Our Monthly Newsletter
April 2008
|
Dear Reader,
I invite you to experience the healing power of flowers. Each
month, I will share with you my findings, thoughts, travels, and
the many ways in which flowers and flower essences can uplift
your spirit and create beauty in your life. |
 DANDELION: The
Healing Weed, allows us to release
tension and relax the body.
|
 THIS MONTHS FLOWER---DANDELION
An old legend about how the dandelion first appeared on earth says: in ancient times, when the world was populated by fairies, elves and gnomes, the first humans to arrive caused problems since they could not see these elemental beings and so kept stepping on them. Some of the sun-loving fairies dressed in bright yellow gowns had nowhere to hide, unlike the gnomes and elves who took refuge behind rocks or under the ground, so they were transformed into dandelions. If you step on a dandelion it will soon spring up again, as it is said to contain the spirit of the fairies.
I remember as a
small child picking bouquets of dandelions for my mother
and grandmother. They
bloom from March to November and are the bane of gardeners
who love beautiful lawns. The taproot is deep, twisted,
and brittle. Unless you remove it completely, it will
regenerate and you have twice as many.
The
English name dandelion is a corruption
of the French "dent de lion" meaning
lion's tooth, which refers to the
tooth margin of the leaves or the
fact that the golden flowers resemble
the color of the royal lion and the
shape of his open mouth. The
plant is said to have originated
in Greece and Central Asia, and praised
in herbals in Europe's Middle Ages.
Often used as a country clock, the
flowers were said to open at five
minutes past five in the morning
and close at nine minutes past eight
in the evening. I wonder how daylight
saving time would affect that?
|
|
|
Dandelion
as a herbal remedy
Dandelion leaves are used in salads or cooked
like spinach. According to
the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, dandelions
are more nutritious than broccoli
and spinach, contain more cancer-fighting
beta-carotene than carrots are a
rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, thiamin, lecithin, riboflavin,
and dietary fiber. Besides
several culinary uses, the specific name 'officinalis'
refers to its value as a medicinal
herb. Dandelion flowers can be
used to make dandelion wine or
dandelion jam. Ground roasted dandelion
root can be used
as a coffee substitute, which stimulates
digestion.
Dandelions are
also good for the bladder, spleen, pancreas, stomach
and intestines. It's recommended for stressed-out,
internally sluggish, and sedentary people. Dandelions
cleanse the bloodstream, liver and increase the production
of bile. They are also a natural diuretic. They reduce
serum cholesterol and uric acid.
Improving the functioning of the kidneys, pancreas,
spleen and stomach. They are useful for abscesses,
anemia, boils, breast tumors, and cirrhosis of the
liver, fluid retention, hepatitis,
jaundice, age spots and rheumatism. If
you think you have never used dandelion
as medicine, guess again. It is
a prime ingredient in over half
of all herb blends on the market,
including herb blends for weight
loss, PMS, detoxification, liver,
digestion, kidney and skin ailments.
I
have used dandelion tea for years. I
boil two tablespoons of dandelion
root
for 10 minutes, turn off the
flame, and add two tablespoons
of parsley and nettle, steeping
for another 5 minutes. This is
a great tonic to ease gall balder
and liver symptoms. I drink it
at night before bed and usually
feel much better
in the morning.
Dandelion blossom
oil has been used as a folk remedy for painful, swollen
joints, as a healthy breast and body massage oil. FES,
the Flower Essence Society of Nevada City, California,
has created wonderful massage oil that works on body
aches and pains. I used it extensively after
my knee and ankle surgeries.
The
leaf's white, milky sap removes warts,
moles, pimples, calluses, and sores,
and soothes bee stings and blisters,
and it has been used as a mosquito
repellent. Yellow or green dye colors
can be obtained from the flowers.
Dandelion
flowers are an excellent source of
lecithin, a nutrient that elevates
the brain's acetylcholine, a substance
that helps maintain brain function
and
may play a role in slowing or even
stopping the progression of Alzheimer's
disease. Lecithin also helps the
body maintain good liver function,
so it is no surprise that dandelion
is widely recommended by herbalists
and naturopathic physicians for
liver detoxification.
Native
Americans used it to treat kidney
disease, indigestion, and heartburn;
traditional Arabian medicine prescribed
it to treat liver disease; and
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
uses dandelion in combination with
other medicines to treat hepatitis
and upper respiratory tract infections,
including bronchitis and pneumonia.
|
 Dandelion---The
Flower Essence
Dandelion
is given to people who cram far
too much into
every day. They are compulsive
doers, pushing themselves,
over plan and over structure
their lives leaving little
time for relaxation or reflection.
They no longer listen to
the needs of their bodies,
which become tense especially
in the shoulders and neck. Dandelion
teaches individuals to listen
more closely, helps release
tension allowing the body to
relax and emotions to
be released and expressed.
It can be added to massage
oils and used in body work.
It shifts the emphasis
from being a human "doing" to
a human "being", becoming
more balanced with a sense
of inner ease.
|
Meet Maggie Smith
Meet me at the following events!
Wednesday evenings 6-9PM
@ Gateways, 1126 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
I offer Personal Flower Essence and Intuitive Readings,
20 minutes to 1 hour.
Thursday evenings,
5-9pm
@ Preston Wynne Spa at Saratoga Village, CA
I offer Intuitive Flower Readings.
Contact the Spa Concierge at 408-741-5525 for appointments.
Wednesday & Friday
afternoons, 1-5 PM
@ Dr Z's Mind Body Shop, Soquel, CA
I offer Personal Flower Essence Intuitive Readings,
includes Flower Essence Tincture or Spray.
Please call 831-335-7979 for appointments.
Saturday
and Sunday, May 3 & 4 9:30am-5:30pm
@ Roto Faire, Monterey Fair Grounds, Monterey, CA
I will be doing 20 minute Intuitive readings for
Pets and People
Wednesday,
May 21, 7-8PM
@ Gateways, 1126 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Sweet Dreams Every Night--Simple steps to good sleep
Naturally
Saturday, May
31 and Sunday, June 1
@ Five Branches Institute, 200 7th Ave, Santa Cruz,
CA
Explore the wonderful world of healing with Flowers.
One day of Flower Essences and one of Aromatherapy.
Students will come away with a personal tincture
and aromatherapy blend of
their choosing. Call 831-476-9424 X 48 or email extension@fivebranches.edu.
Call
831-335-7979 for more information. |
|
|
Intuitive
Flower Readings
with Personal Tinctures
$25
for an Online Reading
$80 for a Personal Reading with Maggie Smith
by phone appointment
|
Learn More
Animal Communication
What is you best friend saying to you?
Call me for your pet reading appointment
thejoyofflowers@earthlink.net
Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Call(831)
335-7979 or toll free (800)
213-7484 or email me at thejoyofflowers@earthlink.net
to
register for a class or schedule
your appointment.
Wishing
you Flower Blessings of Harmony and Balance!
|
Maggie
Smith
FLOWER ESSENCE ENERGY
|
|
|
.jpg)
