Augustus 1933: The Twelve Healers & Four Helpers (Collected Writings, pg 61/85)
To all who are ill, know this: that disease could never have gained the power it has today if man had not deserted the natural protection against illness, namely the healing herbs of the field. Moreover, that in those who really desire to be well there is no disease which can resist the power of the antidote to be found in the right plant, and sickness has no more power to persist in the presence of the right herb than darkness can remain in a room when the windows are thrown open to the sunlight.
Though, by forgetting Nature's cures, we have paid heavily with the vast amount of disease today, yet Nature patiently waits and we have only to turn back to her to find relief from our suffering.
From time immemorial mankind has known that the herbs of the field could heal his infirmities, and throughout the ages the names of those who have had the true knowledge of healing with herbs are still remembered by us.
It is only because we have forsaken Nature's way for man's way that we have suffered, and we have only to return to be released from our trials. In the presence of the way of Nature disease has no power; all fear, all depression, all hopelessness can be set aside. There is no disease of itself which is incurable.
In this book is given the description of twelve herbs that have the power to cure all types of disease.
Being herbs of Nature they treat our natures. It is of no consequence whether it be our hand or foot or head or any other part of our body that is diseased, and it is of no consequence whatever from what kind of disease we suffer. It is because there is something wrong in our nature that disease is able to attack us, and it is this something wrong which the herbs put right, and thus not only heal our bodies, but make us healthier and happier in every way and bring joy into our lives.
Thus to find the herb we need, we must not think for one moment of the disease from which we suffer, or whether it is severe or slight, or whether it has been with us but a few hours or for many years. All we have to do is to find what is wrong with our nature and to take the herb which corresponds to this.
Now whatever is wrong shows itself in one or more of twelve definite states, and according to the state present we can judge the remedy we need.
It is not possible for us to be ill unless we are not in harmony with our true nature. But whatever condition is behind our trouble, whatever fault there is in our nature it matters not, because these remedies will help us to correct that fault and thus curing the root-cause of our illness give back to us bodily and mental health.
These remedies bring about a harmonious state of our whole being and often a joy of life, a freedom from cares and anxieties which has not been previously known.
As already stated the faults in our nature are expressed to us by twelve different states, for each of which there is a corresponding herb to bring us back to health.
In brief the twelve states are as follows:
WEAKNESS
DESPAIR
FEAR
TORTURE
INDECISION
INDIFFERENCE
FUSSINESS
SELF-DISTRUST
DISCOURAGEMENT
ENTHUSIASM
IMPATIENCE
ALOOFNESS
Now follows a somewhat fuller explanation of these states together with the name of the remedy for each.
WEAKNESS
To give strength. The weakness after illness: pale, languid, tired, no energy, limp, exhausted. Drained of vitality. Those who desire peace at any price. Even in illness they may be too willing to help others and get tired and worn-out by their efforts. The mind is often alert, but the body weak, too weak to make much effort. Meek, submissive and imposed upon because of their good natures.
DESPAIR
This is the rescue remedy. In cases of urgency and danger. Whenever things are desperate. In all cases of danger of life. When the patient is terrified or in a panic. In cases when all hope is lost. When there is danger to the mind, of threatened suicide or insanity, or nervous breakdown, fear of death or hopeless depression.
FEAR
To combat all fear. Fear of disease, of accidents, of unknown things. Fear of people, of relatives, of strangers, of crowds, of noise, of talking or of being questioned, of being alone. Fear of damp, of cold, of heat, of the dark. Fear of complications in illness, or of being incurable.
TORTURE
To soothe all those tormented in body or mind and bring them peace. The restless, the worried, the anxious, the tortured. Those who can find no peace of mind, no rest. There is such a vast army of these sufferers who so often hide their torment under smiles and joviality. They are often the cheeriest of people, and are frequently humorists. A great number of these seek refuge in alcohol or even drugs as stimulants to help them to keep going. They will do anything rather than depress others with their trials. Even in severe illness they will jest and make light of their trials. They are brave people and Agrimony will help them so much.
INDECISION
Those who are unable to make up their minds as to what they want, first one thing seems right and then another. Their wishes, like their bodily symptoms, seem to come and go. If they have temperatures these swing up and down. They are undetermined and unable to decide quickly or definitely, and their decisions quickly change. Uncertainty of bodily actions, giddiness, shaking, jerky uncontrolled movements, unsteady walking. Their moods change quickly, first cheery then depressed. Their conversation may rapidly jump from one subject to another.
INDIFFERENCE
To combat all sleepy, drowsy, listless states. When the patient loses interest. Makes no effort to get well. Seems indifferent as to what happens: has no enthusiasm about anything. Only half hear what is said to them. These people are often dreamy, far-away, apathetic, live in their thoughts; maybe thinking too much of someone they have lost, or dream of ambitions they do not strive to realise. They seem contented, being not fully awake, and happy in their dreams of ideals. They are generally quiet and gentle, but they do not find enough joy in life itself; do not live enough in the present. Ordinary fainting may be of this type and in unconscious cases it is sufficient to moisten the lips with the remedy.
FUSSINESS
When ill, these people worry over others, children, friends, relatives; are anxious that they are too warm, too cold, not happy, not enjoying themselves. Constantly asking them how they are and what they would like. Over-anxious in efforts to please them. Many questions as to their wishes and requirements. This state brings no peace and strains the patient. Sometimes the patients feel sorry for themselves; feel that they have done nothing to deserve to be ill; they are ill-used and neglected, that others are not caring for them. Often they have a good colour when ill; the people whose looks do not pity them.
SELF-DISTRUST
People who are too easily influenced. For those who have no confidence in themselves, depend too much upon the advice of others and listen first to one and then to another. Their own lack of self-esteem makes them admire and trust too much any who hold strong views; they can easily be led into difficulties on this account. In illness they are quite sure one thing will cure them until they hear of another, and they rush from one trial to the next according to the latest advice. They will do almost anything good or bad for them if the argument is forcible enough. They do not trust their own good judgement. Instead of having their own wishes and desires they will so often quote what others have advised or thought. The ideas and opinions of others are too important to them and this robs them of their own personality. They will always have some excuse for all they do.
DISCOURAGEMENT
For those who are faltering or are despondent. Look on the dark side and are pessimistic. In convalescence when they think they have come to a standstill; really doing well but tend to be discouraged and doubt that they are making progress. This is for those who feel as if the difficulties before them are too big to be overcome and temporarily lose heart. In this state they only want a little encouragement which this remedy will give them and they will do well.
ENTHUSIASM
The strong-willed. Those who are intense of mind, who tend to over-exert themselves mentally and physically. They refuse to be beaten and will carry on long after others would have given in. They go their own way. They have fixed ideas and are very certain that they know right. They may be obstinate in refusing treatment until compelled. They may be carried away by their enthusiasm and cause themselves much strain. In all things tend to be too serious and tense. Life is a very arduous thing for them. They have their own strong views and sometimes wish to bring others to their point of view and are intolerant of the opinions of others. They do not like to listen to advice. They are often people with big ideals and ambitions for the good of humanity.
IMPATIENCE
At all times when there is impatience. Impatient with themselves, wanting to hurry things, wanting to do things quickly, wanting to get well at once, to be out and about again. Impatient with others, irritable over little things, difficult to keep their temper. Cannot wait. This state is common and often a good sign during convalescence, and the restfulness this remedy brings hastens recovery. There is often impatience in severe pain and so Impatiens is of great value at those times to relieve the pain and calm the patient.
ALOOFNESS
These are very beautiful people in mind and often in body. They are gentle, quiet, very refined and cultured and yet are masters of their fate and lead their lives with a quiet determination and certainty. Like to be much alone. In illness they may be a little proud and aloof and if so this reacts upon them. Even so, they are very brave and try to fight alone and unaided and be of no anxiety or trouble to those around. They are brave souls indeed who seem to know their work in life and do it with a quiet certain will. They do not often form strong attachments even to those nearest them. They bear adversity and illness calmly, quietly and bravely without complaint.
The remedies should be prepared near the place where the plant grows, as the flowers should be used immediately after gathering. A thin glass bowl is taken, filled with clear water, preferably from a pure spring or stream. Sufficient blooms of the plant are floated on the water to cover the surface, as much as can be done without overlapping the blossoms; then allowed to stand in bright sunshine until the blooms show signs of fading. The time varies from about two to seven hours according to the plant and the strength of the sun. The blossoms are then gently lifted out and the water poured into bottles with an equal quantity of brandy added as a preservative. These bottles are our stock solutions of the remedies.
TO PREPARE THE DOSES
When doses are required for a patient, take an ordinary four-ounce medicine bottle, pour into this four drops from the stock bottle of the required remedy, fill up with water and shake well.
This is the medicine which is given to the patient in doses of a teaspoonful as necessary.
Bottles of the remedy supplied by the chemist are stock and are to be used for medicating four-ounce bottles as described here.
TO GIVE THE DOSES
In very urgent cases doses may be given quite often, as frequently as every quarter of an hour.
If the patient is unconscious it is sufficient merely to moisten the lips with the remedy.
In serious cases doses may be required hourly.
In ordinary cases where the patient has chronic complaint the rule to follow is to give a dose whenever the patient feels the need, whether this be eight or ten times a day or only once or twice
There is no possible danger of giving over-doses or wrong remedies. None of these beautiful herbs can do any harm, it is simply that if the one the patient needs is administered benefit will result
If in doubt between one or two, give both; they can be put into the same bottle. This also applies if the patient has two definite states present at the same time, such as fear and impatience.
During an illness more than one state may be present, or one may follow another, then each state should be treated as it occurs. In severe illness, there may be despair or fear; on recovery, indifference or discouragement; during convalescence, impatience or weakness; and so on. In such cases each state can be dealt with until it disappears and perfect health is regained.
Everyone who is ill comes under one or more of these twelve states and the remedies to be healed.
After very little study it will be found that it becomes simple to know to which state a patient belongs and the remedy required.
Then comes the realisation of how much more important and how much more helpful this is than thinking only of the bodily affliction. No longer are we concerned with a pain in the head or arm, or a swelling here or a tumour there, but with a state which can be treated and the real cause removed, because these states indicate our trouble and guide us to the herbs which can give us back health and a joy of life.
The botanical name of each remedy is as follows:
These plants are in flower mostly during the months of July, August and September. Water Violet is a little earlier, being at its prime in June and July.
The following will give an idea of the places where they may be found, and some counties have local botanical books which will be a clear guide for particular districts, as these books often give exact localities.
CENTAURY grows in the fields, hedge-banks and meadow-and.
ROCK ROSE, upland pastures.
MIMULUS is comparatively rare, but grows on the edges of streams and marshes where the water is clear.
AGRIMONY grows throughout the country in hedge-banks and meadows.
SCLERANTHUS can be found amongst and around the edges of some cornfields.
CLEMATIS adorns our hedges in many parts of the country where there is chalk.
CHICORY, cornfields and cultivated ground, in some parts it is grown by farmers.
CERATO is not a native of this country and is only to be found on one or two private estates. It may later be possible to find a British substitute for this.
GENTIAN is found on hilly pastures.
VERVAIN grows by roadsides and in hedge-banks.
IMPATIENS is not a native of this country, but grows to perfection along the banks of some of the Welsh rivers. The colour of the blossoms of this plant varies, and only the beautiful pale mauve ones should be chosen.
WATER VIOLET is comparatively rare, but is to be found in some of our slow-moving crystal brooks and streams.
It will be found that certain cases do not seem to fit exactly any one of the Twelve Healers, and many of these are such as those who have become so used to disease that it appears to be part of their nature; and it is difficult to see their true selves because, instead of seeking a cure, they have adapted themselves and altered their lives to suit the disease. Instead of being determined to conquer their illness, they have surrendered and looked upon their infirmity as inevitable, and have arranged their lives to fit in with their affliction.
Such people have lost much of their individuality, of their personality, and need to be helped out of the rut, out of the groove, in which they have become fixed before it is possible to know which of the Twelve Healers they need.
These cases, however, are not in reality hopeless, and for them there are Four Helpers, and these Four Helpers will lift them out of the state of stagnation into the state of activity. When they have progressed so far, their individuality will have sufficiently returned so that it will be possible to know which of the Twelve Healers will be required to bring them back to perfect health.
They are the peolpe who say: "I have had this from a child, and cannot expect to lose it"; or who have been ill so long that they are resigned to the idea that nothing can be done; or it may be the people in whom, perhaps, bad temper or constant colds or the persistence of any ailment has come to be regarded as part of their nature. In fact, especially with certain states such as irritability, nervousness or shyness and such like contitions, it is accepted as part of their character, and they are really unconscious that it is not their real selves. And yet, for all such there is hope of better things if they desire it.
Resignation to faults in our character, or resignation to faults in our bodily health can be overcome if the wish is there to do so, and the Four Helpers get us over this stage and bring us into the range of the Twelve Healers. Of course, in all healing there must be a desire in the patient to get well.
There are four types of people who have lost hope, although they are not all conscious that they have done so; not conscious because, as has just been said, the abnormal state of mind or body is regarded both by themselves and others as part of their character. This, perhaps, applies more to the mental outlook towards life than in cases of physical defects, as we shall shortly see under the remedies of Heather and Rock Water.
GORSE
They say: "I have tried everything and it is no use going on; nothing can cure me."
They have ceased to try, they are resigned to their infirmity, they do not even complain.
They say they have been told that nothing can be done, that they are past all medical help, and even if they do start treatment they say that they have been ill for so many months or years as the case may be, that they will not expect improvement for a long time.
The reason for their resignation is that at one time either fear or terror, or torture, made them give up hope and so they have ceased to strive. But yet such cases can improve beyond all expectations under the influence of Gorse; and then it may be found that Agrimony or Mimulus will be required to complete their cure.
Gorse is for those who have suffered much and whose courage, as it were, has failed; who have lost the heart to try any more.
People who need Gorse are generally sallow and rather darkish in complexion, often with dark lines beneath the eyes. They look as though they needed more sunshine in their lives to drive away the clouds.
OAK
Oak is for the type of people who, although they feel hopeless of any cure, still struggle and are irritated that they are ill.
These people have physical diseases which tend to go on for years and, although they feel quite hopeless about themselves, they still go on trying and struggling.
They are irritated that they cannot get well, and annoyed that they are ill because they are a trouble to others and not able to do their share in their daily duty.
They are not being able to play their part in the game of life, and they think of themselves as failures.
These patients never blame others, they put all the responsibility upon themselves.
The illnesses of this type are where much balance is lost, mental and physical. Mental, such as severe nervous breakdowns, or such types of insanity which can be described as completely unbalanced (where there is great loss of control); and the same in the bodily state, where the patient loses control over parts of the body or its functions.
HEATHER
The characteristic of the Heather people is that they worry over the troubles of others, not the big things of life, but the affairs of everyday.
They like to take care of those in trouble, and they are rather forcible in trying to do this. They become upset and excitible if they see others refusing their advice when they think it is for their good.
They try all means in their power to persuade or even compel others to do what they think right.
They mean very well indeed and their judgement is usually sound, but they strain themselves in wishing to hurry those of whom they are fond.
It is a state of over-anxietyfor the welfare of friends and relations, and a forcible attempt to correct them.
This state of mind is so much part of their natures that it comes to be regarded as their character.
The Heather people tend to suffer from heart-trouble, palpitations, throbbing headaches, indigestion and such complaints as may be caused by anxious excitement and intense effort to help in the ordinary affairs of life.
Their diseases are often not very severe until towards old age, but they may suffer a considerable amount of inconvenience and interference with their daily life for years at a time through minor maladies. They are inclined also to be a little afraid for themselves if they get even slight trouble.
They like people to be dependent upon them, and they take pleasure in feeling that they are being of use and help to any in difficulty.
They are so self-confident and certainly very capable, that they never doubt their ability to advise and to render assistance.
Heather people are often well-built and of high colour, full-blooded, strong in body and full of energy and activity, and are unsparing of themselves in exertions for others.
This remedy can much improve their health, calm their fears and soothe their anxieties over the concern of those in whom they are interested.
These people are people of ideals. They have very strong opinions about religion or politics, or reform.
Well-meaning enough and wishing to see the world different and better, they tend to confine their efforts of help to criticism instead of example.
They allow their minds and largely their lives to be ruled by their theories.
Any failure to make others follow their ideas brings them much unhappiness.
They want to plan the world according to their own outlook, instead of quietly and gently doing a little in the Great Plan.
This remedy brings great peace and understanding, broadens the outlook that all people must find perfection in their own individual way, and brings the realisation of 'being' and not 'doing'; of being in ourselves a reflection of Great Things and not attempting to put forward our own ideas.
It teaches that it is by gentle example people are helped and are brought to realise truth, not by the severe methods of the inquisitor.
It helps to abolish disapproval and brings the understanding of allowing everyone to gain their own experiences and find their own salvation.
The blooms of the Gorse should be taken just before the plant reaches its full glory, a little before it gives out scent; depending, of course, upon the season, but probably about the middle of April.
The small, slender flower-stems of the Oak should be gathered in full bloom, again depending on the weather, but somewhere early or middle May.
The Heather to choose is not the red bell-heather, but the beautiful slender small rose-pink variety such as grows on the Welsh and Scottish mountains in August and September. Heather should be prepared after midday, whereas all the other remedies mentioned in this book should be started in the morning.
Rock Water. It has long been known that certain well- and spring-waters have had the power to heal a limited number of people, and such wells or springs have become renowned for this property. Any well or any spring which has been known to be a healing centre and which is still left free in its natural state, unhampered by the shrines of man, may be used. This remedy does not require long exposure to sunshine, about half-an-hour being sufficient.
For those unable to prepare their own stocks, the chemists mentioned below have very kindly undertaken the distribution of these remedies at a most moderate price:
KEENE & ASHWELL LTD,
57B New Cavendish Street,
LONDON, W1.
NELSON & CO., LTD,
73 Duke Street,
Grosvenor Square,
LONDON, W1.
The Set of Twelve Stock Remedies, 5s.
Single Remedies, 8d.
Postage, 4d.
The Set of Four Helpers, 2s. 6d. Postage 3d.
And may we ever have joy and gratitude in our hearts that the Great Creator of all things, in his Love for us, has placed the herbs in the fields for our healing.