Comments on: Terms of the Trade: Demulcent http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html Traditional Western Herbalism with Kiva Rose Tue, 22 May 2012 17:08:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: robin Rose Bennett http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-4080 robin Rose Bennett Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:29:08 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-4080 hi Kiva, and all, I've found that linden's demulcent qualities are in direct relationship to the quality of the linden that was gathered...and how well it was dried...2007 year was a Bad linden year, at least around here, whereas this past summer was INCREDIBLY wonderful during good linden years, the dried flowers are not at all crumbly, they practically look like they're still hanging on the tree and the tea yielded and even the tincture is definitely demulcent...when you squeeze it out, the slime just oozes... Green blessings and love, Robin Rose ~*~ hi Kiva, and all,

I’ve found that linden’s demulcent qualities are in direct relationship to the quality of the linden that was gathered…and how well it was dried…2007 year was a Bad linden year, at least around here, whereas this past summer was INCREDIBLY wonderful

during good linden years, the dried flowers are not at all crumbly, they practically look like they’re still hanging on the tree and the tea yielded and even the tincture is definitely demulcent…when you squeeze it out, the slime just oozes…

Green blessings and love,
Robin Rose ~*~

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3950 Kiva Rose Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:18:02 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3950 yes, but demulcent is a pretty word with a pretty meaning, and the term mucilaginous make non-herbal people look at me like I said a dirty word. I've read your lovely bits on loosestrife but it doesn't grow around here so alas, have never got try it. I definitely agree about the oil dryness and originally had that in this post but then made it it's own upcoming post. and I certainly agree about the nervine effect on dry people too, have to edit my post a bit since I didn't get that across properly. yes, but demulcent is a pretty word with a pretty meaning, and the term mucilaginous make non-herbal people look at me like I said a dirty word.

I’ve read your lovely bits on loosestrife but it doesn’t grow around here so alas, have never got try it.

I definitely agree about the oil dryness and originally had that in this post but then made it it’s own upcoming post.

and I certainly agree about the nervine effect on dry people too, have to edit my post a bit since I didn’t get that across properly.

]]> By: jim mcdonald http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3942 jim mcdonald Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:02:53 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3942 ooh, I love these plants. I usually call the mucilaginous plants, rather than using terms that refer to whether they're applied externally or internally, but a better 9and much funner) descriptor comes from my friend Joyce Wardwell: slimaceous. get's the point across, well, eh? It's important to note that these slimaceous plants don't just work on tissues, but manifest a decidely nervine action on constitutionally dry, agitated people. For infusion drinkers, violet leaf is amazing in this regard, being a nutritive kinda-alterative. But most mucilages can act in this manner, according to energetic indications. Another mucilaginous astringent worth mentioning is purple loosestrife. Super for GI stuff, and real nice for eyewashes. the more flowers, the more mucilage. Mucilages, added to an eyewash (like a plantain/ox eye daisy eyewash with a wee bit of slippery elm or marshmallow root) will do wonders when the eye is hot and dry from the inflammation and every blink hurts and aggravates it and inhibits healing. e sure not to use powdered root or bark; you don't want these particles in your eyewash (been there, done that) Also worth mentioning that when considering mucilage for dryness, that they generally won't compensate for ~oil~ dryness (except fresh ground flax, which is a real good source of oil as well as slime). I could go on for days, says constitutionally dry jim... ooh, I love these plants. I usually call the mucilaginous plants, rather than using terms that refer to whether they’re applied externally or internally, but a better 9and much funner) descriptor comes from my friend Joyce Wardwell:

slimaceous.

get’s the point across, well, eh?

It’s important to note that these slimaceous plants don’t just work on tissues, but manifest a decidely nervine action on constitutionally dry, agitated people. For infusion drinkers, violet leaf is amazing in this regard, being a nutritive kinda-alterative. But most mucilages can act in this manner, according to energetic indications.

Another mucilaginous astringent worth mentioning is purple loosestrife. Super for GI stuff, and real nice for eyewashes. the more flowers, the more mucilage.

Mucilages, added to an eyewash (like a plantain/ox eye daisy eyewash with a wee bit of slippery elm or marshmallow root) will do wonders when the eye is hot and dry from the inflammation and every blink hurts and aggravates it and inhibits healing. e sure not to use powdered root or bark; you don’t want these particles in your eyewash (been there, done that)

Also worth mentioning that when considering mucilage for dryness, that they generally won’t compensate for ~oil~ dryness (except fresh ground flax, which is a real good source of oil as well as slime).

I could go on for days, says constitutionally dry jim…

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3795 Kiva Rose Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:08:41 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3795 Yeah, I don't usually get much mucilage from the the first hot infusion either with linden (though I do with mallow and elm, no problem). Hmm, maybe I will try growing a linden tree. They sure are pretty too. Yeah, I don’t usually get much mucilage from the the first hot infusion either with linden (though I do with mallow and elm, no problem). Hmm, maybe I will try growing a linden tree. They sure are pretty too.

]]> By: kate http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3792 kate Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:14:33 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3792 Kiva, my favourite lindens here grow in the hot, dry Central part of country. They are near a lake though so presumably have good access to the water table. I'm still trying to figure out how Darcey gets lots of mucilage from a hot o/n infusion. I have to do a second cold on to get the mucilage. Kiva, my favourite lindens here grow in the hot, dry Central part of country. They are near a lake though so presumably have good access to the water table.

I’m still trying to figure out how Darcey gets lots of mucilage from a hot o/n infusion. I have to do a second cold on to get the mucilage.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3737 Kiva Rose Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:51:25 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3737 I love Linden, I wish it grew near here, there might be some in Albuquerque, I'm not sure. I've thought about trying to grow a tree here, but this is hard terrain for most trees to grow on. I liked it when Darcey was living in Boulder because she'd send some from the trees there :D I'll have to order some Hawthorn from Mt Rose, as the stuff I have doesn't seem noticeably slimy to me, but I'd be very excited to have a more demulcent Rose family herb. Peach is somewhat moistening but still not really slimy. I'm thrilled to be surrounded by Elm and Mallow though, and so have lots local demulcents. We also have Flax plants growing wild but not enough to harvest most years. We also have wild licorice but ours isn't as demulcent as the chinese or european spp. I love Linden, I wish it grew near here, there might be some in Albuquerque, I’m not sure. I’ve thought about trying to grow a tree here, but this is hard terrain for most trees to grow on. I liked it when Darcey was living in Boulder because she’d send some from the trees there :D

I’ll have to order some Hawthorn from Mt Rose, as the stuff I have doesn’t seem noticeably slimy to me, but I’d be very excited to have a more demulcent Rose family herb. Peach is somewhat moistening but still not really slimy.

I’m thrilled to be surrounded by Elm and Mallow though, and so have lots local demulcents. We also have Flax plants growing wild but not enough to harvest most years. We also have wild licorice but ours isn’t as demulcent as the chinese or european spp.

]]> By: MaDonaVerde http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3736 MaDonaVerde Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:17:25 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3736 Yeah - I was feeling that Linden was at least neutral. What I usually do with it is do a hot/quick infusion first (cuz I like the taste of it hot too). The hot infusion has also been nice for ds to relax before bed as he's going through losing his front teeth and having all the teething stuff that results. Linden's been beautiful for that - plus all those respiratory buggy things that are coming and going with the late Fall/early winter etc.). I then save the bits after straining and pour water on it for a second infusion to leave overnight and wake up to some nice, wonderfully tasty slimey stuff :-) Hawthorn-wise, the last batches of leaf/flower I've gotten have been from Mountain Rose Herbs, so it's been c. laevigata from Hungary. I was really surprised how demulcent it was the first time I brewed it. I would also generally say that it's been more cooling - so that's one that my dh likes during the summer. Yeah – I was feeling that Linden was at least neutral. What I usually do with it is do a hot/quick infusion first (cuz I like the taste of it hot too). The hot infusion has also been nice for ds to relax before bed as he’s going through losing his front teeth and having all the teething stuff that results. Linden’s been beautiful for that – plus all those respiratory buggy things that are coming and going with the late Fall/early winter etc.). I then save the bits after straining and pour water on it for a second infusion to leave overnight and wake up to some nice, wonderfully tasty slimey stuff :-)
Hawthorn-wise, the last batches of leaf/flower I’ve gotten have been from Mountain Rose Herbs, so it’s been c. laevigata from Hungary. I was really surprised how demulcent it was the first time I brewed it. I would also generally say that it’s been more cooling – so that’s one that my dh likes during the summer.

]]> By: Dave http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3716 Dave Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:18:40 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3716 I have used slippery elm in natural form from herbal shops. It is very soothing. It takes away the rasp and pain of sore throats. I have used slippery elm in natural form from herbal shops. It is very soothing. It takes away the rasp and pain of sore throats.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3714 Kiva Rose Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:30:59 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3714 Hey MDV, I agree with Darcey that Linden seems largely neutral to me, but I haven't worked with it much. As for Hawthorn, I haven't noticed that mine is very demulcent, though it does tend towards astringency as the rest of the Rose family does. I would generally classify the flowers and leaves as cooling. What kind of Hawthorn are you using anyhow? Hey MDV, I agree with Darcey that Linden seems largely neutral to me, but I haven’t worked with it much. As for Hawthorn, I haven’t noticed that mine is very demulcent, though it does tend towards astringency as the rest of the Rose family does. I would generally classify the flowers and leaves as cooling. What kind of Hawthorn are you using anyhow?

]]> By: shamana flora http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3713 shamana flora Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:16:27 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3713 linden to me is nuetral to warm but more nuetral than anythin else, i love its demulcency. overnight infusions are VERY slimy...doesn't need to be second infusion. linden to me is nuetral to warm but more nuetral than anythin else, i love its demulcency. overnight infusions are VERY slimy…doesn’t need to be second infusion.

]]> By: MaDonaVerde http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-demulcent.html/comment-page-1#comment-3694 MaDonaVerde Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:41:40 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=546#comment-3694 Hey Kiva, Great post (as usual) ;-) I've noticed that Linden leaf/flower and Hawthorn leaf/flower are nice and gooey as infusions too. Linden even moreso on the second infusion as opposed to the first or if done cold process v. hot. You have any thoughts on where they fall on the cool/neutral/warm/astringent spectrum? I would tend to think that Hawthorn is a bit astringent, but not sure if you'd put that in with "notable" like the others you mention in that category. Hey Kiva,

Great post (as usual) ;-)

I’ve noticed that Linden leaf/flower and Hawthorn leaf/flower are nice and gooey as infusions too. Linden even moreso on the second infusion as opposed to the first or if done cold process v. hot. You have any thoughts on where they fall on the cool/neutral/warm/astringent spectrum? I would tend to think that Hawthorn is a bit astringent, but not sure if you’d put that in with “notable” like the others you mention in that category.

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