Natural Healing Corner (1)

If you know anything about my books (A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies for Body and Spirit ), you will know that I spend a lot of time and thought writing about herbs. As a magical herbalist, I write about the magic, mythology, folklore, and healing properties of herbs. In "A Healing Grove" I dedicated the book to trees so a tree is our point of departure today.

I have decided that on Friday’s I will turn this blog into my Natural Healing Corner. Here I will talk about all the qualities of herbs I love as well as nature’s healers like stones, crystals, water and fire. I am partial to Fridays. Not in a TGIF sort of way but for its connection to the goddesses, particularly Venus.

I call it the Natural Healing Corner because in a conversation with an octogenarian African American woman from the south, she mentioned that they (meaning Black folk) didn’t have doctors when she was growing up; just Natural Healers.

Today, I want to focus in on Linden Flower, also called Tilia. It is a magical healing tree. Traditionally Linden has been a tree sacred to Slavic and Germanic peoples, being revered and celebrated. It is beloved by poets and figures into Greek mythology as well.

As an herbalist, I must admit, until last year, I had overlooked this herb in my personal practice. Once I started using it I was amazed by its myriad healing properties. I found what was called Tilia tea bags in our local Mexican American supermarket. Popular in Mexico, it was touted as a cure for nervousness and anxiety. Upon further examination I found it to be good for so many ills that plague our modern society. Just consider two of the most popular drugs, Xanax and Zantac or the little purple pill.

Tilia helps the body release water. It is a diuretic. As a sedative it brings about a state of tranquility. Tilia eases anxiety. It is a balancing and stabilizing herb. For people suffering from IBS in particular, Tilia helps with stomach disorders of various sorts and boosts the immunity—important to cold and flu season. I understand now from within my body, Tilia’s sacred healing properties.

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