As the people march in the millions, placing their bodies on the line to proclaim their rights to be treated justly, I uphold the right to our medicinal knowledge as a human right and as la comadre Sylvia Ledesma has said, part of our self governance. While reports have focused on the streets of Los Angeles and Chicago, countless other protests against draconian measures against indigenous peoples otherwise known as immigrants are exploding in Atlanta, Milwaukee, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and countless other cities. These protests are dwarfing the East L.A. walkouts of 1968.

Elders say the plants and the four elements of life are our relatives, our witnesses, and our protectors. While there is a backlash against the peaceful protestors, the anger needs to be countered by medicine -- or turned into medicine. My grandmother used to say that coraje can be used for good ? as in defense of el prove -- or coraje can create bad medicine. I offer this herbal arsenal, or herbs for protest and times of great movement and upheaval.

For long term stamina, eat chayote, and if you can get the leaves, make a tea to strengthen the kidneys and pancreas. During stress we use up lots of vitamin Bs. Drink or eat chaya for energy, a beloved plant by those who perform great physical sacrifices and need immediate results. Drink juice with chia seed, which is recorded in the ancient stories as one of the original foods given to the Mesoamerican peoples. Spirulina (another ancestral food) will take away hunger, give you energy and lots of amino acids and minerals. Bay leaf tea will gently strengthen the kidney?s ability to move energy in our body. Wild ginseng or American ginseng will nourish our adrenal system, as will boraja. Romero with yerba buena will brighten the brain but relax you so that you can get a bit more work done.

For sore throats from too much chanting, drink slippery elm tea or take a teaspoon of linaja/flax seed and let is set in a warm cup of water and drink as a tea with honey. For sore feet, a good ba?o from these recetas will do.

Oh the alegria at a market when I can find the oranges with the leaves attached (unless I visit my suegro?s tree in L.A.). Those leaves, or any other citrus leaf, can make a powerful tea for sleeping or a ba?o. Eat oranges to ward off depression. Right now the apple and peach blossoms are in bloom, so make a gentle tea for nervios. Take in the evening. Flor de manita and magnolia flower leaves will put you to sleep and relax the heart.

For bilis from coraje, drink a teaspoon of olive oil with half a limon in ayunas and rub your ombligo and stomach in a clockwise direction. Estafiate can also help but it will heat you up if you make the tea too strong or if you are already in a hot condition, such as with a summer rash. You may add verbena and hinojo for a 1:1:1 ratio to relax the stomach and nerves.

Purify your bodyspirit of mal aires picked up along the marchas or caminos with a limpia of the plantas of your land.

Las plantas maestras brindan proteccion: ruda, estafiate, epazote, alb?car, chuchupatle, gobernadora, pirul?.to name a few.

The standard dosage for tea is 1 teaspoon of herb to one cup boiling water. See our website for previous instructions on banos.

These remedios are not for pregnant women. Anyone on medication for serious illnesses should consult a yerbera, elder or practitioner knowledgeable in these ways to ensure appropriate application.

© Column of the Americas 2006