I’ve recently been drawn to finding out more about the lympathic or the body’s sewer system. GLYMPH is the lympathic system of the brain, vwhich led me to contemplate how PTSD, autistic spectrum disorder, borderline personality disorder, complicated grief, attachment disorders and similar mental and emotional conditions where triggers may be repeatedly felt and people find it difficult to let go, may be linked with stagnant lymphatics. We are intricately linked mind, body and spirit.
I felt drawn to the violet flower when out running a month or so ago. I picked some to make violet flower essence. This is where the leaves and flowers are steeped in water in the sun. Synchronicity then dumped a piece of moss into the water too! Needless to say the meaning of moss essence made sense too. You can read more about it here.
I’ve also been drawn to learn more about polyvagal theory and the connections with Indian head massage easing anxiety and the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a huge nerve connecting many areas of the body, including the gut brain axis. It part of the nervous system and our sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ and the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ . In short, when stimulated it helps us chill out, as during Indian head massage and other treatments.
And as synchronicity abounds, a pull to the ‘Lymphatic Summit’, a series of talks and presentations about the lymphatic system, found me listening to a talk where violet was once again mentioned. This time about its use in draining the lympathic system. How interesting.
Commonly violet is known as ‘heartsease’. I thought, who’s heart has never been broken? But also how the stagnant lymphatics and the broken heart (the heart being the circulatory system) would link up and make sense. So let’s make some, because the universe provides and I have lots of it growing in the garden!
As I was selecting the leaves and flowers I set the intention with gratitude to the plant, that a variety of states of leaves and flower were selected with permission from the plant. These would be a reflection of the variety of states of heartache and stagnation we may find ourselves in. So some were worn and battered leaves that would reflect that despondent state of heartache, there were tiny leaves like small children, seemingly old worn out flowers about to come to fruition and make seeds, just budding flowers with seeds and ‘potential’ in the making, about to flower, curled leaves that were closed like cups in on themselves, strong large proud leaves, vibrant coloured leaves and a few battered worn out dehydrated dry leaves.. All a reflection.
A tincture soaks a quantity of leaves or flowers in 40% brandy or vodka. This percentage stops mildew or mould forming and the alcohol, over time, breaks down the leaves allowing the component parts to steep into the brandy, so perhaps also more apt for physical use. I also thought that I will make some violet oil for massage, so leaves steeped in the oil.
The tincture will be left in a dark place and shaken regularly. It will be interesting to experience taking it as a remedy and see if it facilitates the letting go of lymph, GLYMPH and emotion 🙌✨🌿
