Herbal Allies: Coconut

By Aimee Amparo

Coconut has moved with island peoples and even migrated the oceans with the help of the currents, sustaining us for thousands of years. As a nourishing food, its many varieties and components (water, milk, oil, and meat) have made it an excellent source of nutrition and a rich and delicious addition to absolutely anything from stews and sauces to desserts and beverages.

Coconut is a staple both culinarily and spiritually. In my experiences traveling to the Philippines with KULARTS through Tribu Tur I found coconut to be an ever present plant in ritual and ceremony. While revered for providing practical and daily sustenance to the body, I also found that coconut was present at almost every altar and was used in ceremonies. The water is purifying and cleansing, the shell can be burned to charcoal to create smoke, the meat provides the substantial richness, and the oil is used to bless and anoint. Honoring each element, coconut pleases the spirits and can act as as a channel to bring us closer to that spirit within ourselves.

The revered coconut is often used in ritual as it brings us closer to the spirit realm

In the final part of my Herb series, I will be highlighting the significance of the coconut for healthy energetic boundaries. Energetic boundaries are subtle yet profoundly felt. Losing them happens when you merge with other people’s feelings and start to surrender one’s sense of self. According to Eastern principles which address energetic anatomy, or “subtle anatomy,” there is an energy field surrounding all matter both living and nonliving. This energy field which surrounds our bodies is a gradient with the outermost layer being less permeable than the other layers, giving the energy field its structure and boundaries, resembling that of a coconut.

When we speak about energetic boundaries, we visualize a container for the self. We distinguish our own energy field and emphasize remaining free from taking on other people’s subtle energy and having an effect on us by penetrating our personal energy field.
It is important to affirm your boundaries so it is easier to trust your ability to maintain your own truth – whether it’s your mood, beliefs, or your situation – while staying present and responsive to others. There’s also a good chance that if you have weak boundaries, it may be more difficult to distinguish your own feelings from another person’s feelings.

Another great plant that has a wide array of uses and is also energetically associated with keeping healthy boundaries is Yarrow. A hardy plant found all over the Northern Hemisphere, yarrow’s flower essence is known to assist in distinguishing your own energy field from another’s.

To aid in maintaining your own healthy boundaries and keeping close to spirit, I will be sharing a recipe in the folk method for a yarrow and coconut oil sun-infusion.

YARROW INFUSED COCONUT OIL (SOLAR INFUSION)
FOR TOPICAL USE

You will need:

1/4 cup dried yarrow flower & leaves
2.5 cup coconut oil, gently heated on low heat until melted
1 quart mason jar with lid
1 cheese cloth or mesh strainer

*** Make sure every tool used that touches the oil or plant material is completely dry- any moisture will promote spoilage of the infusion.

Place 1/4 cup of dried yarrow in a clean, dry quart jar. Leave at least 1 to 3 inches of open space above your herbs to cover with oil.
Fill remaining space in jar with coconut oil, making sure to cover herbs by at least 1 inch or more. If the herbs emerge above the surface of the oil at any point while infusing, pour more oil on top to ensure the herbs remain covered.
Cap the jar tightly and shake well.
Place jar in a sunny, warm windowsill and shake once or more per day.
After 2 to 3 weeks, strain the herbs out of the oil using a cheesecloth or mesh strainer . Make sure to squeeze out as much of the oil as possible!
Pour into clean and dry glass bottles.
Label “yarrow in coconut oil” with the date
Store in a cool, dark place. The oil may keep for up to a year. Vitamin E oil at a concentration of up to 1% may also be added to prolong shelf life or oils to be used topically.