, is that is looks like a neuron. To refresh your memory, a neuron has a little root-like terminal at one end which transmits its messages on to other neurons. The long thin middle part— the stem —is the axon, and the large hand-like end with many dendritic projections is the cell body, where the neuron receives messages from other neurons. Mistletoe, growing as it does from a small, rooty attachment on tree bark, is suspended in the air and grows into a round clump with a grouping of leaves and berries at the end of each stem. The resemblance to a

iii: Of Weeds & Weans brain is more than passing, and it is peculiar.

Uncanny resemblances aside, Mistletoe is an excellent remedy for anxiety, and the many conditions with which anxiety is associated. For adolescents, the pressures of social life online and ‘IRL’ can cause great distress. If it turns nasty, added to the hurt is bewilderment at the unprovoked cruelty of peers and even trusted friends. Cool-leaved, tough and flexible, Mistletoe helps sort through such painful discoveries. For younger children making similar discoveries in kindergarten and primary school, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and Rose should be all that is needed. But for the more sophisticated worries of high school, Mistletoe is an excellent remedy. I use it a lot, too, for my neurodivergent patients— especially when they also have epilepsy —to regulate neurological function and relieve anxiety. It works very well combined with Betony, Lemon Balm, Rose, Lavender, Chamomile, and, in more extreme cases, Valeriana officinalis (Valerian).

Traditional remedies for strange times Lemon Balm is used all over Europe, and wherever Europeans have settled in large numbers, for its beneficial effects on anxiety, sleep, digestion and, in elders, memory. Here are two venerable methods for enjoying its benefits:

Melissa and Mint tea Blending equal parts of dried Lemon Balm and Mentha piperita (Peppermint) gives you a fragrant tea that opens airways and relaxes smooth muscle in the gut, allowing wind to dispel and tension to disappear. The SNS clocks out, the PNS comes to the fore, digestion burbles away, and sleep comes easily. For teens, use a teaspoon of the blend per cup, and steep it, covered, for fifteen minutes before drinking at bedtime.

Lemon Balm bath In addition to herbal baths being delightful— assuming you strain out the bits —they are an excellent way of getting herbs into people of all ages. Put two or three generous handfuls of dried Melissa, or 4-5 of fresh herb, into your largest pot or bowl, and fill with boiling water.

Infuse, covered, for fifteen minutes, and then strain into the bath. Soak for as long as reasonably possible, and then go to bed. Use a Lemon Balm bath to bring calm, restful sleep, and to ease windy, painful, cramping digestion.

For both conditions, dissolving a couple of handfuls of Epsom salts in the hot water will also help relaxation of both the muscles and the mind.

Happy herbing!

iii: Anthroposophical Views

Intuiting a connection Dora Wagner Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel,1964)

In anthroposophical medicine, the head— as the carrier of the brain —the cranial nerves, and the decisive sense organs are the dynamic focal point of the ‘nerve-sense system’, which is effective in every other part of the human organism, albeit through quite different actions. As you’ll recall from my explanation of the tripartite system in the November (2020) issue, the root of a plant is linked to our nervesense system. In the natural kingdom it is the mineral; in the planetary realm, the moon; and in us, it is expressed in thinking. The head, containing most of our sense-organs, is seen to convey impressions from the outer world to our inner being, and the brain to reflect our spiritual and sensual-physical activity into our soul and thus into our consciousness (Steiner, 1918).

We are all familiar with being told ‘to keep a cool head’ when ‘wetting our pants with fear‘, having ‘our hearts in our mouths’, ‘hanging our heads in shame’, and so on. Any efforts to stop these physical responses to mental states such as anxiety, stress or depression, are relatively ineffective. These reactions are triggered by a part of our nervous system that works relatively independently and autonomously, controlling functions such as breathing, digestion, and more. In these processes, the nerves cause the physical reactions that set us up for fight or flight: faster heartbeat and breathing, contraction of the bladder, cessation of bowel activity. Although we all experience how much our mental states are connected to our bodies, many people nonetheless feel there is a gap between mental and physical phenomena and tend to believe in a ‘mind-body dualism’. The understanding of mind and body as two entirely different entities is found in almost all

human cultures. In the course of the 20th century, Western scientists have banished phenomenology and introspection as ‘unscientific’. Yet, whilst they can now objectively explain parts of the human being, by no means can they provide a convenient solution to the brain-mind or mind-body problem. Philosophy, neuroscience, medicine and psychology have also not yet found an answer to how our consciousness arises, nor to where our thoughts and our souls reside (Hoffman, 2008).

Are these distinct entities or identical unities?

Is not everything in the cosmos, like the cosmos itself, a unified whole? Isn't this how we came into being? And is the brain the only suitable place for the interplay of body, mind and soul?

Is it really only here that the outer world can inspire us, be brought into our inner view, become intuited and reflected upon? I consider weak dualism to be inherently paradoxical and counterintuitive, strong dualism rooted in a sense of mystery. Although the monistic position has been supported by

iii. Anthroposophical Views some of the most powerful intellectuals of the last hundred years, it is usually dismissed as sophistry.

Anthroposophy suggests a trichotomy; seeing the human being as a unity of body, spirit and soul: By body is meant here that by which things of our world reveal themselves to us [...] By the word soul is meant that by which we connect things with our own existence, by which we feel pleasure and displeasure, desire and aversion, joy and pain in them. Spirit is what is revealed within a person when, according to Goethe's expression, they see things as "a kind of divine being".

In this sense, humankind consists of body, soul and spirit. (Steiner, 1904:26) Studies (e.g., Burgmer & Forstmann, 2018) have shown that a reduction in dualistic belief can have a significant impact on healthpromoting attitudes and behaviours.

Following simple interventions, for example, individuals spontaneously chose, purchased and consumed healthier meals. Since food consumption habits are considered automatic behaviours that can only be influenced to a very limited extent, this is particularly remarkable. So, mental attitudes, thoughts and beliefs can enhance physical health or lead to less self-harming behaviours (ibid.).

You see, our mind and body, brain and nervous system are extremely complex and intricately linked so that, all in all, it is our complete organism that enables us to think, feel, intend, move and act in many different ways.

Intuition and observation are the sources of our understanding. We are strangers to an observable thing in the world as long as we do not have the corresponding intuition inside us to complete the missing piece of reality in our perception. (Steiner,1918) Isn’t it confusing? In medical science, the brain and the spinal nerves are linked to the Central Nervous System (CNS), including the motoric nerves— divided into afferent and efferent — enabling us to act. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) includes all the neuronal

structures that lie outside the CNS. The PNS is divided into the Voluntary or Somatic Nervous System (SNS) and the Vegetative or Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The SNS controls the conscious bodily functions, such as conscious movements. The ANS controls the unconscious bodily functions, such as the heartbeat. The ANS includes the Sympathetic Nervous System, the Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). The Sympathetic Nervous System is mainly activated in stressful situations, the Parasympathetic Nervous System helps us to relax thereafter. In concert, the two control vital processes such as breathing and heartbeat, blood pressure and circulation. The ENS resides in the gastrointestinal tract and is in charge of digestion (Bear, 2018).

Perhaps these systems are depicted as functionally separate to make everything seem less entwined and more comprehensible? But this classification into functional components should not blind us to the fact that everything in our organism is interrelated. Whether central, peripheral, somatic, enteric, motoric or autonomic, sympathetic, parasympathetic or enteric, nerve cells all react and interact in a huge collaborative network through similar processes: the transmission of electrical signals and the exchange of various messenger and other substances.

The brain of an adult human has about 86 billion neurons, interconnected in very complex networks, communicating via highly specialised contact points. In these ‘synapses’ messenger substances—neurotransmitters — are exchanged. Neurons often have many thousands, even tens of thousands of connections to other cells. And there are further, complex control cycles that can activate or suppress cells. The variety of outcomes is partly due to which specific neuron is stimulated, but largely to the substances released and exchanged to accompany the interaction. We can only influence these processes to a very limited extent; the network of capillaries that supply our brain cells have very tight seals acting as a ‘blood-brain barrier’ against harmful, and sometimes helpful, drugs.

Due to the buoyancy of the cerebrospinal fluid

iii. Anthroposophical Views in which our brain swims, it is also largely unaffected by gravity. But our brains do appear to work in accordance with our basic goals and beliefs, and neural patterns seem to be the result of our engagement with ourselves and our environment. Moreover, the pattern of fireworks in our neuronal activity can change not only its function, but also its qualitative expression—it is as unique as our fingerprint (Raichle, 2015). This great flexibility of our multifaceted brains— their neuroplasticity — enables us to learn, change our habits and not get stuck on well-trodden paths.

So, how can we nourish and stimulate our everactive brains, which selfishly demand a full 20% of our entire body’s energy (Peters et al., 2004)? Guidebooks and studies claim so many different things as beneficial to our mental health that it’s easy to lose track. To me, a balanced, sufficient diet, tailored to my individual needs appears to be the best path.

Plenty of water, of course, and foods that contain high quality protein, complex carbohydrates, numerous vitamins and minerals. Plenty of fruit and vegetables, healthy cereals and legumes can really help us cope with stressful situations, especially if we allow ourselves to eat regular meals, with enough

time to spare (Gómez-Pinilla, 2008).

Neurologists at the clinic in Arlesheim have had great success with therapies using beans. The Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens), traditional in Ayurvedic medicine, has been successfully applied to treat diseases of the brain and the nerve-sense system, including Parkinson's disease. The seeds contain up to 25% of Levodopa (L-dopa), a direct precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Griffonia simplicifolia, a South African bean, has been shown to naturally support the nervous system and improve intellectual performance, strengthening mental resilience and promoting concentration. It is used in the treatment of depression, inter alia. Its 5-HTP content is converted into serotonin in the body and is a precursor for the formation of melatonin. This substance, which is predominantly contained in the seeds, is well absorbed in the intestines, is not inhibited by other amino acids and, after ingestion, about 70% enters the bloodstream, where it can even cross the blood-brain barrier (Elsass & Hägele-Link, 2016).

In contrast, influencing our brain with herbal medicine seems to be a really challenging task, especially when we don't feel healthy.

Anthroposophical medicine advocates mainly minerals, especially gold, preparations. The plant most valued by anthroposophical psychiatrists is St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), which is administered in a homeopathic dosage to treat depression (Fintelmann, 2016).

What else can we do to help our brains, especially if we become mentally unbalanced, or even neurologically ill? We are often advised to keep on moving— both mentally and physically —to try new ways, to accept the unfamiliar. Studies (e.g., Henkel et al, 2014) have, indeed, confirmed that physical activity reduces the risk of some neurological and mental illnesses, such as stroke, dementia and Parkinson's disease. Systematic physical training has also been shown to be effective for dysthymia and other depressive symptoms, as well as for various anxiety and pain disorders.

Therapeutic efficacy is particularly demonstrated for depression, some symptoms

iii. Anthroposophical Views of psychosis and multiple sclerosis, addiction, eating disorders, fibromyalgia and headache syndromes, and as a brief intervention for anxiety disorders (Henkel et al., 2014). Here anthroposophic medicine offers an abundance of individually tailored treatments from its ‘garden of recovery’. These include eurhythmy, rhythmic massages, external applications, and particular forms of art, music, gardening and psychotherapy. Conscious perception with all our senses, contemplative and thoughtful activity, mindfulness and meditation do appear to be particularly supportive to our mental wellbeing, allowing us to experience the world and be more relaxed. Perhaps also we should sometimes just dive down and allow ourselves some respite, just like the plants in our gardens do.

In conclusion, here’s a little exercise that always helps me before and during stressful situations: Drink a glass of water— sip by sip, if necessary.

Now breathe deeply a few times and imagine that you are smelling the most wonderful rose you have ever seen. Feel how this wonderful fragrance, together with the air you are inhaling, is entering your whole body with every single breath. Close your eyes then and feel the energy reaching every part of your body as you breath.... your nose, your ears, your eyes, your forehead, your chin, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your chest, your belly, your legs, your feet.... and finally, even the tips of your toes…

So, how is your brain now?

Images: Dora Wagner References Bear, M. F. et al (2018) Neurowissenschaften: Ein grundlegendes Lehrbuch für Biologie, Medizin und Psychologie. Springer Spektrum: Berlin Burgmer, P., and Forstmann, M. (2018) ‘Mindbody dualism and health revisited: How belief in dualism shapes health behavior’ in Social Psychology, 49: 219-230 Elsass, S. and Hägele-Link, S. (2016) ‘Der Begriff der Nerventätigkeit in der Pathogenese neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen und ganzheitliche Therapiemöglichkeiten’ (The concept of neural activity in the pathogenesis

of neurodegenerative diseases and holistic therapy options), in Der Merkurstab. Zeitschrift für Anthroposophische Medizin 5(2): 345-354 Fintelmann, V. (2016) Intuitive Medizin – Theorie und Praxis der Anthroposophischen Medizin (Intuitive Medicine - Theory and Practice of Anthroposophical Medicine).

Verlag: Stuttgart Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008) ‘Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function’, in National Institutes of Health (Neuroscience), 9 (7):568–578 Henkel, K.; Reimers, C.; Knapp, G; et al (2014) ‘Körperliches Training bei neurologischen und psychischen Erkrankungen (Physical training for neurological and mental diseases), in Nervenarzt, 85:1521-1528 Hoffman, D. (2008) ‘Conscious realism and the mind-body problem’, in Mind and Matter, 6 (1):87-121 Peters, A.; Schweiger, U.; Pellerin, L.; Hubold, C.; Oltmanns, K. M.; Conrad, M.; Schultes, B.,;Born, J. and Fehm, H. L. (2004) ‘The selfish brain: competition for energy resources’, in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 28:143–180 Raichle, M. (2015) ‘The restless brain: how intrinsic activity organizes brain function’, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 370: 20140172 Steiner, R. (1904) Theosophie. Einführung in übersinnliche Welterkenntnis und Menschenbestimmung. Freies Geistesleben: Berlin. p.26. Trans. Dora Wagner Steiner, R. (1918) Die Wissenschaft vom Werden des Menschen. Dornach: Berlin Steiner, R. (1918/1995) Die Philosophie der Freiheit. Pdf. Trans. Dora Wagner

iii: Flower Remedies

Peace of Mind Anne Dalziel Calm: the state or quality of being free from agitation or strong emotion; a state of freedom; without rough motion; stillness; tranquil.

Oxford English Dictionary The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life.

Dalai Lama The pandemic has triggered a mental health crisis. According to the UN, depression and anxiety before the COVID-19 pandemic cost the global economy more than $1 trillion per year (UN, 2020). Depression affects 264 million people in the world, while the onset of around half of all mental health conditions occurs by the age of 14, and suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst 15- to 29-year-olds (ibid.). Nearly one in four people experiences a form of anxiety disorder during their lives, and without appropriate treatment these conditions can become chronic and debilitating (Guterres, 2020). The UN paper (UN, 2020) also cites a warning from the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development, that: many people who previously coped well, are now less able to cope because of the multiple stressors generated by the pandemic.

Fear can lead to significant distress and limit a person’s ability for success and joy of life.

Anxiety is a type of fear, usually associated with a perceived threat or of something going wrong in the future.

But it can also arise from something happening right now. In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK (Fineberg et al, 2013). The one-week prevalence of generalised anxiety in England is 6.6% (McManus et al, 2016), with women almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders as men (Martin-Merino et al, 2009).

There are both physical and mental components to experiencing emotion, and caring for emotional health is essential if people are to live life to the fullest. What causes emotions and whether they are experienced in the same way by different people and cultures is still subject to debate, but what is known is which parts of the brain are activated. When the brain receives signals about what’s going on around us, it uses the limbic system to guide our emotional reaction, drawing on past experiences to create an appropriate emotional response. So, rather than being in control of thoughts and behaviour, more often than not we are at the mercy of emotions. Yet, because thought processes play into the creation of emotions, it is possible to reframe the way we think, to train the mind to respond differently to everyday stressors, and thus boost emotional health.

When the soul and personality are in harmony, all is joy and peace, happiness and health.

(Bach,1930) The Bach Flower Remedies can be part of a toolkit of interventions to support the process of bringing balance and harmony. Aesculus Hippocastanum (White Chestnut) is the remedy for those struggling with constant thoughts and mental argumentation. Bach called this ‘the gramophone record state of mind’, i.e., thoughts that constantly revolve, like a record.

Worrying about Covid is only natural, but sometimes the worry of contamination, and other aspects of this virus, can dominate our thought processes. We may mentally torture ourselves with how things might have been

iii: Flower Remedies different, becoming locked inside our heads without being able to concentrate on whatever task is at hand. White Chestnut can help to relieve these repetitive thoughts, allowing us to think clearly. If all these worries, and the emotions that go with them, remain hidden and you find yourself donning a mask of cheerfulness for the sake of others, then take a look at Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria). The ‘sad clown masking inner hurt by being the life and soul of the party’ is an Agrimony archetype; friends are often the last to know that anything is wrong. Sometimes, Agrimony people turn to drink or drugs to help them stay ‘happy’. They tend not to like being alone— the mask slips when there is no company — so they seek out friends, parties and bright lights.

Only at night, when they are alone with their thoughts, will the mental torture they have repressed come back to haunt them. As a mood remedy, Agrimony helps us come to terms with the darker side of our lives and personalities, so that we can become more rounded human beings. We won’t lose our sense of humour or our ability to get through the day, but will find that laughing at our troubles dispels them rather than hides them.

Every single person has a life to live, a work to do, a glorious personality, a wonderful individuality.

(Bach,1930) Self-awareness is very useful in learning how to manage and understand emotions. Sometimes we don’t know how to feel, and sometimes feelings can take over our decision-making abilities. Emotions are not always ‘good ’or ‘bad’, and it can be important accept rather repress what we are feeling. For example, if someone feels betrayed, they might think of the lesson to be learned and how this can lead to a happier life. Accepting responsibility is also important, and being wrong is part of life.

If you have done something wrong, try to think constructively about what you could have done differently; accept it, and move on.

Mood-journaling can help. For a couple of minutes every morning, write down your feelings on a scale of 1 to 10. Record patterns in mood and the causes of any big shifts. Over

time, this might help you determine how your emotions work and what your triggers are.

Remember: The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.

Prasad Mahes Images: courtesy of The Bach Centre References Bach, E. (1930) Heal Thyself. The Bach Centre: Mount Vernon Fineberg, N.; Haddad, P.; Carpenter, L.; Gannon, B.; Sharpe, R.; Young, A.; Joyce, E.; Rowe, J.; Wellsted, D.; Nutt, D. and Sahakian, B. (2013) ‘The size, burden and cost of disorders of the brain in the UK’, in Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27(9): 761-770 Guterres, A. (2020) ‘We are all in this Together: Human Rights and COVID-19 Response and Recovery’.

Blog post.

23.04.20.

Accessed at: https://www.un.org/en/un-coronaviruscommunications-team/we-are-all-togetherhuman-rights-and-covid-19-response-and Martin-Merino, E.; Ruigomez, A.; Wallander, M.; Johansson, S. and GarciaRodriguez, L. (2009) ‘Prevalence, incidence, morbidity and treatment patterns in a cohort of patients diagnosed with anxiety in UK primary care’, in Family Practice, 27(1): 9-16 McManus, S.; Bebbington, P.; Jenkins, R. and Brugha, T. (eds.) (2016) ‘Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014’. Leeds: NHS Digital. Accessed via http://content. digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms2014-full-rpt.pdf United Nations (2020) ‘Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health’.

Report. accessed at https://unsdg.un.org/ resources/policy-brief-covid-19-and-needaction-mental-health

iv: Our Editor in the Field

Kyra Pollitt meets Mel Skinner It’s hard to talk to Mel Skinner on Zoom— and this time it’s not the technology’s fault. I blame Pavlov and his dog. She is Pavlov, I’m the dog.

After attending Mel’s classes, I associate her voice with a state of deep and nourishing relaxation. Mel has been teaching since 2014, developing an early specialism in restorative yoga and yoga nidra— both are practices that focus on rest. Perhaps, she says, this is because she is not naturally very good at rest herself.

Spending her twenties in a whorl of activity, work and travel, happily addicted to the instant feel-good buzz of stress hormone and adrenalin, she gradually became aware that her ‘outwardly-focussed lifestyle’ was likely only to lead her body into burnout, chronic stress and anxiety. In fact, she realised, she was spending most of her time in an agitated state, finding it difficult to slow down, say ‘no’, and break the busy habit. If that sounds like a familiar behavioural pattern, that’s because these behaviours are everywhere validated by our society, even in lockdown: If you’ve had the sort of lockdown experience where you’ve lost your job and been incredibly stressed about how to support your family, then you’re going to be desperate to do as much work as possible, as soon as you can…but one of the reasons some people have struggled with lockdown— beyond the obvious health or financial worries that may have been created —is actually this idea of having not very much to do; not running around all over the place and being busy, and being seen. Actually, this idea of being an ordinary person, not really achieving very much, is something that most of us have been taught is not particularly desirable. It’s much more desirable if you can be seen to be highly successful which, in our culture, basically means being seen to be busy a lot of the time.

As Mel points out, any given workload can be enjoyable and nourishing, or it can leave you

desperately grasping towards adequacy. The difference can be, in some measure, attitudinal. ‘Ever since the Enlightenment, Western societies have been rationalising the observable, but emotions don’t work like that’, Mel says. Our culture teaches us to look outside for validation whilst inside we are beset by feelings of ‘not being enough’; our low selfesteem and insecure egos craving approval.

We are not encouraged to look inward, to know who we are, to notice how we feel; rather we are trained to ‘push through it’. And this can be particularly damaging when we are trying to push through profound emotional states, like grief. This is something with which Mel is familiar.

What I discovered over the years of taking that much softer and kinder approach with yoga was that it actually was helping me to resolve a lot of the emotional tension I was carrying, particularly the emotion of grief— something which, I think, I had kind of avoided. Mainly because I didn’t know how to deal with it, so I kept busy and didn’t give myself time to feel the grief.

But when I actually slowed down and held my body in these very compassionate and nourishing postures, then these emotions would come to the surface. But because I was in a state of ‘rest and digest’, it was much easier to deal with the emotion; it wasn’t necessarily as overwhelming as I’d thought it would be…It’s a practice that builds emotional strength and resilience; a person who can be with their emotions and vulnerability actually has far greater strength.

It’s not just the grieving who are prone to the physiological side-effects of our go-getting zeitgeist. In her teaching, Mel commonly sees cumulative exhaustion manifesting in menstrual pain, compromised immune and endocrine functions that prolong the healing response, the chronic fatigue of autoimmune reactions, and imbalances that leave people

iv: Our Editor in the Field unable to sleep, unable to sleep enough, or unable to achieve nourishing, delta-wave sleep. ‘Most people just don’t know how to rest’, she says: You can be lying on a beautiful desert island somewhere, with the ocean lapping at your feet, but if your mind is busy, if you’ve not got that rested mind, then it doesn’t matter where you are.

Over her years of practice, Mel has observed that many women spend much of their lives disempowered from their bodies, controlled by the conflicting cultural pressures of the sexual and the virginal: That cultural pressure is so strong, it can become very hard for women to do something that just helps them relax in their bodies. It’s very tempting to think ‘Well, I should do something that’s going to help me lose some weight’, or ‘I should be doing this thing that seems a bit more glamorous’. When you practice restorative yoga, it’s really a practice of self-acceptance. You’re not trying to get into a bendy posture, you’re not trying to be as flexible as you can be, you’re not even building strength. What you are doing is softening. You are softening the tension. And in order to do that, and let go, you have to be able to say ‘I am enough. Imperfect as I may be, I am enough. I don’t need to keep fighting my body, and I don’t need to keep busy, and I don’t need to keep stimulated because it’s ok to feel how I feel’…It’s about creating the space just to be.

Space may be less of an issue for men, but societal norms conspire to repress their emotional expression— though Mel wonders whether the increasing focus on male grooming and self-care, together with a greater recognition of fragility wrought through the pandemic, might facilitate some shift.

But, even if we can recognise that we need it, how do we do this rest thing; is it just slumping

on the sofa with a glass and Netflix? For Mel, the spirit and essence of genuine rest lies not in any particular activity or lack of activity, per se, but in its intention: ‘why are you doing this?’.

The very word emotion comes from the Latin root ēmoveō, meaning ‘to move through’. Like the ocean, our emotions need to constantly move and flow, to be expressed, to move through the body. When we bottle them up, this leads to tension.

Everything is shifting. Flexibility comes from staying with spiritual truth, not the illusion of permanence. Connecting to change helps us to ground.

Mel tells of a moment, deep into a yoga nidra teacher training course on the Isle of Arran, at 10pm on the summer solstice, standing on a clifftop above crashing Atlantic waves, in an elevated state of consciousness, when she swears she tuned in to the earth talking— and it whispered ‘rest is radical’. Questioning what that insight really meant became a four-year project, resulting in her book of the same

iv: Our Editor in the Field name. Describing it as a ‘handbook to avoiding life becoming an exhausting endeavour’, the book gives helpful practices for reconnecting mind and body: It's not about being relentlessly optimistic…It’s about being calmer and more compassionate to ourselves…There are lots of different techniques…something like restorative yoga is really helpful…you can just do one posture for ten minutes and you will feel the benefits. It’s effective because it creates a state of calm in our body; it works to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, so it relaxes all the muscle tension which helps us to breathe more fully and deeply. That then sends a calming message to the mind.

think, or at least I hope, that one of the positive things that’s come out of this past year is that it’s been much more possible for people to say, ‘I’m not ok’.

Neither we, nor the planet, can sustain this…The planet can’t cope for much longer with us just consuming in the way that we have been doing, without that recognition that everything needs a break, everything needs the rest…Maybe we can manage with a bit less, if we have more time together. Or maybe we don’t need to go to the shops so often because we can manage with what we’ve got…If we are exhausted, so is the planet.

Images: Mel Skinner, Aeon Books

A calm mind, Mel says, helps to tame that critical inner voice that can render us helpless and despairing. ‘Your own body is your greatest teacher’. Self-inquiry, journaling, therapy, talking to a good friend are all good ways to reconnect, though Mel emphasises the benefits of yoga in calming both mind and body simultaneously: If, say, you observe that when you have to sit still, and you haven’t got your phone to distract you, and there’s nothing really to do, what happens?

Do you start to feel anxious? Does your heart start to race? Do you get really fidgety with your hands? And that’s it— we’re really just observing. Not moving straight to action, to fixing things…It sounds simple, but it’s a powerful tool. And you can apply that to all different areas of your life.

Mel hopes that the experience of lockdown will perhaps mark a turning point in history, one that will lead to changes in societal values: Humans are social creatures, and we need that sort of tribal community around us, but…I think, as a people in general, we can’t just keep ‘pushing through’…’...I think a lot of people are getting to the point where they can’t just keep doing that, you know? … I do

We are delighted to announce that readers of Herbology News can claim a 20% discount on Rest is Radical.

Catch your copy at www.melskinneryoga.com, and enter the code RR20.

The discount expires on 14th April.

With thanks to Mel and Aeon Books.

iv: How to Rest

Putting your feet up Mel Skinner Here are some instructions for ‘Legs up the wall’ posture, Viparita Karani, taken from my book Rest is Radical: Getting there Getting into this posture is often the tricky bit.

Place a bolster or pillow next to your wall, about a hand’s width away from the wall. You may like to place a blanket on top of your yoga mat, and have a thin cushion to support your head. Start by sitting on the end of your bolster, sideways on to the wall, then use your hands to support yourself as you lower yourself back and down, keeping your pelvis on the bolster and swinging your legs up against the wall. It can take a couple of goes, so don’t be disheartened if it feels tricky at first alternatively see top tip below for an easier version. An eye pillow is highly recommended, but a scarf will also work to simply shade the eyes from light and encourage the mind to become quiet.

Being there You can stay here for anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on how comfortable you are. Enjoy the feeling of relieving your legs from tiredness, and opening up your chest. If you want, you can slow down your breath, and imagine breathing from the top of your head to the soles of your feet, then breathing back from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

Coming out Come out the same way you came in. Start by bending your knees so that your feet hang lower than your knees - this will allow the blood to flow more easily back to them. Then when you are ready, roll to one side and roll completely off the bolster, being careful of turning your head and neck together. Spend a couple of moments resting on your side, then slowly come up to sitting.

Top tip If you are new to yoga, or feeling stiff in the back of your legs, try this first of all without a cushion or bolster. If your lower back feels at all sore, try this posture but with your legs on the seat of a chair rather than straight up against the wall. Avoid if over 3 months pregnant or menstruating.

Images: Mel Skinner, Aeon Books

We are delighted to announce that readers of Herbology News can claim a 20% discount on Rest is Radical. Catch your copy at www.melskinneryoga.com, and enter the code RR20.

The discount expires on 14th April.

With thanks to Mel and Aeon Books.

v: The Climate Column

Calm in the eye of the storm?

Patrick Dunne I am writing this on the 14th of March. From here, it is 233 days until 1st November; the opening day of COP26— the largest and most important climate talks in human history — hosted by the UK, in Glasgow. This is my first column for Herbology News. It will go out in the March edition, which has ‘calm’ as its theme.

I think it is fair to say that I find it difficult to be calm about the climate at the moment, and have been anything but calm about it for a number of years.

Since this edition of Herbology News also features the brain, I was inspired to explore how we collectively understand the challenges facing our climate— intellectually —and how this information inspires us to act in some cases, and to respond with apathy or even denial in others. I wanted to write something interesting and impressive and engaging about corporate misinformation, political sleight of hand and the depths of financial interests; that might expose how the climate crisis and the collapse of global biodiversity are hidden, supported and funded. I wanted to tie our intellectual understanding of the crisis to those forces in whose interests we are enmeshed, who benefit from our lack of understanding, our collective lack of action. I wanted to write something about how our heads can understand the implications of climate breakdown, but our hearts can fail to act in accordance with the scale of the crisis. How, as a society, we can go on prioritising money, convenience, and selfish goals over the lives of all of the people and living beings that share this earth with us. How we can vote for politicians who would rather sell the world of tomorrow for the power of today. How we can watch refugee crises unfold as we expand airports and sell weapons, build coalmines, buy and sell single-use rubbish. All this, and somehow our brains can fail to connect it together, link it to the web of life and all things.

This, of course, is a big subject. Too big for this

one column, this one month. Too big for me.

There are excellent writers and activists across the world who have written outstanding books on these subjects. I should finish reading the ones I’ve started, and purchase— from independent booksellers —some of the others I’ve been meaning to get; the Klein, the Oreskes and Conway, the IPCC Report. These are good places to start your reading, and they will underpin this column, as it attempts to unpack some of these complex issues and themes. We’ll be keeping an interested eye on how the COP talks shape up, and the response from activists at home and abroad. We’ll try to track some of the policies and their implications and impacts— be they positive or negative —on our climate.

Meanwhile, I’m left with the staggering thought that it’s a little over 200 days until decisions are made— no doubt to great fanfare —about how we, as a global community, will manage the climate crisis currently engulfing our world in floods, fires and famine. I am saddened by the knowledge of just how many people, nations and cultures are already being excluded from those talks and that 'global community.' I am fearful of the technological, financial and political fixes that will be heralded as great solutions, whilst too much is allowed

v: The Climate Column

to carry on as usual and not enough is changed or challenged.

So, unfortunately, I am not calm. I am often afraid. I am often angry. I am sometimes paralysed by hopelessness and enraged by injustices, frustrated by my own lack of action and empathy. But I am also hopeful.

Occasionally. In the past few years we have seen unprecedented activism; popular rebellions, school strikes, and protests. We have seen our government declare a climate emergency (though we can discuss what that has meaningfully led to in terms of policy). We have seen a global focus on climate justice and indigenous rights, often driven by young activists. We have seen global activism coordinated on Zoom (yes, before most of us had even heard of it, the school strikers used that very platform to organise some of the largest protests we have seen in our lifetimes). And we will see the largest and most diverse family of activists, frontline communities and ordinary people demanding more from COP26 than has ever been asked of any COP in the past 30 years.

And I’m hopeful because my oldest neice has just turned eight, my youngest nephew is about to turn one, and my sister-in-law’s pregnancy is now two days overdue. I am hopeful, as well as angry and sad and fearful. I have to be hopeful, because what else can I do?

References Oreskes, N. and Conway, E.M. (2010) Merchants of Doubt. Simon & Schuster: London Klein, N. (2015) This Changes Everything.

Bloomsbury: London Macy, J. and Johnstone, C. (2012) Active Hope.

New World Library: Novato, California IPCC (2018) ‘Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees: A Special Report to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. Available to download at https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

vi: Notes from the Brew Room

Calming Carmelite Waters Ann King To anyone wishing to start or develop a herb garden, I always recommend planting Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) It has the ability to engage most of the senses in a gentle and uplifting manner, and it is a real survivor that can tolerate most conditions. Lemon Balm is also reported to lower inflammation, help with panic attacks, low mood, high blood pressure and research has shown positive results against the herpes virus. Its gentle nature enables frequent use, both internally and externally, and a container full is always close to hand at the Brew Room door.

So, trying to choose a remedy that illustrates its true strengths is difficult— it is so versatile. It makes a wonderfully uplifting infusion; hot or cold, in a blend or on its own. It makes a refreshing lip balm, effective against cold sores. It makes a useful insect repellent…

In the main, though, Lemon Balm is known as a relaxing nervine, whose leaves are used to calm and soothe the nervous system during periods of mild stress, insomnia, and when feeling frayed. Traditional uses of the herb can be found in most European countries and it was known and used mainly as ‘balm’, or in a nerve tonic, up to the 1800s. Thereafter it became more commonly used in infusions. According to the London Dispensary (1696): An essence of Balm, given in Canary wine, every morning will renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature and prevent baldness.

I can’t vouch for the latter but, for a revitalising and cooling alternative herbal infusion, combine three-parts fresh Lemon Balm with one-part dried Rose petals, and one-part Lemon peel and refrigerate overnight.

It doesn’t take much historical digging to unearth glorious old recipes for the tonic known as ‘Carmelite Water’, created by the monks of the same name to help with headaches, nervous dispositions and to encourage blissful sleep. Various adaptations of these recipes have been handed down for hundreds of years, and it can still be purchased as both ‘Karmelitengeist’ and ‘Melissengeist’.

Here’s my take on it: Ingredients 2 tablespoons Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) 1cm piece Angelica stem (Angelica archangelica) to calm the digestion (or 1tsp Celery seeds [Apium graveolens]) 2cm Cinnamon stick (Cinnamomum verum) to ease digestive discomfort, particularly stagnation 1tsp ground Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), which contain eugenol to help reduce pain and ease digestive discomfort 1 tablespoon chopped Lemon peel (Citrus x limon) which is high in antioxidants 1 tsp Marjoram (Origanum majorana), another nerve tonic 1 tsp grated Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) to aid sleep, reduce anxiety and ease digestive discomfort 400ml vodka Sterilized jar (e.g., Kilner) Sterilized bottle

vi: Notes from the Brew Room

Method Use a pestle and mortar to grind the dry ingredients, then add them to a sterilized jar containing the vodka. This should be shaken daily for two weeks. Then strain through muslin into a sterilized bottle and allow to stand in a cool, dark place for a further two weeks.

Disclaimer No recipes are intended to replace medical advice and the reader should seek the guidance of their doctor for all health matters.

These profiles and recipes are intended for information purposes only and have not been tested or evaluated. Ann King is not making any claims regarding their efficacy and the reader is responsible for ensuring that any replications or adaptations of the recipes that they produce are safe to use and comply with cosmetic regulations where applicable.

vi: Foraging for Colour

Faerie bells ringing new beginnings Marissa Stoffer After a long winter lockdown, the season is slowly, but surely, changing. Brighter, longer, warmer, days are approaching as tree buds form, leaves emerge, and flowers rise above the earth to colour the ground beneath our feet. Like flowers gesturing in the wind, our lives move and transform with the tides of the air, and flowers help us to reconsider our position and frame of mind. Wordsworth’s famous Daffodil poem is probably resonating with many of us just now, so Narcissus Pseudonarcissus will be our plant in focus this month. As we forage for colour, we braid links between people, place, language, and identity.

Our common Daffodil has many common names: Affodil; Bacon and Eggs; Belle-blome; Bell Flowers; Bell Rose; Butter and Eggs; Chalice Flower; Codlins and Cream; Cuckoorose; Daffy-down-dilly; Faerie Bells; Gold Bells; Golden Trumpets; Goose Leek; Golden Narcissus; Hoop Petticoats; King’s Spear; Lady’s Ruffles; Lent Cocks; Lent Lily; Queen Anne’s Flowers; St Peter’s Bell; Sun Bonnets; Yellow Maidens...to name but a few (Philips, 2012). The symbolism of this humble flower ranges from good fortune to death, taking in chivalry, conceit, deceit, hope, disdain, egotism, new beginnings, regard, regret, refusal, respect, self-esteem, and selfobsession (ibid.). The giving of Daffodils was

once meant to suggest ‘The sun shines when I’m with you’ (ibid.).

The Daffodil is native to many parts of Britain and Europe, but its stories are rooted across the world, reaching to the East. Perhaps most well-known is the myth of Narcissus, who was so transfixed by his own reflected beauty and melancholy that he stabbed himself with a sword, frustrated that he could never obtain the object of his desire. From his blood sprang the white Daffodil with a red centre, and the cup is said to hold his tears (Philips, 2012). In another myth, it was as she lay among Daffodils that Persephone, daughter of Demeter, was snatched away to the underworld by Pluto. It is said this is why the flower became associated with death, used in wreaths or placed on graves (ibid.). In Christian mythology, the Daffodil first appears in the Garden of Gethsemane to comfort Jesus in his hour of sorrow, just before his arrest and subsequent crucifixion (ibid.).

Whilst in China, the flower represents fortune, benevolence, and propriety after the legend of an old woman from Fukien province who gave her last bowl of rice to a beggar. Grateful for her generosity, the beggar ate his rice, spitting a few grains on the ground before leaving. The next day, an abundance of Daffodils grew where the rice had been, making the old woman rich from their sale and bringing fame to the Fukien province (ibid.). Closer to home, Daffodils are said to bloom on 1st March, the feast day of St David, the patron saint of Wales.

Wearing a Daffodil close to your heart is said to bring good luck, but it is considered unlucky to take a single daffodil into your house. Yet placing a vase of daffodils in the bedroom is said to boost the fertility of those who sleep there. In medicine, Daffodils were once used to treat a variety of ailments— from coughs and colic to splinters and sunburn (ibid.).

vi: Foraging for Colour The Daffodil is one of the earliest cultivated plants; during the Medieval period, women used to collect the juice of the flowers to tint their hair and eyebrows. You can follow this recipe to make five small jam jars (285ml) of ink, though I wouldn’t suggest you use it on either your hair or eyebrows, but it’s nice to think that you can turn a flower into colour and paint with it. You can forage Daffodils from March ‘til April, or you can even use a bunch bought at a local shop. You can pick/ use the flowers when they have started to wilt but still have their yellow colour. Remember, when foraging only take what you need, and only if it is plentiful.

You will need: x16 Daffodils 2 pints of water Non-reactive pot (e.g., stainless steel or Pyrex) Gum Arabic 1 Clove per jar of ink Glass jar(s) with tight fitting lid(s) ½ tsp of modifier (such as Alum Sulphate, Bicarbonate of Soda, Iron Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Lemon, or Vinegar) Coffee filter, cheesecloth, or fine strainer Method: 1. Cut ⅔ of the Daffodil stems into pieces. Add the chopped stems and flower heads to the non-reactive pot. In a kettle boil 2 pints of water and pour over your cuttings, leaving to steep overnight.

2.The next day, simmer your steeped Daffodils for 30-40 minutes. Keep the lid partly open on the pot to prevent boiling, as this will burn and spoil the colour. Do this in a well-ventilated area (i.e., hood extractor on, or window open).

3. Strain out the Daffodils and simmer the remaining liquid for a further 20 minutes.

Again, keep the lid placed partially on top. This extra simmering will help intensify the colour without losing much water.

4: At this point you will have a fair amount of pale-yellow liquid. Now reduce the liquid by simmering without a lid. As water evaporates, the colour will intensify. Half a cup (4oz/ 118ml) simmered for 15-20 minutes will make a small jam jar’s worth of ink (2oz/ 57ml).

Optional: At step 4, you can separate your ink liquid into batches and add ½

tsp of your modifier before simmering.

I found Bicarbonate of Soda worked best, creating a deep yellow hue.

However, you do not have to add a modifier when making the ink. Instead, you can brush some ink onto the surface of a piece of paper, then add a water-diluted modifier, e.g., dilute some Bicarbonate of Soda in a little water, brush/ drip it over the ink and watch it transform. This can be done for each modifier, though Lemon and Vinegar should only be used after you have made your ink.

5. Decant your ink into a jar and add Gum Arabic. You do not need Gum Arabic, but the more you add, the thicker the ink will become; I usually add ½ tsp for a 58ml jar. Then add 1 clove to each jar, as a preservative.

6. Store your ink in a cool/ unlit space— a cupboard, or box —because sunlight will make your ink fade, like a flower. I find something quite poetic about this, as if floral inks are somehow still alive.

Results: Plain Daffodil ink is a very pale yellow, but with modifiers the colours mirror the sun, green leaves, and woody tones of Spring.

Bicarbonate of Soda seems to be the best modifier, whilst Lemon and vinegar lighten the ink.

Learning the alchemy of the natural world not only helps us consider creativity and sustainability, it also strengthens our sense of place and respect for the nature with which we are so deeply interconnected.

References Philips, S. (2012) An Encyclopedia of Plants in Myth, Legend, Magic and Lore, Robert Hale: London.

Images: Marissa Stoffer

vi: Garden Gems

Pricking, drilling and tilth Ruth Crighton-Ward We’re starting to notice real changes underway, as we head into April. In the garden, things seem to progress on a daily basis. There are still a few frosty mornings but, in general, the air is warmer. Plants have woken from their winter slumber and growth begins to accelerate.

The seedlings we previously planted have now developed their true leaves and need to be put into larger containers. This process of removing young plants from their original trays and containers is called ‘pricking out’. Although not difficult, it does require a degree of patience, as the seedlings are extremely delicate. Use a tool— such as a pricking out fork —to gently tease the roots free, then lift them out by a leaf, preferably one of their dicotyledons. A cotyledon is an embryonic leaf (I have also

heard them referred to as pilot leaves) which breaks through the soil after germination, before any other leaves appear on the plant. A dicotlyedon (‘dicot’) produces two such leaves whereas a monocotyledon (‘monocot’) only produces the one. Nearly all bulbs are monocotyledons apart from members of the Oxalidaceae (Oxalis spp).

The photos below show a young Tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) being pricked out.

When placing the young plant in a new container choose one suitable for its size. Bear in mind you may have to repot it a further couple of times during its lifetime. Do not bury it too deep but do ensure all roots are covered.

Be gentle when pressing compost around it, and once the plant is in its new pot remember to give it a thorough watering.

vi: Garden Gems

At this point in the year, we can start sowing seeds directly outdoors. Seeds which can be sown now include hardy annual herbs, like German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) and Borage (Borago officinalis). The process is the same whether you are sowing seeds for medicinal, nutritional or ornamental use. So, we’ll need to prepare those beds we previously dug. We want a fine ‘tilth’, which Encyclopaedia Britannica describes as: the physical condition of the soil, especially in relation to its suitability for planting or growing a crop. Factors that determine tilth include the formation and stability of aggregated soil particles, moisture content, degree of aeration, rate of water infiltration, and drainage.

Rake the soil out evenly, breaking up lumps of compacted soil and removing any stones that may impede the seeds. Finally, rake again so that the soil is level.

Next, create a ‘drill’ for the seeds. This is a channel in the soil where the seeds will be sown.

The depth of the drill depends on the seed you are sowing. Some require less than a centimetre, while others need to be several inches deep. Make sure to check the required depth for the seeds prior to sowing. Too deep, and the seedlings may never reach the surface or will be spindly and weak when they do. Too shallow, and the seeds could be washed away, or the roots exposed when they germinate.

Seeds do not have to be sown in straight, neat rows or blocks. They can be sown in swirls and drifts to create more aesthetic forms.

Experiment with the seeds and space you have.

vi: Garden Gems slugs. Perhaps the only drawback to growing them is the amount of space they need. There should be 30cm between each potato and 60cm between rows, but if lack of space is a problem in your garden, then they can be grown in sacks or growbags. To plant your potatoes, place them about 12cm deep in the ground and cover them with soil. Later, when the plants are about 20cm high, they will need to be ‘earthed up’. This is the process of drawing soil up and over the potato, forming a ridge. This protects the plant’s leaves from frost— which will turn them black and curly — and protects the tubers from sun damage. If the plants are not covered properly, the potatoes will turn green and be less digestible.

Hardy perennial herbs which are permanently outdoors, such as Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) should now have healthy new growth, but it is still too early to sow tender and half-hardy plants outdoors, although they can be started off indoors.

Having been chitted for a couple of weeks, your potatoes should have small leafy growths coming from them and they can now be planted. Different types of potato grow at different speeds. Those which take less time to grow are called ‘earlies’, and they can be divided into ‘first’ and ‘second earlies’. The tubers of earlies (your potatoes) are harvested in early to mid-summer. They tend to be smaller and are used more often for salads.

Potatoes which are harvested later in the year are known as ‘maincrop’ varieties. They are bigger and can be left in the ground longer.

Potatoes are a favourite for growing; not only are they a versatile, easy to grow food, they store for a long time and are not bothered by

Now that the clocks are going forward, we can enjoy having more light at the end of the day.

There is a sense that we won’t have too much longer to wait for warmer weather and evenings outside, and we suddenly realise that the grass is needing cut again. Don’t take it down too short. Give it just a light cut— there are still some frosty nights and mornings which could hamper the new growth. Without warning weeds start to appear. Keep on top of them while they are young, or they become more difficult to deal with later.

Next month, we’ll look at different methods of planting, such as companion planting, and what we can do to benefit the wildlife in our gardens. Enjoy the spring.

vii: Foraging Through Folklore

Balms and bees Ella Leith I love that ‘balm’ rhymes with ‘calm’. It feels extremely appropriate, although I know it’s just a coincidence. From ‘basme’— the ‘oily, resinous aromatic substance exuding naturally from shrubs of the genus Commiphora’ (Myrrh) —since the late 1300s, the term has been applied to ‘any aromatic preparation used in healing wounds or soothing pain, or as a perfume or in anointing’ (Etymonline). Through this use, the term ‘balm’ extends to cover various fragrant garden herbs which were felt to have a ‘healing or soothing influence’ (ibid.); one such is Melissa officinalis, a highly scented member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family.

Most commonly known as Lemon Balm, its other by-names include Heart’s Delight, Balm Mint, English Balm (I’m not sure why, since it is native to Southern Europe and now naturalised across the world), Garden Balm, Sweet Balm, Bee Balm (a byname it shares with Monarda didyma) and Honey Plant. These last names allude to its longstanding reputation as an attractor of bees; indeed, its binomial Melissa, is Greek for honeybee. Back in the first century CE, Pliny the Elder wrote that planting Lemon Balm near beehives would encourage bees to return and settle there, and the sixteenthcentury botanist John Gerard also claimed that rubbing its leaves on a hive ‘causeth the Bees to keep together and causeth others to come unto them’ (Grieve, 1931:76). Like honey,

Lemon Balm has been used medically (hence the officinalis in its name) and was ‘believed to remedy so many different conditions that it was once considered “an herbal cure-all”’ (HAS, 2007:32).

So, it seems fitting to be writing this from Malta, whose name is also believed to derive from the Greek for honey— ‘meli’ —and where the Knights Hospitaler prepared medicines using honey collected from still-standing Roman beehives and herbs grown in the gardens of their public hospitals. Whether Lemon Balm was one of these herbs, alas I do not know, but I’d place a wager on it.

What was the extent of Lemon Balm’s ‘cure-all’ properties, then? Hieronymus Brunschwig wrote in his 1500 Book of Distillation that Lemon Balm caused those driven to anger to be ‘mery and refressht again’ as well as contributing to ‘sharp wytte’ and ‘good memory’ (O'Connor et al. 1984:15); similarly, in 1679 John Evelyn claimed that ‘balm is sovereign for the brain [and] strengthening the memory’ (Ody 1993:78). Improved longevity also seems to be a significant feature of Lemon Balm lore: John Hussey, of Sydenham, who lived to the age of 116, breakfasted for fifty years on Balm tea sweetened with honey, and herb teas were the usual

vii: Foraging Through Folklore breakfasts of Llewelyn, Prince of Glamorgan, who died in his 108th year.

(Grieve 1931:77) Although this claim about Prince Llewelyn belongs solely to legend— Llewelyn the Last died at around 60 years old in 1282; Llewelyn the Great died in 1240 at around 67 —such legends are as sticky as honey, and perhaps this one builds on the 16th century alchemistphysician Paracelsus’ claim that Lemon Balm was an ‘elixir of life’ (HAS 2007:9).

If Lemon Balm doesn’t lengthen life, it certainly makes it more pleasant. Along with other herbs from the Mint family, Lemon Balm has been used as a strewing herb for centuries, sweetening the air as it is crushed under foot.

In churches since Medieval times, Mint and other balms and flowers were scattered as a devotion to the Virgin Mary (Sloan, 2019). More recently, Italian women from the Abruzzi region have considered it lucky to find Sweet Balm or Mint on the wayside, and would ‘pick and bruise a leaf between their fingers as insurance for the day of their death, and that Jesus Christ would assist them into Heaven’ (ibid.). The Scottish Traveller ballad-singer Stanley Robertson reflected on the calming influence of stopping to smell the herbs in a 1983 interview. Travellers, he said, “werena allowed to be tender”—the privations of their nomadic lives and the discrimination they faced from the settled population made them “tough… but gentle. […] They lo’ed to be tender, but on their own, ken.” Stanley recalls “a big rrrough Treveller man” (his emphasis), whom he describes as being “as rough a man as ere I knew him, roughness an rawness and fightin an screamin an tough.” He goes on: I remember one day watching [him] […] coming up the road, rough, a big tough man, and he stoppit, an there wis somethin on the ground on the roadside, an naebody seen him, but he picked a bit ae the mint up an he smelt it in its leaves an suddenly the roughness meltit to a beautiful spiritual poignant experience. […] An he smelt it, an he said, “isn’t that a fine savver.” […] But it wis jist – jist fer a fleetin second ye could see, as though the

soul wis opened up tae ye…

Underneath the very hardness of Travellers, wis a gentleness.

Slow down, appreciate simple pleasures, balance hardness with gentleness. There’s a symmetry to the fact that Mint and Lemon Balm are said to both relax the mind and to promote sharp wit and focus, that they are both calming and energising at the same time (Mabey, 1988:70). These balms evoke balance, and this brings us back to the association with honeybees. Their engagement with plants is active, creative and generative, and ‘the mere presence of bees on a farm or near a dairy or factory was said to improve the productivity’ (Norman, 2014), but the productivity of these ‘peaceful creatures’ depends on maintaining calm (Norman, 2020). Bee folklore asserts that you should never raise your voice to or near a bee: they ’have a dislike of swearing’ and will ‘not thrive as part of a family who have lots of arguments’ (ibid.). Indeed, you should consider as family any bees on your land; the custom of ‘telling the bees’ about any significant changes to the household, especially weddings and deaths, persists to this day (Urquhart, 2017).

This custom speaks to the need to carefully maintain the harmony of these creatures’ surroundings, lest they ‘depart the hive, or perish altogether’ (Norman, 2020). The symbiotic relationship between human and bee depends on balance.

Nowadays, the vital role that bees play in maintaining our ecosystem is well-known; so, too, is the fact that their populations are dwindling across the world, due to pesticides, habitat destruction and climate change. ‘What are the bees telling us?’ asks ethnologist Mairi McFadyen (2015). ‘We are living in a culture out of balance.’ As well as telling the bees, we should be listening.

References Etymonline, The Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com Grieve, M. (1931/1971) A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover

vii: Foraging Through Folklore HSA The Herb Society of America (2007) ‘Lemon Balm’, accessed via www.herbsociety.org Mabey, R. (1988) The Complete New Herbal: A Practical Guide to Herbal Living. London: Elm Tree Books McFadyen, M. (2015) ‘The Cultural-Ecological Imagination of Patrick Geddes (1854 - 1932)’, blog post, accessed via www.mairimcfadyen.scot Norman, C. (2014) ‘Bees in Folklore’ in the Bumblebee Conservation Trust blog, accessed via www.academia.edu Norman, M. (2020) ‘Telling the Bees: The Folklore of Bees and Beekeeping’ in Folklore Thursday blog, accessed via folklorethursday.com O'Connor, A., Hirshfeld, M. & Cornell Plantations (1984) Plantations: An Herb Garden Companion and Guide to the Robison York State Herb Garden. Ithaca: Cornell University Ody, P. (1993) The Complete Medicinal Herbal.

Pennsylvania: Dorling Kindersley Sloan, K. (2019) ‘Some virtues, folklore, and use of lemon balm and mint’, in Wall Flower Studio and Garden blog, accessed via wallflowerstudiogarden.com Urquhart, K. M. (2017) ‘5 Honeybee Myths, Legends & Folklore’, in Hobby Farms magazine, accessed via www.hobbyfarms.com The interview with Stanley Robertson can be found on the Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o’ Riches website, the online portal for selected items held in the School of Scottish Studies Sound Archive at the University of Edinburgh: http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/70 048

vii: Botanica Fabula

Melissa Amanda Edmiston As I cradle my morning infusion of Sage and Rosemary into the garden, the thujones starting to compel my brain cells to activity, a solitary bumble bee crawls out of the grass. I watch as the bee— unsettled by the combination of ice-cold air and glittering, March morning light —appears to hesitate, then makes her trundling flight towards the herb bed…to be faced with not even a memory of pollen; just the initial rosettes of heartstopping foxgloves, bare stalks, and ragged remnants of frost-halted Thyme.

But then, the bee spots something I have not: her namesake, the first verdant glimpse of Spring growth. Melissa (Melissa officinalis) has started to venture out. Maybe the herb is mindful of the value of time, assured of her ability to fragrantly and gently dominate the herb bed if she musters forth. Balm acting as an anchor for the honeybees, as Pliny promised she would*.

The bee settles herself, then walks around the architecture of the plant— re-familiarising herself with its scent and pathways —then takes off once more. Sensory mind-map complete, she takes a line past the stalks of Artemisia, celebrating the connection of the Greek goddess Artemis to her handmaidens the Melissae, then travels on to the first burgeoning buds of the Magnolia, where she settles in, to gather her strength. I make my way back inside, fingers frozen, but brain now alert. Soothed to sleep last night by the love potion Lemon caress of Balm, just now

reformed by the first assurance of Spring and the head-clearing herbs that complement it so well. Like the nymph Melissa feeding her prized honey to the infant Zeus to gift him strength and resilience, I smother warm bread with honey and attempt to rouse my children...

I consider the dreamlike, soothing qualities of Balm. John Evelyn wrote: Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening for the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy.

Later, in 1737, Elizabeth Blackwell— the first woman to publish a herbal — notes that the herb is good for disorders of the head and nerves, cheers the heart...prevents fainting, melancholy, hypochondria and hysteria...

I imagine her sipping the same infusions I do, as she carefully observes and draws in detail the leaves of the plants she studies, notes that Rosemary and Sage add to Balm’s moodenhancing properties, shield the memory from the ravages of old age, and help increase positivity and motivation. I imagine her turning to the plants she loves, plants that help her brain cope with stress, support her groundbreaking ideas, inspire her to create her herbal so she can provide for herself and her child, in a time when middle class women rarely work, and her husband has been consigned to a debtor's jail.

Other stories, handed on across Europe over the years, also allude to the recuperative

vii: Botanica Fabula

vii: Botanica Fabula

attributes of Lemon Balm. Just last year, one woman in Worcester told me a local story of a traveller who sought refreshment at a cottage door. He was met with goodwill by the householder, who confided he was glad to see a friendly face as he was lonely and depressed; his brain a grey fog, and with not enough cheer to seek out the company he needed. The traveller, spotting the Melissa taking over the beds in the man's garden and nodding in the direction of the house, advised the householder to add a few leaves to his ale, every day for a month. He then went on his way, back down the road. Within a week, the householder’s mood had lifted, and he shared his new knowledge of the plant with everyone he met. It was a lovely story to hear, and quite apt story for lockdown. It reminded me, as February ended and the gloom failed to lift as March blew in, that although Lemon Balm's leaves can bring calm and sleep, they are also reviving—although it has to be said, water works just as well as ale to immerse them in!

It seems history’s notes have followed a figure of eight— a bee's dance, if you will —circling back on themselves, leading us to the plants that we need. Plants that will bring soothing sleep, clear heads, alleviate the ills and stresses attendant on our modern life. Recent studies, led by the wonderful folk at Dilston Physic Garden and Newcastle University, have begun to create a buzz about the potential for that trilogy of mind-strengthening herbs— Lemon Balm, Sage and Rosemary —to hold back the tide of Alzheimer's threatening to wash away so many memories, for so many people.

So, as the month that came in with a few days of lamb-like promise now recedes like a prowling lion, and as storms prevent the sun coming through, hold on to the bee's dream.

Be assured that the gloom will lift, hold to your memories, and soothe your troubled mind with a sip of Lemon Balm tea.

* Pliny the Elder suggested bees were 'delighted with this herb above others’ and asserted that if Melissa were rubbed on a hive, it would prevent bees from straying (see Bianchini and Corbetta, 1977).

References Bianchini, F. and Corbetta, F. (1977) Health Plants of the World: Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

Trans. M.A. Dejey, Newsweek Books: New York Amanda's online project and excerpts from her forthcoming book ‘The Very Curious Herbal', inspired by Elizabeth Blackwell and the plants she studied, can be found at: https://botanicafabula.co.uk/the-very-curiousherbal Links to the original study at Dilston Physic Garden can be found at: https://dilstonphysicgarden.com/sagerosemary-melissa-to-boost-memory/ Image: ‘Balm’, from Blackwell, E. (1751) A Curious Herbal Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library Digital Collections.

viii: StAnza Presents…

A. C. Clarke The Anatomists Their trophy cases line the walls of the medical school. Imagine their patience the deftness with which they’d ease a kidney free of its moorings, scoop a brain out of its shell under dull light in a fug of ether and coalgas their white coats bloodying like a butcher’s.

And in the mounting such attention to detail!

See how they rolled back muscle-sleeves from a flayed arm before digging to the bone, assembled exact as meccano the twenty-seven bones of a filleted hand syringed quicksilver through tissue-slivers until they glowed, starbursts in formalin.

Even a fused foetus, toggled across its opened chest with stitches no seamstress would own, displayed for dramatic effect, each head tilted openmouthed away from the lungs which couldn’t breathe for them both.

All this for a final answer. On the brink these men could walk blithe among skulls, bottle stillbirths, with the same cool zeal their tutor preached, whose corpse (his last request) his students carved - while noting with precision the curious pathology of the heart.

(First published on the ArranArt website, © A C Clarke 2009) A. C. Clarke has published five full collections and five pamphlets, two of the latter, Owersettin and Drochaid, in collaboration with Maggie Rabatski and Sheila Templeton. Her fifth full collection, A Troubling Woman (Oversteps Books) came out in 2017. She was one of four winners in the Cinnamon Press 2017 pamphlet competition with War Baby and in 2019 won the Second Light Long Poem competition for the second time. She was commended in the National Poetry Competition in 2005 and longlisted for it in 2014. She is currently working on an extensive series of poems about Gala Éluard, later Gala Dalí, and the Surrealist circles in which she moved. The first set of these is due to be published as a pamphlet by Tapsalteerie in 2021. A second set was shortlisted for the Cinnamon Literary Awards in 2020.

StAnza brings poetry to audiences and enables encounters with poetry through events and projects in Scotland and beyond, especially their annual spring festival in St Andrews. www.stanzapoetry.org Facebook: stanzapoetry Instagram: @stanzapoetry

Image: Dora Wagner

ix: Book Club Fantastic Fungi: How Mushrooms can Heal, Shift Consciousness & Save the Planet (Stamets, P. [ed.]; Earth Aware, 2019) Reviewer: Marianne Hughes This is a good introduction to the impact of fungi on our planet, and on our bodies, and our spiritual perspectives. The 25 chapters are organised into these three themes, so you can dip into your area of interest and follow up with the many references provided. The wonderful colour photographs give the impression that this is a ‘coffee table’ book— and it can be enjoyed in this way —but there is also much thought-provoking content. There’s also a film of the same name, produced by Louie Schwartzberg.

In his introduction, editor and contributor Paul Stamets suggests we categorise the world into flora, fauna and fungi. He describes discovering his bees feeding on the mycelium of woodland polypore mushrooms. He found this mycelium dramatically reduced viral loads in these bees, extending their lifespans. Steve Sheppard explores this further in chapter six; whilst In chapter four, Giuliana Furci recounts successfully campaigning with the Fungi Foundation to extend Chile’s general environmental regulations in 2013, thus stimulating further study of fungi.

In chapter eight, Tradd Colter calls fungi ‘first responders’ and ‘keystone species’. He notes— alarmingly —that the Earth’s topsoil, 12 to 15 feet deep in the 1900s, is now merely 5 to 8 inches deep. It takes fungi 500 to 600 years to make one inch of topsoil, which then holds moisture and expands the capacity for biodiversity. Crazily, I had never considered why forests are not stacked miles high with the leaves they drop each year. It seems obvious now that I’ve read about it, that it’s the processing action of fungi that releases nutrients which are then dispersed via mycelium, and that these co-operative networks are the foundation of life. Still in the first section, I learn about the international network of Radical Mycology groups, about the use of mycelium to combat oil spills and toxic

waste (‘mycoremediation’), and about lowtech, portable mushroom kits with the potential to save over three million people a year by using mycelium to filter bacteria out of unsafe water.

The chapters in the second section focus on the impact of fungi on our bodies. We share more DNA sequences with mushrooms than we do with plants and, in chapter ten, Andrew Weil suggests this genetic relationship might explain the many medicinal effects of mushrooms. Chapter sixteen takes the example of Agarikon (Laricifomes officinalis)— a fungus which can live up to 75 years —to outline the impacts of fungi on our immune systems. This section also boasts a wide range of historical, culinary and medicinal essays. I was interested to learn that, of all the mushrooms, desert truffles— now threatened by climate change and urbanisation —appear to have the longest recorded history of continuous use. Elinoar Shavit’s chapter thirteen details the role played by mushrooms

ix: Book Club

in a range of times and societies, while the following chapter, by Kris Holstrom, provides useful details about growing your own mushrooms.

In the third section of this book, ‘for the spirit’, the authors explore psilocybin— a compound found in around 200 species of mushroom around the world —and the ways that this psychedelic compound has been used and investigated for spiritual purposes. Reminding readers that controversy about the uses of LSD and ‘magic’ mushrooms in the 1960s halted scientific research, chapters nineteen and twenty outline newer scientific findings, in particular the long-term impacts of increased positive mood, transcendence of time and space, altruism and a sense of interconnectedness of all persons and things.

With the findings that psilocybin interacts closely with the brain’s serotonin receptor systems, there is now more evidence for the shifts in ‘emotional biases’ which are so important in the treatment of depression. In 2018, there was agreement in the USA to move to Phase 3 scientific trials of psilocybin with people who experienced significant levels of anxiety and depression as a result of lifethreatening diagnoses. The lived experience of controlled use of psilocybin in early trials is provided in a couple of first-person accounts.

Overall, this is an interesting and varied book.

It concludes with Stamets’ plea for the protection of old-growth forests: And the biodiversity of their ecosystems because they have within them fungal species that could be critical for human survival …… the health of the ecosystem directly affects the health of each of us.

This is an American book, though, so if you are based in Scotland and would like to follow up some of the suggestions in this book, I’d recommend Monica Wilde (www.monicawilde.com) for good and plentiful knowledge on safe local mushroom foraging.

Seeking Reviewers Are you reading something you would recommend to others?

We’re always interested in reviews of books to share with fellow herbal folk.

Please simply send us a review, or get in touch: herbologynews@gmail.com

x: Noticeboard

Plant Medicine School Scotland Grass Roots Remedies Co-operative are delighted to be working in collaboration with their Celtic cousins the Plant Medicine School in Ireland, to offer their two-year Community Herbal Apprenticeship as part of the all-new Plant Medicine School Scotland.

Registration is open from February 2021, and teaching will begin in October 2021.

The Plant Medicine School’s Apprenticeship was founded by plantswoman Nikki Darrell and, for over 10 years now, has been focusing on using and growing plants as a traditional form of medicine in the community circle.

Sacred plant medicine— using direct perception to learn about our plant allies —is the central theme to the course.

Year 1 of the Apprenticeship— Starting on the Plant Medicine Path —helps you learn about the plants; their healing properties, how to grow them, harvest them sustainably and make medicine from them. It includes the study of botany, Materia medica, herbal pharmacy, the constituents of plants, making herbal medicines, growing herbs, the history and philosophy of herbal medicine, and energetics.

The Apprenticeship is an online course, with a six-day, in-person, summer intensive after the

online studies are completed. This allows people in other countries, those working at weekends or those with care commitments to undertake their studies online and at times that suit them, whilst keeping pace with the year’s study.

The online studies for the apprenticeship consist of filmed lectures and practical sessions (filmed in a class setting), plus course notes to ensure that all the materials presented in class are covered. Additional films and materials are also included that specifically address the needs of distant learners. There are regular Zoom tutorial meet ups to support the online material.

For more information visit: https://theplantmedicineschool.com/courses/ herbal-apprenticeship/scotland and contact us at scotland@theplantmedicineschool.com.

x: Contributors

Hazel Brady’s background is in IT, but she has always loved plants and since retiring has expanded her knowledge, especially around herbs. She completed the Diploma in Herbology at RBGE under Catherine Conway-Payne. Retirement has also given her the opportunity to develop another of her interests— an artistic practice centred in drawing and painting.

Ruth Crighton-Ward has had a long interest in plants and nature, although her first career was in Stage Management. After 18 years working in a variety of Scottish theatres, she decided to go into gardening.

She took her RHS Level 2 in Horticulture, as well as a Certificate in Practical Horticulture at RBGE. In 2014 she started her own gardening business, which has proved successful. In 2018, alongside her full-time work as a gardener, she returned to the RBGE for a Diploma in Herbology.

Anne Dalziel qualified as a Bach Foundation Registered Practitioner (BFRP) in 2006, later becoming a licensed teacher for the Bach International Education Programme (BIEP) and for the Bach Foundation. Anne has facilitated many workshops in community education, and for several commercial organisations. IG: @bachflowertraining

Patrick Dunne is an Edinburgh-based community gardener. Since 2018 he has, with his partner Katie Smith, co-organised an International Fringe event staging readings of the 2018 IPCC 1.5 Degrees Global Warming report, made lots of flat sourdough bread and camped, marched and organised as an occasional environmental activist.

x: Contributors

Amanda Edmiston was raised in stories; her mother is a professional storyteller, her dad was a toymaker, her grandfather a sculptor, her gran a repository of traditional remedies and folklore.

After studying law, then herbal medicine, Amanda began to blend facts, folklore, traditional tales, history and herbal remedies into unique works. Based in rural Stirlingshire, you can follow her on Facebook, @HerbalStorytell, and find more of her works at www.botanicafabula.co.uk

Marianne Hughes began following her interest in complementary medicine after a career in Social Work Education and voluntary work in Fair Trade.

Starting with Reflexology & Reiki, she progressed into Herbal Medicine. The evening classes at the RBGE got her hooked and she completed the Certificate in Herbology and, more recently, the Diploma in Herbology. Her current joy is experimenting with herb-growing in her own garden, in a local park, and alongside other volunteers in the RBGE Physic Garden. marianne@commonfuture.co.uk

Ann King has always dabbled in gardening in some shape or form is now a horticultural therapist and graduate of the RBGE Herbology Diploma. She is passionate about facilitating nature re-connection and enabling its therapeutic benefits by creatively adapting knowledge and stories for organised group sessions: either outdoors, incorporating exercise; or sedentary, indoor, experiential workshops. You can follow her on IG: @yourthymefornature or at www.thymefornature.com

Dr. Ella Leith is an ethnologist and folklorist who studied in Scotland and now lives in Malta. She particularly loves folktales and the storytelling traditions of linguistic and cultural minorities. @leithyface

x: Contributors

Maddy Mould is an illustrator from Lancashire, living in the Scottish Borders. Her work is heavily influenced by her interests in the natural landscape. She likes to illuminate the magic of everyday things, with both illustration, and some simple kitchen witchery with what she hopes will soon be home-grown produce. IG: @maddymould and maddymould.co.uk

Joseph Nolan practices Herbal Medicine in Edinburgh, at the UK’s oldest herbal clinic, and specialises in men’s health and paediatrics. He is a member of the Association of Foragers, and teaches classes and workshops related to herbal medicine making, wild plants, foraging, and natural health. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram @herbalmedicineman, and on his website: www.herbalmedicineman.com

Kyra Pollitt is a graduate of the Diploma in Herbology at the RBGE. When not editing Herbology News, she works as a translator, interpreter, writer and artist. She lives on the Isle of Harris, where she is busily planting and growing a garden. www.actsoftranslation.com

x: Contributors

Mel Skinner is a yoga teacher, reflexologist, astrologer and writer, whose book Rest is Radical (Aeon Books) is out now. She is also the subject of our interview this month. www.melskinneryoga.com

Marissa Stoffer is a mixed media artist based in Edinburgh, studying her master’s at the Royal College of Art. Her practice centres on ecology, plants, and our relationships with them. She is particularly interested in the ontology of New Animism and methods of making with local materials through foraging for colour. Her work focuses on nature— modified and abstracted from both real and imagined images. Through these combinations she explores the peculiarities of history, mythology, and beliefs. Instagram: @marissastoffer

Dora Wagner is a graduate of the RBGE Diploma in Herbology, and a Didactician in Natural Science. She also works as a Naturopath for Psychotherapy, and as a Horticultural Therapist. She currently lectures in Medical Herbalism at the University of Witten/Herdecke, and is leading a project reconstructing the medicinal herb garden of an Anthroposophic Hospital in Germany. dora.wagner@t-online.de and www.plantadora.de

x: Looking Forward

04//21: The Social Issue    

A selection of your favourite columnists Plus, Herb of the Month: Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Plus, Artist of the Month: Tina Struthers Plus, Our Man in the Field is back, having a brew with Erika Moore of Eteaket

And more….