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Happy Pride! This blog post is an accompaniment to the LGBTQ2+ Pride Month series, which has been posted every week to Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine’s Instagram page during June. The series, The Flowers We Request, Pride & Healing was written by Sarah (she/her/ella) and Brydie (they/them). The series started with an overview of LGBTQ2+ history. There are many ways to spell LGBTQIA+, but this acronym stands for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, and two-spirit. The plus symbol acknowledges the many queer and trans identities within. Other identities include intersex, pansexuality, genderqueer and non-binary.

We can begin with a historical reflection to recall the historical events that Pride was born from, as well as what systemic oppressions still exist. This will allow us to reflect on how queer and trans people resisted, fought back, and organized for lasting change. This article and the posts will explore healing and expressions of queer pride. The article includes herbal recipes and a description of each herb's uses and how it can be used in order to promote queer and trans wellness.

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Balm in Gilead Tea

The first herbal recipe we have is a healing tea. The first herbal recipe is a healing tea. "There is a Balm in Gilead/to make all things right/there is a balm at Gilead/to heal sin-sick souls." Although Pride month might not immediately bring to mind the lyrics, I cannot help but wonder if Stonewall-era activists Storme DeLarverie or Marsha P. Johnson grew up singing the same words. Black queer, transgender and gender non-binary people led resistance to police brutality against queer or transgender individuals at the Stonewall Inn, 1969. This is now known as the Stonewall Riots. Find out more about the Stonewall Inn uprising.

This community action was a catalyst to the gay rights movement and ultimately Pride. Stonewall, a Black trans-led movement was not just about queer and trans liberation but also about confronting systemic racism and cissexism that can work together to make life difficult. Pride, which began in 1960s, still needs a deeper intersectional and social justice analysis. (See also this article and that one) and less about human rights. It is essential to trace where we are and where we need go in order to continue the work of our LGBTQIA2 (lesbians, gay, bisexuals, transgenders, queer, intersex and asexual) ancestors. This journey requires wellness. You need a balm.

Balm in Gilead is a soothing blend that calms the nervous system. It also supports emotional and somatic calm. Take a cup and enjoy the evening. This name is symbolic of the refusal by enslaved Africans of losing their spiritual core. It also signifies Gilead, an ancient Palestinian area, and Palestinian medicinal plants knowledge. This is a reminder of the fact that liberation and healing depend on each other and our collective recalling.

Our first ingredient is lemon balm. We used lemon balm (Melissaofficinalis) as our first ingredient in the brew. It was grown in Sarah's backyard in Louisville, Kentucky. Lemon balm can be used to ease anxiety, relieve stress, and support cognitive function and focus. Trauma and societal stress are characterized by a decline in memory function, anxiety, and depression. The healing properties of lemon balm are a great option for transgender and queer people. Our second ingredient, chamomile, (Matricaria Chamomilla), improves anxiety, digestion, and decreases inflammation.

Feverfew Tanacetum Partheniumspan styling="font-weight 400 ;">), Our final ingredient in tea, which was grown in Brydie’s garden, provides mild pain relief, particularly for menstruation and migraines. Although it is best to use feverfew for migraines on a daily basis, it can also provide some relief in an emergency. The leaves and flowers can be steeped in tea. If you are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, or are allergic to ragweed, be careful when using feverfew. Before you try any new herbal remedies, consult your healthcare provider.

Locally sourced honey is our favorite ingredient. Honey that is local boosts immunity and soothes allergies is also used for its antioxidant properties. For those on a vegan diet or those who want to reap the health benefits of agave, agave nectar can be used in place. It contains folate, vitamin K, and B6.

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Healing Herbal Bath

Toni Cade Bambara, a healer in the book The Salt Eaters asks Toni Cade Bambara, "Are your sure sweetheart that you want to get well?" Many queer and trans people, particularly those of color, have had to bear more than their fair share of harm and the burden to change the circumstances. Queer and trans people have to deal with the trauma of being abused and the hardship of rebuilding a society that is against them. Sometimes legal victories like same-gender marriage obscure the reality of just how far we have to go. Allied comradeship and communal care are effective antidotes for the ineffective call of "self-care", which can become just another burden on the person being hurt.

Although healing must be both a communal and individual process, we are limited in our ability to carry as much. Queer and trans people, what can you do? What can you do to help the oppressed if you want to be a part of comradeship? Audre Lorde, Black lesbian feminist, showed us how we can use our own sexual center to power. We can take down what is not serving us and tap into our queer erotic core to help us get on the path of wellness. Ritualizing individual and collective care can also be helpful. It comes in many forms.

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This healing bath is the second in our series. We invite you to open your senses and tap into your erotic. Get ready to be spiritually cleansed from everything you have carried; heal, get your stuff, and be well. This bath can be viewed as a ritualized step towards achieving community and individual wellness. The bath mixture is chosen for its cleansing, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Coconut oil can be used to carry essential oils and moisturize the skin. Orange essential oil is anti-inflammatory and acts as mild pain relief. It is also antimicrobial and helps to clear skin from acne causing bacteria. Be aware that some orange oils can cause photosensitivity. Before you go out in the sun, be cautious when using citrus oils. Lavender essential oils are calming and can help to relax and ease insomnia. They also have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Epsom salt (or magnesium sulfate) helps to soothe stress, reduce inflammation and aid sleep. You can use the salt in moderation to exfoliate your skin before it dissolves completely. Amethyst, a radiantly purple quartz, is also known as. It protects us from intoxication and enables us to reach our highest selves. It promotes tranquility, calmness, relaxation, as well clarity of thought and comprehension. Amethyst makes it easier to see the path ahead, protecting us against becoming enslaved by self-doubts, fear, or stuckness.

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Queer Floral Adornment

The first week of our month-long series on Instagram was spent talking about the struggle we went through, the blood and sweat of transwomen of colour, who were willing to throw literal bricks at a society that wanted to kill us both quickly and slowly. Locally to the person, and malignly, in an attempted killing off a people. Spiritually, in our soul-death. At its many entry points, the killing off failed. We wrote the second week about heavy items and the need to share care. We bathed each other in magenta-hued water to cleanse our feet from the journey we had taken and energized each other for the climb ahead.

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The third post is about pleasure. Joy is a radical tactic for the oppressed. Joy functions as a radical maneuver for the oppressed. Queer adornment does not involve frivolous flower fun. It's a spatial reclamation of what we know is ours: beauty, love and flamboyance.

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Peony (Paeonia spp.) Rose (Rosa) is a romantic flower. Rose (Rosa spp.) is a good choice for romance. Mallow (Malva) is a good choice for pride. For protection, mallow (Malva spp.) As a symbol of who we are in our amazing multiplicity and where we came from. It was originally used as a way of shaming anyone who was considered queer. However, it was later reclaimed by trans and queer people and is now a symbol for our beauty and creativity. It's a symbol for self-dedication, devotion to struggle, and commitment to one another. The week's recipe? Love, and Be Love, and Be Loving, Beloved.

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Cocktail Party

This is the last week of our Pride & Healing series. It's the last post. We set our intentions by asking the question "Where are we going?" and then ask, "What do we need to get there?"

It will be hard we know/and the road will be muddy and rough/but we'll get there/heaven will know how/we will. We know it will be difficult/but the road will be rough and muddy/but we'll get there/heaven will know how/we will span>

We are moving, we are constantly moving forward in justice, in love, and when we do, it is not because we have forgotten anyone. All of our desires, genders, cultures, ages and dreams are welcome. We will all be met. This journey is being prepared continuously. We also remember to take breaks and celebrate. Sarah and I met in the garden this week, with mock-tails and cock-tails in hand, our hearts open and minds imagining and planning how to bring healing into existence. We remember those who have started this fight by pouring out libations. Audre Lorde Marsha P. Johnson Sylvia Rivera Bayard Rustin James Baldwin Ernestine Eckstein Ruth Ellis and many other people. We call their names.

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This week's recipe used tulsi ( Ocimum terrestrium span style="font weight: 400 ;">), holy basil. Tulsi, an adaptogenic herb, supports the body's ability to process emotional stress such as anxiety and mental fatigue. Before adding any new herbs to your diet, make sure to consult your doctor. Tulsi, a powerful and remarkable medicine, should be taken seriously even if you are celebrating. Tulsi works miracles against fatigue, anxiety, and exhaustion. Tulsi is a source of energy that gives us the ability to imagine the world we want and build it. Find out more about growing and using Tusi.

We dream in the garden of what we will need. Access to education and land about herbs and other botanicals, rootwork and culturally-appropriate natural healing and traditional medicine are all essential. For queer and trans people to be able to grow their own herbs, we need social and financial capital. We need to find co-conspirators, comrades in our fight, who will align their gender sexuality and/or race privilege for queer and trans people, as well as queer and trans peoples of color, to ensure our survival, thriving, and wellness.

Heaven knows where we're going. We are certain that we will.

Cheers and Salud.

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