Elephant Head

I wildcrafted this hallucinatory-looking flower on a hike in Utah’s Wasatch mountains some time ago, and was very excited to see it in all its crazy glory, and to collect some to work with.

Pedicularis, the family that includes Elephant Head, also includes the equally-flashy Parrot’s Beak, as well as several other plants with similar healing properties. Which one you find depends on ecosystem, with different Pedicularis in wet mountain valleys or high, dry slopes.

They are all excellent deep relaxants, and we think of them as “letting go” remedies. From over-sensitive, twitchy skin, through the muscles and into the deep connective tissues, Elephant Head relaxes, opens, and releases tightness and constriction. Mental tension melts away, as well, and our Elephant Head Spiritualized Essence is especially good for physical tensions that are tied up with mental or emotional ones.

Finding yourself jumpy ever since a stressful drive? Have a knot in your neck that showed up after a contentious conversation? These are the kinds of tangles that Elephant Head smooths over with its effects, loosening their physical hold on you while revealing the emotional source of the problem so that you can let that go, too.

This gift is really amplified when Elephant head is used before bodywork, as it allows the therapist go deeper into your tissues without resistance, and helps you hold on to the adjustments for much longer.