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    BITTER MOON APOTHECARY

    UPDATE: Please check out my new website at bittermoon.squarespace.com! There's new classes being offered and new things to see as the season begins!

     

    Bitter Moon Apothecary provides sliding scale bodywork, tarot readings, herbal consultations and herbal products that are queer, gender-variant, trans and sex worker friendly. Everyone else is also welcome!


    My herbal consultations provide health and education with a background in science to facilitate healing in one's body. I work with plants both on a spiritual and physiological level using a variety of tools to grasp an in depth understanding of you as a whole. I use Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Magick and a vast knowledge of pharmacology to help formulate herbal protocols for you that best fit your needs and desires. The plants help me too, of course. My practice includes harm reduction and supporting people where they are emotionally, physically and spiritually.

     

    I use an array of herbs, flower essences, gem essences and other magical tools for resilience, protection and guidance. I tend towards the darkness and usually find strength in the veil between the living and the spirit realm. Spirits can also come into my work as a healer and medium.

     

    Consultations usually last up to 2 hours. We will cover your health history, current health issues, your goals and concerns. I will then provide you with custom herbal formulas, nutritional information, body exercises and flower/gem essences that fit your needs and desires.

    All consultations are sliding scale:

     

    *Bitter Moon Apothecary offers free herbal consultations and body work to POC and Indigenous folks twice a month*

     

    For everyone else:

     

    Initial herbal consultations are $50-75 (plus the cost of herbal tinctures/teas, salves or oils, price determined by oz. and herbs used).

    Follow-up consultations are $30-60 per hour.

     

    I also specialize in Swedish and Deep-Tissue massage to help relieve tension from stress, injury and chronic pain. I use fire cupping and other forms of modern cupping in my bodywork practice which provide another layer of deep relaxation and a releasing of toxins, tension and pain to the bodywork session.


    Massage/cupping sessions are $30 for 30 minutes, $50 1hr and $100 for 2hrs.

     

    Masssage/cupping sessions with 15 minute mini herbal consultation or tarot reading are $75 1hr and $120 for 2hrs.

     

    I offer in person consultations and bodywork in Minneapolis, MN and offer phone/skype herbal consultations. Please email me at bittermoonapothecary@gmail.com to set up a possible in-person appointment or to set up a phone/skype session.

  • Calendar

    Upcoming Programs, Workshops and Tabling Events

    August 21st, 2016 Minnehaha Free Space Craft Fair

    Red Umbrella Herbals will be tabling at the Minnehaha Craft Fair on 8/21 from 1-6pm. Come check out new gem and flower essence blends, heart scrubs, salves, tinctures and more!

    September 2016 Decolonizing Herbalism Workshop

    Check in later about my upcoming Decolonizing Herbalism Workshop with the Wild Lore Folk School in September!

    2017 Introductory Herbal Program for Self-care, Resilience and Solidarity

    April-November, Every other Sunday 10-5pm with Garden days and Field trips (see below for details)

    February 4th-5th 2017 Weekend Workshop Series at the Future (Mpls)

    This 2-part workshop series will take place February 4th and 5th, 4-7pm each day. These subjects are meant to empower individuals around herbal self and community care, especially during times of uncertainty around free and affordable health care.

    "Herbs for Mental Health and Trauma"
    with Lroy Meryhew of Bitter Moon Apothecary

    Herbs for Mental Health and Trauma is a 3 hour workshop that will cover the science around the brain, mental health and how the body responds to trauma. Learning how we can balance neurotransmitters in the brain with herbs and nutrition is one tool we can use to help deal with mental illness such as PTSD, anxiety disorders and depression. We will cover a variety of herbs in this workshop that people can use in their mental health tool kits that compliment or work outside of the mental health system. We will discuss basic ways in which certain herbs can retrain the brain during stressful and traumatic times, protecting us from future mental health lapses. After the lecture we will spend some time doing some basic medicine making by blending tea, putting together a heart scrub and making a flower essence blend. Please bring a 1oz tincture bottle and dropper, and a couple ziplock bags or jars to put your tea and heart scrub in.

    "Soak it, Steam it, Rub it: Herbal Care for Down There"
    with Reishi (Rachel) Leaf

    The allopathic model of treatment for genital-urinary infections is wanting at best. In this 3-hour class we will discuss short and long-term herbal and lifestyle support for common infections of the genito-urinary system, focusing on BV, yeast infections, UTIs and herpes. We will explore different herbal preparations including steams, sitz baths, compresses and suppositories, with a short suppository-making demo. The goal of this class is for folks to leave with more information, tools and strategies to feel self-empowered to work with their bodies to heal and counteract these infections. While somewhat vulvic-focused, remedies and preps for all gentitalia will be covered.

    $15 each or $20 for both workshops, due at the time of the workshop.*

    Please register for one or both workshops at lroym@vtherbcenter.org.

    *Sliding scale available on request, please talk to one of us.

  • Classes offered:

    I offer Herbal Classes. I am willing to travel to do workshops and can book various venues based on interest levels. I will do my best to secure venues that are accessible to all bodies. Classes are $10-20 per person an hour ($50 minimum for class) but I also offer classes for trade. For example, I'll trade for services, a tincture press, various herbal products etc. Here are current classes I offer:

     

    -Stayin’ Juicy: DIY Herbal Lubes for Health and Happiness
    -Decolonizing Herbalism
    -A Whores Herbal: An Herbal ‘How to’ for Those Working in the Trade
    -Plant Walks for All Ages
    -Plant Walks for Youth
    -Medicine Making 101
    -Herbs for Mental Health, Anxiety and Addiction
    -Herbal First Aid
    -Herbs for Seasonal Allergies and Inflammation

    -Working with Adaptogens: Increasing Vitality and Decreasing Stress

  • spring/summer 2017 radical garden apprenticeship

    @ Stone’s Throw Farm and Seward Cafe Minneapolis, MN

    Wednesday Evenings 4-7pm May through October

    Herbal First Aid Camping Trip July 14th-16th

     

    This garden apprenticeship will help build up one’s knowledge of plants, medicine making, botany, first aid and gardening. People will be able to build their own home apothecary as well as grow herbal medicine to support Indigenous communities and radical movements throughout Turtle Island.

     

    DESCRIPTION:

    Learn how to plant a garden, start seeds, grow, harvest and dry herbs! This apprenticeship is offered every week from May to October and includes a lot of hands on experience growing an herbal garden. Along with learning how to grow and identify herbs, we will cover harvesting and drying techniques. With the herbs that we grow - we will have class time dedicated to making teas, tinctures, oils and salves. Come get your hands dirty while supporting radical movements!

     

    THE TEACHER:

    Lroy Meryhew is a white, middle class herbalist currently living on Dakota and Anishinaabe occupied territories. They have been studying herbalism for 8 years and recently graduated from the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism as a clinical herbalist. They are constantly working on what it means to be a white ally through healing work, especially in the occupied territories of North America. They help run a free biannual clinic at Black Mesa in AZ with a lovely group of people called the Stone Cabin Collective.

     

    Cost: $250 for Garden Apprenticeship + $150 for Herbal First Aid Camping Trip

    $75 deposit to hold spot, due at the beginning of class

    Email bittermoonapothecary@gmail.com to register!

  • herbal consultations and massage/cupping sessions

    2 hour initial herbal consultations $50-75

    1 hour follow-up herbal consultations $30-60

    1 hour bodywork sessions $30-60

    1 hour bodywork session with mini herbal consult or tarot reading $50-75

    2 hour bodywork sessions $60-90

  • Herbal products

    Finished Herbal tinctures, salves and scrubs. Custom made herbal blends and flower essences are also available.

     

    COMING SOON!

     

  • Meet the herbalist

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    Lroy Meryhew

    Herbalist, Botanist and Witch

    Lroy Meryhew is a white, middle class herbalist currently living on Dakota and Anishinaabe occupied territories. They have been studying herbalism for 8 years with an emphasis on pathophysiology, mental health and sexual health. They recently graduated from the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism as a clinical herbalist. They are particularly interested in herbalism for sexual health and queer/trans health. As a person who struggles with mental health, they are committed to working with their clients with mental health conditions. They are constantly working on what it means to be a white ally through healing work, especially in the occupied territories of North America. They help run a free biannual clinic at Black Mesa in AZ with a lovely group of people called the Stone Cabin Collective. In their free time, they love hanging with their annoying puppy Louise, talking about alkaloids and supporting the struggles of their community and beyond.

     

    Testimonials:

     

    "I would recommend Lroy as a practitioner to my own mother"

     

    "Being able to work with a gender non-binary person was a unique and valuable experience for me"

    "Not once did I have to deal with unsolicited advice"

     

    "Lroy Meryhew's herbal guidance provided me with unbridled sex magic"

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    Where the herbs come from...

    All herbs are organically grown or ethically wildcrafted by Mountain Rose Herb Company, Zach Woods Herb Farm or myself. These formulas are not intended to treat or cure any illness or disease. They will not interact negatively with hormones, SSRIs or MAOIs.

    I am not a doctor and do not diagnose or treat diseases. I use herbs to help you educate yourself and empower your own source of healing. Consult a doctor before using any herbs or supplements if pregnant, on medication or lactating.

  • Contact BITTER MOON APOTHECARY

    For Consultations, Massage appointments or Products

  • Beginning to heal trauma with herbs

    *Trigger warning, sexual assault and addiction content

    The concept of healing from sexual violence seems like a never ending process for me. I'm never completely healthy and never 100% with where I want my mental health to be. Rather, I tend to balance on a central point in a spiral. As I continue to curve and progressively become farther away from where I started from, there will always be times that I will come back down to the central point at the beginning. I think it’s important to recognize that the reasons I have for being full of rage are totally valid. We live in a fucked up world that teaches us to disconnect from each other, ourselves and the living things around us. Unfortunately, myself and many others have experienced one of the many products of this disconnection – sexual violence. Due to that fact, trauma, grief and heartbreak become reoccurring emotions for most of our lives.
     

    As a survivor, I live with the knowledge that sexual violence has happened against people like me since the beginning of time. I live with the knowledge that though fellow survivors and allies will fight fiercely to end the personal and systematic violence against us, it will always be a struggle.

     

    The question is, what can we in our various communities of survivors and allies do about it? Or even better yet, how can we facilitate and support each others' healing process? The answer is obviously complicated. Setting up and facilitating accountability processes is only one piece to healing sexual violence that I see as essential. However, it can't be the be all end all. We need to access other avenues of dealing with our shit that operate on not just a social level - but an emotional and spiritual level as well.

     

    I haven't been at the forefront of any formal survivor process for some time. For awhile I thought it was just because I couldn't handle my shit. Then, I realized it was because the accountability process I went through with my perpetrator hadn't actually helped me heal from the experience at all and therefore, I was consistently becoming re-triggered by trying to support others. I needed a way to heal myself before I could work on helping to heal others. I needed to look beyond the language of survivor/perpetrator processes and simultaneously deal with healing my heart. Its not to say that my friends and community weren't supportive. However, they only had so many tools to choose from and so many emotional boundaries they could over step in supporting me heal from a trauma like sexual violence. I needed to be able to look beyond what our community had set up for survivor support (which more or less just meant having an accountability process set up for my perpetrator and ensuring I never had to see him) and find other modalities of healing myself because the current situation wasn't cutting it for me. Only then could I reenter the world in a way where I could support other survivors. Of course, this took me a long time to figure out.

     

    A lot of people I know including myself transform our traumatic experiences in life into varying chronic states of depression. I think we'd be crazy not to do so. With that, I think it’s important to note that the notion of reaching a state of complete mental health is a false one in this world. That is not to say that we can't support ourselves and each other on the spiral of mental health that I mentioned earlier on. If we see one of us fall down the spiral (like myself doing drugs and drinking everyday) there needs to be tools set in place to help ourselves and each other move farther away from the central point from where all this shit began.

     

    Instead of expecting accountability processes to make everything better and then turning to drugs and alcohol when they didn't, I have found other ways to heal myself from the toxic shit of trauma I had been living in for quite some time. I have found ways to nourish the sides of me that make me feel alive and stoked about waking up in the morning. This looks like getting my hands dirty, learning how to express my boundaries, spending time with plants, lifting weights so I can punch shitty dudes and eating healthy. Don't get me wrong, sometimes these things don't work and I need the help of some whiskey or smashing bottles on the train tracks. Through out the highs and lows though there has always been herbs to help me along the way and little by little, I am still surviving.

     

    I feel lucky that I have survived sexual violence, depression and addiction; I know a lot of people who haven’t. Though I’ll be struggling against these issues the rest of my life and taking it day by day, I am FUCKING ALIVE and a better person because of the experiences I have had. On the bright side, I know now that I am capable and empowered to help other people with similar issues through herbalism.

     

    One of the most transformative plants I have used for helping to heal grief and trauma (sexual or otherwise) is Rose (Rose sp., Rosa rugosa). Used as a tea, tincture or infused in vegetable glycerine, rose petals can help in any case of heartache or sadness particularly when it relates to intimate relationships of any kind (let’s be truthful, we could all use some rose). Rose helps set up a semi-permeable boundary around the heart; it allows you to be emotionally vulnerable but also allows you to protect and acknowledge your true self to engage in the world in a way that feels safe to you. It helps with social anxiety, insomnia, sleeplessness, anxiety and depression. On a scientific level, rose contains a high amount of volatile oils. Volatile oils enter into the body via the olfactory bulb and then enter in the brain. There, the volatile oils of rose cause the musculo-skeletal system to relax, the blood pressure to lower, stress levels to drop and thus creating a calmer body environment to deal with our shit. I can't say truly why it works so well with healing the heart but there's a reason why its consistently been used as the symbol of love and affection for hundreds of years. When I have taken rose in the past, it has dramatically altered my ability to deal with matters of the heart and softened the blow of heartbreak, grief and anxiety associated with being in a triggering situation. Its definitely one I keep in my pocket for when situations like that arise.

     

    There are a lot of other really great herbs that help with depression/anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma and a variety of other mental health issues. Some herbs speak to people more than others so it might take some time figuring out what feels right for you. Some herbs are really strong and bring up a lot of shit so take low doses at first, see how you feel and then increase your dose if you feel like you want more of a remedy. I usually say with a tincture, start with anywhere from 5 drops to 2-3 droppers 2x a day and then increase to a dose that works for you. If you are drinking tea, which is a softer remedy than a tincture, you can usually begin with 2-3 cups a day. There are also some herbs that you can take as much as you want whenever you need them. For me, Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) works great for my anxiety so sometimes I will take a whole ounce of the tincture within an hour or two in an extreme situation. Experiment to find what works for you.

     

    Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): Reduces anxiety and anxiety related spasms, insomnia, bad dreams, heart palpitations and irritability. It helps to open both the emotional and physical heart while also promoting Qi circulation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, increasing Qi circulation promotes the healing of depression, stress, anxiety and other related symptoms. Due to its high content of bioflavanoids, especially in the berry and leaf, hawthorn is great for healing the physical heart. It lowers blood pressure, helps decrease arterial plaque and promotes the circulation of blood throughout the vasculature of the body. I personally think the physical and emotional heart are the same in a lot of ways so it would make sense why hawthorn could be used as a tonic for the emotional heart as well.

     

    Milky oats (Avena sativa): Calms shattered nerves, reduces the symptoms of drug withdrawal, promotes tranquility to overstressed, frazzled and angry people and reduces emotional outbursts. Its been scientifically shown to help repair the myelin sheath around the axon in the neuron (nerve cell). In situations where one is chronically stressed or experiencing Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), milky oats support nervous system health by tonifying and soothing the nerve cell. This then sends messages to the brain to relax the musculo-skeletal system, the adrenal system (which when fatigued, can cause irritability, anger and tension) and help promote sleep. Use with valerian root to help aid in drug withdrawal.

     

    Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin): Helps mend broken hearts, depression and unresolved grief. I love using this herb for myself during those days that I am too depressed to get out of bed. One swig of this tincture and a couple of minutes later I am up and out of the house. Therefore, I use mimosa to move from a place of sadness and pain to a place of emotional balance. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is said that the bark of the mimosa tree helps calm the shen or spirit, encompassing both the mind of the individual as well as healthy physical function. Some call Mimosa a spirit tonic while in China it is called "the happiness herb". It is great used simultaneously with hawthorn but should be avoided during pregnancy or lactation.

     

    Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): Eases chronic anxiety or worry, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, nervous headaches, reduces the inability to concentrate, helps move through drug addictions (use with milky oats) and reduces nervousness. I find it to be a great replacement for Valium for me (I keep it in my bag wherever I go in the case a pesky anxiety attack should arise). Like rose, skullcap is high in volatile oils so it serves as a great musculo-skeletal relaxant. Its been used traditionally in herbalism as an anti-convulsant, sedative and muscle relaxant.

     

    Other herbs to consider for making formulas for yourself are: Motherwort (avoid during pregnancy), Lemon Balm, Blue Vervain (especially if you hold tension in your shoulders), Prickly Lettuce, Chamomile, Passionflower, Damiana, Catnip, Anemone (in low doses, avoid during pregnancy), Ashwaghanda and Wood Betony. They can be made or added into tea blends, used as tinctures or made into glycerites. Ashwaghanda is great taken as a powder in nut or regular milk.

    Find an herb that speaks to you, research it and experiment with it. A lot of these herbs are great to use together (try 2-5 at a time) and have the best results if taken at least 2x a day every day.

     

    If you don’t know where to find herbs in your area, you can always buy them on line or through these awesome, ethical herbal companies. Most of these companies sell tinctures or dried bulk herbs if you want to try making your own tinctures or tea blends:

     

    -Mountain Rose Herbs (OR)
    -Dandelioness Herbals (VT)
    -Herbalist Alchemist (CO)
    -Urban Moonshine (VT)
    -Grian Herbs (VT)
    -Farmacy Herbs (RI)

    -Zach Woods Herb Farm (VT)

     

    I sincerely believe that we can heal ourselves and each other. Though I can't speak much to improving accountability processes for perpetrators, I can say that the power to heal each others hearts starts with us developing better relationships with the plants around us. To be truthful, I owe my life to my herbal plant friends. Herbs helped me through the darkest moments in my life and continue to lift my heart and spirit when I need it the most. They have taught me how to let go, protect my heart and maintain healthy boundaries. And damn that sounds helpful when we are talking about helping to heal our communities from sexual violence.

     

    With love and rage.

     

  • A Ho’s Herbal

    Herbal Remedies and Support for Sex Workers

    This is meant to be an introductory herbal ‘how to’ for other sex workers working in the trade to provide knowledge about herbs that can help with a variety of ailments that sex workers encounter in the industry. I will talk about physical and emotional issues people experience in the trade. As sex workers you can be and are exposed to a wide array of bacteria, infections, colds, flus, shitty experiences, stalkers, stress, violence and sexual assault. Some of these herbs can be used to help get through all of these situations and experiences.


    What is Herbalism?


    Over 99.9% of over the counter or prescription drugs are made by the primary chemical constituents of herbs or copied from them. Aspirin’s main ingredient Salicylic acid is directly derived from White willow bark. The popular blood thinning drug Warfarin is modeled after the chemical constituent Coumarin (found in parsley and other carrot family plants). Herbs have a wide array of different actions from anti-inflammatory to styptic (stops bleeding). They all work very differently on the body because of their diversity of actions. I will be covering some basic and safe herbs to use at work but I definitely hope you feel excited about doing your own research to find herbs that work well for you. Obviously herbalism should not be your only go to in terms of self-care and first aid. This article is meant to provide an introduction into the world of herbal medicine and to help you add tools to your health support system while working.


    Practical First Aid for the Trade:


    *Lavender essential oil is great for a wide variety of things that might happen to you or your clients: redness from slapping, bruises, being exposed to fecal matter, welts from crops or hands, and for genital hygiene. You can add anywhere from 3-10 drops to a cup of water and splash it on the skin or do a douche with it (be sure to do a skin test first as essential oils can be irritating to more sensitive mucus membranes). It is super anti-bacterial and healing to the skin. Along with its physical healing powers, Lavender essential oil is a relaxing remedy for anxiety, depression and PTSD. If experiencing any of these things, try rubbing a couple of drops of the oil on your temples or put some in a spray bottle and spray around your body or your work space. I also find it to be a nice aphrodisiac for myself by adding a couple of drops into my underwear and preventative against Bacterial vaginosis and yeast (again, be sure to do a skin test first on your arm or wrist to ensure you aren’t super sensitive to the essential oil).

     

    *Water based, natural lubricants are great for the trade as they are prophylactic safe and lead to less irritation and inflammation in the vaginal or rectal area than not using lube at all. They are also less likely to cause sensitivities to people using them than other commercial lubes. By using lube at work, you support the epithelial layer in your mucus membranes from wear and tear. When you keep the epithelial layer healthy and lubed up, you reduce the risk of inflammation and tearing (which can lead to bacteria and viral infections getting into the deeper areas of the membranes). On top of keeping your membranes healthy by using lubricant, your chance of breaking a prophylactic or causing pain decrease. Sliquid, Good Clean Love or Aloe Vera Gel are great water-based, natural lubricants to keep by the bed side table or in your pocket/purse. You can ask at your local free clinic if they have any natural, water-based lubes. I have seen Blossom Organics at several free clinics.

     

    *Kava is an herb that has been used historically for pain and to decrease stress and anxiety. The root can be bought and boiled in 1 cup of water for about 10-15 minutes, using about 2 tablespoons per cup of tea. Let cool and then you can either drink it to calm and relax the nerves or to douche with it to relax the sphincter muscles in the office of your choice. It has a slightly numbing effect so is great if you are experiencing pain or are sensitive to sex toys, fisting or big penises/dildos. It can also be use topically in an oil base for pain or as a lube, though not prophylactic safe.

     

    *Immune stimulant herbs like Echinacea, Elderberry, Osha, Garlic (Fire Cider) are great to take internally as an alcoholic or glycerine based tincture. A tincture is a preservation method of an herb in an alcohol or glycerine base. You can get many of these immune stimulant herbs in tincture form online, at a local herb shop or health foods store. If you feel like you are getting sick, are sick or your client is sick, take 2-3 droppers of the tincture directly before, during and after your exposure/session with a client.

     

    *Along with simple aspirin, herbs can help support minor muscle pain, headaches and cramps to help you get through a session. 2-3 dropper fulls of the following herbal tinctures are great to take before or during the onset of pain: Kava (use with care if you have a history of liver disease), California poppy, Cramp bark (you guessed it, good for cramps), Valerian (Valium’s name is derived from this plant), Black Cohosh (great for musculo-skeletal pain), Corydalis (lower dosing is needed but one of the best herbs for more intense body pain) and Prickly ash (very effective for tooth pain). Cayenne and Ginger area great topically for pain as well either in tincture form or mixing the cooking powders with water into a paste and applying it directly to the affected area.

     

    *B vitamins, Vitamin C and lots of hydration are great for hangovers (emergen-C packs are great along with Switchels: baking soda, apple cider vinegar, molasses/sugar and citrus). You can also take the herb milk thistle when you begin drinking either in tincture form or in capsules to lessen the affects of the morning after.


    Using Herbs for Sexual Health (derived from Larken Bunce, Clinical Herbalist):


    These are some of the common and more minor STDs and STIs people experience and ways to treat them herbally in conjunction with antibiotics or without (a lot of antibiotics actually kill a lot of the good bacteria in your body making you more prone to infections in the future). Antibiotics are great in serious scenarios but are given very loosely to treat some pretty minor things that are just going to happen if you are having sex for a living. The STDs and STIs I don’t mention below should be treated by a medical professional.


    Bacterial vaginosis, aka BV (caused by a variety/combination of bacteria, a non-specific diagnosis):

     

    *Classic presentation: Watery, foamy, white/gray, fishy smelling discharge (especially after sex, sexy…) ; pH is elevated, the good bacteria are lower than normal so they are not protecting the mucus membranes from the colonization by other more harmful microbes.

     

    *Quick fixes: Avoid systemic antibiotics if possible; use condom (semen elevates pH), insert lactobacillus acidophilus capsules or probiotic yogurt into vagina, vinegar rinse/douche can help (though douching in general can reduce lactobacilli population, so don’t overdo it), cotton undies and lots of fresh air to keep the place where the sun doesn’t shine dry. I LOVE diluted lavender and tea tree essential oil here. Try adding 5 drops of each into a douche. They are anti-bacterial, relaxing and lavender especially is soothing to the inflamed mucus membrane (which makes it more prone to BV in the first place).

     

    *Possible topical formulas for treating BV: Capsules containing boric acid, calendula salve, and teas of the following herbs either individually or in combination with each other: Goldenseal, barberry, echinacea, usnea, sage, thyme and calendula. Try making a tea with some of these herbs (2 tablespoons to 1 cup of water) and soaking a pad in the tea and then freezing it and sticking it in your underwear. This method applies the tea consistently to the affected area and is soothing to the genitals when they are inflamed. You can also use this method if there has been any tearing in the area.

     

    Trichomoniasis aka “trick” (caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a protozoa):

     

    *Classic presentation: green, yellow, gray, bad smelling (tennis shoes) discharge; itchy, maybe pain with sex or urination; pH is elevated.

     

    *Especially important to treat partner if you know the other person could have been exposed to it.

     

    *Quick fixes: Same as bacterial vaginosis (see above).

     

    *Topical formula: Same as bacterial vaginosis but you can also use a garlic clove (undamaged) inserted into the genitals for 12 hrs/day. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SCRATCH IT upon insertion. You can wrap it in cheese cloth so that when you insert it, there’s a tail at the end so you can easily pull it out.

     

    Urinary tract infection (often caused by E. coli which comes from being exposed to fecal matter):

     

    *Classic presentation: burning with urination or just after; urge to pee frequently but little urine present.

     

    *Quick fix: Drink lots of water (10-12 glasses a day) and take shots of unsweetened cranberry juice. Try and lay off sexual activity until the infection has cleared. If you notice that the infection isn’t clearing within a few days, see a doctor. It’s important to treat UTIs as quickly as possible to avoid the infection moving up into your kidneys (which hurts like hell and is dangerous). As a preventative, try and have your clients or sexual partners wash their hands and parts before engaging in sexual activity and protect your urethra from exposure to fecal matter!

     

    *Internal formula: Drink a tea using yarrow, goldenrod, and corn silk/couch grass (all equal parts, these herbs are soothing to the urinary tract, anti-microbial and decreases inflammation) with 1⁄4 part Juniper (you can do this for 2 weeks or so and then take juniper out—it’s irritating to kidneys after a certain period of time; often UTI will be clear by then anyway). Use 2 tablespoons of the herbal formula to 1 cup of water 4-6x a day.

     

    Yeast infection (caused by Candida albicans overgrowth):


    *Classic presentation: cottage cheesy, baked bread/sweet smelling discharge, itchy, burning vulva

     

    *Quick fixes: same as for bacterial vaginosis (see above). Avoid yeast, sugar and dairy until the infection clears.

     

    *Topical formula: Boric acid capsules and again you can consider some combo of Goldenseal/Barberry, Juniper, Sage, Usnea, Wormwood, Thyme and Calendula. You can brew these herbs into a tea (2 tablespoons per cup of water) and use them as a genital wash. Pay special attention to keeping the perineal area clean which helps avoid gastro-intestinal yeast or other microbes traveling from the anal area to the genital area. Some people like using garlic cloves internally for yeast infections, similar to Trichomoniasis (see above).

     

    HSV (Herpes simplex virus):


    *Classic presentation: pustular, red, painful/itchy lesions on mouth or genitals or both, progress to crust; often recur in same location

     

    *HSV-1 and HSV-2, prefer to infect mouth and genitals respectively, but do move back and forth; 1 in 5 infected (most individuals have antibodies/have been exposed—80% to HSV-1). HSV can increase your risk for HIV infection.

     

    *Quick fixes if you are infected: stay out of sun and extreme heat to prevent outbreak; consider arginine/lysine ratio in diet (studies have demonstrated an enhancing effect on viral replication when the amino acid ratio of arginine to lysine favors arginine): reduce intake of arginine-rich foods (walnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, almonds, grapes, seafood, coconut, chocolate and many more); include more lysine-rich foods (many cheeses and yogurt) or use a topical or internal lysine supplement on the area.

     

    *Possible topical formulas used as tinctures mixed in green clay or Marshmallow root powder and applied until lesion dries out and starts to heal: licorice, st. johns wort (only apply topically), lemon balm essential oil, calendula and time.

     

    *Echinacea tincture or other immune boosting herbal tinctures are great internally here as well, 2-3 droppers full 3-4x a day.

     

    HPV (Human papillomavirus):

     

    *Classic presentation: none for high-risk strains, asymptomatic; is detected via pap test and then strain can be identified via DNA test; genital warts (not associated w/cervical dysplasia) are sometimes visible, often not.

     

    *Some strains cause visible genital warts, others cause cervical dysplasia—strains 16 , 18, 31 and 45 are “high risk”; at least 50% of folks are infected (3 of 4 adults by age 40 also estimated), high-risk strains linked to cervical dysplasia and cancer of cervix and anus; cofactors for cancer development are smoking, immunosuppression, folate deficiency, UV radiation and pregnancy.

     

    *Quick fix: Vitamin C deficiency is huge risk factor, as is folate deficiency; eat vegetables, especially fruit, orange and green foods! Avoid smoking, even cannabis (these increase risk for developing cervical dysplasia secondary to HPV infection).

     

    *Possible topical formula for high-risk HPV infection of cervix: Make an herbal compress using a diaphragm to secure against the cervix with dried herbs reconstituted with boiled water. Let the herbs cool and then have a buddy help you apply the compress; use every other night for 1 month. Use a combination of green tea (known HPV anti-viral), meadowsweet, calendula, echinacea, and goldenseal. On top of the compress, make sure to drink lots of green tea and immune stimulants like we discussed above (echinacea, garlic, etc.).
            
    Emotional First Aid for the Trade:


    What does this look like to us? What are situations that might arise in our life/work that would call for emotional first aid — sleep, anxiety, stress, sex, eating, depression, heartbreak, trauma grief, PTSD?

     

    One of the most transformative plants I have used for helping to heal grief and trauma (sexual or otherwise) is Rose (Rose sp., Rosa rugosa). Used as a tea, tincture or infused in vegetable glycerine, rose petals can help in any case of heartache or sadness particularly when it relates to intimate relationships of any kind. Rose helps set up a semi-permeable boundary around the heart; it allows you to be emotionally vulnerable but also allows you to protect and acknowledge your true self to engage in the world in a way that feels safe to you. It helps with social anxiety, insomnia, sleeplessness, anxiety and depression. On a scientific level, rose contains volatile oils. Volatile oils enter into the body via the olfactory bulb and then enter in the brain. There, the volatile oils of rose cause the musculo-skeletal system to relax, the blood pressure to lower, stress levels to drop and thus creating a calmer body environment to deal with our shit. I sincerely believe that Rose works on a DNA level to heal the heart. There's a reason why its consistently been used as the symbol of love and affection for hundreds of years. When I have taken Rose in the past, it has dramatically altered my ability to deal with matters of the heart and softened the blow of heartbreak, grief and anxiety associated with being in a triggering situation. Its definitely one I keep in my pocket for when situations like that arise.

     

    There are a lot of other really great herbs that help with depression/anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma and a variety of other mental health issues. Some herbs speak to people more than others so it might take some time figuring out what feels right for you. Some herbs are really strong and bring up a lot of shit so take low doses at first, see how you feel and then increase your dose if you feel like you want more of a remedy. I usually say with a tincture, start with anywhere from 5 drops to 2-3 droppers 2x a day and then increase to a dose that works for you. If you are drinking tea, which is a softer remedy than a tincture, you can usually begin with 2-3 cups a day. There are also some herbs that you can take as much as you want whenever you need them. For me, Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) works great for my anxiety so sometimes I will take a whole ounce of the tincture within an hour or two in an extreme situation. Experiment to find what works for you. Here are some herbs that I have found really helpful for up keeping my mental health during work:

     

    *Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): Reduces anxiety and anxiety related spasms, insomnia, bad dreams, heart palpitations and irritability. It helps to open both the emotional and physical heart while also promoting Qi circulation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, increasing Qi circulation promotes the healing of depression, stress, anxiety and other related symptoms. Due to its high content of bioflavanoids, especially in the berry and leaf, hawthorn is great for healing the physical heart. It lowers blood pressure, helps decrease arterial plaque and promotes the circulation of blood throughout the vasculature of the body. I personally think the physical and emotional heart are the same in a lot of ways so it would make sense why hawthorn could be used as a tonic for the emotional heart as well.

     

    *Milky oats (Avena sativa): Calms shattered nerves, reduces the symptoms of drug withdrawal, promotes tranquility to overstressed, frazzled and angry people and reduces emotional outbursts. Its been scientifically shown to help repair the myelin sheath around the axon in the neuron (nerve cell). In situations where one is chronically stressed or experiencing Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), milky oats support nervous system health by tonifying and soothing the nerve cell. This then sends messages to the brain to relax the musculo-skeletal system, the adrenal system (which when fatigued, can cause irritability, anger and tension) and help promote sleep. Use with valerian root to help aid in drug withdrawal and help with sleeping.

     

    *Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): Eases chronic anxiety or worry, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, nervous headaches, reduces the inability to concentrate, helps move through drug addictions (use with milky oats) and reduces nervousness. I find it to be a great replacement for Valium for me (I keep it in my bag wherever I go in the case a pesky anxiety attack should arise). Like rose, skullcap is high in volatile oils so it serves as a great musculo-skeletal relaxant. Its been used traditionally in Western herbalism as an anti-convulsant, sedative and muscle relaxant.

     

    *Other herbs to consider for making formulas for yourself are: Motherwort (avoid during pregnancy), Lemon Balm, Blue Vervain (especially if you hold tension in your shoulders), Prickly Lettuce, Chamomile, Passionflower, Damiana, Catnip, Anemone (in low doses, avoid during pregnancy), Ashwaghanda and Wood Betony. They can be made or added into tea blends, used as tinctures or made into glycerites. Ashwaghanda is great taken as a powder in nut or regular milk.

     

    *Be good to yourself and allow yourself personal time at work and after work. Our industry can be emotionally draining in ways that most people do not experience. Even if you can’t/don’t want to do the above remedies for yourself - little things like whore baths, stretching, buying yourself potato chips or a coffee, or taking a quick nap between sessions is a good way to keep your health and vitality up.


    Bitter Moon Apothecary
    bittermoonapothecary@gmail.com