It is the month of September, and we are focusing on the Muscular System. This system of the body functions to pump blood throughout the body, help with movement, and support the body by maintaining its posture. There are smooth muscles that work when we are awake and asleep to help make it function correctly. There are cardiac muscles that make up the heart. Finally, there are skeletal muscles that we think of as the traditional "muscle", helping the body move and stand up. On the energetic level, muscle pain is related to succumbing to fears, inflamed thinking, and anger that makes us "see red". This week, we are focusing on healing muscle pain, inflammation, and tension in skeletal muscles. Our top three essences for muscle pain and tension are Mugwort, Black Spruce, and Wintergreen.
Mugwort is a perennial herb pollinated by wind. She is known to help awaken the psychic and intuitive faculties by the Europeans. Mugwort has long been associated with divination and dreams. For the muscles, pain, inflammation, bruising, arthritis, tension, and stress, Mugwort is extremely effective. Energetically, Mugwort addresses our fears and our shadow side, helping one to listen to their inner guidance and awaken the Light within.
Black Spruce is a conifer tree from North America that has been recorded to live 90 years of age or older. She is strong and resilient, surviving harsh winter months and controlled burns in order to live a long life of joyful service as shade and a home for wildlife, as a medicine for local people, and as the main ingredient in "Spruce Beer". Black Spruce helps muscle pain and inflammation, and serves as a natural cortisol. She is wonderful for tension, aches, spasms, and exhaustion. For the mind-body-spirit, Black Spruce helps with stress, self-acceptance, and our shadow work. She is wonderful for the "pain body", supporting the release of anxiety and shame.
Wintergreen is an evergreen shrub that grows minty leaves in clusters toward the tips of the branches. Many Native American tribes make tea from the leaves for healing. Wintergreen is an amazing anti-inflammatory that helps with pain relief, arthritis, sore muscles, cramps, and wound healing. Energetically, she is a heart softener. Wintergreen helps us connect to our feelings, let go of pain, open the heart, and find ways to Love after loss.
It is best to use essences for one month for every year you have had the symptoms that are being treated. In general, for the average adult weight and height, five to ten drops "neat" on the skin is enough to start anointing each essence 2-3 times a day. Always do a test patch on the inner arm to make sure that the essences are not too powerful to anoint "neat" on your skin. If they bring up a healing response, then use the bottoms of the feet to anoint, and meditate on what is coming up and out emotionally for healing. Anoint onto the skin by layering Mugwort and Black Spruce first, while applying Wintergreen to the top. Wintergreen can act like a hot/cold treatment, and some people have no problem anointing her "neat". However, for the safest results, anoint her over the other two essences. Pour the plant medicine directly over the the area of concern. These plants work well together, and can help the healing process greatly. All essences are safe to ingest in small amounts (3-5 drops in an ounce of water is a good start). Use your intuition to guide the way, and remember that less is always more in most cases, and the body knows what's best - so always listen to it.
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