The Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress is now open for enrollment until the 21st of March! This episode shares all about the medicinal qualities of the beautiful Selfheal.

Links & resources from this episode

• Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress Course
• Prisoner’s Herbal Book

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

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Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

Welcome to the Frontline Herbalism podcast with your host, Nicole Rose from the Solidarity Apothecary.

This is your place for all things plants and liberation.

Let's get started.

Hello everyone.

I'm very sorry for the delay in getting another podcast episode out.

I have been working night and day, and I really mean night and day on finishing this Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress course.

And yeah, this podcast does take a bit of time to edit even a short episode, and the transcript seems to just.

Me ages, but yeah, so I just, I couldn't kind of like, I just, I just couldn't do it.

Like I was doing my best, but I just, I really wanted to focus on getting the course done.

, and had got into a bit of a financial pickle of, , yeah, just, you know, good old capitalism.

Like I can't pay my rent unless I launched this thing.

So it means I have to work , like all hours under the sun to finish it.

, but no, it was, it was amazing.

And yeah, it felt like putting together, like, to be honest, like a lifetime of reading and learning and self-studying and experimenting with plants and trying to understand like the politics or trauma and talking to friends on comrades about this and all this work with the Solidarity Apothecary of like supporting people experiencing traumatic stress.

You know, what herbs can support them in their journeys and stuff, and like how does this all fit into like a collective frame, into like a political frame?

And yeah, I just, you know, that meme with the guy and there's like 500 bits of paper and like string like, and his hair's all crazy.

Like, I just was like that like, fuck, you know, sorry, sweat like just for like months on end, just working, working, working.

Like trying to bring everything together.

And I think, yeah, I think I do have a good skill in like summarizing.

Complex things into like clearer things and bullet points and like practical information.

, so yeah, this may come back to bite me if I get called out for content in the course, but I do feel quite proud of it, like in the sense of there's like 60 lessons in there.

There's 32 plant profiles.

Which are really going like into depth about specific herbs and their actions on the nervous system and like when they might be appropriate and when they might not be appropriate, and how that matches with like polyvagal theory.

, or yeah, different kind of ways the body expresses distress, whether it's like hyper arousal and reactivity, or whether it's like sleep disturbances.

, so yeah, I think, I think like, yeah, it's hard for a working class femme to be like she's proud of herself.

Because you know, our culture is not like that.

Right.

Especially, I hate to say it, but this kind of anarchist world of just like unrelenting, like critique of each other and everything we do and like never giving each other like sweet feedback or kindness.

, okay.

Maybe not that dramatic, but I feel like, you know, it's kind of, yeah.

Not very common that someone would be like, Hey, well done you did a thing , but I actually feel like proud of myself.

Like I think it is absolutely massive as an offering.

, I think it will really help people.

I've had like beautiful emails from people already that like, sorry, probably hearing my voice like that just made me wanna cry cuz like, yeah, they're just like, like just so grateful that there is like an offering which is like sliding scale and that they can actually do it.

Because I think there is this thing when like, You don't have the like financial resources to like enroll in certain programs and you know that they'll really help you and that you need them, but you just like can't access them.

And I think for people who've been through traumatic shit, like your ability to organize your own life or complete things or go to things like uni, you know, like I left home at 16, like uni wasn't, it didn't feel like an option for me, if that makes sense.

Yeah, to be able to create an offering for people who, yeah, maybe can't access other options and that this calls them and they're actually able to do it.

And I'm like offering that from a place of generosity.

Like I think it's really meaningful.

And I think some of the emails have been like really beautiful.

Like, you know, I'm not into like dehumanizing disclosure, like I don't.

It's not, I don't want, but I don't need people to email me telling me about their economic circumstances, if that makes sense.

Like I grew up being the kid who got the free school lunches, who had to apply for grants and stuff like this.

Like I don't need people to like share that stuff.

Like if the, you know, the code is on the website, if they would just wanna access it for free, they can just access it for free.

Like, but you know, at the same time it's also been really cute and sweet and moving that people have written to me with like a little bit more about their lives and what's been happening for them and like how the course will be useful for them.

Just to feel that little bit connected, you know, because it's all like the internet, isn't it?

It's difficult.

But yeah, so I like launched the thing and, , Yeah, I've been really blown away by the response.

And some people are paying and some people are paying the resource rate, which is really amazing.

Okay.

Three people have paid the resource rate, , but people, you know, are paying the standard rate.

And yeah, I think, yeah, it feels like a huge like achievement, if that makes sense.

Like I felt good about it.

, there's still like a few sections to finish.

I have to record the implementation plan and the case studies.

, my computer's basically like completely gone on strike from these like videos, like course videos and the screen recording software.

It's just like, Like bust it.

So anyway, I'm waiting till it's finished, like till I've finished this like launch phase and then I'm gonna take it to get fixed and then I will record these final things.

So yeah.

But I'm gonna read a little bit of blurb about it just in case you didn't listen to the last episode all about the course, or you haven't seen me talk about it on social media.

, and then the focus of this episode is, All about Selfheal, which is, , the next chapter in the prisoner's herbal book if you're new here.

The Prisoner's Herbal is a book I wrote after my experiences in prison.

, did a three and a half year sentence when I was 21.

And I learned herbalism inside and ever since I've been studying herbal medicine and then I put together a book that could be sent to other prisoners based on my experiences with these plants and how to use them like in a prison context.

So I'll be reading that all about Selfheal.

, and I'm also a member of this like Channel Zero network, right?

This kind of network of anarchist podcasts.

So I'm gonna play a little jingle.

It's going down and you're invited for what they sell in.

We ain't buy in.

There is no running, there is no hiding.

There's only fighting or dying.

It's going down.

And you're invited for what?

They sell it.

We ain't buying.

There is.

There is no hiding.

This is only fighting or dying.

It's going down.

It's a digital community center from anarchist, anti-fascist, autonomous, anti-capitalist, and anti-colonial movement.

Our mission is to provide an autonomous and resilient platform to publicize and promote revolutionary theory and action.

Go to it's going down.org for daily updates.

Check out our online store for ways to donate and rate and follow us on iTunes.

If you like this podcast,

Wow.

That make it, I dunno, it's still an novelty playing the jingle.

Okay.

I still need to make my own jingle.

I've been putting it off.

I will promise to do it soon.

Okay.

So before I dive into Selfheal, I mean like, how beautiful is that?

Right?

Like the link between like, you know, I've got a spreadsheet where I've planned which episodes are gonna come out in which order, but you know, like it's all gone a bit higgledy piggley in terms of like dates and stuff.

But I just think it's like really beautiful that the herb that this announcement lands on is self ill.

You know, like that feels really special.

Anyway.

Okay, so just a little mini recap.

So what is the Herbalism PTSD and Traumatic stress course?

So it is a self-paced course, meaning you can start work on it and finish it completely at your own pace.

There are eight comprehensive modules exploring how trauma shapes the body, how we can reclaim and reshape it.

Folks will develop an in-depth knowledge of plants, herbalism and nervous system physiology grounded in an anti-oppressive analysis.

There are 60 video lessons, including 32 in-depth plant profiles about herbs with an affinity for the nervous system.

So when does the course start and end?

Enrollment is open until the 21st of March.

Whew.

And then, yeah, after that it will be closed, like closed, closed, closed, like no access after that.

, because I'm knackered.

No, I'm joking.

Like it's just because like there's a lot of admin in like launching this stuff and I need to be available, but I've got like a lot of things that I wanna be working on over the summer, so Yeah.

And then I'm hoping to relaunch it in October 20, like this year.

But that's like a provisional date.

But yeah, the plan is to just kind of like open and close it like twice a year and then just, yeah, have that as like that month I'm focusing on like promotion and admin and like learner.

Okay, so how much work is involved?

, so I have tried to design it to feel as liberating and stress fee free as possible.

There are no assignments, quizzes, grading, or essays.

, there are no like triggering group calls for strangers discussing deeply sensitive life experiences.

That is my absolute worst thing about online courses, . , there are no forums, messages, or overwhelming information to keep up with study when you have the headspace energy and desire and you are welcome to chop and change and bounce around lessons to follow your desires and interests.

Okay, so how much does it cost?

So the course has been designed as a sliding scale with no one turned away for lack of funds.

You can find more info about this, about the sliding scale and how it's been designed on the course info page, which I'll put in the show notes.

But in summary, like the standard rate is 195.

So if you have like a steady income, for example, like a job.

The resource price is 345.

So that's, for example, if you own a house or you're a landlord or you're living from like Unin inherited, unin inherited, like unearned, kind of inherited wealth, like a trust fund.

, payment plans are available over three and five months for those rates.

And then, yeah, there's this like third rate, which is like the solidarity rate, which is basically like a donation of whatever you can afford.

And that includes like nothing.

Like if you can't afford anything.

You can also just put the code in and it's like completely free to access.

, so yeah, what you do is you put this code Solidarity 100 in the standard price checkout, and then there's like a little donation like box and you can just like write the amount in there.

, yeah, and I've written that denying people in poverty access to learning about trauma because they can't afford it, goes against every bone in my body.

I really encourage people to access the course if they need it, whatever they can or cannot afford, please share with friends who may benefit from it, especially working class folks, people affected by incarceration and comrades who've experienced state violence while fighting back against oppression.

Okay, so why does the course.

, and this is some texts from the, the kind of page overview.

So, in a world full of injustice and oppression that can be deeply traumatizing, we need plant medicines more than ever, the world isn't likely to become less traumatizing anytime soon.

Equipping ourselves with the skills to take care of ourselves and each other is essential.

Herbalism is a lifelong journey.

Plant medicines can transform your life by enabling a deeper relationship with the land, improving sleep and digestion.

Preventing disease, reducing inflammation and aiding the nervous system to rest and recover while surviving and re resisting this oppressive world.

This course teaches you the principles and frameworks on which herbs to choose and why for your unique constitution, health history and needs.

It encourages experimentation for you to work with different plants and see which work for you better than others.

Our goal is for.

Be able to build a medicine cabinet of allies that can support you negotiating and navigating a lifetime of experiences.

So if you have any questions about the course, feel free to email me at info@solidarityapothecary.org.

I will be sharing a bunch of random graphics, that I've designed like over the next week on Instagram, kind of talking about, , the course and my approach and like yeah, pulling out some case studies and things.

, so keep an eye on that.

But for now, please listen to this amazing.

Plant profile about this beautiful little pickpocket herb, Selfheal,

Alright!

Let's get into the gorgeous Selfheal, , also known as pickpocket, which is my favorite name for Selfheal.

So the Latin name is Prunella vulgaris.

And the plant family is the lamiaceae family, the mint family.

In terms of identification, Selfheal has short, upright square section stems bearing stalked, small oval sparely, hairy leaves, and short, blunt flower spikes.

The leaves are untouched and not glossy, and the flowers are purple.

They have a spreading mat like habit and a semi green perennials.

And you can see the illustration in the book drawn by my amazing friend, Amani.

Other species can be mistaken for bugle, , but worth remembering that bugle has blue flowers, not purple, and a bit of a different growing habit like taller spikes rather than spreading like Selfheal folk names in English, Selfheal, hearty, pick pocket, poverty pink, heart o’ the earth, heal-all, woundwort, blue curls sicklewort.

Carpenter’s Herb, touch and heal, and yeah, vulgaris means common in Latin, and brunelle in German means Quincy, which is one of the uses Selfheal is indicated for historically, okay.

Chemical constituents, flavonoids, including rutin.

Vitamins.

A, B, C, K, fatty acids, volatile oil, bitter principal pentacyclic triterpenes based on ursolic, betulinic and oleanolic acids, tannins, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid., uh,

Food and nutrition.

Selfheal is edible.

The raw leaves and flowers can be added to salad.

They are quite bitter in flavor, so they've often been made to taste nicer through cooking.

They were traditionally used as a pot herb.

And added to soups and stews.

Okay.

Ecological role.

Selfheal can be found on dry to moist, neutral to basic soils in unimproved short grasslands in Rush mires, woodland glades, and along roadsides tracks and paths.

It's also common in lawns.

I have also found Selfheal growing in the lawn where I live amongst the daisies, as well as on bare soil in the poly tunnel.

They are very attractive to bees and other beneficial insect.

Selfheal is very tolerant of poor soils and is often considered an indicator of them.

Cultivation.

You can grow Selfheal from seed or by dividing larger plants it can tolerate full sun and partial shade.

Okay, energetics, so it's cooling, uh, drying and tissue states indicated are heat excitation and wind tension.

And the taste is bitter and pungent.

Okay.

Herbal actions, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, astringent, diuretic.

Liver stimulant, reduces blood pressure and vulnerary.

So some of the health challenges supported by Selfheal.

Selfheal has broad heritage of traditional use, especially in Ireland and England.

It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine through though harvested at a different time in its life cycle.

Wounds.

All right.

So Selfheal can help staunch bleeding and aid with wound healing.

Recent research has shown it to be antibacterial and that it may play a role in alternatives to conventional antibiotics that bacteria are increasingly adapted to.

As recently as the Second World War, there are records of charcoal burners in Kent.

Using Selfheal for cuts and bruises can also help reduce the swelling of bites and insect.

Mouth and throat problems.

So due to its as stringent nature and ability to heal wounds is highly effective for treating mouth and throat problems.

Self heal has been used as a mouthwash and goggles for sore throat, gum inflammation, and mouth ulcers.

Okay, flu, fevers, and viral infections.

Selfheal can help with hot fevers and warm flu conditions with its cooling immune stimulating and antiviral qualities.

Research has shown it to be an excellent antiviral, effective against herpes and the human papilloma virus, which is super interesting.

Okay, diarrhea.

Selfheal has been taken internally as a tea to help with recovery from diarrhea, uh, lymphatic system, , herbalist, uh, Ally Hurcikova, who is from this amazing project called Grassroots Remedies in Edinburgh.

Just a side note there, you should check them out.

, writes how Selfheal has an affinity for the lymphatic system.

And can be taken for swollen glands, mumps, glandular fever, masti, mastitis, nodules, cancer, or other lingering infections.

Okay, allergies due to its action on the length.

Selfheal has been indicated to help seasonal allergies.

It contains immunomodulating polysaccharides, which support the immune system, helping the body to respond to allergies rather than suppress them thyroid issues.

Ally also notes that Selfheal has a normalizing action on the thyroid, stimulating an underactive thyroid, and reducing an overactive one support for cancer treatment.

One study on people with breast cancer showed that Selfheal prevented side effects, namely neutrophil reduced fever, an anemia caused by chemotherapy.

This study indicates different interesting advantages of using self heal during cancer treatment, such as improving overall survival rate.

And if you've got a copy of the prisoner's herbal, then I have linked to the source of that information.

Okay.

So urinary tract infections, Selfheal has been shown to be effective for urinary tract infections, including e coli infections.

Okay, some cautions.

It is not recommended to consume Selfheal if you are taking blood thinning medication.

All right.

How to practically use Selfheal in prison.

Where you might find Selfheal, I found Selfheal in the lawns amongst the grass and the daisies.

It was especially abundant if there had been bear patches of soil.

You may also find it growing under other plants.

Wounds.

You can apply Selfheal leaves directly to a small cut to help stop the bleeding for more advanced preparation see, the wound care section.

Hot fevers, viruses, and flu-like conditions.

Drink two to three cups of Selfheal tea throughout the day.

Seasonal allergies.

Drink a strong cup of Selfheal tea first thing in the morning, ideally combined with nettles.

Sore throat, gargle.

Selfheal tea and then spit gum inflammation and mouth ulcers.

Make a strong cup of selfheal tea and swish it in the mouth before spitting out.

And I cannot believe how much we are through these plant profiles from the prisoner's herbal book.

, next up is gonna be Daisy, which is really exciting as they're already coming out.

Can't believe it.

, And yeah, I'm gonna be releasing this episode soon with the Amazing Queer Plants Interview.

So download that too.

Okay.

Thanks for, thanks so much for listening to the Frontline Herbalism podcast.