Im looking into getting more herbal and was curious what herbs do you use? How do you use them? Teas, grind em up and mix it with snuff or just snuff the herb? You use the root or the leaves?and why do you use them? What benefits are you supposed to get from the herbs you use? I know a few of you here use herbs so any info will be soaked in like a sponge and also very appreciated.
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I buy most of my herbs form Mountain Rose Herbs:
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
You can find herbs cheaper but they have the best quality out of all of the places I have ordered from.
First one I use is KAVA KAVA:
I buy the gound (not powdered) bark and then grind it myself in a coffee grinder. I measure the amount of powder for the effects I am looking for and put the lot in some cheese cloth. It soaks in warm water for a bit and I start squeezing the cheese cloth repeatedly for 30 mins. You end up with this water that looks like a coffee/milk colored mud puddle.
I basically do a full blown Kava ceremony with my wife and any other guests I may have. Each person gets roughly 1 cup of Kava to start with. The key is to get it down as quickly as possible. It tastes like ass. Hang out and make sure you get to where you want to be then decide if you want more. Maybe 10-15 mins.
The Effects:
First thing you will notice is that your tongue is numb. You will then feel your body totally relax. It's almost narcotic in that sense. You will then get a tremendous sense of euphoria. If you are with another person or a group of people two things can happen. Either talk will turn highly philosophical or everyone will be laughing their asses off for the next hour.
The peak of the Kava experience last for maybe 1.5 to 2 hours. After the peak you will start to come down and feel extremely relaxed and content with the world. The best part of the Kava experience are the dreams. You will sleep so good and have such vivid dreams that it is incredible. This is when the subconscious gets to have it's fun. Most people don't experience this side of kava until after 2 or 3 sessions but it will come. You wake up refreshed, not hungover, and have an overall sense of well being.
Kava is one of my favorite (still legal) herbs. I highly recommend it because it is safe, non addictive and a hell of a lot of fun.
I also use Reishi mushroom daily as a supplement but I'm out of time right now. I'll do another post shortly.
I'm getting back into Gotu Kola these days. Seems nourishing and detoxing to body and mind. I infuse 2 to 3 tsp. or so in a covered container for quite a while and shake it at least a couple of times. I let it brew for at least 10 min, but usually 30 min to several hours- I think it'd be hard to over-steep.
Also these days fairly often I'll brew up an infusion of peppermint and lavender, often adding a couple pinches of eucalyptus leaf. Also a long infusion here. The purpose for me is for grounding, calming and cooling.
Basil, coriander, diviners sage, gotu kola, calamus, wormwood, clip daga, goldenseal, echinacea, ava, cannabis, lavender, N. glauca, saffron, coriander, angelica, fennel, anise, licorice root, ginseng root, woodruff, ...
most spices as well...
I'm sure I left some out!
But I DO use "simaler items" in my neti pot!
Some of my favorites to put in my saline water for flushing out my sinuses are:
Ground Ginger
Ground Sage
Tulsi
Brahmi
Valarian
Sandlewood Powder.
The ginger and sage can be gotten off of the spice rack at any supermarket.
I get the others in the Aurvedic section of a local Indian Store.
Holy basil is amazing stuff! Wonderful flavor and very beneficial to overall health and well being!
cannabis- smoked, eaten. - i used it for sleep, to ease pain, unwind, level myself.
salvia- smoked (with utmost respect and care, it is required) - another world, and the glow for the next day or so.
Valerian, hops, passionflower blends- pill form, i use these common blends as they are cheap, but preferred pure root when i had it. - these to sleep.
i only use the three legals regularly, want to try this kava stuff, and the holy basil.
in response to any having an issue with admitting illegal substances, im in the UK, but that doesnt mean i cant have visited places where usually illegal substances are fine ;)
Starting a snus and vape reviews & info blog. It will start slowly, but as I get more stuff in to try, it will build up.
I tried kava kava once as a university student, but I found the taste too horrible to make it a regular experience. My great grand-father had a sugar plantation in Samoa, my grandmother still had a large wooden kava kava bowl hanging on her wall. I remember her telling me that the traditional means of preparation involved young virgins chewing the root and then spitting it into the bowl, after which it was consumed - probably by men whose level of sexual experience remains moot.
so, due to these laws which i must abide by, i should point out that i have been to places where the drug is legal occasionally, and in line with the law i have definitely limited my use to those places.
Starting a snus and vape reviews & info blog. It will start slowly, but as I get more stuff in to try, it will build up.
Wife and I grow Holy Basil (tulasi), ginseng, turmeric (yes, it WILL grow well here but have to take up each Autumn), mint, 7 kinds of thyme, horehound, bee balm, and a whe host of others. Our pride is the turmeric we grow--- we use it both fresh and prepared(dried). Treats cancer, arthritis and a whole lot of others-- been taking daily for many years now. Thyme is 2nd most important to us and only thing we use for colds/flu etc... None of us have been to Dr. office in over 15 years :) No joke. Crush insurance companies, the medical industry and ther rotten political cronies all at once --- GROW HERBS!
Nowadays I'm quite boring. Just your usual Italian cooking herbs, Indian spices, tea, herbal teas (many varieties), and tobacco. Haven't had any weed for a while sadly. I could do with finding a supplier as it helps to keep me from drinking heavily which is far worse.
Rn im using Bacopa for learning improvement before exams (really terrible taste but works quite well when u take it long enough) and st Johns Wort juice during quarantine to cheer me up a bit
@Snuffalufagis, beautiful remedy that. Stay strong, mate.