Grief Health Dictionary

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Grief: From 1 Different Sources

One of life’s most stressful experiences is associated with bereavement following the death of a partner and which may give rise to the “I am out of control” syndrome.

Evidence exists that bereavement is related to a suppression of white cell function. As long as one year may elapse before a normal blood pattern is regained. (Dr Stephen Schleifer, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City)

To help restore lymphocyte count and relieve depression/anxiety: Combine equal parts Red Clover (blood): Valerian (nerves) and Motherwort (heart).

Tea: 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup 2-3 times daily.

Alternative. Tea: equal parts Motherwort, Balm and Chamomile. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. 1 cup as desired.

Liquid Extracts: 20-60 drops in water, 2-3 times daily.

Pulsatilla. (Nalda Gosling, FNIMH, Herbal Practitioner: Apr 79, p.11)

Note: Grief is known to make changes in hormone production and invariably centres on the reproductive system manifesting as a uterine or prostate disturbance. 

Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia

Bereavement

A process of loss, grief and recovery, usually associated with death.... bereavement

Achall

(Celtic) In mythology, a loving sister who died of grief when her brother died Achalle, Achal, Achale... achall

Halhul

(Hebrew) One who is hollow inside; full of grief... halhul

Maroth

(Hebrew) Woman of sorrow; perfect grief

Marothe, Marotha, Marothia, Marothea, Marothiya... maroth

Mental Health Services

Comprehensive mental health services, as generally defined under some national (or state) laws and statutes, include: inpatient care, outpatient care, day care and other partial hospitalization and emergency services; specialized services for the mental health of the elderly; consultation and education services and specialized programmes for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol and drug abusers. They generally include a variety of services provided to people of all ages, including counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric services, crisis intervention and support groups. Issues addressed include depression, grief, anxiety and stress, as well as severe mental illnesses.... mental health services

Grey Matter

Regions of the central nervous system consisting principally of closely packed and interconnected nerve cell bodies and their branching dendrites, rather than their filamentous axons, which make up the white matter. Grey matter is mostly found in the outer layers of the cerebrum (the main mass of the brain and the region responsible for advanced mental functions) and deeper regions of the brain, such as the basal ganglia. Grey matter also makes up the inner core of the spinal cord.grief An intensely painful emotion, usually caused by loss of a loved one. (See bereavement..

grip The ability of the hand to hold objects firmly. The hand is well adapted for gripping, with an opposable thumb (one that is able to touch each of the fingers), specialized skin on the palm and fingers to provide adhesion, and a complex system of muscles, tendons, joints, and nerves that enables precise movements of the digits.

Gripping ability can be reduced by any condition that causes muscular weakness or impairment of sensation in the palms or fingers (e.g. a stroke or nerve injury) or by disorders that affect the bones or joints of the hand or wrist, such as arthritis or a fracture.... grey matter

Ambivalence

n. 1. (in psychology) the condition of holding opposite feelings (such as love and hate) for the same person or object. This can cause relationship difficulties and pathological grief reactions. 2. (in psychiatry) the condition of making varying decisions about a treatment plan without the ability to adhere to the decision agreed.... ambivalence

Champaca

Michelia champaca

FAMILY: Magnoliaceae

SYNONYMS: M. aurantiaca, Magnolia champaca, joy perfume tree, champak, champac, champa, golden champaca.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Champaca is a large, sub-tropical tree up to 6 metres high with a smooth grey bark and long, oval-shaped, glossy evergreen leaves. The flowers have 10–20 yellow, orange or cream-coloured narrow petals and an extremely heady fragrance. They bloom both in spring and autumn – on a warm, humid night, the scent can be enjoyed several hundred feet away! Champaca fruit are brown, containing bright red seeds.

DISTRIBUTION: Michelia champaca is native to India, where it occurs in humid, tropical evergreen forests. It is also found throughout Indo-China, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and south-western China, as well as occurring naturally in the eastern Himalayan region. It is often grown as a boulevard tree in the tropics and in India is frequently planted in Hindu temple grounds and ornamental gardens. Champaca, especially its white-flowered hybrid, is now commonly cultivated in warm climates worldwide, for example, in California.

OTHER SPECIES: The genus Michelia contains about 40 species with a distribution including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, southern Japan, Taiwan and China. The leaves and flowers of the Michelia species resemble Magnolia, but the blossoms of Michelia generally form clusters among the leaves, rather than singly at the branch ends like Magnolia. There are several related species of M. champaca, such as the red champaca and the white champaca, grown specifically for their scented flowers, which are also used to produce essential oils. M. x alba, a white-flowered hybrid of M. champaca and M. montana, is prized throughout Asia for its fragrant, pure-white flowers, which are commonly floated in water bowls as Buddhist temple offerings and used a household decoration.

NB: Occasionally champaca is confused with champaca wood oil or guaiacwood oil (Bulnesia sarmienti), also known as palo santo (meaning ‘holy wood’), which is derived from an entirely different species native to South America.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Champaca is regarded as one of the most sacred trees of India and tropical Asia and has been revered by the people of India for thousands of years. M. champaca is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike and the flower is especially sacred to the Hindi god Vishnu, the god of love, and his consort Lakshmi. In India, the flowers are also used for adornment and their alluring scent is employed as a natural aphrodisiac, and as a fragrant decoration for bridal beds and for garlands.

All parts of the tree are considered medicinal and are utilized in various traditional remedies. In India, the scented oil infused from the champaca blossom is used for relief of vertigo and headaches. As a herbal remedy, the flowers have been used to treat urinary tract infections and as an emollient, febrifuge and to soothe anxiety. It is also considered a valuable aid for the treatment of all skin types, particularly mature, dry or sensitive skin. The derivation of the word ‘shampoo’ is the Hindi word champo, meaning ‘to massage’, which comes from champa, the Sanskrit name for champaca. This is because the oil from the tree was traditionally used to make fragrant hair and massage oils!

ACTIONS: Antidepressant, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, emollient, euphoric, emollient, febrifuge, stimulant and tonic.

EXTRACTION: The absolute is produced by solvent extraction from the fresh flowers. (An oil is also produced by steam distillation of the petals). The absolute requires thousands of fresh flowers to produce a tiny amount: thus its high cost.

CHARACTERISTICS: An intense, fresh, green-floral scent with an underlying warmth and subtle leafy notes. It blends well with jasmine, lemon, coriander, tuberose, grapefruit, bergamot, rose, ylang ylang, neroli, sandalwood and other floral scents

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Champaca absolute contains mainly linalool, benzyl acetate, beeta lonone, phenyl ethyl alcohol, gamma-selinene, benzyl benzoate, phenylethyl benzoate and eugenol.

SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitization. Avoid during pregnancy.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE:

Skin Care: Dry, mature skin and sensitive skin, wrinkles and general skin care.

Nervous System: Anxiety, depression, fear, grief, insomnia, nervous debility, tension headaches, mood swings, stress.

OTHER USES: Champaca flowers are used (in part) to make the world’s most expensive perfume, Jean Patou’s famous scent, ‘Joy’, the second best selling perfume in the world after Chanel No. 5. The tree is also a source of timber and fuel and for the production of a yellow dye. The tree’s wood is used for making boats, drums, and religious engravings. In India, however, where the tree is revered, it is rarely cut down. ... champaca

Fragonia

Agonis fragrans

FAMILY: Myrtaceae

SYNONYMS: Taxandria fragrans, coarse tea-tree.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Agonis is a genus comprising four species, all of which are native to Western Australia. The species generally have fibrous, brown bark, dull green leaves and inflorescences of small, white flowers. They are best known and most readily identified by the powerful peppermint or eucalyptus-like odour emitted when the leaves are crushed or torn. A. fragrans is a small shrub which grows up to 2.5 metres high, with narrow leaves and clusters of small white flowers, characteristic of the genus.

DISTRIBUTION: As a wild native species, fragonia (A. fragrans) has limited distribution in Western Australia, growing near the coast in the south-west region and being reliant on its winter rains and drier summers. For commercial purposes, A. fragrans is grown in large plantations in south-western Australia.

OTHER SPECIES: The Myrtaceae is a large family of plants with over 3,000 species. It is one of the most important families from an aromatherapy perspective, as it includes not only members of the Agonis genus (which includes trees such as A. flexuosa, the Western Australian peppermint) but also hundreds of aromatic plants from the Eucalyptus, Leptospermum, Melaleuca, Myrtus and Pimenta genera. There are several varying chemotypes of A. fragrans, but fragonia essential oil has a unique balance of primary constituents, which imparts its particular therapeutic qualities.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The name Agonis derives from the Greek agon, meaning ‘gathering’ or ‘collection’, in reference to the tightly clustered flowers. Traditional knowledge on A. fragrans has never been recorded, and there is no known use of the plant by early settlers. The species only came to the forefront at around the turn of the century when a husband-and-wife team heard about the local plant and began to explore its potential. Having selected superior genetic varieties, they established a small plantation of these shrubs on their property in south-west Western Australia in 2001. The essential oil distilled from this specific plant and chemotype is thus relatively new to the aromatherapy industry. Indeed it has only recently been given its common name ‘fragonia’ by its discoverer Chris Robinson, and has since been trademarked as FragoniaTM. In a series of tests, the University of Western Australia demonstrated that fragonia oil has anti-inflammatory properties and significant anti-microbial activity, similar to tea tree oil.

ACTIONS: Analgesic (mild), antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-infectious, antiseptic, expectorant, immuno-tonic, nervine, regulating.

EXTRACTION: An essential oil by steam distillation from the stems, twigs and leaves.

CHARACTERISTICS: A pale, watery liquid with a pleasant slightly citrus, fresh-clean and faintly medicinal top note, mixed with a slight spicy, earthy and balsamic undertone: more pleasing than tea tree. It blends well with niaouli, eucalyptus, myrtle, lemon myrtle, rosemary and tea tree.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Primary constituents are 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene and linalool. From a chemical perspective, it is an extremely well-balanced oil, with the oxides (1,8-cineole), monoterpenes (alpha-pinene) and monoterpenols (linalool, geraniol, terpineol and others) in a near perfect 1:1:1 ratio.

SAFETY DATA: Fragonia essential oil is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing: an extremely mild oil when applied to the skin and safe for children.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE:

Skin Care: Cuts, bites, stings and general skin care.

Circulation Muscles And Joints: Aching muscles and joints, arthritis, rheumatism.

Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds, influenza, sinusitis, tonsillitis.

Genito-Urinary System: Candida (thrush), menstrual pain and breast tenderness, vaginitis.

Immune System: Powerful immune-system tonic and restorative.

Nervous System: Anxiety, depression, emotional blockages, grief, insomnia, nervous debility and tension, mood swings, stress.

OTHER USES: Many Agonis species are used as decorative garden plants while sprigs of the white flowers of A. fragrans are cut and used in the florist industry. Fragonia oil is now being used in the phyto-cosmetic industry, e.g. for soaps and skin care products. The oil can also be used as a natural, fresh-smelling disinfectant around the home, e.g. as a room fragrance, in the laundry and for cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces.... fragonia


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