Ya I did it, in less than two weeks I blew out my calf muscle. That's what I get for getting over inspired by the New York Times best selling book, Born to Run.
This morning I enjoyed making myself a poultice. Everything in it came from my own garden. I clipped some comfrey, yarrow, and yerba mansa and then added a calendula flower just to tell my ripped muscle that it was loved. I had some heals all (aka self heal) in dry from that I sprinkled on top.
As I clipped the plants from their spot in the garden I thought about when my mom was in the hospital with a busted hip. The nurses and staff were short fused and carried an air of fed-upness. I imagined that the industry of health had stolen from them any caring they came to the job with. Perhaps some came without it, you know it's not a requirement. Then I looked down again at my plants as I chopped them and put them in boiling water. The generosity of nature was what I was focused on and my good fortune to have these life forms right here on hand.
The warm poultice could only have felt better if someone else applied it, like yesterday when my friend came over to make one up for me. We can't take love out healing, they're inseparable and threaded together but it seems that's just what the health care system did. Commodification swallows all things and leaves behind a weak mimic of the original. Today, in this economic climate, my garden is my health care. I carry only catastrophic insurance and wonder all the time if I ought to drop it. As long as I'm working with power tools I'll keep it around a while longer. Meanwhile I continue to sow and reap and notice what comes of it and never ever ever do I forget to say thank you.DIY Poultice: chop herbs and put in hot water, steep for 10 minutes, scoop plant matter onto washcloth, pour some tea from the brew on the cloth too, wrap the cloth onto the injured area with a plastic bag and tape. I added a heating pad too.
NOTE: some herbs, like comfrey, can not be used on open wounds, be sure you understand the plants your working with.
2 comments:
Damn... Sorry to hear of your injury Wendy - I had remembered a post where you mentioned your insurance and was worried something might happen. I read Born to Run about a year ago, but heard afterward about different injuries that can happen from running. Hope you get better soon, and Happy Thanksgiving!
awww thx charlie b!
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