Juli 1934: The Twelve Healers & Seven Helpers (Collected Writings, pg 51/75)
As has been known through all time, the cure of disease lies in the healing herbs of the field; so 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. 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.
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.
This book describes nineteen herbs, which, by Devine Providence, have been enriched with healing powers, so that in those that earnestly desire to be made well, no disease is beyond hope of recovery. Twelve of these herbs are for illness which is beginning or has only lasted a short time, and they are called the Twelve Healers; and seven herbs to help those who have been ill for many weeks or months, or even years, and they are called the Seven Helpers.
We all know that in illness we have different moods from our usual self, and these moods are the guide to us as to the remedy we require. This is valuable because many a disease can be prevented if we rightly interpret those signs which are the warnings of illness. Moreover, people who have been sick for a long or even a very long time can be brought back to health if the right herbs are given, and this again we can know from the mood or state they are in during their suffering.
We all know that pain, for instance, has a different effect upon different people: some are frightened, some depressed, some bad-tempered, some want to be left alone, some wish to be petted, others are bright and cheerful in spite of their suffering; and it is this mood that tells us the remedy they need for true healing, not the mere fact that they are in pain.
If we treat the mood and not the disease, we are treating the real person, and we are giving the patient what is truly required to bring back health.
In ordinary everyday life these remedies are also useful for the little ailments such as tiredness, headaches, worry, depression, irritability and so on, because these are warnings and if we drive them away and treat these small troubles, we are keeping ourselves in a really good state of health and protecting ourselves from disease; for we know, sometimes for perhaps many month before a bad illness, people are not really well, and if they could only be treated at that time it might save all the suffering in front of them.
Again, every mother knows that her child may come home from school not his real self, and she says: 'he is not well, he is sickening from something.' How much better to treat this at once, so that by next morning the child is well and strong, instead of waiting for a day or two to see what will develop.
Everyone who watches will soon realise that a change of mood is present in all who are not well, and if the right remedy is given according to the change, the illness will be shortened and the patient brought back to health.
It does not matter what the disease is, the mood alone has to be treated.
There are only twelve different moods, and there is a herb for each, so that it is not difficult to decide which remedy is required.
Now follow the names of the twelve Healers and the mood belonging to each.
When a patient is terrified, or if the illness is sudden or so serious as to cause great fear to those around. In fact, in all cases of urgency or danger give this remedy, even if others are needed as well.
When the patient is calm, but quietly afraid.
In those who, although they are ill, are bright and cheerful and try to make light of their trouble.
For those who find it difficult to decide what they want and to make up their minds what they would like. They try first one thing and then another. They feel they would like two or three things at the same time, but cannot decide which.
When the patient is sleepy or drowsy or dreamy; taking no interest in things; seems far away.
When there is depression; when they feel that things are not going right, or doubt about their getting well.
In those who are worrying over details, fussing about things, or for those who want much attention or require to be petted.
For the weak, languid, weary, who have no energy. Quiet and often timid and shy.
For those who do not seem to have any absorbing interest in life; who have not much trust in themselves nor self-confidence. Always asking advice from different people but not following it, never feeling quite satisfied that they have the answer they require. Often wish to do things that seem foolish.
For the obstinate, strong-willed. Do not like advice. Difficult to help. Who, when not well, often keep on long after others would have given in.
For the irritable, cross, peevish, impatient.
For those who want to be left alone, perhaps go away and be quiet.
Sometimes more than one remedy is needed, as more than one mood may be present. A person may be irritable and depressed, in which case give both remedies, or even if three or four remedies seem necessary, each one should be given, and they can be mixed together. Also during an illness the mood may change from time to time, but always give the remedy that fits the mood at the moment. The change of moods is often a sign of recovery. We all know that after a long illness, no matter what it may have been, we are glad to see the patient becoming impatient, we say they must be better.
There is no danger whatever of any harm being done by these remedies; they all come from beautiful pure herbs which can hurt no one and can only do good.
How to put up the medicine and give the doses is described under directions at the end of the book.
Next let us consider illness which has been going on for a long time.
If the patient does not improve when what seems the right one of the Healers has been given, there are seven more remedies to prepare the way; because, when an illness is old, it has become more established and may require help before it responds easily, so that the seven remedies for such cases are called the Seven Helpers.
Therefore, if a case has not improved with what is considered the right one of the Healers, give treatment with one of the Helpers.
The first thing to notice is whether the patient is pale or high-coloured.
If pale, either OLIVE, GORSE or OAK will be needed. If high-coloured, VINE, HEATHER or ROCK-WATER.
The seventh Helper, the WILD OAT, may be required by anyone, and if what seems to be the right one of the Healers or the right one of the other six Helpers does not give benefit, in all such cases try the remedy the WILD OAT.
For those who are pale, worn-out and exhausted, perhaps after much worry, illness, grief, or some long struggle. In every way they are very tired and feel as if they had no more strength to fight on, and at times hardly know how to keep going. They may depend very much on others for help.
In some, the skin is very dry and may be wrinkled.
For people who feel that their case is hopeless; that they have tried everything and nothing more can be done. They are resigned to their illness and are making no effort.
They generally have rather yellowish complexions, and often dark lines below their eyes.
For those who are stuggling very hard; who are fighting to get well. They are cross with themselves at being ill, because it stops them doing their share of work, and although they feel there is not very much hope of their getting really well, they will try everything in their power to regain their health and usefulness.
Those who are very particular. They are so sure that they know right, both for themselves and for others, how things should be done that it makes them critical and exacting. They wish for everything just in their own way, and give orders to those helping them. Even then they are difficult to satisfy.
The big, robust, well-made people, jovial and hearty. They are much concerned with all the details of their maladies and feel that every small item is of much importance. Generally they have not had much illness, and even a little complaint to them seems serious.
Those who are very strict with themselves. They will give up everything, however much they may like it, if they think it bad for them, and suffer anything if they think it is good. They have much courage, and will face any treatment if they consider it may help.
They are hard masters, not of others, but to themselves, and so lose much of the joy in life.
Is a remedy that may be needed by anyone, and in cases which do not respond to other herbs, or when it seems difficult to decide which to give, try this for at least a week.
If the patient does well, continue with it so long as they improve before changing to another remedy.
In this age, in saying these herbs can cure all disease, it is necessary to add in those who really desire to get well, because under present conditions illness often brings advatages to a patient which sometimes they do not truly desire to lose. It may bring sympathy or attention, or save them from work, or be a means of escaping some duty they wish to avoid, or bring financial gain such as pensions, compensation and so on. In certain cases it is understandable that there are those who may be tempted to hold on to a disability or a malady rather than lose the advantage it brings.
DIRECTIONS
To use the remedies, take about a cupful of water and add only three or four drops from the little bottles supplied by the chemist of the needful herb or herbs, and stir it up. If it gets stale, throw it away and mix more, or if it is desired to keep it for some time add twoo teaspoonsful of brandy. It does not matter about being exact, as none of these remedies could do the least harm, even if taken in large quantities, but as a little is enough, to make up a small amount saves waste.
For children, give an eggspoonful, and for grown-ups a teaspoonful at a time. In very desparate cases doses may be given every quarter of an hour, in severe cases every hour, and in ordinary long-standing illness about every two or three hours spread over the day, or more often if the patient feels it is helping to take it frequently. As the case gets better, the doses will not be required to be given so often.
If the patient is unconscious, it is sufficient to moisten the lips with the remedy, and if in this case the patient is pale, give Rock Rose and Clematis, or if high-coloured, Rock Rose and Vine.
If the illness which is threatened is not long started, even if there is no improvement, give the remedy chosen about six or seven hours before trying another one, but in cases of long-standing disease try a herb for at least four or five days. If a patient is definitely improving, keep on with the same remedy so long as he progresses.
For those who want to prepare their own stock remedies, the method is given below and, following, the English and botanical names of the plants and the situations where they may be found.
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.
Bottles are taken and half filled with water from the bowl. The other halves of the bottles are then filled up with brandy to preserve the remedy. These are the stock bottles which will keep for any length of time, and may be used in the same way as the bottles of the remedies supplied by the chemists.
The English and botanical name of each remedy is as follows:
ROCK ROSE . . . . . . . . . . . . Helianthemum vulgare
MIMULUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mimulus luteus
AGRIMONY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Agrimonia eupatoria
SCLERANTHUS . . . . . . . . . . Scleranthus annuus
CLEMATIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clematis vitalba
GENTIAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gentiana amarella
CHICORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cichorium intybus
CENTAURY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erytraea centaurium
CERATO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ceratostigma willmottiana
VERVAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Verbena officinalis
IMPATIENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Impatiens roylei
WATER VIOLET. . . . . . . . . . . Hottonia pallustris
OLIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olea europaea
GORSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ulex europaeus
OAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quercus pedunculata
VINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vitis vinifera
HEATHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calluna vulgaris
ROCK WATER
THE WILD OAT . . . . . . . . . . . Bromus asper
These plants are in flower mostly during the months of July, August and September with the exception of those mentioned below:
APRIL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gorse
MAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olive, Vine and Oak
JUNE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Water Violet and the Wild Oat
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:
ROCK ROSE and GENTIAN, hilly pastures
MIMULUS is comparatively rare, but grows on the edges of marshes and streams where the water is clear.
AGRIMONY grows throughout the country in hedge-banks and meadows.
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.
CENTAURY grows in the fields, hedge-banks and meadow-land.
CERATO is at present very rare in this country.
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 blossom of this plant varies and only the beautiful pale mauve ones should be chosen.
WATER VIOLET is comparatively rare, but it is to be found in some of our slowly-moving crystal brooks and streams.
OLIVE. Italy and other countries.
GORSE is well known to everyone. The blooms of the Gorse should be taken just before the plant reaches its full glory, a little before it gives out scent.
OAK. The small slender flower-stems of the Oak should be gathered in full bloom.
VINE. Italy, Switzerland and other countries.
HEATHER. The Heather to choose is not the red bell-heather, but the beautiful slender small rose-pink variety such as grows on the Welsh or Scottish mountains.
ROCK WATER. It has long been known that certain well- and spring-waters have had the power to heal some people, and such wells or springs have become renowned for this property. Any well or any spring which has been known to have had healing power 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 one hour being sufficient.
THE WILD OAT. Hedge-banks and woods.
So that in this system of healing, everything may be done by the people themselves, even, if they like, to the finding of the plants and the making of the remedies.
If you look around and study people, you will find that everyone who is ill comes under one or more of the types mentioned, so that the remedy to suit their case can be given.
And it is impossible to count the number of people who have been saved from short illness, and the number who have been cured of disease which has been going on for a long time, and often for a very long time, by these wonderful, natural, devinely enriched herbs of the mountains, and the meadow-lands and the valleys.
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.