Hello First name / herb angel,
This week I've got collaboration on my mind. We really are meant to be in community with each other & nothing is ever truly done alone. Further, “nothing that we do that is worthwhile is done alone.” -Mariame Kaba. We are all so interconnected, as has been extra drilled in & made obvious by the latest global pandemic. Not only do we need each other to keep each other well, for support, accountability, & love, our efforts & impact are more informed & amplified by each other's perspectives & energies. We also make space for creativity & ideas that never would've been possible without the presence & collaboration of our peers & loved ones. We save ourselves & each other from burn out when we receive help & engage our communities. As someone who is healing from hyper independence (thank's colonialism!), I can say it's a rocky but valuable journey to reclaim & embrace the many ways we can be in collaboration on purpose & on varying scales.
╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲
You know collaboration extends beyond the human realm & includes herbs too! I thought this would be a sweet place to share some tips & guidance on blending herbal formulas. Herbs can really help each other out, amplify & temper each other's effects, synergise a formula, & play different desired roles in a blend. You'll also come to learn that some herbs don't want to be blended together or shouldn't be depending on the person you're blending for, herbs being used, & the desired effect. Overall, I like to approach this process using a combination of knowings including play, intuition, science, ancestral guidance, & tradition.
Below is a guide with examples for creating a simple 3 herb formula with a 60-30-10 ratio. It is modified from one of my first herb teachers, Rosemary Gladstar, & I've since included a number of personal considerations over time. I'm sure you'll adapt your own flow for blending herbs if you haven't already!
╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲
1) It's helpful to hone in on the intention of your formula.
example: soothe a sore throat & dry cough
2) Consider who it is for.
example: your 8 year old cousin
3) What form of herbal medicine is best in this case?
example: your cousin doesn't like tea or anything too medicinal tasting, so you might make a tincture for the ease of administering & plan to give it too them mixed into a spoonful of honey for flavor.
4) Now for the break down of herbs & how much of each.
a) I like to have a solid base of an herb that is generally supportive, building, & nutritive for the entire body & potentially the underlying cause.
example: Plantain leaf (Plantago major) is nutrient rich & rather balancing for the mucosal lining all over the body, including the respiratory system. On the throat, it is both soothing & toning which helps maintain a healthy, protective mucus lining. So in this formula, Plantain leaf might make up a healthy 60% of the blend.
b) Then I'll add another herb that is more specific to the area & ailment; in this example, that would be the throat, soreness, & dryness.
example: Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is a demulcent with an affinity for the throat that soothes irritation, soreness, & dryness. Marshmallow root will take up solid 30% of this blend.
c) In the last 10%, I may want to add an aromatic that can activate the blend, driving the medicine of the other plants used to the areas they need to go!
example: Sage (Salvia officinalis) would be wonderful for this. It is antibacterial, antifungal, & indicated for sore throats among many things. It will blend well, add a nice flavor & aroma, & help to amplify the more foundational effects of the Plantain & Marshamallow.
So my final formula is 60% Plantain + 30% Marshmallow + 10% Sage or a ratio of 2 parts Plantain to 1 part Marshmallow to ½ part Sage.
I love how the herbs in this blend support each other & bring out the best in each other! Sage on it's own would certainly be helpful, but without more foundational support from Plantain, chances of the sore throat returning are higher! Marshmallow root on it's own would also be helpful, but without Sage, it might not be carried as deeply into the bloodstream as needed for a full recovery. Yay for the herbs collaborating in this throat soother blend!
Of course, you could also use this formula/ratio to make a tea blend or syrup. Maybe Cayenne would replace Sage if you have a persistent cough that keeps you up at night. Modify to fit your needs! Seek tradition for time tested formulas (example, Licorice is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine blends to synergise formulas). Allow space for experimentation & let intuition & Spirit guide you. Lastly, of course do your research & consult herbal practitioners for contraindication, dosage, & toxicity concerns & make sure to always properly identify your plants!
╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲
A lil' shout out to Dreamseed Collective which operates as a beautiful reflection of community & collaboration. Logging on to their open studio last week filled my cup & witnessing the three of them collaborate, Blaise, Malanya, & Maliika, in the name of Black holistic care & community was a gift. Based in NY, they are currently in the process of bringing a BIPoC & Queer/ Trans Oracle deck into being! It's true magic & they currently have an open call for LGBTQIA2S BIPOC community members to model for photoshoots to base the cards off of. We love to see it!
╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲╱╲❀╱╲
“What does it mean to function as a group in a changing environment? How can we organize ourselves intentionally to combat the embedded isolation of late capitalism? It seems like the dolphins (& our other interloping sharks… the manta rays) have something to tell us. From mothering as an emergent strategy in massive dolphin super-pods to pan-tropical synchronized swimming as a model of being prepared for large-scale direct action, the dolphins are educating us on how to squad up or pod up….. I believe collaboration is natural & can be reclaimed."
-Excerpt from Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs
