I think the ability of plants to support health can come in many forms.
Healing, Healing, Water
Healing, Healing Teas
Bidding Goodbye’
To the hurt in your eye.
Farewell to the pain
Hello gentle rain.
Bring me healing ointment
Bring me herbs to smell
But mostly bring a gentle kiss
To soothe and make me well. ( I don’t know the author)
I have these words written down on a very old piece of paper that is in my medicine cabinet. I did not write them. I found them in a book. They are supposed to accompany a wooden poppet (homemade doll) that chants the poem when a child is sick or injured. My girls always found this a great distraction. Soon they were smiling and laughing, their upset quickly forgotten, tears dry.
That memory was the inspiration for this project. A little doll made of herbs to cheer up a child having a rough moment. Something sitting on the nightstand to care for and protect you while you sleep off an illness or struggle with nightmares.
To make this doll you will need. 1 wooden clothespin, 1 large wooden bead, 4 medium wooden beads, 2 small wooden beads, 1 doll’s straw hat/felt cap, 2 pipe cleaners, decorations.
1)Glue the large wooden bead onto the clothes pin to be your head. A glue gun works well for this
2)Thread two medium beads onto each pipe cleaner. Bend the pipe cleaner around each bead and re-thread. Twist the extra to secure. You can add the small beads last as you do the feet or not.
3)Glue the arms and legs to the clothespin
4) Pick some fresh herbs leaving the long stems. You can tie leaves together to make hair, wings, skirt panels etc.
5)Tie your leaves onto the doll with sewing thread. Use a yarn “belt” or other materials to form a tunic (one leaf on the front, one on the back) and tie. Add the hair by securing it around the neck with thread. Put on the hat. You can draw a face or not. Decorate with other found materials (seed pods, pinecones, flowers etc.).
For my doll I used……
Lady’s Mantle-to heal tissues, reduce pain and calm the spirit.
Yarrow-to reduce inflammation, stop bleeding, and break a fever,
Hollyhock-to clear heat and move trauma out of the body. Thought to support the digestive system to deal with diarrhea, constipation, or an upset stomach. Has been used to moisten chapped skin, reduce swelling, and heal the site of bug bites and splinters.
Lemon balm-for anxiety, insomnia, childhood illnesses, colds/flu, gas, colic, headaches, nightmares, teething, sunburn, wounds, and skin infections.
Obviously you would not want a child to eat these or any herbs in this form. The doll works psychosomatically or energetically as you tell your child a “story”.
What rituals or idea do you use to support your child when they are not feeling well?
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 