March 9, the day after International Women’s Day, has been declared a Paro Nacional de Mujeres (Women’s Strike) in Mexico in protest against the continued prevalence of femicide and violence against women throughout the country.
As a permanent resident of Mexico, I am not permitted to join in the numerous protests #ParoNacional that happened yesterday. However, I am showing my support by refraining from working, shopping, or using social media today. (This post has been scheduled in advance.) #UnDiaSinNosotras
Current estimates state that at least 10 women are murdered in Mexico every day. It may be substantially more but men, women and children disappear in this country at an astounding rate. Many times their bodies are never found. And if they are, local Mexican authorities may not have the capability to analyze and identify remains or they aren’t interested in doing so. Impunity is sky high here as well. Fewer than 5% of all criminal activities have a perpetrator that is held accountable.
I’m not naive enough to believe that one day of outrage is sufficient to change Mexican society overnight. However, perhaps it’s a start.
The other day, while perusing the teas at the market, I happened upon some Árnica tea. This intrigued me because I had only ever seen Árnica used in una pomada (ointment) for bruises and muscle pain. So off I went to do some investigation on the matter.
Árnica Mexicana’s botanical name is Heterotheca inuloides and should not be confused with arnica montana which grows in Europe. In fact, one of the names of Heterotheca inuloides is false arnica, as the “true” arnica is arnica montana. Árnica Mexicana is native to Mexico and has been used medicinally for centuries by the indigenous people. It is also known as Árnica del país and in Nahuatl, Tlalyetl.
Most commonly Árnica Mexicana is used to treat skin inflammations, rheumatism, muscular pain, menstrual cramps, and colic topically. However, it is also used for nervous disorders, dental issues, and gastrointestinal problems, hence the availability of the Árnica tea.
Scientific studies have shown that Heterotheca inuloides contains antioxidants, and functions well as anti-tumor compound. It has been shown to effectively treat giardiasis, a stomach infection caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia found in contaminated water. Yet another study has demonstrated the positive effects of Árnica Mexicana and rosemary water extract on the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain.
Other studies have demonstrated its topical benefits. Used externally, it has mild antiseptic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is effective in the treatment of skin disorders caused by fungus and bacteria. It is an effective natural insecticide and weed killer as well.
You can find Pomada de Arnica at nearly every pharmacy in Mexico. However, if you’d like to make your own wash, tea, or tincture you can try one of these remedies.
For bruises add 10 to 15 branches with flowers and leaves to ½ liter of alcohol and allow it to steep for 15 days. Rub the resulting tincture on the affected area. Another remedy calls for 2.5 grams of flowers, roots, and leaves gathered from 20 branches and steeped again for 15 days.
As a hemorrhoid wash, boil 100 grams in two liters of water. A second remedy suggests 25 grams boiled in one liter of water.
For stomach ailments, drink 10-20 drops of essential oil in water three times a day. As a tea, take one tablespoon every two hours made from 2.5 grams of flowers boiled in ¼ liter of water. Or one cup drunk four times a day made from 8 grams of flowers and leaves boiled in one liter of water.
Precautions:
Because this little yellow flower is part of the Asteraceae family, those who are sensitive to ragweed and feverfew should not use arnica because it may trigger allergic reactions.
Internal use of arnica should be limited to a few days due to potential toxicity.
So, although I picked up a box of this Árnica tea at the market, after my investigations, I believe I’ll keep it for medicinal use rather than a regular breakfast beverage.
Would you believe I found another awesome herb resource? You already know that I’m a huge fan of the Herbal Academy and have taken several courses online with them. But today, I’d like to introduce you to Huckleberry Mountain Botanicals.
My first course was The Basics of Holistic Herbalism was incredibly comprehensive. Herbalism isn’t just about taking this or that herb to improve your health you know. It’s about looking at the body as a whole and determining where herbs can provide support as part of a regular, herbally enhanced diet.
This course started with a refresher botany section. Herb identification is vitally important, especially if you have moved to a totally different environment like I have. We wouldn’t want to poison anyone now, would we, especially since I taste the herbal concoctions on myself. After that, there was a section on medicinal properties of types of herbs, very useful.
But we weren’t finished learning yet! Session three covered the skin as an organ and talked about interactions herbs can have on it, followed by the digestive system in session four. When using herbs as medicine, it’s important to note each individual’s reaction to herbs because of his or her skin sensitivity and digestive process. It’s not just a matter of popping herbal capsules and hoping for the best.
The last section in this course discussed stress and pain. Yes, there are some herbs that can help with these conditions, but looking at the causes of stress and pain holistically and developing better coping strategies was emphasized rather than just herbal application.
Let’s start with the free stuff, my favorite. Periodically, there are free informative herbal webinars that you can attend! Yippee! The next one is in March, but I don’t see what the topic will be just yet. Then there’s loads of free herbal content. Who doesn’t want to improve their herbal understanding without paying a dime?
Are your kids interested in herbs? Then you should know that the Children’s Herbal School begins on June 15. What a great way to spend their summer productively!
So there you have it folks! Yet another fabulous herbal resource for those of you interested in herbs!
