How To Smoke Herbs

Published On: March 11, 2019

As a part of International Women’s month, I wanted to write a little on some international women out here being entrepreneurs.

This past week I attended a speech that was highlighting the start of International Women’s month and inspired me to reflect on my purpose here on the world wide web.

I am a woman with her own start-up business that is dedicated to all things in the cannabis culture, educational and entertaining.

I reflected on where I got my start in being active in communities that matter. I remember in high school walking down aisles picking up trash and recycling it on our single waste bins. I remember being the one to give a look when I saw others not recycling and I most remember when I found out about Terracycle. I actually started a Terracycle initiative at my high school!

Terracycle is an amazing company dedicated in recycling the materials that aren’t able to decompose in a landfill. The simple part of it all is THEY send pre-paid postage stamped envelopes to a participating community, who have signed up to collect disposed wrappers and then mail it to their facilities that will be recycling it into useful products like notebooks and bags.

What caught my eye was a folder in a store, which was a folder made from Lay’s potato chip bags and from the there the rest was history. I went right up to the dean of student activities and pitched my first idea. I remember her bright red hair and her reassuring smile that believed in me. She thought it was a great idea and then advised me to make that same pitch, but to our ecology club. Thus, starting the Terracycle program at Elizabeth Seton HS in Bladensburg, MD.

Looking back on it now, that’s pretty awesome of me to pitch my first idea that would jump start my involvement in communities that matter.

This past week I went to see April of Antler Alchemy, who’s the brilliant creator behind of all her own herbal products. Antler Alchemy is a woman-owned, local business here in the Washington DC area and I love everything she has to offer! Tinctures with cannabis, salves with cannabis and she’s even got smoking blends for your cannabis! Now it doesn’t come with beautiful Mary Jane, but it’s for you to add to your joint or your bowl and really heightens your experience. Ingredients in the blend include: rose, lavender, and sage all which I have tried before, but what’s new to me is  the damiana, mugwort, and skullcap .

Damiana is a small plant with yellow flowers that are great for the bladder and urinary tract health, and it also historically used as an aphrodisiac.

Mugwort is the cool herb in the blend. In ancient cultures, people would use mugwort to stimulate lucid dreams and astral projection! How cool, right? But too much of something is never good so be careful consuming mugwort in high dosage. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be become pregnant anytime soon because historically they used mugwort as an abortion herb. What’s is also really interesting about mugwort, is that women would put mugwort under their beds to manifest their future husbands. Which had me thinking… that l if mugwort stimulates lucid dreaming and you have the right intentions on manifesting your dream man, then maybe those women were onto something! Because you can really do a lot while you sleep, more than just getting rest and rejuvenation.

Skullcap is a great antiviral and antibacterial herb that can reduce anxiety attacks, headaches, and help alleviate allergies. Something cool I read was that it stimulates women’s menstrual flow and in spiritual ceremonies it would encourage visions.

The blends that April created are truly special and powerful! April is a knowledgeable herbalist and is offering classes to teach everything she knows to those willing to listen and learn. Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, aka the DMV, April herself is mixed with more diversity as parts of her Native American lineage runs through her herbalist veins. Maybe that’s where her love for the land and spiritualism came from? For more on her botanical school check her site out.
https://antleralchemy.com/botanical-mystery-school/botanical-mystery-school-apprenticeship/

And for all you entrepreneurs out there (men included in this shout-out), keep an Amethyst crystal around, it is said to be great for bringing in good business & always staying positive helps!

Until next time, stay loved & wise!
-Marissa

More Herbal Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/damiana-ancient-aphrodisiac#aphrodisiacs

https://articles.mercola.com/herbs-spices/skullcap.aspx

Interested in starting a recycling initiative in your community visit Terracycle’s website to find out how you can help this world be more sustainable:

https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/