Herbalista Blog: Calls to Action

It has been 50 years since the Poor People’s Campaign. Reading these historic demands we might realize that after 5 decades we could simply copy, paste, and resubmit them to the government. Our demands haven’t changed in these 50 years because the situation hasn’t– we still live in a country of great health disparity.

Herbalista believes health care is a human right. And since our government has failed to secure that right for the people, we will begin the work ourselves, serving the people, the land, and creating the world we seek.

Health Demand #3

(Poor People’s Campaign Statement of Demands for Rights of the Poor presented to the US Government, 1968)

“We demand that action be taken to assure that poor people have access to presently existing health services—either through sending medical teams or mobile health units into rural and urban areas…”

Full Statement of Health Demands
https://drive.google.com/…/12xLzorjQUfW1GVdtpmtVbwfWPK…/view

Health Care is a Human Right
https://herbalista.org/resources/links/#healthrights

The photo above was taken at a protest at the Georgia State Capital when the people demanded our state not strike down the Medicaid Expansion of Obamacare (aka the Affordable Care Act.) It shows the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where MLK used to preach. The quote he holds was made by Dr. King when addressing the 2nd Medical Committee for Human Rights in 1966.

Join the Healing Wheels: Herbalista Community Fundraiser!

Herbalista believes healthcare is a human right.  We provide free, mobile herb clinics in Atlanta and around the world.  With your help, we can continue to put herbal medicine in the hands of the people!

Our goal for this campaign is $15K, which is the average cost for one year’s programming.  Our free clinics serve hundreds each year and with your support we can keep the wheels turning on this important community resource.

We are thrilled to be able to offer a few extra incentives to help us meet our goal, including:

* Matching donations up to $2,000 raised in the first week by the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

* Early Bird Perks— such as online herbal courses graciously donated by the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and Herbalista Community Project Consultations.

* For all our donors – your name engraved on the hubcaps for the Bus, so no matter where we go, we will be carried by the love and support of our community!

In the United States and in much of the world, quality healthcare is difficult to access. Together we can build a more inclusive model of care, one that acknowledges each person’s unique experience and affirms their humanity.

Herbalista uses mobile medicine as an affordable and practical way to reach and care for underserved communities, and have served thousands since their first clinic, a mere 5 years ago!  Please consider a donation or a share with your friends to help spread the word and keep the wheels turning on this important resource!

Much appreciation to the communities who welcome us into their folds, love to the friends and family who share our journey, and gratitude to the mighty crew who holds it down in the ATL and now DUB to make it all possible.  

And the crew I speak of is larger than Herbalista.  It is larger than the Big House or the Open Door Community or the Apollo House.  Our crew rolls deep.  We may not always know each other, but we are headed in the same direction.  We may not have realized we had each other’s backs, but we defend the same rights and stand by the same ideals.

A big shout-out to the urban agrarians; the homesteaders and humanitarians; the craftsmen and caretakers; the teachers and radicals; the permaculturalists and pacifists; the wellness warriors and earth champions.

Thank you friends of the field, the forest, the street, and the subway.

May we continue to rally together, for health and community!

Providing Herbal Support for J-20 Defendants

Though the first 6 defendants were cleared of all charges on December 21st, there are still many more cases coming up in the New Year. The Hawthorn Community Herb Collective is collecting herbal medicine and supplements for the defendants and their support teams. Please see below for a list of current requests and mailing information.

Herbalista chose to send our support in the form of aromatic inhalers, aka sniffers.  We have found sniffers to be an extremely effective way to provide emotional support.  They are easy to carry, convenient to use, and extremely affordable and easy to make.  You can order the blank inhalers from most any essential oil supplier these days.

We chose to send 3 different sets of sniffers:

Lavender Sniffers (Lavender essential oil) – grounding, promotes calm composure, soothes anxiety, allows for full expression, also helpful for headaches and insomnia

Olbas Sniffers (Blend of Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Cajuput, Wintergreen, Juniper, and Clove) – clearing, energizing, uplifting, also helpful for headaches and sinus congestion

Solidarity Sniffers (Blend of Jasmine, Clary Sage, Benzoin, Lemon, Rose, and Patchouli) – soothing, stabilizing, nourishing, revitalizing,  earthing, trust and solidarity

To make a sniffer, you simply place a cotton wick inside the tube, place 9 drops of essential oil inside, and snap closed.  Here’s a link to another post on sniffers if you want a bit more information.

Sniffers are useful tools when dealing with a range of feelings from grief to anxiety to addiction.  One of my favorite books that we often refer to when putting together our aromatic remedies is Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay, a wonderful acupuncturist, aromatherapist, and teacher who travels over the pond from England to visit us here in Atlanta from time to time.

J-20 Herbal Support

[Reposted from Janet Kent via Facebook]

“On January 20, 2017, thousands of people took to the streets in Washington DC to protest the inauguration of a racist, sexist lout. Of this number, 200 were corralled into an enclosed area and arrested. These 200 include people from all walks of life: teachers, photographers, journalists, medics. They now face felony charges for attending a protest and face up to 80 years in prison.

The first group of defendants are currently going to trial. The prosecution has already admitted that they have no evidence that these individuals committed any crime. They hope to secure convictions for anyone present at the protest, regardless of evidence of wrong doing.

Now remember that the current head of the “Department of Justice” is one Jeff Sessions. The man who sought criminal convictions for civil rights activists. Who was denied a judgeship due to his history of racist comments. This man and his department are attempting to set a precedent to criminalize dissent. This is an important move towards authoritarian control. Pay attention. Go to http://defendj20resistance.org/ for updates and to lend support.

For herbalists and medicine makers, there is more you can do. The Hawthorn Community Herb Collective is collecting herbal medicine and supplements for the defendents and their support teams. As you can imagine, the defendents are extremely stressed , sleep deprived and traumatized. If you are interested in donating supplies, message me and I’ll send you a list of needs.” – Janet Kent, November 22, 2017

Current Herbal Requests

[email medicinecountyherbs@gmail.com  with questions]

Relaxing Nervines: either tincture and/or tea
Sleep support: tincture and/or tea
Bulk aromatic herbs for sachets: rose, mint, chamomile, Lavender, lemon verbena, etc.
Calming adaptogens. Tea or tincture.
Herbs for focus, clarity. Tea or tincture.
Flower essences for protection, grounding, fear.

Please label whatever you send!

Ship to:

Terra Sylva School

115 Blannahassett Island
Room #209
Marshall, NC 28753

The prosecution of these protesters has far reaching implications.  These prosecutions are unconstitutional and we are encouraged that the first 6 protesters were found not guilty.  We stand in solidarity with the the J-20 Defendants and our right to assemble and to voice dissent!

~The Herbalista Crew