Herbs for Healing the Heart

I've been interested in herbs for years now and have enjoyed their physical healing capabilities such as calming, cleansing, and energizing. There is a radio show on our local public station that is called Herbal Highway. Today the host was Karen Sanders; usually the host is Sarah Holmes. The topics range from  healing specific ailments to herbal-related events in the area.

Karen spoke today about herbs that open up the heart, which is something I could use some help with and I'm sure others do as well. She had some not so nice things to say about Christianity at the beginning, but I was determined to hear about the herbs so I stuck with it. I believe there is truth in everything, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt as far as her sincerity and the overall effects of these herbs.

I don't believe what she said about neurotransmitters residing in the heart. I did some research on that and only found one professor's writing on the subject. Just in my own mind it doesn't make sense that the heart has its own neurotransmitters. The heart probably interacts with the brain in ways we are only beginning to understand, but I don't see how the heart itself could have a nervous system/neurotransmitters.

Anyway, again, I decided to take down the list of herbs and flower essences that she recommends for healing the heart. I do believe that herbs can affect us emotionally, maybe not in the exact ways that Ms. Sanders believes, but there must be a physiological connection that helps heal emotions because I've experienced that personally with chamomile when upset. So here is the list:

Herbs for Healing the Heart

Tea- 4 sips a couple times a day. One cup will last in the fridge for 3 days

Flower essences- 1 drop on the tongue

Agrimony (I missed this one)

American ginseng- disconnect, "I don’t feel worthy"

Goldsmoke- desert plant (Cordalis) allows you to soften, speak from the heart

Rosemary- opens the heart to receive and give love with good boundaries

Blue cohosh- softens someone who has become emotionally rigid

Astragalus- gets you out of your head, opens the heart-spirit connection, good for meditation

Oregon grape- takes away sarcasm, opens the heart space

Angelica- softens the spirit and allows for joy

Manzanita- need to soften, too out of balance, tight and rigid

Bleeding heart- brings the sparkle back when the emotions have become dull, room for joy (tincture)

Balsam poplar- cannot get over their wounds and hurts, closed-hearted

Violet- takes the grief out of the heart

Sweet Leaf- opens the heart when someone is negative (inhale, tincture) 1 to 5 sips once or twice a day

Calendula – gladdens the heart

California poppy- equalizes the mind-body split, draws you out of the mind and into the heart

Fennel- opens the heart, uplifting

Hawthorn- integrates the heart and the emotions of the heart

Flower essences:

                Essence of the Desert- Mimi Kemp

                                Blue Palo Verde- changes pessimism and negativity

                                Fishhook Cactus- tenderness

                Hawaiian Essences- Jane Bell

                                Night-blooming cirrus- open up to light

                                Dolphin Blessings- play, love, joy

                                Whale- group, connection

Three other companies: Rose Chakra, Flora of Asia, Lee’s Essences