Ask a Wiccan!

[technomage]

Cup, do Wiccans practice herbal remedies as Curanderos prescribe here? Have you ever used herbal remedies for your problem with your hands?

Some do--most don't. Herbalism is seen by some as a good alternative medicine ... I'm a little skeptical myself.

Oh, and as a POI--it's not just the hands, it's systemic. Knees, hips, spine, and shoulders are the worst, with hands and feet somewhere down the list. It's just my hands are the most obvious reason as to why I'd have to take a break in the middle of a post.

[technomage]

Gob-smacked. I love that term. Gotta start using it.

The licensing fees are reasonable, and easy payment schedules can be arranged.

The question is where is the most breathtaking spot you have ever found yourself standing?

This is going to sound so prosaic--unless you've had a kid.

In the delivery room at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

[Krusader]

Some do--most don't. Herbalism is seen by some as a good alternative medicine ... I'm a little skeptical myself.

Oh, and as a POI--it's not just the hands, it's systemic. Knees, hips, spine, and shoulders are the worst, with hands and feet somewhere down the list. It's just my hands are the most obvious reason as to why I'd have to take a break in the middle of a post.

That sounds very serious. Is it some type of athritic condition? I am a devoted herbalist, myself, and collect specimens from the desert, mountains, you name it. I'm also interested in the Mexican use of herbs, and have learned a lot since I live only 3 miles from the border. Herbs do work, but they take a while and should be used in conjunction with exercise, diet, etc.

One of my favorite herbal remedies is chaparral, which tastes like truck oil, but is very useful as an antibiotic. It abounds here. It's supposed to have anti-cancer properties, but I wouldn't bet on it. A few years ago I tinctured some with Mexican alcohol and stored it in my bathroom closet. Now, it gets really hot here, but I didn't know that it got hot enough for these bottles to ignite on their own (probably the fumes) - but they did and caused a fire in the cabinet - which fortunately was put out when the herbal soaps melted! My husband got really ticked and took all the tincture out of the house and poured it on the driveway and lit a match to it - the fire was astounding!!!!

Needless to say, I only use it in powdered form now.

[technomage]

That sounds very serious. Is it some type of athritic condition?

Well ... they're not sure. I come up negative on R factor and Lupus tests. It's possible that it's some form of what they call seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, or it could be fibromyalgia, or ... ? They were suspecing anything from Marfan's to Ehlers-Danlos, but all they seem to have done is narrowed it down to "I'd like to run a few more tests."

I am a devoted herbalist, myself, and collect specimens from the desert, mountains, you name it.

For my part, I acknowledge the skills of those who know their stuff with herbs ... but I've also seen to many folks around here (North and South carolina) tout knowledge they don't have. Frankly, after someone gave me sage tea for a fever (sage is an anti-diaphoretic), I've steered clear.

Needless to say, I only use it in powdered form now.

Oh, goodness, Crusader! I'm glad everything turned out all right, and I'm sorry for laughing at what could have been a tragedy, but I needed that today!

What part of the SW do you live in? I used to live in Tucson, and before that in the Sierra Vista and Rio Rico areas. (Rio Rico's a bedroom community just north of Nogales.)

[A Cup of No]

In the delivery room at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Hey I've been to greenville.

Well my fellow brother in the Brotherhood of the Cup, let me participate in your thread. (You should check out mine in the student lounge *cough cough*) Some of these questions are based on stuff I've heard from teachers.

Do you think that Harry Potter can lead kids to Wicca? Will the kids who go to Wicca from Harry Potter be disappointed?

What do you believe about the story that some guy who has studied witchcraft for years said that J.K. Rowling knows more about witchcraft than he does?

Are the spells in Harry Potter actually real spells that could be found in a spellbook?

Do you think that Harry Potter is inappropriate reading for Christians?

[Krusader]

Well ... they're not sure. I come up negative on R factor and Lupus tests. It's possible that it's some form of what they call seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, or it could be fibromyalgia, or ... ? They were suspecing anything from Marfan's to Ehlers-Danlos, but all they seem to have done is narrowed it down to "I'd like to run a few more tests."



For my part, I acknowledge the skills of those who know their stuff with herbs ... but I've also seen to many folks around here (North and South carolina) tout knowledge they don't have. Frankly, after someone gave me sage tea for a fever (sage is an anti-diaphoretic), I've steered clear.



Oh, goodness, Crusader! I'm glad everything turned out all right, and I'm sorry for laughing at what could have been a tragedy, but I needed that today!

What part of the SW do you live in? I used to live in Tucson, and before that in the Sierra Vista and Rio Rico areas. (Rio Rico's a bedroom community just north of Nogales.)

We live in a remote section of southwestern New Mexico. I agree, there are many herbalist wannabees. I only prepare things for my own family, and don't do anything professionally. I've studied herbs for years, but there's a lot of conflicting info out there. The Mexicans are pretty savvy about herbs, and that out of necessity, since medicine is often beyond their economic reach.

It's okay to laugh - it really was funny. And to top it off, when the firemen came they tore open the ceiling to find out where the fire was, and found nothing. It wasn't until I looked into the cabinet that night that I found where all the smoke had come from - and this after my husband had called in an electrician and had him check all the wiring.

If you have a joint-related disease, I don't think it's fibromy. It may be some type of auto-immune problem they haven't pinned down yet. Does it run in the family?

[technomage]

Do you think that Harry Potter can lead kids to Wicca?

Cup, I'll tell you the truth ... you've got a bunch of Christians worried about it, and even some Pagans saying it has led to a rise in interest. The one thing I cannot for the life of me understand is why? Unless you've got someone who's already interested and reading harry potter is just the last straw .... From where I sit, it's sheerest idiocy--like someone getting interested in Christianity after seeing the Davinci Code. There are a lot better reasons for being interested in a religion!

But then again, a lot of folks have seen Charmed or Buffy and decided they should become Wiccan based on that. Ask Crusader--I bet she can confirm it.

Frankly, if someone came to me and asked me to teach them because they'd read HP, I'd boot them so far it would take them a week to come down.

Will the kids who go to Wicca from Harry Potter be disappointed?

Absolutely. Just like the kids who went to Wicca from Charmed or Buffy.

What do you believe about the story that some guy who has studied witchcraft for years said that J.K. Rowling knows more about witchcraft than he does?

If the guy's name is Kevin Carlyon, I'm utterly unsurprised. "King Kev" is a publicity-hungry idiot from England who thinks he's the absolute. Most Wiccans, however, think he's an absolute moron.

Are the spells in Harry Potter actually real spells that could be found in a spellbook?

Nope. Just Latin words representing the actions Rowling wants to depict--and not very good Latin, at that.

Do you think that Harry Potter is inappropriate reading for Christians?

That's outside of my jurisdiction, aCoN. If an individual Christian asked me, I might be able to advise them if it was appropriate for them ... but even though I'm knowledgeable about Christianity, my opinions cannot be taken as authoritative for Christianity ... or even as necessarily the best advice.

[technomage]

We live in a remote section of southwestern New Mexico. I agree, there are many herbalist wannabees. I only prepare things for my own family, and don't do anything professionally. I've studied herbs for years, but there's a lot of conflicting info out there. The Mexicans are pretty savvy about herbs, and that out of necessity, since medicine is often beyond their economic reach.

Frankly, I think that's the biggest tip-off that you've got someone who knows their stuff is if they're still in a culture that uses herbs extensively. Around ehre, everybody learns from books ... and heck, as you know, they'll print anything.

If you have a joint-related disease, I don't think it's fibromy. It may be some type of auto-immune problem they haven't pinned down yet. Does it run in the family?

It does. And ... the docs are fairly convinced it's either autoimmune, fybro, or maybe both together. Frankly, I just wish one of them would just come up with some sort of definite diagnosis, but nobody wants to pull their thumb out of their ... ear. Sorry, doctors irritate me at this point.

[Pythagoras]

Mr. Cup of Mystery,

Does hocus-pocus with herbs actually do any good or does it cause more harm than good? Couldn't you unwitting poison someone with your brew since you're not a pharmacist?

[technomage]

Mr. Cup of Mystery,

Does hocus-pocus with herbs actually do any good or does it cause more harm than good?

Certain herbs do have definite pharmaceutical results, but yeah, you can seriously mess someone up if you don't know what you're doing. There's stuff out there that will kill--foxglove is a good example.

Couldn't you unwitting poison someone with your brew since you're not a pharmacist?

I couldn't -- because I don't mess with that stuff! The only "herb" I mess with is tea--and I only use Lipton, because I'm picky.

[Durthorin]

Mr. Cup of Mystery,

Does hocus-pocus with herbs actually do any good or does it cause more harm than good? Couldn't you unwitting poison someone with your brew since you're not a pharmacist?

Crusader is the one brewing up herbs.. Cup said he steers clear of them for the most part. As for herbs being hocus-pocus.. they work.. many of the medicines you take now are based on herbal knowledge. Like any medicine a person has to know how and how much to take and thats a matter of finding and herbalist who knows what they are about.

[Meh_Gerbil]

Justin:

In regards to medical conditions I must tell you that you have to find the answer on your own -- doctors are less trust worthy than used car salesmen.

A couple of years ago I became very ill -- extensive coughing and vomitting. I literally wasn't sleeping at night and didn't for weeks because I'd cough constantly. My chest and back began to hurt, I wasn't keeping food down and I thought I was dying. I cannot tell you how much this hurt and how disabled I was at the time. (I lost 20 pounds)

I went to 3 different doctors and tried several medications -- I blew over 2,000.00 on tests -- everything from testing for turberculosies to running a tube down my throat to running barium through my system -- what a mess, what an expense -- what suffering.

Then I decided I needed to start trying something on my own.
I noticed I vomitted most frequently around 9am -- and hour or so after breakfast. So I began to exclude things from my diet -- the day I excluded milk was the first night I actually slept the whole night through in 6 weeks. After staying off milk for a couple of days I was happy and greatly recovered. As it turns out, I had developed a violent lactose intolerance -- something the doctors had not even bothered to look at.

The coughing was from my stomach generating gallons of acid which was eating my throat. Now THAT is heartburn.

Doctors = Clowns

A doctor is an assistant -- someone who can give you a clue -- but if you really want help you need to strike out on your own and start experimenting yourself because these guys will let you die.

[JardinPrayer]

Well ... they're not sure. I come up negative on R factor and Lupus tests. It's possible that it's some form of what they call seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, or it could be fibromyalgia, or ... ? They were suspecing anything from Marfan's to Ehlers-Danlos, but all they seem to have done is narrowed it down to "I'd like to run a few more tests."

Goodness, Justin! I had no idea! I have the exact same problem and feel the same way you do about not being able to get a definitive diagnosis or treatment. The only thing that has helped me thus far has been acupuncture, which my primary care doctor recommended when he realized western medicine had hit a wall with me. It was remarkably effective, especially when I had to go off Vioxx and ended up feeling like the tin man without an oil can for about a month. But, it is expensive and imperetive to find a good practicioner. Mine told me the problem, from an eastern medicine perspective, was an imbalance in the auto-immune system...which is consistent with Lupus and Fibromyalgia, when you get right down to it. If you want to brainstorm, feel free to PM me and we can compare notes.

That wasn't a question, was it? Okay, here's one: Have you ever had a lucid dream?

[technomage]

Goodness, Justin! I had no idea! I have the exact same problem and feel the same way you do about not being able to get a definitive diagnosis or treatment. The only thing that has helped me thus far has been acupuncture, which my primary care doctor recommended when he realized western medicine had hit a wall with me.

Needles? NEEDLES?! Needles?!?!

I am so phobic about needles that I honestly don't know if I could go to an acupuncture session.

Have you ever had a lucid dream?

No ... but then again, I've never really tried for one.

I don't tend to have memorable dreams since I started aching badly ... and that's been like thirteen years now. Normally I don't even remember having dreamed.

[JardinPrayer]

Needles? NEEDLES?! Needles?!?!

I am so phobic about needles that I honestly don't know if I could go to an acupuncture session.

Oh, come on! Don't be a girly-man! Seriously though...you usually don't even see the needles and barely feel them at all most of the time (the ones in the hands are the big exception). And, if you really, really can't get past that, some practicioners do it with electro-stimulation and no needles. But, I'm telling you, I personally know lots of people who have been afraid, gotten past it enough to try it (because it beats the pants off of being in pain), and have been exhuberantly singing its praises ever since. Think about it...thirteen years is a long time to suffer!