Dispatch 05

hangin’ w. wild mullein by the beacon overlook falls!

We are experiencing very poor air quality again here in the Hudson Valley and across the East Coast. Reminder to breathe through the nose as much as possible as it is our built-in air filtration system.

From Breath by James Nestor:
”The nose is crucial because it clears air, heats it, and moistens it for easier absorption. Most of us know this. But what so many people never consider is the nose’s (ability) to regulate our heart rate, trigger hormones and chemicals that lower blood pressure and ease digestion, open blood vessels in our toes, and store memories. How the density of your nasal hairs helps determine whether you’ll suffer from asthma.

Few of us ever consider how the nostrils of every living person pulse to their own rhythm, opening and closing like a flower in response to our moods, mental states, and perhaps even the sun and the moon.”

Next time we meet, ask me about sleeping with my mouth taped shut 😂

I have an Oats update for those who may remember previous dispatch reports. The time has finally arrived — the Oat tops are milky!!!! 

During each cycle of Oat top growth, for a brief 1-2 week window, Oat tops will secrete a milky substance when squeezed. This is the ideal time to harvest and create a Milky Oat tincture as well as dry tops and straw for tea.

Milky Oat is a nourishing medicinal tonic for the nervous system. Taken regularly long-term, this medicinal plant can help to ease stress, exhaustion/burnout, anxiety, chronic insomnia, bolster emotional resiliency, and aid in any kind of withdrawal symptoms.

Oat straw is rich in alkaline minerals (notably magnesium, ion, calcium, and zinc). Nutritive tea infusions and vinegar extracts are most effective at making these minerals bioavailable.

We hope to see another full cycle of growth that we will use for an Oatmeal harvest experiment. Note that once the seed heads produce the mature oat seed (used in oatmeal), they no longer exert an influence on the nervous system. 

Sources: The Essential Guide to Western Medicine by Christa Sinadinos // The Healing Garden by Juliet Blankespoor