Gray Witch

Emily. Vet Tech. Animal lover, literally. 2 rats, 2 fish & like 5 cats. Eclectic Celtic Wiccan. Loves meeting new people.

[emmiee-22]

Married life

I spent all day with a teething baby, went swimming with him for an hour to calm him down, and tried doing the dishes multiple times.

My husband cooked dinner and his parents came and took our child for a little bit.

We ate dinner and I realized I still had to do dishes 😑 and I didn't have much energy left to do anything.

Husband wanted to have sex. I told him we can but he has to do the dishes.

We do, he doesn't.

Typical.

[emmiee-22]

For people like me who are chronically ill, there are times that you may feel normal. But then you go to take your daily pills and....

Well let's just say, we're reminded even on the good days that we're not normal.

[emmiee-22]

Doesn't this look awesome?! I love it! #acrylicpaint #sunsetinspired https://www.instagram.com/p/BptR3ZQFp53Z19YptY_Ld1QJ7iWjvJelSwaYGw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=433rgmcnzp6l

[emmiee-22]

Handicapped cat!

Up for adoption!!

Name: Rosabelle

Cannot stand on back legs. She can still use them she just cannot stand up on them. She does not have full control of her bowels. She has learned to hold her bladder until it needs to be expressed or if it gets to full. She is on a schedule of pooping twice a day, in the morning and in the evening after she eats. She is on a scheduled feeding schedule because she will eat until she makes herself sick.

[emmiee-22]

I decided to take my own photos of my nails. I think they turned out pretty good!😜 https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxeJoJnesiDDgcMXwS6DDBn4YK6DSa473tYwk0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dmh3k68qp9iw

[emmiee-22]

Thank you @tochoa_2 for theawesome nails!!😍 I absolutely love them! #Hufflepuffnails #Hogwartshouse #Hufflepuffpride #Hufflepuff #HarryPotter #Hogwarts #GoBadgers #yesthatisabadger https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxZpwXH-fD9ax1BBKwFTo6hV3xQvLZ8gbJfoY0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fkfwwfm3pbfh

[purplebuddhaquotes]

Purple Buddha Project Insta

[ladyofacat]

Chibi Chat

Chibi episodes Miraculous Ladybug

[te5seract]

Prairie Oak - - - Folsom, California & Prairie Oaks, ver 2.0 [Explored] by ernogy

[theorydictatespractice-deactiva]

Stop wasting your time with individuals who aren’t really all about you. Stop trying to force connections that aren’t all there, or telling yourself that maybe the reason love isn’t happening for you is because your expectations are too high. It’s not unrealistic to desire a partner that is attentive to your needs and wants, and who puts in the effort to not only get to know you, but keep you happy and feeling secure. Don’t compromise the things you value in a relationship for people who keep missing the mark. Your time could be much better spent. Some day someone is going to walk into your life and make you realize just why you should never settle, and they will be so bold and clear with their love that you’ll never have to think twice.

[pedro-reed]

endless list of pixar characters → red (cars series)

[emmiee-22]

#whatllhurttomorrow #wasinawreck #kindofalreadyhurting https://www.instagram.com/p/BnLCGqDni_uWSnrB_3mMBDyIbOw-1brSc0Zm7c0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jckkwsvpi6ko

[by-the-paths-of-leshak-deactiva]

A Practical Guide to Herbology

Lesson One: Medicinal Teas

When I was first starting out with herbology, I was living in a small village in Croatia with a total population of less than 100 people. We depended on homemade teas, salves and medicines to heal us since the nearest hospital was two hours away. We treated ourselves with the power of herbs, gifted to us by the Earth.

These days, we can purchase all the tools we need to grow both common and exotic plants. Dried herbs are also another good option, especially for those that cannot grow their own. And with these tools, we can craft our own medicines. 

For the first lesson, I’m going to focus on something simple: the art of crafting medicinal tea. 

Creating Tea Blends

When starting out with creating medicinal teas, it’s important to understand how each ingredient interacts with our bodies. Be sure that you’re not allergic to any of your herbs and that they won’t interact poorly with any prescribed medications that you’re on. For example, those who are diabetic should not take angelica root; folks who are allergic to ragweed should avoid chamomile. 

Here’s a list of common herbs and their functions for the purposes of crafting medicinal teas:

Angelica Root: Soothes colds and flu, reduces phlegm and fever. (Do not use if you are diabetic)

Basil: Eases headaches, indigestion, muscle spasms, insomnia; reduces stress and tension

Blackberry Leaves or Roots: Reduces diarrhea

Catnip: Soothes teething pain, colic, diarrhea, indigestion, anxiety, insomnia. (May cause drowsiness. Avoid if on Lithium or sedatives)

Calendula (marigold): Reduces fevers, soothes indigestion, gastrointestinal cramps, flu; antiseptic. (May cause drowsiness. Avoid if on sedatives)

Cayenne Pepper: Soothes coughs, colds, arthritis (topical), nerve pain, fever, flu; expectorant. (Avoid taking with medications that contain Theophylline).

Chamomile: Reduces insomnia, anxiety, stress, fever, indigestion; aids with sleep and pain relief. (May decrease effectiveness of birth control pills and some cancer medications, may increase the effects of warfarin; avoid if you are taking medications for your liver)

Cinnamon Bark: Soothes sore throats and coughs; anti-inflammatory (Avoid taking with diabetes medications)

Dandelion Root: Detoxifying, aids digestion, relieves constipation, laxative. (Avoid if on antibiotics, lithium or water pills)

Dandelion Leaf: Mild diuretic, potassium-rich (Avoid if on medication for liver)

Elderberries: Wards off colds and flu

Ginger: Eases morning sickness, nausea, colic, indigestion, diarrhea, fever, sore throats. (Avoid taking with medications that slow blood clotting)

Ginkgo: Relieves anxiety, vertigo, tinnitus; improves circulation, helps concentration; helps PMS. (Avoid taking with ibuprofen or with medications that slow blood clotting; numerous medications have interactions with ginkgo so speak to your specialist before use)

Ginseng: Aphrodisiac, mild stimulant, boosts immune system. (Do not take with medications that slow blood clotting, and avoid taking with diabetes medications or with MAO inhibitors)

Goldenrod: Relieves gout and cramps

Lavender: Reduces anxiety, headaches, tension, stress, indigestion, IBS; antibacterial; antiseptic; disinfectant (May cause drowsiness; avoid if on sedatives)

Lemon balm: Relieves anxiety, cold sores, colic, insomnia, restlessness, indigestion; boosts memory (May cause drowsiness, avoid taking with sedatives)

Nettle: Reduces hay fever and arthritis; diuretic. (Avoid taking with diabetes medications, medications for high BP, sedatives, medications that slow blood clotting, and lithium)

Peppermint: Relieves nausea, anxiety, indigestion, IBS, colic, diarrhea, fever, coughs, colds; anesthetic (Avoid if you have acid-reflux disease; avoid taking with cyclosporine; avoid if on liver medications)

Pine Needles: Expectorant; antiseptic; relieves coughs, colds, fever and congestion

Rosemary: Improves focus, memory, concentration, BP, circulation; antiseptic; antidepressant; eases indigestion

Thyme: Antibacterial, antiseptic, eases coughs and colds, expectorant (Do not take with medications that slow blood clotting)

Recipes

For those starting out, here are a few recipes for common ailments. As you start making your own teas, you’ll learn which blends of herbs work best for your body. Keep track of which ingredients and combinations are successful - with each steep, you get closer and closer to crafting your perfect personalized medicine cabinet.

Anxiety Relief - ½ tsp chamomile - ½ tsp lemon balm Cold Relief - ½ tsp elderberry flower - ½ tsp thyme Mood Booster - ½ tsp lavender - ½ tsp catnip - ½ tsp rosemary Cramp Relief - ½ tsp basil - ½ tsp calendula (marigold) - ½ tsp goldenrod Indigestion Relief - ½ tsp ginger - ½ tsp lemon balm - ½ tsp peppermint Expectorant - ½ tsp pine needles - ½ tsp nettle leaf - ½ tsp angelica root Insomnia - ½ tsp chamomile - ½ tsp catnip - ½ tsp lavender Sore Throat Relief - ½ tsp cinnamon (or half a stick) - ½ tsp ginger - 1 tbsp honey Fever Break - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper - ½ tsp angelica root Flu Relief - ½ tsp calendula (marigold) - ½ tsp lemon balm

—————————————————————————–

Photographs are under the Creative Commons License. Content is from my grimoire and is embedded with information from a variety of sources over the years. 

Updated 7 March 2018 with relevant warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series.

Warnings:  All plant material should be sourced appropriately and responsibly for your own safety and well-being. Be certain that you are purchasing food-grade ingredients from a reliable retailer or supplier. Along these lines, not all dried herbs are meant for consumption so please be on the lookout for “external use only” labels - you do not want those products for this.

Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.

Finally, medicinal teas are a health supplement and not a substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR.

[emmiee-22]

This is the face of insomnia drinking coffee because they have things to do today #insomnia #insomniasucks #snapchatfilter #catfilter #thisfiltermakesmelookbetterthanireallydo

[huntydraws]

[meangirlnurse]

i’m pretty that everyone familiar with these movies has thought about this at least once

[thugilly]

dead

[purplebuddhaquotes]

“Admire as much as you can, most people don’t admire enough.”

— Vincent Van Gogh