This oil was conciously formulated to increase the water element in the whole being and to nourish the qualites of fluidity, relaxation, purification, sensuality and grace.
Calendula- Calendula is a sun herb that is active on the water element in the body. Matthew Wood says that it is specific for “the places where the sun don’t shine”- those places where we have a concentration of lymph nodes where fluids can become stagnant (the armpits, neck and groin). One of its main actions is called a lymphagogue, which means it is known to help move lymph and overall fluid stagnation and is purifying to the inner waters of the body. Calendula also has an action on the female reproductive system as an emmenagogue, which means to bring on a stagnant menses. Here we see that it has a correspondence to the svadhisthana chakra, which is located in the area of the body which contains the hips and genitals, it vibrates with the color orange (calendula flowers are either bright orange or yellow!) and resonates with the element of water and the feeling sense.
Shatavari- Shatavari root has been used in Ayurveda for centuries as a nutritive and rejuvenative herb for the female reproductive system. (It is useful for the male as well, but it is an herb with feminine qualities, where as ashwaganda is its masculine counterpart used to instill the strength of a stallion). Shatavari translates to “she who possesses a hundred husbands” . I feel this herb as a very sensual herb. I have never harvested the fresh herb, but in working with the dry herb, one can observe the smooth and silky nature of the root; these are the properties it brings into the body. It has a mucilaginous quality- it is traditionally used to hydrate tissues inside of the body as well as topically. It is great for hydrating stiff joints. Shatavari enhances sensuality, feeling and flow.
Aloe Vera- Aloe Vera is a very well known ultra hydrating, soothing and nutritive succulent. It contains many vitamins and minerals. In the water element oil we dry the whole fresh aloe leaf (so we are not mixing water and oil) but we are still getting hydrating nutrients through the skin!
Plantain- If you have a lawn or a garden, or you go walking at the community park- you’ve probably encountered plantain. This is not the plantain that is in the same family as bananas. It is actually the plantain whose seeds are used as psyllium husks. Plantain’s leaves contain a mucilaginous quality and topically the leaf is used as a vulnerary, which means it heals wounds. The leaves also have a drawing action and are antimicrobial, topical they can be used to draw out thorns, splinters, stingers, bacteria, etc. This is an amazing everyday herb to know that is plentiful in many many places.
Mugwort- Artemesia vulgaris/douglasiana/californica. Where I live it grows by the river, in general it likes to grow in damp environments near water, and thus is correlated with the #water element. It also relates to the water element in the body as a bitter- which is draining and stimulating to digestion. In #astroherbalism we can correlate mugwort to the moon and venus. As far as Moon correspondences, Mugwort has a silvery coloration to her leaves, is an emmenagogue- will help stimulate menses, and a nervine- will help to relax the nervous system… the moon rules both the womb and the brain! For Venus correspondences, mugwort is a relaxant (specifically to the nerves) and Venus is the “great relaxer”. Mugwort is also traditionally used widely for it’s smoke and smudging medicine- burning the herb has been used by the Germanic people, Indigenous people of America and in Traditional Chinese medicine. A list of Artemisa uses: digestive bitter, choleretic (to increase secretions from the liver & aid in fat metabolism), emmenagogue, nervine relaxant, to stimulate dreaming, clearing energetically as a smudge.
Damiana- With Damiana, we visit the 2nd chakra again- svadhisthana chakra, the place of sensuality, emotion, connection to the other and relationship with the outer world. Damiana is a nervine as well as an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiacs can help us let go of “our attachment to our pwn inner world and to enter the world of the other more deeply”…. “In essence [damiana] assists with the receptivity, openness and fluidity of Water, enabling us to feel through our experiences more deeply, whether that be with another or with our environment. This is involved in the development of our own magnetic nature.” (Sajah Popham)
Fucus/ Bladderwrack- Fucus is a seaweed that grows abundantly here on the northwest coast of California. At peak ripeness the focus fronds are little fluid filled sacs, and embody the ultimate water element and hydration of mama Ocean. Even after they are dried they retain their mucilaginous properties. Like many seaweeds it contains minerals and trace elements and is nutritive to the body. Seaweeds in general bring the energy and quality of flow to person who communes with them.
