Matt's first trials with Teasel Root were for joint injuries, chronic inflammation of the muscles, and chronic cases where a person becomes arthritic. Now, while the 'relapse' symptoms I was beginning to suffer hadn't really GONE that way this time, I was beginning to experience, once again, recurring fevers, fatigue attacks, memory loss, loss of apetite and I began to have a few episodes of what I call 'personal earthquakes' just a general weakness and shakiness of the legs in particular. (which is how the later cases of Lyme manifested for me) I did two terrifying weeks of this before deciding to try the Teasel. I took it for one week at Matt's tiny doses and remember that I am only speaking for MYSELF, but the symptoms eased back during that week and have not yet returned. I have dropped my dose to a drop or two per DAY, but I am feeling quite splendid now. (three full weeks symptom-free {and back to bellydancing} at this writing) There were phrases in the chapter that SO got my attention: "For people who had a use, but lost it"....interesting choice of words....and once again, I feel that too often the DAMAGE that Lyme causes is too rarely addressed. Much of what Matt was saying about Teasel spoke of repairing the STRUCTURE of us (in lots of different ways). I simply encourage any of you still struggling with Lyme damage to give his book a read.
The plant itself is fascinating, often seen in large stands along the roadsides. Teasel is a biennial in that it produces a large rosette of leaves close to the ground the first year (which is when we would harvest the root for tincturing) and then a flower stalk the second year, and then it dies. The flowerheads are incredibly spiny and bloom in rings of tiny lavender flowers that work their way up the head. I read many times while pursuing the craft of wool spinning that teasel used to be used to card wool for spinning. I just couldn't imagine how that could be done until I finally found a photograph of a branch shaped like a "Y" (like a slingshot) between which a number of teasel heads were attached using leather strips. Ohhhh, now I get it. The leaves clasp the flower stem in a way that catches water and you may decide for yourself just how MAGICAL that water is. (from the number of faeries I've seen splashing about in it, I'd say it's pretty GOOD stuff!)
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