Spiritual Niagara Insights Issue 1 July 2017 | Page 10

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"The Linden, also called Basswood and Lime-tree, is the tree
most sacred to the goddess Shava, who may be found in
Celtic Arianrhod, and Greek Aphrodite: Queen of Stars and
Love. Her nature is as much fiery as airy being the spirit of
Divine Light. Linden wood is laden with the power of
attraction that underlies not only love, infatuation, and
harmony, but also the very fabric of the material cosmos in
such forces as magnetism, adhesion, and gravity. It is a wood
of truly cosmic power on every dimension and sphere of the
Tree of Life. Linden is a very light, airy, and smooth wood,
excellent for carving and capable of supporting fine details.
Specially suited to star magick, spells of creation and
transmutation, illumination, love, attraction, healing,
enhancement of beauty and peace, and acts of
enchantment."
Sometimes, these trees are called Lime Trees which is
actually just an altered form of Middle English Lind, (OE
Linde). The Proto Germanic form is Lenda, Latin cognate
Lentus, (meaning flexible) which also has connections to our
Modern English word, Lithe, (again related to Lind). (It
therefore seems reasonable to query if the the Old Norse
word, Lundr, meaning grove or tree, is connected with the
Proto Germanic, Lenda?)
The flowers are chiefly used in tea as a mild sedative, and
anti-inflammatory. (I put them in my nighttime tea flower
blend with chamomile, rose, passionflower, lemon balm and
lavender.)
Their use is also found for colds, cough, fever, infections,
inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly
migraine), as a diuretic (increases urine production), and as
an antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the
digestive tract).
Health Benefits Of Linden
Anxiety Issues: One of the most frequent uses for linden tea is
as an anxiety aid, as its soothing properties have been known
to reduce mental stress and anxiety. If you suffer from mood
swings or unexplained chronic stress, a cup of linden tea can
be a very wise addition to your health regimen. It has a minor
effect on your hormone levels, inducing a state of relaxation
for the body and mind.
Free Radical Neutralization: As with so many herbal
remedies, the antioxidant content of linden is one of the best
qualities this plant has. Antioxidant compounds like quercetin
and kaempferol both act as free radical scavengers,
eliminating these harmful byproducts of cellular respiration
from your system and improving your overall health by
preventing chronic disease. These are particularly effective for
protecting the skin against signs of aging and exposure to the
sun as you age.
Detoxify the Body: P-coumaric acid is another of the very
beneficial organic compounds found in linden that can be
accessed in linden tea. This is known as a diaphoretic, which
means that it induces sweating, which is a very effective way of
releasing toxins from the body, along with excess salts, fat,
water, and foreign substances. This quality also makes linden
valuable for people suffering from fevers, as inducing sweating
can help lower a fever faster and prevent permanent damage
to organ systems.
Colds and Flu: In addition to stimulating sweating to break a
fever, linden also contributes to other symptoms of colds and
flus, such as inflamed or swollen membranes throughout the
mouth and respiratory tracts. This can help to reduce coughing
and irritation, which is why linden is often relied on to sooth
sore throats and calm coughing. Linden tea can also help to
eliminate congestion, making it a true triple-threat to colds,
and represents a major immune system booster.