Guido Masé was a guest of the Herbal Community of Central Massachusetts and Tower Hill Botanical Gardens this past weekend on Saturday. Really good stuff. His morning lecture focused on heart health. In the afternoon he led a hands on herb walk.
Guido is an author and internationally known clinical herbalist. He has the wisdom and spiritual maturity to really engage with the subject of heart health from a big picture high vibration place. His lectures open the door to a rising elevator and invite you in. Guido shares from his own heart, his heritage and his deep drive to help people.
Levels of Heart Health
The heart is traditionally seen as a physical pump. Measure Heart rate, wave components and variability and blood levels to get a picture of health. Our brain and kidneys and heart are all on chemical speed dial with each other, to balance homeostasis. Homeostasis is the functional norms, like blood pH, fluid level and oxygen content that have to be maintained to keep us alive. But this is only one level of understanding. What if instead the heart is considered as a source and conveyor of connection.
Guido described the heart in the role of connector at all levels. Physically it links nutrients and the tissues, moving in nutrients, information, hormones and neurotransmitters taking out waste. Healthy heart and heart vessels are active and responsive in this role to keep us at peak efficiency.
Emotionally the heart opens with joy, or compassion to connect to oneself or others. Heart awareness has much to do with heart wellness and health. Guido called the heart an “Incredible conscious connection point”. The heart is an integrator and connector. It unites our emotions, body, spirit and energetics.
Heart Energetics
The heart pulls together energetically. What does this mean? The heart is at the center of the main energy channel of the body. The Sushumna Nadi is this energy channel that aligns with the spine. Seven energy centers are on the sushumna nadi. Our energetic heart (anahata chakra) receives and integrates emotional and energetic inputs. It radiates joy love and compassion.
Our culture undermines the role of the heart as a connector and integrator in a fundamental way. Dependence on technology efficiency and profit move us out of sync with our hearts. Many of us spend more time interacting with machines than with other people.
We don’t spend much time together or even touch each other. When we isolate ourselves, from our community , from plants, from the whole, we isolate our heart. Our heart is cut off from all it wants to do and give to our lives. It is energetically stunted. It becomes hardened and less responsive. This has ramifications for the quality of our life and our health.
Herbs for Heart support
Guido talked with functional detail about specific plants that can enliven the energy of the heart and promote health. He shared his understanding of each plant. Guido talked about the influence each herb has on blood, fluid balance, blood vessels and heart energy. Hawthorne berry, Garlic, Red Root Sage, Aerminalia Arjuna, Yarrow, Horse Chestnut, Angelica and many other plants support heart health and healthy circulation.
Guido will be back at Tower Hill on November 13, 2016 2 pm. to discuss his new book DYI Bitters and for a book signing. Check the HCOCM web site for all the details.
Guido’s Bio
Guido Masé is a clinical herbalist, herbal educator, and garden steward. He lectures at national and international conferences. He founded Grian Herbs, a Vermont Center for Herbalism. Guido cofounded Railyard Apothecary in Burlington VT. He is chief herbalist for the Urban Moonshine Natural Products Company.
Guido is the author of The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants (Healing Arts Press, 2013) and co-authored DIY Bitters: Reviving the Forgotten Flavor – A Guide to Making Your Own Bitters for Bartenders, Cocktail Enthusiasts, Herbalists, and More due out later this year. Check out Guido’s blog for more herbal insights.
The information provided on this website and blog is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.