Dealing with grief
The many faces of grief
Grief is a part of life and it’s not just limited to someone’s passing. In a wider context, it can also manifest as a number of other issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Gut problems
- Trauma
- Bad dreams
- Lack of sleep
- Loss of appetite
People may not associate a health issue like eczema, a heart condition or varicose veins with grief but it’s quite often it can be the consequence of some trauma or just some emotional state that is underlying everything. That’s not to negate the physiological condition but it helps to address both the physiological symptoms, the root cause and also the emotional side of things
Herbs for Grief
Herbs can be a way to resolve these issues. They work on a number of levels. Two of nature’s remedies that are particularly useful for helping with grief are rose and vervain.
The first one is Vervain (also known as verbena), which is a relatively small, slender and erect plant with tiny lilac flowers. It’s a herb of letting go, predominantly. It’s a bitter herb and a hormone balancer and has lots of other physiological effects but at an emotional level, it’s for letting go and, for that, it’s invaluable.
Rose is also a grief herb. It’s also about letting go but its effects are very soft in comparison to vervain which is a bit more dynamic. Usually, a blend of the two makes for a good remedy.
Both of these herbs can be used for boundaries, for inner strength and self-empowerment. Grief is a hard congealed stuck, energy and these both help soften that.
The grief from a family member passing, for example, can result in a very acute trauma, and you may benefit from taking the herbs there and then. these herbs can help you find more resilience in relaxing and then processing what’s just happened, in conjunction with a good diet and healthy lifestyle. If the grief happened long ago, we may not notice it – it just becomes part of who we are. In both cases, the result of grief could be a stuck emotion that needs to be gently dissolved to let the energy flow smoothly again.
Which is better for you: vervain or rose?
Both herbs have their superpowers but it’s important to know your body type to help find which of the herbs Is best for you.
For example, vervain is a bitter herb and so it has a strong cooling effect on the liver while rose is sweet and is less cooling so if you are naturally cold already, rose may be more beneficial on its own or you can use vervain with other, more warming, herbs to provide a good counter-balance.
While rose is a gentler, more subtle remedy, it is full of antioxidants. There are actually more antioxidants in rose petals then the equivalent amount of rooibos tea which is quite amazing!
How do you use vervain and rose?
The easiest way to use any herbs is simply boiling them in hot water and drink them as a tea. For vervain, you can add 3-4 leaves in hot water and boil them for 8-10 minutes. For rose, you can pick a handful of petals add them to boiling water. Any rose with a scent is perfect and try to avoid one that’s been subjected to chemicals. So, just add water, boil and drink!
You can also use rose and vervain in a tincture form which will last longer and you may find it more convenient. As with any herbs, if you a pregnant or have a health issue, it is best to speak with an expert before consuming to be on the safe side.
Watch the full video post
This self-care health hack is from Superfied expert herbalist Amaia Dadachanji
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