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Welcome to your Spring issue of Plant Healer Magazine Things are crazy busy here, with us working hard on all the many publishing and event tasks, while giving much of every hour to tending our now 3 month old willful wildling Aelfyn. And excitement grows, with there only being 3 months until over 400 of you will gather with us for the 9th annual international Plant Healer gathering! We have more changes in this magazine to announce, as it continues to evolve to reflect new times and new needs... beginning with the announced retirement of Herbal Rebel: “It has been 8 years now,” Paul Bergner recently wrote Kiva and I to say, “and you guys have changed the history of herbalism in the U.S., caused the AHG to try to completely realign its relationship with the larger community, and brought a generation of new teachers to the fore – I am glad to have been an inspirateur/ participant.” Our friend and loyal supporter will instead be focusing on implementing an automated clinical herbal course, preserving his vast knowledge for those new students of herbs who will continue this work into the future. Fare ever so well, Pablo, you well earned our respect, support, and unending thanks. At the same time, we are thrilled to announce a total of 3 new quarterly Plant Healer columns!: “Psyche & Substance: Plant Medicine in The Bush of Ghosts” by Kenneth Proefrock There may be no one whose perspectives, explorations, interests, and priorities are more kindred to and resonant with the style and aims of Plant Healer Magazine and events, than Kenneth’s. This herbalist, naturopath, and visionary, deftly and excitingly weaves together a warp of folkloric, historic, mythological, magical, and spiritual elements, with a weft of critical analysis, personal experience, medical knowledge, and latest scientific understandings – for the purpose of healing not only bodies but psyches, communities, damaged ecosystems, and our increasingly denatured and daft society. You can count on amazingly inspiring explorations of all topics related to this multiverse of healing, as he focuses each quarter on those considerations and topics that 3personally excite him the most.
Our second new column delves into all matters related to healthy pregnancy and childbirth, from an empowering, and refreshingly nontypical perspective – authored by Colorado herbalist, midwife, event organizer, and mother Astrid: “BirthRoot: ReDiscovering Birth, Reclaiming Autonomy” Astrid Grove And please welcome our third premier, a quarterly commitment by the incredibly wise and wholly down-to-earth Juliette, packed with the practical info and attitude needed for the self empowered treatment of family and friends: “Heart & Hearth: Radical Family Herbalism” Juliette Abigail Carr Besides these 3 wonderful new columns, we have also launched another new Plant Healer department, one that will feature articles by a wide variety of epicurean herbalist contributors, covering all matter of health-supporting cuisine, locavore tips and ethics, and tasty recipes that you can make yourselves: “Delicious: Foods For Health & Pleasure” The next generation of teachers that Bergner credits Kiva and I with bringing to the fore, include many of the 70 who are teaching at this year’s Good Medicine Confluence, and the exciting new voices you will increasingly see shared in these pages. This magazine and Plant Healer’s annual events have always served each other, with their shared participants and goals. We tend to invite our amazing writers to teach for us ahead of a general call for proposals, and we ask our Confluence teachers to write the best articles they can for our compilation books and you PHM readers. This issue makes this synergy all the more clear, with the unprecedented number of 2018 teachers contributing inspiring writings for many of our regular PHM columns and departments. Those of you attending in May in Durango, will have a better sense ahead of time of some of the topics you want to see being covered at the gathering, and those unable to attend will have learned much anyway about the subjects and perspectives you are most interested in. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Consider Sending Announcement Cards to Your Clients & Customers For The Good Medicine Confluence We received a second box of postcard sized announcements of our gathering in May, you can help us by getting them into outgoing orders. Just email to tell us how many you can use. Thank you much! PlantHealer@PlantHealer.org ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Available to Download – Plant Healer’s Free Guide to Herbs & Herbal Medicines Suppliers Helpful Articles & Profiled Businesses If you didn’t already get yours when it was released to the Herbaria subscriber list, you can now download our special 73 pages-long PDF guide to buying from online, farm, and brick & mortar businesses selling bulk herbs, components and supplies, and herbal preparations: Plant Healer Guide to Herbs & Herbal Medicines Suppliers –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share What You Know: Submit Your Proposals For PHM Articles Your experience and perspective are unique, and we want to encourage you to trust you have insights and information that would be of interest and use to others in our community. We happily consider original, previously unpublished articles for this magazine, and submissions of articles (previously published or not) for Plant Healer’s free Herbaria Monthly ezine and its many thousands of readers. Submission Guidelines The new deadline for the Summer Issue of Plant Healer Magazine is Aug. 1st. There is no deadline for submitting to Herbaria Monthly. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertising Specs & Pricing For Networking Your Offerings in Plant Healer Publications Advertising space in Plant Healer Magazine and Herbaria Newsletter is provided mainly as a service, and prices are kept down for the sake of low-income herbalists and businesses that are just starting... costing between 1/2 and 1/10th of what other publications with similar subscriber numbers charge. Plant Healer & Herbaria Advertising Info –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PHM Release Dates Shifting Your Summer Issue Will Be Released First Week of July We had to move our Confluence to mid-May due to the fire danger and monsoons prevalent in later months. This, in turn, has made it crazy to try and put together the Summer issues in the high pressure weeks right before the event, and the two weeks following when we are so tired and there are so many post-event tasks to tend to. To remedy this, we are shifting the magazine release dates to the first Monday of the following months: July, October, January, and April. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 5
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The Healing Journey: Explorations & Meander! !
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Principles of Home Herbalism ! ! ! !
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Introduction to The Column!! ! ! ! ! ! Breathe Free: Kitchen Alchemy For Respiratory Conditions
Heart & Hearth: Radical Family Herbalism ! !
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Health & Happiness
Plant Medicine in The Bush of Ghosts! ! !
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The Gathering Basket: A Basketful Of Meaningful Miscellany ! ! !
The Migrations of Plants & People!! Ardently Alkaloids! ! ! ! Wild Mead Making for Plant Healers!
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Mountain Medicine: Traditional Healing Folkways !
Phyllis Light! !
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The Art of Daydreaming
Plant Lore: The Mythos & Stories of Medicinal Plants !
Story is Medicine: Mythic Imagination
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Botanica: Plant Identification & Actions! ! !
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Marija Helt!!
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Et Tu, Brute?: The Ceasar’s Amanita Complex
Constitutional Approaches & Herbal Energetics!
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An Energetic Approach to Coughs!!
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Intersections & Crossroads !
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Leslie Lekos!! ! ! ! Susun S Weed!
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When Things Fall Apart
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Herbs & Depression!
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Wise Woman Ways !
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Drying Herbs: Part III
Delicious: Foods For Health & Pleasure !
Wild Foods For Wild Folks! !
Birthroot: Birth & Autonomy! ! !
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Plant Healer Interviews: Juanita Nelson
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Warren Kistenbroker 220 Jesse Wolf Hardin
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CLICK HERE FOR9THE PDF GUIDE
Health & Happiness By Jesse Wolf Hardin It has been shown repeatedly that there is a close correlation between health and happiness, with people who are happy generally suffering fewer and less intense stress related illnesses than those who are primarily agitated or
distressed, understood correlation practitioner help.
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depressed or repressed. Less and seldom spoken about, is the between the happiness of the and the health of those we try to
we feel that expands our capacity for sensation, joy and happiness. Unfortunately, living in these increasingly crazed, fractious, and sped-up times, it may seem that the only options are polar extremes rather than a blend and balance: either glib insularism, obliviousness, frivolity or denial... or else an attitude of somberness, agitation, ReThinking Happiness “Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.” –Daphne du Maurier When asked if we are feeling happy, many will nod yes without giving it much thought, others will be unsure enough of the implications to reply with a less loaded term like “I’m doing fine,” or “I’m O.K.” Both words once meant “all right,” a statement that everything about us was satisfyingly right, and well. In more recent times, they have come to imply something much less, not wholly good but simply adequate, acceptable, passable. Saying we are okay is an easily defensible claim, promising only that we are at least feeling fair, unremarkable, middling or – mercy me! – “decent.”
dejection or depression. Smiles are so often just masks concealing anxiety and sadness. Given the evermore unsettling current events, it is understandable if problematic that the most sensitive, caring and concerned of people – including herbalists, conservationists, activists, and other kids of healers – might lean towards the latter.
For the majority of contemporary Americans, health is thought of not as wholeness or peak vitality, but as freedom from illness. Similarly, most act as if happiness is the baseline of human experience, as the mere absence of depression, suffering and trauma, rather than the elevated level of pleasure and satisfaction that it is. True happiness is insistent and demonstrative. It goes beyond being unruffled, un-tortured, or content, presenting as visible pleasure, sincere and largely sustainable jollity, fits of glee, extended states of exhilaration, or insuppressible exuberance.
Guilty Pleasure: Feeling Bad About Feeling Good “The hardest thing about depression... is that you feel guilty for feeling happy.” –Pete Wentz
It is all too easy to succumb to feeling guilty about our enjoyments, when there are so many people and so many other species denied opportunities to enjoy free and good feeling lives. We might worry that when constantly hearing reports of increasing terrorism, sexual assault, racism, homophobia, and the evil doings of our various elected administrations, our acting demonstrably happy could seem oblivious, removed, insensitive, or even dishonoring, like horseplay at a funeral. We may think,
Happiness comes not through the elimination of melancholy and pain, but in the face of suffering and sadness, in real-time comparison, and as a counterbalance to them. In fact, it is the very depth and intensity of the pain and displeasure 11
consciously or subconsciously, that not only is the unfairness and suffering in this world is our responsibility and obligation to heal, but that we pretty much suck at it, or that the extent of social and ecological injustice is grievously impossible for us to affect. Because of this, we can feel crappy even about our efforts to heal and improve things, and feel guilty about the levels of happiness we attain and experience. How dare we enjoy ourselves while so much is going to shit? Then again, how dare we diss the natural and deserved pleasures of being and doing, focus only on the sadness while working towards not only a better but happier world? I would take this a step further, and assert that it dishonors life as much to eschew its joys, as it is to ignore or downplay its ongoing tragedies and injustices. It is the nature of the vital force, to grow awareness of unwellness and then address it, but also to increase cognizance of, employ,
pleasures, joys, and satisfactions. Ideally, this would mean no dis-ease of body or society unconsidered, no pleasurable act, scent or flavor ignored, no sensation or cause for elation unnoticed. As responsive humans and hopeful healers, we do our best to treat what is unwell, and also to embody ourselves and encourage in others the happiness elemental to and expressive of genuine wellness.
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The Appearance of Sobriety & Trouble With Decorum
are trusting us with matters of their health. However, as with any drug done in excess, a conforming, professional, businesslike, too well measured and meted countenance can become a bad habit, reducing happiness and elation, putting us off balance, impacting our quality of life, harming our health, and hurting our ability to help heal others.
“Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success.” –Albert Schweitzer Standing in the way of our embodiment and experience of happiness is not only worldwide destructiveness and life’s personal tragedies, not just health challenges and the perceived limits of our abilities to affect change, but also the repression of ecstatic feelings, the reigning in of foolishness and play, the careful editing of humor and tempering of fun, that comes with concern over our appearance, degree of normalness, acceptability, professional impression, marketability, or overall reputations.
The state of happiness is, in a way, outlaw – the really happy person uncomfortable with propriety, unfit for correctness, rejecting orderly seemliness for unseemly evocations of pleasure and the sustained experience of delight. Delight in heightened awareness and deepened presence, in sensation and emotion, diversity and discernment, assessment and choice, adaptation and evolution, creation and service, mission and purpose. In activity and rest, intense, and in love.
An air of seriousness and competence can be important to a practice where friends or clients
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A Sick Sense of Humor
modeling and healing modalities, intrusive agencies and self-important organizations, the foibles and follies of fellow herbalists and our all too obviously fallible selves.
“Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination.” –Samuel Clemons (Mark Twain) Deadly or debilitating world events, individuals’ illnesses and mishaps, are all very serious matters, as are our practices and efforts to mend and heal that which needs it. And yet, an important element for the health and wholeness of practitioners as well as their clients, is what some would call a sick sense of humor. It has been proven that having humor about one’s ailments can dramatically increase the rate at which they get better, and surely it will be shown that a Plant Healer, activist, or care giver, is more effective when they can crack a joke that involves our mortality, laugh about omissions or mistakes, lampoon so-called authorities, and find relief and release in the comedic peculiarities of assumptions and assertions, constitutional
The Pursuit vs Cultivation of Happiness “Happiness grows at our own firesides, and cannot be picked from other’s gardens.” –Douglas William Jerrold
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We are told in this country that we have a right to the “pursuit” of happiness. But you can’t pursue something that is a part of you, something that rises from within you. Pursuit is the chasing of something external, something outside of yourself that you covet. The pursuit of happiness is a lousy right, if it is a right at all. It is more a mechanism of dissatisfaction, and a spending stimulus, since the thrill of acquiring something quickly subsides, resulting in ever more purchases to feed the dragon.
In the case of herbalists, what is pursued may be a level of actual knowledge or skill, certificates and degrees, mainstream acceptance, peer acclaim, or vetted membership in a professionalizing organization and letters after ones name – but these, too, are things which reside outside of ourselves, purchasable with money or time. While they can provide injections of reassurance, security, or comfort, they cannot in themselves provide happiness. Happiness is a chemically stimulated and communicated state, a set of complex emotions, a potentially lasting if conditional high. First and foremost, however, it is a capacity, a capacity of at least humans and probably of many, many more species with whom we share this planet. It can stretch like our stomach, grow and strengthen like our muscles, proliferate like the cells of our living bodies and manifest in numerous forms and behaviors. Or it can shrink when neglected, down to a smaller and harder size to notice, until, like a subterranean root that can survive many rainless seasons, needs only the next drops of moisture to set it to growing, sprouting, and branching again.
Finding Happiness is a Bunch of B.S. “The greater part of happiness... depends on our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” –Martha Washington Happiness is a natural state, which is to say, an intrinsic. maintainable condition. We are its source and caretaker, and as such, it is a state that does not require repeated “hits” of anything outside ourselves to be maintained, only healthful perspectives, unflagging focus, and devoted commitment. Things like personal accomplishment, or time with loved ones, can trigger increased consciousness of this state, as can hours spent gathering helpful herbs in a wild and enchanting forest, but our happiness does not require it. It is thus, that social and ecoactivists may feel happy as can be while locked up within the sheet metal walls of a holding cell, far from lovers and friends, becalming Firs and the pleasures of discovering, smelling, and harvesting a needed medicinal plant. Happiness is one of the things that can be taken into jail, that cannot be uncovered and 15
seized in the obligatory strip search before stepping through the iron doors, and it may actually be fueled and fed by the good feelings that come from risking ones freedom or life for a just and noble cause. It can be a happy thing to perplex one’s captors, help educate one’s petty criminal cellmates, and then interpret a district judge’s judgey admonitions as affirmation that we “done right.”
It’s Not Okay, & I’m Not Okay, But... “Who is the happier – one who braves the storm of life and lived, or one who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” –Hunter S. Thompson Seemly or not, we may one day dance happily upon the crypt of the now dominant paradigm, laughing not because we have banished death or injustice, but because we know the struggles and challenges are never over, that our efforts must therefore be unending. Until then, notice what feeds the happiness, and what sends it into retreat or dormancy. Pay attention to what perspectives allow for us to view the difficult without denial but with humor. Savor what you find savory, eschew what tastes bad. Take satisfaction in your every attempt to heal bodily, psychological, and societal wounds. It’s wonderful to play like a little kid with the herbs that you dispense and take, to get high on their transportive perfumes, to enjoy the hell out of your chosen life of botanica and service when you might have gotten stuck with a meaningless and plant-less job you were afraid to quit, a mate that undermined your dreams, a reality that
You don’t have to “find happiness,” because you can’t lost it, only neglect it, ignore it, repress it, disqualify it, deny it. Likewise, nothing and nobody can “make us happy,” only contribute to, stimulate, feed, support, or champion our intrinsic, resident happiness. Part of our work, then, is to expand our inherent, embodied reservoirs of happiness, to practice attitudes and explore perspectives that make it more possible to be resiliently happy in the face of the destructive, the disillusioning, the denaturing, the marginalizing, and ugly-fying often going on around us. The energy we might have wasted on pursuit, we can invest into the cultivation – the watering, feeding, and encouraging – of our organ of happiness. 16
stunted rather than enlivened the capacity for happiness that you have sheltered inside of you since were tiny. Don’t hold back from feeling ecstatic whenever you manage to help someone to heal from what ails them. Go ahead and get a kick out of learning new things, take pleasure in the intimacy of the familiar and relational, in blundering as well as discovering new and useful ideas and herbs. Sing even if off-key, even if you forgot and have to make up new words, dance even if or especially if out of step. The way that plants lean and grown in the direction of the sun’s rays, move in the direction of what illuminates, of what serves your purposes, what contributes to your fulfillment, and that which stimulates your embodied seeds and supplies of delight.
“Happiness. It was the place inside where passion, with all its dazzle and drumbeat, met something softer: homecoming and safety and pure sunbeam comfort. It was all those things, intertwined with the heat and thrill, and it was as bright within her as a swallowed star.” –Laini Taylor “Daughter of Smoke & Bone”
We honor the work we do, the lives we’re given, and the vital force or spirit by any name, when we notice and enjoy, when we embrace our happiness and grow it for the good of us, others, the healing plants, and our work and aims. “Are you O.K. today?”, someone might ask you today, as you think deeply about a new and hurtful government policy, or worry about what might be the best herbal protocol for an especially ill client. “Nope,” you could honestly say, knowing that there are always things that are painful or not right, and acknowledging the ways you are affected. Then – thinking about how exciting it is to be working on a healing formula, how pleasurable to be helping co-create a healthful alternative culture, and how great the morning breeze through the window feels on your awakened skin – you might unapologetically add “... but I’m feeling mighty, mighty happy!”
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Introduction to my Plant Healer Column: Dr. Kenneth Proefrock “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today And then one day you find ten years have got behind you No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun” These poignant words on the passage of time ring universally true and can be applied to every one of our experiences of life. Pink Floyd lyrics are not the academically rigorous, spiritually enlightening, inspiring words that I thought would open my first of a series of articles for Plant Healer Magazine, but, they do seem to embody much of what I hope to share here, and capture a certain ambience that I am hoping will serve to temper these words. The passage of time creates a certain urgency for the passing on of understanding, a large part of the body of knowledge regarding plant medicine that exists today has been the product of generations of understanding perpetually passed through time, from one generation to the next. When I was finishing medical school, I chose to do all of my rotations with physicians who had been in practice for at least 30 years. These old-timers represented an unbroken lineage that stretched back to a bygone era of botanical medical practice, and at a time when they were forced to make do with what they had and, often, to come up with creative workarounds. They had a different understanding of the practice of medicine, for better and for worse, that was very much rooted in a world that didn’t have the plethora of pre-made products that we enjoy today. I entered their world as a wide-eyed novice, thinking that I knew so much about the world and the practice of medicine, and they consistently brought me around to realize that ‘right answers’ are preciously few and far between when it comes to humans and their pathology. 19
Now, as I enter my 22nd year of practicing Naturopathic Medicine and I am regularly exposed to the young and eager minds of students who find their way to my clinic for additional training, I find myself wishing that I knew today what I thought I knew when I was graduating from medical school. I have kept every chart note from my career, much to the chagrin of my family because parts of my garage might look like an experiment in hoarding. When I look back on the ways that I approached certain patients and their presenting pathologies, I wonder why any of what I did back then worked. My understanding is so radically different now than it was then, yet, the interactions that I shared with my budding patient base were significant enough that they kept coming back to see me. In fact, I am enjoying 2 decades of relationships with people in the setting of a botanical medicine based medical practice. The roller coaster of that experience includes the end of life of people I have known for decades, and of seeing babies that I helped bring into this world now in college or married, having their own children, whom I now have the privilege of seeing as patients. I have patients for whom I have been their only medical provider for their entire lives, which is often very scary because selfdoubt and self-conscious criticism are continual parts of my internal dialogue. What if I miss something big, or dangerous or whatever?! And now, I can honestly say that I have…I have made dreadful mistakes, I have been negligent and I have been arrogant and cocky at times. Those are not my shining moments, but they are my moments, shrinking from them serves no one, not me, my family nor my patrons. I would like to think that those days are behind me…they probably are not, and here we are, you and I, engaging what will hopefully become more of a dialogue than a monologue, sharing with this readership something about what it means, for me, to be an herbalist, a plant healer, in this modern day and age, what it means to spend a career in a socially and professionally marginalized place. I still don’t have the ‘right’ answers, in fact, I believe, now more than ever, that there are not many discretely ‘right’ answers to matters of healthcare. I do believe in individual paths to healthier ways of being and infinite methods to attain those paths. I say these things as a kind of disclaimer, I am not the ‘expert’, doling out answers for your hardest cases, nor am I the arbiter of some universal Truth that is going to help you resolve the deep mysteries of your existence…and, I advise you to avoid people who make such claims. Rather, I would like to engage this readership in an experimental process, in conversations that don’t have discrete endings, in adventures of thought that might open up new avenues of perspective that may well help us find our way to more effective healing strategies for our families, our communities, our homelands. ! The subject of this series of articles will be primarily plant medicine, we will discuss folklore alongside chemistry, spirituality peppered with philosophy, ancient and recent history as well as current trends. I am also expecting to draw from a wide range of my own personal interests, but, hopefully this will be the only article that features the words “me, I, and my” so prominently, given that they are not my favorite subjects. I do feel somewhat obligated to introduce myself to this readership so that you may know what to expect from this series of articles. My wife and I currently live with five teenagers, four boys and one girl…she is the eldest. We live on five acres on the northwest edge of Phoenix, Arizona with two ponds and numerous animals…wild and domesticated. We have two forges, a coal and a propane forge, where we practice blacksmithing and metalworking, we practice primitive archery, making our own bows and arrows, we garden, we hike, we wildcraft, we train horses and pretend to train goats. I am a practicing Celtic Reconstructionist and the chairperson for the biochemistry portion of the Naturopathic Physician’s Licensing Exam (NPLEX), I also write some poetry that is more cathartic and personal than for public consumption. I am hoping to bring all of these perspectives, and more, to bear in these conversations, and I am hoping to have conversations with all of you for years to come... Holy cow, can it be enough about me now?!
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Breathe Free Kitchen Alchemy for Respiratory Conditions by Kenneth Proefrock Welcome to our newest column. Over the many coming issues, visionary herbalist and naturopath Kenneth of Vital Force Medical Center will be deftly weaving together for you a warp of folkloric, historic, mythological, magical, and spiritual elements, with a weft of critical analysis, personal experience, medical knowledge, and latest scientific understandings – for the purpose of healing not only bodies but psyches, communities, damaged ecosystems, and our increasingly denatured and daft society. We are so happy for this opportunity to provoke and then share his inspired work here, and to feature his teaching at our Good Medicine Confluence events for as long as we host them! Asthma is a scary condition for both adults and children. It has been one of the most common reasons why people will call me in the middle of the night due to an acute emergency. It is an acute, hyper-reactive immune response that arises from a chronic inflammatory condition of the respiratory system. That is, the immune system itself is causing the inflammatory response and often towards relatively benign substances in one's environment. It can be an immeasurably disempowering experience to watch someone you love, or be that someone, who can’t get enough air, who is anxiously wheezing and unable to think clearly about their circumstance, other than death seems imminent
for them in that moment. What I am hoping to share with you are tried and true methods of intervening in this process, using items that can be found in every kitchen, creating a type of breathing treatment from water and salt and baking soda that will impact this process in a very real and immediate way, even at 2 am when your child with a normal respiratory infection wakes in a panic because they can’t catch their breath. We will discuss the conventional medical approach to the condition as well as some different ways of looking at long term strategies and the basic science that serves to support and contextualize those strategies.
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Standard treatment for asthma is often centered around modifying this immune response and reducing the reactivity of the tissues within the respiratory tract. Steroidal interventions like prednisone and bronchodilators like albuterol or Xopenex are the normal treatments. I would propose that there are many ways to effectively approach this condition, with the relative degree of effectiveness dependent on how one is able to address the underlying cause of the dysfunction. Asthma, for many children and adults, is ultimately a condition that results from a compromise in the protective function of the mucus membranes within the respiratory system.
antigens, the hyper-variable portion accommodates to the diversity of substances within classes of antigens. It is this hypervariable portion of the antibody that actually 'sticks' to the antigen because it is able to shift its molecular structure to create a more exact fit to the antigen. This is why we can anticipate the mutation of an influenza virus and a modified hypervariable region can still recognize it as influenza, even though some essential characteristics have mutated. Unfortunately, allergic potential tends to broaden over time, it may start as an allergy to cat dander and grass and then encompass dog dander and olive tree, as the hypervariable region begins to expand its repertoire, the allergic responses become more frequent and more severe. This hyper-variable portion of the IgE antibody is associated with the immune mast cells and basophils. When an antigen is bound to IgE, it causes the membrane of the mast cell or basophil to rupture, releasing histamine, leukotrienes, eosinophil and neutrophil chemotactic substances, proteases, heparin, slow reactive substance of anaphylaxis and platelet activating factors.
Consider that an essential function of the mucus membranes that line our sinus, lung, intestinal and urogenital tissues is to provide a sticky barrier between our tissues and the external environment. As that membrane functions properly, debris in one's world is physically trapped by the mucus and then removed through expectoration; blowing, coughing, sneezing, urinating (occasionally all at the same time). If the mucosal protective system becomes dry, patchy in its distribution, traumatized or overwhelmed by external debris, then, more of that material is able to find its way to the actual tissue level and may automatically be viewed as a foreign invader by the immune system. ! There are five classes of immunoglobulins (antibodies) that the specific portion of the immune response uses to identify potential foreign invaders and keep them at bay. IgA and IgE dominate the mucus membrane interfaces between the internal environment of the body and the external world, IgM and IgG are quantitatively the most dominant inside the body. IgE is the immunoglobulin that is generally recognized to be the beginning point in hypersensitivity diseases like asthma and allergy. All immunoglobulins have a similar “Y� shaped structure consisting of a constant portion, the stem of the Y and halfway up the arms, and a hyper-variable portion at the ends of the arms. The constant portion of the antibody always and forever recognizes certain classes of
These substances cause a dilation of local blood vessels, an attraction of white blood cells into the area, increased permeability of the capillaries and loss of fluid into the tissues, damage to the local tissues by proteases, systemic induction of the complement cascade, and contraction of local smooth muscle cells; a combined effort that creates an effective barrier to further invasion, which is also hard to breathe through. When this process takes place on an occasional basis due to the influx of foreign invaders into the system via the mucus membranes, it can be a profoundly effective way to combat disease. When it takes place all day long towards agents that will never cause infection, it creates a massive drain on the system and can cause perpetual damage the protective tissues of the mucosal system. Over time, slow reactive substance of anaphylaxis begins to accumulate in the tissues until it reaches some critical mass and initiates an anaphylactic episode from a seemingly small insult. ! 23
One of the most important steps in effectively managing the asthmatic patient is to restore proper functioning of the mucus membranes; simple symptomatic management will never offer the possibility of resolution if the membranes aren't able to become more competent at keeping foreign debris off of the underlying tissues. Within the bronchioles of the lungs, slow reactive substance of anaphylaxis causes a progressive spasticity within the bronchiolar smooth muscle, restricting breathing and impeding proper blood flow into those tissues. The tissues are unable to adequately heal without proper blood flow—omega 3 fatty acids have the specific effect of reducing this constriction and facilitating better blood flow, this is one of the mechanisms through which these compounds are able to exert an antiinflammatory effect. It often takes 5-10 grams of a high-quality fish oil per day to accomplish this objective. The quality of the mucus produced by the membranes can have a dramatic effect on this process also, mucolytic amino acids like NAcetyl-Cysteine, 600 mg twice a day and LGlutamine, as a specific driver of epithelial tissue growth, dosed at 5-10 grams/day is often a very beneficial way to improve competency of mucus membranes quickly. L-Threonine, 2.5-5 grams 2-3 times per day is also very helpful in driving epithelial tissue growth and reducing the anxiety that is related to and causative for asthmatic episodes. ! The modern, conventional medicine approach to symptomatic treatment for a hyper-reactive airway owes much to its botanical medicine forebears and now involves chronic steroid application with both long and short acting bronchodilators. Systemic and inhaled corticosteroids have an immuno-modulating/ immuno-suppressive role, they are antiinflammatory in their effect and usually allow patients to be less reactive in the short term. The effectiveness of such agents in certain patients begs a question regarding the competency of their own adrenal response to compensate appropriately—both to the onslaught of foreign material on a compromised membrane, as well as to the steroids themselves. No other
dimension of pharmaceutical science has enjoyed the moniker of “magic bullet” more than the array of glucocorticoid medications currently on the market. Where antibiotics in all of their forms were the predominant quick fixes during the first half of the 20th century, corticosteroids have become that quick fix in the second half. The stressful lifestyles that we engage in within our society have created an epidemic of adrenal dysregulation. Most individuals cannot create enough cortisol to maintain their way of life for their entire lifetime, when they reach that cortisol “wall” and have a compromised membrane system, hyper-reactivity of their immune system becomes inevitable. Often times these hyper-reactive patients will be given a steroid preparation and may immediately feel better, this is a temporary solution at best because the underlying factors have not been resolved. The cortisol receptor is similar to the other hormone receptors in that consistent and higher than physiologically normal doses of corticosteroids tend to make them less sensitive to normal cortisol over time, a phenomenon that is commonly observed in allergy and asthma patients. The incredibly important role that adaptogens can play in these people’s lives cannot be overstated! Eleutherococcus, Rhodiola, Panax, Aralia, and Oplopanax are some that I use on a regular basis to restore a more appropriate sensitivity to more normal cortisol levels. ! A Nebulizer is a small machine that contains an pump which pushes air through a small tube and into a chamber filled with medication, as the air bubbles through the liquid medication, the larger particles are broken into smaller ones that are able to become aerosolized (nebulized). The aerosolized medication is then inhaled deeply into the lungs where it has its effect. This type of application tends to be less drying to the lung tissues than hand held inhalers and is, by far, my favorite device for delivering botanical agents to the lung fields. Most families with an asthmatic tendency have a nebulizer machines already, they can be purchased at your local pharmacy, on the internet from places like amazon or ebay or picked up from a garage sale or a thrift store. I envision an ideal future where every household, 24
especially those with children, has a nebulizer that they can pull out of a closet when a respiratory infection occurs and begin treating themselves long before they develop a bronchitis or pneumonia. Simply nebulizing salt water can be wildly helpful in hydrating dry, patchy mucus membranes, adding an alkaline element like baking soda can help break down thick and chunky mucus in the lungs. Some basic considerations to take into account when designing a successful intervention with a nebulizer unit, include the pH of the administered solution, the osmolarity of the administered solution and the concentration of the therapeutic ingredients. As with any new addition to the regimen for someone who suffers from a reactive airway disease, it is prudent to expose them to a very small amount of the new preparation (I will often do this in the office setting) in order to determine their tolerance for the new item. Typically, we will start with a simple saline solution… Osmolarity is the concentration of solid constituents in a liquid preparation. Solutions that are iso-osmolar are ones that have the same quantity of dissolved solids as the blood stream —roughly 280-310 milliosmoles/ml. Solutions that are relatively hypo-osmolar, less than 280 mOsm/ml, are dilute, and tend to leave behind more of a water portion in the tissues, they can be relatively hydrating to dry tissues. Solutions that are relatively hyper-osmolar, greater than 310 mOsm/ml, tend to be dense and pull more fluid from the tissues, leave them relatively more dehydrated, but less swollen. These are useful therapeutic qualities for nebulizer solutions, for patients who have a chronically dry lung field, a slightly hypo-osmolar solution can be a phenomenal expectorant and mucolytic all by itself. A hyper-osmolar solution can be likewise helpful in conditions of fluid accumulation in the interstitium of the lung field as might be found
in granulomatous conditions, congestive heart failure and pleural effusion. An iso-osmolar preparation that is commonly used in medicine is “normal saline”, a preparation of 0.9% sodium chloride in water. 0.9 % means that there is 9 mg of salt in every ml of fluid, or 9000 mg of salt in a liter. This is roughly 1 1/4 tsp non-iodized salt (iodized salt is irritating to the delicate tissues of the mucus membranes). Most children who suffer with asthma will be profoundly benefited from the practice of nebulizing ½ tsp of normal saline into their lungs each night before bed. Simply hydrating their mucus allows it to be better expectorated through the night, and reduces the cough reflex for a better night’s sleep. Sometimes it is the better night sleep that finally allows for full recovery from nagging respiratory infections that cause fits of spasmodic coughing throughout the night. ! The pH of the nebulized solution can be another therapeutically useful parameter to adjust. Qualitatively, the most important of the buffering systems in the body is the bicarbonate buffer system. This system is unique in that it remains in equilibrium with atmospheric air, thus, it is an open system with an almost infinite capacity to buffer body fluids than any closed system would be able to manage. The mechanism of this system is based on an equilibration of CO2 with carbonic acid, carbonic anhydrase activity, bicarbonate ion, hydrogen ions, the respiratory rate and the ability of the kidney to reabsorb and excrete bicarbonate and hydrogen ions into the urine. That is a lot to take in, the equation below describes the activity of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase in using the substrates of CO2 and H2O in the making of carbonic acid. CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3<=>H+ + HCO325
Increasing the reactants on the left has a tendency to push the reaction to the right, i.e. an accumulation of water and CO2 in the tissues of the lungs tends to increase tissue production of carbonic acid and, ultimately, bicarbonate and protons. This is the basis for breathing into a paper bag when one is hyperventilating; the rebreathing of the CO2 tends to make the system, initially, more alkaline, which tends to have a relaxing effect on the nervous system. Purposely increasing the bicarbonate levels in the lung tissues by adding it to a nebulizer solution tends to leave the tissues more alkaline and increases CO2 and water movement out of the lung tissues, often a very beneficial effect for patients with restricted airways. While the lung plays a relatively acute role in managing pH, the kidney plays a similar and more long-term role by actively excreting H+ or HCO3- into the urine and making the urine either acidic or alkaline. A most important consideration in this process is the important role that the presence of adequate amounts of water plays in maintaining appropriate pH levels. Adequate potassium in the system is also a critical factor in the way that the body is able to establish an effective buffer. Potassium (K+) is a major factor in the movement of H+ (acidic proton) through the body. Intracellular potassium (because it has the same charge, K+) can be exchanged for H+ in the plasma, so the intracellular protein buffering system can have access to and neutralize the plasma increases in H+(acid) concentration. This exchange often results in transient increases in plasma potassium levels with more long-term diminishment of intracellular stores of potassium, leading ultimately to a potassium deficiency within the tissues. The reverse of this process is how the body deals effectively with metabolic alkalosis, that is, as the plasma levels of H+ decline; potassium in the plasma is exchanged for intracellular hydrogen ions to compensate. Another point worth stating is that the drug Albuterol sulfate, often used chronically by asthma and COPD patients, has a known side effect of reducing the potassium stores of the body. 1 tsp of non-iodized salt is approximately 7.5 grams and Âź tsp. potassium or sodium bicarbonate is 1.5 gms, these two added per liter
of pure water or tea makes an equivalent to normal saline that is both hydrating as well as alkalinizing to the lung fields. Mucus chemistry is a very fascinating realm of lung health that can be dramatically affected by introduction of bicarbonate through a nebulizer. Mucus is a conglomeration of the secreted protein mucin and the numerous saccharides that glycosylate it. Some of the most critical of these saccharides are the family of sialic acids, and among this family, the compound neuraminic acid. One of the mechanisms by which viral microbes are able to infiltrate the tissues of the respiratory tract is through attachment to sialic acid receptors on the surfaces of the lung epithelium. Sialic acids contribute greatly to the viscosity of mucus, the more acidic the internal environment of the lung, the higher the viscosity or thickness of the mucus; alternately, the more alkaline the internal environment, the thinner the mucus. The acidic nature of the infectious process creates a thickening of the mucoid secretions, making them significantly more â&#x20AC;&#x153;stickyâ&#x20AC;?, a measure which may impede further infection, or may impede movement of the immune system through the environment. Moreover, the acidic environment of the airways is conducive to bronchial constriction through the vagal reflex, inhibition of histamine breakdown, and ciliary irritation. One of the reasons why the Influenza family of viruses is so virulent is that it has evolved a neuraminidase enzyme that allows the viral particles to cleave through the neuraminic acid component of the mucus and infect adjacent tissues. Neutralizing the acidity in the lung field creates a looser, thinner mucus, facilitates liquefaction of the hard secretions in the airways, promotes bronchial dilation of the airways and inactivates histamine. Nebulizing relatively alkaline solutions into the lung field represents a decided advantage in the treatment of patients with many congestive conditions of the respiratory tract. I find that using potassium bicarbonate, where reasonable, as a buffer to bring the pH of a nebulizer solution into a slightly akaline realm adds to that therapeutic potential tremendously. 26
Herbal teas are quite effective when applied through a nebulizer. I generally make the tea, then try to get it to an iso-osmolar concentration by creating a 0.9% solution of sodium chloride and potassium bicarbonate (as mentioned previously, 1 measured teaspoon of salt=7.5 grams and Âź teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate=1.5 grams). The best course of action in initiating this type of therapy is to start with dilute, weak teas and then make them stronger as tolerance is shown and as the need might present. Some teas I have found consistently effective:
inhalation, to get a more dramatic result. Licorice has been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine as a harmonizer in certain formulas and on its own for its anti-inflammatory, antiu l c e r, anti-diuretic, anti-tussive, hepatoprotective, antiviral, and more recently, for its anti-tumor effects. The mechanism by which licorice exerts these influences on the body is, in part, due to the effect of glycyrrhizinate on the cortisol-degrading enzyme 11-Beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (11B-OHSD). Licorice tea inhibits 11B-OHSD, which prolongs the serum half-life of cortisol; cortisol has an anti-inflammatory action and inhibits the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cells by affecting glucocorticoid receptor sites on their membranes. The anti-ulcer effects of licorice are attributed to its inhibitory effect on 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase which converts prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to its inactive form. By inhibiting the enzyme, licorice causes an increase in local PGE2 levels, PGE2 plays a protective role by increasing mucus secretion and promoting better cell differentiation in the lung fields. Licorice also has been shown to stimulate NK cell activity, induces interferon production, and inhibits T-suppressor cell activity. The initiating concentration of tea is 10 grams licorice root steeped in 1 quart of hot water (makes a dilute, 1% tea), strain or filter the solution, add the salt and bicarbonate previously mentioned and this solution can be used in the nebulizer in 1-3 ml at a time, three to four times a day. As tolerance is established and the need might present, the concentration can be increased up to a 5% solution with good effect.
Glycyrrhiza glabra and uralensis is often nothing short of miraculous when administered as a tea through a nebulizer for chronic cough due to allergic and infectious conditions. It tastes good, shifts the surface tension on the alveoli, thereby improving gas exchange and oxygenation of the blood it also has a number of well-researched effects on tumor regression. Glycyrrhizic acid is a triterpenoid saponin that occurs in licorice and is believed to be the component that is responsible for most of its pharmacologic effects. For some patients, I will create a 5 mg/ml solution of Glycyrrhizinate for
Camellia sinensis, Green Tea, is widely available and slightly astringent to inflamed tissues. It can be purchased in tea bags and it is easy to make a quart of tea in a few minutes. 5-10 grams of tea leaves in a quart of water with salt and baking soda is surprisingly helpful in an acute situation. Just about any leaf tea is going to be similarly effective and, of course, the qualities of the tea will impact the lung tissues accordingly. I generally avoid those teas that are made from flowers as any presence of pollen can worsen many acute lung conditions. Herbal roots are 27
the upper respiratory tract. The active ingredients in Sanguinaria are largely isoquinoline alkaloids like sanguinarine, chelerythine, sanguidarine, sanguilitine, berberine and many others. Sanguinaria has a relaxing effect on bronchial muscles, increases blood flow when applied topically, and is safe used as a snuff for nasal polyps. I have found a dilute tea to be very well tolerated in the nebulizer and can be added to the Licorice tea previously mentioned for a synergistic effect. I find that bloodroot is outstanding for reconditioning the lung fields when cancer, chronic infections like Valley Fever and Pseudomonas, biofilms, and hyper-reactive allergic responses have generated a lot of dead and dying tissue that is poorly removed by the immune system on its own. This is a strong botanical and I find that 5 grams boiled in 1 quart of water (5%) is often a very effective and well-tolerated strength.
likely the safest from the perspective of allergens, and I have used Aralia, Echinacea, Ligusticum and Viburnum as well as a large array in varying concentrations. Combinations of herbs are also very amenable to this type of application an experienced herbalist would naturally start putting things together in unique and effective ways pretty quickly.
Sanguinaria canadensis, blood root, is a botanical with a long history of being used for cancers, specifically skin cancers because it has a great topical effect as an escharotic. Escharotics are substances that facilitate the breakdown and elimination of dead and dying tissues, essentially, it induces a sloughing of those dead and dying tissues, for this reason, it has long been a component of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;black salveâ&#x20AC;? family of cancer treatments. It also has a long history of use in lung infections, being indicated in atonic lung conditions, and as an expectorant affecting
Lobelia inflata, Indian tobacco, is another classic plant for lung disorders. It contains a number of piperidine alkaloids like lobeline, lobelanine, isolobelanine, lovinine and withlobelanidine as well as chelidonic acid. It has a long history of being used as an anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, and expectorant. Interestingly, lobeline is a respiratory stimulant, increasing mucous secretion and expectoration, and isolobelanine is a respiratory relaxant, which relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tree and increases blood flow through the lung fields. Ellingwood considered Lobelia a specific for â&#x20AC;&#x153;irritable, spasmodic and 28
oppressed breathingâ&#x20AC;? as one might find in an asthmatic patient. Lobelia is also well established as an effective topical agent for relaxation of muscular tissue and as an effective agent to be added to drawing poultices. I like using a lobelia tea in the nebulizer with a little Sanguinaria and Licorice because it has a profound effect as an anti-spasmodic, keeping the use of the nebulizer from causing a hacking, spasmodic cough. The strength of Lobelia for nebulizer use begins at 0.5% (500 mg in a quart) and can go up to 5% (5 grams in a quart) for some people (usually those with a higher tolerance for tobacco). Lobelia through a nebulizer definitely gives a systemic effect that is reminiscent of the effect of Tobacco on the system.
as a likely asthmatic response due to the influx of particulate matter. Even so, until recently an asthma cigarette made with both Datura and Atropa, Asthmador, was available by prescription in the US, as it was smoked, the bronchodilator constituents were exposed to the lung tissue and exerted their therapeutic effect. In many tobacco shops, as well as middleeastern and Indian grocery stores one can still find a small cigarette called a Bidi. Indian bidis are Datura cigarettes that are essentially made from different spices and tobacco rolled into Datura leaves. In fact, Datura has been used as the principal ingredient in asthma powders and cigarettes from the turn of the century into modern times. Rudolph Fritz Weiss describes its use and the use of other burning powders in his text on Herbal Medicine.
Datura meteloides is also known as the Holy Flower of the North Star by the Chinese because of a Taoist legend that maintains that Datura is one of the circumpolar stars and that envoys to earth from this star carry a flower of the plant in their hand. Throughout the entire world, Datura has had a long history as a medicine and sacred hallucinogen. Like Atropa belladonna, it owes much of its physiologic potency to the presence of the tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine, atropine, and scopolamine. It shares anticholinergic and parasympatholytic effects with belladonna. Maude Grieve, in her classic text on botanical medicine, writes that Datura is employed in all of the conditions for which belladonna is more commonly used, but acts much more strongly on the respiratory organs. It has a special reputation as an effective agent for spasmodic asthma and is a fairly effective drying bronchodilator for patients suffering from asthma or COPD and can reduce a patient's reliance on their albuterol, ipratropium, and tiotropium inhalers. One of the earliest methods for inhaling therapeutic agents was the burning of a substance and inhaling the smoke. A botanical agent was typically dried and broken up and burned, or an extracted oil was burned, or another combustible material, like charcoal, was added to the medication, burned and the resulting vapors inhaled. We have moved away from smoking things in our culture, recognizing that the smoke from any substance contains a certain carcinogenic potential, as well
Many indigenous people use Datura for its visionary properties, valuing it for diagnosis, healing and intoxication. Upon learning from these visions the cause of a particular disease, a proper prescription can be applied to the case. The Chinese herbalist Li Shih-Chen, in 1596, admits to experimenting on himself with Datura. He writes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to traditions, it is alleged that when the flowers are picked for use with wine while one is laughing, the wine will cause one to produce laughing movements; and when the flowers are picked while one is dancing, the wine will cause dancing movements. I have found out that such movements will be produced when one becomes half-drunk with the wine and someone else laughs or dances to induce these actions.â&#x20AC;? Oral dosages of Datura tincture at as low as 5 drops per dose and as high as 20 drops per dose, with anywhere from 1 to 4 doses per day is also a decent bronchodilator for asthma and COPD patients with a consistent anti-spasmodic effect. Some intrepid souls find that they can tolerate smoking Datura as a bronchodilator. It grows wild in the desert and, once it is dried, burns quite well, the leaves are the most predictable part of the plant, the flowers and the seed pods are too variable in their constituents to really be predictable enough for most people. 29
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This plant medicine works well any way that it is employed, it is not to be trifled with, the stakes are high, being mindfully respectful to the spirit of this plant is critical. Please remember that putting something new into the lung field of a patient with a hyper-reactive airway disease is a precarious dance that requires a certain degree of mindful awareness and emergency preparedness. Start with low concentrations to check for effect, keeping epinephrine or albuterol at hand for those “just in case” situations that inevitably arise. Datura leaves can be made into a tea at a starting concentration of 0.5% (0.5 grams in a liter of water) and moved up to a concentration that may be more helpful. In many cases, creating an alkaline climate in the lung field will be therapeutic by itself and the additional botanicals a bonus to the process. I usually walk through the proper use of the nebulizer with the patient and perform the first treatment in the office to ensure that the mixture is well tolerated.
components, usually essential oils, often Compound Benzoin Tincture was used as a carrier; a typical recipe is as follows: Pine Oil! ! ! ! 5 ml Eucalyptus Oil! ! ! 5 ml Compound Benzoin Tincure! ! 30 ml ! The vapor of one teaspoon is inhaled after being added to a pint of hot water Other inhalations designed for addition to hot water typically contained a volatile oil, water and light magnesium carbonate. The light magnesium carbonate was used as a dispersing agent. The volatile oil was mixed with the magnesium carbonate, which was, in turn, mixed with a measured amount of hot water. This technique ensured uniform dispersion of the oil upon shaking, since the oil was distributed throughout the mixture, rather than remaining as a globule. The presence of the magnesium carbonate helped shift the surface tension of the oil as well as the water so that it, in essence, had an emulsifying effect. It should be said that a true emulsification would have retarded the volatilization of the oil, as the surface tension would have increased. A ratio of 100 mg of magnesium carbonate to 0.2 ml of oil is ideal. An example formula:
Inhalation therapy with liquid preparations is not without precedent as it was a widely utilized tool in the treatment of tuberculosis at the turn of the century. In fact, in his classic text, “The Eclectic Practice of Medicine”, published originally in 1870, Dr. John Scudder recommends a mixture of Veratrum tincture and morphine to be inhaled as needed for a persistent and harassing cough. He gives another specific recipe that I find quite intriguing:
Menthol ! ! ! ! 325 mg Eucalyptus Oil! ! ! 3.7 ml Light Magnesium Carbonate ! 2 gms Purified Water ! qs! ! 30 ml ! Shake before using, add 1 teaspoon to a point of hot, not boiling, water, and inhale the vapors.
Iodine! ! ! ! 10 gr. Potassium Iodide! ! 14 gr. Conium Fluid Extract! 3 drops Water! ! qs! ! 4 ozs. ! The vapor of one Tbsp. is inhaled after being added to a pint of hot water.
In the early 1950’s, the first contemporary pressurized aerosol asthma “inhaler” was introduced by Riker Laboratories, the Medihaler Epi. This consisted of epinephrine in a water and alcohol solvent with a dispersing agent, sorbitan trioleate, and a fluorinated hydrocarbon propellant. For the past fifty years, and until just recently, inhaler therapy was the preferred method of administration for most of the medications that are used by patients with chronic asthma. This shift in dosage strategy
This particular recipe, Scudder tells us, will help to relieve the cough, lessen expectoration, and arrest the hectic fever and night sweats. The Conium is well known as a spasmolytic acting through neurological means. The iodine is certainly having an antimicrobial effect, as well as acting as a lymphagogue. Inhalations were more often simple solutions of volatile 31
seems to have ushered in an interesting era of pulmonary medicine. The ease and effectiveness of the modern inhaler has allowed many patients to simply take a puff or two when needed and find tremendous relief. This has effectively stopped many of these patients from actively searching for more permanent solutions to their condition that might lie in the realms of diet, exercise, and stress reduction. Certainly, there is a large can of worms that can be opened here, that is, many people might feel that the advent of the inhaler-type intervention has provided a lifepreserving, even quality of life enhancing intervention for people who, in times past, may have succumbed to their chronic pulmonary conditions. This is a good thing; the issue, at least from my perspective, is that these are “band-aid” and often suppressive therapies that don’t provide the patient with an opportunity to break free from these agents. Often a more deeply oriented therapeutic intervention that takes into account the person’s living conditions, their eating habits, their psycho-social-spiritual state and their medication regimen is typically more healing of their chronic state. The most recent shift in this approach has been driven by a government mandate to remove chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) from the inhalation devices in an attempt to prevent further damage to the earth's ozone layer. These inhalers have changed to a new propellant, hydrofluroalkane (HFA) or powder insufflation devices. This change in delivery system has resulted inadvertently in removing all generic inhalers from the market and only proprietary (brand name) options are available currently.
tip of a tube, the pressure is lowered and the liquid is drawn into the air flow. The liquid is broken up into a spray when it is taken up by the airstream. To produce smaller droplets, a baffle, bead or other obstacle can be placed to interrupt the flow and break up the droplets further as they collide with the obstacle. Smaller droplets provide better surface area coverage within the respiratory tract. Today’s plastic spray bottles work under this principle; most nasal spraybased sinus applications utilize such an approach. The atomizer is an excellent way to administer a quercetin nasal spray to stabilize mast cells and prevent allergy, it is also an excellent way to get any kind of warm tea into the sinus cavity for therapeutic effect. Insufflations are powders administered through an insufflator or “puffer”. These can be as simple as a rubber bulb connected to a container and a delivery pipe, or as elaborate as a plastic accordion shaped container with a spout on one end. As the device is squeezed, air is blown into the container causing turbulence which causes the powder to fly around. As the air leaves the container, some of the fine particles are carried out through the delivery tube or spout. A vaporizer is an electrical device producing a cool mist or moist steam. It is used to provide additional humidity to one’s living space and is a perfect vehicle for diffusing therapeutic oils. Hydrotherapy can provide a very basic and effective intervention for patients suffering from all pulmonary conditions, especially asthma. There really is no better way to directly affect blood flow into and out of any area of the body, especially the lungs. It is a core belief in the Philosophy of Naturopathic hydrotherapy that health, and therefore healing, is proportional to the normal flow of healthy blood. Alternating hot and cold applications can be particularly effective for patients with as a way of reducing inflammation. The idea is to increase blood flow into the area with hot and decrease blood congestion with the cold. This allows better elimination of potentially contributory metabolic debris in the inflammatory process, also
Many of the devices that are utilized today for the administration of pharmaceuticals were originally developed for botanical preparations. Many are still appropriate for botanical administration, but their use has fallen from the mainstream. Some of the currently available devices include atomizers, insufflators, vaporizers, and nebulizers. An atomizer is a device that is used to disperse a liquid in a fine spray. Many of the older style atomizers employed the Bernoulli principle. When a stream of air moves at a high velocity over the 32
allowing for a cleaner field for immune response to right itself. The traditional method is to always start with hot and end with cold. The degree of hot should be enough to provide an initial sting to the skin that quickly moves into the deeper structures as a relaxing warmth. This application encourages the blood into the tissues causing a rapid increase in blood volume in the area. It is allowed to plateau for a short time and then an ice-cold application causes that accumulated blood to disperse. The general rule is 4 minutes hot and 1 minute cold with at least 8-10 alternations.
are dry. I have found this treatment to be very effective for patients with asthma. A wet sheet pack is another hydrotherapy intervention that I have found abundantly useful for acute asthmatic attacks. It improves the role that the skin plays as a detoxification organ. The treatment requires some preparation but consists of a large blanket, preferably wool, spread out on a bed with a damp sheet over it; my preference is a cotton, flannel sheet. The patient then gets into a hot bath with 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of Epsom salts added and drinks copious amounts of diaphoretic tea; Yarrow, Ginger, and Eupatorium work well. After 10-15 minutes in the bath, the patient wraps up in the wet sheet and blanket, being sure to wrap up snugly, with no drafts, and stays like this for anywhere from an hour to several hours. This treatment dramatically improves blood flow through the skin and elimination of accumulated debris in the tissues below the skin, often staining the sheet in the process. Many patients will also develop a fever with this process, a good indicator of improved immune response.
Wet socks is another very simple measure that helps to encourage appropriate lymphatic flow. The treatment begins with a pair of damp cotton socks placed on the feet and a pair of thick wool socks placed over them and the patient goes to bed. The idea is that the wetness of the cotton socks encourages the body to improve blood flow into and out of the feet; this improves blood flow all over the body. The purpose of the wool socks is to keep the feet warm and to allow them to â&#x20AC;&#x153;breatheâ&#x20AC;? so that by morning the cotton socks
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Constitutional hydrotherapy is the name of a technique that was originally perfected by Dr. O. G. Carroll, in 1923. Dr. Carroll was one of the first practitioners of Naturopathic medicine in the west; he started his practice in Spokane, Washington, in 1908. His perfection of the Constitutional Hydrotherapy technique represented the core of belief in the Vis Medicatrix Naturae and is considered by many in the Naturopathic Medical community to be one of the most revitalizing and tonifying series of treatments that can be conducted with an individual. Nothing in the arsenal of the old time naturopaths was more powerful than a series of six constitutional hydrotherapy sessions. Dr. Carroll was sought out by many of the dignitaries of his time for treatment, most notably, Henry Lindlahr and Benedict Lust, and he is reported to have been able to cure John Harvey Kellogg’s wife of her asthma. The idea of the procedure is to incorporate a wet sheet pack with alternating hot and cold to the chest and abdomen with an application of electrical stimulus to the muscle of your back and abdomen. The patient is swaddled in a flannel sheet surrounded by wool blankets. This prevents the patient from getting chilled during the procedure. The pads of an electrical muscle stimulator (EMS) are placed on either side of the back, just above the kidneys, or anywhere else that the practitioner feels will provide maximum benefit. Alternating applications of hot and cold towels are administered to the chest and abdomen while the patient is bundled up in the cocoon of blankets. The idea is that as the blood is rushing into and out of the periphery of the body, the organs are being bathed in healthy blood, waste is taken away and nutrients are brought in at an unprecedented rate. The effect of this treatment is to radically “detoxify” the patient. In addition to performing this treatment on many people, I have experienced it myself directly many times; it truly feels like nothing else. After several alternating applications of hot and cold, a cold towel is left on and the patient bundled up for 10-15 minutes while the electrical muscle stimulator is contracting the muscles of the back and having a “wringing” effect on the entire torso. The patient is expected to heat this
cold bath towel up to body temperature while wrapped in this cocoon. The idea is that as the patient accommodates to the increased requirement to generate a reasonable body temperature, they are systemically stronger in conducting the normal business of the day. Once the patient has been able to raise the temperature of the bath towel, they are turned onto their stomach and a series of alternating hot and cold towels are applied to the upper back area, these end with a cold application through a bath towel similar to the previous series. The patient is expected to raise the temperature of the bath towel similar to before. I have found that this is a phenomenally metaphoric treatment for people with lung conditions. In essence, we are taking someone who is feeling like a phlegmatic caterpillar, cocooning them while we engage in transformational physical applications; then leaving them feeling lighter and fluffier, more like a butterfly. Ideally, the patient is in as safe an environment as is possible, they are lulled by the massage from the EMS, the closeness of the warming towels, the security of being tucked in safely, and they are extremely suggestible at this time. Often this is the perfect setting to engage in a therapeutic technique like creative visualization, hypnosis, meditation, chanting of mantras or the saying of prayers. The process is served better if it is conducted in a private space, a place that is specially set aside for this purpose, with no interruptions. Perhaps the most amazing thing about constitutional hydrotherapy is that it is a tried and true method to help improve a person’s intrinsic strength and resistance to disease. It is an excellent treatment for whatever is going on in a person; I have found it especially useful for pulmonary conditions, I have also seen it no less than miraculous in adult patients who suffer from asthma. A more thorough explanation of the process of constitutional hydrotherapy is given in the text “Lectures in Naturopathic Hydrotherapy” by Wade Boyle ND and Andre’ Saine ND. Some people with asthma will likely need to stay with the inhaler/steroid route, but, most people will be able to eliminate or reduce their 34
dependency on the prescription drugs by engaging with nebulized alkaline saline and some botanical teas. I encourage everyone to experience this process, whether they have asthma or not, because this novel method of applying botanicals is potentially revolutionary for people with reactive airways. Simply setting yourself up with a nebulizer and trying the saline solution, with and without the bicarbonate, will open your world right up, adding some green tea or some Licorice takes you into a new dimension right away. Direct application of plant medicines to the tissues that need them most changes the healing process radically, reducing the quantity of material necessary to generate a healing response. Being able to take control of the substances that one uses to resolve their health condition is the most empowering thing that any of us can do. Modern medicine sees no problem with leaving people dependent on prescription medications, I,
personally have a problem with that because such dependency is not necessary in the vast majority of cases. People can resolve even longstanding lung conditions with the simplest of measures. In future editions of Plant Healer, we will explore this idea a bit further and discuss variations on the theme of inhaling saline based herbal teas. For now, I believe we have run out of timeâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking Racing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older Shorter of breath and one day closer to death Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way The time is gone, the song is over Thought I'd something more to sayâ&#x20AC;?
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Secundum Artem Newsletter volume 6 number 3, Paddock Laboratories, published on the internet at http://www.paddocklabs.com/forms/secundum/ volume_6_3.pdf.
References: Ahmed T, Ali JM, AlSharif AF. Effect of alkali nebulization on bronchoconstriction in acute bronchial asthma” Respir Med 1993; 87 :235-6.
Shultes, RE and Hofmann A, Plants of the Gods, 1992, Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont, pg. 109.
Baynes J, and Dominiczak M: Medical Biochemistry, Harcourt Brace and Co., London, 1999, pgs. 283-294.
Troy, David ed. Remington; The Science and Practice of Pharmacy 21st ed. Lipincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2006, pg. 181.
Boyle, W and Saine, A: Lectures in Naturopathic Hydrotherapy, Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, OR, 1988, pgs. 123-137.
Ward MJ. Nebulisers for asthma. Thoracic 1997; 52 (supple-2) S45-48.
Champe P, and Harvey, R: Biochemistry, 2nd edition, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, PA, 1994, pgs. 8-12.
Weiss, RF, Herbal Medicine, 6th ed. 1988, Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, England, pg.220
Ellingwood, Finley, MD. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Pharmacognosy. 1919 Reprinted by Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, OR, 1998. Pg. 222. Felter, Harvey Wickes, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1922, Reprinted by Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, OR Pg. 621. Finlay, W: The Mechanics of Inhaled Pharmaceutical Aerosols Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2001. the whole book is useful. Grieve, M, A Modern Herbal 1931, Reprinted by Dover Publications, NY, NY 1971, pg. 768. Guyton A: Textbook of Medical Physiology, 8th edition, WB Saunders and Co. Philadelphia, 1991, pgs. 330-343.
Note: Several tried and tested types of botanical interventions have greatly influenced the current medical strategy towards patients with asthma. The historical efficacy of various bronchodilator botanicals like the Ephedra species, especially E. sinica and E. equisetina, Ammi visnaga, Coleus forskohlii, naturally occurring sources of the methyl-xanthines caffeine and theophylline, and the tropane alkaloid containing plants like the Lobelias, Daturas and Atropas continue to provide the fundamental building blocks that modern medicine is using to create new pharmaceutical interventions. Here we discuss many of the these plants as well as the mechanical strategies for employing them and compare their use to the use of their contemporary pharmaceutical analogs.
Keal EE. “Biochemistry and rheology of sputum in asthma. Postgrad Med J 1971; 47: 171. Kuchel P, and Ralston G: Theory and Problems of Biochemistry, McGraw-Hill, Inc. New York, 1988, Pgs. 54-59. Murray R, and Granner D: Harper’s Biochemistry, 24th edition, Appleton & Lange Medical Publications, Stamford, CT, 1996, pgs. 15-21. Pink Floyd, “Time”, from the 1972 album, “The Dark Side of the Moon” Ryley HC, Brogan TD. Variation in the composition of sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis. J Clin Pathol 1968; 49 : 625 – 33. 36
Principles of Home Herbalism by Juliette Abigail Carr A great big welcome to the new Plant Healer columnist, who will be contributing original articles on radical, self-empowered Home Herbalism by Juliette Carr, a highly competent, down to earth clinical herbalist, a teacher at the Good Medicine Confluence, and proprietor of Old Ways Herbal School of Plant Medicine inVermont, where she offers hands-on learning including apprenticeships at her Botanical Sanctuary forest classroom. Multiple levels of learning include beginner and intermediate courses, and a rigorous apprenticeship tailored to student interest in cultivation, medicine-making, and more. Home herbalism is a way of life as well as being a healing practice. It permeates our lives in myriad ways, far beyond transforming the garden yield into next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medicines: turning a chicken carcass into bone broth, tucking a light sleeper in with a lavender pillow, convincing three teenagers to spend Saturday afternoon harvesting elderberries, and generally endeavoring to have on hand the remedies your loved ones might need next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;
Home herbalism is who we are and how our families work, healing practiced around the kitchen table around the world and across the centuries. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a practitioner of what we call the Vermont Hustle: diversification is how to make it work in a seasonal tourist economy out in the pucker-brush of these far northern climes. Between farming, clinical practice, the herb school, writing, and my jobby job at our local birthing center, the day-to-day of it all can feel 37
very full, never mind the part where I’m doing most of it with a toddler strapped to my back, and the kimchi won’t ferment itself.
radical perspective, and generally hexing the patriarchy from the comfort of your own home. Plant Healer Magazine has an impressively broad readership, and I don’t expect to be the pestle for every mortar. Please help me write a column that isn’t boring: if there’s a topic you’d like to see, or the thing I wrote makes your hair stand on end and your Patronus appear, email me directly or contact me through my blog at www.oldwaysherbal.com
Thank the Good Green Earth that home herbalism happens as a reflex. There are moments when I am surprised by a forgotten jar of Wild Ginger-Thyme oxymel in my Narnia-like pantry right when I need it, because I’m like a squirrel hoarding nuts when it comes to the bounty of forest and field. Instinct guides me along as I muddle and putter, but a strong foundation of herbal fluency is deeply rooted in the soil of my practice.
Principles of Home Herbalism Instinct and intuition make the art, but they should be rooted in a strong foundation to be successful. Before we dive into formulas and recipes and parenting hacks to get remedies into toddlers, let’s establish a common foundation of principles.
Let us explore the creation of family remedies, including children’s health, nursing parents and their babes, pregnancy & postpartum from a 38
Herbal Lineages
The way that Western Traditions herbalists use herbs is not more right or less right than how Ayurvedic practitioners work, for instance. We may differ on the language we use, our philosophies of energetics, even our understanding of the role of organs in the body, let alone how long we brew tinctures or whether we call alteratives “tonics.” Debate is essential to further our understanding of herbs and healing, but it must originate from a place of curiosity and collaboration; the practice of cutting each other down in order to promote one’s own world view as the only “correct” one harms the art as a whole.
Home herbalism, and folk medicine in general, is a nonhierarchical practice that disrupts white supremacy, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and other manifestations of the Supremacy Paradigm Bullshit Parade, simply through virtue of being accessible to and the provenance of normal folk, both currently and historically. In other words, it’s ours because it was always ours and we continue to make it ours, by using folk medicine and teaching others. There are many different schools of thought in herbalism; they are all right. We accept this basic premise as a gesture of mutual respect across cultures and a rejection of patriarchal white supremacy.
All this is to say: it is a nonhierarchical art. We can all be herbalists, we can all hobble and putter and figure it out, and we can all enthusiastically leap into making our own mistakes. As long as a folk healer is practicing their art ethically (toward people, plants, and everything else), and is not potentially hurting anyone, we all get to be right.
Sometimes, an herbalist or other flavor of folk healer may engage in aggressive criticism or censuring of other practitioners’ perspective; this is a manifestation of internalized supremacy.
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the elderly, as these life stages tend to be more receptive and sensitive. Synergy The principle of synergy states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. My favorite metaphor for this is from an old student of mine. I explained (at great length, and with many hand gestures and probably some pacing), and ended with any questions? and she yells out and in that moment I was in the presence of genius. Because yes: synergy is the difference between tomatoes, onions, and avocados, and guacamole. Synergy is important both in terms of understanding how herbs work and how to use them effectively.
Holism Holism is the central pillar of holistic medicine. This principle states that everything is connected and affects everything else. The idea that you could be walking around with heartburn, trouble sleeping, a stressful job, and a crush on your barista, but none of it is connected: that is a fallacy we resoundingly reject. All things are connected, from the communities of cells in our microbiome and our busy little mitochondrial RNA to our relationships with our families and communities, and to the larger natural world of which we are a small part: our lives directly impact the lives of all other creatures and all aspects of the world around us. We are but a Russian nesting doll.
Whole plant medicine is when remedies are made from actual plant parts, like root tincture, not isolated or standardized compounds. It is often more effective than isolated compounds because many compounds combine synergistically within the plant, working together to accomplish change, whether that’s protection from bacterial infections, warding off insects, or protection from sun damage; plants don’t have legs, after all; instead, they have anthocyanins. This is part of why herbs often have deeper, more long term benefits than pharmaceuticals: herbal medicine is a collaborative effort of phytochemicals working to promote the life of the plant, not an isolated chemical compound affecting a single site.
Balance The goal of all schools of holistic medicine is to reestablish or maintain balance. It is a practice of nurturing our existing strengths and restoring areas that have eroded. The focus is generally on health maintenance and maximization, not heroic medicine. If you cut off your hand, please go to the hospital. We use herbs to maintain or return our bodies to balance by compensating when we are out of balance, without overcompensating in the other direction. Ideally, we start with gentle, nurturing remedies and increase in strength as needed, to promote a reestablishment of balance instead of overcompensation. This is especially important when using herbs with children, pregnancy, and
Additionally, some plant medicines have a synergistic effect when we use numerous parts from the same plant: I tincture Echinacea leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots separately as the seasons progress, then combine them all for a stronger, more complex remedy; this is also sometimes called “whole plant medicine,” which is understandably confusing. Synergy can be enhanced by the route of administration. Nutritive herbs yield more minerals into a vinegary bone-broth soup, and the love and care in cooking increases the healing properties. In general, the practice of 40
food as medicine increases synergy: there is very little that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be improved by lactofermentation and essential fatty acids. The bright resiliency of wild-crafted St Johns Wort, thriving on wind and neglect and dry soil, comes out best in a high alcohol tincture: no succor for the thirsty. Honey is a remedy in its own right, and will impart anti-inflammatory anti-infective probiotic healing awesomeness to whatever you put in it, but picture honeyed tea when you have a sore throat: the sticky soothing slide of the honey relieves pain even as it helps the herbs stick where they need to be, making the herbs more powerful.
medicinal compounds that you want extract best. The plants have a preference for the ideal balance to get the most well rounded medicine; make water-preferential or alcohol-preferential medicine based on what results you want (i.e. burdock tincture versus burdock vinegar). Most plant medicine is best with a balance of both: dandelion, nettles, holy basil. Some really extract best in one or the other: slippery elm, echinacea. Remember that vinegar extracts water-soluble (polar) compounds (and in the case of minerals, is better than water at it). This is not the place for a long exploration of solubility in medicine-making, so please see my website (www.oldwaysherbal.com) for a more in-depth discussion, including how solubility effects tincture-making in 301 easy steps.
Solubility Something is soluble if it dissolves in a particular liquid: picture stirring sugar into hot tea (soluble) versus cold water (not). Plant compounds that we use for medicine have to dissolve in the water/alcohol/honey/oil/etc. All plants contain both water-soluble and alcoholsoluble constituents. The question is how the
Magic Pills Herbs are not substitute pharmaceuticals, and they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t intended to be. A common fallacy is the idea that an herb can be used instead of a pharmaceutical in exactly the same manner.
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There are some cases where this may work reasonably well, like taking Valerian instead of ambien, but the vast majority of the time this is not the case; herbs often take longer to work, work more thoroughly, and work best as part of a formula or protocol. Pharmaceuticals are made up of one or several isolated, concentrated compounds, whereas herbs are made up of hundreds of complex, interacting, synergistic magical things and sunlight and the dreams of raindrops and unicorn flatulence and also phytochemicals.
disappointing to birthing families. pills in herbalism.
No magic
Self-Empowerment We are each the utmost authority on our own health. We are not the utmost authority on someone else’s health. Even when someone is making an unarguably bad choice (quit smoking already) we are not the expert on what’s inside them. We are experts at our practice, and we can be of most use by providing tools to help them self-empower in their healing process: contextualizing what is happening, potential outcomes, risks and benefits of therapies, setting achievable goals, etc. The modern model of the unquestionable doctor-god is problematic in that it directly disempowers healthcare seekers, which sows a lack of agency and prevents selfactualization, especially in the presence of trauma. When in doubt, try “Tell me more about that” and dive right in.
Herbs and drugs are not the same, so let’s accept the premise that we will not be replacing a pharmaceutical with an herb. An example I see frustratingly often is the birthing couple who wants to avoid getting induced with pitocin (an IV medication that causes uterine contractions to induce labor), so buys evening primrose oil (EPO), but doesn’t start taking it until the midwife has given an induction deadline. EPO works well as a cervical ripener, to make the body receptive and juicy and ready to labor, but it’s not plug and play like pitocin: waiting to the last minute usually doesn’t work. The EPO protocol involves weeks of vaginal suppositories and is most effective combined with acupuncture and a partus preparator formula. Many people have just enough herbal information to know EPO without the fluency to use it effectively, which can be extraordinarily
Farewell Building a basic fluency in herbal concepts takes time, and is definitely less fun than learning individual herbs, but the harvest you reap is a well-developed instinct for how to amass and apply your home apothecary. May your kitchen witching bloom as you mull it over.
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2018 Gathering Tribe There may never be another event quite like this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s... do come if you can! Planning continues nonstop on the upcoming Good Medicine Confluence, our 9th annual Plant Healer event, now only two and half months away!
talking points and hashtags, it requires a vision of something new, of an improvement or variation, that allows herbalism to grow, thrive, branch out, and crack through the concrete of systems and habits.
In support of the growing, nonofficial, dynamic and effective folk herbal resurgence, we have chosen to champion more new, nontypical, and regional voices for herbs and healing.
People complain about herbal conferences seeming all the same, though it can only be expected. When a new teacher is revealed at one event, they will usually follow that by seeking finding more places to teach, until many of the teacher names and class topics are duplicated at conferences across the country. This in itself is a very good thing, raising their profiles, getting their knowledge shared wider, and rewarding them for their work. The Confluence is different, largely because of a dedication to discovering, emboldening, and supporting the relatively unheard, whose contributions are in some way unlike anything before. And it is why we ask our teachers to do something which can be
It is all too easy for herbalism or any field or art, to slip into the rote, avoid the stress of challenge and risk of experimentation, for us to become the norm, and even the establishment, without having noticed. It is financially and popularitywise dangerous to switch from accepted herbal practices, or from certain ways of running schools and events, but it is in the taking of chances â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and in the willingness to change and evolve â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that we and our work improve. It is not enough to adopt the language of the latest 43
uncomfortable or even difficult for them to do: designing classes for the Confluence that they have never taught before, topics that arouse their passions while stretching them in new ways. And a reason this works so well, is that we give a platform for these new explorations and studies not only through the event classes, but by publishing their work for a forward looking international audience.
Confluence Links We look forward to seeing many of you in Durango, for our wildest gathering of the tribe ever! And for those unable to attend for whatever reasons, you can count on us to share pics and impressions in the Summer issue of this magazine, and in the June issue of Herbaria. You can now download the detailed class descriptions, by downloading this PDF: http://www.mediafire.com/file/ dlz1c63tgllc2ib/2018_Class_Descriptions.pdf
Our 72 teachers in 2018, bring to the Good Medicine Confluence not only a record 143 classes, but also new perspectives, a depth of experiences, and fresh passion for the healing of bodies, culture, and planet. We are thrilled with the diversity, from naturopaths and midwives to ecopsychologists and botanical artists, from rad organic farmers to scientists exploring the exciting edges between the known and unknown worlds.
To read about our teachers, go to the bios page of the website, where you can also purchase tickets at the pre-event discount rate: http://www.PlantHealer.org/intro.html For any event updates between now and the event in May, be sure you are subscribed to Plant Healer’s supplement, Herbaria Monthly. Simply add your name and email address at the left of the page: www.PlantHealer.org
Much effort was made to ensure a fine balance of practical skills and inspiring ideas, with a range of complexity from basic fundamentals for newbies, to classes that will fascinate event the most advanced practitioner. There will be evening as well as day classes, plant walks, hands-on workshops, special long intensives, and demonstration labs, as well as dance concerts and general out-of-hand celebration!
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Confluence Class Essays With such a huge amount of teachers, there are too many related class essays to be made into a book. Instead, here in Plant Healer Magazine is where you will first read these excellent pieces, and then they will appear later in compilation books focused on various aspects of successful herbal practice.
Work for the coming event began in earnest over a year ago, and has required a fair chunk of our every day since. From site negotiations and reviewing the first new class proposals, to making sure the website for the following year is ready to publish shortly after this Confluence comes to its conclusion. And it is because of you, both grateful attendees and invigorated readers, who through your application of this knowledge and utilization of your empowerment, have lit a fire under the ever more enlivened field of herbalism, and a fire in whose light we, together, dance.
For this issue, we have included a few of these class related articles in the following Gathering Basket department, as well as in other departments throughout, and you can look forward to more of them in all coming issues as well. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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Talking to Plants On Migrations & Origins Text & Photos by Erika Larsen One of the diverse new voices at the Good Medicine Confluence will be Erika Larsen, a queer farmer/herbalist living at Feral Gardens in rural New Mexico. She loves being alone in the woods, cooking, watching plants grow, raising vegetables and herbs for farmers market, picking and tending wild patches for other herbalists and community members, and what she calls messing around in the kitchen! The following fascinating article is the companion essay to her upcoming class about the movements of plants and people. “All of this whirlwind has led me to the Good Medicine Confluence, where I’m excited to share what I’ve got with y’all.” Erika can be reached at <feral.gardens@gmail.com>
Ballyvaughan to Fanore – September 26th.
on the west coast of Ireland. We have ancestors from Ireland, from Counties Cork and Kilkenny, but we both feel far removed from their stories. Hannah Collins, or Fat Grandma, died thirteen years before my mother was born.
In September I walked with my mom from Ballyvaughan to Doolin and back, in the Burren, 46
I came to meet the plants. To ask them what it means to stay, to leave, to understand, to forgive. What I learned isn’t what I expected. I didn’t learn how to live as a settler on stolen land, how to understand my place as part of the Irish diaspora. What I learned is how to be a person in relationship with a plant. Over and over. Plant person. This is our conversation.
dismantling these structures of oppression, how can I ever trust my worldview, my lens, even my language knowing that I was created by these structures, that I have power in these systems? My answer right now is that I can’t. That I am always learning, re-shaping, and that I will look back on past me’s and see my blind spots, read words that I regret.
Language, Lens and Worldview
My story is only my story. There are infinite viewpoints from all of us creatures: humans, plants, other animals, rocks, water, sky. I am adding my story to the discord, the harmony. I am listening to the stories, the chords they create, searching for the quiet ones, being shouted out by others, and trying not to sing off key.
“Stories shape and reflect what is valued in a society; frames create the natural laws that give stories their gravity. Frames shape how a story is told: what is emphasized and deemphasized, included and excluded…While stories are shaped by frames, frames themselves are governed by the worldviews of the storyteller. Worldviews are broad umbrellas of meaning; they can be subconscious and conscious, fluid and deeply rooted, widely spread and individualized. Worldviews consist of collections of frames that distill how stories are told and which stories are told.”
Blackberry Purple stained fingers. I look for the perfectly ripe Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus). Not too shinyred-tart, but not overly matte, the yeast already blossoming. The Brambles join the ivy, twine the Hawthorn, (Crataegus monogyna) follow the twisting branch of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). I try their fruit too, a Wild Plum named Sloe; tart, but tasty. I suck the pit, chew the astringent skin. The road is quiet. The Brambles grow up and over, hang onto and hide a high grey rock wall right up against the road. There’s no shoulder, but it’s early still and the tour busses won’t be here for another couple hours. The cars that come by give us room. I watch my mom’s back up ahead, pack swaying. With each step I can hear the clack of her hiking poles touch the ground, the swish of her pink raincoat. I look for another Blackberry.
Story has always been the way I understand the world. Story and emotion. The language of science, the language of history, I pick through them to find the emotion. I look for the stories behind the stories. The people, the creatures peaking through cracks, around edges. This story is about relationships, about relation between plants and people. And about migration. About what it means to be from somewhere. This story is about plants but ultimately it is about me trying to understand my place in the world. I exist within human created structures, systems of power and forms of control. Empire, colonialism, settler colonialism, white supremacy, christianity. These form boxes around this story. And I exist within them. I am a white settler on stolen indigenous land. I am part of the Irish diaspora. I am always trying to un-learn, re-learn what I have been taught within these boxes, but I know they have formed me, shaped me, are inside of me. If my work is to tear down these boxes, be a part of
I grew up with Blackberries (Rubus armeniacus). My childhood is full of its thickets. Slow moving, crawling through holes, watching for the slice of thorn. The arches of vines, twisted magic worlds in the abandoned places: at the edge of the trees, the bend of the road where the subdivision didn’t get built, near the railroad tracks, along the forgotten creek. One for the mouth, one for the bucket. Making Blackberry 47
lemonade to sell on the sidewalk, and later, filling boxes with berries, and jars with jam, to sell at market.
human inventions. Blackberry can tell me about how to be a human in relation to a Bramble, a fruit.
Blackberry canes, sending out suckers. Sit still and watch them grow. Covering what we neglect and discard, turning houses to shapes, cars to lumps. Once I crossed a river to an abandoned town in the coastal temperate rainforest. Under the cedars: soft carpet and nettles. And the houses, rotten and crumbling, turning to dirt, covered by Brambles. Canes winding through windows, making archways, a wild and magic world of green and purple. Of thorns. It had only been forty years since the people left, but the forest had eaten the town.
Invasive. Native. Naturalized. Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) is “native” to Ireland. Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) was introduced to the Pacific Northwest from it’s “native” range of Armenia and northern Iran by way of India by Luther Burbank. He then distributed it in a special circular of his seed catalog, shipping to gardeners from northern California to British Columbia. It is considered “invasive” in most of this area.
Blackberry. I start thinking about migration, place, identity, who belongs. But Blackberry doesn’t care. Bramble says Eat my berries! Shit them out down the trail. I will grow. I am resurgence: [disturb], resurge, cover, climb, twine. Eat my berries, but go slow. I will not make it easy for you to cut me down. Blackberry can’t tell me about native and invasive, those are
Ideas, as we know them in science and metaphor about native and invasive, come from the lenses and worldview of European colonialists, explorers, empire builders. The words have changed over time and speak to changes in perception and value. Similar terms have often been used for people and plants. 48
“Certain mid-nineteenth century plant geographers, such as Britain’s Hewett Watson, who was familiar with his country’s legal terms for classifying human immigrants, utilized the five part theme of native, denizen, colonist, alien and incognito to categorize plant species as well. Switzerland’s Alphonse de Condolle distinguished plants into cultivated and spontaneous with the latter group subdivided into indigenous, naturalized and foreign.”
role in shaping it’s ecology, cultivation, nature, evolution. “If native plants were an integral part of a cultivated landscape that was (and is) integral to Native American ecosystems, then advocacy of native plants in a manner aimed at return to a pristine nature is not only unrealistic but contradictory. For native plants have always depended on human cultivation. This makes a definition of native plants as independent of human agency untenable.”
Some words that have been used to talk about a plant’s origin, migration, and behavior in community:exotic, foreign, non-native, introduced, alien, invasive, wild, tame, naturalized, anthropophyte, cultivated, apophyte, anthropochore, archaeophyte, neophyte, invasion ecology, explosion ecology.
Cultivating and encouraging pre-invasion plants can be a form of resistance, of working towards decolonization with plants. Plants play a part in the process of colonization, especially the particular variety of settler colonialism that we live with in the United States. Francis Bacon talks about a process of displanting and planting with colonialism. To remove the people, the plants, the animals, that are there and replace them with the settler plants, animals, and people. The tame ones, the cultivated ones. This can be seen with the intentional eradication of the buffalo in the western plains of the U.S. and their replacement with cows. This was a part of the genocide and containment of the people who lived with the buffalo, who were in an interspecies relationship, were companion species, took care of and depended on each other. T4 This process is still happening today, despite the almost successful eradication of buffalo from the country. When some of the last wild buffalo in the country leave Yellowstone park and enter Montana to go to winter feeding grounds, they are controlled by the Department of Livestock(DOL), who proceed to round them up in pens and kill them. When you talk to DOL employees, it’s evident that they are still very much involved in this same process, passed down from their fathers, emotions and all.
The concept of native was created by these same colonizers, to talk about otherness. They were already addressing plants from their explorations as wild, while those from places where colonists lived as tame. Wild meaning other, tame synonymous with civilized. “As Europeans witnessed increasing numbers of exotic peoples and creatures arriving from distant lands, their classification schemes became increasingly place-based. In this way, the native species was born. And, by contrast, once native was created, so was exotic-which by the nineteenth and twentieth century was increasingly substituted by the term alien.” “Native: of the place, born there through nativity. Unlike wild, the newest descriptor tied a species to a particular location, and if it originated from beyond that place, the species became non-native. Conceptually, a native species, if born outside its native habitat, was not native to its new place. The act of labelling a native species involved linking blood to soil.”
Definition of Settler Colonialism:
The contemporary idea of a native plant in the United States often hinges on it being here before European contact or invasion. This idea is muddled up with ideas of pristine wilderness, land not touched by humans, and a desire to return to this. This erases the long relationship indigenous people have and have had with the land throughout the country, playing an integral
“Settler colonialism is a distinct type of colonialism that functions through the replacement of indigenous populations with an invasive settler society that, over time, develops a distinctive identity and sovereignty.” Settler=Invasive. 49
Hawthorn The red fruits of the Hawthorn, there is a softness, a plain roux between the skin and the seed. I know Hawthorn in other places, mostly along roads: gravel ones in Montana (Crataegus douglasii), and city ones in Portland (Crataegus x lavelei, and laevigata). I have felt their calm and often a levity. We have laughed together. Here, I feel the calm, but also a strength in these trees standing in the wind, the salt, holding on to limestone rock. Holding together. Twisted, leafless, the red berries holding on too, to gnarled wood. Age here, in this rock-crag-windsalt, doesn’t mean size, but complexity, an etching. Every year another line cut, adding a layer. I feel you in my heart. Not an opening, but a deepening, a settling in to the understanding of struggle. An accepting of the everything of life. A sitting with the grief of it all. And finding love.
drying, pressing, canning. No saving for the winter. So I savor as many as I can as we walk to Fanore. It’s said the Sloe is too astringent, too bitter to eat raw. Like the Chokecherry it must be preserved, cooked, sweetened, fermented, but I enjoy the flavor, just not too many in a row. It’s January now in New Mexico, and it’s dry. In Albuquerque, where all the news comes from, no rain or snow for 95 days. If you dig down, the ground here still has moisture. The river. I’ve watched it taking a wider shallower path every season since we moved here. It surges and retreats, each time rising up just a little, flattening out. Not the slow making of a canyon, but the climbing back out. The river is still flowing, but there is no snow up valley. No snow in the mountains, Lone Pine and Monte Aplanado are grey, no aspen leaf, no snow, exposed. I wonder if the creatures that eat these fruits, nuts, hips, will be hungry this winter. And if they are hungry, if those that eat them will be hungry too. My grandma always said, Ida tells me at the post office, that when there is disturbance, when the hail comes, or the water doesn’t, when there’s no fruit, that the trees need to rest. Is this the weather and the trees in communication? Do the trees ask the hail to come so they can take a year off of reproduction, of growing fruits, of making the sugars to bring the animals that eat them, then shit out their seeds?
Blackthorn “Whitethorn, Blackthorn, flower maiden, owl,”2 Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, all the thorns. Thorns and fruits. Move slow, they say, Sloe. You can eat, but eat with care. The Sloes remind me of home. Chokecherry, Capulín (Prunus virginia), Wild Plum (Prunus americana), Garden Plum (Prunus domesticus). This year we had no fruit in the valley. No nuts, no Rosehips (Rosa woodsii). A late frost froze most of the flowers and a July hail stripped the rest from the trees. It was a fall without the picking. No Capulín wine. No Chokecherry vinegar. No climbing trees, tossing Apples down. No snap of the skin, biting in to the feral Plums next door. No 50
Magic Shitting Creature, who maybe we’ve never seen, and maybe is the golden weasel like creature one of our dogs treed last summer, leaves us fecal messages. A beautiful spiral in the path, a mound balanced on a rock. We know they are meant for us and they are always full of seeds. Yesterday, I saw what looked like tiny Rubus seeds. At 7500 feet, this valley is too high for Blackberries. Lower down in moist canyons, shady riparian areas, the Himalayan Blackberries have found their way to New Mexico. Here there are Raspberries (both Rubus delicious var. neomexanicus 4 and Rubus idaeus). I didn’t see any on the canes this year. Maybe magic shitting creature dried some for the hard times? Also recognizable are seeds and skins of Uva-Ursi (Arctostaphylus uva-ursi) and what looks like some kind of nut meat. Our friend must have stashed those away too. I wonder about the squirrels. How are their stashes? Will they make it through the winter? Will we have another mast year?
No one is sure when the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) came to Ireland, but it is known that their populations declined significantly with the deforestation of Ireland that had been progressing slowly from full forestation for about 9,000 years, but whose speed increased dramatically in the mid 16th century due to industrialization, the English plantations and the increase in population they caused. Red Squirrels may have been extinct or close to extinct on the island when they were reintroduced in the 1800’s at multiple locations. Their population spiked quickly, with red squirrels found in every county of the country. The population then declined quickly as well. The eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), native to the eastern United States, was released around the same time. The grey squirrel is now considered invasive in parts of Europe. They carry squirrel parapoxvirus which can be fatal to the red squirrel. Ireland has 2% of it’s original forest. Much of this is monoculture re-planting. I6
Blackthorn you provide for the hard times. Sloe gin: prick the skins, cover with sugar and gin, let sit. Strain and drink. Sloe gin wine, jam. Burying the fruits to soften and ripen. Recipes, techniques passed down through generations. Connection with ancestors, harvest that came before.
Squirrel populations increase and decrease, often dramatically, based on their food supply. Trees communicate with each other and produce many nuts in one year, a mast year, to make more nuts than the squirrels and other nut eaters can eat with the hope that nuts will sprout from forgotten stashes. The trees then have years of minimal nut production, what I call rest years, when squirrel populations that increased during the mast year will decline. This feels like the ebb and flow of plant migration on a different scale. But squirrels need trees to survive. Where I live, there are two species of squirrels, the Abert’s squirrel (Sciurus aberti) and a different Red Squirrel (Tamiascurus hudsonicus). They have chosen just different enough habitats and survival strategies to live as neighbors and not effect each other’s populations. I live at the elevation line where one habitat ends and the other begins. Abert’s squirrels live in four geographically isolated populations in the southwestern U.S. and north central Mexico. They live in the Ponderosa Pines (Pinus ponderosa), making nests in trees where there is a
Squirrels: on Tree Relationships & Place in Community 51
canopy of touching trees of more than 200 ponderosa or more. This is counter to the tree thinning plans for ponderosa forests where humans are trying to mimic fire by logging and create meadow-like stands of far-spaced trees. Abert’s squirrels are non-territorial and move from nest to nest, can room with other squirrels when space is tight, but usually prefer solitude. They eat many parts of the Ponderosa including cones, apical seeds, inner bark, and fungi that’s in relation to the tree. Abert’s squirrels don’t cache food for the winter like other squirrels, but survive mostly on the inner bark of Ponderosa twigs. This interspecies relationship, Ponderosa and Abert’s squirrel, what does it feel like? What does the Ponderosa think about it?
humans around here do tend to hoard the Pine nuts, year to year, through the hard times
Hart’s Tongue
The red squirrels live just up the valley, where the Aspen (Populus tremuloides) starts and the ponderosa fades away. They also like a tree canopy that touches, preferring higher elevation forests in northern latitudes. We are at the southern end of their range. Red squirrels make extensive underground caches and build a variety of different kinds of homes, sometimes digging multi chambered tunnels. They also live in trees, either in tree holes or building globe shaped homes by weaving bark, twigs, grasses, feathers, fur, whatever they can find. Red squirrels have more of a variety in their diet. They love Pine cones, and will sometimes eat from 60% 100% of the cones produced in a year, but they also eat the nuts from deciduous trees, berries, fungi, tree sap, bird’s eggs, and the young of many other creatures including birds, mice and snakes. They hardly ever drink water, getting their moisture from the food they eat. Their caches are called middens and they protect them very vocally. The Oaks are famous for their mast years. Other trees also communicate in this way and time their seed production to overwhelm the squirrels. Do the conifers do this with the red squirrels? Does it works despite their diversified diet? I know that lower down in elevation the Piñon trees have what seem like mast years, lots of cones one year, then nothing the next, to overwhelm the stashing capacity of all of us creatures out collecting. And we
I catch up to my mom. She has set her pack down and ducked inside the short doorway of a small stone building on the side of the road. We crouch in the dark and rest. Water fills the narrow room, clear, pooled over smooth pea sized rocks. A candle, a picture, and Hart’s Tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) growing from the walls. Spirits thicken the air. Generations. Prayers. The well, Tobercornan, is both holy and a source of drinking water, especially during times of drought. The sacred and the everyday. The ferns are ancestors too. 290 million years ago there were ferns. And here today, ferns. I feel the ebb and flow of glaciers, the movement of continents, the migration of generations following glacial retreat. The survival in refugia, tiny pockets, for thousands of years. The migration of plants, like water, ebbing and flowing. The visitor’s center at Dry Falls in northeastern Washington has a video that, at 20, changed my perception of the world. First I learned about the tiny horses and camels that used to live in these dry sagebrush scablands. Tiny camels the size of dogs. They lived in a lush old growth hardwood forest. And then came the lava flows, covering trees and laying down layer after layer of basalt. And the glaciers advanced. I learned about glacial lake Missoula. You can still see the waves etched into the hills around town. The ebb and flow of the glaciers created a giant lake across 52
northwestern Montana. The lake had an ice dam. And the dam broke. The water from the lake surged across Eastern Washington and out the Columbia Gorge. The water flowed so hard that, in a tight spot, it got caught, and started flowing backwards. Dry Falls. You can see it out the window of the visitor’s center, crackly brown grass, the shape cut into dinosaur hills, is the largest known water fall in the world, four times bigger than Niagara Falls. The water moved mountains with it’s flow. It pulled apart cliffs and sent rocks tumbling into the ground creating the scablands: potholes, some still filled with water, 40 ft deep, swimming holes in scrublands. This happened again. And again. You can see it in the land. Where did the plants find refuge?
different name based on where it grows and that the ones that grow on Oaks are much stronger medicinally. What I can’t learn is what wasn’t written down. I can’t find any information about the medicinal difference between polypody on Oaks and polypody on rocks. I can read about the magic of these plants, the myths, the stories. But these don’t feel like mine. There is something missing in the reading, something I needed from the telling. This part feels like the stories I need to hear from the plants, from this land, from the relationship of plant and me. Hanna Collins, my great-great-grandmother, was born in 1848, four years into the Great Famine. Her parents died when she was two, probably from the flu. These two farmers were two of the million who died from starvation, or disease related to malnourishment. When she was eight she became one of the million who emigrated from Ireland as a result of the Potato blight. What generational knowledge was lost when Ireland lost 25% of it’s population to death or emigration?
Hart’s Tongue, you speak to me of sense of time. You remind me that I am small, that I am part of a stream, that my idea of generations is limited. Time and space are long and deep. Generational knowledge has been lost and found again. The story I am looking for may be hiding to the south waiting for the weather to warm. Or it might be on a mountain top, the last patch, waiting for the cold that will never come.
What plant knowledge Hannah Collins could have passed down to me was lost with the death of her parents, with her leaving the place where generations of her family had learned to live with plants. There are infinite ways loss of generational knowledge happens. Many purposeful. Clark County, Wisconsin, where my great great grandmother settled in 1867, where my mother was born, was home to the Neilsville Indian School. Ho-Chunk children were forced to speak English and forcibly, violently, disconnected from Ho-Chunk culture. The school opened shortly after Hannah moved there and didn’t close until my mother was 13, in 1957. There are many ways of forgetting, and just as many paths back to remembering.
Generational Knowledge As we walk I am learning from the plants, but I am learning about human knowledge of these plants from books. I learn from reading that an ointment of Hart’s Tongue is used for burns, scalds, bites, and warts in Ireland. I learn that Wall-Rue is called Herb-of-the-Seven-Gifts, but not what those seven ailments it treats are. I learn that Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) grows on both Oaks and walls, but that it has a
“Years ago a New Mexican curandera advised me never to gather Capulín bark before the berries started to grow, usually by late June, because it could make people sick if picked in the Spring,” writes Michael Moore about Chokecherry. (I9) I follow this advice as I think do a lot of other readers of his books, and those of us who sat in class and listened to his stories. 53
But I don’t know who this curandera is. I don’t know anything that surrounds this knowledge, the relationship she had with capulín. There are many mistakes to be made in re-learning. What information is mine to learn, to share? What are the respectful ways to do this? Who am I within this story, this telling and what are the structures surrounding me? How do I give credit and thanks for knowledge and stories if I don’t know where they have come from? What generational human knowledge is being held in the memories of plants? How do I listen?
the most. We take it slow. The path has just been cleared, fresh cut branches and Brambles laid down. But only the path is clear, the Brambles still climb the fence, twine with the ivy, the Hawthorn, the Blackthorn, and in the twine I see hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium). When I was little, my mom and I wrote a poem about this twine. It started, “Berries black and glories morning”. Hedge Bindweed, a plant from home. Under the oaks I touch you all the time. Untwining strangle hold. Hedge Bindweed and Bindweed (Convulvulus arvensis) grow together, encircling the Nettles. I want to eat the Nettles, to dry them for tea. I want them to thrive. I spread their seeds around, grow the patch. I unstrangle the hold so the nettles can survive. On this rocky path on the side of the hill I have no desire to untwine. The black berries with the white pink moon flowers, this relationship is about creating beauty. Hedge Bindweed is a plant from all over. “Sub-cosmopolitan distribution throughout the temperate northern and southern hemispheres.” 7 Field Bindweed is from the mediterranean but now lives all over the world. In the fields where I call home, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), Burdock (Arctium minus), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Malva (Malva neglecta), Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis) and Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) all grow, along with both native and introduced species of Chenopodium (Quelites/Lambsquarter) and Plantago (Plantain). They come up along with native plants like Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata), Blue Sage (Salvia azurea), New Mexico Ground Cherry (Physalis foetens var. neomexicana), all of them loving the open ground and exposure of their seeds to light where I turn it, where the gophers do.
Bindweed Just past the sacred well we climb up the hill through a field, the trail eroded with deep fissures from the water flowing down. A rope runs as a handrail for the steep muddy climb. There are no signs, but the trail joins another cut across the slope a quarter of the way up the limestone hill, a whale lump over the ocean. Our path is low enough that it is still covered in lush growth. Looking up I see the etched rock bare above, and down, the fields, the road, the ocean, and way off across the water, more land, the white shape of a wind turbine.
These plants here, in this place, in this time, seem to be finding a balance. I hope that I am a part of that balance. But all I can see is us in the now. I don’t have the view of more than this moment to compare it to. What was this like 60 years ago, what will it be two generations from now? I am listening, observing, finding my way to what I hope can be an ever-shifting
The path is muddy, narrow, a short stone wall keeping it from falling down the hill. Sharp rocks jut up from the mud. It is step-up, stepdown, slide. This is what my mom’s knees hate 54
homeostasis with the community of all of us making up this place I call home. A balancing act of relationship and adaptation for what is to be here, to survive together in the anthropocene. The migrations that will happen. Who new will come, who will move higher, farther north with climate change? There will be change. It might come fast, be unpredictable. But for now I am moving slow. I am asking what is my role? How can I do better? I am learning.
vulgaris). Self Heal, cow pies and mud on a trail ten times as wide as the one above. Green roads are also called famine roads. The Great Famine also called the Great Hunger. When there was nothing to eat, the English government, still in many ways maintaining colonial power, did not want to give food out for free, so they made people work to eat. Building roads, often to nowhere. And walls. I can see some here, heading up the limestone, walling off nothing. These men, clearing trail, are they the great grandchildren of the builders of this road, clearing the trail made of hunger? The Self Heal here is a vibrant red-purple, maybe the most beautiful color I have ever seen. At home the flowers are a darker purple. I appreciate their color and goofiness. I sing them songs and pick flowers for washes and lotions. Self Heal, I feel you here, healing. Knitting the layers back together. Following the forced labor that built this place, the fear, the hunger. Not just covering it with your beauty and laughter, but repairing. Growing in the disturbance and bringing brilliance, red-purple and soothing, to the remembering. Mountain Avens We walk up the wide green grass, through mud, past the cows, their trough leaking. The road climbs and the hill descends as we get to Blackhead, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark rock jutting out into water. And the wind starts, almost blows us over. You can see the wind in the land. All plants short, flat to the ground, holding on. The grass gets shorter, there is more stone. And, tiny-leafed and leathery, there is Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetela), cascading over the rocks. The seed heads remind me of Anemones, but Mountain Avens is in the rose family. A YARFA (yet another rose family astringent), but these rose family plants feel all the more special for their multitudes. 10 They are there with us, where we are, tightening the loose, drying the boggy, so gently. Mountain Avens, lover of limestone outcroppings. Circumboreal, arctic-alpine: Alaska, Iceland, Scandanavia, the Alps, the Burren. Mountain Avens, today you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk of astringency, but survival. Your home, these rocks, this wind. Not many survive, but you
Self Heal I hear a chainsaw. And voices. It has been quiet, some wind, the cars below are silent ants. All day we have seen no one, so the voices are jarring. The chainsaw dies and over a stile, around a curve, we come on two men smoking, tools and coats and bags strewn across the path. Past them the trail is an idea, a pushing through. My mom has read about the green roads, and she is ready to get to the part of the trail where the rocks stop, the path widens and turns to grass. The easy walking. We ask how far, and they point to some sheep in a field ahead and below. Just past those sheep they say. I squint: sheep. And below the sheep is the road, tour busses now slowing to inch past each other. We push on, over the waterfalls, through the mud, to the green road. Farther than it looked, the trail cut down some switchbacks. And there is Self Heal (Prunella 55
passed down through generations. It is also not the stereotype sold to tourists in gift stores. Since the famine, Ireland has been searching for past connections. Re-learning Gaelic, reconnecting with past knowledge, culture, magic. And also marketing itself and these connections as a tourist attraction. A lot of work has gone into connecting with the Irish diaspora and marketing to us, creating tours, ancestral research societies. What am I, are we, expecting from this ancestral tourist experience? Is there something specific herbalist or witches are expecting from this experience? How is this effecting the places I visit? How am I being changed? Is this ease of connecting to precolonial culture what makes connecting with Irish ancestors more desirable or easier than following other threads of often complicated ancestral identities, especially for people like me, white settlers? Is it a desire to identify with the oppressed instead of the oppressor? How do I do the work I need to do to understand, connect, heal, and still see the ways this searching can be problematic? How do I see my blind spots, understand the context for my desires? The ways my desires are used for profit, for power? The tour buses I watched from above, that we squeezed into hedgerows to let pass, were headed to the Cliffs of Moher, just south of Doolin. 1.4 million people visited the cliffs last year. My mom and I took the bus past the cliffs on our way back to the Shannon airport. The fog had moved in and the cliffs we’d seen from afar as we walked were invisible. All I could see were parking lots, and barely visible through the wet cloud, the visitor’s center.
prefer it. This is what you look for, around the top of the globe. Limestone and wind. Millions of leaves make mounding patches, low, low to the ground, but your seeds stand tall, ethereal smoke wisps, calling the wind. Waiting to be blown. My mom and I, we walk on. Still a long way to go, we lean into the wind. Reading Before Bed At night, I read to my mom from A Book of Migrations. The author is walking across Ireland, where some of her ancestors are from, writing about migration, origin, movement.
“The motion of walking,” I continue reading, “this rhythmic rocking, seems to set the mind loose to wander on its own paths. The weight of baggage on my back, the weight of history in my head; the picture of a world bereft of everything but a walker on a road is nothing more that that, a picture, the picture I set out with, the fantasy of travel as an opportunity to clear my head rather than rearrange it.”
“There are situations in which tourism can encourage the preservation of a place, but far more frequently, tourists inadvertently stimulate an industry at the cost of the local culture. Cultures, after all, evolve and change, but tourists most often want an unchanged vision of the past.” Ireland is not what it was when my great great grandmother left, not the memory of it that she
I pause, listen to my mom’s steady breaths, and turn off the light. 56
Some References, Thoughts, & Thank You’s
http://www.otheringandbelonging.org/frames-lifeliberation-belonging/
Thank you Blackberry, feeder of flocks, leader of the resurgence! Tart sweet!
Luther Burbank, was a plant breeder working in California during the second half of the 1800’s. He wanted to develop varieties of vegetables that could be shipped fresh on the newly built transcontinental railroad to the people migrating to industrializing cities who could now afford to buy them. The Russet burbank potato, the variety used by McDonald’s, the freestone peach, elephant garlic, and the shasta daisy are all his creations. Luther Burbank was also interested in eugenics. He wanted to breed people. In 1907 Burbank wrote a book called Training the Human Plant hoping to breed a superior race from the diverse genetic supply found in immigration to the United States. He was firmly planted within the white supremacist ideals of the eugenics movement.
“Thorn trees line the paths into Faery. The entrances are graced by the Hawthorn, Maythorn, or Whitethorn, of Beltane. At the end of the road is the Blackthorn that marks the path into the Underworld.” Winterspells: Life on the Magical Path: Legacy of the Witchblood http://www.houseofwinterspells.com/Witchcraft, %20Occultism,%20Witchlore,%20faery%20seership/ Blackthorn/
Thank you Hawthorn, you tiny love apple! I do my best to use the most current latin names, but sometimes I’m not sure which one that is. Rubus deliciosus var. neomexicana seems to also be called Rubus neomexicana. I call them Raspberries. The book I use most for plant identification here at home is Flora Neomexicana III: An Illustrated Identification Manual, by Kelly W. Allred and Rober Dewitt Ivey. It gives it’s copyright date as 2012, but I’ve noticed that some of the latin names are not up to date, and I’ve found plants significantly outside of the ranges given, usually spreading north and up.
Human Dispersal and Species Movement, From Prehistory to the Present, Chapter 16, by Marcus Hall Botanical decolonization: rethinking native plants, by Tomaz Mastnak, Julia Elyachar, and Tom Boellstorff http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1068/d13006p
Settler Colonialism – Global Social Theory https://globalsocialtheory.org/concepts/settlercolonialism/
Blackthorn, thank you for reminding me of home, of connection to place, to ancestors. Home in many ways. You are serious and I appreciate that. Thanks.
The history of the Red Squirrel in Ireland, by by Denise O'Meara and Andrew Harrington
Refugium (plural refugia): an area in which a population of organisms can survive through a period of unfavorable conditions, especially glaciation.
https://www.irelandswildlife.com/history-red-squirrelireland/
Sciurus aberti, Abert’s squirrel, by By Amanda Marks http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sciurus_aberti/
Thank you Hart’s Tongue, you tropical sea creature. And your Fern friends: rusty back (Asplenium ceterach), maiden’s hair (Adiantum capillus-veneris), wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria). I love your movement. I love your hanging on.
Scientific name: Tamiascurus hudsonicus Common name: Red Squirrel, by Moe Ortz http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/ speciespages/redsquirrel.htm
Bindweed, you are beauty, and you can kill, under over around. Strangle. You are a mystery. I am listening.
Medicinal Plants of Mountain West, Michael Moore A huge thank you to all the people whose words and knowledge have been written down in books without any acknowledgment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calystegia_sepium
Thank you Self-Heal, for bringing all of you.
A Book of Migrations, Rebecca Solnit
Thank you Mountain Avens, may your seeds blow far and find good limestone. IFrames for Liberation and Belonging, by Evan Bissell
Thank you for walking with me mom! 57
Ardently Alkaloids! by Heather Irvine Heather is a former foraging frolicker, who aims at answering some of often asked but tougher questions in herbalism, such as: how herbs work, and what are the real versus theoretical safety issues. She teaches Actions and Chemistry for the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, and is presenting on the topic of alkaloids at the Good Medicine Confluence. This excellent article will not be the last you see in Plant Healer.
“Alkaloids”, sharp on the ear, intriguing, boastful to pronounce, quiets the disbelievers.
surely other herbalists on a similar step of their journey were in the same boat!
Herbalists, medical professionals, even pharmacists and chemists hush and nod in agreement – no further questions – approving. They understand that you understand what it means that many active constituents of plants are alkaloids. Compounds that are alkaloids range from common analgesics to some of the real heroic medicines – fast acting with definite effects.
I knew from context clues (here I credit herb school exclusively) that alkaloids were going to potentially have sharp and immediate effects on the nervous system. Most of the ones I knew were relaxants but some could be stimulants. Others had more nuanced effects along these lines, and though the statement: “It’s alkaloids” gained a nod of approval, usually about one in ten people, clever and cantankerous, including once to my chagrin one very self-educated child waist high to me, would contest this statement: “Alkaloids are poisonous.” True, little man!
Whispered among the brave and curious: “What exactly are alkaloids anyway? Do you know?” Some years ago with newly minted c ompletion of additional organic and biochemistry courses under my belt, which tied in more than I hoped for (but never enough) with my passion for health and herbalism, I set out to answer some of these questions. Even though “alkaloid” was a regular part of my vocabulary as an herbal product maker and seller, convincing customers individually, I didn’t precisely know. If I was still not able to articulate exactly what an alkaloid is,
This was a definite part of the picture I had also gained from context clues as a student, and was very aware of as I advised use of any alkaloid rich herbs. However, it seemed complicated to mention and explain to the faint of heart who just wanted to take something as advised for sleep, relaxation, or pain relief and were impatient for a quick answer.
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The details of the deadliest plant constituents had in either case been “beyond the scope of this course”. Not the case here and now!
While you still have some stamina I’m going to jump right in to a technical part, which you could try to visualize. You will be rewarded later with more flowery and swashbuckling bits.
not called alkaloids. And here is a kicker: not every alkaloid has its nitrogen in a ring, but if it doesn’t it will have some other structural qualities that give it physical qualities and potential effects somewhat like the other alkaloids. (I am going to venture that those are beyond the scope, being exceptions, causing even professional chemists to pause to gather steam for the debate.) Alkaloids are a family of association having similar traits and similar effects, but made up of a string of definitions and physical qualities.
Technically speaking, an alkaloid has a nitrogen atom in a ring of carbon atoms. If your head is rolling already, keep in mind that this characteristic bears some similarity to some of the amino acids. It is believed that most of the alkaloids are synthesized from one of a few amino acids: tryptophan, lysine, or tyrosine. Of the three, tyrosine has a nitrogen in a carbon ring. However, the other two can reasonably form a nitrogen-containing ring with a little manipulation. In addition, amino acids happen to be precursors to some important neurotransmitters.
Plant lovers and naturalists, we are coming back down to earth. Alkaloids occur in plants, fungi, bacteria and in just a few really unique animals. Another part of definitions of alkaloids includes: poisonous agents that protect plants against insects and herbivory. This trait is so common among the natural alkaloids that it is actually part of some sources’ definition for the group of chemical compounds!
Alkaloids, special by having nitrogen in a ring and therefore have a unique quality in common with some amino acids and neurotransmitters, should be your mantra for the next five seconds.
Many compounds have since been synthesized in the approximation of natural alkaloids for various agricultural and medicinal uses. Even though we are talking about a group with common structural traits as defined by the clunky ball and stick models adorning desks of nerds for ages, the league of scientists has long recognized the evolutionary or ecologic position in the choir of these special compounds.
We could get more technical than that but maybe don’t need to. Phew! But here is one more little pseudo-fact (because it’s not always entirely true and rates on a continuum) that should be easy to remember. We call alkaloids alkaloids because these compounds tend to have an alkaline property specifically at the nitrogen atom. In other words, the nitrogen atom tends to give the molecule the quality of a base, as opposed to an acid. This concept will mean more to you if you have taken some chemistry courses. If not, it’s ok as you are still going to get just as much out of this as anybody else. If you have not, don’t get ahead of yourself: it does not mean that alkaloids are basic or really have any bearing on the acid-alkali diet. (Did I beat you to your punch-line?)
So what is that special position in the choir? I personally get giddy about the term: “Plant secondary metabolites.” Ages ago I took Plant Physiology on a lark that this could somehow relate to herbalism. Wow! One day the prof announced that plant secondary metabolites had zero metabolic function to the plant itself, which is to say they were not directly for energy storage, structure or reproductive function. They required energy and matter to make, but did not provide an apparent role in the plant itself. The plant could do without them. However, many of these compounds have profound effects on insects, animals, and potentially other plants.
Let us also pause on a few clarifications so you don’t end up a fool if unfortunately cornered by some unassuming looking alkaloid know-it-all (like the child from my story). Amino acids, though they share qualities with alkaloids, are not called alkaloids. Neurotransmitters, though they some share qualities with alkaloids, are also 59
Do you see where this is going? Of course, I knew that plant poisons and medicines existed, but now I had a container for them in an additional discipline to herbalism. I was excited to find out which science cares about this group of compounds other than calling them weird outliers designated for the fun facts section of text books. What’s more is that the production of these compounds could be affected by events such as herbivory, environmental conditions, or even a stroke of lightening on an isolated event. The reason plants kept making these compounds, even though in a “vacuum” or in the absence of herbivory or other competition, is that they typically had some evolutionary advantage in the way the compounds affected animals or us – and sometimes in profound ways! Plant secondary metabolites were definitely where the rubber met the road for the compounds of herbalism I was most interested in!
In some plant families known for poisonous or medicinal effects, 60-70% of the species have alkaloids. The ten plant families with the greatest number of alkaloids are: Apocynaceae (dogbane family), Asteraceae (probably by sheer number through processing so many of the flowering plant species), Berberidacea (barberry family), Boraginaceae (borage, or forget-me-not family), Fabaceae (legumes), Papveraceae (poppy family), Ranunculaceae (buttercup or crowfoot family), Rubiaceae (coffee, madder, or bedstraw family), Rutaceae (rue or citrus family), and Solanaeae (nightshade family). This fact is repeated in so many texts and places online that I am unsure which is the source! Pause to see if you can think of some plants that probably contain alkaloids based on their family and their effects on the mind. Many of the early drugs that are still in use today, and very many emergency medicines, are derivatives of alkaloids from plants. This is to say they are the same or very close or have a similar backbone and were designed after the plant compound. You may think it is only a pipedream of enthusiastic followers of bioprospecting fantasies (people we might be friends with), but medicinal chemists still look to alkaloids from plants for drug design. I said we would be getting back down to earth though.
Although higher plants are said to have harnessed and honed more of the clever alkaloid making skills, earlier plants have alkaloids too! “Higher plants” refers to plants that filed in later in evolutionary history, namely the vascular plants and more specifically the flowering plants. It is said that at least 10-30% of higher plants contain alkaloids. Lower plants include mosses, liverworts and lichens. These can have alkaloids to, particularly antibiotic or antifungal alkaloids. For example, the lichen Usnea barbata, also called Old Man’s Beard or just Usnea, is one in which herbalists and chemists call antibiotic.
What actions might we speak of and why, when talking about alkaloids in plants we use? Bitters. Some but not all bitters are alkaloids, and though the modern soft fleshed upright human is particularly prickly about the taste of bitter (probably as an evolutionary adaptation which eliminated the bolder plant tasters), the bitters we modern western herbalists tend to use are among the gentler in range of safety of alkaloid containing plants. We can also use small amounts to achieve the desired effects. Familiarity and sensible use improves safety track records and, in this case, helps us be more resourceful and ecological plant hunters. For example, Menyanthes trifoliate (Bog Bean), which grows in such a delicate environment that many herbalists will see it in the wild rarely if 60
ever, is a favored digestive bitter by some of the few who know it. While we could argue for other bitters, more common plants, and I would generally, the bitter alkaloids called the “active constituent’” are detectable at possibly a dilution of up to 10,000 times! This should suggest a low dose may work!
widely available, and may have even changed the outcome of certain wars! I led into this topic by describing why certain plants needed antibiotics. In thinking about how to describe the connection, the term “little poisons” comes to my mind. These are compounds that are poisonous to the simpler or single celled or small organisms, but that larger beings with different metabolism can withstand.
Let us get not only dirty but holistic: why would bitter alkaloids elicit the system wide eliminative promoting actions in the GI tract, possibly even act as subtle expectorants to the respiratory tract, and likely even promote healthy immune surveillance as well as increase metabolism and elimination of toxins? It may go back to the evolutionary adaptation for adverseness to bitter, which could signal poisonous alkaloids in plants, fungi, including spoilage and bacteria. A few bitter tolerant strains of humans slipped through the cracks (is it any wonder that herbalists are the weird ones) as sensitivity to bitter is wildly varied. Feeling demoralized that herbalism might not be your talent? If you are intolerant of bitter, you can build your tolerance!
I love antibiotic herbs and would not call most of them poisons (though some are!). Many are just tolerated much better by humans than “germs” are. Some interrupt processes of adhesion or replication by the bacteria and have no ill effects on humans. Those would be ideal of course! One notable antibiotic alkaloid is Berberine of the Berberis genus. It is antibacterial, antifungal, amoebicidal, antimalarial and more! Sanguinarine is another antibacterial. You may know it from Sanguinaria canadense or Chelidonium majus. Although it is a low dose herb internally to use only after training with other herbalists or very careful study, it has history of use as an oral rinse to inhibit bacteria adherence to teeth and gums. Both of these have been patented and recognized as active ingredients. The reason I point this out is to demonstrate that alkaloids are largely the constituents recognized by conventional medicine, having more conventionally measurable activity. For each action, where I give one or two examples there are many.
Next topic, antimicrobials. Plants, fungi, lichens, mosses, and ferns have antibiotic properties because they live in creepy, stinky, wet, dark places and can’t run away from there. (I know that sounds like an herbalist speaking but a chemist, charged with teaching premeds said this. I think I was the only one who heard.) Secondary metabolites, often alkaloids, were advantageous to fend off the so called creepy crawlies, namely bacteria and fungi, followed by insects and on up through the food chain. Humans may have caught onto to some medicinal or therapeutic effects of alkaloid plants, perhaps by watching animals. Early physicians and chemists, a long time ago, followed suit with country remedies when determining what plants and drugs to prescribe for infection. Once we had an idea what some of the sources and qualities of alkaloids were, chemists set out to distill or replicate the medicinal essence. The first techniques that gave humans a way to synthesize that carbon ring structure were a boon in making antibiotics 61
In being “little poisons” many alkaloids also have the potential to be sedative or pain relieving. Don’t get me wrong, some are great big poisons to be revered and only used by herbalist with training guided directly by more experienced practitioners, and in the most necessary cases. In this section, we will climb down the hill from the most dramatic and impractical, to gentler alkaloid pain relievers, sedatives, and hypotensives (blood pressure lowering agents).
but explain a little more about the particular actions or effects. Basically in some cases, in some places in the body and with some plant or fungi alkaloids there may be a close similarity between the structure of the neurotransmitter that normally elicits a signal conduction in the body, say, as in adrenaline which tells your heart to speed up, or serotonin, which can change the intensity of some nerve impulses, as well as having many other effects. Some main types of actions on neurotransmitters, which may be used to name certain actions of alkaloids include; cholinergic, adrenergic, opiate and serotonergic, referring to the type of neurotransmitter they imitate, potentiate or have the overall effect of.
Morphine of the Opium Poppy is perhaps the king of all pain relievers, but we aren’t going to use that one! Aconite is a slightly less famous but even more potent sedative. Herbalists do not use this one unless they really have followed another clinician carefully, side by side, in a number of experiences in its use. Basically I would advise against, but it is a dramatic example which slows the heart and is certainly a quick-acting lethal poison only very rarely used as a strong pain remedy (in a pinch and using a diluted application). Topical use is just slightly more common, but it can be fatal by absorption.
In the simplest sense, though direct and possibly quite strong, an alkaloid my ‘look’ and act like the neurotransmitter itself. Think of a simple model in which a receptor site on the receiving end of a nerve cell, the dendrite (named for its outstretched web of branches, like a tree) is a keyhole and the neurotransmitters and other substances that can talk to it or elicit nerve transmission though it are keys of a similar cut. The right structural similarity and another molecule unlocks the key, transmitting the signal. (The really cute and sinister thing about alkaloids, whether from plants, fungi or synthetic, however is that we really have no way of knowing exactly what the compound will do, if it will be a great key or a dud, until we try it out, much like how the person who copies your keys takes great care, compares the key with pride, then urges you to keep your receipt and try out your copy soon and before you really need it!)
Let’s step down a bit from the poisons. I said “little poisons” because I was feeling cheeky. But another way we can look at “how alkaloids do stuff”, so to speak, it that they speak a language with a lot of similar words to those used by our nervous system. (This is an analogy for their chemical structure and potential recognition by receptor sites in the nervous system.) Remember in the beginning, alkaloids bearing a similarity to some amino acids and neurotransmitters was your mantra? By bearing structural resemblance to certain amino acids, amino acid precursors and neurotransmitters, alkaloids can have unique nervous system actions from weak to strong. In some cases alkaloids act directly on neuroreceptors and in other cases the alkaloid may inhibit or facilitate, enhance or lengthen the action of enzymes on their receptor sites. For some of you this content may be easy, others are grasping for rewind. We are going to press on,
There are a few main types of actions that we typically classify as; cholinergic, adrenergic, opiate and serotonergic, by the type of neurotransmitter or receptor the substances acts on. These are bolded, just to help you make sure you’ve walked away with the gist of them. There is a lot to each of these actions, many ways each works. This is merely a gestalt introduction. 62
Substances including herbs which are cholinergic are generally said to be memory promoting, as well as supporting alertness and a content calm. Acetylcholine for which this group is named is also involved in normal muscle contraction. Some cholinergics promote the release of acetylcholine others slow its degradation, lengthening the time a single molecule works, others promoting its effects on nerve cells in other ways. Lemon balm is an example, which makes cholinergic cells more receptive, which is probably at least partly responsible for its calming, attention promoting effects. Other cholinergic herbs, Sage, Rosemary, Ginkgo, Gotu kola, and Huperzia clubmoss. Not all of these herbs have alkaloids to credit for their cholinergic effects.
declines with age related dementia. This is one of the notable longer term applications for plant alkaloids. I sense some of you slumping even though that was actually pretty exciting material if you got through it ok. Let us step it up to the adrenergic examples. As you may guess these act like or otherwise enhance adrenaline or the activity of the receptors for it. Pause and see if you can guess at a few adrenergic plant compounds or plants in general. Ephedra, yep! Though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use is not advised unless you have trained closely with an experienced herbalist, and note, it is now illegal!
Others include Coca, Butcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Broom, and generally some of the stronger stimulants.
Let us focus on Huperzia. Huperzia serratta is a clubmoss possessing compounds which were the focus of one medicinal chemist close to me. Having been used for ages to treat or prevent dementia, chemists have unraveled particular alkaloids we call Huperzine (A and so onâ&#x20AC;Ś) until we believe we have collected the set, which could be the most immediately active constituents. Huperzine does indeed inhibit an enzyme which breaks down acetylcholine. The effect being preservation of acetylcholine. You may know that acetycholine or its activity
Lobelia is interesting. By the way it possesses at least thirteen classified alkaloids, in that it inhibits some of the adrenergic receptors, having an effect of relaxing smooth muscle, as in the airway, which is how advanced first aid trained herbalists apply it during wheezing or an asthma attack in absence of an asthma inhaler or any other conventional intervention, or to buy time to bring conventional treatments to the asthma sufferer or the asthmatic to conventional care. 63
Lobelia
You might start to think about how the eclectics and some complex thinking herbalists apply Lobelia to many different formulas as an adjuvant. It has the potential to be kind of a reverse adrenergic, potentially relaxing the muscles of the GI tract for example, possibly dilating blood vessels mildly also, a potential hypotensive, yet it is not a purveyor of total lassitude. It is said to be somewhat like nicotine, possessing balanced relaxant and stimulating qualities. Some of the alkaloids in Lobelia have been called Nicotinic, for direct action on the nicotinic receptors, which has actions mush more intrinsic to life than responding to nicotine. Nicotine happens to be really good at exciting this receptor, which is largely why we get so adamantly hooked on it.
other sedative alkaloids, or non alkaloid based sedative herbs, of which there are many, in both categories. You might ask, what about California Poppy? Poppy family, yes, sedative alkaloids, yes, but not of the opioid or narcotic caliber. As you probably know this plant, with alkaloids as its leading group of constituents is used for restlessness, sleeplessness, overexcitement, pain and spasm.
To much? Ok, I get that a lot. We are going to get really mellow now by talking about opiate alkaloids. You probably guessed these are generally sedative, pain relieving or sleep inducing. The poppy family possesses the most opiate alkaloids and several as isolates are controlled substances, and the original definition of narcotics. Typically we steer away form the true opiates, as they are habit forming and use 64
Other non-opiate sedative alkaloids include some of the indole-alkaloids. This refers to a specific structure, a six carbon ring, joined to a five membered ring, of four carbons and one nitrogen, one carbon away from the six membered ring. Go ahead and look at some images if this interests you and if not, its quite alright to forge ahead.
their family as a percent of users develop depression, a phenomenon which I have witnessed in patients prescribed this herb as part of a blood pressure formula. Monkshood, Belladonna and Delphinium possess some of the other notable, low dose sedative alkaloids. One more of the main groups of nervous system effects is called serotonergic. Serotonergic tells us that a substance has effects on serotonin or its receptors or how long it lasts at the nerve synapses. There are many supplements said to affect serotonin or its uptake and many depression drugs are categorized by this action. Those indole-alkaloids mentioned above could be candidates for the serotonergic group, but it is sort of debated and or ambiguous which herbs we should call serotonergic.
Passionflower possesses indole alkaloids. Passionflower alkaloids, such as Harman which at low doses depresses motor function Passionflower alkaloids were early Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drugs and have definite nervous system actions.
I have found Passionflower to be a pretty versatile calming agent, though some report dreaming more vividly, usually saying they sort of enjoy this.
A little bit about serotonin, since you probably recognize the term but are maybe less clear about it than with adrenaline. It has roles in mood balance, satisfaction, happiness, and is considered antidepressant. It is made in the brain and the intestine and it is said that 80-90% of serotonin in the body occurs in the GI tract. Current understanding is that it does not pass the blood brain barrier, therefore serotonin in the brain was made in the brain. By the way, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a common category of antidepressant, which inhibits uptake of the molecule at synapses, so individual serotonin molecules remain active longer. Sometimes clients may identify that SSRIs do well for them, or definitely do not do well for them. While this is notable while choosing which herbs may agree with or be chancy for a client, I would argue that most serotonergic herbs do not work exactly like SSRIs. The effects and side effects both would be subtler. I hope to delve more into this at the Good Medicine Confluence in May, along with other aspects of this topic.
A more dramatic example is reserpine, an alkaloid from Rauwolfia serpentine, which advanced herbalists and naturopaths may recognize as a potent hypotensive. Use is somewhat out of favor unless the physician such as an ND is in regular contact with the patient or
Sometimes alkaloids may work, not as the key itself, but as a key enhancement or inhibitor of different enzyme systems. (If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, enzyme activity reaches far deeper than how the body chemically breaks down food.) Nearly every activity in the body is dependent on 65
presence of specific enzymes as well as conditions for those specific enzymes to work. Substances such as plant alkaloids can either hinder or enhance the way enzymes work, slowing, speeding, shortening or prolonging the activity of enzymes. Sometimes this detail is left out when the action is described, but know that this is a level that many of the herbs work at.
that animals can use for nutrition. In other forms crooked or cleaver plants have turned it into a spikey club or concealed flask of poison or medicine. In some cases these rare compounds are of real benefit or thrill to humans, as in the drug and psychoactive plants, and in others, flat out deadly, with little other use. I like to think of the evolutionary race to figure out what to do with these compounds as an eternal game of paper rock scissors between the plants and us. Plant: I underwent a mutation and came up with this crazy compound your brain and liver have never seen before! Human: Ahh, the greatest euphoria of my lifetime, while nibbling on you. I will pick many and tell the others! And so on.
A little note of responsibility here, there are many herbs we call nervine or sedative for which alkaloids are not credited for the action. Wild Oat, Lavender, Motherwort, common Sage, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Catnip all have other types of constituents to credit for nervine relaxant and or sedative effects. Now I think you have a little more to think about, and more questions to ask, when you hear, or know, “it’s alkaloids” proclaimed of a plant’s medicinal effects.
Our nervous system, from mental affect to involuntary smooth muscle reactions, receives a zing from some of the compounds because they resemble words or keys so to speak like our own neurotransmitters. The common root language is the amino acids, which plants and animals share, or at least overlap in out possession of. And neurotransmitters are derived from amino acids. Do you see how there could be some overlap in activity or meaning? You might also like to think about how one word can carry a lot more punch in a certain environment, whereas it may be practically inert amongst another group. That’s just an analogy, but I think it works.
Now a little meander over to why I think they alkaloids are so special. Alkaloids can have dramatic and immediate effects, from the freeze of the poisoned quills of a bird who, deposits its venom into would be predators, for the life preserving suspension of the alkaloid of the Foxglove plant, synthetic though, dripped in IV therapy, as digoxin, to heart failure patients and a myriad of defenses and therapeutics in between. If you had very little other exposure to talking about chemistry you might have noticed this and an often mention of nitrogen. Forget carbon, it is the commonplace backbone of organic molecules, the stuff we are made of. Nitrogen has a special seat as the diamond in these rings that give them some real therapeutic and medicinal sparkle, or poison if that be the case. (That may be a bad analogy as diamonds are made of carbon, actually).
Another theory, way less exciting, but let us consider it parallel to our anthropomorphic fantasy about the plants, duking it out with or trying to impress us, is that these alkaloid compounds were just a basic random form for nitrogen storage, pretty inert to the plant, but also not interesting to animals as nutrition. That holds up (and actually I believe this part). Those plants who did chemistry with their nitrogen which amazed or literally stunned us, or, let’s not get too full of ourselves, our ancestors of many phylogeny, had notable to charismatic evolutionary advantages, or in the case of poisons, elicited a spooky reverence from its first brave samplers. Not bad for a motley gang of lowly primordials!
Nitrogen is the rarest of the fundamental atoms of life, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen. Atmospheric nitrogen is brought down to the ground and its inhabitants in the form of lightening. It is then a highly controlled substance by an elite league of plants, the nitrogen fixing plants, which turn it into forms 66
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Mead Making for the Plant Healer by Jereme Zimmerman Jereme Zimmerman is a writer and fermentation revivalist who lives in Berea, Kentucky with his wife Jenna, daughters Sadie and Maisie, and herds of wild yeast that he has corralled into various ferments. He is the author of Make Mead Like a Viking, and the upcoming Before Hops Was King about traditional beer brewing focused on herbs, and other botanicals used in traditional brewing for centuries. You can learn mead making and other fermenting arts directly from him at the Good Medicine Confluence in May, and learn more about his work on his website.
Fermented honey, water and flavoring ingredients: call it what you want. By modern brewing cultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regimented definitions, alcoholic beverages made with honey as the only or primary sugar source are mead. In ancient times, people fermented whatever they could get their hands on. Honey was likely the first sugar source to be fermented into alcohol, as it is fermentable in its natural state by simply adding water. We discovered early in our existence as a species that any sugar source could be fermented into a mind- and spirit-altering beverage, and that all manner of plant matter could be incorporated into a brew for additional effect. Ancient peoples had no choice but to be
intrinsically connected to the natural world. The plants and animals they co-existed with were integral to their survival, so they learned to communicate with them in order to learn of each organismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique qualities that they could then draw out for nourishment of body and soul. The magical effects of fermented honey-water likely coincided with the realization that the addition of plants, from root to flower to fruit, would quicken fermentation, enable preservation, and enhance the effect of the final product. While they certainly did their share of experimentation, they were able to communicate with plants on a level most of us are unable to today.
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With long hours spent in the wild foraging and hunting, they were constantly surrounded by plant and animal life. No cell phones, no television, no car loans or mortgages, no worrying about getting to the office on time. These distractions were utterly foreign to them. Hence they had no choice but to listen to the living beings around them. They knew that plants communicated because they took the time to listen. A little listening, a little sampling, a little “let’s put this in some honey and water, stir, wait and see what happens.” The result (unless the gods weren’t on their side) was a sacred, healing and soul-lifting beverage that combined the antibacterial, nutrient-laden qualities of honey with the probiotic effects of fermentation —which in turn drew out the medicinal and flavorful aspects of any plants they added.
through brewing beer from pre-packaged ingredient kits, it was getting into mead-making that was my impetus for learning more about plants and their various qualities. My interest in mead-making grew right along with my interest in researching how ancient cultures lived and, by extension, learning about traditional food- and drink-preparation practices. In doing so, I came across plant after plant referenced in old recipes. Some I knew and some I was vaguely familiar with, but many seemed esoteric and unreachable to me. Like many who have traveled this path, Stephen Harrod Buhner’s Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers was the eye-opener for me. Many plants he listed I was unfamiliar with and others I had previously thought of only for their culinary uses. The ones that were new to me I at first thought of as difficult to obtain until I looked into them and realized that many were easily attainable as seeds or starts, growing wild in my own yard, or through herbal-supply catalogs. Despite the title, Buhner’s book didn’t just cover beer. It devoted a fair share of space to mead, and its associations with ritual and magic. Next up was coming across Sandor Katz’s Wild Fermentation while roaming through a local bookstore wondering if I was going to find anything about how ancient cultures fermented mead, beer and wine before they had the convenience of going to a homebrew store to buy a packet of yeast. Reading the two pages on wild-fermented Ethiopian mead (t’ej) was the ah-ha moment. The circle was now complete. I had everything I needed to re-learn what I thought I knew about brewing and plants.
Now, I should note before you assume from what I’ve written thus far that I’m highly knowledgeable in plant lore and wise in the ways of plant communication—I’m not. My exploration into plant life and all it has to offer us is just beginning. Although I grew up on a farm in Kentucky with nearly 40 acres of woods to roam, I wouldn’t say that I connected with plants on any level that I was aware of. My memories of plants growing up were long, hot hours pulling weeds, laying tobacco starts (a popular odd job for kids in my area), harvesting, helping my mom can, and all the other things you do when you grow up in a family that works to produce and preserve its own food. I’d like to say that these are fond memories but for the most part they’re not. I grew to associate plants with hard work and boredom. As I left the country life of Kentucky and moved to live in cities in the Pacific Northwest for several years I began to reconnect with nature through hiking, mountain biking, camping, and other outdoor recreational activities, I slowly began to understand that hard work isn’t all that bad, especially when it means you get to be outside. I began to grow my own vegetables and play around with fermentation. My early attempts weren’t always successful, but the yearning for producing and preserving my own food was there. While I initially got into homebrewing
Homebrewing at that point in my life had become a tedious thing fraught with careful ingredient selection and measuring, introduction to the brew kettle at the appropriate time, vigilant temperature control, and excessive, worrisome chemical sanitation. There wasn’t a damn thing sacred about it and it was hardly satisfying other than getting to enjoy the final product. (And yes, I know that many modern homebrewers enjoy all of the aspects of homebrewing I had come to dislike, but I have 70
too much of an urge to look back before moving forward.) Fermentation, as I came to learn, was a joyous, meditative, and essential activity for previous generations.
of how it was the way people had made mead and other alcoholic beverages for millennia— freed me up to enjoy brewing again. This was my first step into my thought of “This is how the Vikings must have done it!” I’m not claiming— nor have I ever—to know exactly how the Vikings made mead, but rather that my research has told me that Viking-era peoples and other ancient cultures initiated their own wild ferments, saved liquid and dried yeast for future brews, and used all manner of plants, fruits and flowers to impart medicinal and flavor qualities into their meads. You can initiate a wild ferment in anything from a pint jar to a five-gallon bucket or crock. I have taken to starting most of my wild-fermented meads in a quart jar. This way, I have enough yeast starter to start several one-to five-gallon batches. I can also use the entire jar to start a larger batch but I’ve never seen the need to move beyond five-gallon batches for my small-scale brewing needs. The process is actually very simple but I find in my workshops I have to take it very slow in explaining what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. Perhaps it’s because wild fermentation is a foreign subject to many, or those just starting in homebrewing know little more about yeast other than that it’s used to bake bread. Yeast and its many variations can be an infinitely complex topic for those who want to delve into the biological and other scientific processes that are involved. My mantra though, is always to simplify, simplify (with all due respect to Henry David Thoreau). I enjoy learning about the technical aspects of brewing and yeast, but it’s easy to get caught up in the technicalities and forget the simplicity and magic of the fermentation journey you’re about to undertake. I say start with a basic wild ferment and move on from there if you desire. Hence, I won’t be talking about all of the different types of yeast you can purchase and use (which I still do from time to time) in this article, but rather will explain the process of how you bypass the System by cultivating your own yeast. Because that’s all that you’re doing. Rather than buying a packet of yeast, you’re using alchemy to create your own.
Wild Fermentation – Like a Viking Wild fermentation is a freeing process. No need to research and purchase a specific yeast strain or fermentation and flavor enhancers such as nutrients, acids and tannins; no need to purchase specialized equipment or to say “I made it myself … using pre-prepared extracts, syrups and juices.” Just mix some honey (or other types of sugar for that matter) and water in a container such as a crock, jar or bucket, throw in some herbs, spices, fruit, flowers or other items you’ve (hopefully) foraged or grown yourself, stir, cover, stir again, cover, and continue until you have a fizzy fermented beverage. Yes, there is more to it if you want to age, bottle, ensure you have flavors you will actually enjoy, etc. Learning of the simplicity of this process—and 71
To create a yeast starter youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need: a) 2 cups raw, unfiltered honey (the closer to its original state the better; include some honeycomb if taking it from the hive) b) A little less than a quart of spring water (distilled or filtered / dechlorinated tap water will work, but spring water is best) c) Organic fresh or dried fruit such as raisins, grapes, or any other edible berry d) Small amounts of freshly harvested edible botanicals e) A squeeze or teaspoon of lemon, orange or other citrus juice The amounts donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter so much as the ratios at this stage. When you go to make a batch of mead or beer using the starter it will be more important to pay attention to the amounts of ingredients used. What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing here is adding water to wake the honey up from its inert state and allow the yeasts and microbes hibernating within to work their magic. To begin, warm the water a bit to help it fully dissolve the honey. Add honey to the jar and pour in water until the jar is about three-quarters 72
full. Stir with a chopstick, spoon or twig or carefully swirl the mixture. You can do this all in your kitchen by simply adding in dried or fresh fruit and adding a bit of citrus, but I like to go outside and introduce some fresh plant matter straight to the must (the term for unfermented mead or wine). There are several reasons for doing this. First, it gives you an excuse to get outside and impart some of the wildness of nature into your elixir. Second, this wildness has some very real effects. Most botanicals you add will have wild yeast on them, along with nutrients, tannins and sometimes acids that will help for a strong fermentation. You’re only going to want small amounts of each. In the spring, I like to add a few wild violets, the leaves of a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), a sprig or two of Alehoof (Glechoma hederacea).
don’t let it go too much lower, as the yeast will begin to go dormant. If the temperature does go lower, that’s okay. Just be sure it spends most of its time at warm temperatures. In spring and summer, I find that I have fermentation in 3-5 days, whereas fall and winter tends to take closer to 5-7 days. Wrapping it in a towel is a good idea in cooler temperatures. Sing to it. Commune with it. Whether this makes any actual difference is debatable, but it does help to approach this with reverence as many ancient cultures (and indigenous cultures today) did. Singing, dancing, meditation, and community have always been an integral component of fermentation, which was considered not only magic or an act of the gods, but was also critical to survival. Stir at least 2-3 times daily, if not more. The yeast require oxygen to wake up. The combination of having them in an open-mouthed container and stirring regularly ensures they have plenty. You will likely see air bubbles immediately after stirring, which is not fermentation. Believe me, you’ll know when it happens. One day you’ll come in and see some bubbling white foam on the surface, or you’ll stir and suddenly everything will become foamy and fizzy. You’ve just made mead! Well, technically it’s a mead starter. Regardless, you’ve now got a jar of active yeast starter that you can use to start mead, but also any other fermented beverage. Time to Make Some Mead!
Also a Blackberry or Oak leaf (for tannin). Most wild edibles or bits of garden produce in small amounts will work. This is where it’s fun to experiment and use your knowledge of plant lore (which you’d better be confident in before exploring this route). Unless you’ve added a berry or other ingredient with high acid content, go ahead and add in some citrus, cover the jar with a cheesecloth or other porous cloth, and fasten it with a rubber band to keep ants and flies out.
Now that you have your starter, there are a wide range of different types of mead you can make. There are all kinds of names your mead will change to if you’re the geeky homebrewing type. The primary meads I make are metheglins (made with herbs and spices), melomels (made with fruit), bragots (made with grains, so also a type of beer), and show meads (a term come up with by homebrewing competitions for mead made only with honey, water, yeast, and minor additions of acids, tannins and nutrients). I’ve played around with others, but the list is long so I’m still working through it. Others include capsicumel (made with chili peppers), rhyzamel
Keep the jar in a warm, dark corner of your house (about 60°-80° Fahrenheit or 15°-27° Celsius). This is a comfortable temperature for yeast. It will handle higher temperatures, but 73
(made with root vegetables), t'ej (an Ethiopian mead made with the sticks and leaves of gesho, a species of buckthorn and a bittering agent), cyser (cider-mead), and acerglin (made with maple syrup).
Semi-sweet mead: 3-4 pounds of honey to one gallon of water Sack / dessert mead: 4-6 pounds of honey to one gallon of water Note that when I reference one-gallon of water, this doesn’t mean the entire gallon will go in when you first add the honey; after blending the honey into the water, you’ll have some water left, which can be used later to add to the mead as you transfer it between vessels and adjust the volume. For any mead you can adjust the sweetness level as it ages, but for sweeter meads in particular you should reserve some of the honey to add a few weeks into fermentation. This is true with sack meads in particular. Adding all of the honey at once can overwhelm the yeast. Overstressed yeast will die off early and cause a sluggish fermentation, or you will get stressed yeast, which will produce off flavors that may or may not mellow with age. You can also add honey further down the road if you decide the mead isn’t quite as sweet as you’d like. This is tricky business, though, unless you want to add sulfites, as you will be giving the yeast extra sugar to consume and turn to alcohol. If I do add more honey, I usually just add another half-to-one cup at a time, let it finish fermenting and simply enjoy it however it ends up. Remember, you can always make a simple syrup of honey and water to add to the glass when you’re ready to drink it if you want it a bit sweeter.
Whatever you decide to flavor your mead with, the first step will be to select the level of sweetness you desire. A common misconception about mead is that because it’s made with honey it must always be sweet. Most of my meads aren’t that sweet. I find overly sweet meads to be cloying and unappealing, with the occasional exception. The majority of the sugars will ferment into alcohol, but you can plan a recipe that will leave behind some residual sweetness. The sweetness levels possible in meads are: dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and desert (called “sack mead” sometimes). These designations are all relative to one’s personal taste, though. There are many variations in between but you can shoot for something pretty close to your preference. When practicing natural mead-making and wild fermentation, you’ll be more likely to go toward dry and semi-sweet if you let your mead fully ferment. Use enough honey and the yeast will eventually give up, though. Modern mead makers will use yeasts that are tolerant only up to a certain alcohol level before they give up, and employ chemicals like sulfites (through sodium bisulfite or campden tablets) or potassium sorbate. Regardless of which method you go with, it primarily comes down to the ratio of honey to water. I make a lot of one-gallon batches and that’s the scale I recommend starting with. You can simply scale up recipe amounts if you want to make larger batches. The beauty of one-gallon batches is that they’re affordable, they ferment quicker, and you can feel more comfortable experimenting than you might with a five-gallon batch (which can use up 10 pounds of honey or more).
The process is simple enough, and goes as follows: 1. Heat three-quarters of a jug of water just warm enough to dissolve the honey in a pot on the stove or by setting the water outside in a sunny, warm area; 2. Either pour your preferred amount of honey into the water, stir well, and pour into a glass or plastic jug, or pour most of the water into the jug, add the honey, and use the rest of the water to coax the remaining honey from its container; 3. Whichever route, be sure the honey is dissolved well by stirring it or swirling / shaking it in the jug;
Following are the ratios of honey-to-water I recommend for one-gallon batches: Dry mead: 2-3 pounds of honey to one gallon of water 74
4. Add yeast, either half a cup of wild yeast starter or one packet / two teaspoons of bread yeast, brewers yeast or wine yeast; 5. If doing a straight / show mead, add 8-10 raisins or other dried fruit, or read further for how and when to introduce additional ingredients; 6. Place an airlock on the vessel (you can buy one of these from a homebrew store or use a balloon) to keep outside air from souring the mead but allow for CO2 to escape; 7. Place it in a warm, dark corner and forget about it for three weeks.
•Alehoof (Glechoma hederacea): 3-4 flowering heads fresh (or 1-2 teaspoons dried) •Dried Nettle (Urtica dioica), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaf: 2-3 teaspoons each •Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum): 1–2 •Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): 2-3 teaspoons •Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum): 1 short stick or 1-2 teaspoons ground •Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): 1-2 teaspoons •Horehound (Marrubium vulgare): 1-2 ounces dried / 1 sprig fresh •Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) root: 1/2 ounce •Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): 1-2 teaspoons •Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): 1-2 teaspoons
When adding fruit, I recommend adding a small amount now, and the rest after fermentation has slowed down. The reason is that most of the flavor of the fruit will ferment out and you will be left with the essence of the fruit (not necessarily a bad thing) rather than a strong fruit flavor. Add it further down the road and you’ll get more of a fruit-flavored mead. If adding herbs, spices or flowers, you can either make a tea and use that as part of the water, or drop them directly (dried or fresh) into the jug. The sky’s the limit here, but take care not to add too much of any herb or spice, as the result can be overly medicinal or bitter. Following are my recommended amounts for some plants I like to use (per one-gallon batch):
•Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): 1/2 teaspoon •Elderflowers, wild Violets, Dandelion, etc.: 1-2 pints Once you’ve let a new mead ferment for three or four weeks, you’ll want to rack (transfer between vessels) it. At this point, the vigorous fermentation at the top of the jug (krausen) will have slowed down, and you will have a yeast cake (or, lees) at the bottom. You’ll want to rack it off of the lees now, in another 2-3 months, and just before bottling. Each time there will be less spent yeast at the bottom and the mead will have become clearer. The reason you do the first racking within a month is that it will help speed the fermentation up by taking the mead away from yeast at the bottom that may still be alive and attempting to eat, and will help prevent off
•Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), and oregano (Origanum vulgare): 1 teaspoon each 75
flavors. This also helps to make for a more clear mead in the end. Racking is simple and can be done with 2-3 feet of vinyl siphoning tube (I usually get mine from the local hardware store). The optimal size is 5/16-inch / 8 millimeter ID (inner diameter) is best. You don’t want too large of an opening, and you want to be sure to avoid splashing the mead as much as possible at this point, as too much oxygen in the advanced stages of fermentation can cause potential off flavors. You can buy racking canes and siphoning tubes from homebrew-supply stores to aid with this, but I usually just take the tubing, place one end just above the lees in the primary fermenter, and the other into the
secondary fermenter after starting the siphon with my mouth. From here, it’s just a matter of waiting. Place the airlock onto the secondary, put the mead back on the shelf, and prepare for bottling. Generally, one-gallon batches are ready to bottle within six months, although some can be ready as soon as four (small / low alcohol meads even sooner). Time is the best way to gauge this, but you can also pay attention to how the mead looks. For the first couple of months, you’ll have bubbling in the airlock, but this will slow down and eventually stop (if using a balloon it will slowly deflate). The mead itself will continue to produce CO2 bubbles. It may still be fermenting some even when it appears perfectly still. Some lowtech ways of checking for completed fermentation include dropping a pinch of sugar in (if there are still active yeast you’ll see immediate activity), or putting a lid on the jug and unscrewing it after a couple of days (if it hisses or gushes you’ve still got fermentation). Another option is to purchase a hydrometer from a homebrew store. These are great to have but not absolutely essential for the low-tech mead maker. Their job is to measure the amount of sugars through varying stages of fermentation. The higher the sugar content the higher the gravity (and the higher the potential alcohol level). You can follow the directions that come with it to check the gravity (OG, or original gravity) when you’ve first mixed the honey and water, and then just before bottling (FG, or final gravity) to determine potential alcohol level. Whether you’ve done that or not, if you take a reading post-fermentation and the gravity level stays the same after checking a couple of times over about a week, you should be good to go. It is extremely important that your mead be mostly, if not fully fermented before bottling. Bottle too soon and you’ve got pent-up CO2 looking for a way to escape. This is fine if you want a carbonated mead, but you’ve got to plan carefully. Too much CO2 and you’ll get popping corks or exploding bottles (shards of glass and all). I happen to like most of my meads a little carbonated and plan accordingly. Some meads 76
are better completely flat, and many people prefer all of their meads this way. If you do want a sparkling mead, it’s best to wait for it to fully ferment and then prime it before bottling. First, rack off of any remaining lees into a vessel with a spigot. Next, prepare some sugar or honey, which will be used to restart fermentation just enough for carbonation, by dissolving the appropriate amounts in about two cups (473 milliliters) of warmed water or mead. I recommend about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of honey or sugar per gallon/liter. Dissolve the priming sugar or honey, pour the primer into the mead and stir well. Give it a about an hour to settle, as you may still have a tiny bit of residual lees that will float back to the bottom.
often be difficult to work with). Avoid screw-top beer bottles, but you can get away with screwtop wine bottles for meads you don’t plan on aging several years. Bottling is fairly simple. Follow the instructions with your corker or capper and fill the bottles to about an inch (25 milliliters) below the cap or bottom of the cork. Now it really is just a matter of waiting. Some meads don’t taste too bad at bottling. When this is the case, I have a hard time waiting more than a few weeks. Either way, it may be worth checking a bottle in around a month to see if it’s over-carbonated. This is where swing-top bottles come in useful. If it pops loudly and gushes, you could have a problem. Either pour it all back in to a fermenter and give it more time (very much a worst-case scenario), or plan on finishing the bottles off soon if they taste good enough. For most, you’ll want to wait at least six months, if not longer. Any harshness or off flavors should have begun to mellow by then. Most meads are best within six months to a year but try to age some longer, as spectacular things can happen over several years. If you have a hard time staying away from them, make more!
For most meads, I like to use swing-top bottles (the kind that Grolsch beer comes in). They’re extra thick and can handle a fair amount of excess carbonation, and there’s no need for a bottle capper. You’ll just need to occasionally replace the lid’s rubber gasket. I also use wine bottles or even beer bottles. For these, you’ll need to invest in a corker and capper (which are relatively inexpensive, but the cheapest ones can
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References & Resources
What next?
Sandor Ellix Katz, Wild Fermentation (White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2003; 2nd edition, 2016). Stephen Harrod Buhner, Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers, (Boulder: Brewers Publications, 1998). Ken Schramm, The Compleat Meadmaker (Boulder, CO: Brewers Publications, 2003). www.wildfermentation.com www.pixiespocket.com www.botanyeveryday.com www.gotmead.com www.jereme-zimmerman.com
Mead-making can be incredibly simple. You don’t even have to do much more than mix your ingredients, ferment for as long as you desire, and start drinking while it’s still young, bubbly and sweet. This is how Viking-era peoples and many other cultures drank their mead when they weren’t able to age it in barrels. It can also become incredibly complex. There are many options available as to the types of mead you can make, and they all of their own requirements for process and ingredients. In my opinion, many descriptions of mead-making are overly complex. It’s all well and good to work to make the best mead possible and to fully utilize modern ideas and materials but at its core, mead-making is a simple process and involves little investment in time, ingredients and materials. I’ll leave it up to you as to how much you want to invest. It’s your mead after all. Skål, Slàinte, Prost, etc.!
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The Art of Daydreaming or Star Trekking Through Life
by Phyllis D. Light Phyllis is one our first and still most treasured columnists, a gift to all who read her mix of personal tales and traditional herbal knowledge. We were sad not to be able to host her teaching in the years that our annual event was held at high elevation, and we are so very happy that the elevation of Durango will not trouble her when she joins us to teach at the Good Medicine Confluence again this May! And we hope that you will enjoy this latest installment of the Mountain Medicine column, by this lovin’ bodacious storyteller of the deep Southern mystique. She drank a couple of sips of the bitter herbal decoction in preparation for her journey. It had been some time since she had the opportunity to travel and so it took a few minutes to settle into her quiet space. As she did, her breathing slowed, her eyes closed and the world around her receded to a mild whisper. She needed this...needed this release from the stresses of everyday life, needed to get away from the strain and worry of what was considered normalcy and travel along the path of creativity and imagination. As a child, this type of journey had been so easy and was done so often that it was second nature. But as an adult, it was often difficult to let go the worries and cares of life and make this inner journey. Without the aid of
the plants, she wasn’t sure if she could have made it. As her body responded to the action of the plants, physical tension released. It flowed out of her neck – her shoulders relaxed, her chest and upper back, and then her lower back, hips, and legs. Once the body armor was gone, her mind followed and she was no longer bound to the limited definitions of her physical life. She was free to travel the cosmos and be whoever she wanted – a rock star, an astronaut, a hero, a magician, healer, a lover. She accessed an imaginative pathway from the limitless supply available to her and started the journey that was both meditative and imaginative. She was finally free........ 81
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“Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” –C. S. Lewis
Sometimes my mind-wandering is a type of procrastination. I emerge in the daydream and it distracts me away from the task at hand. The same thing happens when I surf the internet. Yes, I do really want to know the answer to a puzzling question, but finding that answer often leads me down information pathways that are irrelevant to the initial question but distracting and entertaining nevertheless. That’s what happens in a certain type of daydream, they can surely distract me but are entertaining and informative at the same time. Sometimes, if the task at hand is really routine or boring, say mowing the lawn or washing dishes, my mind is free of the task and off I soar into the daydream. I think this sort of daydream is just designed to relieve stress and keeps me from getting totally bored with the task at hand. With this type of daydream, I travel the stars on the starship Enterprise (any series), become the next Dr. Who or companion, kick ass in a rock band, teach at Hogwarts or ride into battle with my magic wand.
Sometimes I’d like just hit the road and boldly go where I’ve never been before. I could think of all sorts of places I’d like to go, sights I’d like to see, people I’d like to visit. But my choices in life have led me in a different direction with a home, family, clients, and herb teachings. All this makes the time and resources very limited for those physical explorations – so my explorations tend to take place internally, in the mind and heart, and less on the open road. I’ve cultivated those types of explorations through imagination, energetics, and creativity even while dealing with the everyday aspects of life. It’s a journey for sure, and helps keep me sane, mentally active, and relieves stress in ways that exercise doesn’t. Sometimes this inner exploration takes the form of daydreaming, whether conscious and directed or casually undirected. Either one is a pretty awesome release. 83
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” –C. S. Lewis
many choices and paths associated with a situation. I can play out possible alternative endings and in this way, imagine through the choice that works best for me.
How many times have I reviewed a past event, just wishing I had made a different decision? Just trying to understand myself and why I made the decision that I made? Sometimes, I just want to kick my own ass that I was so stupid, other times, I applaud my actions and feel really good about myself. And sometimes, I just want to throw it all away and start over. It is an event in the past and can’t be changed, but I can continue to grow and learn from the experience and daydreaming about the event helps me learn.
Revisiting past events in daydreams, doesn’t change the original outcome of the situation, it’s in the past for sure. But, it can provide a means of practicing new ways of dealing with that issue if it rises again. This mental rehearsal has been used in professional sports for years with proven success. Practice, practice, practice. Just visualizing and working through the scenario builds neural pathways that will respond if the same situation arises again.
With this type of daydream and full personal honesty, I can rework the ending and change the outcome. This helps me understand the past and practice the future. In this imaginative journey, I act out various scenarios using the
Daydreaming can help us shed emotions associated with a past event. How awesome is that? If the main emotion I harbor around an event is anger, then it’s a good bet that all my reactions around similar situations is going to 84
continue to be anger. The longer that anger simmers, the more likely, it will be the leading emotion I have in most any stressful situation. Using daydreaming, I can practice other emotions and other ways of dealing with a given scenario. And, here in the safety of the daydream, I can also practice forgiveness. A word of caution....when revisiting past events take care to avoid practicing negative outcomes or engaging in negative self-talk. This will only reinforce any negativity around the past situation.
the back of the mind, clears the cobwebs, raises your energy level, and ultimately brings a clear answer. In this situation, daydreaming can rest the mind, offer a type of mental vacation and soon ...the answer is clear. Einstein called these “thought experiments” and considered them vital in his discovery of the theory of relativity. By practicing, my daydreaming, various scenarios, Einstein visualized the components of the theory that revolutionized physics. When he was 16, Einstein imagined (daydreamed) that he was standing in front of a mirror while at the same time, both he and the mirror were moving forward with the speed of light. The question Einstein asked was whether he would be able to see his image in the mirror in this situation. Practicing this thought experiment led him to develop his Theory of Special Relativity – we can never detect uniform motion except relative to other objects. (Yes, I know this is simplistic and doesn’t really explain the theory, but it’ll do.) More thought experiments led him to develop the Theory of General Relativity.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” –Albert Einstein Sometimes, and I love these types of daydreams, when I have a huge or nagging problem that I just can’t solve, daydreaming about something totally unrelated to the issue at hand helps me defocus on the original issue and gives my mind and heart a break. You know that sort of feeling that you’ve been thinking about something for so long that you can’t stand to think about it anymore? Just thinking about something else, and letting the problem percolate somewhere in
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“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” –J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
"I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!" –Young Montgomery Scott, Star Trek reboot 2009
Daydreaming is a great tool to increase confidence and bolster self-esteem. Try it sometime, I think you’ll notice the difference. Sometimes I use daydreaming to practice my class lecture, sometimes, I use it to give myself positive self-talk, and sometimes I use it to put future possible events into positive perspective.
Daydreaming, meditation, guided imagery, energy work...all have one thing in common. These modalities activate the parasympathetic nervous system which helps regulate body activity and organ and glandular activity during rest. The parasympathetic nervous system slowly dampens the actions of stress on our minds and bodies.
This type of daydream, this use of imagination, helps keep me moving forward so that I’m not bogged down in the past. It helps improve my self-esteem and helps me find optimism in life. If I feel a negative message coming through, I immediately try to overwrite that message with a more positive one. This helps me recognize the truth in the situation and not just the negative anger or despair that can come along with these past events. Negative self-talk only makes me doubt myself, clips my wings, and puts me in an emotional rut. I never want to doubt that I can fly......
The primary neurotransmitter that is used by the parasympathetic nervous system is acetylcholine, which was the first neurotransmitter to be discovered. It is responsible for the stimulation of the muscles, including the muscles of the gastrointestinal system. Acetylcholine is also found in the sensory neurons and in the autonomic nervous system. Importantly, this vital neurotransmitter plays a role in scheduling REM (dream) sleep (and in daydreaming) and plays a role in memory. 86
Acetylcholine is not found in foods or herbs but choline, a major building block is. In order to give your body all its needs, eat foods high in choline. Choline is found in lecithin, egg yolks, organ meats especially liver, whole wheat, soy and other beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds and other nuts and seeds, chicken and seafood. Phosphatidylcholine can be taken in supplement form and is found in eggs, sunflower oil, mustard, and soybeans. In supplemental form, choline is a component of phosphatidylcholine, which is a component of lecithin which is most commonly sourced from sunflower seeds or soy. “I’m not a magician, Spock, just an old country.......herbalist.” –Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, original Star Trek Most often when Doctor McCoy uttered a variation of this phrase it was because Captain Kirk was asking him to step outside his comfort zone, to use his skills to attempt something new. After a bit of grumbling, McCoy would get smart and creative, figure out a way to rise to the occasion and complete his task with great success but a bit of grumbling.
dried leaves were sewn into dream pillows. If you want the dream effect, then give this a try. However, I would only recommend about 3 drops of tincture for conscious relaxation and daytime imagining.
I’ve found that certain plants can help me drop into a meditative state and facilitate my inner journey when I most need the aid. I’m only discussing a few plants out of the many, many plants that can be used in this manner. These are commonly used and easy to find plants and might even be growing in your herb garden or easily accessible by wildcrafting. In addition to improving your daydreaming experience, they have also been traditionally used to promote lucid dreaming or to help remember dreams.
There is a native species of Artemisia which grows in every state in the United States and actually, on every habitable continent on the planet. The most common members of native Artemisia are often called Sage – White Sage, Prairie Sage, Big Sagebrush, and Sagebrush to name a few. These native plants are much stronger than the garden varieties (Mugwort, Wormwood, Sweet Annie, Tarragon) and often work best as incense for relaxation and daydreaming.
For imagining, I advocate using a low dose approach, just enough to relax the body and mind. Too much of these relaxing herbs and you may end up drifting off to sleep instead of conscious imagining.
The use of the native Artemisias come to us through the traditional knowledge of Native Americans who also burned them for cleansing or used them as smudging to eliminate negative energy in an area. Just burning a bit of Sage can totally relax you and open you to imaginative possibilities.
Artemisia sp. - Mugwort might be the best known dream herb in the Artemisia family, though I think they all have some activity in this area. Traditionally a tea was drank before bed or the 87
purposes, either fresh-picked herbal tea or freshfield made tincture should be used. Passionflower not only relaxes the body but also the mind. It has the unique ability to help you focus – really focus and ignore outside distractions or rabbit trails of thought. For this reason, it’s often used for ADD and ADHD. Just a few drops of Passionflower tinctures, a quiet space and maybe a bit of music and you’ll be all set. By the way, folks with ADD or ADHD are typically super creative but not everyone carries this disorder or the creativity into adulthood. From my point of view, this is a lovely gift which can be harnessed. Passionflower doesn’t dim the creativity of ADD or ADHD, just allows all that creativity to be channeled into form.
Passionflower - This sacred plant was used by Native Americans in the Southeast for thousands of years before the settlers arrived. It was one of the first plants I learned from my grandmother. Here, we call it Maypop and nothing is sweeter than the ripe fruit in the fall. Any part above the ground can be used as medicine. For our
Vervain - This plant was sacred to the Druids, Romans, and Native Americans. I typically use our native species, Verbena brasiliensis, which is a little smaller and drier than V. hastata or V. officinalis, but any species will have a similar
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effect. Vervain is an excellent nervine and helps to relax the central nervous system and provides a mild tranquilizing effect.
Catnip - Catnip and Valerian can be used interchangeably for daydreaming even though these plants are in two different families, They have a similar action on the mind probably due to the valeric acid both contain. If you find valerian too stimulating, then catnip will be the better choice.
On a physical level, I’ve used Vervain for coughs, colds, flu, respiratory illness, as a sleep aid, as a lymphatic, to help lower blood pressure (especially pulmonary hypertension), to help move the blood, to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, for symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps, parasites and other worms, and stomach issues. It can also help increase lactation, improve libido, and help relieve pain. Do you have this in your herb closet? It’s one of our amazing native herbs that is often overlooked for more trendy herbs. It’s so effective in lowering blood pressure that I caution folks with low blood pressure to use cautiously or in low dose.
Catnip has traditionally been used for colic, as a digestive aid, for colds, flu and fevers, headaches, and nausea and morning sickness. In addition, it makes an excellent addition to bug spray or repellant. Just the fact that Catnip was one of the traditional remedies for convulsions and nervous exhaustion lets you know that it has a powerful effect on the nervous system. If you worry excessively, then Catnip is a remedy for you. When worry and stress are our bedfellows, then it’s really hard to disengage and travel the imagination. Catnip takes the edge off the worry, soothes frayed nerves, and opens the door to the imagination. Catnip increases creativity and fertility, as the two often emanate from the same source.
Among its many other medicinal uses, Vervain is an herb for opening channels of thought and creativity. It has traditionally been placed around homes and alters to dispel fears and offer protection. A few drops of tincture or a few sips of decoction is all that’s needed.
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Rabbit Tobacco - A biennial native plant, Rabbit Tobacco is also called Life Everlasting or Sweet Everlasting. It should be harvested in the fall after the leaves have turned silvery-brown and the flowers are a pale beige. Any above the ground part of the plant can be used, but I encourage harvesting in the second year when the seed heads are mature. Just give the plant a good shake to distribute the mature seeds. This plant is still important in local Native culture and I often find it available at pow wows.
To help relax the mind and spirit, I like to take a few sips of tea. I find the ritual of decoction or infusion making calming and relaxing in itself. Spiritually, Rabbit Tobacco is a plant that lives in the borderline between the living and the dead, between waking and sleeping, and between good and evil. Some Native tribes considered it to be a plant of protection while other tribes considered Rabbit Tobacco to be a plant of hexes. As a wash, it was used to bath the living who had been attacked by spirits or who believed were cursed.
In my part of the South, Rabbit Tobacco has traditionally been used for coughs, colds, respiratory complaints, sinus headaches, and digestive upset. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very useful for breaking fevers and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll often find it combined with other herbs in Southern Folk Medicine for this purpose such as Pine, Sweet Gum, Dogwood or Magnolia. Traditionally, Rabbit Tobacco was also smoked to relieve symptoms of asthma. Rabbit Tobacco is not a plant for continual use, whether drinking, smoking or as tincture but an herb for acute or occasional use.
Rabbit Tobacco is also a smudging plant and was traditionally used to cleanse an area of hateful energy or spirits. It was often mixed with cedar and burned in the sick room to help the dying release their spirit and leave this world. This is a plant that was used to help banish loneliness. A very much needed plant for so many people in the country today who feel alone or forgotten. 90
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“You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.” Tinkerbell to Peter –J.M. Barrie The daydream or the wandering mind is the default position of the brain. Scientists believe that half our thoughts are daydreams but often undirected. What if we harnessed the power of imagination and the daydream to improve our lives, to facilitate personal growth? What if daydreaming helps improve our creativity and our ability to solve problems? The only caution I share: We can’t live in the daydream and ignore the walking world. We must find balance in its use. So throw off the constraints of a well-disciplined mind. Get a little ADD and roam the internal airways - fly a rocket ship to Mars, sing at the Metropolitan Opera, tour the ruins of the Parthenon. You won’t be alone..... 92
Story is Medicine: The Mythic Imagination on The Healing Path
by Amber Magnolia Hill Amber is one of a new generation of meaning-weavers, she helps to keep alive the mythos and lore of plant medicine, and teaching the importance of healer’s understanding and embodying their personal stories – through her blog, Medicine Stories podcast, and inspiring classes such as she brings to the Good Medicine Confluence. “First the word. Then the herb. Then the knife.” -Asclepios
I believe that a healer must know their self at the deepest level in order to bring forth the medicine that lives within them, and that reverently following the mythic threads of one’s life is the richest and most rewarding way to come to know oneself.
Story is medicine. It’s an old idea well know to many herbalists and healers, but what does it mean, and how can we best apply it to our lives and our practice? Stories stick with us in a way that lists of facts and remedies don’t. They burrow into our souls and become a part of us. The mythic imagination, which looks for the connections between things and the meanings inside of and underneath things, is one of the most potent triggers for healing that I know of.
Our personal medicine stories are shaped and guided by our dreams, ancestors, meaningful synchronicities, the magic and meaning of names, the myths and fairy tales that resonate for us, and so much more. 93
These things are not mere flights of fancy; they are gateways that help us unlock our fullest healing potential by revealing the ground of being upon which we were born to stand. From this place of being deeply rooted in the soul, we can help ourselves, our clients, patients, friends, and family in a more genuine and powerful way.
Your Personal Mythology Know thyself. It’s perhaps the wisest (and shortest) axiom out there. I believe that, for the herbal healer, self knowledge is every bit as important as plant knowledge. We are each born into a body with our own unique gifts seeded into our soul, and it is our sacred duty to tend these seeds so that these gifts may most fully blossom and most bountifully bless others.
As plant medicine folk, we can bring a deeper, wider dimension of healing into the lives of others by helping them to find their own path inward. For a person seeking healing, to be companioned by the beings, archetypes, and teachings of their own medicine stories can greatly enhance the meaning they find on their journey and therefore the speed and efficacy with which they heal.
Our culture tries with rabid tenacity to keep us from knowing ourselves. In the words of E.E. Cummings: “To be nobody-but-yourself- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” How can we know nature if we don’t know ourselves? How can we hear the voices of the plants if we haven’t learned to tune out the noisy and constant interference of the overculture that seeks to distract and separate us?
So I’m saying two things here- that we are better healers when we know ourselves at the most fundamental level, and that we are better healers when we can help others to do the same. Before we begin, let’s define healing, because I’m going to be using that word a lot. I like to say that healing is open ended and endless.
To find the answers, let’s ask a different set of questions (more Cummings: “Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question”): Which areas of life have the most nourishment to offer our individual souls? How can we hear the guiding voice within? Where can you find wisdom that is specific to you?
It’s open ended in that it doesn’t always come in the ways or time frames we’ve expected; sometimes the things we think will heal us don’t, and sometimes we are surprised by something new or unexpected causing a noticeable shift or quantum leap in the healing process.
I have found the following five mythic threads to be the most meaningful on this open ended and endless path of healing into the self.
Healing is endless because we will never heal back into what or who we were, but can only heal forward into something new. And there is always more healing to be had. To be alive on the earth today is to be traumatized and retraumatized again and again, and there will always be need for more healing. It is an everspiraling path, and we will never find ourselves back where we were before. But by utilizing words, stories, plants, and more, we can choose the path that offers us the most meaningful and impactful healing experiences.
Names This one is so simple that it can be easily overlooked or dismissed, but our names are our life long teachers and often carry our lives’ deepest lessons. For many of us, our feelings about our names change over time, and many of us also choose new names later in life. And then, of course, most of us have had the experience of choosing a name for ourselves online- whether it be something as seemingly insignificant as our Twitter handle or something as important as the name of our business. 94
My given name is Amber Marie Hill. As a child I was quietly outraged the first time I realized that other people were also named Amber, and I hated having such a common (among 80s babies) name. But now I have come to love the name as its many layers of meaning peel back and reveal themselves to me.
trees, and these scraggly nuts (not at all what you find at the grocery store) are still my favorite wild food. Pine needle infused body oils and teas have been beloved medicines in my life, and my heart warms whenever I think about Pinus and its ancient entwinement with my namesake. Researching the etymology of the word amber, I find an overlap with the word ambergris, due to the fact that both substances float onto shore from the ocean. Ambergris is secreted from the digestive tract of sperm whales, and was used for centuries as the main fixative in natural perfumery. As both a lifelong cetacean lover and a botanical perfume enthusiast, this connection also has deep meaning for me.
Amber is hardened resin from ancient trees and is millions of years old. As a preservative agent, amber has carried long extinct plant and animal specimens forward through the ages and has provided invaluable knowledge about the distant past for today’s humans. I became aware of all of this around the time I stepped into my unofficial role as story keeper for my ancestral line, and holding this idea of myself as “keeper of ancient memory” has fortified and emboldened me as an herbalist, ancestral listener, consciousness explorer, and writer.
You may have noticed that my name at the top of this article is Amber Magnolia Hill, but a couple paragraphs ago I stated that my birth name is Amber Marie Hill. Magnolia is a name that is both embryonic and ancestral for me, and helps differentiate me from the many other Amber Hills in the online world (which include a champion sport shooter, a winery, and a pony farm). My dad gave this name to me when I was in the womb. I have letters he wrote his parents when my mom was pregnant saying things like “I felt Magnolia kick today.”
I was also floored to find that amber hails mostly from pine trees. Pines dominated my childhood in South Lake Tahoe, and almost all of my plantrelated childhood memories have to do with pine. My world was changed when a friend told me you can eat the little nuts that fall off the
This embryonic connection was informed by the ancestral connection- my dad was very familiar with magnolia blossoms because his grandmother, who I knew as a young child, loved magnolia trees and had planted two of 95
them in her California yard after moving out here from South Carolina in 1950. They still stand today, and I visit them whenever I can.
had not existed, and the very fabric of your body- bones, blood, DNA- is woven from their matter and their pattern. The word matter comes to us from the Latin mater, meaning mother, and pattern is from pater, or father. Mama & papa, matter & pattern.
Even a name as plain and ordinary as Hill has meaning for me, as I feel strongly connected to my Celtic ancestry and love the lore of the faeries living in hills and hills as portals to the Otherworld. Plus, I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California and this landscape is very much informed by the fact that there isn’t a flat surface to be found anywhere. Put a marble down on a floor you think is flat and it will roll to one side of the room. Everything is slightly askew in gold country due to the forever rolling hills, and I love raising my daughters in a landscape (and subculture) thoroughly lacking straight lines.
Modern epigenetic research has proven what witches, shamans, and wise folk have always known- that the experiences of our ancestors are handed down and live on in us today. As Sandra Easter, author of Jung and the Ancestors puts it, “Healing in the present is connected across and through time and space.” There are many ways the ancestors make themselves known to us. Dreams, synchronicities, symptoms, and whispers that pull us toward our life calling are just some of them. I’m convinced, after years of walking with my ancestors and hearing the stories of many others, that they are deeply invested in helping us to uncover our innate talents and inborn gifts, and in helping us remove the obstacles that get in the way of what calls us.
Every time I use or see my name, I am reminded of all of these things. I feel supported by my ancestors and blessed by some unseen force that compels me forward and weaves magic into the work I came to earth to do. When I feel lost or uncertain, I remember to keep exploring the mysteries and mythic elements of my namesboth given and chosen, both personal and business- and I again feel grounded in my innermost self.
I have dealt with chronic right side pain (jaw to hip) for many years now. A while back I had a dream in which I looked down at my right wrist and saw that a cylindrical hole had seemingly been drilled into it. There was an empty space there. I reached into the hole, amazed, and pulled out a scroll, onto which was written the words William Newton Wright.
(It may seem that I lucked out with such meaningful names, but every person I’ve talked to who has really researched their names has also found unending layers of meaning and myth that weave beautifully into their life. Try it! Language is magic.)
When I awoke I remembered this name from my genealogy research. William was my great great grandpa. I was sleeping in a bed next to my grandma, his granddaughter (whose maiden name was Wright) when I had this dream. I soon came to realize that my ancestors were communicating one of my life’s purposes to me, via the dream realm, in a way they knew I would appreciate- word play.
Ancestry Modern Western culture is perhaps the only culture in the history of the world to have forgotten the ancestors. What all peoples before and besides us have known is that we cannot know ourselves without knowing our ancestors. As Meryl Streep said on one of those ancestry TV shows, “We are nothing but them.”
Wright / Right / Write
She meant that literally, by the way. You would not exist if every single one of your ancestors
For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a writer, and I’ve wanted to write about my 96
ancestors ever since a college professor kindly prodded me in that direction by praising a piece I wrote about my grandmothers. This ancestral dream communication encouraged me to revive those desires, and the message was embedded even more deeply into me by the incredible image provided in the dream- the scrolls are in my bones.
Just kidding. When it comes to healing, there is no more personalized diagnostic or treatment information (whether for physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual ailments) than what can come to us in the dream realm. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying to discount herbs or doctors or real world symptoms or remedies, or that every little dream symbol is a health forewarning; I am saying that we can do ourselves and our clients/ loved ones a valuable service by paying attention to dreams while on the healing path.
And the scrolls are in your bones too. You have every bit as much access to your ancestral wisdom as I do. They are simply waiting for you to reach out across time and call them to you.
Many years before he died a painful and prolonged death from a disfiguring mouth cancer, Sigmund Freud had a dream that he was treating a patient with white spots in her mouth. He spent a lot of time afterward analyzing the dream, which foretold the exact condition he would later find his own mouth in, but chose not to take it as a warning for himself that his severe cigar habit could someday have negative consequences for his own health (deciding instead, of course and eye roll, that it was some sort of sexual wish fulfillment issue on the part of the patient).
Over the years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed that the more time I take to write out my ancestral stories, and to write about ancestry in general (namely, encouraging others to seek their ancestors), the more my right side pain abates. Through the dream I was given guidance, a mission perhaps, and through this symptom of pain I am reminded to stay on task. When I feel my pain I remember my ancestors, remember to keep writing it all out, and my healing journey continues.
Carl Jung, on the other hand, did stop smoking his pipe after a dream message indicated that he should do so. Both men, considered the fathers of modern psychology, were heavy smokers who received dream warnings about their habits. In
Dreams See above. The end.
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what can be seen as an analogy for who had the better insight into the dream realm and into healing the human psyche, Freud ignored his warning while Jung heeded his.
deep and, like many herbalists, I leaned heavily upon those things when writing and teaching in order to help legitimize plant medicine. But strictly adhering to that mindset in my public persona, all the while having absolutely magical experiences that I was keeping to myself, was holding me back. I was silencing the wild parts of myself and the enchantment I constantly experience for fear of being judged by others, and it was limiting my efficacy as a plant and word healer.
Dire warnings of possible future health catastrophes are far from the only way dreams can provide guidance on the healing path, of course. They are usually working on the more subtle realms of spirit, emotion, and life calling. Last winter I dreamt of a bear. A large, regal, beautiful bear. It was walking serenely, head held high, alongside the road I was driving on. Wrapped around its jaw was an equally beautiful, incredibly intricate, gleaming steel muzzle.
I started posting and sharing from a place of joy instead of fear, always aware of the impulse to tamp myself down or edit my exuberance. And I finally started the podcast I’d been dreaming of for a decade. Called Medicine Stories, the conversations I’ve had there have opened me ever wider to the enchantment of the world and have further emboldened me to speak truthfully from the heart without fear or trying to shrink myself so I stay small and silent and nobody makes fun of me. The intricate muzzle, crafted so carefully over the years, is being loosened. The bear dream has been one of the most important in my life, and I will always be learning its lessons. It has many more meanings for me and has affected my life in more ways than what I’ve shared here. When we have a Big Dream, it won’t let us forget. It becomes emblazoned in our mind and embedded in our heart, a reminder to remember. No one needs to tell you when you’ve had such a dream- you know it in your bones. Carry such dreams in your soul for as long as memory allows, watching ever more layers of meaning unfold; they are among the greatest teachers we can have in this life.
Like, whoa. It was one of those dreams that, upon awakening, you immediately know means something, and something big. But what? The symbolism of both the bear and the muzzle can be interpreted in a number of ways, and I believe that strong dream images like this are meant to be carried forward with us, their meaning shifting as our lives do. Dream meanings are not static or only one thing. My understanding of this dream has changed since then, and at each stage of understanding I was provided with new healing tools. Ultimately, the dream emboldened me to stop censoring myself online (blog, Instagram, newsletter) for fear of looking too unscientific, too dreamy, too much of the earth mama hippie I’ve been accused of being since middle school. My love of science and rational thinking runs
Synchronicities A synchronicity can be defined, quite simply, as a meaningful coincidence (or if simplicity’s not your thing, as “the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.”). And since you’re the meaning making boss of your own 98
life, only you get to decide what is synchronistic and therefore meaningful to you. Like everything else I’m writing about here, synchronicity is a deeply personal phenomenon, and therefore carries deeply personal lessons.
The moment I realized that his cold response had no effect on my warm enthusiasm over this synchronicity is the moment I realized that a synchronicity can be defined as meaningful only by the person who experienced it. This meant something to me, and he couldn’t take that away. Another synchronicity also provided encouragement for me when I first started walking the plant path all those years ago. I was in the midst of my
I remember once, about a week after I decided to start incorporating Magnolia into my name, my budding herbalist self opened up an issue of National Geographic to an article about plant evolution that stated that, thanks to DNA sequencing, scientists now think that the first flower to ever bloom on earth was an ancestral magnolia. My jaw dropped! This seemed so meaningful, and like a wonderful confirmation that I should continue to use and explore the story medicine of this name, and continue with my plant studies.
first herbal apprenticeship, and was always scouring used book stores for herbal gems. My then two-year-old daughter and I were in one such store when I spied a book from across the room. I could immediately feel the book pulsing, feel its aliveness, and feel that it was going to become a beloved companion on the plant path. It was Herbal Rituals by Judith Berger, which became that day and will forever be my favorite herb book.
Later that day I ran into an ex, who had known about my dad calling me Magnolia when I was in utero, and told him what I’d read. “Isn’t that so cool?” I asked. “Nah,” he said, and he turned and walked away. (Unbeknownst to me at the time, he was still upset with me for breaking up with him. I thought we were cool bro! You know we never made sense. Geez.)
It was November, so when I got it home and got my girl down for her nap I immediately opened up to the November chapter, which discussed that magical, inward turning time of year and highlighted Mugwort as a plant to work with during that month. I had met Mugwort in my
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apprenticeship and loved her, but didn’t have any growing near me and hadn’t deepened the relationship like I’d wanted to. One sentence that struck me read “A long time emblem of wildcrafters, Cronewort [another name for Mugwort], like the thirteenth fairy, never fails to show up uninvited on the doorstep of the herbalist devoted to using wild common plants for food and medicine.” After reading the chapter I felt all dreamy and happy and in love with the world, and decided to get outside into nature for a while. After nap time I bundled my daughter up and we set off toward the nearest patch of almost kinda wild land, which was a small forested area on the outskirts of a public park that was within walking distance of our home.
These resonances contain lessons for us. Sometimes they show us what strengths and talents we have hidden inside, sometimes they guide us toward the resolution of a problem, and sometimes they simply let us know that we are not alone in the life circumstances we are facing. However you engage with your myth or its (anti)hero(ine), taking time to contemplate why your soul is so moved can provide valuable insight, profound healing, and peerless guidance.
We snuck through the parking lot of the park’s adjacent apartment complex, scrambled our way through the thorny blackberry hedge that kept less adventurous folks out, turned the corner and- there she was. The biggest stand of Mugwort I had ever seen.
Leslie Marmon Silko has written, “I will tell you something about stories. They aren’t just entertainment. Don’t be fooled. They are all we have, you see. All we have to fight off illness and death. You don’t have anything, if you don’t have the stories."
Another jaw dropping moment. Here she was, showing up for me just like Judith said, an emblem of my newly budding devotion to plants and plant medicine. It was a confirmation. It was a message from the multiverse. It was just the synchronicity I needed at that moment to feel supported on my journey, and Mugwort has been my main plant ally and best grandma sister teacher plant friend ever since.
The biggest medicine story in my life thus far is this- my mother, my best friend and biggest supporter and the kindest and most fun and most loving human who ever lived, died in a car accident on November 27th, 2015. (I will never get used to the fact that that story is true).
Myths & Fairy Tales Whether you loved the story of Aladdin and his magic lamp as a child, have always resonated with the archetype of the old woman in the woods, or know in your heart that only Arwen truly understands you, chances are you’ve seen yourself reflected in or felt strongly drawn to a myth, fairy tale, modern story, archetype, or specific character.
The rest of one of the many smaller medicine stories that spirals off of this one and is relevant to this essay is this- three weeks later I conceived my second daughter, ten years after my first. And one year after that I lay in the depths of a crippling wintertime postpartum depression, with dark and frightening thoughts swimming through my mind as I trudged through my exhausted days and endless new mama duties. 100
How can I survive this without her here? Who can I talk to about the despair I’m feeling, when she was the only person who really understood me? How can I expect or ask for support when no one else will ever care about me the way she did? How can I survive both her loss and the overwhelm of new motherhood? How can I hold life and death at the same time?
myths or family trees and change the course of our lives. A synchronicity can bridge the gap between a dream and real life, or uncover a connection between you and an ancestor, in a way that reveals something hidden. The possible overlaps and their abundant layers of meaning are endless. And did you notice what I did throughout this essay (which perhaps you took as just rambling on in a self-indulgent manner)? I shared my story medicine. I didn’t just tell you to go explore your names, ancestors, dreams, synchronicities, and favorite tales and then list all the reasons why. I told you my stories, and you’re going to remember them- and feel inspired to go explore these things in your own life- much more than you would have if I hadn’t woven my own narratives into this text.
I turned to the ancient Sumerian myth known as The Descent of Inanna, seeking a companion in the darkness. Step by step, layer by layer, Inanna descends into the underworld. At each of seven gates she removes a piece of clothing or jewelry, until she arrives at last utterly naked and alone. And then, dismembered in the depths of the underworld, she is given new life and ascends again. There is, of course, more to the story. But the bones of it were what I needed, what I craved. To hear of the suffering of another, to find a metaphor for the dismantling of my own self through catastrophic loss, grief, and the massive shifts of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, all in such a short amount of time, was medicine to my aching soul.
And the people you endeavor to heal will remember your stories too. And the stories of others that have healing insight to provide them. Mostly, they will remember and learn from their own stories. The mythic imagination is one of the most precious gifts we are given as humans, and this capacity to see connections and make meaning can bring about deeply transformative healing experiences. Author and mythologist Michael Meade says that “The deepest power of the human soul is imagination.” Every plant healer would do well to utilize the power of story medicine on the path to greater well being.
Step by step, parts of me were discarded as I made my own descent. I lay naked on the cold floor of the underworld, utterly unknown to myself, surrounded in a darkness I could not see a way out of. Though it sounds stark and forlorn, the imagery provided in this myth brought me comfort and hope. I was Inanna. I wasn’t alone. I would ascend eventually, I knew, but for now I sought only a companion in the darkness. I sought only to be reminded that mine is a story old as time. The Mythic Imagination Did you notice how many of these categories of mythic meaning overlap? Ancestors come to us in dreams, as do fairy tale characters and archetypes. Names jump out at us from old 101
Towards an Autonomous, Insurgent, Unsupervised Grassroots Herbalism by Dave Meesters The following is the companion essay to Dave’s class of the same title at the upcoming Good Medicine Confluence, wherein he does his part to deconstruct the elitist general and even herbal health systems, envisioning and helping to manifest a healthier and more just world. He is a co-founder and co-director of Medicine County Herbs and the Terra Sylva School in the mountains of western North Carolina. We are living at an exciting time, a time of rising energy and momentous opportunity for herbalism in the United States.
Herbal
The move to get closer to nature and to rediscover ancestral herbal healing practices, which arguably began in the 1960’s and 70’s among Americans whose culture had lost those traditions, has been gaining strength ever since. Now there are so many who answer the call of the plants, the call to a holistic way of living, to meaningful connection and interdependence with the more-than-human world, to the healing that comes from rekindling relationship with the web of life.
education
flourishes. Conferences proliferate. Workshops sell out. Enthusiasts hungrily devour herbal resources online, and use what they learn to experiment with herbal remedies, making medicine for themselves and their kin. And of these, many will come to claim the title of ‘herbalist’—one whose passion and calling is using herbal knowledge for healing.
This is fertile ground indeed, and a rewarding time to be on the path. So much is being discovered, rediscovered, and shared. With this many people experimenting, practicing, and sharing, our collective knowledge and capabilities are growing exponentially, too fast for anyone to track. 102
Of course this herbal world exists within a larger world. A complex society, not of our design, and full of prejudices, rules, gatekeepers, and enforcers. It’s easy for people who are caught up in the excitement of the herbal resurgence to forget that this society allows very little room for herbalism to take part in it. When I teach the history of settler herbalism in North America to beginning herb students, who are usually young people excited to be taking a bold step in the direction of their heart’s deeper truth, we inevitably get to the Flexner Report of 1910. The Flexner Report ushered in new regulations that made it impossible for physicians to get a vitalist education in botanical medicine, ending the period when holistic herbalism could be part of establishment health care.
open meadows of possibility lie. To get there, we start by asking ourselves: would the herbal resurgence that I described above, with all of its beautiful experimentation, creativity, and crosspollination, be possible in a society where herbalism was a licensed and regulated modality? What if herb schools had to comply with “good practices” mandated from above in order to be accredited? How about Germany, where the value of herbs is recognized but they are prescribed by allopathic doctors? What about the example of a licensed holistic modality like Chinese medicine, where soaring education costs (made possible because official recognition allows students to qualify for loans) drive graduates to maximize their profits? Do these embody the proper conditions for a vibrant grassroots movement? Friends who are from, or have traveled in, other countries in the developed world tell me that the US has the most vital, innovative, and engaged herbalism of anywhere they’ve been. Is it a coincidence that it’s also the country that pushes herbalism furthest to the margins?
After expressing chagrin at this turn of events, many students expect the narrative to conclude in storybook fashion with a triumphant “win” for herbalism over this upsetting episode of repression, and they are palpably crestfallen to learn that the oppressive regulations are still fully in effect—nothing has changed since the Flexner report.
It seems that 21st-century mainstream medicine is toxic to the practice of herbalism.
And honestly, they already know this to be true. We all do, despite our desire to wish another reality into being. We know that holism is not taught in med schools. We know that unlicensed herbalists seldom get referrals from licensed practitioners, aren’t paid by insurance companies or Medicaid, and generally keep a low profile so as not to intrude on the licensed modalities that have the law on their side. How many examples do we have of unlicensed herbalists who support themselves solely through clinical practice, the way that most other practitioners do? Very few. No matter how much we feel like our field is growing and thriving, everywhere we encounter barriers that are specifically designed to keep us out.
The closer herbalism gets to “official” medicine and “official” recognition, the more it suffers. The more compromised, distorted, restricted, and denigrated it becomes. It’s as if the lure of recognition and financial sustenance is used to capture a holistic modality, diminish its powers, and keep it on a chain. Now we can see the green grass meadow on the other side of herbalism’s exclusion from the system. (This is not to say that herbalists cannot, or should not, have working relationships with medical professionals—relationships of mutual benefit and respect. I’ve had these relationships myself, and I think they are important to pursue. And many herbalists are also nurses, or otherwise work in a medical field. My observations here are of the systemic, not the individual, level.)
If contemplating this reality makes you angry, good. It makes my students angry every time I tell it. That anger is important, and should be harnessed. But also, there is a place beyond that anger, beyond the walls of exclusion, where the 103
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So if herbal practitioners are not to take their place alongside the recognized modalities in our official health care system, then how is this growing herbal movement going to show up and make its impact in culture?
the herbalist who shows up at the farmer’s market every week to sell that bug-bite salve or cramp remedy that the town has come to rely on. But don’t get me wrong: I don’t begrudge anyone their hustle. A person has to find a way to make a living, and the need to earn money compromises us all. My point here is that, just like the full potential of increasing environmental awareness is not exemplified by recycled toilet paper, herbal products in the marketplace do not reflect the full potential and character of the herbal resurgence.
Probably the most visible manifestation of herbalism’s resurgence is the Instagram-driven herbal product line. These can be wondrous endeavors, packed with creativity not only in the herbal preparations that are offered, but also in the aesthetics of the packaging, the photography, the language, and the daily life of the herbalist, which is often on display. It makes a lot of sense: herbalism is extremely photogenic, and by using social media to directly market to consumers who could be anywhere, a person can conceivably earn a living (or a chunk of one) while staying mostly “under the radar” of surveillance by the FDA and other business bureaucratic enforcers. It’s fully decentralized, every product line is (theoretically) a unique vision and, though certainly pressured by trends and at the mercy of the algorithms, the herbalistmaker has creative control.
To better explore the potentials of a resurgent herbalism outside the marketplace, we can begin by remembering that so many lessons on the herbalist’s path are about interdependence. And like a fractal, we see similar webs of interdependence at whatever scale of life we happen to be observing. At the cellular level, we see how the cell membrane and the organelles, each with their roles, support and depend upon the work of the others. At a larger scale, in holistic physiology we learn that the organs and tissues of the human body are interdependent as well—the blood nourishes and feeds the liver, and the blood would not function without the proteins that only the liver can provide.
The internet also makes it easy for herbalists to share a lot of practical information, education, insight, and wisdom while they communicate with their potential customers. This is essential, because so much of the work of the herbal movement is to restore herbal and holistic healing powers to the people. When it’s done right, the products being offered are almost an afterthought and not the main course.
At the next level of scale, organisms in an ecology have complicated relationships of interdependence as well. Herbalist Guido Masé has used his studies of herbal pharmacology to demonstrate this eloquently. To take one example, our (and other animals’) bodies depend on the flavonoids from a plant like Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) to function normally, while the Hawthorn depends on the animals to disperse its seeds.
On the down side, some of the most successful product lines uncomfortably replicate the tropes of commercial advertising, using occult glamour to associate their products with all sorts of intangibles like magic, beauty, wholeness, connection, hipster cool, even sex, and at prices unlikely to appeal to the working class. This is a sticky proposition, to sell a fleeting image of connection to those who suffer digital isolation and disconnection from nature. To sell a vicarious experience of magic to those whose lives lack magic yet yearn for it. Here we inhabit a very different realm of commerce from that of
We can extend these lessons of interdependence right into human communities. Witness how people naturally form relationships of interdependence when we come together. Individuals gravitate toward their strengths, and are relied upon by the group for what they are especially competent at, in networks of relations characterized by mutual aid and resilience, 105
where the whole is notably greater than the sum of the parts. The herbalist/healer has a special role to play in community, not only for their plant knowledge and healing abilities, but also as a specialist in the holistic knowledge of interdependence. A holistic herbalist is deeply, necessarily attuned to the dynamics of interdependence, which are vast and exist at every scale possible, because holistic healing relies upon it.
The hostility that the dominant system expresses towards the practice of herbalism—either attempting to marginalize and denigrate it, or to defuse its powers through virtuality and deferred promise—should be a clear signal that we should invest as little of our energy as possible there. It is a clear sign of incompatibility: our healing desires will not be fulfilled through that system. In fact, as I implied before, we could even see that hostility as a gift, a gift of clarity, encouraging us to be true to our holistic vision, true to what we’ve learned, and to what we teach. The structures that prevent us from “rising” in the world also keep us close to our roots.
This is all well and good as far as it goes, and if only these natural interdependencies fully described our world. But as we have seen, layered over the top of the fecund web of life are the structures of capitalism and the state, which survive by draining vital energy from life at the same time as they try to set the terms for life’s existence.
Those roots go deep, but they also spread, rh i z o m a t i c a l l y, like Bamboo, like tenacious Blackberry they spread. And everywhere that herbalism arrives in this way, it generates new connections, creates a niche for itself in the human ecology it finds there. And remember, herbalism has more to contribute than relief from bodily ills. As Renée Davis notes in her Plant Healer article “Spearheading Culture Change with Plant Traditions,” “The network of symbiotic relationships and connections between humans and other life forms orients us in our habitat and the cosmos.” Herbalists are living practical examples of symbiotic relationship between humans and other life. Our presence facilitates reawakening and reorientation. Davis goes on to observe that revitalizing herbal traditions spurs change by “broadening perception of place; inspiring self, family, and community care; orienting our selves as humans in time and habitat.” The presence of herbal traditions in the cultural landscape goes beyond “ordinary” healing to actually mend the fractured connections between humans, nature, and the cosmos.
Which again brings us to the problem of the herbal practitioner in 21st century America. Capitalism creates an artificial ecosystem in which competition and scarcity (whether real or illusory) are raised to high values, and imposes an environment more defined by vertical power, accumulation, and separation, in opposition to herbalism’s alliance with horizontal interdependence, decentralization, and dispersal of resources. Their deck is stacked against us. So what do we do? Obviously we cannot simply reject any and all involvement with the capitalist marketplace. The goal instead should be to minimize its role while maximizing that proliferation of horizontal connections which is the hallmark of vitality: connecting plants with people, people back to the plants, communities with their ecologies, and fostering the growth of vibrant, vital, interconnected and resilient human communities. 106
Examples of this rhizomatic, grassroots herbalism abound, and to me represent the only authentic and sustainable, not to mention most promising and satisfying, way forward for the practice of herbalism today.
Community herbalists do the crucial work of addressing people’s health concerns in an organic and holistic way. Ideally, this can happen before the health concerns have progressed to the level of full-blown disease. By the time that a person decides to go to the doctor for something that is wrong, it has often progressed to a point that justifies more drastic and costly interventions, which could have been avoided if the concern was attended to when it was still in a sub-clinical stage. That sub-clinical stage, when we are still looking at functional imbalances instead of organic disease, is the specialty and prime scope of practice of the community herbalist. A community that is served by an herbalist is thus healthier, more autonomous, and more resilient in the face of big-picture structural shifts in the nature and accessibility of conventional medical care. Working, paying, and stressing to have access to conventional care becomes less urgent if primary care is provided by an herbalist accessible in one’s community.
We can build our foundation on the work of those who we call Community Herbalists. Paul Bergner has a great Plant Healer article “In Praise of Community Herbalism,” where he argues that we shouldn’t think of the community herbalist as a lesser practitioner than the socalled Clinical Herbalist. He points out that it’s in the field of community herbalism that most of our practical information is gathered and the most productive healing work is accomplished. I agree, and would add that community herbalists most faithfully continue the traditional role of the herbalist in culture. A community herbalist is unlikely to be found by looking in the phone book, by perusing ads in the newspaper, or by searching on the internet. People are typically led to a community herbalist by word of mouth. The name says it all: a community herbalist serves as herbalist for one or more communities of which they are a member. “Community” in this sense can take many forms: your small town, your neighborhood, your friend network, your subcultural scene, your church, your workplace. Some community herbalists work at health food stores, at herb shops, or have a booth at the farmer’s market. They are known to be available, often in an informal way, for health recommendations and herbal remedies.
The community herbalist also serves the community by making people more aware of the plant life around them, the ecological connections and healing powers of the herbs and trees that grow in their yards, gardens, vacant lots and nearby woods, and more aware of the connection between their internal health and the state of all their relationships: to their family, their community, their environment, their food, etc. Herbalists inspire holistic and vitalist awareness. Taking on the role of community herbalist should be the minimum requirement for a practicing herbalist who wants to contribute to the mission of holistic healing on Earth. If you’re an herbalist and you don’t feel like you belong to any community, find one! Herbalism is all about relationship. We serve by being in relationship with the plants on one side, and people on the other, weaving those strands with our two hands.
Community herbalists are the absolute bedrock and linchpin of grassroots herbalism. I can still remember being struck by the realization that it is the actual birthright of every human who has ever lived to either be or to know at least one herbalist who they can turn to for health advice, healing, and medicine. Everyone should know an herbalist. Period. No exceptions. It is our job to make this historical tradition a lived reality once again.
Make sure people know that you are available for consultation. You usually have to remind them. Most modern Americans are conditioned 107
only to think of professionals when it comes to health care, even when a more approachable option is theoretically known to them. And lastly, make sure to stay in contact with other herbalists, whether they’re in your community, colleagues from herb school, over the internet, at conferences, whatever it takes to share information, experiences, strategies and perspectives so that our collective knowledge and skills can continue to evolve.
use of disaster and disruption to consolidate their power while dismantling community services. Herbalists can enter the vacuum caused by the temporary lack of medical care to help people be healthy and resilient, and remind folks that there is another approach to the body, another way of taking care. One thing I have also noticed is that when herbalists work alongside licensed practitioners in marginal situations— disaster areas, underserved communities, festivals—herbalists are treated with more respect and openness than in the core of the mainstream medical system, and productive symbioses can emerge.
Sometimes the communities that herbalists serve can be transient ones. Many a stellar herbalist has cut their teeth helping to provide first aid or general wellness care at festivals, gatherings, encampments, or protests. The work of the herbalist can be just as beneficial in these environments as in more long-term communities, and this can be a good place for a mobile nomadic herbalist, untied to a geographic place, to plug in and use their skills.
More recently, the Orlando Grief Care Project, in the wake of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, and Gulf Coast Herbal Aid, after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, are two more examples of herbalists rising to meet urgent needs. I could go on with the examples, there are many more, which goes to show that as herbalism grows in this country, herbalists are seeing the need and the opportunity for herbalism to play a vital and valued role, fostering community care and holistic vitality when it is needed most.
Another type of transient situation that the rhizomatic runners of grassroots herbalism can extend to is where communities have been struck by so-called natural disaster or some other disruptive tragedy. In New Orleans in the months after Hurricane Katrina, I worked with the Common Ground collective in makeshift clinics that offered care to returning residents and aid workers when there was little conventional care to be had. As an herbalist I helped many people deal with the stress, the grief, the mold exposure and respiratory infections that came along with returning to flood-damaged homes. This kind of care would not have been well-addressed by conventional medicine even if it had been available, but it falls perfectly into an herbalist’s scope of practice. The responsiveness and contributions of herbalists after that disaster were highly valued by the community there, so much so that herbalists were incorporated into the permanent community health clinic that evolved out of the disaster relief, and herbalists practiced there, alongside conventional practitioners, for years.
Anywhere the system has forsaken people herbalism can have a meaningful impact. When herbalists operate a free clinic at the local homeless shelter, or work at the drop-in foot care clinic, resolving immediate health challenges is only the most obvious benefit. Because when these efforts are at their best, they are not acts of charity but of solidarity. The herbalists create community with the people being served, in the spirit of all-in-this-together, caring for each other and becoming strong, resilient, and autonomous against the oppressive forces that exploit us and make life hard. The work of herbalists everywhere should be to make people less dependent on the exploitative, rigged system that rations out resources, benefits, and survival itself according to an inhuman calculus. It’s about returning the tools of healing and vitality to the people, to a practice that is within our reach, that we can access
This is the inverse of Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine,” where capitalism and the state make 108
anywhere. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this why you wanted to be an herbalist? The more we can free ourselves from dependence on the rigged system, the more mutual aid and holistic interdependencies we can manifest, the more vitality and strength will awaken in ourselves and our communities. We could begin to consider a life free from the rigged system, and access the strength and solidarity we would need to effect such a major transformation.
activist communities, or who support direct actions like the pipeline blockade at Standing Rock are helping to make space for the insurgent growth of a world that is held together by selfreliance and mutual aid, horizontal interdependence instead of vertical, hierarchical parasitism. It is simply the application of our holistic ecological training to the fractal level of the whole society. I believe that it is by developing this threepronged approachâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;practicing community herbalism, responding to unmet needs (both urgent and ongoing), and growing the culture of resistanceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that the herbal revival we are experiencing will fulfill its promise.
Which is why another part of the mission should be to support the work of those who are standing up to the rigged system, fighting or working hard to create alternatives. Herbalists who act as street medics at protests, who care for 109
holistic DNA. Herbalism belongs in, nurtures and creates a world that is dense with supportive interconnections, with symbiotic interdependencies, where health is realized through relationship. Where the holistic nature of the body is recognized, where humans’ relationship with the non-human is carefully tended, where care itself becomes a universal practice. Herbalism is by its very nature “relational, adaptive, fractal, interdependent, decentralized, transformative,” the exact properties that author and activist Adrienne Maree Brown identifies, in her awesome book Emergent Strategy, as the most conducive for shaping social change. To really go deep and align ourselves with the core wisdom and practices of herbalism is to be on this transformative path. It’s not a choice, really. It’s what herbalism is.
And teach, always teach, educate, spread knowledge and tools. Try your best to make yourself irrelevant and you will do so much good (without losing relevance). Once again, this is a basic holistic approach. Herbalists are specifically trained to use plant medicines to heal the human body and mind, but our holistic training can and should carry over to everything we undertake. Just like healthy food, adequate rest, good digestion, and inflammation-control prevent the onset of chronic disease or help a body overcome it; just like diverse, healthy, well-resourced interconnected gardens can better resist insect pests and episodes of disturbance; stronger, healthier, more vital and self-reliant communities are better able to navigate the “shocks and slides” of an increasingly unstable world, and better able to resist the impositions of parasitic capitalism and the state. The work of embedded herbalists can be a humble but important contribution to building that strength and vitality.
And how are we supposed to make a living while we birth the new world, you ask? Well, you do what you gotta do. I would only offer the observation that, if you serve a community, and the people of that community have come to appreciate and rely on your services, then they will be unlikely to let you starve. The herbalists in New Orleans after Katrina were provided for. The healers at Standing Rock were a valued and important aspect of that encampment. And in my own Appalachian rural neighborhood, where I have come as a bumbling transplant from the nearby city into the company of these families that have survived on this rocky ground for generations, I’ve never charged my neighbors for the herbal medicine I’ve given them over the years. It’s always seemed like the least I could do for the welcome and assistance that they’ve given us.
I hope it is clear that what I’m talking about here is not herbalism paired with social justice, though I have no objection to that pairing. And I’m definitely not talking about donating a percentage of our sales to a worthy cause. I’m talking about practicing an herbalism that embodies, by the actual forms it takes in the world, the fullest expression of herbalism’s
In this way we attempt to weave ourselves into the webs of reciprocity and mutual aid that have always kept communities alive throughout time. And in our world of ever-increasing instability and uncertainty, those webs could mean more than all the money in the bank.
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Signature Species of the Southwest Part I by Dara Saville Dara is not only one of our most valued PHM columnists, but is also teaching several classes and leading a native plants walk at the Good Medicine Confluence. She is the founder and primary instructor of Albuquerque Herbalism and the Director of the Yerba Mansa Project, an all-volunteer effort to restore native plants in the Rio Grande Bosque and provide educational outreach regarding the importance of native plant communities. Her extensive piece on Southwestern plant species will be run here in two parts, and may be of special interest to those of you driving through the deserts and mountains of wild and enchanted New Mexico on your way to the Confluence in Durango come May.
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The American Southwest is a vast territory that includes a wide variety of ecosystems and dramatically changing landscapes as well as a myriad of cultural layers contributing to the herbal traditions found here. Plant habitats include high arid mesas, several different desert types, mountains with changing elevations and isolated sky island species, and riparian floodplains with ecosystem mosaics. This diverse region is home to an astounding number of valued medicinal plants, some of which can be found in other arid areas of the Mountain West while others are found exclusively or primarily in the Southwest. This two-part series will explore a small selection of medicinal plants that play major roles in both the herbal traditions and the natural landscapes of the Southwest. I live in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico and my experiences as an herbalist and landscape geographer there have shaped my selection of plants. While there were many more plants worthy of inclusion here (such as Osha, Prickly Pear, Yucca, Ocotillo, and Mesquite), I chose plants based not only on their impact to the local landscapes and herbal traditions but also as representatives from the Southwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s varied and diverse habitat types. The following part one includes Sand Sage, Snakeweed, Juniper, Datura, and PiĂąon. The forthcoming part two will discuss Cottonwood, Yerba Mansa, Chaparral, and Globemallow.
the phytochemical thujone and thus distinguishes it from the common Sagebrush (A. tridentata) and Fringed Sage (A. frigida).
While the more pungent Sagebrush and Fringed Sage are used as a bitter tonic to increase gastric secretions for cold and sluggish digestive issues, Sand Sage is helpful for reducing gastric secretions in digestive problems caused by heat and inflammation. Sand Sage leaves chewed or prepared as a warm tea or poultice also promote digestive health by protecting gastric mucosa, healing ulcers, inhibiting H. pylori, and acting as a choleretic to increase bile production. The aromatic camphor present in the leaves make the hot tea, warm poultice, or steam inhalation of Sand Sage and other species useful for clearing respiratory congestion and infection and easing coughs and sore throats. Sand Sage also has a history of use for arthritis treatments, usually prepared as a warm poultice, infused oil, or soak. Additionally, Sand Sage is a mild but broadly effective topical and internal antimicrobial useful for wound care, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. The Penitentes
Sand Sage (Artemisia filifolia) Ranging across sandy soils of the greater Southwest and into the Southern Great Plains, Sand Sage or Romerillo is a defining and dominant plant in many areas. Sand Sage tends to grow in expansive and exposed places, like the volcanic mesas along the Middle Rio Grande, where vulnerability and perspective are on center stage. The plants that grow there offer an embrace of these and other qualities along with their herbal actions. This plant has a long history of medicinal use by native peoples, Hispanic communities, and others primarily for digestive and respiratory complaints as well as arthritis and antimicrobial treatments. Like its close relative Estafiate (A. ludoviciana), Sand Sage lacks 112
of northern New Mexico are said to have used Sand Sage as a healing wash for their selfinflicted back lacerations. Sand Sage has also been used for purification by burning the leaves or drinking hot tea for diaphoresis or cold tea for diuresis as well as regulating blood flow by stimulating delayed menses and controlling post-partum bleeding. Tewa and Hopi Pueblos have also used this widely abundant and important plant in sacred ceremonies. Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) Snakeweed or Escoba de la Vibora is a common and wide-ranging plant on the high mesas, grasslands, and other sandy or overgrazed areas of the Mountain West and is a highly valued medicinal plant in Southwestern herbal traditions. A similar species, G. microcephala, is less frequently encountered and limited to the Southwest. It is distinguished by having only one or two ray flowers compared to G. sarothraeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three to eight ray flowers.
Additionally Pueblo People use soaks, poultices, tea and/or vapors as an emetic, treatment for eye conditions, rattlesnake bites, bruises, colds and coughs, fevers, diarrhea, venereal disease, bathing newborns, postpartum care, and general purification. For the Navajo, Snakeweed is a Life Medicine employed in previously mentioned forms or as plant ash rubbed on the body for upset stomachs, diarrhea, fever, headaches, nervousness, cuts and scrapes, swollen bites, during childbirth for delivery of the placenta, painful urination, and ceremony. Hispanic communities have similar and overlapping uses including colic, post-partum sitzbath or douche, malaria recovery, and menstrual regulation. Snakeweed has also been used in broom-making, yellow dye for Navajo weaving, Hopi prayer sticks, insecticide, and as filler for wall construction.
As a late-summer or early-fall blooming plant, Snakeweed brightens up the mesa at a time when few other plants are flowering and its intoxicatingly wonderful scent fills the air just as we begin our transition into the darker time of year. While G. sarothrae is currently widespread across the American West, prior to cattle grazing this plant was once far less abundant than it is today. This may account for its scant presence in archaeological sites but its high importance in more modern Native American and Hispanic herbal traditions. Snakeweed is a frequent member of plant communities in Oak Juniper woodlands and desert grasslands and was among the first specimens collected by Lewis and Clark along the Missouri River. Its semiresinous aromatic foliage and profuse golden blossoms are commonly collected and dried to prepare soaks, liniments, infused oils, and teas for arthritis treatments, inflammation, joint soreness, and musculo-skeletal pain. Snakeweed is sometimes combined with other signature plants of the region including Datura and Chaparral for this purpose.
Juniper (Juniperus monosperma) Juniper or Sabina is among the most widespread and habitat-defining plants in the Southwest (especially New Mexico) and ethnobotanists Dunmire, Tierney, and Moerman list more uses for it than any other plant. While some might accuse Juniper of impersonating a Cedar, they are actually part of the Cypress family and there are numerous species inhabiting vast middleelevation acreages of the Southwest and others found across the country. Many Juniper species are used medicinally (excepting the Alligator Juniper) but since the One-Seed Juniper is most common in New Mexico that is the species I 113
know best. I sincerely enjoy drinking Juniper tea but others find it abhorrent so you might want to let folks try it for themselves before recommending is as part of any treatment. Many herbalists think of Juniper berry tincture or tea as an antiseptic diuretic for urinary tract infections and inflammations. Some may also include Juniper in digestive formulas as a carminative and to increase gastric secretions, in topical oils for eczema or psoriasis, or even use leaves and berries in incense. In Native American herbal practice, however, Juniper is legion. Among the Southwestern tribes, Juniper berry tea is a diuretic and leaf spring tea is used for clearing colds and coughs, calming digestive problems including diarrhea and constipation, soothing general aches and pains, and has many associations with the birthing process. Juniper tea serves as both motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s muscle relaxant tea and as a cleansing bath for mother and baby, plants or ashes may be rubbed on newborns, and tea or smoke is sometimes used to aid difficult births.
us think of Pedicularis for muscle relaxation, Juniper is far more common and can also be used both internally and topically for this purpose. Additional uses include cooking the berries with meats and stews (especially among the Pueblo), basketry, dye making, body paint, firewood, bows, ceremony, and prayer sticks. Hispanic communities adopted many similar uses including for urinary infections, stimulating digestion, soothing stomachaches, and its role in birthing and postpartum care. Juniper is contraindicated for kidney infections, chronic kidney weakness, and pregnancy due to its vasodilating effect on the uterus.
Datura (Datura wrightii or D. meteloides) There are few plants with a more allure than the gorgeous and foreboding Datura. Prehistoric and historic usage of the plant highlights this duality as it is commonly found at ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites dating back centuries but modern New Mexico Pueblos have no uses for the plant and often describe it with both attraction and fear. Although there are 20 species worldwide, most occur in the American Southwest and Mexico and favor dry areas with natural or human disturbance such as foothill drainages or urban areas from sea level up to 7,000 feet. Ethnobotanists Dunmire and Tierney theorize that Datura may have been brought up to the Southwest from Mexico as part of the exchange of ideas and goods and that Daturaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-contiguous and spotty distribution and its association with sacred sites may be explained by its relationship to prehistoric cultures. Further supporting this theory is the local common name Toloache, derived from the Aztec name Toloatzin. A powerful and poisonous plant, Datura beckons both pollinators and herbalists with its offers of intoxication and transformation. Hawk moths, lured by the scent of night blooming flowers, descend into the depths of the tubular blossom in search of nectar. With wings beating against the corolla, they dust themselves with pollen and often fall to the ground or fly away erratically in search of their next intoxicating flower.
Furthermore, Juniper plays a major role in general gynecological care including teas for postpartum, contraception, and menstrual regulation. Bark baths soothe itchy bites or sore feet and heated twigs have been applied as a topical treatment for measles, bruises, and swellings. The bark powder is even used for earaches. Burning Juniper branches is also a treatment for colds and general pleasantness. Juniperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s association with cleansing and purification is strong and includes preparing diaphoretic baths, emetic or laxative leaf and twig teas, and serving as a protective charm against negativity or evil spirits. While many of 114
conditions. I find Datura especially helpful when there is an emotional or psychological component to a person’s pain as this plant can be deeply transformative beyond the physical realm. A few inhalations of Datura, Mullein, and Salvia Sage smoke also makes a valuable emergency medicine for asthma constriction and severe allergic reactions as it relaxes bronchial spasms and reduces excess secretions. Common side effects of misuse include dry mouth and blurred vision. As previously mentioned, Native American relationships with this plant vary with some using the plant medicinally, others using it ceremonially, and some avoiding or fearing it. Uses are consistent with what has already been described but include additional ceremonial and medicinal knowledge, the details of which are largely unknown outside the respective tribes. Ethnobotanist Moerman referred to Datura as “the most universally used hallucinogenic and medicinal plant known to humans” (1998 p.194). He reported that the Cahuilla, for example, smoked dried leaves to transcend worlds, have visions, encounter spirits, transform into other animals, diagnose illness, and give hunters increased power and connectivity to animals. Many other tribes have used Datura in similar ways including the Paiute, who ate seeds while gambling to guess the opponent’s hand, or the Zuni, who used it to see ghosts, empower rain priests to bring water, and enable victims to identify perpetrators in their dreams. Hopis used it to cure meanness and the Navajo ate fruits soaked and boiled and mixed with clay to neutralize toxicity.
Likewise humans have along history of seeking similar pain relieving or otherwise transforming experiences with Datura. The first recorded medicinal uses come from an ancient Babylonian tablet and include references to its poisonous, sedating, and aphrodisiac qualities. As a highly toxic plant, Datura teaches us caution and respect for the powers of the plant world. Furthermore, alkaloid proportions can vary between plants, increasing the danger of misuse and highlighting the importance of relationship with this plant. I have personally witnessed rashes develop from simply brushing bare skin against its leaves and Dunmire and Tierney noted that simply smelling a flower can make some nauseous or sedate children into drugged sleep. Consuming 20 seeds can be fatal and there is no shortage of disturbing stories from people who have tried to consume the plant. One of the best such tales comes from Jamestown, Virginia where soldiers boiled and ate spring shoots (likely D. stramonium) with hallucinations and foolishness ensuing for 11 days before they returned to normal with no memory of the events. Clearly, Datura should not be consumed internally and is reserved for topical use or minor inhalations as emergency medicine. As a topical remedy, Datura leaves and flowers are one of our best analgesics and are commonly prepared as a bath, poultice, infused oil, or liniment. These can be helpful for wounds, headaches, cramps, achy muscles, sports injuries, arthritis, hemorrhoids, and hot inflamed skin
Piñon (Pinus edulis) Piñon Pine is a plant of the Four Corners states and is one of the plants I most strongly associate with the land and culture of the Southwest. Its rich green tones dot the landscape and contrast with the red soils of the Colorado Plateau to create one of the iconic Southwestern vistas. This slow growing conifer resides in lower more arid elevations from about 4,000 to 9,000 ft and may take 75-200 years or more to reach maturity. Its 115
resin or pitch is a prized medicine and the nuts have been a staple of the region’s food since the earliest human settlements. This woodland habitat has seen significant losses over recent years at the hands of persistent drought, massive wild fires, and bark beetle outbreaks that have devastated vast acreages of Piñon Pines. Nevertheless, it remains at the center of culinary and herbal traditions wherever it grows. Piñon nuts have been found at nearly all ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites, later became a valuable commodity for Spanish colonists, and can be purchased from local harvesters from roadside pickup trucks today. Although good crops occur only every 6 or 7 years and 18 months are required for the nuts to develop, it is well worth the wait. This high caloric wild food has protein levels comparable to beef, all 20 amino acids (making it a complete protein), and can be eaten raw, roasted, or ground into flour. Needles, inner bark, and pitch are also collected
for herbal preparations with the resinous pitch forming the foundation of one of the finest aromatic herbal oils. Trementina de Piñon, a local New Mexican herbal specialty, is prepared by warming fresh pitch and using as is or further processing into a salve. This famous remedy causes local inflammation to bring splinters to the surface for easier removal and is also a wonderful warming treatment for arthritis or otherwise sore muscles and joints. Spanish New Mexicans may also add some native Tobacco and salt and apply it topically for headaches. Pueblo natives used the pitch similarly but they often mixed it with tallow to draw out infections from wounds or simply chewed and swallowed a small piece to clear up head colds. Navajo burned the pitch to treat colds and also used it as glue for broken pots and to seal woven baskets or jugs. Hopi applied resin to the forehead to protect against sorcery. Many Southwestern tribes have used Piñon in these ways and also 116
Dunmire , William W. and Gail D. Tierney, Wild Plants of the Pueblo Province, (Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1995).
used needle tea or inner bark decoction as an expectorant, diaphoretic for fevers, and flu treatment. Some also used the seeds to make pudding or seed butter and used the resin in dye making. PiĂąon also provides aromatic firewood and makes lovely citrus scented incense.
Dunmire , William W. and Gail D. Tierney, Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners, (Santa Fe,NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1997).
Continue reading part two of this essay in the next edition of Plant Healer. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll explore Cottonwood, Yerba Mansa, Chaparral, and Globemallow.
Kane, Charles, Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest, (Lincoln Town Press, 2011). Moerman, Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, (Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1998). Moore, Michael, Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, (Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989).
References: Curtain, L. S. M., Healing Herbs of the Upper Rio Grande, (Los Angeles, CA: Southwest Museum, 1965).
Moore, Michael, Los Remedios, (Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1990).
Dodson, Carolyn, A Guide to Plants of the Northern Chihuahua Desert, (Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 2012).
Moore, Michael, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, (Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 2003).
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Pinaceae By Shana Lipner Grover One of the most recognized members of the Plant kingdom, especially during the holiday season, is the Pine tree. Living in southern California, evergreen trees are the most commented “missing” green from our environments. Conifers are present in southern California, you just need to know where to find them. Since most people live in cities at sea-level, the secret is to head to higher elevations. The Pinaceae family of trees is home to many conifers (cone bearing plants) and is part of a classification called Gymnosperms.
from Greek meaning “naked seed” for the way the seeds are not within an ovary but in an unenclosed condition; sitting on the surface of a scale in a cone or on a modified leaf or stalk. The cone bearing plants, like Pinaceae, Cupressaceae and Ephedraceae are Gymnosperms, with the evergreens being the oldest and largest. The Pinaceae family of plants includes almost exclusively trees. Genus in Pinaceae include Pine, Fir, Douglas Fir, Spruce, Hemlock, C e d a r, Tamarack or Larch and a few others. We’re sticking with the Pines in this article and will explore other Pinaceae conifers in future botany articles. These trees fit perfectly into the definition of the term plant, being multi-cellular, having cellulose as part of the structure and having the ability to carry out photosynthesis.
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are two categories classifying seedbearing plants called Spermatophytes. Angiosperms are more common and are characterized by the presence of flowers with seeds in an ovary. Gymnosperm is translated 118
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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exceptions to every rule and some plants have lost their ability to carry out photosynthesis and have created parasitizing relationships with other plants, most commonly found in the Orobancheaceae or Broomrape family. We will explore this family in depth in the future, now back to the Pines! Pinaceae are also great examples of being vascular plants with well defined Xylem and Phloem. The Xylem and Phloem are the vasculature used for the transfer of nutrients, sugar, amino acids, minerals and water from the earth to leaves and leaves to roots. The Pinaceae family of plants are most commonly known as commodity plants for their wood used for making structures and as a fuel source. But its connection to humans goes much further, with evergreens being the representation of springs abundance in the darkness of winter. Branches of conifers and other evergreen plants have graced people doors and dinner tables in the form of wreaths. Yet another way herbs have secured positions in our homes for more than just food and flavoring. The aromatics released
help to clear and cleanse the stagnant air from a closed-up house that had soot and a layer of smoke from the hearth continuously burning during the cold of winter. The branches were used both physically and symbolically to sweep dust, soot, and stagnant energy from the corners and crevices of the home. There is a wonderful resurgence happening today called forest bathing, encouraged by the Japanese to get back to nature. This is a large part of missing life that is recognized by the herbal, mycological, outdoor recreation and gardening communities. Spending time in nature, being part of it instead of a voyeur, is healing on many levels. There are even scientific studies showing the value of spending time in nature (as if that makes it worthy). Walking in a conifer forest clears and disinfects the lungs, leading to deeper breathing, more oxygen exchange and a sense of grounding and connection. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to discuss the value of this experience but take some time to be present in nature and it becomes obvious. 120
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Conifers and their reproductive cones go back 300 million years, long before any ovary containing flowers graced the planet. They develop both male cones which produce pollen and female cones which produce seeds protected in woody bracts. These bracts only open a small amount when the male cones are releasing their wind spread pollen. Once the seeds are fertilized, the cones shut back up until they are ready to release their seeds to grow a new tree or to feed a hungry bird or mammal, whichever happens first.
for the ecosystem. It is said the natural phytosterol content provides many steroidal constituents that have a tonifying effect on natures reproductive energy that peaks in spring time. Pine pollen history of use dates back to Traditional Chinese Medicine, over two thousand years ago. Known to be a superfood for its use as an energy tonic, aiding in building immunity and increasing endurance. Pine pollen has abundant amounts of plant based testosterone as well as other androgens and phytosterols. While this is true, Paul Bergner did the math to clarify this statement.
When male cones release their pollen to the winds, it can be an overwhelming experience to any sinuses that might be near. Male Pine pollen relies entirely on the airflow around the tree to swirl it into the female cones, so a large amount of pollen is created and released. This Pine pollen has been collected and used as food, medicine and for ceremonial activities, as a representation of fertility. The seasonally timed over-abundance of Pine pollen affects all the living surfaces around the Pine tree for miles. The pollen lands on leaves and flowers, soil and exposed roots and is broken down into nutrition
"Herban Legend Alert. Pine pollen contains testosterone. True, but . . . . the amount of humanequivalent testosterone in 10 grams of Pine pollen is 7.8 micrograms. A typical moderate human dose of testosterone might be 50 mg. If you do the math, you would need 141 lbs of Pine pollen to get a single 50 mg doseâ&#x20AC;ŚWill it warm up your hardware? Sure. So will Cinnamon and Clove.â&#x20AC;? -Paul Bergner 122
This is interesting because our modern world is filled with xeno-estrogens that wreak havoc on the balance of our endocrine systems. Phytoestrogens are common in many herbs and vegetables, but plant based sources of other hormonal precursors like testosterone and androgens are not as common. Humans have an intricate relationship with plant based hormonal precursors for as long as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been on the planet. The introduction of chemical based xenoestrogens, like what are found in plastics, pesticides, preservatives and pollution is very new, within the last hundred years. A seasonal whole food diet including such superfoods as Pine pollen may play important roles in maintaining our hormonal shifts during these extreme times.
called imbricate, meaning its scales are overlapping like fish scales. Due to the Fibonacci ratio of the scales, these cones are called Archetypal cones. The Pine cone has been revered in historic texts and symbolized in religious ceremonies, from atop a staff carried by the Egyptian god Osiris to the Vatican courtyard which displays a larger than life Pine cone statue. The use of the Pine cone in symbolism has represented enlightenment and the opening to higher dimensions of consciousness.
Adult leaves are needle-like and grow in bundles called fascicles. They range from one to seven needles per fascicle but mostly found in two to five needles. There are four types of leaves total, the seed leaves or cotyledons, the juvenile leaves which can photosynthesize and follow immediately after the cotyledons, the scale leaves which are like bud scales and nonphotosynthetic, and the needles that Pines are known for. The young needles are tender and filled with Vitamin C and other antioxidants. They make a lovely decocted springtime tea.
Do to this nutritional density, Pine pollen is not recommended for the young with their hormones working on finding their balance. Pine pollen is most recommended for the time of life when metabolism is slowing down, during middle ages after 40 and the hormonal fluctuations that occur with age. Both men and women reduce their production of testosterone with the shifts of menopause and andropause. With this down-regulation, Pine pollen as a superfood can really be appreciated. The Pinus genus of evergreen conifers are mostly native in the northern temperate regions of the globe. It is a primary resource for construction materials and paper products, but the Pine nuts are a popular delicacy and the resins, wood oils and wood tar are collected as well. With over 120 recognized species, most regions in the Northern Hemisphere have a native Pine. They include the oldest living tree in the Bristlecone Pines at over 4000years and the tallest of the Pines towering at 260 feet is the Ponderosa. The branches of Pines are produced in â&#x20AC;&#x153;pseudo whorlsâ&#x20AC;? which are a spiral of new branches around the trunk that fits perfectly into the Fibonacci number ratios. The bundles and position of leaves and of cone scales also fit into this auspicious number sequence reflected in sacred geometry. These cone formations are 123
Most Pines are monoecious, having both male and female cones on the same plant, only one tree is needed for fertilization. Male cones are generally 1 – 5 cm long, often at the end of branches and present for a short period, usually in the spring. The female cones are a spiral of scales, with two seeds on each. The scales at the base and tip of the cone are often smaller and sterile. Cones can range from 3cm to 24 inches and weight up to 11 pounds; as in the Coulter’s Pine, Pinus coulteri, our local Pine tree here in Southern California. Female Pine cones take 1.5 to 3 years to mature after pollination, depending on the species. The mature seeds are often winged and mostly wind-dispersed although there are some fascinating exceptions. Some Pines hold their seeds in closed Pine cones until an environmental cue triggers them to open. This is called serotiny and the most common form is pyriscence, where the cone is sealed shut by its own resin until a forest fire melts the resin and opens the cone. The Coulter’s Pine grows in common wildfire areas and its cones are so large, they will protect the seeds inside from the fire, and the fire triggers the seeds to sprout. Another example of wildfires role in maintaining the balance in our ecosystems.
is especially effective in the springtime when trees are waking from the dormant phase of winter and the moisture is flowing under the bark making it easier to peel off. Some Pine needles and bark have been found to be rich in popular polyphenol family called Proanthocyanidines. These polyphenols are a powerful class of antioxidants that gained popularity in the supplement world from Pine bark, grape seeds and red wine. They have been used for everything from chronic pain and inflammation to reducing oxidative stress on the cardiovascular system. When extracted from Pine bark, the compound Pycnogenol is the source of proanthocyanidines. My personal favorite part of the Pine is the resin, the protective substance secreted by the tree to reduce instance of infection, infestation or other damage. It is highly anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, aromatic, expectorant, and makes some of the most decadently delicious scents on earth! It’s historically been used when soft to attach and pull out splinters and stop infection. It can be frozen, pounded into powder and infused into warm oil. Used topically, it will help reduce infection, inflammation and pain. This incredibly effective and versatile medicine is abundant and often found in chunks or little tears around the base of the tree, meaning you don’t need to touch the tree to harvest its bounty. Most Pines will overreact to danger in oversecreting more resins than needed to plug the hole or damage created. It dribbles down the tree trunk and often lands as little donations around the base. Never collect Pine resin by scraping a wound its protecting. Allow the resin to do its job and we can collect the over-abundance.
Mature seeds of certain species produce edible Pine Nuts, most famous for being the nut in many traditional pesto’s. Pine nuts are nutritionally similar to other nuts, rich in minerals like magnesium; they’re also rich in fatsoluble vitamins E, A and K and a good source of B vitamins like Folate. Many indigenous tribes of the Americas have historically eaten and used Pines for food in a wide variety of ways. The inner cadmium layer of the bark is another highly edible and versatile part of the tree. It’s very high in Vitamins A and C and can be eaten raw or dried and ground up into a powder and used as a starchy thickener in soups and gravies. Proper harvesting techniques for a bark is to harvest complete branches and strip bark, not to take bark from living parts of the tree. Harvesting a branch with a clean cut will leave less exposure for the tree to repair and focus the growth energy on the remaining branches. This 124
I went hiking in a two year old burn area and came upon some large old Pines that were only partially burned and still plenty alive. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trunk that was burned was covered in red and burnt orange jewels of hard crystalized resin. I thought I hit the jackpot of beautiful and aromatic Pine resin and collected a few chunks off the ground to take home and play with. Upon placing it straight onto a hot charcoal, it started to smoke that familiar wisp of aroma in the air and soon the entire room was filled with the scent of wildfire through a Pine forest! Great for experimenting with adding smoke scent/flavor to recipes, but not the sweet, resinous scent I adore on its own.
often astringent taste, the newer the needles, the more citrusy mineral sour flavor. The bark has been used as a poultice or wash for topical infections, its antimicrobial action is also helpful when drank as a decocted tea for sore throats. Many parts of the trees have been used and commodified, but it also happens to be one of the most commonly planted genus of trees as well. From reforestation projects to Christmas tree farms, conifers in the Pinaceae are woven into the human experience. They are also significant contributors to their environments. Nuts collected by birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. Needles nibbled by moose in winter, bark used for food and medicine, and connection of its roots to the mycological super highway of mycelium throughout its environment. Since their life spans generally range from one hundred to one thousand years and sometimes longer, they will probably continue their quiet reign on the earth long after humans are gone.
A simple tea of fresh spring Pine needles and new buds have been used for many symptoms of colds, coughs, flus, fevers and other respiratory infections. The taste and effectiveness are dependent on the species and time of year the harvest is happening. It is slightly resinous and
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Et tu Brute?: The Ceasar’s Amanita Complex Beautiful, Edible, But Don’t Screw up The ID!
by Marija Helt
I’ve been fascinated with Amanitas since not long after becoming a fungiphile. Amanitas run the gamut from deadly poisonous to mind-altering to delicious. They remind me a bit of the Apiaceae plant family that includes two of the deadliest plants in North America — Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock — while also boasting super helpful plants like Parsley and Angelica. In either case, your life depends on correct identification in the wild.
I kicked this Amanita series off with Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), that gorgeous red capped, white-spotted mushroom with a long history of entheogenic use. Flying reindeer and all that stuff. My wiring doesn’t predispose me to experiment with entheogens (someday, maybe), but I do use Fly Agaric as a tasty addition to gravies, soups, stews and such after careful removal of the toxins, ibotenic acid and muscimol. Levels of these toxic amino acids vary widely depending on when and where Fly Agaric is harvested, so if one isn’t absolutely careful in the preparation, the result is not going to be very enjoyable. It is widely classified as a poisonous mushroom, and simply cooking it doesn’t cut it. But I and others find it quite yummy after the appropriate preparation!
Edible Amanitas?? Yes. But, unless you are a very experienced mushroom hunter willing to be thorough in your identification, or are with someone who is and to whom you trust your life, don’t eat Amanitas. There are plenty of other delicious edibles out there. As has been often stated, your first mistake could be your last! 127
Last issue, Death Caps and Destroying Angels took the stage. These species — Amanita phalloides, A. ocreata, A. bisporigera, A. virosa and others — are responsible for well over 90% of mushroom-related deaths worldwide. Knowing 100% what these species look like is critical for every mushroom hunter. Even if a species supposedly isn’t in your area it doesn’t matter. Mushrooms don’t read books. As many people unfortunately have learned, cooking these mushrooms does nothing to inactivate the deadly amatoxins they contain, resulting in high odds of a liver transplant or death.
years (and is still alive!) and tag along with them.
This time, Amanitas in the Caesar’s Mushroom species complex are in the spotlight. Don’t worry, not all 90 of them (1). Just the most famous one, the true Caesar’s Mushroom, along with some North American members. Several North American species have been called “Caesar’s Mushroom” and are, indeed, relatives, but they are distinct species (2). Mushrooms in the Caesar’s complex get around; they’re on every continent but Antarctica (1)!Their taxonomy is far from complete. New species are being identified and previously identified species are being renamed. But that’s the trend now that genomics is replacing appearance for classification. But the point is that before going out there and shoving anything that looks like a Caesar’s Mushroom in your mouth, realize that it’s not known whether all shrooms in the Caesar’s group are edible (2). And, there are poisonous lookalikes. For example, Amanita parcivolvata, found in the Appalachians and somewhat resembling a cross between Caesar’s Mushroom and Fly Agaric (3, 4). More on lookalikes later…. Though I include some information on mushroom appearance, because this is a strikingly beautiful group of mushrooms, the information I provide it is in no way sufficient to ID them in the field. The purpose here is to hopefully pique your interest into learning more. Introduce yourself to local mushroom foragers. Take some classes. Get some good ID books and wear them out! If you feel compelled to gather any of the Caesar’s group, find someone who has been collecting them and eating them for
Amanita caesarea - Ceasar’s Mushroom I just paid a ridiculous amount of money for dried Caesar’s Mushroom and am trying to decide how I want to prepare it. It’s such a small amount that i don’t want to blow it. How to use it? A traditional Hungarian soup? A sauce? By itself and unadulterated except for with butter? Oh the torture…. As it’s name implies, Caesar’s Mushroom was a prized edible in ancient Rome. It’s still popular in Italy where one of it’s names is Ovulo Buono (Good Egg), reflecting its appearance as a young mushroom, its color and its flavor (5). The mushroom is most popular in the button stage (5) and is a choice edible also in Spain, Turkey, Hungary and elsewhere in Europe(6). In Rome it was said that “Gold and silver and dresses may be trusted to a messenger, but not a boletus, because it will be eaten on the way” (7), with “boletus” being Caeasar’s Mushroom rather than Porcini (Boletus edulis) (6, 7). 128
The Roman emperor Claudius was one famous eater of the mushroom. He came up in the Deadly Amanitas article in the last PHM. His wife Agrippina and her accomplices tried to off him — to make way for her son Nero to ascend to the throne — by adding a poisonous mushroom extract to his favored Caesar’s Mushroom dish (7). Whether they succeeded the first time or had to try an additional poison is debated in the historical accounts….
is a mutually beneficial relationship where the mushroom mycelia are linked to the tree roots. In the case of Caesar’s Amanita, this association is usually with Oaks. The bright red and yellow pigments that Caesar’s Mushroom sports are alkaloids called betalains. Betalains are busy little molecules with a wide variety of activities, at least in the lab. For example, betalains from Caesar’s Mushroom protect lipids from oxidation (rancidity) and may have nerve-protective effects (9). Betalains are also anti-microbial (10) and consistent with this, Caesar’s Mushroom extracts inhibit clinically relevant bacteria including E. coli, Pseudomonas and Staph (11). Betalains also inhibit the growth of cancer cells (in a dish) and lower blood lipid levels (10). Aside from betalains, Caesar’s Mushroom also contains beneficial polyphenols including pcoumaric acid, ferulic acid, catechins and cinnamic acid (11). p-coumaric acid has a whole slew of “anti-“ properties: Anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-anxiety, for example (12). It eases pain, reduces clotting and fever reduces inflammation, may improve metabolism (12). Ferulic acid is a strong antioxidant that may be useful for the nervous system, for heart health and for blood sugar regulation (13). Catechins are famous for being in Green Tea and influence cellular gene expression, metabolism, cardiovascular health and a whole slew of other things (14). Last but not least, cinnamic acid shows anti-oxidant, antimicrobial and anti-tumor activity (15).
In any event, Caesar’s Mushroom is gorgeous, with a bright orange to orange-red cap, yellow stalk and yellow gills. The cap often lacks remnants of the universal veil that encloses the embryonic fruiting body (8). (The white spots on top of Fly Agaric are veil remnants). The edge of the cap has vertical stripes referred to as “striations”. The stalk has a yellow, skirt like ring that is also a veil remnant. At the base of the stalk, usually partially (sometimes completely) buried in the ground, is a large, cup-like vulva that’s bright white on the outside (8). This is yet another remainder of the thick veil that the growing mushroom bursts out of. The inside of the stalk is “stuffed” with a cotton-like material. It, like Amanitas in general, grows in an ectomycorrhizal relationship with trees (8). This
Caesar’s Mushroom is decent source of protein, about 15% by dry weigh (16). Though it contains beneficial fats like oleic and linoleic acids (11), the levels in mushrooms are too low to be a significant dietary source. Amanita jacksonii - American Slender Caesar Amanita jacksonii is ridiculously beautiful as well as popular edible that hangs out with hardwoods in Eastern North America. The botanical name honors a Canadian artist and 129
amateur mycologist who produced lovely mushroom paintings (17). This cousin of the European Caesar’s Mushroom is also known as Eastern Caesar’s Amanita, American Caesar’s Mushroom and a bajillion other combinations thereof. It’s range is thought to extend from Mexico to Canada (18) but recent data suggests that there may be at least 9 cryptic species in this range (1). These are mushrooms that look a lot like A. jacksonii but are actually separate species.
A. jacksonii and other shrooms in the Caesar’s complex are favored edibles in Oaxaca and are all referred to as “Beshia bella” (19, 20). They’re prized for their flavor, ease of preparation and size and for these reasons are one of the most culturally significant mushroom groups in Oaxaca based on ethnobotanical surveys (21). A. jacksonii resembles true Caesar’s Mushroom in it’s flamboyant coloration, though it’s not as stout (hence the “American Slender Caesar” name). Like Caesar’s Amanita, A. jacksonii contains betalains (1), the same family of pigments found in beets and with all those great medicinal properties (22)! The cap ranges from a vibrant ruby red to bright orange to yelloworange. Like Caesar’s Mushroom, the cap often lacks veil remnants on top. The gills are yellow to orangish, as is the stalk (23). The stalk is yellow but has an orange tint due to a layer of orange fibers. The ring around the stalk is skirtlike and ranges from yellowish to salmon to orange. The large vulva at the base is white on the outside (23). Amanita arkansana - Arkansas Slender Caesar A. arkansana was named as a species in 1926. It’s another edible member of the Caesar’s complex, this one ranging around the southeast US in association with Pines and Oaks (19). A beautiful mushroom to be sure, though not as brightly hued as the shrooms discussed thus far. Some may even prefer the looks of A. arkansana. A bit less of the “look at me” and, perhaps, less reminiscent of the latest outfit worn by one’s crazy uncle. The cap is yellow to yellow-orange to orangish-brown, with striations around the 130
edge. The color may fade to a creamy yellow with sun exposure and usually lacks veil remnants. (24). The gills start out light yellow to cream colored and fade to white over time. This is one of our taller Amanitas, with the stalk reaching over 17 cm tall (over 6 inches). The stalk is a pale creamy to white color with yellow bits along it. The the skirt-like ring is a pale yellow and the sack-like vulva, white (24).
As with A. arkansana, there isn’t a whole lot of information available on A. cochiseana, other than that it’s edible, tasty and part of the Caesar’s section of Amanitas. Be aware that a lot of it’s range is on tribal lands. Please respect the applicable laws relevant to tromping around gathering mushrooms. For example, mushroom collecting by non-members of the White Mountain Apache is not allowed on their land (27).
Amanita cochiseana - Sun Caesar, Cochise’s American Caesar
Yet another pretty Amanita here. The cap is pale orange to buff colored possibly with bright yellow or yellow-orange around the margin, along with a bit of striation. Often bald, but sometimes with a single white and off center patch of veil (25). The gills are cream-yellow to orange-yellow, with the gill edges a brighter yellow. A great way to appreciate the color nuances is to get up close and personal with a magnifying glass. The stalk is white to cream to pale yellow towards the bottom and becomes brighter yellow to orange-yellow higher up. It has pale yellow-to-orangish scales. The ring is large and is yellow to orange (25). There may be a lower ring of similar color or ranging to grayish yellow but smaller. The volva is large and white (25).
This provisionally named species found in the mountainous regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Northern Mexico and southwestern California growing under Pinon Pines and Oaks (25, 26). “Provisionally” means that the name isn’t official yet, for whatever reason. While it’s commonly called “Caesar’s Amanita” locally it, like the other mushrooms in this article, are separate species from true Caesar’s Mushroom. The name cochiseana refers to the region in which it was initially found (Coconino and Cochise counties in Arizona)(25).
For folks in the Flagstaff area there is a restaurant, Coppa Cafe, that features local wild mushrooms. I have seen (online) A. cochiseana listed on the menu once, though that was for the local mycological society’s dinner so I don’t know if it makes a regular appearance. Coccora (Amanita calyptroderma & Amanita vernicoccora) These edible Amanitas are found in Western North America and Central America and are closely related to Caesar’s Mushroom (28). They’re popular with Italian Americans in California who call them “Coccora”, in reference to the thick, cocoon-like universal veil surrounding the young fruiting body. Coccora are often served with pasta. Really, I can’t think of many edible mushrooms that wouldn’t go well with pasta.… 131
Of the mushrooms discussed here, Coccora are the easiest to confuse with deadly Amanita species. In fact, conditions in 1980 were ripe for profuse Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) fruiting in California. This resulted in multiple Death Cap poisonings among Italian Americans who inadvertently gathered Death Caps instead of their beloved Coccora (7). Though I’ve been foraging for edible mushrooms for 20 years and for medicinal mushroom for nearly 10, the only way I’d harvest Coccora would be with someone having many years of experience collecting and eating these mushrooms.
to pale yellow with the characteristic Amanita ring and vulva (31). A. vernicoccora - Spring Coccora Spring Coccora fruits in California in (surprise!) spring. Until recently it was thought to be a lighter colored version of the autumn-fruiting A. calpytroderma. More careful analysis has shown them to be distinct species (28). The yellow-topale yellow cap of Spring Coccora is 6-18 cm across with striations at the margin. It’s topped with a blob of white veil remnant like icing on top of a cupcake (again with the food references!). Gills are white to pale cream (28). The white stalk is often hollow and is up to 14 cm tall, bearing a large white vulva at the base and a whitish-yellow ring.
A. calyptroderma - Fall Coccora The Fall Coccora is sometimes referred to as Ballen’s American Caesar. It’s common in California, where it fruits in the autumn beneath Live Oaks and Madrone (29). It’s range extends from British Colombia down into Guatemala, where it can be found for sale in road side stands (16). In the southern ranges it’s usually associated with hardwoods while up north, it’s more often found growing with conifers (30).
Spring Coccora grows in association with Live Oak, Blue Oak, Madrone and Manzanita along the California Coast in in the Sierra Nevada and Shasta Cascade foothills (28). Note that the lighter coloration of Spring Coccora compared to Fall Coccora makes it even easier to confuse with the deadly western Destroying Angel Mushroom, Amanita ocreata.
Fall Coccora has one big blob of universal veil remnant on top of the cap, resembling a pizza topped with a thick layer of mozzarella. (Writing about edible mushrooms always makes me hungry). The cap ranges from yellow-brown to orange-brown to dark brown, with striations around the edge (31). This is not a dainty mushroom; the cap can be up to 25 cm (nearly 10 inches!) across. The gills are cream colored to white. The stalk, which is often hollow, is white
Other Coccora look-alikes that are toxic include Amanita gemmata and Amanita aprica, both native to the Sierra foothills (28). They fruit at the same time though there are some differences in appearance. For instance, A. gemmata has spots of veil bits on the cap, like Fly Agaric, rather than the central blob sported by Coccora. A. 132
aprica does has a broad layer of veil membrane on the cap, but the layer is very thin, described as “frost-like”, unlike the thick layer on Coccoras. Though I wouldn’t trust myself to tell the difference. Especially since weather can wear the veil off the cap. A man confused A. gemmata for Coccora and ate several (he reported them to taste good) resulting in both a bad trip and some fun with gastrointestinal distress (32). A. gemmata contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, the same toxins found in Fly Agaric (33).
Anyway, the report is an interesting read if you’re into mushrooms…. Well that wraps up this segment of the Amanita series! I’m deciding on delving into more Amanitas next time versus taking a break and dorking out on a different fungiferific topic…
Coccoras are popular enough to make occasional appearances in the news, either regarding recipe uses and flavor ( “…somewhere between an egg and a fish…”)(34) or rightly warning about how easy it is to confuse them with Death Caps and Destroying Angels (35). Coccora were and continue to be popular foods for indigenous populations of California. They’re called “Helli” by the Tuolumne Band of Miwok (spelled also as Miwuk, Mi-wuk and Me-wuk) (36). The Southern Miwok call them “Hahiya”, meaning “pine mushroom”(36). The Mono call them “ToopO”(36). These are all thought to be A. calyptroderma (Fall Coccora). Accordingly, some of the folks interviewed for this ethnobotanical survey of California mushrooms mention harvesting them in the fall. But, one of the interviewees said that she learned to look for ToopO when “the Black Oaks start leafing out” (36), so in the spring and suggestive of A. vernicoccora (Spring Coccora). No distinction is made by the authors of the report, and this isn’t surprising as the separation into A. calyptroderma and A. vernicoccora is recent. (Please forgive me for geeking out on this!)
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Many interviewed in this report noted a noticeable lessening in mushroom number at traditional harvesting spots (36). This was attributed to land use issues (eg. increased housing developments), climate change as well as the cessation of traditional controlled burns. Such burns used to be carried out under host trees like Black Oak and Pine and resulted in increased mushroom numbers and size (36).
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References Sánchez-Ramírez, Santiago (2015) Scaling macroand microevolutionary dynamics in the Caesar’s mushrooms (Amanita sect. Caesaraea). PhD Thesis. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Toronto. Volks, T (2002) Fungus of the month - Caesar’s Mushroom. http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/ toms_fungi/mar2002.html Kuo, M. Amanita parcivolvata. http:// www.mushroomexpert.com/ amanita_parcivolvata.html Roody, WC (2003) Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians. University Press of Kentucky.
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A Sensory Exploration of Herbal Actions, Energetics, & Tastes by Rachel Delphine Berndt Rachel is a-regional folk herbalist practicing in Des Moines, and proprietor of The Potager. At the Good Medicine Confluence she is teaching about the important topic of Zero-Waste Herbalism, an evolved look at the meaning of natural beauty and the herbs that serve that, and one on the topic of this stimulating article.
In the sinuous practice of herbalism, our senses are everything. It is through the taste of bitter Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), the pungent warmth of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and the tannic astringency of Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) that the herbs come alive and speak to us, giving us messages of their constituents and actions. It is through a deep recognizing of the saltiness of Nettles (Urtica spp.) and the sourness of Rosehips (Rosa spp.) that we meld with the plant world and become conduit beings, ferrying medicine stories between plants and people. The practice of herbalism necessitates a very sensual
view of the world around oneself â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a keen awareness of every color, texture, scent, flavor, shape and sound. Just as the taste of an herb clues us into its properties, so too does the sound of someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice clue us into their state of vitality and constitution. Herbs, like people, hold profound intricacies that are un-conveyable through action words alone. Action words are the terms that are used to describe the general functions of herbs, though they provide little information in themselves. Calling Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) an adaptogen can be rather meaningless. It is 136
akin to calling a person by their profession. Teacher or artist might tell us a person’s function within society but these words cannot even begin to convey the magnitude of complexities within an individual. Familiarity and understanding of action words is unquestionably necessary in order to practice herbalism but it is important to not get stuck matching symptom to herbal action. Herbs (and people) are wholistic and synergistic, they flow freely and cannot be contained within a oneword box. In certain situations we only need that one word – for example, If I accidentally cut myself it comes in handy to know the word styptic (stops blood flow) as well as which herbs are styptic (Achillea millefolium, Capsicum annuum, Capsella bursa-pastoris…). However if I have a headache, knowing the word nervine (beneficial to the nervous system) as well as which herbs are nervine (Lavandula spp., Avena sativa, Leonurus cardiaca, Valeriana officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla…) can only get me so far. This type of symptom-begets remedy herbalism is useful for a handful of situations like the cut example above but it is surface level healing and will never get down to the root of the issue. It is through understanding concepts such as the four basic qualities, the six tissue states and the five tastes and through engaging our sensory perceptions that one is able to collect enough information to properly utilize action words and to go beyond the surface straight to the core of dis-ease.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
In my personal practice I have gathered my understanding of actions, energetics and tastes through a combined study of various healing traditions including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Greek humoral medicine and numerous forms of European herbalism (from about the 12th century onward). I have also engaged in countless hours of wild frolicking, tasting leaves, nibbling roots, smelling blooms, experimenting with homemade remedies and observing the reactions and changes within my own body. I have learned through experience that the realms of herbalism and wellness are greatly complex and yet all you need to know is already being communicated to you if only you are able to read between the lines. The concepts 137
of energetics and tastes may seem esoteric at first glance, but really they are forces and sensations that we all innately recognize. The warmth of fire, the coolness of ice, the dryness of desert air, the dampness of a heavy rain, the solidity of rock, the fluidity of water and everything in between. The sweetness of sugar, the sourness of lemons, the pungency of chili peppers, the saltiness of pure salt, the bitterness of a pill and everything in between. These are tastes and forces we all know on the extreme ends of the spectrums. Getting to know and be able to recognize all the places in-between (to be able to detect intricacies) is the great dance of the herbal healer.
sedating and stagnant. Cold energy causes moisture to condense, creating wetness. Think of icebergs rising from the frosty ocean or icicles hanging from a winter’s roof eave. Wet energy is soft, coherent, fluid, malleable, flexible and dissolving. Wet energy is an ocean tide or a river flowing over rock beds. Dry energy is solid, stiff, rigid, separate and crystallizing. Think of mineral crystals left behind in a bowl of evaporated water or a piece of withered old leather. The four basic qualities of Greek medicine can be likened to Yin (cold and wet) and Yang (hot and dry) from Traditional Chinese Medicine, to the doshas from Ayurvedic medicine (Pitta = hot and wet, Kapha = cold and wet/dry, Vata = cold/hot and dry), and to the Four Directions of the Sacred Medicine Wheel (East = dry, West = wet, South = warm, North = cold). These qualities are also intimately woven within the Four Elements. The element of Air is considered hot and wet in energy. Air is fluidic, moving, flowing, exchanging, lightening, subtle, refining and clarifying. The element of Earth is cold and dry in energy. Earth is dense, solid, sustaining, supporting, heavy, drawing and transforming. The element of Fire is hot and dry in energy. Fire is lively, active, energetic, moving and digesting. The element of Water is cold and wet in energy. Water is flowing, dissolving, receptive, lubricating and purifying.
The Four Basic Qualities + Four Humors In ancient Greek medicine tradition we find the concept of the four basic qualities. These energetic qualities are hot, cold, wet and dry. Hot and cold are the primary or “active” polarity, the cause of all change and the cause of wet and dry. Hot and cold are the underlying energies in all matter. Wet and dry are seen as the secondary or “passive” polarity, unable to exist without hot and cold energies. Hot energy is fast, exciting, expanding, circulating, moving and activating. Hot energy evaporates moisture, causing dryness. Think of a fire raging through a forest, a pot of water boiling dry or dilated pores and increased heart rate while enjoying the sauna. Cold energy is slow, contracting, obstructing,
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In Greek medicine the four elements are seen as the fundamental building blocks of the human body and of all matter, and the four humors are the digestive processors thereof. The Sanguine humor (blood) is Air (hot and wet). Blood carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The Phlegmatic humor (phlegm) is Water (cold and wet). Phlegm and other clear bodily fluids provide cooling, lubricating and nourishing qualities. The Choleric humor (yellow bile) is Fire (hot and dry). Yellow bile is our “digestive fire”, providing the energy for assimilation of nutrients and the excretion of wastes. The Melancholic humor (black bile) is Earth (cold and dry). Black bile is our great solidifier, being a necessary building block for teeth, bones and cartilage as well as being vital for clotting blood and healing wounds. When all of the four humors are well and strong (when the four elements are balanced) there is harmony. In Greek medicine this is called eucrasia.
lack of digestive fire, lack of reproductive power, poor immune response, fatigue, mental fog, slow pulse and pale tongue •Excess dry: brittle hair, dry eyes, dry mouth, constipation, hard stools, thin pale and cracked tongue, stiff joints, lack of flexibility, flaky skin and atrophy of tissues •Excess wet: excess phlegm, swollen and thick coated tongue, stagnant fluids, and dull skin •Excess tension/constriction: constricted blood flow, tight muscles, musculo-skeletal subluxations, lack of vital force, fatigue, anxiety and irritability •Excess laxity: flabby tongue, gum disease, loss of skin elasticity, varicose veins, inability to hold fluids, excessive loss through diarrhea, urine, sweat or blood, chronic infections, prolapsed organs Within both Western herbalism and Greek medicine traditions it is clear that like increases like and opposites balance out. However, it is important to keep in mind the notion of spectrums and to know that people often show multiple tissue states just as herbs have multiple energetic components. It is beneficial to recognize extremes but key to pay attention to the intricacies and relationships of the spectrums and elements.
The Three Energetic Spectrums + the Six Tissue States In Western herbalism we find the concepts of the three energetic spectrums and the six tissue states. The Thermal spectrum encompasses hotneutral-cold, the Fluid spectrum encompasses wet-damp-dry and the Structural spectrum encompasses tense-neutral-lax. The energies of hot, cold, wet and dry are fundamentally the same in quality as described above. The main difference with this perspective of energetics is the addition of the tense-lax spectrum. Within the Greek medicine model tense and lax are essentially combined with wet and dry, but it seems (to me) to make more sense to separate them out, especially when looking at tissue states. In my personal practice when working with myself or with clients I have learned to look for patterns of excess within these spectrums.
The Five Tastes The concepts of the four humors, the three energetic spectrums and the six tissue states are essential to being able to understand the position of wellness within the person you are working with. But once you are able to recognize the patterns of excess and the intricacies of energies, how are you to know which herbs will work best for that particular situation? Herbs communicate their energies, constituents and actions through tastes. There are five tastes recognized in Western herbalism and they are bitter, salty, sour, sweet and pungent. These tastes are much more than flavors detected by the tongue, they are data packed sensory messages.
•Excess heat: inflammation, excitement, irritation, overstimulation, hyperactivity, rapid pulse, red tongue, allergies and compromised immunity •Excess cold: depression, hypofunction, lack of response to stimuli, malabsorption of nutrients,
Bitter: Bitter is recognizable in foods such as orange peel, arugula, coffee, artichoke, eggplant 139
and rhubarb. This flavor is caused by the presence of alkaloids, diterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Bitter taste is drying in energy as it encourages expulsion of toxins and wastes through fluids such as urine and sweat. Bitter herbs are useful for relieving excess tension and flushing excess fluids. They aid us in digesting and assimilating Earth energy and they support the function of the Melancholic humor (black bile). Cooling bitter herbs help with moving, circulating and eliminating fluids and calming excess heat. They also have beneficial effect on the Phlegmatic humor (phlegm/clear fluids).
Warming and dry bitter herbs include Angelica (Angelica archangelica), Elecampane (Inula helenium), Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Sweet: Sweet taste is best known through sugar in its various forms. This is sweet to the extreme! Most manifestations of sweet are much more subtle. This taste can be found in grains such as oats, wheat and rice, in root vegetables such as yams and carrots and in fruits such as bananas and berries. Sweet is composed of sugars, polysaccharides and GAGs (glycosaminoglycans). These chemical constituents are nutritive, supportive, toning and building. Sweet herbs that have cooling and moistening qualities support the Phlegmatic (phlegm/clear fluids), Sanguine (blood) and Melancholic humors (black bile). These herbs help with wound healing and soothing hot, dry conditions. Aloe (Aloe vera), Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and Borage (Borago officinalis) are examples of herbs with these qualities.
These herbs include Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Gentian (Gentiana spp.), Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia), Elderflower (Sambucus spp.), Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Red Root (Ceanothus americanus). Warming bitter herbs have positive effect on the Choleric humor (yellow bile) and the Sanguine humor (blood), supporting the internal digestive fire and increasing vital force.
Other sweet herbs are warming and moistening, having beneficial effect on the Sanguine (blood), Choleric (yellow bile) and Phlegmatic (phlegm/ clear fluids) humors. These herbs assist the assimilation of nutrients on a cellular level, support the immune system and promote healthy blood. These are herbs such as Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) and Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus). 140
Salty: Salty taste is easily recognized in pickles, sauerkraut and sea foods. The taste of salt is caused by minerals and sodium chloride. Salty is a cooling taste in energy. Herbs that are salty include Nettle (Urtica spp.), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Chickweed (Stellaria media), Violet (Viola odorata), Oatstraw (Avena sativa), Seaweeds, and Horsetail (Equisetum arvense).
These herbs support the Choleric (yellow bile), Melancholic (black bile) and Sanguine (blood) humors. They promote proper function of the liver and gallbladder, aiding in the cleansing of blood and processing of toxins. !
Salty taste supports the Sanguine (blood), Phlegmatic (phlegm/clear fluids) and Melancholic (black bile) humors. Herbs that are salty aid in the processing of fluids, promote strong bones, teeth and hair and have a dissolving quality (cysts, fibroids, tumors, lipomas, stonesâ&#x20AC;Ś). Salty herbs are moistening as they stimulate the production of fluids, but too much salt can become drying due to the flushing properties present within most salty herbs.
Pungent: The taste of pungent can be described as spicy, though it encompasses much more than that. Pungent taste is strong, aromatic and drying. It is composed of essential oils and resins which carry their robust scents and flavors. Most pungent herbs tend to be warming as well as drying, such as Black Pepper (Piper nigrum).
Sour: Sour taste is recognized through that puckering sensation one gets when biting into a lemon or an unripe berry. Sour flavor is caused by acids, tannins and vitamin C. These chemical constituents are drying in energy. Cooling and drying sour herbs include Rosehips (Rosa spp.), Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), Elderberry (Sambucus spp.), Lemon (Citrus lemon) and Raspberry (Rubus spp.). These herbs have beneficial effect on the Choleric (yellow bile), Melancholic (black bile) and Phlegmatic (phlegm/clear fluids) humors. They provide antioxidants and vitamin C, both important for immune function and cellular health. Warming, dry and sour herbs include Bayberry (Myrica spp.) and Schisandra berry (Schisandra chinensis).
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Mentha piperita
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Oregano (Organum vulgare) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). These herbs are stimulating to the blood and all other bodily fluids. Warming and drying pungent herbs are also beneficial for the digestive fire, supporting the function of the Choleric (yellow bile) humor. Cooling and drying pungent herbs include Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora). These herbs give intense cooling sensations, relieve pain and support digestion through stimulating the flow of saliva. These types of pungent herbs have positive effect on the Phlegmatic (phlegm/clear fluids), Choleric (yellow bile) and Melancholic (black bile) humors.
Others include Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Garlic (Allium sativum), Cayenne (Capsicum annuum), Juniper (Juniperus spp.), Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), 142
healing processes of herbs. When an herb touches your tongue, its fl a v o r , chemical constituents and energetic qualities are communicated and received. A chain of biophysical responses is set in motion. This sensory stimuli-response cycle is vital for unlocking the full healing potential of herbs. Herbal Actions With a solid grasp of energetics, tissue states and tastes, one can finally utilize action words with understanding and accuracy. Herbal actions can be divided into three categories – foundational actions, primary actions and secondary actions. Foundational actions are actions such as astringent, demulcent, emollient, mucilaginous, relaxant and stimulant. These words describe the general actions of an herb which do not relate to a particular organ, tissue or body system. For example, astringent is a foundational action word which means “toning”, “tightening” or “constricting”. The effects of astringency are applicable throughout the entire body both externally and internally and are not limited within affinity for one particular organ or body system. Primary actions are actions such as adaptogen, alterative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, laxative, lymphatic, nervine, trophorestorative and vulnerary. These action words do have a
Tastes are not only imbued with sensory information but they are also crucial to the 143
relationship with a particular organ, tissue or body system. For example, herbs with nervine primary action principally affect the nervous system, herbs with lymphatic primary action principally affect the lymph system and so on. Secondary actions are actions such as analgesic, antacid, anti-biotic, anticatarrhal, antiinflammatory, anti-lithic, anti-fungal, anthelmintic and narcotic. Secondary actions are the resulting effects of the processes of the foundational and primary actions. These actions are generally suppressing or stimulating to a particular function of the body. A focus on secondary actions is prevalent in Western medicine, but this method of masking or of stimulating a bodily response to overcome symptoms creates a depth of imbalance and biological deficit. In most instances it is much more effective to support strength, nourishment and vital function of all organs, tissues and body systems than to focus on â&#x20AC;&#x153;antiâ&#x20AC;? actions.
herbs are adaptogenic and this is surely due to the building, toning and nutritive qualities within these herbs. Examples of adaptogen herbs are Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous), Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Schisandra berry (Schisandra chinensis). Alterative: Alterative herbs support healthy cellular metabolism and detoxification. They encourage the elimination of fluids and increase the ability to absorb nutrients. They relieve excess dampness and move stagnation. These herbs are blood purifiers. They have beneficial effect on the skin, liver, kidneys, lymph system, blood and digestive system. Alteratives are often bitter, salty or pungent. They can be hot or cold in energy and generally tend to be drying. Examples of alterative herbs include Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) and seaweeds.
There are many action words within the realm of herbalism. Below are a handful that are important basics to know:
Astringent: Astringents are herbs that tighten, tone or constrict bodily tissue. They are drawing and drying. Most herbs have an astringent quality to them. While astringents are energetically drying, their toning properties can aid the body in retaining necessary moisture. When bodily tissues become weak they are unable to hold the fluids needed to stay hydrated and nourished. Astringents can tone, strengthen and tighten the tissues to prevent excessive fluid loss. Astringent herbs can be hot
Adaptogen: Adaptogenic herbs are those that support the body in handling the three stressors which are thoughts (mental), trauma (emotional) and toxins (physical). Adaptogens have effect on the neuroendocrine system and they strengthen the overall function of the body organism. Adaptogen is a broad term and the herbs that possess adaptogenic action can be hot or cold, dry or wet in energies. Many sour and sweet 144
or cold in energy and are found within every taste, though sour herbs are the predominant astringent herbs. Just think again of biting into a Lemon and the puckering sensation that follows. Or drinking a cup of strong black or green Tea. This is the sensation of astringency. Styptic herbs such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) are astringent in their foundational action. Other examples of astringent herbs are Rosehips (Rosa spp.), Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), Blackberry leaf (Rubus spp.), Strawberry leaf (Fragaria spp.), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.), Willow (Salix spp.) and White Oak (Quercus alba).
movement, massage and lymphatic/ lymphagogue herbs. Examples of lymphatic herbs are Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Poke (Phytolacca spp.) and Chickweed (Stellaria media). Lymphatic herbs tend to be salty in taste and are generally cooling, though they can be moistening or drying in energy depending on whether they are more astringent or demulcent in their foundational action. Nervine: Nervine herbs are those which strengthen and repair the nervous system. Nervine herbs are often pungent or bitter, can be hot or cold and tend towards being drying in energy. The action term nervine is broad and can refer to herbs that have mild calming effects as well as herbs with more potent sedating and muscle relaxing effects. Mild nervines promote a calm and clear head and impart a gentle feeling of relaxation. These herbs can be used as part of a daily routine to support a healthy nervous system. Examples of mild nervine herbs include Oatstraw (Avena sativa), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Lavender (Lavandula spp.) and Catnip (Nepeta cataria). More medicinal nervine herbs tend to be sedative, muscle relaxing and mildly mind-altering. These herbs include Hops (Humulus lupulus), Passionflower (Passiflora spp.), Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) and Valerian (Valeriana officinalis).
Demulcent/Emollient: Demulcent and emollient herbs are mucilaginous and have coating, protecting and soothing properties. Demulcent is an internal action while emollient is an external action. Herbs with demulcent or emollient properties tend to be sweet in taste and are generally cooling in energy, always moistening. These are the type of herbs to use when calming hot, irritated or inflamed tissue states. Examples of demulcent/emollient herbs are
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), Borage (Borago officinalis), Couch Grass (Agropyron repens), Corn Silk (Zea mays), Calendula (Calendula officinalis) and Aloe (Aloe vera). Diuretic: Diuretic herbs have effect on the urinary system and increase the elimination of urine from the body. Diuretics are flushing, can be hot or cold in energy and are drying. Examples of diuretic herbs include Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Nettle (Urtica spp.),
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and Cleavers (Galium aparine). Lymphatic: Lymphatic herbs have a positive effect on the lymph system. These herbs help to move lymph fluid throughout the body. The lymph fluid is not on a pump in the way that the blood is, but we can encourage it to move and flow through practices like dry brushing,
Trophorestorative: Trophorestorative herbs are herbs which have an affinity for a particular organ or body system. These herbs are true tonics. They are safe for daily use and will not 145
impart any unwanted side effects. Trophorestorative herbs restore vital function to weakened organs and tissues and are deeply nourishing. Trophorestoratives can be hot or cold, wet or dry in energy, and are found within every taste profile. Examples of trophorestorative herbs include Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) (heart), Oats (Avena spp.) (nervous system), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) (liver), Nettle seed (Urtica spp.) (kidneys) and Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) (mucous membranes).
Further Exploration Learning and connecting with the plants in a more meaningful way comes from copious hands-on interaction and exploration. Once one is familiar with the basic concepts presented above it is beneficial to seek out experiences which demonstrate the different energies, tastes and actions. Below are a few ideas to get started with herbal sensory exploration: •Make a Ginger (Zingiber officinale) decoction by simmering 1-2 inches of fresh ginger root slices in 1 cup water covered for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow to steep covered another 20 minutes. Drink this strong ginger brew slowly and get in touch with pungent taste, hot, dry energy and aromatic action.
Vulnerary: Vulnerary herbs are the essential wound healing herbs. These herbs aid the body in repairing cells and tissue both when applied topically and taken internally. Vulnerary herbs are demulcent and emollient in their foundational actions, and sometimes astringent. Examples of vulnerary herbs include Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), Aloe (Aloe vera), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Borage (Borago officinalis), Plantain (Plantago spp.) and Arnica (Arnica spp.).
•Mix 1 tsp. Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) powder with 1 tsp. water and slowly dissolve in your mouth, taking time to taste the sweetness and to feel the mucilaginous, demulcent and moistening qualities. •Drop 2-3 drops of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) tincture directly on the tongue to experience bitter taste and action – notice the instant release of saliva and pay attention to any feelings of appetite stimulation. •Make a Nettle leaf (Urtica spp.) infusion by placing one large handful of dried nettle leaves in a quart size jar, cover with boiling water, place a lid on top and steep for 4-8 hours (or overnight). Drink one cup of this strong Nettle infusion and taste the mineral rich saltiness, feel the cooling astringency and notice the deep earthy quality. •Drink a cup of Rose hip (Rosa spp.) or Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) tea to experience sour taste, cooling energy and astringent action. In Conclusion… Herbal actions, energetics and tastes are foundational for those seeking the ability to heal with plants. These are the concepts which will take a personal herbalism practice from surface level healing to addressing root causes and supporting overall strength and well-being. They will allow one to formulate remedies with strong 146
internal knowledge of the way herbs interplay and have effect on a person of any particular condition. There is much more to say on these topics than what I have been able to present within this single body of writing but the best way to learn actions, energetics and tastes is to experience them through regular hands-on interaction anyway! So head outside, smell fresh blossoms, taste leaves and roots (safely, after positively identifying!), feel the cooling earth below your feet and sip some herbal tea. Pay attention to the physical qualities of earth, air, water and fire and of hot, cold, dry and wet and think of how those translate within our bodies and within the plants.
practice will take root and unfurl at great speeds. Do this and become a part of the ever-shifting sensory, energetic song and dance of nature! Bibliography Culpeper, Nicholas. Culpeper’s Color Herbal. New York, N.Y.: Sterling Publishing Company, 1983. Garrett, J.T. The Cherokee Herbal. Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company, 2003. Lust, John. The Herb Book. Benedict Lust Publications, 1974. McDonald, Jim. Herbal Properties and Actions. http://www.herbcraft.org/properties.html Rose, Kiva. Kiva’s Enchantment’s Blog. http:// kivasenchantments.com/ Tierra, Michael. Planetary Herbology. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press, 1988. Weed, Susun. Wise Women Herbal Healing Wise. Woodstock, N.Y.: Ash Tree Publishing, 1989. Wood, Matthew. The Book of Herbal Wisdom. Berkley, California: North Atlantic Books, 1997. Wood, Matthew. Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy and Flower Essences. Berkley, California: North Atlantic Books, 2000.
When working with others sincerely observe the energies being communicated to you and practice recognizing patterns. Every day in all that you do begin to engage your sensory perceptions and take part in curious play with all of existence. Do this and your herbalism
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An Energetic Approach to Coughs by Jim McDonald In our previous Plant Healer articles, we’ve looked at a structure for using herbs energetically, and in the process, gave a number of thumbnail sketches of how one might apply these ideas to the ailments we are, at times, afflicted by in life. Let's dive into a more detailed look at how to approach a condition with our focus firmly planted in energetic assessment... –Jim Coughs, congestion and other common respiratory woes are among the most readily encountered conditions herbalists are presented with, and yet often far too little differentiation is practiced when suggestions are made. To say, “This herb is good for coughs” is too vague; it doesn’t acknowledge the important fact that coughs are qualitatively unique. We don’t want to simply offer suggestions for a cough, we want to offer suggestions for the cough, as expressed by the individual asking for our help. The same applies to sinus infections and all other manner of complaints encountered. It is this consideration that ensures our approach remains truly holistic.
Because they work by supporting expectoration, these herbs may initially instigate more coughing, but as it will be productive in nature, it will lead to a quicker recovery. A cough expresses much in its qualitative characteristics to reveal the underlying conditions in the lungs; more than any other symptom, the qualities of dryness, dampness, and spasm (though these states are not mutually exclusive) can often be clearly felt and even heard. Dry Dry coughs are, well… dry. The mucous feels “dried out” on the tissues within the lungs (imagine rubber cement dried out in a bottle), and coughing goes on and on and on but is never fruitful. These coughs may sound hollow or wheezy, and the tissues of the lungs may feel tight; this tight feeling results from the stiffness of dry tissues, not from muscular tension). Herbalists, in such cases, often rely on demulcents to moisten lung tissues.
Coughing itself is not a “sickness”, but clearly an attempt by the body to expel mucous/phlegm (a process called “expectoration”) and clear infection. It is an immune response, and as such should not be suppressed. Rather, there are a number of herbs that are useful in helping a person cough effectively; they facilitate the immune response and resolution occurs because this process is completed, rather than aborted. 148
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
(no, not the movie guy) writes, “Physiologically active mucopolysaccharides are found in Mallow, those specialized, gel forming starches found in many plants and in the mucous and interstitial gel of our bodies, which limit inflammation, help mobilize scavenging white blood cells, and are particularly helpful in chronic bronchial mucosal inflammation…”. Marshmallow is one of those plants you can add to pretty much any formula to increase its net moistening effect. The roots are strongest in this regard, but the leaves and flowers are also used. Common lawn mallow is a milder herb in regards to the quantity of mucilage it contains, but it can be used as a substitute.
Marshmallow, being so decidedly mucilaginous, is one of the first plants to think of if dryness is the predominant and permeating symptom in your pulmonary woe. Herbalist Michael Moore
Considerations & Contraindications:
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Practically speaking, none. Because marshmallow root tea can be viscid enough to temporarily coat the intestinal tissues, its been advised to avoid using it immediately prior to taking any medication, which makes sense, though I’ve never heard of any cases in which this actually caused a problem.
was discontinued. Some studies have also showed licorice to lower circulating testosterone. Though these seem like daunting “side effects”, I would say that, personally, they don’t restrict my use of the root when indicated, and I can’t say that they could be called common. In no cases I’m aware of are these problems associated with use of the herb in limited durations for acute problems.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Licorice is another moistening plant, though it offers this action less through its possessing mucilage than to its nature as a fluid generating “sweet tonic”. Licorice is known to harmonize and potentize the actions of other herbs in which it is mixed; often, it is added in lesser quantities to formulas, as opposed to being the main plant used. That said, a simple cough syrup can be made by combining a decoction of licorice and honey. It is worth clarifying that black licorice candy tastes like a combination of anise and molasses; licorice’s flavor is primarily sweet. Violet (Viola spp.) Considerations and Contraindications: Licorice is often said to possess properties that aggravate hypertension and electrolyte balance, but these results seem to be idiosyncratic in their expression. Most people don’t experience problems, and most of the studies revealing issues used concentrated extracts and not simple herbal preparations. I know of one case where daily use of a decoction (amount of herb used to make it unspecified) for a few months caused hypertension, which resolved quickly when use
Violets are sorely underutilized, which is odd, because they’re both abundant and very effective. Different Violet species can vary in regards to how mucilaginous they are, but a simple taste of a leaf will display its demulcency (you’ll feel the slipperiness in your mouth). Violets are sweet, moistening and very nutritive. They also possess the ability to help relieve congested lymphatic glands; something to look for when considering its use. 150
cough if you’re gonna leave the person’s throat scratchy. Considerations and Contraindications: None known, other that some people being irritated by the fine hairs.
Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata) Plantain is, like Mullein, very effective for treating dry coughs, and the two combine together wonderfully. I think Plantain is especially effective at loosening dried out mucous from the lungs; it seems to also help restore a flow of healthy mucous. It is very useful if the coughing has been instigated by breathing in any irritating foreign particles. Plantain also excels when a cough seems to be originating from an irritation at the back of the throat or right at the base of the windpipe. Maybe it’s from sinus drainage, or maybe there’s just a feeling of irritation that’s like an “itch”, and coughing seems like the only way to “scratch” it.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Mullein leaves are specific for dry coughs that shake the whole frame of the body, and/or leave the ribs aching. There’s also a “wheezing” sort of noise I listen for, and if I hear it, I know Mullein will help. The tincture will produce almost an instant relief, but often needs to be taken frequently. Mullein can be taken as a tea, a tincture, and even smoked… Smoking anything when your lungs are bothering you may seem counterintuitive, but Mullein works. I have a friend who jumps at the chance to give someone a pipe full of dried Mullein to puff on. When they start coughing like crazy, he smiles and says, “yeah, but its good coughing, isn’t it?” My friend Joyce Wardwell says Mullein smoke is amazingly effective in whooping cough, if not the easiest mode of preparation to deliver…
Considerations and Contraindications: known.
None
Damp
Because the little hairs that make Mullein leaves so fuzzy can be irritating if present in a tea or tincture, it’s one of the few herbs I suggest using a coffee filter with… there’s no point in easing a
Damp coughs, obviously, are “wet” in nature. Expectoration is difficult because the mucous/ phlegm doesn’t have enough “substance” to be coughed out; it’s too loose, too fluidic. Often 151
damp coughs will be worse when the person lies down. To treat this, warming, drying aromatic herbs are often used to “dry” the phlegm enough to give it some body to be coughed out. Warming aromatics help to break up damp congestion and stimulate expectoration.
restlessness. It might be avoided if nursing, as the taste may cause infants to reject breast milk (whoa, mom, you STINK!)… but this is not always the case. Garlic is contraindicated for vampires.
Garlic (Allium sativum) Garlic is really a systemic medicine, but as we can tell from the readily recognized “Garlic breath”, its oils are excreted through the lung tissue. This has the effect of saturating the lungs with Garlic’s broadly antimicrobial oils, and this has the effect of making Garlic very useful for respiratory infections. David Winston once told me that he hadn’t treated a case of antibiotic resistant pneumonia that hadn’t cleared up using Garlic. Of course, things need not be so dire; just think of it as being one of our best pulmonary antimicrobials. You can also use it proactively; if everyone around you is coughing and sneezing, having Garlic saturated lung tissue will make any microbial critter you do inhale find your mucosa less than hospitable. Not to mention people won’t get all that close to you.
Osha (Ligusticum porteri)
Considerations and Contraindications: Taken to excess, it will eventually cause vomiting, stomach irritation, digestive distress, insomnia, and some other dilemmas well covered in Paul Bergner's "The Healing Power of Garlic". These aren't really a concern for most reasonable usage. Some people, especially those of a hot and dry constitution, are aggravated by Garlic, finding it excessively drying and instilling a sense of 152
Osha is just an amazing plant. It’s exceptionally oily, and akin to Garlic in regards to having those antimicrobial oils excreted via the lungs, clearing infection in the process. I apply many of the same indications for Osha that I do for Garlic, though it seems less drying in nature to me; I’ve always thought this was because of the oils adding moisture to the lungs as they’re eliminated by them. And like Garlic, it makes a good preventive. You also sweat it out; it’s deeply penetrating in its action. Teas of Osha don’t offer its full virtue, so you can use a tincture or simply give a piece of the root a chew, stick it in your cheek, and let your saliva do the extraction. I think this may be the most effective way to use it.
Considerations and Contraindications: Not for use during pregnancy. Though safe for long term use, I recommend only using it when you need it, so as not to stress the wild populations by creating excess demand. Osha has not been successfully cultivated on any significant scale, so only by supporting individual herbalists collecting and tending stands in their mountain habitat can the wild populations be preserved. No other cautions are associated with the use of Osha, but care should be taken in its identification, as it resembles Poison Hemlock, a deadly herb. The properties of the herb are likely to pass through breast milk, and while I don’t know of any inherent problems with this, some (though not all) nursing children may object to the flavor.
Considerations and Contraindications: Angelica is considered an emmenogogue (an herb that promotes menstruation) and therefore contraindicated during pregnancy. While I personally don’t think its use should be completely dismissed, it should probably be used under the guidance of an herbalist in this circumstance. Do not confuse with water hemlock, or other poisonous members of its family, including Angelica venenosa.
Elecampane (Inula helenium) Elecampane is aromatic, cooling and drying. Though not everyone says so, and even though it does contain some mucilage, I’ve always found it exceptionally drying in nature. It’s good for damp coughs, and as I learned from Matthew Wood specific for deep seated, hard to get to, intractably “stuck” green mucous. The plant is exceptionally antimicrobial; and has tested effective against MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus).
Angelica (Angelica archAngelica, A. atropurpurea) Angelica is a cousin of Osha, and one of my mainstays for damp/wet coughs. It is diaphoretic, and paradoxically rich in oils, making it also useful for oil-deficient dryness in the lungs (plants are so damn hard to classify…).
Considerations and Contraindications: I find Elecampane’s very drying nature can dry up a wet cough and make it a dry cough; discontinue if dryness ensues. I wonder (but don’t know) if excessive or ongoing use could aggravate lactation in constitutionally dry people.
My wife has described Angelica as “grabbing onto the mucous and lifting it up and out of the lungs”. Angelica has a relaxing, soothing action which acts on both the tissues and the emotional body. At the same time, it is invigorating, improving peripheral circulation.
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Considerations and Contraindications: Generally none, but stronger preparations or ongoing use of this herb can inhibit lactation and so should be avoided during breastfeeding.
Thyme (Thymus spp.) Thyme is an exceptionally effective, easy to get ahold of (and undervalued) warming, drying aromatic. Its oils are also highly antimicrobial, and though certainly a potent remedy, is not so intense as Osha, Garlic or elecampane. It lends itself quite well to tea, and the tincture is also an excellent remedy. I like to combine the two (though sometime herbalists debate dogmatically about whether a tea or tincture of this or that plant is “best”, I’ve never viewed the options as being “either or”). Thyme makes an outstanding steam inhalation.
Spasmodic Spasmodic coughs can range from violent paroxysms to fixed tension, and different herbs act best at different gradations along that scale. Here, we use relaxants; herbs that ease tension causing a resistance to the flow of energy in the body.
Considerations and Contraindications: Generally none, but stronger preparations or ongoing use of this herb can inhibit lactation and so should be avoided during breastfeeding.
Sage (Salvia spp.) Sage is another… still warming, and still drying, but again, like thyme, not drastically so. Some have classified it as cooling; but that’s not been my impression; it probably varies with the differing species used. It’s a quite effective remedy, easy to get ahold of, and familiar to those who might be more skittish about using plants with weird names. Like thyme, excellent as an inhalation.
Wild Cherry Bark (Prunus spp.) Wild Cherry bark is an archetypal cough medicine; so much so that even lousy drug store cough drops have kept the association of “wild Cherry”, though there’s no longer any actual 154
plant material left in them. Wild Cherry relaxes the cough reflex, is cooling and mildly moistening, and tastes good to boot. There seems to be endless debate about how best to prepare it, as it contains hydrocyanic acid and that freaks people out. But, there’s far too little of that in the fresh or dried bark to be an issue (though avoid material in the process of drying). It is in fact the presence of this compound that gives Cherry is relaxant action. On the whole, though, cool water infusions of the plant seem to best convey its virtues, or a fresh tincture. Physio-Medicalist William Cook tells us to make syrups from cool water infusions.
has served him as well as his inhaler when he’s found himself need one. I’ve seen New England Aster help resolve lingering, irritable coughs that just won’t go away a number of times now. Its diaphoretic properties increase its general usefulness. I frequently combine it with all sorts of other herbs, and am constantly amazed at its versatility & efficacy. It is little known but anyone who uses it is sure to find it among their most trusted herbs. Considerations and Contraindications: Not surprisingly, there are no cautions to be found on a plant hardly anyone uses. Still, even in the liberally inclusive book on poisonous plants I have, there’s no mention of any toxicity associated with any Aster species.
Considerations and Contraindications: Because Cherry bark contains hydrocyanic acid, it is often listed as potentially toxic, but the normal quantities used medicinally are insufficient to cause problems.
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) New England Aster is an exceptional respiratory relaxant, it releases tension in the lungs and eases breathing. It is especially good when the tissues of the lungs seem sensitive and “reactive”… as if there’s a quivering that, if it gets quivery enough, will prompt coughing. I’ve seen its use in asthma offer a help that lasted into the next day. An acquaintance with emphysema has been experimenting with it and found that it
Wild Lettuce (Lactua spp.)
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Wild Lettuce should be taken as a fresh plant tincture – I don’t think dried preparations work nearly as well as fresh. It is indicated when the
very upper reaches of the lungs are very dry and very tense. It combines well with plantain here. Wild Lettuce could also be smoked with mullein, if tension is inhibiting the lungs ability to expectorate. Considerations and Contraindications: known.
may be an off taste in the back of the throat, perhaps kind of peppery. Take from 1-5 drops. That’s it. More isn’t better; better to use the small dose more frequently. It’ll help. Considerations and Contraindications: There is so much conflicting information of the “toxicity” of lobelia; it certainly can cause nausea and vomiting, though as mentioned above the tincture is less likely to do so. Paul Bergner has a very good comprehensive write up on this issue here. Though widely stated to be avoided during pregnancy, under the supervision of an experienced herbalist its use might be acceptable.
None
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Mullein, mentioned above, seems specific for short, hard, forceful coughs, leaving the chest feeling sore and painful. Considerations and Contraindications: none to speak of, other than the hairs.
Again, Hot & Cold It also helps to consider whether a cough or respiratory condition is “hot” or “cold”… but whereas dry, damp or spasmodic is often obvious even when simply hearing the cough, these qualities seem less easily determined; ask someone if they have a hot or cold cough, and you’ll probably be returned an expression of bewilderment. The body, however, still gives up its signs. Chief among these is the state of the respiratory mucous… clear, flowing mucous is healthy, but that white/opaque mucous indicated cold (requiring “warming” herbs) while yellow/ green/brown indicated hot (requiring “cooling” herbs). Here are the energetics of some of the herbs we’ve already discussed (plus a few extras thrown in for good measure). Please take note that there are always disagreements about whether certain herbs are hot or cold... some herbs just affect different people differently, and this is especially the case when considering herbs whose warming or cooling inclinations aren’t overtly obvious. I've tried to note examples where there is disagreement:
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) Lobelia is an herb whose toxicity is greatly overstated. It has been said to have “caused deaths”, but looking into its history you’ll see that such claims are entirely unsubstantiated (see below). That is not to say, though, that it isn’t strong medicine, to be used with a light hand when indicated; it is strong. The tincture is preferable to the tea, and less likely to cause the nausea/vomiting its (in)famous for. A tincture of good quality dried or fresh Lobelia works like nothing else for intense, uncontrollable spasm and coughing fits; coughing so much that you gag or feel like you’re going to throw up… the phrase “cough up a lung” comes to mind. There
Dry Coughs Marshmallow - cooling and moistening Common Mallow - cooling and moistening Mullein - cooling/neutral and moistening 156
Plantain - cooling and moistening Violet - cooling and moistening Licorice - neutral to warm & moistening (some consider it slightly warm, others slightly cool) Coltsfoot - cooling and moistening
these plants allows the antimicrobial oils to have a direct contact effect on the mucous membranes of the sinuses and lungs, but you can facilitate this even better by using the plants as steams or
Damp Coughs Angelica - warming & drying* Osha - warming & drying* Sage - warming & drying* Garlic - warming & drying Elecampane - cooling & drying (some consider it warming; I think it's predominantly drying) Thyme - warming & drying Yerba Santa - warming & drying *some aromatic herbs that are warming and drying can still sometimes be good for dry coughs because their oils are partially excreted through lung tissues, however, this effect is transient, and if used over time their net effect will be drying, so consider them, but balance their action with demulcents and reserve them for short term use.
smokes. To make a steam inhalation, simply take a handful of Sage leaves (or Thyme or Eucalyptus or Wild Bergamot or any other strongly aromatic herb), put it in a pot & bring it to a boil, covered. Remove from the stove, place on a heat safe surface where you can sit comfortably (a wooden cutting board on a table is usually nice). Get a towel, drape it over your head, and lean over the pot. Carefully remove the lid (don’t let the outrush of steam scald you) and inhale, deeply. The longer you can sit with the steam and plant vapor, and the more fully and deeply you can breathe, the better.
Spasmodic Coughs Wild Cherry bark – cool & moistening New England Aster - warming & drying Wild Lettuce - cooling & drying Mullein - cooling/neutral & moistening Lobelia - neutral & drying Skunk Cabbage - hot & drying (I've seen some say cold – but totally don’t get that) Cramp Bark - warming & drying (Bergner says its cooling) Black Cohosh - cooling; I haven't decided moistening & drying - seems to do both Ground Ivy - cooling & drying
I couldn’t possibly overstate the immense value of steams in treating congested states.
Specific to croup ("barking" cough): Bloodroot, small doses, perhaps with Lobelia. Inhalations: Steams & Smokes The inhalation of aromatic plants can be immensely virtuous in their effect upon respiratory woes. Simply inhaling the scent of
Jim with Larken Bunce & Wolf at Plant Healer’s annual event. 157
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When Things Fall Apart by Sean Donahue Sean is one of our most divergent authors/teachers, exploring the territory between the known and unknown worlds, and those herbs that affect our our mental state, our spiritual/magical beings and our dreams, contributing to the healing of the wounded psyches of our fractured age. He is a valued presenter at the annual Good Medicine Confluence, and you can read more about his other offerings on his website. There are moments when everything seems to fall apart. And these can prevent some of the most profound opportunities for healing.
Events like these break us open, giving us the opportunity to rewrite the meaning of everything. Meaning is, after all a relational map. Rhyd Wildermuth writes:
A break-up, a lost job, a house fire, the death of someone you love -events that change the topography of our lives, thrusting us into a suddenly altered and unfamiliar landscape. In my own life, I have come to believe that grief isn’t something that passes away from our lives, we just become more oriented over time to a world in which our grief is present and that which we grieve no longer is, at least not in the same way it once was.
"Meaning has no cognate, and the only other word in the English language that comes close to functioning as its synonym is not Truth, but Love. [ . . ] When I love someone, they have meaning for me. They are meaningful to me, I derive meaning from them, we mean something to each other. When I do not love someone, they hold no meaning for me; they are meaningless to me, or they mean no-thing to me. [ . . .] As I stated a little bit ago, “meaning” is a relational word, and there’s no coincidence that something “meaningful” to us is often said to give us ‘reason to live.’" 164
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If one thread in our web of relations is cut, it impacts all the others, some in subtle ways some in more pronounced ways -- hence it changes the meaning of everything to some degree.
Black Cohosh is indicated when someone is in a pit of despair, brooding over loss and pain and worry, grief hanging over them like a proverbial black cloud. There is often tension and dull ache in the trapezius, a hunched over posture, and a heavy feeling in the chest.
I work with plants and fungi primarily as other beings whose bodies are similar to our own but whose experience and way of being are fundamentally different from ours -- and operate from the experience that through subtle chemical and sensory signals, and perhaps by more mysterious means as well, they imbue us with the somatic sense of some part of that way of being. Four allies have been especially helpful to me in times when I am broken open: Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) , Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Psilocybe spp.,and Devil’s Club (Oploplanax horridus).
I think of the spray of white flowers arising high above the gnarled root as the stars at noon that show the way back up out of the well -- or at least bring the reminder that there is a world beyond the well. The well of grief can be an important place to spend time. In Irish tradition, all the rivers and streams of the world have their root in a well in the Otherworld beneath our feet -- the place of all beginnings and endings. To me the well of deep grief is that same well, and awash in its waters we release the meanings the world held before and prepare ourselves to create new meaning as we relate to the world in a new way. But eventually, we need to return to the world. And I have found Black Cohosh helps to shift the stagnant emotions that are weighing me down, and help me see the starry sky which reminds me that the iron in my blood and the iron at the core of the Earth were forged together in the first generation of stars, that I am connected with everything. The great physiomedicalist physician, William Cook, saw Black Cohosh as acting primarily on two kinds of tissues: nerves and serous tissues. He wrote:
Black Cohosh
“On the nerves it acts gradually, yet in the end with decided power–soothing them, relieving pain dependent on local irritation, and proving a good antispasmodic. It thus proves of service in general nervous excitement and agitation”
Black Cohosh is a plant with dark, gnarled, twisted roots that give rise to a tall stalk topped with a spray of white flowers. Last summer, reeling from a deep loss, I wrote:
and
“When our lives break open, sometimes we fall down a well so deep that when we look up, we see stars at noon, and make out the constellations that remind us of our inner landscape, of all that we contain.”
“On serous tissues it allays irritation, soothes excitement, and relieves sub-acute and chronic inflammation.” 166
The action on the nervous system explains the feeling of stillness and calm Black Cohosh can help to bring. The serous tissues are the membranes between the deep fascia and the superficial fascia that secrete fluid to lubricate the movement of muscle and fascia, reducing friction. Given that the deep fascia in many ways hold the memory of patterns of movement and constriction, by soothing the serous tissues Black Cohosh may allow freer movement of the deep fascia, facilitating the release of stuck emotion. Cook also noted that Black Cohosh reduced inflammation in the meninges, the membrane separating the brain from the skull, through which we now know the cerebrospinal fluid moves, carrying spent neurotransmitters and other metabolic wastes out of the brain -- it is possible that Black Cohosh may improve elimination of waste from the brain by reducing low-grande meningeal inflammation, allowing the cerebrospinal fluid to flow more freely.
Reishi Matthew Becker refers to Reishi as a ``wisdom remedy,`` bringing the deep stillness into the heart. Classically, in Chinese medicine, Reishi is seen as a tonic for the Shen, the watery essence of consciousness that resides in the heart. It pairs beautifully with Schizandra (Schizandra chinensis) which astringes the Shen, gathering consciousness back into the heart when it has become scattered. The calm focus these two medicines bring when given together helps a person feel grounded, centered, and clear-sighted as they engage in the work or remaking meaning in their world after a sudden loss.
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Becker also says that Reishi helps to pull trauma out of the tissues. It took me a while to wrap my head around what he meant.
feeling that caused us pain and locate it in the place that experienced pain. Another Chinese herb, Albizzia julibrissin, stabilizes mast cells to modulate histamines, and combines nicely with Reishi -- especially since it is classically used to restore the capacity for joy.
First I started thinking of how Reishi grows. The mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus that grows on dead trees, consuming their wood. The wood of the tree is a repository of the tree’s memory -- even our culture can read a tree’s history from looking at the qualities of the layers of wood it formed in its trunk each year. In breaking down the wood, Reishi is quite literally metabolizing the physical trace of the tree’s lived experience. After thinking about this for months, I had an experience with a client that helped me understand what this means in human terms. She had just been through a breakup and was having panic attacks -- if I remember correctly the formula I gave her initially was Reishi, Schizandra, Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), and Anemone (Anemone pulsatilla.) When she came for her follow up a few weeks later she said that the panic attacks had subsided and that every night she was having amazing dreams where she got to sit down with people from her past and work out their differences. So we continued with the formula until she said she wanted more restful sleep and was tired of processing so much in her dreams. So we removed the Reishi from the formula and the dreams went away. A few weeks later, she was ready to begin processing through dreams again, and we reintroduced the Reishi, and the dreams come back.
Psilocybe spp. If Reishi helps to metabolize past experiences, breaking down their meaning, then the mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus help grow a new web of meaning to replace the old. The mycelium of the Psilocybe interweaves with the roots of grasses, stimulating them to grow in wildly branching forms, becoming entwined in vaster and more complex signaling systems. Psilolcybin does the same for our own neural networks, causing synapses to proliferate in nonlinear ways, making new connections -- new webs of meaning. Jim McDonald speaks of how the weedy herbs whose habitat includes and is shaped by humans often are gentle and adept at working with humans -- to me the Psilocybe spp. are the psychedelic organism that tends to be the most human-friendly (I loathe the word entheogen because of its theological implication that divinity is generated in a person only after they ingest the substance.)
Since then, several clients have had similar experiences with Reishi, and so do I -- sometimes the unhealed past comes up in dreams, sometimes just in quiet moments, but always softly, always in a way where I could feel just a little bit of the remnant of emotional memory stirring, moving, and dispersing. Reishi is an amazing histamine modulator. And we are learning that histamine is a neurotransmitter that creates tissue-specific aversive memory -- helping us remember the 168
Other tryptamine-bearing plants and fungi will have similar neurobiological effects, but there is something special about the way the medicine of the Psilocybe spp. comes from wild spores on the wind landing in human-shaped landscapes like pastures and woodlots and eventually infiltrating human minds, inviting them into experiences of connection with other-thanhuman realms. A recent study conducted by members of the Psychedelic Research Group of the Department of Medicine at Imperial College in London found preliminary indications that people being given psilocybin to treat severe depression tended to experience increased “nature-connectedness” and to move away from previously held rigid and authoritarian beliefs. (Though the study does beg the question -- just how rigidly authoritarian are voluntary participants in a psilcoybin experiment likely to be?) Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and New York University, in separate studies, found that a single administration of psilocybin in a carefully shaped and guided context led to lasting relief from the anxiety and depression associated with the knowledge of imminent death in terminally ill adults by helping them to find new meaning in their world, often by extending their identification beyond their individual self to the planet or the universe.
Devil’s Club Devil’s Club thrives on disruption. Ryan Drum writes: “The plant uses fierce mechanical disruption by rushing water, windfall tree rip-ups, and even heavy machinery as a dispersal/propagation strategy: pieces as small as 6 inches long with intact bark can grow roots and sprout small stems and leaves after months of being submerged or just lying on the ground or being buried up to a foot or more in leaf debris or stream gravels. Instead of fearing localized habitat disruption, devil's club thrives in it as long as the greater habitat remains stable.”
My own first experience, eating an ⅛ of an ounce of Psilocybe cubensis and going into the woods of New Hampshire when I was nineteen involved my viscerally experiencing the world as alive for the first time since childhood. Although I knew nothing about fungal ecology and mycorrhizal networks at the time, I experienced the forest as having one mind, woven together by thin filaments, and felt my own mind become part of it. Every time I have worked with the medicine since, I have felt that same sense of my consciousness interweaving with the consciousness of the land -- and sometimes the stars as well.
As Devil’s Club comes into a disrupted forest environment, its sharp spines prevent large animals from tromping through and its big leaves provide a new canopy, allowing delicate understory plants to regrow. I frequently use drop doses of Devil’s Club to achieve similar results when it is a person’s world that has been disrupted. I find Devil’s Club brings a feeling of being safe, protected, and supported that can help a person begin reemerging into a world transformed by loss. 169
Goldenrod & Gloom By Jenny Solidago Mansell Jenny is a heritage wildcrafter and community herbalist. Her business, Prairie Herbcraft, focuses on teaching ethical foraging and bio-regional herbalism on the red dirt plains of Oklahoma. She teaches classes for the Good Medicine Confluence, including a very personal one on this very topic.
I’ve been affected by depression since I was 11. There have been times when I functioned relatively well but it has always been in the background waiting to pounce. When I’m in the
middle of a depressive episode it feels as if I’m walking through a thick and sticky liquid, as if I sink deeper with each step, as if every task no matter how simple seems as herculean an
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endeavor as a triathlon. I’ve tried so many ways to heal and it has been a journey over many years. The depth of depression ranges from mild to debilitating enough to make daily living almost impossible. I’ve learned there is an ebb and flow to it and it helps to remind myself during the darkest times, the worst will recede. Over the past year and a half, however, my healing has gone to a deeper level than ever before. I feel I’m back on the path of joy I once walked as a child. I’m more stable than I’ve been in years and the stability is more consistent. There are some things I’ve tried which haven’t been especially useful. I’ve tried Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) tincture and didn’t find it to be particularly helpful for me. I know some people have found it to be valuable but I noticed very little difference using it. There’s a commonly held belief that depression somehow stems from a lack of gratitude. At the advice of a friend I participated in an extensive gratitude practice for a month. While I found value in the experience, it didn’t noticeably improve my depression. The problem with the gratitude theory is depression doesn’t stem from lack of gratitude for what we have, at least in my experience and my observation of others with depression. If there’s a common root it seems to be more the idea that we ourselves aren’t enough and what we do doesn’t matter, that we don’t have the power or agency to make our lives better. I’ve also tried simply forcing myself into an exercise regimen but even over a period of months, this didn’t cause a noticeable improvement with regards to depression.
known in Japan, can lift my mood tremendously. I spend time in daily meditation which I’ve found to be particularly helpful for anxiety. The discipline of meditation has helped me learn to consciously focus my mind away from obsessing over problems in my life in an unhealthy way. I focus on the sound of wind in the trees, birdsong, and any other nature sounds around me. This focus on natural sounds helps with clearing my mind. I try to spend 15 minutes in the sun daily for my solar dose of vitamin D.2
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I drink nourishing herbal infusions, as Susun Weed teaches.3 I particularly appreciate the nervine properties of Oatstraw (Avena sativa). The problem with these, however, is in order to practice them I have to be functional. Depression brings with it hopeless lethargy. Depression says, “Why try? Nothing will work. Nothing will make this better.” Every tiny step is such a tremendous effort that it’s easy for nutrition and other foundations of health to fall by the wayside. These alone aren’t enough.
There are some things I’ve learned which are helpful to me. Most of them are very basic and in keeping with common sense. I try to eat a diet with an emphasis on foods as close to their natural state as possible: locally-grown fruit and vegetables, meat and milk from grass-fed animals, and legumes and whole grains. Cultured foods such as kefir and sauerkraut are also important components of my diet. It is essential for me to spend time outdoors regularly, especially in wild and beautiful places. A walk in the woods, or “forest bathing” as it is
The deepest healing began with a dream. In my dream I saw a half gallon jar filled with Goldenrod flower elixir. Golden light streamed from the jar and in the dream, I heard a thunderous voice say, “Take Goldenrod for the heart.” I woke up with a thrill of knowing in my gut that this dream was important. This happened a year and a half ago. I had lost my best friend, Tatiana, to cancer several months prior and the depression had gotten to the point I wasn’t functioning well at life. At the time of 171
the dream it was autumn and I did manage to meditate under my Elder tree most days. Next to the Elder was a patch of Goldenrod in full bloom, Goldenrod which Tatiana had given me to plant a year earlier. After the dream I did some research to find out if other herbalists were using Goldenrod as support through depression. (Since dreams tend to be metaphorical I assumed “for the heart” referred to the emotional rather than the physical heart.) Although I searched my rather extensive library of herbals, I found almost nothing on such a use. The only book or article I found which mentioned this use of Goldenrod more than in passing was one of Kiva Rose Hardin’s blog posts.4 Since I knew Goldenrod is widely used internally and since there were no contraindications specific to me, I decided I had nothing to lose by experimenting with it.
I made an elixir from the flowers of the Goldenrod I had growing, Solidago gigantea. My spirits were lifted simply by the rich light of the golden pile of fluff which grew under my fingers as I stripped the stems. I used equal parts brandy and honey and allowed the elixir to macerate for two weeks before dipping out a small amount to use. I allowed the remainder to continue to macerate for another four weeks. I started off using 1/8 of a teaspoon once daily. I kept testing my emotions but I didn’t notice any upswing in mood. Yes, I got up earlier. Yes, after the first week I was accomplishing three times as much as I had before. But it was all so effortless. I think perhaps I thought it would be more dramatic. After a time, I was so engaged with my new, fuller schedule, I missed taking the Goldenrod for a few days. I found myself barely dragging out of bed. Things didn’t seem worth the effort all of the sudden. My husband asked me, “Did you stop taking that Goldenrod stuff?”
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Something clicked in my brain in that moment that the Goldenrod was working, just gently and on a very subtle level. I discovered I could skip up to three days without seeing a negative effect but after that, I began to notice the lack of Goldenrod. I stopped taking it several times because I felt so well it didn’t seem as if I needed to take anything but after a while I learned the importance of being committed to taking it regularly. A few months passed and I began to commit even more deeply to my health. I believe it was at that point I truly began to want to be well. On February first, Imbolc, I traveled to a beautiful spring-fed creek for a ritual release and cleansing. I decided as I plunged completely under the water that what I most needed and wanted to release was depression. I asked that the waters wash it away. At this point I began to notice a slight shiver when I took the Goldenrod, as if I could feel a beam of light passing through me and changing things on an emotional and molecular level. I could feel myself coming back to who I was, as well as growing into more the person I wanted to be. Goldenrod stalks are mentioned as being used as dowsing rods, in a similar way to willow, to find lost objects or treasure.5 I believe Goldenrod helps guide us to the lost aspects of ourselves, the treasures in our shadow. I began to shed habits, activities, ways
of thinking which were not authentic for me. I began to truly experience my emotions, rather than repressing the so-called negative emotions such as anger. I made a place for the full range of emotions. In The Earthwise Herbal Volume I, Matthew Wood writes of how Goldenrod supports the kidneys and of Maria Treben’s belief the kidneys help us process the full range of emotions.6 This really resonates with my experience with Goldenrod. I have also learned to say “no” to what is not the best expenditure of my time and energy. I began to release the burden of trying to please others all the time or carry responsibility for their emotions and choices. I began to release perfectionism and to enjoy and appreciate my best efforts for the blessing they are. The statement “I am enough” began to be more something I might believe to be true and less something I repeated without real hope of convincing myself. I’ve learned to use joy as my north star to guide me towards my purpose. Truly joy has been born anew in my heart and in my life. Over the past year I’ve shared Goldenrod with friends and family. This year I began to talk about it in the local classes I teach as well. Everyone who has reported back after taking it has experienced a dramatic improvement in 174
mood as well. One family member said, “In 69 years I’ve never felt as good as I feel now. I’ve never known what it was like to not feel anxious and sad.” A dear friend who was very depressed after the death of her husband asked me for help with some joint issues. She usually had a full schedule teaching wildcrafting classes but was questioning whether she wanted to ever teach a class again. I slipped a bottle of Goldenrod elixir in the herbal care package I sent her. A couple of weeks later she posted a schedule packed with classes for the next several months. At an event where we both taught, I shared about Goldenrod and how it has helped me as well as other people. She raised her hand and said, “Me! I’m a testament!” A woman who learned to make Goldenrod elixir at one of my classes said while she was taking the elixir her husband told her she didn’t get upset as easily and she laughed more and had more fun. Another class participant also said she didn’t get upset as easily and was more relaxed. I’ve given Goldenrod elixir to a teenager who went from being rather glum and lethargic to having an active interest in a variety of projects. I don’t believe in panaceas or miracle cures, a single herb which works for everyone. I don’t want to give the impression that Goldenrod is ideal for everyone. But I do believe Goldenrod is an herb which works in particularly amazing ways for those it suits. It does seem to me a person has to be ready to heal, to be willing for it to happen, for Goldenrod to work its deepest and best. Goldenrod doesn’t force a surface healing over a pit of despair. It comes to your aid as you dig your own way out of the pit. It’s the sun shining from above, lighting the darkness and caressing your face with warmth.
depression could be one reason Goldenrod may be helpful for those who are depressed. This would tie in with its quercetin content since quercetin has also been used to address inflammation.11 I believe Goldenrod works on both a physiological and an energetic level and this contributes to its effectiveness. The only side effects I’ve observed in myself have been better menstrual regulation and reduced coughing at night in the spring when my neighbors have their lawns sprayed. I discovered taking Goldenrod elixir before bed reduces my coughing which in the past would be so bad I’d have to get a family member to drive me outside the city limits for relief. These are side effects I’m very happy to live with. As with any herb, there are people who are allergic to Goldenrod. There is, however, a commonly held belief Goldenrod pollen causes seasonal allergies in the autumn. Goldenrod pollen isn’t wind borne in appreciable amounts because it is pollinated by insects rather than by the wind.12 Since Ragweed blooms at the same time, it is a much more likely culprit even though Goldenrod gets blamed. For people with allergies its always a good precaution to test a small amount of any new herb on one’s wrist first, then an hour or so later a small amount on the lips, before ingesting a small amount of the herb. This precaution isn’t, however, more necessary for Goldenrod than for other herbs in the Asteraceae family such as, for example, Chamomile. I harvest Goldenrod flowers on a dry day when they are just beginning to fully bloom out. I’ve used both wildcrafted and cultivated Goldenrod. Some people use the leaves but I use only the flowers for elixir because sometimes “I dreamed it that way” is a good enough reason. I coarsely chop the flowers plus a few stray leaves and loosely fill a jar to within an inch of the top. I cover the plant material with equal parts 80 proof alcohol and local raw honey. I started off using brandy but switched to rum because I like the taste. You can use whatever tastes best to you. After all, it’s supposed to lift our spirits! I poke out any air bubbles with the end of a spoon
Goldenrod is a complex plant and it would be interesting to see more studies done with regards to how and why it works. It does contain quercetin and rutin as well phenolic acids.7 I came across a study which found quercetin to be useful in cases of depression,8 in addition to another study showing rutin to be beneficial in such cases,9 as well as another study showing the neuroprotective effects of phenolic acids.10 It seems likely that inflammation as a root cause of 175
and finish filling the jar with honey and alcohol. I cap and label it and allow it to macerate for 6 weeks, shaking occasionally. I strain it through a mesh strainer. Normally I would line the strainer but with Goldenrod elixir I only strain out the coarser particles and leave the beautiful golden pollen grains in the elixir. I take 1/8-1/4 teaspoon once daily, twice on the rare occasion I feel I need it. I’ve also experimented with store-bought Goldenrod glycerite. I find it does work but not on quite as deep a level as elixir made from the glorious Goldenrod growing around me. I’ve used several species of Goldenrod, including S. canadensis and S. gigantea for tincture. The glycerite I bought was made from dried S. viraugea. They all seem to be effective. I haven’t used Goldenrod in tea form. If quercetin is indeed an important active constituent, the tea wouldn’t be as effective since quercetin is more readily alcohol-soluble.13 Since it’s all a grand experiment, however, I intend to try using the tea in the future, as well as experimenting with a Goldenrod oxymel.
References: 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17055544 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29164409 3. http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/ An_Article-healthy.htm 4. http://kivasenchantments.com/blue-mountaintea-a-sunny-medicine-for-cloudy-days.html 5. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham, pg. 127 6. The Earthwise Herbal Volume I by Matthew Wood, pgs. 468-470 7. https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/herbs/r-s/ solidago-virgaurea/ 8. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ pii/S0278584610001715 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28732760 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5452207/ 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 29227203 12. http://mediarelations.cornell.edu/2016/04/27/ flowers-not-to-blame-for-allergies/ 13. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/ quercetin#section=Solubility
Goldenrod has had a more profound effect on my life and health than any other single herb. Solidago, Goldenrod’s genus name, means “to make whole.” This resonates with my journey so deeply I’ve taken Solidago as part of my name in gratitude for this plant’s healing aid and as a reminder to continue to seek wholeness. By sharing my experiences I hope others are able to experience this same wholeness, assisted by glowing and glorious Goldenrod. 176
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Plant Distillation for Hydrosol & Essentials By Leslie & Orion Lekos Leslie Lekos is the director of Wildroot Herb School & Botanicals in Bellingham, WA, which offers herbal immersion programs and intensives by top-notch herbalist from around the country and abroad. She is a doula, and a craft distiller and seller of sustainable wild-harvested and organically grown hydrosols and essential oils. Her brilliant husband, Orion, has published several books, patents and papers focused on systems and novel processes for the manufacturing and purification of plant based medicines, chemicals and fuels, and loves to figure out how to extract aromatic and medicinal compounds from wild plants. We are very happy to feature their classes at the Good Medicine Confluence, and to share their knowledge with you in this and future issues.
When we spend time out in the forest we love to smell all the diverse scents the plant world fashions. We are blessed here in the Pacific Northwest. Our forests, mountains and waterways are brimming with aromatic plants. It’s a passion of ours to distill plant medicines. We distill primarily to make hydrosols and in the process also distill some essential oils as a by-product.
relatively inexpensive to have a small still at home for personal use. What are Hydrosols & Essential Oils? Hydrosols are aromatic floral waters that are produced by distillation. They have a wide range of medicinal use and action. They are excellent to use in skin care products, especially in lotions, facial toners and mouthwashes. They can be sipped for their medicinal values as a tincture would be consumed, added to beverages and foods and they shine in the use of aromatherapy to name some of our favorite ways to use them.
In this paper we will describe the main ways hydrosols and essential oils are being produced and hopefully shed light on some of the mystery of the distillation process. It really isn’t as complicated as many believe it to be and it is easy and 178
longer good for most uses. We use hydrosols that are just beginning to turn to mop our floors and wash our windows. It is quite luxurious and leaves our home smelling amazing. Essential oils are the oil soluble constituents of the plant that are extracted during the distillation process. They are extremely concentrated substances that are in most cases dangerous for internal use. Most essential oils need to be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. The amount of plant material it takes to make a small amount of essential oil is shocking. For example, Lavender on average is about 1-2% oil. So if you had 100 pounds of Lavender flower you would get 1-2 pounds of oil. Keep in mind also that lavender is a plant that yields a good amount of essential oil. Roses, for example, have much less oil present in the flowers and take a lot more plant material to produce oil. There is often confusion about what hydrosols are made from. Many people think that they are water with essential oils added to them or that they are weaker variations of essential oils. A true hydrosol is a medicine made through the distillation process. Generally they have less than 1% of the essential oils and they also contain other water-soluble constituents of the plants, such as weak acids, alcohols and tannins. Some hydrosols are made from plants that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t produce essential oils, like plantain or comfrey hydrosol. Hydrosols are quite safe for use, unlike essential oils, which are extremely concentrated plant extractions.
The Parts of the Still
Aromatic distillations have a good shelf life and generally last well for several years if stored in a cool steady temperature environment away from direct light. We are often asked about preservatives and they do not need to be added. Non-aromatic plants have a shorter shelf life. We have had the experience of plants like Plantain, Goldenrod, Cucumber, and Comfrey lasting for about a year before they begin to turn. You can tell when a hydrosol is no longer good because cloudy dark greyish wispy formations begin to occur in the solution. This indicates that a bacteria is present, making the hydrosol no
There are many designs of distillation equipment out there. Many people that are beginning the process of learning how to distill purchase a copper still as is shown in the diagram. Below are descriptions of each part of the still and how they function. Boiler The boiler is where the water gets heated and turns to steam. This can be as simple as the pot at the base of the still as seen in the diagram, or it can be an industrial boiler that generates steam. 179
Retort
diagram. There is a spout at the bottom of the condenser tank for the distilled product to flow out of and into a holding vessel.
The retort is where the plant material is placed. Usually there is a perforated plate at the bottom that holds the plants in place and allows steam to flow through the plant material. The top of the retort has a lid or â&#x20AC;&#x153;hatâ&#x20AC;? that is easily removed to fill or empty the retort. It also keeps the steam from leaking out. The hat has one exit that is directed into the swan neck that starts the condensing process.
Florentine Flask The Florentine flask is a holding vessel that is an excellent tool for separating the hydrosol and essential oils. It is a simple continuous oil water separator. It is called continuous because the hydrosol and essential oils that are being extracted are continuously flowing into the flask. There are two valves on the flask. One is at the bottom of the flask, in which the hydrosol flows out and into a barrel. The other one is at the top of the flask where the essential oils float. During distillation the bottom valve is open and the top one closed, allowing for the continuous flow of the hydrosol into the collection container. At the end of distillation the bottom valve is closed and the top one is open so the hydrosol level rises and pushes the essential oil layer out of that top valve to be collected into a jar. The oils float on the top of the extracted waters because as we know water and oils donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix and oils float on
Condenser The condenser is where the steam vapor and volatile constituents are cooled back down and turned into a liquid. There are many designs for condensers; the important part is that it is long enough to cool the vapor back to a liquid. Copper coils are a common design to shape the copper pipe inside of the condenser tank; it allows more surface area to come in contact with the cold water. Ice water is preferable, as it cools the vapors faster. The copper pipe is coiled inside of the condenser tank that is shown in the 180
top of water. The top of the Florentine flask is tapered which allows the essential oil layer to collect in a wider band on the top of the hydrosol, making it much easier to collect at the end of the distillation process. The majority of essential oils float on top of the water, but there are some unique ones that weigh more than water and concentrate on the bottom. Catnip is a weird one like that.
harvesting, storing and transporting the material to the still is important. In the woods it might be shears with burlap bags. In the garden or a few acres of lavender it be might be a weed eater with blade. On a 1000-acre farm it could be a mint harvester. Seasonality also plays a big role in the quality and quantity of the oil and the hydrosol. For example, Rosemary is best distilled in the peak of summer before it flowers.
Preparation of the Plant Material Prior to Distillation Softer plant materials like leaves and flowers may not necessarily need to be processed prior to distillation. However, it is beneficial to break down harder plant parts like seeds, rhizomes, roots, hard stems and branches into smaller pieces. This can be done through mechanical means to break the cell walls and help the steam release the trapped oil. The term is macerate and you can use a variety of tools to do it. In extracting a tree branch for example, a wood chipper would be the right tool for the job. If you are extracting fresh ginger root, then a food processor to chop it up is a great tool. Cucumber, for example, should get sliced or shredded before you distill it to make good cucumber water. If you were working with dried ginger root, on the other hand, a hammer mill would work better. The most efficient method to get everything out of the macerated herbs is to put the herbs into a retort as opposed to directly in the boiler with the water as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll discuss below.
Douglas Fir on the other hand has the sweetest lemony scent and flavor in the oil and hydrosol at the beginning of spring when the fresh light green needles are on the tips of the branches. In contrast if you harvest Douglas Fir in the winter, the oil and the hydrosol contain more sulfur notes. With lavender, there are many opinions. Many distillers like to distill it before the flowers open, while some like it in full bloom.
Harvesting & Curing
Personally, we like to wait until after the bees have pollinated it and it gets a little dry. We like the aroma of the oil at that time and then the bees get their medicine too. St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wort is a unique oil and hydrosol. We have tried distilling it before the flowers open, at full flower and once the seed heads form. The only stage that we have had experience yielding oil is when it is drier and the seeds are developing but there are still flowers on the stalks. Interestingly, even though the drier seeds heads donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much of a discernible aroma, after it is distilled the hydrosol is fragrant.
How you harvest and when you get it to the still influences the quality and yield of oil and hydrosol. Each plant is unique and different practices are valuable depending on that plant and what you are distilling for. In general we have found that fresh material yields a better hydrosol. Dried plant material often produces a burnt smelling scent in the hydrosol. In many cases it is helpful to have a quick period of time between harvesting and distillation so you are getting the freshest plants possible for distillation. Having good and efficient tools for 181
Curing of aromatic plants is common in the industry of essential oil and hydrosol extraction. Mint for example, is often left out to cure for a about a day after harvest before it is extracted. The curing process increases the amount of oil production, probably from a combination of water evaporating from the plant and the composition of the essential oils. The same is often done for lavender and dill.
soften and release the aromatics from the material. A few of the drawbacks of the hydrodistillation system are that the steam power is not as high as other methods, resulting in a less concentrated extraction. Another issue is that there are losses of extracted herbal constituents that do not make it to the final product. These constituents extract into the water and remain there because in the distillation process you want to be sure not to boil all the water out of the still, which would burn the batch.
Methods of Extraction There are a few main types of extraction methods in this field. Below we will describe the process of hydrodistillation, steam stripping, supercritical extraction systems and screw presses.
Steam Stripping Steam stripping is the process of distilling in which steam flows through the plant material. The plant material is not immersed in water like in hydrodistillation. The steam can either be created from a boiling pot below or it can be made in a steam generator or boiler. The steam passes through the plants and volatilizes the essential oils and extracts the water-soluble components like acids, alcohols and tannins. The plant-extracted steam is then carried up to the condenser. In the diagram the hat begins the condensing process by collecting and forcing the steam up into the copper tube called the swans neck. The steam is then directed down into the copper coil that is in the cold-water bath.
Hydrodistillation Hydrodistillation was the first method developed and is still used to this day. It is the oldest and simplest method of distillation but also has the lowest efficiency. This method does not extract as many of the phytochemicals of a plant as other methods of extraction. This process of hydrosdistillation operates through steam pressure and has a low steam flow rate compared to other methods. The process of hydrodistillation is done by heating water and the aromatic plants together in a boiler. The water boils and turns the volatile constituents into a vapor and takes them through a condenser, which cools the vapors back into a liquid state so it can be stored in a vessel. Looking at the picture of the copper still diagram, hydrodistillation would be done with both the water and the plant in the boiler and retort would not be present. Hydrodistillation is best suited for flowers and leaves, which are delicate plant parts, thereby are easier to extract than harder plant materials like roots and seeds.
Industrially essential oils are extracted using both hydrodistillation and steam stripping. In the mint industry, for example, large retorts can hold an acre at a time and are towed behind mint harvesters. The mint is chopped and spit into the retort. The retort is pulled up to a giant boiler, which shoots super high-pressure steam into the retort. The steam volatilizes the oil in the mint and is directed to a condenser the size of a building.
Seeds, roots and tree stems are harder denser plant parts and require more energy to access into the hard structures for extraction. These firmer plant parts can be soaked in the water for a period of time prior to hydrodistillation to
The condensed hydrosol and essential oil flow into huge oil water separators. The mint oil is collected and the hydrosol is usually discarded as a waste product. An acre of mint can be extracted in about thirty minutes. 182
In Europe distillation cooperatives exist. A central still is available for farmers to bring their crops to distill. Many of these are old hydrodistillation systems, but most of the newer sites use a separate boiler and steam strip the constituents out. Although using a separate boiler to create steam is faster and more efficient there are problems too. Most boilers require the addition of chemicals to prevent damage to the boiler. These chemicals are water-soluble and often go into the hydrosol. For this reason, most large boiler based essential oil extraction systems focus only on making oil and the hydrosol is thrown out or it is recycled back into the system to recover emulsified oil in the hydrosol.
waxes. The supercritical fluid mixes with the essential oils then goes through a collection tank where it gets cooled, the pressure drops and the extracted material turns into a liquid state. When this happens the essential oils drop out of the solution causing separation. The liquid CO2 then gets pumped back through the heat exchanger and re-pressurizes the CO2 until it again reaches a supercritical state so it can be run through the plant material again to continue extracting. When the whole extracting process is complete the CO2 is removed from the system by opening a release valve and the essential oils, waxes, pigments and flavonoids are harvested. These systems are most commonly used with very valuable low yielding oils such as rose, where a high efficiency makes a giant difference in the financial viability of the business. The other industry that uses supercritical CO2 is hops for brewing. This is the predominant method for extracting the essential oil from hops. The advantage of using the oil of hops for brewing instead of adding hops directly into the brewing process is that a consistent flavor can be achieved in the beer year-round instead of the best flavor only being available in the summer when the hops are fresh.
Supercritical Systems As technology has advanced and the quest to get more constituents out of plants has continued a technology utilizing supercritical fluids was developed. A supercritical fluid is one that is both a liquid and a gas at the same time. The advantage of supercritical fluid is that it retains the solubility of the liquid and the solubility of the gas, making it more effective at extracting than any one of the states alone. These systems operate under high pressure and are closed systems. Under these extreme conditions more constituents of the plant get extracted such as lipids, waxes, pigments and flavonoids. The efficiencies achievable are greater than 90% extraction. The two main solvents used to extract essential oils and hydrosols are CO2 or water.
Supercritical water systems are not very common due to expense and havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t caught on much yet. They are used in the tobacco industry for extracting nicotine and for extracting specialty oils out of algae and other small organisms that are too small to press. They have the advantage of high essential oil extraction efficiency and creating a hydrosol that contains a wider array of phytochemicals. The system for supercritical water extraction is the same as steam stripping; the only difference is that a higher temperature and pressure are being utilized.
With supercritical CO2, the oils are removed, but no hydrosol is produced because water is not put into the system. Waxes are also extracted. Some good examples of plants extracted by supercritical CO2 are rose or jasmine. Supercritical CO2 systems also produce a wax, which are amazing ingredients in lip balms, lotions and salves. The way these systems generally work is that a bottle of liquid CO2 is pumped through a heat exchanger to heat the CO2 and pressurize it until it is at its supercritical state. The supercritical fluid is passed through a retort containing the plant material where it strips out the essential oils and
Screw Press Another way that some essential oils are extracted is through pressing. This is true for citrus, like orange, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot and tangerine. The main method in the industry 183
is to use a screw press to get the oil out. This is the same technology used to extract any cold pressed edible oil like olive, safflower and sesame. To extract citrus, the peels go into a hopper that slowly releases them into the screw press. A screw press works by two very large screws turning next to each other. The peels get pulled into them and everything gets squished out of them as they pass between the screws. The pressed peel goes in one container and the liquid goes through an oil water separator to produce an essential oil and a hydrosol. System Thoughts So what is the best method for extracting essential oils and hydrosols? The answer to that lies in what specific plant you are working with, cost and how fancy of a system you are interested in. The best general system that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too costly is a steam stripping extraction system. That is what we use at our shop. If you are just starting out though we recommend an Alembic Copper still. These give a lot of flexibility and they are portable if you want to take it on the road. Most distillers use these systems; they are beautiful and produce a nice product. If you are interested in learning more about this we will be
at the Good Medicine Confluence demonstrating a distillation with a 30-liter Alembic Copper still and discussing all of this in more depth. We hope to see you there and happy distilling! 184
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Drying Herbs Part III: Drying Seeds by Susun S Weed
Welcome back to the drying shed. In the last issues of Plant Healer we’ve harvested and dried flowers, leaves, and berries. That doesn’t cover all the possibilities though. Herbalists use a lot of roots, as well as seeds, barks, mushrooms, and other plant parts like Corn silk and Horsetail. Let’s focus on drying seeds this time, and I will answer a few of the questions you sent me.
more-dried material to the side of my basket as I add new seed heads.
Drying Seeds Wild grasses and plants ripen their seeds in sequence, rather than all at once like cultivated grasses and plants, so drying the seeds of one kind of plant may extend over many weeks. I move the 186
Most seeds are nearly dry when they are harvested, so they require little care other than prevention of mold as they finish drying, and removal of inedible parts before they are consumed. When possible, I dry the entire seed head. I hang stalks of lamb’s quarters thickly covered in seed heads, yellow dock seed clusters on their stalk, plantain seed stalks, wild carrot and fennel umbels on their stalks, and branches of wild mustard pods over paper that will catch any errant seeds. I also lay seed heads on paper in shallow baskets to dry or tie them into small bundles and dry upright in a vase.
Separating the seeds themselves from their inedible parts can be hard work. And some seeds are harder to make edible than others. Amaranth, wild Carrot, Yellow Dock, Burdock, and many wild grasses are graced with hard seed coats, or loaded with astringent, tough chaff, or choking hairs, all of which must be separated, sometimes requiring a bit of force, and discarded. Sieves of various sizes are an enormous boon for winnowing the chaff. I like to sit with my back slightly acant a breeze and throw the seeds and chaff into the air above a large bowl. The lighter chaff is blown away and the heavier seeds fall into the bowl. At least, that’s the idea. Once separated from their chaff, the seeds are dried for a while longer in a warm oven, then allowed to cool and stored in airtight jars.
cultivated Amaranth and quinoa. I prefer to harvest Amaranth seed daily by roaming my garden and barnyard with a stainless steel bowl and a stick and knocking the ripe seeds into the bowl by shaking the seed heads over the bowl. I let the seeds dry in the bowl and add the new seeds to the bowl. If there’s room, I may put the bowl into the oven in between harvests. Amaranth seeds are a complete protein. Try grinding them in a coffee mill and adding them to any baked good, or toss the seeds into anything you will cook for a long time.
I use more Lamb’s Quarter and Plantain seeds in cooking because they are fully edible. Once they have air-dried for a few days, I strip the seeds and hulls from their stalks and oven dry the whole thing. That’s it. It’s ready to cook into tomato sauce, oatmeal, muffins, pancakes, cornbread, rice, and beans. No threshing, no winnowing, no muss, no fuss. Burdock (Arctium) seeds are renowned for their ability (when infused in oil and applied daily) to improve the health of hair and scalp, otherwise, who would brother with them?! It is easy enough to collect the burrs. I put them in a brown paper bag to dry. Although I say I “never” dry herbs in paper bags, Burdock seed heads are the exception. I don’t want them clinging to other plants in the drying shed.
To oven dry seeds: Put a thin layer of seeds in a shallow bowl or lipped cookie sheet in the oven at 100-104 degrees F (pilot light temperature) until quite dry. You can’t leave seeds in a warm oven too long but if they aren’t in long enough, they won’t really be dry and they will mold up when stored. After cooling thoroughly, store in clear glass jars; label. To preserve seeds: If you can’t oven dry your seeds, keep them in a loosely-lidded jar and add several moisture absorbing packets (they come in everything and it is okay to reuse them). I habitually toss those little packets into my jars of oven-dried seeds as an extra precaution against mold.
At any point in the drying, the bag may be thoroughly stomped to free up the seeds. This also frees up thousands of little white hairs that can make your skin really itchy if they touch you. I usually wait for a breezy day to winnow most medicinal seeds, but not when I am working with Burdock seeds. In fact, I usually winnow the itchy hairs out of the Burdock seeds indoors in a room where there is no air movement. Burdock seed infused oil is prized for healing scalp problems and restoring lost hair.
Amaranth (Amaranthus) is not a grain because it is not the seed of a grass. But it is used like one. Tiny wild, weedy Amaranth seeds are a delicious addition to any grain you are cooking, including 187
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seeds are wonderfully easy to grow. And along the way to them, you get to eat their greens: cilantro. The only trick is to harvest the seeds before they scatter. There will be a little stalk to winnow out, but not much, and, if you grind your Coriander with some salt in a coffee mill before adding it to your refried beans, a few bits of seed stalk won’t be noticeable. They are related to fennel (and anise and wild carrot), and are used in much the same way.
and finish in a warm oven. A tea of Fennel seeds is a digestive champion. Fenugreek seeds are a dear ally that I have never seen growing, so never harvested. It is a member of the bean family, so the seeds will be in pods that ripen, dry, and split open. Sounds easy. But I think they like warmer climates than my mountain fastness. Fenugreek seed tea is a musthave for new moms and any mom who needs a stronger milk supply. I drink Fenugreek tea when I am in the tropics so my sweat smells sweet – like maple syrup.
Fennel, like other aromatic seeds of the Apiaceae family – including Anise, Caraway, Coriander, Cumin, and Celery seeds – is a friendly, easy seed to dry. Natural oils in these seeds protect them against mold and insects, but the volatile nature of those oils means that protection is limited to a year or less (if exposed to light and heat). Dry aromatic seeds in their umbels upright in a vase, or air dry the seeds on a shallow tray
Grass seeds are all edible. That’s right. All Poaceae family seeds are considered safe to eat, even in quantity. And humans have eaten grass seeds – grains – for tens of thousands of years. Our Paleolithic ancestors cooked oatmeal and harvested a wide variety of other grass and plant seeds; they just didn’t cultivate them. (Why bother?)
Fennel 188
Chenopodium
Grass seeds like Corn, Wheat, Rice, Spelt, Rye, and Oats are major food crops. Grass seeds that we intend to dry are usually harvested when they past the “milky” stage. Corn on the cob, green Wheat (a favorite in Germany) and Oatstraw with milky seeds are exceptions to this rule. The “trick” to eating grass seeds, like any seed, is getting rid of the tough and inedible parts. That’s why non-grasses with edible seeds, like Quinoa and Amaranth, and Corn (Zea mays) with its large seeds, were favored in the Americas, they are less hassle to prepare for the table.
lined trays depending on how dry the seeds already are. I may do a light winnowing if there is a lot of chaff. Lamb’s quarter flowers are edible, too, so it doesn’t matter if a lot them wind up in with your seeds. Lamb’s Quarter seeds are one of the few non-bean seeds to be a complete protein. I consider them to be a free “super food.”
Plantain (Plantago, esp. majus and psyllium) seeds are renowned for their beneficial effects on mucus membranes. No seed is as easy to harvest and prepare: Snip the stalks at the bottom when the bottom-most seeds are dark brown or black and shattering. Dry in tissue-lined baskets, one layer deep. Strip the seeds and husks off the stalk (both are edible) while holding the stalk in one hand and sweeping the other away from yourself along the stalk and into a large bowl. Oven-dry at very low temperature, then store in a glass jar.
Lamb’s quarter (Chenopodium) is the wild sister of quinoa. By pruning wild lamb’s quarter heavily, I have been able to grow single plants that have provided more than a pound of seed and husk. If I have the time, I strip the seeds and surrounding material off the mature lamb’s quarter as soon as possible after harvest and put that material in stainless steel bowls or on tissue 189
Soak a spoonful of plantain seed/husk in water overnight for the world’s best bowel tonic. Add plantain seeds/husks to soup, stews, and all cooked grains, including Aatmeal and Rice. They can be milled to flour in an electric coffee grinder.
When the hardest, densest part of the plant snaps, the plant is completely dry. If the stalk can still bend, it is because it is not dry. More patience. Patience must be married to attention. I know how easy it easy to hang an herb to dry and “forget” it, even when it is hanging in plain sight. If dust has settled on your drying herbs, you have left them too long. Seeds and roots can air dry for months if protected against vermin. Our entire crop of Native American Tobacco seeds was eaten by mice last fall. (Who would have thought?!) A small drying area that makes you handle and touch the herbs frequently is ideal. Soon you will learn how the drying plants react to humidity and precipitation. You will notice that herbs that are almost dry may suddenly seem to rehydrate when the weather outside is stormy. You will find the crisp days that are best for taking down your dried herb and bundling up for winter.
Wild Carrot seeds partake of a beautiful dance of opening and closing. The flower buds, which start out nested together, spread open into an umbrella, which, when the seeds are fertilized, closes again into a nest, which opens one last time to scatter the seeds when they are fully ripe. Harvest wild carrot seeds after the nest has closed around them, but let them get as dark as you dare before harvesting. Darker seeds are riper and the nests are more likely to open and drop the seeds. Wild Carrot seeds are famous as a birth control. They are too hairy and too strong-tasting for me to experiment with them in the kitchen. Yellow Dock seeds are wild buckwheat. If you look closely, you will see the little pyramidshaped seeds, just like kasha (buckwheat). While you are looking, you will note the huge amount of hulls and flower parts mixed in with the seeds. Unfortunately, the hulls are really astringent and basically inedible and have to be removed for modern palates to enjoy the seeds. Yellow Dock seeds are really, really easy to harvest; each head has huge amounts of seed. They dry easily and don’t mold up readily. But I eat less of them than any other wild seed because it is so impossible to winnow them. Instead, I make Yellow Dock seed vinegar and my gut thanks me whenever I use it.
How Long Do Dried Herbs Last? That depends on the part of plant: Roots and seeds last the longest; flowers the shortest. A welldried herb root, uncut, and well-stored, may still be medicinally active decades later. Seeds are time capsules and are designed to maintain their value even after centuries of storage. Barks are already dead, so they can last a long, long time, too. That depends on the drying conditions: if excess heat is applied during drying, the longevity of the herb can suffer; if too little heat is used, mold invades and storage ends.
How do I know if the herb is dry enough to store?
That depends on the storage conditions: The darker and cooler the storage, the longer the herb will last.
Good question. Storing dried herbs before they are fully dry is the most common mistake beginners make.
That depends on the size of the pieces of the herb when stored: The more whole the plant, the longer it will last; the more powdered the herb, the more quickly it will lose value. A whole Cinnamon stick will be rich in aromatic volatiles for at least a decade, while the powder will be like sawdust after a year or two.
Drying herbs requires patience, and attention. It may take weeks to fully dry some herbs like Comfrey and Mullein. Others, like Oatstraw and Raspberry leaf, seem to take no time at all.
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That depends on how much of the value is from volatiles: Smells diffuse into the air as herbs dry, when they are exposed to heat, and when storage conditions are poor. Minerals are basically available from any dried herb, no matter how old, because they are not volatile; they stay home. But the nice smell of lemon balm or chamomile, powdered cinnamon or curry quickly fades.
the stalk and stored in a glass jar, will have value for a year or two, mostly due to light exposure through the glass jar. Cut-and-sift Nettle, the commercial standard, will last up to a year after the bag is open; for many years if the bag is sealed, opaque, and kept cool.
I will answer more of your questions next time we are together, and we will dry barks and roots and who knows what else. Your work is excellent. I appreciate your willingness to pay attention to the details. The sacred is in the details. The connection is in the details. The relationship is in the details.
For example: Whole stalks of Nettle with leaves, harvested on a dry and sunny day, and air-dried by hanging for several weeks, if folded into thirds when thoroughly dry (the stem snaps) and stored in brown paper bags with the tip tightly rolled, will be still loaded with minerals and other nutrients even after ten years. Nettle leaves stripped from
So long for now. Remember, green blessings are everywhere, and herbal medicine is peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medicine.
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Wild Foods for Wild Folks By Sarah Baldwin Sarah is a writer and herbalist who grew up in the wooded hills of southern Indiana, author of The Herbal Healing Deck, and teacher at the Good Medicine Confluence. The following is the companion essay to her Confluence class of the same name – the ways that wild foods can contribute to a wilder & tastier life!
"A man may use as simple a diet as the animals, and yet retain health and strength.....Yet men have come to such a pass that they starve, not for want of necessities, but for want of luxuries." – Henry David Thoreau
What about the wheel -isn’t that a form of technology? How about the refrigerator? True, but what I refer to here are the technological inventions and industrialized practices which have, over time, caused us to become a society i n c re a s i n g l y alienated from our food supply. I refer to the disconnect that causes children to believe that food originates at the grocery store or to recognize more corporate logos and brand names than species of plants.
In today’s industrialized world, technology is omnipresent. The very landscape is littered with blinking, flashing screens. It is en vogue for restaurants to showcase multiple televisions or at least offer free wifi. Our cell phones pose as surrogate friends who can listen to us, offer advice, even recognize our faces as a loved one might. I myself enjoy the use of some technological devices, though perhaps not nearly as much as the average U.S. consumer. However, when it comes to food, my philosophy is this: leave technology out of it. 192
I refer to microwaves and T.V. dinners, to GMOs, hydrogenated oils, pesticides, and preservatives. To plastic containers and artificial coloring. In the mid-1800s, Thoreau wisely wrote that we starve from a dearth of luxuries while surrounded by necessities. I would counter that today’s society starves from
an overabundance of so-called luxuries. We associate foods that require less work, less of the process of getting our hands dirty, with affluence and luxury. We tend to prize exotic, expensive
dishes and supplements while overlooking the abundance of healthy, simple foods that grow all around us.
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Admittedly, I do romanticize the older, more traditional ways of doing things a bit. The simplicity of gathering foods from the land, cooking them over a woodstove, and dining by candlelight evokes a primal sense of satisfaction. Of course, practical considerations mean that not every meal can be so perfectly rustic, but it warms both belly and soul to experience such slow, deep nourishment from time to time.
beriberi were caused by vitamin deficiencies (Scrinis, 2013). As the corporate world sought to capitalize on the scientific discovery of vitamins, supplement advertisements “induced public anxieties about the perceived lack of vitamins in modern foods, and promoted a more general perception of a scarcity of nutrients in the food supply” (Scrinis, 2013, p. 53). The public adopted a “more is better” attitude with vitamins, and the trend of taking megadoses for increased health and energy developed, even though increasing the dosage of vitamins does not actually make them more useful to the body (Brown, 1991).
Yet many folks scoff at the preference for traditional foods and cooking methods, sometimes citing this or that scientific study "proving" that microwaved or geneticallymodified foods pose no tangible harm. We’ve all read that mandatory statement on organic milk containers stating that there is no detectable difference between milk from cows euphemistically “treated” with bovine growth hormone and those not given hormones. To this, I say, let’s ask the cows how they feel about it.
However, as Gygory Scrinis (2013, p. 65) points out in Nutritionism: The Science and Politics of Dietary Advice, “While sufferers of vitamin deficiency diseases could cure or ameliorate them by consuming vitamin-fortified foods or supplements, taking vitamin supplements is nevertheless a reductive, one-dimensional, and fragmented approach to food and the body. These technological products may ‘work’ in some respects to address very specific vitamin deficiencies. But they work in a nutritionally reductive manner.”
Personally, I feel bewildered by a society that is so trusting of the opinion of outside authorities while dismissing the individual's own experience and intuition. In the same way that our taste buds have been conditioned to accept imitation food, our minds have been conditioned to accept imitation wisdom. We have quantified nutrition as if it were a mathematical equation, merely a combination of calories and nutrients consumed to keep the machines of our bodies running and productive. Yet such a reductionist perspective falls short of true nourishment for both body and spirit.
Frequently created through synthesis in a laboratory, pill-form vitamins are often in a different form from those found in foods. Because they do not benefit from the combination with other elements naturally found in foods, they lack the synergistic interactions that are present in whole foods and traditional food combinations (Scrinis, 2013). Nature has conveniently provided phytochemical synergy even within single plants, yet we insist upon making things so complicated that we lose some of nature’s genius in the process. What’s more, the frequency of deficiency-related disease has become rarer in modern societies, which are more often plagued with toxicity-related disease (Brown, 1991). In fact, large, isolated doses of vitamins can induce toxicity; for example, high doses of vitamin E have been associated with increased mortality from a wide variety of causes (Miller et al., 2005).
Quantifying Nourishment The trend of reducing our food to a quantified, input-output equation may have its origins in the practice of counting calories, popularized by physicians in the early 1900s. The basic approach to maintaining health, which was equated with achieving an “ideal” weight, was to eat whatever one wanted but to limit the number of calories consumed. The early 20th century also saw the discovery of vitamins, which lead to the realization that certain diseases like scurvy and 194
Even on a strictly material level, the use of reductionist science and technology to provide nourishment has fallen short of the mark. Food is often mass-produced, processed to the extent of being stripped of nutrients, then enriched to add back essential components that have been lost. Supplements are thought to take care of everything else that might be lacking in the modern food supply. Even many proponents of organic, local foods often turn to mass-produced supplements to make up for an innate sense of lack. As Guido Masé (2013, p. 13) asks in The Wild Medicine Solution, “Why do so many folks who buy all their food at the farmers’ market also purchase dietary supplements that are packaged in plastic and shipped from far-flung corners of the country (or world)?”
the supplements industry. The article spoke of how to maximize profits from supplements, which provide the “best return on shelf space” for natural grocers (Runestead, 2016, p. 87). “By stocking products that embody the latest trends —and talking them up in the aisles—you’ll likely find that the person who buys that bottle today will become a customer for life,” says the author (Runestead, 2016, p. 87). It spoke of the trend of taking greens in pill-form, speaking of the unpalatability of kale (a sentiment I simply can’t get behind) and even identifying target markets: “Kale plus powdered greens plus high-end blenders equals serious millennial bait” (Runestead, 2016, p. 88). All of this trendy, glib talk about baiting target markets succeeded in turning this millennial’s stomach. Meanwhile, the supplements industry continues to thrive, with sales that increased by nearly 80% from 1994 to 2000 (Balluz et al., 2005). Of course, not all supplements are created equally. Some have been found to contain heavy metals and chemical residues, while others include questionable or poor-quality ingredients.
While certain vitamin supplements can be helpful in a pinch, I have a few more qualms to count before climbing down from my supplements soapbox and getting to the good stuff (that is, wild foods). I recently stumbled upon an article aimed at natural foods retailers which provided some insight into the mindset of
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Because we cannot see what goes into these pills, consumers often have no real way of knowing what they’re getting.
advertising ploys or fostering my connection with the entirety of life, there is no contest. Even if studies showed zero difference between the nutrient levels, I would still choose connection every time.
We sure place an awful lot of trust in companies that, even if they use impeccable ingredients, cannot imbue their mass-produced offerings with any kind of spirit. This brings us back to the quantification of nourishment: even if a pill is full of nutrients derived from foods like kale, how can it even begin to compare with the experience of eating kale? What about kale lovingly grown in one’s own garden or purchased from a local farmer?
Trusting Our Guts Scientific studies and empirical data certainly have value, and I’m not suggesting that we discontinue or ignore them. As you’ll see, I do list key nutrients present in wild foods and cite scientific journals below. However, call me stubborn, but I still trust my own experience and gut instincts even more. After all, the term “empirical” comes from the Greek word for experience, and it is meant to signify knowledge gained directly from the senses. Yet I find that the term is often used to discount an individual’s personal experience, as in, “That flower essence can’t possibly have an effect on you because it hasn’t been proven by empirical data.”
Food is about connection. It connects us with each other, with the earth, and with the wild. When we try to reduce nourishment to its component parts, when we treat our bodies like machines, we miss out on this vital connection that helps us feel that we are a part of the web of life. Given the choice between buying into 196
There are many things that science doesn't yet understand; a brief glance at history reveals that such has always been the case. Plus, science often lacks an appreciation for those aspects of life that are meant to be felt, not proven. I don't need a scientific study to inform me that eating real food feels better than supplementing with machine-manufactured pills. I don't need someone else to validate how good it feels to forage in the wild forests and fields as our ancestors did. Neither modern science nor religion can sever my enjoyment of connecting with the divine mother we call Earth or my natural contentment in imbibing her wild bounty.
necessary to understand the molecular components of food in order to gain knowledge of the relationship between food and health and to develop a diet from the resources of a bioregion that can meet basic nutritional needs.” A nice historical example comes from 1535, when American Indians in the Quebec area aided European explorer Jacques Cartier and his seavoyaging crew by advising them to drink tea made from Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) in order to ward off scurvy, a common ailment for sailors at the time. It was two hundred years and many more scurvyinduced deaths later by the time Scottish physician James Lind discovered citrus fruits to be a cure for the disease. Finally, in the twentieth century, it was discovered that scurvy was caused by a deficiency of vitamin C (Milburn, 2004). Modern science had finally “proven,” or at least come to understand the molecular mechanism behind, what indigenous cultures had known for centuries. This raises an important question: is reductionist science that focuses on isolated components of food necessary when we already have the knowledge it takes to keep ourselves healthy?
Michael P. Milburn (2004) writes on the topic of how the traditional foods of various indigenous cultures are far superior to our modern, Western diets for reasons both physical and spiritual. Chronic, degenerative conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, diverticulosis, and coronary heart disease are far more prevalent in Europe and North America than in nonindustrialized cultures, causing British physician Denis Burkitt to coin the term “Western diseases” in the 1970s. We tend to view food and medicine as two distinct categories; food is fuel to keep our bodies running, while medicine is something we seek only after we have become ill. In traditional cultures, the line between food and medicine is blurred, which encourages a daily practice of maintaining health as an ongoing process, rather than only seeking medicine when sick (Milburn, 2004).
This doesn’t even begin to take into account the spiritual and energetic benefits of following a more traditional diet, which is not only based on whole foods but also incorporates wild plants gathered from one’s local bioregion. As Milburn (2004, p. 426-427) explains, “Native foodways are based on an intimate and spiritual connection to the land, the plants, and the animals. Ceremony and prayer help maintain this relationship.” Food is not merely fuel for the machine of the body, but both are in relationship with one another. The spirit of what we consume joins with us; or, to sum it up in a familiar expression, “you are what you eat.”
Such a holistic, proactive approach to health stems from a more comprehensive and embodied approach to gathering knowledge. Rather than placing total trust in the latest trends and technologies, “Indigenous knowledge derives from traditional teaching, empirical observation, and spiritual insight” (Milburn, 2004, p. 421). One’s own experiences of the outside world as well as the internal landscape of dreams and intuitive impressions are valued along with wisdom passed down through generations. “Thus,” Milburn (2004, p. 422) points out, “in the case of nutrition it is not
To my mind, it is no coincidence that cultures that are highly separated from the origins of their food are also, as a whole, more alienated from their gut instincts. We have not learned to trust our guts as a means of gaining knowledge, nor do we trust nature to provide adequate 197
sustenance. In the absence of this trust, we resort to increasingly technological means of finding nourishment -- which, sadly, never comes, for the spirit of true nourishment is sorely lacking in processed foods and mass-produced pills. The solar plexus not only governs digestion and gut instincts but is also a center of will and personal power. When we outsource our instincts, we also give away our power to outside authorities, creating a feedback loop that alienates us even further from our instincts and from nature.
pruned, or weeded the ornamentals, which had been grown in greenhouses far from their native habitats to begin with, the spirits of these plants often bore the experience with a sense of longsuffering compliance: “Fine, do what you will.” The natives, on the other hand, were much feistier, even indignant at being pulled, prodded, and pruned: “Hey, what do you think you’re doing? I live here!” If we are what we eat, which would you rather be: domesticated, compliant, and long-suffering, or wild, unruly, and liberated? Jesse Wolf Hardin (2017) makes a strong connection between wild, weedy plants and the process of “rewilding,” encouraging us to become like the weeds. As he puts it, “Weeds are known for exceeding assumed limitations, thriving in the face of suppression, doing the seemingly impossible, bursting through the cracks in the asphalt and concrete of modern restrictive society” (Hardin, 2017, p. 147).
Going Wild A professional gardener friend, who is also perceptive of plant spirits, once told me something interesting. She specialized in landscaping with native plants and had many clients who preferred a blend of native and alien species. Many of the non-natives were classic ornamentals that have been widely cultivated for generations. When my friend transplanted,
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If such inspired rabble-rousing isn’t enough to engender an appreciation of the weeds, then perhaps I can appeal to your material mind for a moment. In general, wild foods are more nutrient-dense than garden plants, which have been selected for many generations to be big and hardy growers, but not always the most nutritious varieties. Wild greens are often higher in calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and iron than cultivated plants. Generally, wild plants are high in fiber and are more slowly digested, which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and make us feel fuller longer. Diets that are lower in calories but higher in nutrients more closely resemble traditional diets and are associated with a reduction in degenerative, Western diseases (Milburn, 2004).
her fresh, undoctored offerings into our guts is crucial for stoking the fires of our intuition as well as strengthening our wild natures. Gathering, preparing, and eating wild plants can be a spiritual practice, an earthy sort of worship that enhances health on all levels. Now let’s look at a few edible, wild plants and their benefits as well as some easy ways to incorporate them into food. Given the vast world of wild edibles, my choices are a bit arbitrary -after all, how do you choose favorites among friends? I have simply picked the plants that I have been enjoying in food lately, focusing on those that are weedy and grow in many parts of the country or world, including my own garden. I also include some of my favorite recipes that you can adapt to your own purposes and preferences. Bon appétit!
Incorporating foods from our local bioregions saves fossil fuels by reducing the amount of energy spent shipping, packaging, and preserving produce. While the same can be said of foods grown in the garden, the beauty of wild foods is that nature does most of the work for us. Folks who struggle to find the time or space for growing food can often at least find a handful of wild greens in the backyard to throw into salads, smoothies, and soups. Also, those who do grow gardens are often blessed with an abundance of edible weeds that grow right alongside cultivated edibles. Sometimes the concept of whole, local foods can seem a bit uppity to those who don’t have the resources to allot to these more expensive items. Yet whole foods don’t have to be a bourgeois thing -- in the case of wild foods, it doesn’t get any less expensive. In times of financial scarcity, I have found gathering wild foods to be one way of connecting with the experience of abundance. If I can’t afford organic greens at the local farmer’s market, I can at least gather a basketful of Chickweed and feel bountiful. This goes back to the concept of trusting nature to provide for us.
Yellow Dock Found on six continents and in all fifty states, Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) has naturalized in many parts of the world and is considered one of the five most widely distributed plants in the world (Xu et al., 2013). Yellow Dock’s genus name, Rumex, comes from a Latin word meaning “lance-like” and denotes the shape of the leaves, while crispus means “curly” and refers to the undulating leaf margins (Pederson, 1998). Narrow leaves with very wavy margins, a pale green stem, and yellow roots are ways to recognize R. crispus from other Rumex species.
Not only do wild foods nourish our bodies more completely; they also nourish our spirits. Nature is a wild and intuitive thing, and taking some of 199
While most herbalists tend to prefer R. crispus, many dock species have historically been used interchangeably (de la Forêt, 2012). Kiva Rose Hardin (2017) prefers Rumex obtusifolius, the socalled “Bitter Dock” which she finds less bitter than Yellow Dock and has thus termed “Butter Dock,” a much yummier moniker for the plant.
Yellow Dock also contains oxalic acid, which may contribute to kidney stones, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis in some people. Many herbalists particularly caution those with kidney disease against consuming Yellow Dock. To put this into perspective, consider that many common foods like Spinach, Rhubarb, Bananas, Chocolate, and even beer also contain oxalic acid (Raser-Rowland & Grubb, n.d.). Most people can tolerate eating raw Spinach or Dock leaves occasionally, but it’s a good idea not to over consume (Gibbons, 2016). One way of reducing oxalic acid is by blanching the greens for a few minutes and disposing of the water before eating. Also avoid harvesting leaves during very dry conditions, as this can increase the levels of oxalic acid (Raser-Rowland & Grubb, n.d.).
Dock is an important digestive ally, with bitter properties that activate the liver and gall bladder, aid with the digestion of fats and absorption of nutrients, and speed up bowel transit time. Meanwhile, its cooling properties ease inflammation of the digestive tract (Katz, 2016). The digestive system is linked to our emotions and gut feelings as well as our ability to “digest” ideas and information. Yellow Dock brings balance here as well. According to Masé, (2013, p. 178), “…old herbalists who know of such things say that this plant can help us let go of the influences that are blocking our progress, impeding our understanding, or simply weighing us down.”
Yellow Dock can tolerate infertile soil and tends to thrive in places disturbed by humans. Yet we must take care to harvest this plant from unpolluted areas, as it bioaccumulates heavy metals such as cadmium and lead from the soil (Zhang et al., 2014). In fact, this goes for all wild plant foraging. It’s important to avoid harvesting plants from polluted areas such as roadsides, railways, power lines, conventional farmland that has been sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals, and near old houses with lead-based paints.
Rumex has a long history of use as an alterative, improving the metabolic functioning of the body to aid the breakdown and elimination of waste (Smith, 2013). Thus, Yellow Dock is indicated in cases when sluggish liver function leads to chronic skin conditions like acne and eczema (Grieve, 1931/1971a; Wood, 2008). Dock has an affinity for the glandular system, and was used by the Eclectics for conditions such as chronic enlargement of the lymph nodes (Lloyd & Felter, 1898).
The leaves of Yellow Dock make a tangy, delicious addition to omelets, frittatas, quiches, soups, curries, cooked greens, stir-fries, and pasta dishes. The recipe I’ve included below is a baked lasagna-inspired dish that incorporates dock leaves and uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Dock stems can be tough, so it’s best to remove them before cooking. Some folks harvest Yellow Dock seed to grind into flour; Rosalee de la Forêt (2012) makes dock seed crackers with the flour and says it is a favorite in her household. Others add dock root to various dishes; Susun Weed (1989) includes it in her spring tonic soup recipe, which also contains burdock root, dandelion greens and root, and seaweed. Even dock flower stalks can be harvested in the mid-spring, peeled, and eaten cooked or raw (Katz, 2016).
This nutrient-dense plant makes a healthy and delicious addition to many dishes. Yellow Dock is high in a variety of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C (Pederson, 1998). The plant has also been used for anemia due to its iron content as well as its ability to promote the absorption of iron. Thus, it’s helpful to combine dock with other iron-rich foods such as Nettle, Chickweed, and seaweed for the most benefit (Katz, 2016). 200
Yellow Dock Squash Bake Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the top layer of cheese is browned. Salt to taste and serve. This recipe makes about 6 servings.
Ingredients:
• 1 Lb. Spaghetti Squash • 2 yellow Onions • 2 heads Garlic • 1.5 Lbs. fresh Tomatoes • 8 oz. shredded pepper jack cheese • Parmesan cheese to taste • 1 bunch (about 14 oz. or the size of a large
Options: You can always use dried Basil and Oregano (or Italian seasoning blend) and canned tomatoes when fresh plants are unavailable. You may also opt to include other chopped veggies like red bell peppers and mushrooms in your stir-fry for added variety.
bunch of kale) fresh Yellow Dock leaves, stems removed • 5-6 sprigs fresh Oregano • 5-1 oz fresh Basil • Cooking oil of choice (I use Coconut oil) • Salt to taste
Instead of throwing squash seeds in the compost, try lightly oiling them and spreading them in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake in the oven at 350-400 degrees (I just throw them in while the oven is preheating for the squash) for about 5-10 minutes until they turn brown and start to make popping sounds. Lightly salt and enjoy.
Directions: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Oil the squash and place cut side up on a baking pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes until tender. Scoop out the spaghetti-like tendrils with a fork and set aside. Meanwhile, dice Garlic and Onions and stir-fry in oil until browned. Finely chop Oregano and add to the Garlic/Onion mixture and remove from heat. Salt to taste and set aside. Slice tomatoes and set aside. Remove Basil stems, chop leaves, and set aside. Oil a 9x9 baking dish and begin to layer ingredients like lasagna. Start with a layer of squash at the bottom, followed by a layer of Garlic/Onion mixture, then add a layer of dock leaves, laying them flat to cover the entire surface. (The leaves will soften considerably when cooked, so no need to chop them as long as they fit in the pan.)
Chickweed
Add a layer of tomato slices with Basil sprinkled on top, then a layer of cheese. Continue with the same layering pattern until you run out of ingredients, finishing with a layer of cheese and topping with parmesan. 201
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is native to Europe and Asia and has naturalized in most of the northern hemisphere. This little plant is very common in temperate and chilly climates, but its small size and humble flowers make it easy to overlook. Those of us with eyes to see can spy the green goody that Paracelsus called "the elixir of life" growing as an abundant weed in nutrient-rich areas like garden beds, greenhouses, compost heaps, manure piles, and well-fertilized lawns (Breverton, 2011).
In poorer soil and colder months, this lowgrowing plant tends to produce small leaves and keep close to the ground. In garden beds or compost piles, the leaves are larger and the plants get a bit taller, sometimes creeping up the sides of nearby objects. Chickweed prefers moist and shady spots, but in Indiana I find it thriving in full sun during the darker times of the year. It is an annual that self-seeds easily, with a single plant capable of producing up to 10,000 seeds (Balick, 2014). Chickweed’s small, white, fivepetaled flowers resemble tiny stars, inspiring the genus name Stellaria, which means “little star” (Weed, 1989).
Weed (1989) recommends eating Chickweed regularly to dissolve reproductive cysts, soothe a chronically inflamed urinary tract, improve thyroid function, and ease a whole host of digestive issues from constipation and hemorrhoids to ulcers and stomach cancer. Chickweed is also an old-wives’ remedy for weight loss (Grieve, 1931/1971a). The plant contains saponins, soap-like components that are responsible for dissolving excess fat from our system. One study found that the juice of S. media was able to suppress the accumulation of body weight, liver weight, and cholesterol in mice fed a high-fat diet (Rani et al., 2012). Wood (2008) also attests to Chickweed’s weight loss and appetite-reducing properties and lists cellulite, high cholesterol, and long-term fat deposits like lipomas as indications for the herb. As Weed (1989, p. 124) says, Chickweed also helps remove emotional baggage, which is “weight loss where it counts!”
This tasty herb makes for a delicious and nutritious salad or a handy wild snack while working in the garden. The taste is very mild and a tiny bit salty; to me, the best description is simply “green.” It is often the dominant weed of the winter lettuce patch in my greenhouse, making it a convenient addition to salads. Although most folks now consider this plant a weed (and a pesky one at that), during World War II it was actually encouraged in American victory gardens as an easy-to-grow green that survives cold weather, sometimes continuing to bloom underneath frost and snow (“Chickweed,” n.d.).
There is a common misconception that plants don’t contain protein; as a vegetarian, I often get asked how I possibly get enough protein. Chickweed is a great myth-buster, as it contains over 20 percent protein (Pederson, 1998). This nutrient-dense plant is also rich in calcium, chlorophyll, cobalt, zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, silica, vitamins A and C, and many other vitamins and minerals. Plus, Chickweed promotes the absorption of nutrients by thinning cell membranes, making it good medicine for those with anemia or malnourishment and anyone who is recovering from illness (Weed, 1998).
Other Chickweed relatives are also edible, such as star Chickweed (S. pubera) and Cerastium vulgatum, Mouse Ear Chickweed. While Stellaria species tend to have smooth leaves that are delectable as a raw salad green, Cerastium has hairy leaves (hence the term “mouse ear”) that are more palatable when cooked into a soup or stir-fry (Peterson, 1977). The stems of S. media are often tender enough to eat, though the plant is best harvested before flowering and certainly before seeding. I have, however, been known to throw seeding Chickweed into soups and other cooked dishes, as cooking softens the seed pods.
According to Weed (1989), Chickweed connects us with the cosmic forces of the sun, moon, and stars. I find that eating Chickweed regularly makes my perspective broader and more malleable. Just as the plant can be used as a cooling and healing poultice for the eyes, Chickweed helps us to see more clearly in other ways. In particular, I believe it aligns the microcosm with the macrocosm, so that we can glimpse the bigger picture even in the most humble circumstances.
As a medicinal, Chickweed’s cooling effects help soothe fever, infection, and inflammation. A poultice of the fresh plant is useful for inflammatory conditions like insect stings, wounds, blisters, rashes, and sore eyes. Susun 202
One of my all-time favorite ways to eat Chickweed is in smoothies, so I’ve included a smoothie recipe below. An easy way to preserve the plant is to put it in a food processor or blender, adding just enough water to blend. Once blended, you can fill ice cube trays with the green mash and add these chlorophyll cubes to smoothies during hot months when Chickweed virtually disappears from the landscape.
Add Strawberries and frozen Raspberries and blend, adding more liquids (Coconut milk, Carrot juice, or water) if needed.
Chickweed is also great in soups (just as many other wild greens and flowers are also nice additions to smoothies -- in fact, one could swap herbs in any of the recipes in this article). To prepare a soup, I step outside with the soup pot and simply fill it to the top with Chickweed, adding a few sprigs of Purple Archangel (Lamium purpureum, also known as Dead Nettle) when in season in the early spring. Then I simmer these greens into a potato-rich veggie soup, which has become a nutritious crowdpleaser in my home. Last but not least, don’t forget Chickweed for your vegetarian animals like bunnies and chickens, who go wild over this green treat.
I like to use a little frozen fruit to cool down my smoothies, but you can always use fresh berries and, if the smoothie is too room-temperature, add ice or refrigerate before drinking.
Add Cacao powder until the entire smoothie is well-blended and serve. This recipe makes two 24-ounce smoothies. Options
Feel free to substitute other liquids for the Coconut milk, such as Almond milk, cow’s milk or whey, Coconut water, yogurt, or just plain water. I don’t like smoothies that are too sweet, so I use unsweetened Coconut milk and Carrot juice to balance the sweetness of the fruits. 24 ounces is, admittedly, a lot of smoothie. I have a smoothie almost daily, and the inclusion of avocado makes it more of a meal. I make a recipe of two smoothies at once to save time and because it’s difficult to save half of an avocado. Of course, you can always size down the recipe to suit your needs or divide it between 3 or 4 less greedy smoothie-consumers.
Chickweed Smoothies Ingredients:
• 2 large handfuls (about 2 oz.) Chickweed • 1 ½ c. unsweetened Coconut milk • 1 c. Carrot juice • 1 Banana • 1 apple • 1 avocado • 4-5 oz. sSrawberries • 3 oz. frozen Raspberries (or berry blend) • 1 Tbsp. Cacao powder (optional) Directions In a blender, add Coconut milk, Banana, Apple, and Chickweed. Blend until combined.
Nettle
Turn off the blender to add Carrot juice and Avocado; blend until combined.
When thinking of wild plants, Nettle (Urtica dioica) may not come as readily to mind as some of the others in this article. Many herbalists 203
cultivate Nettle for medicine, while homesteaders plant it as an easy perennial green -- a relative rarity in the gardening world and less work than replanting annual greens year after year. However, many varieties of Nettle are also found in the wild, often in moist areas of thickets, fields, woods, and wastelands.
bladder stones, chronic cystitis, and water retention. Nettle is also a nourishing mother’s herb, promoting the flow of breast milk. In fact, Nettle is a good plant to consume before, during, and after pregnancy, both for its nutritive properties and for its ability as a hemostatic and astringent to help prevent hemorrhage after childbirth (Weed, 1989). Regular consumption of Nettle brings a shine to the hair, a glow to the skin, and a sparkle to the eyes. Nettle even nourishes the garden, useful as a compost additive or an infusion fed to plants.
Native to Europe and Asia, Nettle’s distribution reaches temperate zones all over the world. While stinging Nettle (U. dioica) is the variety we hear the most about in the United States, other varieties are also edible. American Nettles that were formerly considered different species are now classed as subspecies; for example, Urtica gracilis, an edible variety called slender Nettle for its slim leaves, became U. dioica subsp. gracilis (Carey, 1995). The Urticaceae family also contains Wood Nettle, Laportea canadensis, which is a different North American species similar to Stinging Nettle in looks and uses with a bit less sting (Peterson, 1977). Other parts of the world have other Nettle species; for example, the Australian U. incisa has been also used as a traditional food and medicine (“Urtica incisa Poir.,” n.d.).
This nutritive herb is another “plants don’t have protein” myth-buster, as it contains more protein (about 25%) than any other land-based plant (Buhner, 2016). Nettle is also high in fiber and such nutrients as calcium, cobalt, silica, zinc, magnesium, chromium, chlorophyll, iron, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and K (Pederson, 1998; Weed, 1989). The tender young stalks and leaves can be steamed and eaten daily on their own or in various dishes. They are mild and tasty like spinach, and cooking removes the infamous sting. However, if you are going to include Nettle stalks, only use the tender tips harvested in early spring, as older stalks become too fibrous (Nettle fiber is used for making clothing and cordage, after all) and can ruin a good soup or stir-fry.
Nettle is a classic spring tonic useful for energizing and nourishing the body after a long winter; in England, Nettle ale was once traditionally drunk for this purpose (Buhner, 1998). The plant is also a useful remedy for asthma and seasonal allergies (Grieve, 1931/1971b; Roscheck et al., 2009). Nettle energizes and enhances the function of the digestive tract, liver, thyroid, gallbladder, prostate, muscles, nerves, and hormones (Wood, 2008). Wood (1997) visualizes this plant spirit as an older woman with a broom or switch who urges people to get moving, while Weed (1989, p. 173) sees Nettle as “sister spinster,” who “cuts loose old patterns and reweaves connections.” Nettle’s sharp edges can do wonders to remove stagnation from our bodies and our lives.
The salad dressing recipes I’ve included below call for Nettle-infused vinegar rather than Nettle itself. Vinegar is a great way to extract and preserve the qualities of edible, nutritive plants because it does a nice job of extracting minerals as well as flavor from the herbs. Vinegar also increases our ability to digest and absorb minerals like calcium, so we end up getting even more out of the mineral-rich foods and herbs we consume with vinegar. As Weed advises, “Adding a splash of vinegar to cooked greens is a classic trick of old ladies who want to be spry and flexible when they're ancient old ladies” (Weed, 2008, para. 4).
The plant likes to grow in moist areas, and it also has a special affinity for the waterways of the body, especially the kidneys and urinary system. Weed (1989) recommends Nettle for kidney or
Making herbal vinegars is also a convenient way of incorporating wild foods into the diet when these plants are scarce or out of season. When I 204
can’t make a wild salad, I can at least go wild with herb-infused vinegars. The process is very simple, just like making a tincture. You can use the simpler’s method of filling a jar with chopped herbs and covering with vinegar, or you can measure out a 1:2 ratio of fresh herbs (weight) to vinegar (volume). The only difference is the lid; vinegar will corrode metal lids, so it’s better to use plastic or cork. Wait a few weeks, shaking daily, strain out the spent herbs, and you have a lovely herbal vinegar.
• 2 tsp. toasted Sesame seeds • ½ tsp. salt • Black Pepper to taste Directions: Combine all ingredients except Sesame seeds in a blender or food processor and blend until combined, adding water until the desired consistency is reached. Stir in Sesame seeds and store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.
Oil & Nettle Vinegar Salad Dressing Ingredients:
Options:
• 2 oz. Olive oil • 1 oz. Nettle-infused Apple cider vinegar • ¼ tsp. salt • Black Pepper to taste
Instead of buying Scallions at the store, I like to dig up the Wild Onions (Allium spp.) that grow all over my yard and garden. The sizing of wild versus store-bought green Onions varies a great deal, so I would use about 7-8 wild Onions, leaves and bulbs. Wash them thoroughly and remove the rootlets and any browned leaf tips, then add to the blender.
Directions: Combine vinegar and oil, stirring briskly with a fork or whisk to combine.
The taste of this salad dressing is pretty spicy, and the sesame seeds add a nice, crunchy texture. Folks who don’t like the spiciness of raw Garlic and Onion can cut back on those ingredients and/or sauté them before adding to the mix.
Add salt and pepper to taste and serve. Options: This recipe is meant to be super simple, but you can always spice it up with your own blend of herbs like dried parsley and Garlic powder or with a bit of honey or mustard. Nettle Goddess Dressing Ingredients:
• ½ c. tahini • ¼ c. toasted Sesame oil • 4 Tbsp. Nettle-infused Apple cider vinegar • 2 Tbsp. Olive oil • 1 Tbsp. Lemon juice • 1 Tbsp. tamari • 3-4 green Onions • 3 cloves Garlic
Purslane The exact origins of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) are unknown, but the plant is thought to be native to Southern Europe, North Africa, and/or 205
India (CABI, n.d.; “Purslane,” n.d.). Varieties of Purslane are now widely distributed in various climates and regions around the globe. Found on all continents except Antarctica, Purslane is popular as a food in some areas of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean (Uddin et al., 2014). While it has been cultivated as a potherb in some regions, it is considered a weed and even an invasive species in other areas (CABI, n.d.).
been used by various cultures as a vermifuge and for ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, and dysentery (Angier, 2008; Zhou et al., 2015). Grieve (1931/1971, p. 660) writes that “Purslane in ancient times was looked upon as one of the anti-magic herbs, and strewn round a bed was said to afford protection against evil spirits. We are told that it was a sure cure for ‘blastings by lightening or planets and burning of gunpowder.’”
Purslane is a sprawling, earth-embracing succulent with fleshy leaves, red-tinged stems, and small, yellow flowers. The plant likes sunshine, so it’s a common weed in gardens and agricultural fields as well as lawns and open waste areas. A single plant can produce more than 50,000 seeds, so it spreads rapidly, creeping over open ground and sometimes forming a dense mat (Angier, 2008). It’s tenacious enough to tolerate poor soil, growing even in gravel driveways and the cracks of sidewalks (“Purslane,” n.d.).
All of this points to the mellow, grounding energy of Purslane, which is fitting for a plant that grows so closely to the ground. This earthy herb has even been shown to have muscle relaxant properties and contains the feel-good alkaloid dopamine (Dihkl et al, 2011; Zhou et al., 2015). These qualities together with its gentle, cooling energy make for a plant ally that helps us chill out enough to feel safe, nourished, and grounded.
Purslane’s wide spectrum of medicinal properties includes neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and anticancer activities. In fact, the World Health Organization lists Purslane as one of the most used medicinal plants, and it has been termed a “global panacea” as a result (Zhou et al., 2015). Regular consumption is associated with lower rates of cancer and heart disease (Dkhil et al., 2011). A cooling and mucilaginous plant, Purslane has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has been used for dry, inflammatory conditions like fever, excessive thirst, and dry coughs (Grieve 1931/1971b; “Purslane,” n.d.).
Purslane is extremely nutritious, rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and gammalinolenic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid), beta carotene, and vitamins E, B, and C. In fact, Purslane contains more alpha-linolenic acid than any other vegetable, with seven times the amount found in spinach. As such, it is gaining attention as one of few and best vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for the health of the immune and cardiovascular systems (Uddin et al., 2014). The plant also contains oxalic acid, so the same precautions mentioned above for Yellow Dock also apply for Purslane.
Purslane has long been employed in Traditional Chinese Medicine for hypotension and diabetes, while in the Caribbean it has traditionally been given to those with urinary tract issues and high cholesterol (Lans, 2006; “Purslane,” n.d.). As a hemostatic, Purslane is used in Iranian folk medicine for abnormal uterine bleeding; clinical studies also show the plant’s effectiveness for this purpose (Shobeiri et al., 2009). Purslane is soothing to the entire digestive tract and has
Thoreau (1965/1854, p. 45) was a fan of the plant; as he reports, “I have made a satisfactory dinner, satisfactory on several accounts, simply off a dish of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) which I gathered in my cornfield, boiled and salted.” The taste of Purslane is tangy and spicy like arugula or watercress with a dash of lemon. The mucilaginous leaves are nice for soup because they thicken it up a bit. 206
Given the plant’s possible origins in India (and my definite love for curry), I’ve decided to include a curried Purslane soup recipe. Purslane is a very versatile plant that is suited to a variety of food styles. It’s delicious in Mexican dishes like tacos, as it pairs well with tomatoes, avocado, beans, and fish. Purslane leaves make a tangy addition to spring salads, while the stems and leaves make a nice pickled vegetable; you can find many recipes for pickled Purslane online. Eat it with eggs and feed any extra Purslane to your chickens to enjoy eggs higher in omega-3 fatty acids. You can also create a Purslane vinegar and, rather than throwing out the macerated herb, munch on it instead. Some folks enjoy making pesto from Purslane; in fact, people make pesto from lots of herbs, including Chickweed and Nettle.
Add Purslane, cooking about 10-15 minutes until leaves are tender. (If leaves are especially large, you may want to chop them first. It’s okay to leave a little stem at the tips of the plant, but be sure to remove the larger stems, which can be tough.) Add additional salt and Pepper to taste and serve. Makes about 4 servings. Options: If you don’t have quite enough Purslane for the whole recipe, you can always substitute some spinach, chard, or arugula. For a creamier flavor, cook with butter instead of Coconut oil and/or substitute a little cream or milk in place of some of the water.
Curried Purslane Soup Ingredients:
• 8 c. (1 large bunch) fresh Purslane, thick stems removed • 1 ½ c. chopped yellow Onion • 1 head Garlic, diced • 3 Carrots, diced • 1 Celery stalk, chopped • 1 can or 1 ½ c. cooked Chickpeas, drained • 1 (13.5 oz.) can Coconut milk • 2 c. water • 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil • 2 Tbsp. curry powder • 1 tsp. salt Directions: A Few Final Words In a medium pot, stir-fry Onion, Garlic, Carrot, and Celery in Coconut oil until soft. (I like Garlic and Onion caramelized, so I usually start with those two first and then add the Carrot and celery a few minutes later.)
The world of wild edibles can become an endless adventure in exploring the combination of the herbal and culinary arts. The process helps take us out of the grocery store and into the wild, an experience ripe with all of the joy and healing that nature brings. Next, it takes us into the kitchen, where we find empowerment by getting actively involved in fostering our own wellbeing. Health becomes a daily practice, not something we only think about when we’re sick.
Add curry powder and salt, stirring until evenly distributed and fragrant. Add Coconut milk, water, and Chickpeas. 207
References
As always, too much of a good thing stops being a good thing, even when it comes to wild foods. If you’re completely unused to the taste of the wild, the sudden addition of massive amounts of wild foods can sometimes cause gastrointestinal upset. I’ve seen this happen especially with mushrooms and raw greens. If this happens to you, don’t give up! Though an allergy or sensitivity is always a possibility when it comes to new foods, some initial discomfort may not mean that you have to avoid a particular plant forever. Ease into the process slowly and develop your relationships with these plants like you would with new friends -- with respect and care. In return, these relationships will nourish the body and feed the spirit like no other foods can.
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Carey, Jennifer H. 1995. Species: Urtica dioica. [Fire Effects Information System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service website.] Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/ database/feis/
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Rani, N., Vasudeva, N., & Sharma, S. K. (2012). Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (12)145. Retrieved from https://doi.org/ 10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
Dikhl, M., Moniem, A., Al-Quraishy, S., & Saleh, R. (2011). Antioxidant effect of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and its mechanism of action. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research (5)9, 1589-1563.
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Weed, S. (1989). Healing wise. Woodstock, NY: Ash Tree Publishing. Weed, S. (2008). Nourishing and tonifying herbs: Mineralrich medicinal vinegars. Wise Woman Herbal Ezine (8)10. Retrieved from http://www.susunweed.com/ herbal_ezine/October08/anti-cancer.htm Wood, M. (1997). The book of herbal wisdom. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: A complete guide to old world medicinal plants. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Xu, Z., Feng, Z., Yang, J., Zheng, J., & Zhang, F. (2013). Nowhere to invade: Rumex crispus and Typha latifolia projected to disappear under future climate scenarios. Public Library of Science One, 8(7), 70728. Zhang, C., Song. N., Zeng, G. M., Jiang, M., Zhang, J. C., Hu, X. J., Chen, A. W., & Zhen, J. M. (2014). Bioaccumulation of zinc, lead, copper, and cadmium from contaminated sediments by native plant species and Acrida cinerea in South China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (186)3, 1735-1745. Zhou, Y., Xin, H., Rahman, K., Wang, S., Peng, C., & Zhang, H. (2015). Portulaca oleracea L.: A review of phytochemistry and pharmacological effects. Biomedical Research International, 1-11.
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A Welcome to my New Column by Astrid Grove The root of every culture’s success begins at birth. Let’s create a culture based on love and trust, peace and compassion, empowerment and respect. In this quarterly column I will share the wisdom I have learned over the last twenty years in women’s health care as an herbalist and then also as a midwife. I write from a place of humility to the plants, to the birthing people, and to the power of women. Women tend to life, therefore we must tend to women. This column will focus on ways to care for the women who gestate and birth the next generation and who hold the container for life to flourish. This time on the planet is a time to remember how best to create a world that sustains and nourishes and nurtures life. The first series of four columns will cover herbal medicine to support “freebirth/unassisted-birth.” The first article will focus on pregnancy, the second on the birth and immediate postpartum, the third on the extended postpartum and the fourth on pre-conception and fertility. As I see it, some people are becoming more and more disillusioned with the protocol driven care they are receiving from obstetricians and midwives. Many more families are choosing unassisted pregnancies and births. I feel called to share simple herbal remedies one can use at home to help aid in a more easeful experience of birth. As a midwife, I care for healthy women who are low risk. If anything goes way outside the range of normal and all of my tricks of the trade are not shifting it, then we involve modern medicine/doctors/hospitals. This is somewhat of a disclaimer in the sense that I want families to feel empowered in their experience of their pregnancy and birth and of course I desire the best outcome for mother and baby. Be safe, be smart and call on support as needed. Trust in the process based on evidence, deep intuition, and the knowledge of simple cures. I know for myself, the more information I have the more empowered I feel. I invite you to email me any particular topics within this framework that you would like to see addressed in these articles. I am open to feedback from you all as to what you would like me to write about within the realms of women’s health and birth in the coming years. I am looking forward to putting all of the passion and knowledge and wisdom I carry within onto paper and out into the world! I do hope you glean ideas and concrete remedies that can assist you, your friends, community and clients. Blessed be! 211
So You’re Having a Freebirth Part I: Herbs to Have on Hand by Astrid Grove Some families are finding themselves disillusioned with the way in which modern obstetrics is medicalizing birth. Some women and birthing people are choosing to birth at home unattended. Some call this an “unassisted birth” or a “freebirth”. This essentially means they will birth without a trained birth attendantbe it midwife or obstetrician. She is autonomous, birthing in her own way, with her own rhythms, unobstructed. This looks different for every woman. Some women want to be completely alone while others may hire a birth photographer, a doula, have all her other 5 kids there and her husband and her mother and her
best friend! Some women will receive prenatal care, and birth unattended. Some women will do their own prenatal care without ever seeing an OB or midwife. As I bare witness to what seems to be a fairly clear rise in unassisted births, it leaves me wondering why women are not able to find a midwife to support them to birth their way. I could launch into a long monologue about the history of obstetrics and the persecution of the wise woman that has been happening for thousands of years, but I will not do that…not in this article anyway. I see this rise in unassisted
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births as a reclaiming of the divine feminine. Women and families are starting to wake up and see that the “system” of birth, the “business” of birth does not have their best interests in mind. The system finds value in money, regulations, protocol. It is not based on evidence, it does not consider what may be best for the family, the birthing woman, or the baby- as individuals. It is based on fear, instead of trust. I say trust…I do not mean blind trust. I mean educated and evidence based trust. Trust grounded in her inner knowing which is supported by evidence.
I have decided to split this article into four parts. We will start with pregnancy, then birth, then postpartum and then a final article on preconception. Also, this topic is incredible rich and there is a lot I could share from many perspectives. I will be focusing this series of articles on herbal medicine specifically. Let’s start with prenatal care. First, I recommend daily nourishing herbal infusions. This brings a solid foundation of nutrition. Some people take prenatal vitamins, others do not. For the woman who has a whole foods diet rich in protein, fat, and vegetables along with nourishing herbal infusions, I would not necessarily recommend a supplement. Of course, it is every woman’s personal choice.
The birthing woman finds value in being heard, being honored, being respected, and being held lovingly in what is certainly one of life’s most powerful transformations. Not only that, motherhood at its finest is VITAL to a thriving human race. It is essentially one of the most important acts to support! A woman who is supported to become a mother through her own unique and divine way, has more potential to become a fierce mother, a bonded mother, a devoted mother.
Making an Infusion You will need dried, cut and sifted herbs. (Mountain Rose is a wonderful company to purchase bulk herbs from). You will also need a quart jar with a lid, a chopstick or a similar object for stirring, and a quart of water. First put the kettle on the stove and boil the water. While the water is heating up, weigh one ounce of the dried herb and put it into the quart jar. Generally one ounce by weight of dried and sifted herb is equal to one cup by volume (this is not the case for red clover blossoms). Pour the boiling water over the herb filling the jar, and using your chopstick poke at the herb making sure it is all immersed in the water and add more boiling water if need be to fill the jar. Put the lid on and let sit for 4-8 hours.
This article is specifically addressing families who are choosing a planned unattended and out of hospital birth. It may also be helpful for herbalists that are working with families choosing this route. I hope that it can offer some herbal advice that may prevent harm or injury for the birthing person. I am a part of several Facebook groups for freebirth and there is often discussion of what someone could have on hand in case they need a little more support in the birthing process. Of course, if one is experiencing an emergency it’s best to call 911! Luckily, for the healthy woman childbirth risk is quite low if she is supported to listen to her body and her baby and surrender into her primal birthing rhythm. That being said it is my wish and prayer that we can have more midwives who are trained and called to support women to birth on their own terms. If this were the case I imagine some women who are choosing unassisted birth would instead choose a midwife who supports her autonomy.
I usually make the infusion at night before going to bed and then strain in the morning. To strain, I usually use a metal bowl and a mesh strainer. I pour the water and herbs into the mesh strainer with the metal bowl underneath. Be sure to vigorously squeeze all of the infusion from the herb. Compost the herb and drink the infusion. Be sure to refrigerate what you don’t drink right away. Here are the infusions I recommend: 213
infusion also helps to make blood vessels more elastic thus reducing hemorrhoids and varicose veins. In addition, this herb strengthens the tissues of the bladder, urethra, and yoni. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Red Clover is rich in protein, iron, chromium, B vitamins, and phytoestrogens. Red clover increases energy, helps to normalize the thyroid gland, nourishes mucous membranes, relieves cystitis, calms the nerves, strengthens the immune system and prevents cancer.
Nettle leaf and stem (Urtica dioica) Nettle is my first choice of infusions to encourage a healthy pregnancy. Nettle contains every mineral needed by the human body including 1000 mg of calcium in each quart of infusion. Drink freely and enjoy this green drink rich in chlorophyll, protein, antioxidants, carotenes, linoleic/formic/linolenic acid, vitamin E, glucoquinones, and phytosterols.
Note: Red Clover contains coumarins, a blood thinner, and therefore can increase the risk of hemorrhage if overconsumed. I recommend drinking no more than a quart of infusion 1-2 times per week.
Nettle leaf increases the iron carrying capacity of the blood (anti-anemic). Nettle leaf also helps the body stabilize blood sugar, regulate weight, reduce fatigue and improve stamina, increase vitamin K in the blood, improve thyroid function and restore adrenal functioning. Comfrey leaf (Symphytum uplandica) Comfrey leaf is rich in minerals, proteins, vitamins and alantoin. Alantoin helps to make tissues more elastic. Comfrey leaf helps to strengthen uterine muscles, perineal tissue, uterine ligaments, bladder, and yoni. Comfrey leaf also helps to prevent complications like preeclampsia, helps pelvic bones be more flexible, and increases the iron in blood. Oatstraw (Avina sativa) Oatstraw is rich in calcium and also the minerals and vitamins needed to help the body assimilate calcium. Oatstraw infusion stabilizes blood sugar, helps one to have a more restful sleep, and helps one to be more emotionally resilient. Oatstraw provides steroidal saponins which nourish the pancreas, liver and adrenals. This
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Peppermint is a delightful herb, as most of us have experienced. It is soothing to the stomach and discourages flatulence, increases body temperature and therefore is healing when a cold 214
is present. Peppermint contains B1 (Thiamine) which strengthens nerves and eases emotions; B2 (Riboflavin) which increases energy, decreases cancer, and lends to healthy skin; and B6 (pyridoxine) which improves immune functioning. Peppermint also contains folic acid, carotenes, calcium, iron, phosphorus for strong and flexible bones and more energy, and potassium.
Liver Support In addition to nourishing herbal infusions, it is important to take measures to support the pregnant woman’s liver. I prefer Dandelion root over all other liver support herbs for its gentleness, it is easy to access, and cheap or free if you harvest this amazing weed yourself. There are many ways you can consume Dandelion root. My personal favorite is the product Dandy Blend, available on Amazon. It is a coffee substitute drink like Cafix or Pero, though I don’t use it to substitute coffee… because coffee is essential to life! I do enjoy some dandy blend in hot water, a teaspoon of raw and local honey, and a few tablespoons of raw and organic goat’s milk. It is gluten free, but not grain free (it has barley and rye).
Raspberry leaf and stem (Rubus species) Raspberry leaf is second to Nettle in beneficial aspects for the pregnant woman. The leaf can be brewed as a tea or an infusion. Because the tannins in the leaf are intense on the palate, I usually choose to brew nettle and raspberry leaf together.
I also quite enjoy Dandelion vinegar. In the spring I harvest whole, tender Dandelion plants…roots, leaves, buds and flowers. I chop up the whole plant, put it into a jar, and cover with apple cider vinegar. I let this steep for at least 6 weeks. I use the vinegar for salad dressings and to put directly on cooked greens. I love the pickled Dandelion plant to eat with just about anything.
Raspberry leaf is rich in minerals including phosphorus, potassium, calcium and iron and vitamins including vitamin A, B, C and E. Raspberry leaf helps to tone the muscles of the uterus and thus reduces the intensity of the sensation during labor and after birth. The leaf also helps to facilitate the birth of the placenta and to prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage. Some herbalists do not recommend the use of raspberry before the end of the first trimester in order to prevent early miscarriage.
You can also just buy Dandelion root tea bags. I actually just did this for the first time recently and it’s quite enjoyable. Sometimes a dropperful or two a day of the tincture can suffice as well. It’s also very easy to make tincture, the same process as making vinegar, except instead of using apple cider vinegar, I use 100 proof vodka. 215
Yeast Infection Another common complaint is yeast infection: Yeast (Candida albicans) is naturally present in 5-20% of healthy women’s yoni’s. Yeast flourishes in a warm, moist mucous surface in an acid environment. When the acidity of the yoni drops, the yeasts thrive. Lactobacilli are healthy bacteria that prevent yeast overgrowth and thrive in acidic vaginas. You will notice that you have yeast overgrowth by the sweet smelling cottage cheese like secretions. You may also notice itching and irritation.
Anemia A common complaint of pregnancy is anemia. The best way to treat anemia is to avoid it! Eat a diet that includes plenty of iron rich foods (including but not limited to egg yolk, liver, dried fruit, leafy greens), cook in cast iron, drink Nettles. For some women, extra measures must be taken. If you start to feel dizzy, faint, tired, under your bottom eyelid is pale…you are probably anemic. If this is the case, Yellowdock root tincture can be very helpful. If you take 2 droppersful up to two times per day about 15 minutes before you eat an iron rich meal it will help your body to absorb the iron. You can also make a syrup.
If you are having the symptoms of a yeast infection, one simple and effective remedy to ease the discomfort is a nice herbal bath. There are several different herbal infusions I have found to be effective. Comfrey leaf infusion added to a bath is very soothing due to it’s mucilaginous nature. Oatstraw infusion calms the tissues with it’s soothing quality. You can either pour a quart of infusion of one or both of these into you bath and soak for 20 minutes.
Iron Syrup • Equal parts of Yellowdock root, Dandelion root, Nettle leaf (dried) • 1 quart of water • 1 cup of honey • ½ cup of molasses Put about 2 cups of herbs into pot with a quart of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn to simmer. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half (decoction). Strain and add a cup of honey and ½ cup of molasses (or to taste, this may be too sweet for some and not sweet enough for others). Keep in the refrigerator. Take 1-4tbl per day. 216
Now that your tissues are soothed, let’s address the overgrowth. I have found that taking an oral probiotic and using a probiotic suppository daily is most helpful. I like Femdoph brand. Insert two capsules into your yoni tucked up by your cervix every other day for 14 days. You may want to wear a panty liner as this can be leaky. You can also simply use yogurt that is free of sugars and any additives. A simple, organic yogurt like Stonyfield is best. You can scoop a tablespoon or so onto you fingers and gently swipe it up into your yoni, daily. This will help to re-establish healthy bacteria.
If after 14 days of this daily treatment you are still suffering, the yeast infection might be bacterial in nature. In this case I would insert an unknicked garlic clove at night, tucked up by your cervix, and remove it in the morning. Do this for 5 days at most. You can follow this up with another round of baths and probiotics.
Miscarriage Prevention A possible miscarriage can be a frightening and intense experience for some in early pregnancy. I have found a simple remedy that will help keep a pregnancy that doesn’t want to let go. Of course, some pregnancies are not meant to come to fruition.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) If there is spotting in the first trimester, accompanied by some cramping this remedy can be very helpful. Of course, pelvic rest and rest and hydration in general is important.
If you feel you are brewing a UTI, don’t hesitate to treat right away. Symptoms are commonly burning with urination and mild discomfort or even mild cramping in the bladder. Sometimes UTI’s can be asymptomatic in pregnancy. First thing to do if you suspect a UTI is to stop eating all sugar and simple carbohydrates. Hydrate! Drink lots and lots of water and infusions! 100 oz. a day is not too much. Remember that an untreated UTI can lead to contractions and preterm labor so it’s good to be proactive. Avoiding antibiotics is possible if treated right away and with the following remedies. It is best to avoid antibiotics in pregnancy so as not to kill healthy bacteria or stress the kidneys, but if the herbal remedies don’t work it may be necessary. Unsweetened cranberry juice- Drink up to 8 oz every hour for the day that you first begin to feel the UTI. Cranberries create an inhospitable environment for the bacteria. You can also munch on cranberries and blueberries.
Early Miscarriage Brew
Tea of Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)- Uva ursi can kill the bacteria if used correctly. Make an infusion with the leaves. Drink one cup per day for 7-10 days, not to exceed 10 days. Be aware that because Uva ursi is diuretic we must be sure we are well hydrated so as not to become dehydrated. Also be sure to continue taking it even for several days after symptoms abate.
• Handful of Crampbark (Viburnum opulus) or • Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) • 2 Cinnamon sticks • 2 tbsp Hibiscus flowers • honey Place the herbs into a pot of water (3 quarts of water). Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer for 20 or so minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey. Sip throughout the day. This is enough for a full day and night. Brew another batch the next day if the symptoms continue.
If the infection is still present after these remedies, I would move on to Echinacea root tincture (Echinacea purpurea or Echinacea angustofolia) taking 2 dropperfulls every 2 hours for 7-10 days and no longer. 217
Postpartum Hemorrhage Prevention:
Mood Stabilizing:
Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the main “concerns” in the freebirth community that I have seen…and for good reason! Postpartum hemorrhage is the number one way that women die in childbirth around the world. In the next article I will give some herbal remedies for stopping hemorrhage, let’s focus here on prevention.
Pregnancy can certainly be a roller coaster ride of emotions! Hormones are surging, and this is another reason to support the liver (see above). By supporting the liver, we can help process the hormones and have less “stuck” energy and stuck emotions. Like I mentioned above, Dandelion root supports the liver. That being said, sometimes we just need to take the edge off. I have a few favorites that I recommend.
Diet! Eating a diet rich in nutrient dense foods is of utmost importance. Limit sugar and white flour. Eat bone broths (or veggie broths), eat 75-100 grams of protein per day, eat healthy fats, and lots of green leafy vegetables. Drink nourishing herbal infusions daily. Exercise gently every day. Relax, enjoy pregnancy as much as possible.
Motherwort tincture (Leonorus cardiaca)- The tincture is my go to for any stressful situation, or distress. I take 9 drops- 1 dropperful of motherwort tincture as needed. This plant works directly with our heart and our uterus (also a uterine tonic).
Be sure you are not anemic. If you don’t know and are doing your own prenatal care and you are curious to know, you can buy a Tallquist and access your iron levels yourself. As a midwife I like to see my clients at 11.5 g/dl and above at birth. I have attended women with a hemoglobin as low as 9 g/dl. Remember the lower the hemoglobin, the less blood you can safely lose at birth. If you have higher iron levels, you can lose more blood and still feel okay and heal well postpartum. Also every woman experiences blood loss differently. We will talk more about this in the next article. Red Raspberry leaf infusion is especially recommended to tone the uterus. Strong uterine muscle will help your uterus to birth effectively, birth the placenta, and clamp down on the open blood vessels and prevent excess bleeding. If you have a history of miscarriage, I would avoid it in the first trimester. I personally find that my cravings for Red Raspberry leaf increase in my third trimester and especially the last 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. I sometimes drink a quart a day for days on end at that time.
Add to your tea or water, and take a deep breath. Motherwort is here to soothe you. (Not recommended in first trimester or in general if there is a history of miscarriage). 218
Rose glycerite is a go to favorite calming remedy. Lemonbalm tea is the same. The glycerite is quite lovely as well.
I hope this has been helpful! I have used every single one of the remedies mentioned above countless times when serving in my community as a midwife and in my own pregnancies. I will be offering virtual consultations soon via my website to women and families choosing an unassisted birth and wanting some support beforehand!
Rescue Remedy- 5 flower essence. You can make this yourself or buy it. Scullcap tincture- The dosage is 10-20 drops (not dropperfulls!) of fresh plant tincture. It can be very relaxing and even sleep inducing so best to take before bed or a nap.
Blessed birthing!
Oatstraw infusion is also a nice calming herb to use in times of intense and fluctuating moods. Nettle infusion works with the adrenals and also can be helpful in this instance. If our adrenals are nourished, we will react less intensely to the mood swings. Another reason to drink your nourishing herbal infusions daily!
Resources: Healing Wise by Susun S. Weed The New Menopausal Years by Susun S. Weed Down There by Susun S. Weed
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The Alchemy of Cannabis Biochemical Pathways, Magical History, Alchemical Preparation, & Extraction Methods
by Warren Kistenbroker Warrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classes for the Good Medicine Confluence, contribute t the diversifying and broadening of this unique eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings. He studied Biochemistry with research experience in genetics, chemical engineering/synthesis, isolation and crystallization of synthesized compounds, before applying all his research expertise to plant extraction employing the alchemical art of Spagyrics and founding his enterprise Evolved Alchemy. His primary focus is education in regards to extraction methods, extraction equipment and product design/development, helping bridge the gap between spiritual philosophy and science. The alchemy of Cannabis encompasses many topics. These topics are as scientific as they are spiritual, both in experience and in history. Cannabis is a plant that is associated with a lot of misinformation, suppression, and political action. It has supported civilizations before us with food, fuel, paper, building materials, and medicine; used both spiritually and religiously from people of all backgrounds. The history of Cannabis also goes hand in hand with the history of alchemy. The suppressed history of alchemy and Cannabis is more intertwined than one might think. With this history we find ourselves today, with the Marijuana/Hemp industry growing in ways we may have never imagined. Due to the
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suppression of Cannabis throughout the centuries, we have lost touch with what Cannabis meant to our ancestors. We find remnants of it from different indigenous tribes, traditions and countries throughout the world. Without truly knowing our roots, the Marijuana industry is the perfect example of using an herb without a full understanding of it. We have scientific studies today that show that the plant itself is more powerful than anything we can isolate or create ourselves. At the same time, our markets are flooded with isolated cannabinoids (Pure CBD Isolate & THC Distillate) and plant oils extracted with unnatural solvents (BHO, Propane and CO2 extracts).
The understanding of herbs and their effects on the body in terms of nutrition and interaction (both spiritual and physical), is of utmost importance; especially within today’s Cannabis industry. This is one of the first times in recent history that we are being given the chance to work with the plant legally as a medicine again.
system. A healthy working endocannabinoid system ensures that the body’s various systems can regulate and integrate themselves as synergistically as possible. For example, suppose someone hit their knee while hiking, and their knee is starting to swell up. As your circulatory system continues doing its job, it will cause swelling and inflammation in the affected area. In turn, this causes more pain due to inflammation. The pain signaling pathway within the body has no connection to the circulatory system. When the endocannabinoid system responds to pain (via cell receptor interaction), it recognizes the pain and communicates to the circulatory system about where the pain is. This allows the circulatory system to move blood away from the affected area, therefore reducing the pain and swelling. If the endocannabinoid system lacks the chemicals necessary to communicate between the two systems, then swelling will persist, as will the pain.
The main focus of this article is to provide you with the information necessary to further procure the Marijuana industry in a more positive direction; rich with an understanding of how Cannabis affects the body fused and how it was used historically. Additionally, we will also touch on the differences of products created with various extraction methods. This is the Alchemy of Cannabis. Understanding The Endocannabinoid System It is amazing to note all of the varying physical, emotional and mental effects Cannabis has on the body. How can one plant effect so many different systems at the same time? In answering this question, things start to get interesting! Keep in mind that Cannabis is a plant, and many other plants also work in the same way. Within the body, there is a recently re-discovered system called the ‘endocannabinoid system.’ This system has been shown to communicate between the digestive system, nervous system, muscular system, pain signaling pathways and the skeletal system.
At the moment when the body receives chemicals that reinforce anti-inflammation and reduction of swelling, the endocannabinoid system is able to communicate the message between the two imbalanced systems (the pain signaling pathway and the circulatory system). Since the action of our endocannabinoid system is directly affected by the cannabinoids consumed in our diet, we can view most ‘disease’ simply as a nutrient deficiency within the body. In most cases, the body lacks the nutrients needed to properly communicate with itself between systems.
The endocannabinoid system runs off of naturally occuring chemicals within the body as well as the chemicals found in the animals, vegetables, herbs, fruits and spices we consume. We can modify how the endocannabinoid system affects our body based on what we eat. Cannabis is one of the most cannabinoid-rich herbs. Furthermore, it specializes in a few cannabinoids that mimic and alter the endocannabinoid system in ways we don’t see in other plants. The endocannabinoid system uses these chemicals to communicate within the body from system to system. To some degree, you can think of cannabinoids, vitamins and other nutrients as fuel for the endocannabinoid
This idea correlates with a study that shows how Cannabis itself does not cure anything. The compounds found in Cannabis allow the body to naturally communicate, regulate, and heal itself. Cannabis is thus enabling the body to naturally harmonizine and synergize its own systems from within. This monumental fact shows why Cannabis can affect different systems with a large range of healing properties and effects.
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A Great Discovery - Anandamide & the Endocannabinoid System
attack of an enzyme called fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). This enzyme metabolizes anandamide and degrades it into various compounds. This mechanism is key to understanding how Cannabis affects the body in so many different ways.
In the late 1900s as scientific curiosity about how Cannabis interacts with the body grew, we were led to a great discovery. On March 24th of 1992, Lumir Hanus isolated the first endocannabinoid in the human brain. They named the compound Anandamide after the word ananda meaning ‘bliss or joy’ in sanskrit. This compound is linked to ‘runner’s high’ and the literal feelings of bliss and joy. This compound is scientifically proven to inhibit human breast cancer cell proliferation amongst other amazing things. This compound has substantial healing properties due to its ability to alter the endocannabinoid system. Also, the fact that it is synthesized naturally within the body is astounding evidence of the bodies natural abilities to heal itself. Anandamide has an intricate way in which it is synthesized and metabolized. Anandamide is synthesized in the body from fatty acids like those found in peanut butter. This compound is also found in most animals, cacao (what chocolate is made from) and fruit flies. As soon as anandamide is synthesized, it falls under
THC & CBD - Human Interaction & Effects
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When compounds from Cannabis get introduced to the body, a number of complex and very unique things happen. The compound THC mimics anandamide in the body. This produces mental states of bliss, joy and euphoria. THC is healing in the same ways anandamide is known to help heal the body, including fighting human breast cancer cell proliferation. This action of mimicking anandamide is specific to THC. When CBD gets introduced to the body, it inhibits FAAH (which degrades naturally occurring anandamide). In other words, CBD inhibits anandamide from being degraded in the bloodstream. This means that CBD increases the amount of anandamide in the bloodstream, allowing one to feel the effects of the very chemicals your body is making. You are essentially, getting ‘high’ on your own (bodily)
supply. This is a natural interaction, one that is engraved in our genetics and comes from our ancestors’ evolution with the Cannabis plant.
In ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh,’ a text from Ancient Mesopotamia dating back to 2100 BC, we find references to Cannabis/Hemp being used as incense to offer to the gods. This idea is found throughout ancient cultures again and again. In the Temples of Assyria and Babylon, hashish was burned ‘because its aroma was pleasing to the gods.’
Magical History & Use of Cannabis The use of Cannabis throughout history is extremely interesting, political, religious and shrouded in ritual. Its’ open use in civilization usually symbolizes a more conceptual understanding of the spirit. The magical use of Cannabis was intrinsically tied to recognizing the spirit and the body as different substances. Many ancient civilizations were more connected and in touch with the philosophy of rebirth and reincarnation. Most ancient civilizations have texts depicting the use of Cannabis/Hemp in sacred rituals, where the plant was processed into an incense. The modern day production of bubble hash is a very similar method to incense that were supposedly ‘fit for the gods.’ The ritual burning of incense consisted of various resins including myrrh, frankincense, copal, pine, and cedar. These incense were usually burned during sacred or religious offerings, prayers or ceremonies. Some of these ingredients are also known psychoactives. Frankincense contains psychoactive antidepressant qualities. Cedar and Pine also contained thujone, the active ingredient in absinthe.
This carries over into hindu and vedic culture, as hashish was commonly prepared with similar methods as incense and mixed with tobacco and smoked in a chillum (pipe). Cannabis was also used in a drink called ‘bhang.’ This drink is traditionally used in the celebration of ‘Holi’ in India (aka celebration of colors or love). Alchemical Preparation - Background
In hindsight, a lot of incense had substantial therapeutic effects which can be seen in the modern day use of essential oils. Incense was used as a way of vaporizing the therapeutic oils from plants and breathing it in. Used in ritual and ceremony, these practices also induced heightened states of awareness, euphoria and changes in consciousness. Sacred censers (incense burners) were used to burn incense for these special offerings. A lot of artistic expression and time went into designing and building censors. This shows how highly the ancients regarded using incense. Whether it was for inducing prophetic messages from the gods aided by psychedelics, or it was just for the fragrance, is up to you...
The alchemical preparation of Cannabis is not well known and has only been openly practiced by few. There have been many great alchemists throughout the centuries, and some used Cannabis in their ingredients for remedies and elixirs. Many alchemical texts use deep symbolism and alchemical allegories to relay information without giving away precise messages. Alchemical texts are meant to be interpreted by both the spiritualist and the chemist. Both a spiritual and chemical understanding is important in interpreting the allegories in these texts, as they require experience to comprehend.
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Spiritual thought plays an important role in the symbolism and philosophy of alchemy. Without the ability to feel or see through ‘spiritual organs of perception,’ how can one truly understand anything? Alchemy is intertwined in deep metaphysics. It is as if most of alchemy was explained or discovered from a purely spiritual understanding. The duality is that the spiritual understanding goes hand and hand with chemical understanding…you cannot have one without the other. Only today do we find ourselves so deep in science and chemistry, that we have forgotten the inner philosophy that coincides with the material processes.
chemical sense, the essential oils are immortal. No matter what is done to an essential oil, it always evaporates and always has the ability to be condensed once again. This is to suggest that all the souls of every plant that has grown is still floating around as a vapor ‘in the heavens.’ This raises the question, do these essential oils condensate onto newly forming plants of similar species? Could this be a chemical representation of the reincarnation of the soul into a newly forming body? Due to the probability, nature and stability of these chemicals, there is no denying that it can and is happening every year as the seasons change.
Alchemy - The 3 Philosophical Principles
The Spirit of plants is known as ethanol (alcohol). This is a solvent made by strictly fermentation. It is a solvent of the plants, made by plants, for the plants. No matter what plant decays, it produces alcohol. This is a representation of how the spirit is shared throughout the plant kingdom. Each kingdom produces its own solvent. This is why we still call alcohol ‘spirits’ today.
Alchemy is based on what was known as the purification and recombination of the three philosophical principles: Soul, Spirit and Body (Sulphur, Mercury and Salt respectively). Each of these principles originates from what was known as ‘prima materia’ or ‘prime matter.’ Due to alchemy being both a philosophical art and science, the prime matter basically means consciousness. Today, we have completely forgotten what this means in a physical sense. If someone asked how do you extract the soul from a plant, how would you answer? Where does the body of the plant reside? What is the spirit of a plant? These are all questions that will start to inspire both a chemical and spiritual interpretation.
The Body of the plant was known as what was left over after the alcohol extraction. We call this the ‘marc’ in herbalism, which is the leftover plant material from a tincture maceration. It is mostly composed of carbon and minerals combined together, which creates the foundation for life to thrive. The body is what provides a physical, solid structure to the airy, volatile, fluid motion of the soul (or oils) of the plant.
The Soul (Sulphur) of the plant was regarded as the medicinal constituents including oils, terpenes, resins, vitamins, alkaloids, cannabinoids, flavonoids and polysaccharides. The Soul of the plant was known as anything that would come out with an alcoholic maceration (water/alcohol extractions). This soul can only be extracted from fermentations or alcohol extracts (tinctures). In an alchemical sense, only the spirit can bring the soul...which is to say that only alcohol can dissolve an oil. This holds true, especially back in the day when we only produced solvents from naturally occurring processes. It is also interesting to note that the ancients claimed the soul was eternal. In a
The purification of these elements is known in many different contexts. The purification of each philosophical principle was an art, and each art led to an industry. The ancient times, when alchemy was the mainstream science, has left imprints on our industrial evolution. To some degree, many of our industrial advancements were pioneered by the advancement of alchemical practices. Alcohol - The Spirit of Plants The purification of plant spirits is the art of distillation. Each distillation was known as a 225
‘flight of an eagle.’ Three times distilled vodka found at a local store, is also known as potato spirit with three flights of the eagle. You can start to see the intricate allegories and symbolisms that are associated with simple processes like distilling gin, whiskey, vodka or rum. Each flight of the eagle symbolized a death and rebirth, or an evaporation and condensation. In alchemy, if something evaporated it would ‘go into the heavens.’ When it condenses and becomes physical again, it is known as ‘coming down from the heavens.’ Each time a spirit was evaporated and condensed, it was reborn; reincarnated, rebirthed or purified. In a chemical sense, we know that distilling the juices from a fermentation of fruits produces a clear liquid. Repeated distillation of this clear liquid renders it flammable. This aspect was considered pure magic in ancient times. What is happening each time the alcohol is distilled, is that more and more water is removed, thus increasing the percentage of alcohol. This chemical aspect fits perfectly with the alchemical philosophy of ‘purifying the spirit.’ We see that distillation can be referenced in purely alchemical allegories employing flying eagles, reincarnation and purified spirits. The fact that the spirit is flammable symbolizes how spirit is intertwined in fire in releasing heat as it disintegrates back into the heavens. It is also interesting to note that alcohol can be evaporated and re-condensed with heat. However, if it is inflammed, it will release heat and cannot be recondensed since it breaks down into gases that cannot be condensed.
difference is that volatile oils boil at temperatures below that of boiling water, while fixed oils boil above the temperature of boiling water. In steam distillation, the volatile oils will vaporize while the fixed oils will stay behind. This is especially prevalent in the Cannabis industry. THC/CBD distillate is a purified form of the Cannabis soul, specifically of the fixed Sulphur. The Cannabis derived terpenes are known as volatile Sulphur. Minerals - The Body of Plants The purification of the body of plants is probably the least known art today. It however sparked major revolutions and ultimately wars….For example, the first gunpowder made by the Chinese was supposedly derived from the minerals of burned and calcined Hemp ash. The purification of the body consisted of burning the leftover material to an ash. This is what we call the ‘fire of purification.’ The method of burning and calcining releases carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. All living matter is composed of a carbon ‘backbone.’ By burning the plant, the
Oils - The Soul of Plants The purification of the soul of plants has evolved into steam distillation of essential oils, aromatherapy, seed pressing and cooking oils. The soul is also known as Sulphur consisting of volatile oils (volatile sulphur) as well as fixed oils (fixed sulphur). The volatile oils are known as terpenes, essential oils, and esters. Examples of fixed oils are flax seed oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and canola oil (most cooking oils). The 226
procedures and opinions on how to produce alchemical products from plants. There are varying degrees of purification and recombination of the oils, alcohol and minerals (soul, spirit and body).
carbon cage that holds life is released back to nature, to be used again by a growing plant. This occurs by combining carbon dioxide, sunlight, water and minerals from the soil into broad leaves and branches, reaching for the sun. The burning of plants to yield their minerals is an alchemical art now known by very few. This later led to metalsmithing, the process of purifying ores into metals. In ancient times, metalworking was considered a high knowledge of alchemy/magic. We would have never started metalworking unless we had mastered the art of extracting and purifying minerals from plants. This was the first introduction, from Mother Nature, to the inner workings of fire, and its ability to cleanse and purify the truly fixed elements of nature.
Alchemical & Modern Extraction Methods There are many different extraction methods and techniques generated throughout alchemical and modern history. We have seen that the ancients had many different techniques from extracting Cannabis in milk/fat (Indian drink ‘bhang’), to fermentations, and separation of plant resins for incense. Among these traditional influences there are also modern applications that consist of CO2 extraction, hydrocarbon extraction (butane, propane, hexane), alcohol extraction, rosin pressing and water extraction (bubble hash) methods. All of these processes, Ancient and Modern, have the same goal: to remove and purify the oils into a more concentrated form.
Spagyrics - Recombing the Soul, Spirit & Body of Plants The alchemical extraction of plants is called ‘spagyrics’ and is a term coined by Paracelsus in the 1500s. Spagyrics specifically refers to the alchemy of plants and nothing else. Within spagyrics, there are many recipes, manuscripts,
Amongst these new methods, we have found ourselves in a state of misalignment when it comes to the Cannabis industry. We are using all 227
sorts of ‘new’ man made methods to extract the medicine that promotes our health, using chemicals that potentially harm our health and the environment. Most hydrocarbons are derived from the oil/gas industry and are hazardous to dispose of. Our logical and scientific mindset of today’s day and age has led to the isolation of chemicals like THC or CBD, only to find out the effects of these substances are more powerful when it is left with the rest of the plant’s chemicals. This is why companies re-add terpenes to their CO2 and THC/CBD distillate products. Modern science has arrived at the conclusion that nature is wiser than we can ever be. However, due to our lost touch with the spiritual and philosophical mindset, most of us cannot even see it.
modern age, the extraction and isolation of Cannabis-derived cannabinoids is common knowledge. The use of Cannabis in ‘old school’ or alchemical practices is not common at all. We have essentially forgotten that everything we have created pharmacologically was learned from plants first7These modern practices have been adopted by pharmaceutical companies, except these companies usually make these chemicals synthetically without any need for the plant. The one thing you should know about synthesized chemicals/drugs is that they produce both natural and unnatural compounds. They are exact replicas of each other, except one is mirrored (these are called chiral structures in chemistry). The mirrored compound is what companies like to call ‘new drugs.’ These compounds are not natural in nature and they come with side effects not found in the naturally derived plant compounds.
In efforts to employ more of a spiritual mindset when it comes to chemistry, think of Paracelsus again...He was alive in the 1500s and is considered the ‘father of toxicology.’ He basically pioneered the pharmaceutical age by promoting alchemical methods (spagyrics). From his writings we see he was a well known alchemist and spagyricst. He had a few recipes that included Cannabis and opium. The method of alchemical preparation basically led to chemical synthesis of more bioavailable compounds. Potassium rich minerals combined with alcohol and oils (the spagryic method) produces both esters and carboxylic acid salts. Both of these compounds are considered ‘pro-drugs’ in pharmacology. If someone made a spagyric preparation of opium, we would have a substance very similar to morphine, except that the spagyric preparation would have six alkaloids instead of only one. The same principle applies to Cannabis. Instead of pure THC or CBD extract, a full spectrum spagyric extract leads to more bioavailable and effective chemicals. True Cannabis herbal medicine should contain over 400+ chemicals from the Cannabis plant, all working together synergistically. This is known as the entourage effect and has been well documented and studied. All research on Cannabis shown to have healing effects has been done with full spectrum extracts, not isolated extracts. Today in our
If we started to educate and practice these ‘old school’ alchemical techniques we would make something far more superior to what drug companies can make today. Its production would also enforce the growing of organically cultivated plants. Alcohol extractions extract everything including pesticides and fertilizers (most of which are known carcinogens). In fact, most Cannabis and Hemp on the market is sprayed with hazardous chemicals. We are literally spraying chemicals that promote cancer and disease on a plant that helps the body fight cancer and disease. It is astounding that we have arrived at this moment, due to our lack of connection to ancestral and traditional practices. These practices, which come from a time when being harmonious with the earth was the only way to live. The only way to move forward is to educate ourselves and integrate old alchemical practices with modern day testing and extraction equipment. We are more able and adept in healing ourselves today than ever before. The Alchemical Revolution - Bridging Ancient Knowledge with Modern Science
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Alchemy is old knowledge. This old knowledge is still more advanced than what science has proven today in some aspects. This is mainly due
to the fact that science is definite, logical and constructed. Philosophy is undefined, experimental and contains many perspectives of the same concept. Philosophy and Science are seemingly opposite ways of understanding the world around us. Alchemy is a blend of both spiritual and philosophical understanding. Through our efforts, we can reclaim our connection to nature and the powerful healing plants of our time by comprehending how nature is self regulating, self generating and unstoppable in its acts of creation. If we are to go against the natural energies of nature, we may find ourselves in a state of misalignment. We too, are created by these natural energies and until we learn to understand them rather than try and master them; we may continue to find ourselves lost amongst nature itself.
Ancient Mesopotamia to bubble hash making in the modern era, Cannabis has been around longer than we can fathom. References/Resources: Lynn Osburn and Chris Bennett are both co authors of “Green Gold: Marijuana in Magic and Religion.” This book has been a favorite for referencing the ancient use of Cannabis. Lynn Osburn is an alchemist that used the spagyric method to create Cannabis extracts in the 1990’s for some of the first Cannabis clubs in Southern California. He now happily continues his alchemical practice with Cannabis in a more personal practice. Chris Bennett is a researcher of the historical use of Cannabis with occult and historical groups, alliances and underground networks. He has uncovered Cannabis use with the Templar Knights, Freemasonry, Elizabethian Scientist Dr. John Dee, and the us of Cannabis by Paracelsus. Both C. Bennett and L. Osburn have attributed to a lot of inspiration and knowledge for alchemical research and implementing our old roots.
By integrating our ancestral understanding of Cannabis and it’s traditional preparations, we can start to regain lost knowledge. We can start to understand how we have evolved with this plant and what its most powerful uses are. By honoring the psychedelic experience this plant provides in a sacred manner, perhaps we can learn more than what science can offer. Ancient stories of the ritual and magical use of Cannabis points to the fact that the spiritual understanding of plants is highly respected and protected knowledge. From incense burning in
Quotes “It has become clear that the healing potential of the whole plant is stronger than isolated compounds on their own.” - Lumir Hanus, scientist who isolated anandamide "The true difference between spagyrics and Alchemy lies in the fact that if spagyrics and Alchemy both purify a product, Alchemy in addition provokes its evolution" -Jean Dubuis (Spagyrics Vol 2, p. 14) “Because nature only acts within its own appropriate species, only develops and perfects itself within itself and by itself, free from any heterogeneous thing occurring to hinder its progress or to oppose the effects of its generating power.” - Fulcanelli (Dwellings of the Philosophers) 229
Juanita Nelson Herbalist Midwife In Conversation with Jesse Wolf Hardin Juanita is one of the most heart-filled people we have ever met, her every thought and action fueled by her immense compassion. When we needed authoritative advice on the unassisted birth of our child, she was one of the two people we turned to. Her 38 years of experience as a practicing midwife in the Four Corners Region of the Southwest, combines with her decades of making herbal medicines available for families, moms, and babies, means we can expect only the best information, protocols, and insights from the classes she is teaching at the Good Medicine Confluence in Durango this May. Midwives, mothers, and caregivers from as far away as Vermont have said they are making the long trip to attend partly in order to take the pregnancy and women’s health related classes being offered this year by Juanita and others. To find out more about her various services, see FourCornersHomeBirth.com Jesse Wolf Hardin: A most warm welcome to you, Juanita.
what were the personal experiences, visions or desires that drew you to what has become a central purpose of your life?
Juanita Nelson: Greetings Wolf. I’m so happy to have this time to share with you.
Juanita: I have been doing this for so long that it’s actually hard to remember which came first-midwifery or my herbal practice. I really think it was simultaneous. As a young adult I had the opportunity to see lots of different ways of being in the world. A lot of the people I was interacting with were using herbs for themselves and having home births. I really thought that’s how it was done. There was a lot of
Wolf: As a plant-healer papa of a home birthed baby, I have a particularly soft spot for the rare person like you who combines devotion to women before and after d e l i v e r y, with the sensibilities, skills and tools of the caring herbalist. Was it the call of the midwife or a summons from the plants that came first for you, and 230
excitement and optimism in those days and we were mostly teaching ourselves how to do things differently than the main stream. It made me think long and hard about my own pathpractically and spiritually.
was passed on from generation to generation was part of our human relationship to the natural world around us. Plants have always been a part of our food and our medicine. It wasn’t the alternative-it was the norm. There were always people who had a greater affinity for healing and they had a relationship with the people in their communities. They knew and interacted with the babies, children, adults, and elders and knew their strengths and weaknesses. Historically, the wise-women were often midwives and herbalists and were known and trusted by their communities. For years there was a systematic effort to eliminate the healers and the number of midwives and herbalists that were burned at the stake as witches was staggering. It’s really only been in the last 150 years that modern medicine took that care out of the hands of the village healer and moved it into the hospital and under the control of physicians.
At some point in the late 70’s I knew I wanted to pursue midwifery but there weren’t very many routes to acquire training-especially because I knew I wanted to do home births. Legalization was sketchy and inconsistent. I read everything I could get my hands on and talked to any and everyone I could find. It wasn’t until I had moved to Taos, New Mexico that my break happened. I had a friend who asked if I would be her support person at her planned home birth and I jumped at the chance. I arrived…and the midwife didn’t. It ended up being just me and my friend and the baby birthing. So the first birth I ever witnessed I ended up catching the baby.
I have always felt that midwifery and herbalism go well together because they are so firmly rooted in our collective psyche. Using herbs during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is such a gentle way of supporting both mom and baby. When we can connect parents to a way of providing medicine for their children that is both viable and easy we empower them as human beings.
That baby took awhile to come around and pink up and while he was fine, I promised myself I would continue to learn everything I could. Not long after that I moved back to Arizona and because I was young and naïve I started offering to attend births in my community. I had almost no experience and a lot of bravado and attended about 40 births that way. I was lucky that there were no major complications and it became clear I needed to know more. I ended back in Taos and began apprenticeship training.
Wolf: Are there many different approaches to the practice of midwifery, the way there are in the field of herbalism? And what do you think best distinguishes or defines your way of practicing both?
From that point midwifery has defined my life. Intermingled amongst the training and learning was both a personal love of plants and the desire to apply them in practice. I have always had a pretty insatiable appetite for learning how things work and herbs provided the perfect laboratory.
Juanita: I think there are as many ways to practice midwifery as there are midwives practicing it. There are midwives who practice in a medical setting who function within established medical protocols. I have great respect for them, as they are the ones on the front lines trying to bring compassion and change to the medical model. They are bringing a midwifery model of care to a much larger number of women. There are midwives who choose to practice completely outside any legal definitions or requirements. They are often
Wolf: What do you think is the natural intersect/ relationship between midwifery and herbalism... the importance of this amalgamation historically, but especially now? Juanita: I think that plants have always been a part of our efforts to establish, improve, and regain our health. The empirical knowledge that 231
practicing within a specific community; sometimes faith based, and chose to practice without the need for or back up of the medical community. There are midwives who only do home births and midwives who only do hospital births. I think the most important underlying requirement for a midwife is a love of Mom’s and babies and a willingness to put aside any and all prejudices that might get in the way of serving the families in her community.
If through the lens of midwifery care I can open a door for them to explore the world of herbs and they experience the benefits then I am content. Ultimately, it’s always about serving women, babies, and their families. Wolf: You are a grandmother and mother, in addition to all else you are and do... what would you like to say about that? Juanita: Birthing my three children at home, watching them grow and become adults, watching them step out in the world and define their lives for themselves, and now having grandkids is unquestionably my greatest accomplishment. They are all exceptional human beings and yes I am biased. That is my job.
Currently, I do home births and have chosen to practice in states that are supportive and where midwifery is legal. I have a wonderful working relationship with the local medical community. I will often recommend herbs to my clients, but I am not adverse to suggesting pharmaceuticals if that’s what I think would best help someone. I have women in my practice whose only relationship to herbs is what they buy in the spice rack at the grocery store. They’ve never had the opportunity or the inclination to experience sitting down and making a cup of tea.
Wolf: I really need to note here, that your informed, calm and supportive counsel was a huge aid to my partner Kiva and I when we chose to deliver our child naturally, in spite of
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having no professional help. We can’t thank you enough! Be reasoned and considered, and thereby helping parents discern between paranoid worries and crucial concerns, must be a valuable part of your work?
Wolf: We felt strongly about doing it at home, partly due to Kiva’s Asperger sensitivity to strangers, cities and cacophony, but also because of the terrible experiences we have both had with misdiagnosis and maltreatment at the hands of conventional MDs, not to mention the volumes of research showing the greater likelihood of infection or trauma associated with hospital births! We certainly had, however, strongly hoped for the assistance of a live-in midwife who could deal with problems like a baby needing turning, a pinched cord, or even scary hemorrhaging, given that we live seven river crossings, two miles of backwoods trail, and a hundred miles from a hospital, and we only ended up delivering without help because our scheduled midwife did not show. We daily debated our decision to remain home, weighing the fearful emails coming in warning us not do do it, versus the deep knowing that women have given birth, often with no preparation or help, for as long as what we call humans have existed... most often, though sadly not always, without a tragic event or reason for regret. Kindly birthing centers were not an option for us here, and so while still risky, in the end we felt better going through this as a family, in the place where we feel most secure and comforted, rather than subject to the paradigm of certified professionals and “helpless women,” of pervasive and often convenience motivated Csections, bodies made unfeeling with spinal block injections. Thanks to the courage and pain of a committed Mama Kiva, an awesomely strong and utterly enchanting Aelfyn Wolfson Hardin arrived, eased our concerns, and spared us any reasons for regret.
Juanita: You are welcome, but you and Kiva helped remind me how important trusting our individual process is. My whole philosophy is to make my experience available to help in the transition into parenthood. I don’t limit my accessibility. If my phone rings in the middle of the night because a new mom is freaked out about a crying baby and I can help her discern between normal and concerning that’s my job. If she can then relax and build trust in herself and feels empowered that trust just continues to build. Wolf: I know you seek to empower women to make their own choices regarding birth circumstances and care. But what are situations and conditions that lead you to recommend either a home birth with a midwife, a birthing center with advanced equipment, hospital intervention, or specific labs and exams? Juanita: Being a midwife in this day and age requires an ever-changing balance of trust and intervention in the birth process. While I take care of primarily low-risk Mom’s and babies there is a wide range of what normal looks like. My job is to determine if someone is outside that range and if so whether or not we can get back to normal or need to access other care. Midwifery care is more than just taking care of someone physically. It’s about serving the whole person including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Empowering women and parents means helping them through the process not defining it for them. As a midwife I am committed to helping folks birth as naturally as possible but sometimes things happen that are outside anyone’s control. Having a supportive medical community where transfers can happen smoothly and without political agenda has been a personal ongoing effort. It’s all about respect and trust building.
Juanita: I really honor Kiva’s and your willingness to take responsibility for yourselves, your birth, your baby, and ultimately the birthing experience that best met your needs. You are an inspiration to folks all over. Wolf: Were there challenges, difficulties, or painful experiences that at any point made you question if you should become or continue being a midwife? 233
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Juanita: The calling of midwifery is not an easy one. There have been many times when I wanted to stop and call it quits. The very nature of the profession means that my actions can mean the difference between life and death. That’s a responsibility that I never take lightly. There are days when I’ve had to go from a birth to a funeral and visa versa. I’ve had to put my own needs or those of my family aside in order to take care of someone else. My relationships have suffered. I have folks refuse to pay me and folks blame me for things outside of my control. But you know I’m still here and still love what I do.
is very different. There are many schools and pathways to education, there are specific routes to licensure and insurance will reimburse for your care. State licensure often defines a midwife’s scope of practice and requires practicing within specific regulations. Midwifery educational programs are expensive now and do not guarantee you will be able to make a living as a practicing midwife. Educating yourself and practicing as a midwife takes years of study and commitment. There is a huge variety in the quality of the programs available. An aspiring midwife has to be hyper-focused to navigate it now. But those are just the current challenges. There have always been hurdles to jump.
Wolf: What were the signs, encouragements, blessings, opportunities, or empowering experiences that made it possible for you to make midwifery your life’s work?
I think there are a lot of midwives who come into it with some pretty unrealistic preconceptions about what the demands are. The attrition rate is high. The ones who do make it have to be constantly vigilant against idealism that overrides common sense. If you have a big ego then you will be brought down to size by the forces that be. If you’re in it because you want to be the center of attention you will be schooled.
Juanita: I have been incredibly blessed in my life to know and work with some incredible women. I’ve had women elders, some that lived to be 100 + years old, who shared their wisdom and teachings with me. I’ve known women who worked with sacred plants and made it their life’s work to honor their traditional ways and ceremonies. I’ve had mentors that were both visionaries and friends. They were instrumental in reclaiming midwifery as a profession and believed in the rights of birthing women to safe, natural care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I’ve learned something from every person I’ve ever taught. But mostly, I have been honored to witness women transform themselves into mothers, parents, and amazing human beings. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
If someone has a good understanding of service both personally and from a community’s perspective they will do better. If you have a big heart and thick skin you’ll manage. Wolf: What kinds of regulatory problems or hurdles do midwives have to face, and how much does it vary from state to state? Where are some of the best places for natural childbirth, and where do midwives find it most daunting to practice? Juanita: Most states differentiate between Nursemidwives and direct-entry midwives. The laws, regulations, and requirements for each group are often quite different. Many of the States who have created a pathway to regulation and licensure for direct-entry midwives have chosen to require some sort of formal education both initially and ongoing. There is often a process for defining scope of practice and one for prosecution of rule violation but it does vary from state to state. Licensing fees can vary
Wolf: What are the more general challenges, problems, and especially illusions, that someone wanting to be a midwife should know? Juanita: When I first starting down the path of midwifery, there were almost no schools and in most state’s it was either alegal or illegal to attend home births. You had to learn what you could, where you could and possibly contend with the police showing up at your door. Now it 235
widely. I hold licensure in both Colorado and New Mexico and, while similar the regulations do vary somewhat.
Juanita: I actually think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an integral part of what I do as both a midwife and an herbalist. There are so many inappropriate, unfair, and often dangerous policies around the way modern medicine approaches care. The patriarchal, paternalistic approach is hurting people. What we are seeing now as a direct response to that dominance is a rise in a more feminine model of care. As human beings we all have to speak out against the abuse and recognize the changes that must continue to happen.
New Mexico has been in the forefront of midwifery education and licensure for years. There is a long history of midwives providing care to rural communities. New Mexico has a lot of poor counties that have depended on midwifery care to support the families there. Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Texas and California are some of the states where there is active support for out of hospital birth and direct-entry midwives. Other states like Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois and others either have no regulations concerning midwifery or outlaw it outright.
Women are standing up for their right to birth the way they want in the setting of their choice, free from the historical prejudices that have infused care for so long. Evidence-based care is a must but has only recently been recognized as a benchmark for defining old and new policies. We have to be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water however. The ancestral knowledge that has been passed down forever must be integrated into a more holistic approach.
Wolf: Do you think that the midwife and herbalist have a responsibility or role to play when it comes to resisting egregious policies and requirements, ensuring the right to practice, or righting injustices?
A happy little Juanita, and growing up.
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Midwives and herbalists have been marginalized for a long time now. The movement towards standardization and regulation has its place but not if it denies the base from which we started. That long history is valuable.
when I let my ego override my intuition I get in trouble every time. New midwives (and herbalists) tend to let their desire to be the “best” define how they practice, but nobody knows it all. There has to be a deep curiosity about how things work and a willingness to learn.
Wolf: What ticks sweet Juanita off, if anything? Wolf: What are the herbalist’s qualities, attitudes, approaches, and skill sets that can best be integrated into a midwifery practice?
Juanita: The thing that sets me off more than anything else is a lack of respect. Respect is defined differently by each person and by different cultures but when someone makes assumptions about someone else’s’ experience or judges them it pisses me off. One of the things we are seeing so dominantly now in our country is a complete disregard for basic human kindness. If I am different than you let’s find a way to embrace our uniqueness and celebrate our openness to each other. If you disrespect me as a woman, or as a midwife or I can’t see the particular challenges you have faced to get where you are and judge you for it then we have lost the chance to connect and learn from one another.
Juanita: Herbalists, in general, have a deep respect for nature and the plant world. The willingness to learn and incorporate new ideas, to put aside specific prejudices, and to listen to both the plants and the people who come to you to help is pretty essential. The basic tenant of “do no harm” is especially significant. Wolf: You are teaching a class for us called Beyond Raspberry – please take some time to describe some of the most useful and safe plants in a midwife’s materia medica, what they are used for, and what their actions are that make them so handy in prenatal and postpartum situations.
Wolf: And what tickles you the most? Juanita: When I watch someone tap into his or her deep, intuitive knowledge and overcome the fear within them I am thrilled. It is such a humbling experience to watch a woman labor and find the strength and courage to push her baby out. When she reaches down and brings the newborn into her arms for the first time and has that sense of the miracle of life I am forever touched. I never get tired of seeing the joy on their faces. I love watching people becoming their best selves.
Juanita: Pregnancy is such a unique time in a woman’s life and presents very real physiological changes in her body. There is not a single system that is not affected. Understanding those changes can help the herbalist provide more accurate and safe information and assist in finding the most appropriate delivery system as well. Knowing what is normal and what is not greatly influences how you recommend supportive care. So often well meaning folks will recommend an herb to “remedy” something that is actually a normal response to physiological changes. For example, that person might be experiencing some constipation and ankle swelling. In someone who’s not pregnant you might think, “ What’s needed here is a diuretic to decrease fluid retention and some bitters to increase stomach acid and help with digestion.” However, in pregnancy, 90% of the time what they really needs is the simplest solution-to drink more
Wolf: What are some of the qualities/ characteristics that can make for an effective and satisfying midwife practice? Juanita: Humility. Respect. Compassion. Lots of caffeine! One of the skills I have had to learn over the years is a clear definition of boundaries. I know when I can step over a line and when I’m over my head and need help. I have had to learn how to listen to and trust my intuition. If and 237
water. She’s most likely dehydrated. If you prescribe a diuretic you will make it worse by allowing more fluid to be lost. Because the uterus is taking up more and more room, the stomach has less and the hormones of pregnancy cause the sphincter that normally keeps digestive acid in the stomach to loosen. If you’ve increased the stomach acid trying to help her digest better you’ve made a mechanical issue worse and now she has heartburn on top of the other issues. By trying to aid her, you’ve made it worse. The take away here is to not be afraid and do nothing. But you do have to pay attention. As an aware herbalist what you can do is sit down and take a thorough history and then start simple. So many of the “common complaints’ of pregnancy can be remedied by common sense care.
the timing and application of that herb becomes an essential factor in your prescribing it. For example, if you have a pregnant client with a history of premature labor and you give her blue cohosh at 28 wks. thinking you are helping her prepare for labor you could actually be setting her up for another premature delivery and administering a toxic dose that could harm both her and her baby. But I do have favorite herbs that I call on to support moms. I love feeding women with herbs. The list of nutritive herbs that are rich in minerals like folate, calcium, magnesium, and others includes red raspberry, oatstraw, and nettles. Beet leaves are some of the highest in iron and can be added to salads and soups. There are lots of herbs that work in pregnancy and beyond so I’m just going to touch on a few here. A favorite herb of mine is ginger. So many women suffer from nausea in pregnancy and this root can be so helpful. My first recommendation is to get women to eat frequent enough to prevent a drop in blood sugar due to the increased metabolism of food as a result of
Knowing both the constituents and the actions of a particular herb can guide you to whether or not it might be appropriate in pregnancy. If you know an herb has oxytocic actions meaning it can mimic the natural oxytocin that is produced in the body and can cause the uterus to contract, or it stimulates the bodies own oxytocin release, 238
bleeding. Because it can both stimulate and calm smooth muscle it enables the muscle to tone while decreasing irritability.
growing a baby. If I’m satisfied that she is eating to support the growing placenta, which in turn is supporting the growing baby, and she is still nauseous then using ginger in a whole range of ways can be helpful. Anytime I can get a woman to sit down and drink a cup of tea that she has taken the time to prepare and have her sip on that I think she’s ahead of the game-if it helps her reduce nausea all the better. Ginger capsules, tincture, and candied ginger are all good ways to get it in her.
Another on my list is nettles, Urtica dioica. This is one of the best herbs for prevention and a remedy of iron-deficient anemia and can trigger an increased production in red blood cells. Pregnancy increases the volume of circulating blood and the percentage of cells-like red blood cells and their oxygen carrying capacity-can become diluted causing fatigue. In extreme anemia a cascade of reactions can not only make recovery from bleeding more difficult but also cause the bleeding to get much worse. A strong infusion that is allowed to sit overnight and then drunk throughout the day can completely turn anemia around in a few short seeks. My favorite herb for the end of pregnancy for someone who is feeling anxious, not sleeping well, and starting to see their blood pressure creep up is motherwort. I use small doses frequently to give her courage and sooth her worries. I don’t use it unless we are at the very end and I’m not concerned about causing contractions.
I know I labeled the class ‘Beyond Raspberry” but I don’t think you can talk about herbs in pregnancy without talking about Rubus idaeus. There really is no better ally. Red raspberry grows wild in the mountains around us and is easy to both wild harvest and grow in the garden. . It is high in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and also Vit. C and A. It works specifically to tone and strengthen the uterine muscle thereby preparing the uterus to work more efficiently in labor and to help contract the uterus down postpartum thereby reducing
Shepard’s purse is not recommended during pregnancy because of its uterine stimulating action but it is part of my go to formula for postpartum bleeding along with trillium and cotton root bark. I’ll use bethroot alone to help release the placenta if there’s no bleeding. 239
Wolf: Another class you teach at the annual Good Medicine Confluence, is titled Women & The Affinity For Plants During Pregnancy & Birth, and you are writing about it for the readers of Plant Healer Magazine. Please talk about that affinity as much as you like here.
These days we have a movement to re-connect with the wisdom of our elders and can do it within the context of finding balance between the old and the new. Technology saves lives. So how do we reconnect to trust in our bodies and have faith in the design? I have spent the better part of 40 years trying to figure that out.
Juanita: So often in our modern world there is a barrage of information that is fear-based and distrustful of nature and even more so for the natural process of birth. Most folks in our culture do not grow up with an understanding of basic anatomy much less the normal birth process. The primary way we learn about pregnancy and birth is through the media. Women screaming and families pacing in a different room at the hospital are classic images presented to us on a daily basis. It is almost always presented as high drama. Inevitably the music starts and the sense of impending doom is heightened. There is palpable fear emanating from everyone in the room. Enter the (usually male) doctor who declares that there is something wrong with the mother’s ability to birth or her baby is no longer safe in her body and in jeopardy. He then states that he can heroically save the mother and baby’s life. Often times this doctor is seeing this woman for the very first time in the middle of labor. That is the backdrop that defines pregnancy and birth as dangerous, deadly, and fearsome. Women are not taught to trust their bodies or trust the process. Giving birth is not possible without intervention and outside control. A full third of babies born in this country are born through caesarian section and all must navigate the culture of fear.
When a woman is pregnant for the first time or the 6th time, there is a deep opening happening in her psyche and spirit. In order to make room in her body and heart for this child she does a deep dive into her very essence. Part of our genetic heritage is a profound connection with our instinctual selves. Given the time and space a woman will find the things she needs to give birth. That trust in her innate abilities connects her to the natural world in a way that few other things can. We see that reflected in the concept of “forest bathing.” We evolved as humans interacting with the world around us. The things we ate, the animals we hunted and then domesticated, our interaction with plants all evolved with us. The understanding of which plants heal and which harm is built into our entire existence. Walking outside allows us to see, smell, hear, taste, and touch the very microbes that are part of our body’s makeup. When a woman is opening to her essential nature, the process can be supported and enhanced with the use of herbs. When she sits down after a busy day and makes herself a cup of tea made from plants she picked herself, she is connecting to her ancestral heritage. Reconnecting women to their own deep knowing at this time starts to connect the dots in her brain (ok synapses.) That ancestral memory allows her to expand her own awareness and tap into a well of trust. She experiences a sense of calm. She has direct experience now in connecting to the rhythms of the natural world and can see herself as a part of it. When a mother can make those connections for herself, she can make them a part of her children’s lives as well. That child then has a deep awareness of the natural world around them.
In years past watching your mother or aunties or sisters or neighbors give birth was a part of everyday life. Children witnessed the births in their families. Women passed on their wisdom of birthing to their daughters and granddaughters. It was a natural part of life in the community. There were times when there were complications and there was loss of life, of course. For the most part, however, evolution has been in our favor and people survived to pass on their knowledge and genetic traits to the subsequent generations. 240
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Wolf: What has your herbal and midwifery education looked like, and have you had any close mentors or practitioners who have particularly inspired you?
Juanita: Midwives have forever dealt with this issue. We have been labeled witches, and ignorant, and uneducated so I have great compassion for the kitchen herbalist who is trying to serve a family and/or a community. I also appreciate the schools and formal learning centers that have both increased the interest and practitioners of herbs but our knowledge base as well. When we require regulated educational routes without acknowledging the traditional apprenticeship mode of learning then we deny the heritage that has brought us to this point in time. Part of the reason we have had to restructure our educational routes has been because of some shady practices by both individuals and companies in the past that have undermined legitimate recognition. Hopefully, we can integrate the best of both worlds: the herbalist who chooses to work with the plants through intuition and sensory awareness and the scientist whose research furthers our knowledge of actions through understanding the chemical components. There has to be room for all voices at the table if we want to create a new paradigm.
Juanita: My early midwifery training was somewhat irregular in that it was pieced together from the available resources at the time. In time it jelled into a formal apprenticeship training with two wonderful midwives: Elizabeth Gilmore and Tish Demmin in Taos, New Mexico. They were very different people but the skills and thinking process that I learned from both of them still rings in my head. Tish was one of the most astute political minds I had come in contact with and was instrumental in making sure midwifery continued to be legal in New Mexico. Elizabeth and I became good friends and worked together for many years. She created the National College of Midwifery that still stands as one of the best educational routes for midwives. Both of my mentors are now gone but I carry their teachings with me. My herbal education was fairly similar in the early days. Susan Weed was particularly influential to me early on. Much later I worked with Dr. Tieraona Lowdog in her Albuquerque clinic. At that time it was a walk-in herbal clinic that served whoever showed up. Folks would come in with everything from a bad cold to AIDS to diabetes. The best part of that experience was figuring out how to combine herbal and allopathic medicine and find the right formula for folks but then go to the apothecary and put it together for them. Being able to work with Tieraona and apply skills in a clinical setting was wonderful.
Wolf: We are big advocates of bioregional herbalism, serving one’s region, utilizing plentiful local medicinal plants, tending the human communities we are a part of, and taking some responsibility for the protection and health of natural habitat. To what degree do you identify your work as bioregional, and how does that manifest? Juanita: I have great respect for the folks who work with and use plants from all regions of the world. Myself, I’m a pretty grounded kind of girl. I like to smell, and taste, and handle and experience the herbs I use and recommend. I’m not opposed to using a plant from a different region but the ones I reach for most often are the ones I can harvest in my area or grow in my garden. I don’t really know how abundant or rare a plant is if it’s coming in from China except maybe what I’ve read about it. I have no direct experience with how it grows. I’m just speaking about my own approach here. I do my best to take responsibility for the impact I have on my environment.
Wolf: Some certified herbalists have been dismissive of unaffiliated “folk” or unvetted “kitchen” herbalists. What is your take on this, and on herbalists’ often conflicted feelings between desiring cultural acceptance and legitimacy, and serving as a less formalized community herbalist? How important is certification, and meeting the expectations of the health industry or government? 242
One of the things I do when I go to the home of a client for the first time is see what plants are growing in their immediate vicinity. Whether we are aware of it or not I believe that plants will gravitate towards the need. I tell folks, “Look around you. What’s growing in your back yard?” Often the specific needs someone has will be met by the plants that respond to and answer that call.
conservative banker and had quite distinctive views on how the world should run. He used to lament about how liberal all the rest of his family was. He was an extraordinarily generous man who taught me the value of family. It was my Father who passed on to me a love of gardening. We lived in the suburbs but we would have these lush, abundant gardens full of flowers and food. My Dad would come home from work, take off his suit and tie, put on his work clothes and spend the rest of his day digging and working the soil. I think it gave great balance to his life and he truly loved it. I have always felt the same deep sense of connection to the soil and the natural world. An understanding of herbs came later and not in any earth-shaking way. It simply became an everyday awareness of the plants around me.
Wolf: What is there about the amazing American Southwest in particular – its land and cultures – that holds you here, informs your work, fills your heart, feeds your spirit, sculpts and colors your practice? Juanita: since I was a young girl the Southwest has intrigued me. I love the landscapes, the history, and the mix of cultures and people who live here, the colors, the plants and animals. I love visiting the humid, moist places of the earth and regularly need my ocean fix. But at heart, I’m a desert/mountain girl. I certainly don’t claim to carry the knowledge of any traditional people but I have been blessed with long-standing relationships with folks from different tribes here in the Southwest and they have taught me respect for both the everyday and the sacred. My relationship to spirit has been colored by and greatly influenced by my relationships here.
Wolf: What are the most life changing or revealing plant discoveries in your life since? Juanita: Wolf, I have spent 30 plus years in the Native American Church and have a deep, lasting connection with the sacred plants used in ceremony there. My relationship with the church has changed somewhat but my connection to the plants hasn’t. Some of my favorite memories have been in the medicine gardens in South Texas. Like so many others I’ve personally seen the plants there go from abundant to scarce. I think this has been due to habitat loss (clearcutting will do that) but also misuse by the very folks who use it. There are ways it could be protected but the voices that promote that are far and few between. That makes me sad but also profoundly grateful for the interactions I’ve had.
Wolf: So where did you grow up? What were your family and childhood like, and what happened to make plants a major, significant part of your life? Juanita: I grew up in Colorado, in Denver. My family was pretty typical for the time. The fifties and sixties were interesting times historically but I was pretty insulated from most of that. It wasn’t until the seventies that I began to see the world through different eyes. My mother was a wonderful abstract artist who was trained in New York City in the forties. She gave me a sense of color and style and nurtured my creative soul. She loved her family unconditionally but at her very core she was always an artist. My father was a very
Wolf: What are the things you most enjoy about the Good Medicine Confluence, and how would you characterize it compared to more normal events? Juanita: I’ve attended lots of conferences. I will usually find some special nuggets of information to appreciate and take home but the camaraderie of like-minded folks is often the best part of the take away. 243
I was able to attend the Good Medicine Confluence for the first time in 2017. I was sortof aware of it before that but because of my on call schedule or various life events was unable to participate. I gotta tell you that I was blown away! It felt like coming home. Here was a family that was full of interesting, outrageous and delightful folk who were doing cutting edge stuff with herbs from all directions. I was so impressed with the caliber of folks presenting. There was not a single class that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walk away from with new knowledge. I loved how inclusive it was to all people, beliefs, and modalities. It felt like such an expression of how herbalists are in the world and it has inspired me ever since.
part of a huge body of published work. You all have truly provided a forum for so many souls to exchange information and learn from one another. Thank you so much for all your hard work and the many sacrifices you have made in order to see it all manifest. I wish for all of you good blessings. May your needs be metphysically, mentally, spiritually in all ways. Special kisses and hugs to Sir Aelfyn. Wolf: Is there one thing especially, that we should all remember as we go about the work of healing and enjoying self, others, and the living giving earth? Juanita: Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep working on being kind to all living things.
Wolf: Is there anything else that you would like to say to everyone?
Wolf: Thank you ever so much, Juanita! We are extremely glad to have you such a valuable and giving part of the eclectic Plant Healer tribe, and hope you will long stay active and close.
Juanita: I want everyone to know what an amazing thing it is that you and Kiva are doing. The Confluence gathering of healers is phenomenal. But you are also involved with and responsible for writing, editing, and being a
Juanita: Thank you for gifting me with the opportunity to share. In Peace. 244
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Plant Healer Contributors In Alphabetical Order Sarah Baldwin is a writer and herbalist who grew up in the wooded hills of southern Indiana. She is the author of The Herbal Healing Deck, an oracle deck designed to help people access plant wisdom that features medicinal plants and their unique archetypes. Her natural wellness and metaphysical articles have been featured in various online and print publications, including Plant Healer Magazine, Branches Magazine, and The Herbarium. In 2010, Sarah spent a magical summer as an intern at Herb Pharm, where her heart was opened to the healing power of plant spirits. She has also learned from her myriad adventures in organic farming and gardening as well as creating a line of natural wellness products. As both a teacher and student of herbalism, she seeks to share the healing power of nature with others. She believes that deepening the connection between humankind and nature will serve to heal both. With a love of nature and the green world, Sarah's interests in herbalism are both practical and spiritual. She views herbalism as not just a clinical practice, but a spiritual one. When she is not knee-deep in plants, Sarah enjoys practicing yoga, meditation, dance, and music. She seeks to keep her finger on the pulse of mystery and magic while always serving the Light to the best of her ability. Learn more about The Herbal Healing 245
Deck or contact Sarah via her website at www.herbalhealingdeck.com. There you will discover her other offerings, such as plant spirit meditations, readings, events, and classes. www.moonflowersarah.blogspot.com. Rachel Delphine Berndt is a bio-regional folk herbalist, living, wildcrafting and gardening in the Des Moines lobe of the Western Corn Belt Plains. She focuses her community herbalism practice around consciously utilizing the natural resources available to her, co-creating plant medicines with the herbs she gathers from the plains and woodlands of Iowa. She has been independently studying herbalism for 5+ years and has completed an apprenticeship with Iowa herbalist Trilby Sedlacek. Rachel teaches herbalism workshops, leads plant walks in the Des Moines area, and runs R.P. Apothecary, a shop for wild medicines: www.rpapothecary.com Juliette Abigail Carr is a clinical herbalist and the proprietor of Old Ways Herbal School of Plant Medicine (Newfane, Vermont), which offers hands-on learning in her Botanical Sanctuary forest classroom. Multiple levels of learning include beginner and intermediate courses, and a rigorous apprenticeship tailored to student interest in cultivation, medicine-making, and more. Clinical consultations specializing in the health of women, babies, and children are available, including fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum concerns. She writes a regular quarterly column for Plant Healer Magazine entitled “Heart & Hearth: Radical Home Herbalism,” as well as for numerous magazines and on her popular blog. She also works as an RNC-MNN at her local birthing center, and raises pastured heritage meats with her family in the grand tradition of multi- tasking Vermont farmers. Sean Donahue is a highly neurodivergent wild forest creature who defies the seelie/unseelie binary. He lives on traditional Klickitat territory in Trout Lake, WA and has an herbal practice in Portland and Beaverton, OR He is an initiated priest of the BlackHeart line of the Feri Tradition of witchcraft, and carrier of the Green Wand. His writing regularly appears on Gods & Radicals and in Plant Healer Magazine. Astrid Grove is a midwife, herbalist and ceremonialist. Her passion for herbs began as a teenager in Vermont and has since wandered through Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Florida, Washington, California and now Colorado. She has gathered much knowledge the last 20 years from her teachers, mainly the plants, and also wise herbalists (mainly Susun Weed) and her clients. She works mostly with women, with the core belief that a culture where women are tended to and cared for will be healthy and strong. She has taught at several conferences and centers including the Wise Woman Center and the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium, and will be offering two classes at the Good Medicine Confluence in 2018. Her most exciting endeavor currently is as cofounder of Red Earth Herbal Gathering- The Women's Herbal Gathering of the Mountain West. Learn more at: www.redearthherbalgathering.com. You may also visit her personal website at: www.astridgrove.com. Shana Lipner Grover is a clinical herbalist, health educator, field botanist, ethical wildcrafter, medicine maker and forever student of life and wonder. Shana is the director of Sage Country Herbs Botanical Apprenticeship in north county San Diego, a field based ecology, botany and native plant medicine school specializing in making our nature our classroom. She has also taught 350 hours of herbal medicine and nutrition programs at Healing Hands School of Holistic Health over the last 10 years. After completing numerous botanical medicine schools, like Columbines School in Eugene Oregon and the SWSBM with Michael Moore in Arizona, Shana found she loves to teach! You can find her at a variety of herbal symposiums and conferences, like the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference as well as higher learning institutions like Bastyr University and CSULA. She has a clinical practice in southern California with a focus on educating and empowering clients to be personally responsible for their health. Sage Country Herbs also has a high quality product line by the same name specializing in effective internal formulas and topical herbal preparations like liniments, deodorants, lip balms and salves. Come out on a plant walk with Shana and experience how the world can open up when you can see the interconnectedness of physiology and nature! Jesse Wolf Hardin is cofounder and co-director of Plant Healer Magazine and Plant Healer’s annual Good Medicine Confluence, in partnership with his wife Kiva Rose. He is a long acclaimed ecosopher, author, environmental and social activist, artist, musician, historian, a champion of both human and bio diversity, as well as of nature’s medicine. His greatest satisfaction comes not from his many creations or important protests, so much as from loving his wife, his children, and their Anima Botanical Sanctuary home, a restored river canyon 246
seven river crossings from the nearest road in remote S.W. New Mexico. Wolf is the one who originally coined the term “rewilding,” serving as a leading voice of and for the natural world for over four decades, his work earning praise from a wide range of contemporaries from Gary Snyder to Rosemary Gladstar. He’s been a featured presenter at hundreds of conferences and universities, including cross cultural collaborations appropriately called “Medicine Shows,” melding his powerful spoken word with live music. He’s the author of over 600 published magazine articles and 20 books, including his trilogy for herbalists The Plant Healer’s Path covering the core whys and hows of herbalism, The Enchanted Healer focused on heightened awareness, the senses, plant spirit and the spiritual heart of healing, and The Healing Terrain on sense of place, lessons, the healing power of nature. Wolf has also written the leading book of herbal practitioner interviews 21st Century Herbalists, an historical novel The Medicine Bear, an illustrated tale of herbal wisdom and personal empowerment for kids I’m a Medicine Woman Too! (Hops Press 2009), and a colorful look at historic herbalism and its challenges The Traveling Medicine Show: Pitchmen & Plant Healers of Early America. His work is featured in The Encyclopedia of Nature & Religion (Continuum 2005), The Soul Unearthed (Tarcher/Putnam, 1996) and How Shall I Live My Life? (PM Press 2008). You can purchase his many books and wearable artwork on the Wearables and Bookstore pages at www.PlantHealer.org. Wolf periodically writes posts for their Enchantments Blog, and his most recent articles can be found both in Plant Healer Magazine and the free Herbaria Monthly. As Terry Tempest Williams tells us, “Hardin’s voice inspires our passion to take us further —seeing the world whole — even holy.” Anna Marija Helt is an herbalist in Durango, CO. Before falling in love with herbalism (and mushroomism) she earned her doctorate at the University of Washington School of Medicine and focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Burnout hit, she dropped out of research and ran a motorcycle cafe while studying Western Herbalism, aromatherapy and a small dose of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She eventually sold the cafe and moved to Durango to be a full time plant geek. Marija has a small clinical practice and teaches in Durango and beyond. She prefers weeds, mushrooms and only the most abundant native plants as her allies. Her goals are to introduce herbs to folks who aren’t already on the bandwagon and to empower clients with herbal traditions augmented by a critical evaluation of herbal research science. Amber Magnolia Hill Amber is a mother, herbalist, writer, teacher, podcaster, and river swimmer living in Grass Valley, CA. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from UC Davis and is endlessly interested in exploring the depths of consciousness and how humans make meaning. She began studying herbalism in 2005 and counts Kami McBride, Kathi Keville, and Matthew Wood as her most important teachers. Alongside herbalism, she has immersed herself in the study of genealogy and deep ancestry, psychedelic healing, float tanks, grief and trauma, mythology, mycology, conscious death and home funerals, and empowered menstruation, sex, and childbirth. She and her husband Owen garden and wildcraft in the Sierra throughout the year in order to create simples and formulas for their line Mythic Medicinals, through which they utilize mythopoetic words and images with the intention that they bring just as much healing to people as the plants’ medicinal constituents do. You can find her products, blog, and the Medicine Stories Podcast. Heather Irvine is a former foraging frolicker, who aims at answering some of often asked but tougher questions in herbalism, such as: how herbs work, and what are the real versus theoretical safety issues. Heather was not long ago collecting and growing hundreds of medicinal plant species for her small herbal product line, Giving Tree Botanical. Now in the heart of Boston, she is offering herbal health consultations, classes and informal one on one herbal mentorship for interested persons who have immersed themselves in one or more aspects of herbalism and want to continue with guidance and encouragement. She teaches Actions and Chemistry for the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, and teaches two for-credit herbal courses, for Johnson State College/ Northern Vermont University. Her Boston area practice is based out of The Armory, a center for the Arts, in Somerville and she strives to bring herbalism to adventurous souls in the city, and the herbally inclined of the suburbs, leading classes about popular herbs and supplements, including seminars for continuing the education of licensed health professionals, and for the general public, as well as helping individuals learn which herbal remedies best suit their own use, and mentoring her small but growing clan of budding herbalists. Heather’s educational background includes; Cornell University, BS Natural Resources, the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine and the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. She is a contributor for The Herbal Academy, and a presenter at the Boston area events Herbstalk and affiliated Wintergreen event, AHG Symposiums, and the Good 247
Medicine Confluence. She identifies with helping herbalists step up their game with respect to using and better understanding scientific language about herbal medicines and helping the general public and medical professionals consider the validity and merits of herbalism. Warren Kistenbroker (Founder of Evolved Alchemy) studied Biochemistry with research experience in genetics, chemical engineering/synthesis, isolation and crystallization of synthesized compounds. Since then, he has applied all his research expertise to plant extraction within the alchemical art of Spagyrics. His primary focus is education in regards to extraction methods, extraction equipment and product design/development. He aims to bridge the gap between spiritual philosophy and science. Erika Larsen is a queer farmer/herbalist living at Feral Gardens in rural New Mexico, on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. She loves being alone in the woods, cooking, watching plants grow, raising vegetables and herbs for farmers market, picking and tending wild patches for other herbalists and community members, and “messing around in the kitchen.” Erika’s love affair with nature, herbs, emergency medicine, and cooking, began when she was 18 in the wilds of Central Idaho, studying plant medicine with valued mentors. She learned how to cook while working with Seeds of Peace, traveling the country cooking at the Buffalo Field Campaign, the WTO protest, on marches, in garages, tents, and warehouses, for 5 people or 10,000, using what they picked, were donated, or dumpstered. Around this time she went to study with herbalist Michael Moore in Bisbee, Arizona, took Wilderness First Responder and EMT classes, and begun her journey as a street medic, bringing her knowledge of plants to this service, helping staff and set up clinics at demonstrations like the FTAA in Miami, and helping at the Common Ground Clinic after Hurricane Katrina. When she was 25, she worked at an herb store and at a free women’s health clinic in Oakland, and as a cook in central Mexico for a few years, before jobs picking mushrooms, working in nurseries, and doing end of life care for relatives. “All of this whirlwind has led me here to the Good Medicine Confluence, where I’m excited to share what I’ve got with y’all. My goal now is to make good food and good herbs accessible while causing the least amount of harm. I am always learning.” Erika can be reached at <feral.gardens@gmail.com> Leslie Lekos is the director of Wildroot Herb School in Bellingham, WA, which offers herbal immersion programs and intensives by top-notch herbalist from around the country and abroad. She is a craft distiller of sustainable wild harvested and organically grown hydrosols and essential oils, which she offers at her etsy shop at www.wildroot.etsy.com. Leslie has been supporting families as a birth doula for 14 years and her herbal consultation practice specializes in supporting women during the childbearing years and their children. She is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher and co-author of the book Yoga for Pregnancy. For more information visit her website at www.wildrootbotanicals.com Orion Lekos has his PhD from the University of Washington in Bioengineering and his MS in Environmental Chemistry from Western Washington University. He is the founder of multiple bio-based technology companies ranging from natural medicine to renewable energy. He has published several books, patents and papers focused on systems and novel processes for the manufacturing and purification of plant based medicines, chemicals and fuels. Dr. Lekos has served as a bio-based products specialist for Washington State University and as an adjunct faculty for Western Washington University and the Bellingham Technical College. He is an avid outdoorsman and loves to figure out how to extract aromatic and medicinal compounds from wild plants. Phyllis D. Light is a practicing herbalist and health educator with over 30 years of herbal experience. She is traditionally trained in Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine and began her studies with her Creek/Cherokee grandmother in the deep woods of North Alabama. Phyllis continued her studies with her father and other Appalachian elders, such as Tommie Bass, as well as studies in conventional Western bio-medicine. She holds a Master's of Health Studies degree from the University of Alabama. Phyllis is Director of the Appalachian Center for Natural Health, offering herbal and natural health classes in north Alabama as well as an online program. She is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and a licensed massage therapist. Phyllis travels and teaches classes in integrative medicine and herbalism at universities, hospitals, and symposia across the country. She is currently secretary of the American Herbalist Guild, president of the American Naturopathic Certification Board, and board member of Old Spirits, New Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving 248
Indigenous knowledge. Above all, Phyllis devotes herself to building a bridge between traditional knowledge and modern-day science; to help hold sacred the traditional herbal and healing knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation while embracing the relevant scientific knowledge of today. Please see: www.phyllisdlight.com Jenny Solidago Mansell is a heritage wildcrafter and community herbalist. Her business, Prairie Herbcraft, focuses on teaching ethical foraging and bio-regional herbalism on the red dirt plains of Oklahoma. She teaches in the tradition of the Wise Woman Way and considers a deep heart connection with the earth an integral part of her life and herbal practice. She learned wildcrafting from her grandfather as a child and as an adult has apprenticed with Jackie Dill of Oklahoma Wildcrafting. She holds certificates from Rosemary Gladstar's Science and Art of Herbalism and The Herbal Academy. She has invested over 20 years into herbal study, research, and experimentation and is her own favorite guinea pig for all manner of herbal preparations. Jenny enjoys spending time with the plants daily and sharing their love and healing with others. Her website is www.prairieherbcraft.com. Jim McDonald has been practicing the art of herbcraft for over 16 years. He has taught classes and workshops throughout the Great Lakes bioregion and the U.S., hosts the website www.herbcraft.org, serves as an honored columnist for Plant Healer Magazine, writes for the Journal of the Ontario Herbalists Association and Llewelyn's Herbal Almanac, and even made up latin names for plants in Katherine Wyvern's erotic novel "Head Shy". He is currently writing (alternately) A Great Lakes Herbal and Foundational Herbcraft. Jim makes his home in southeast Michigan, that cool state that looks like a mitten that you can see from space, where he teaches, sees people, picks stuff and concocts things. His approach to herbalism is a blend of traditional folk and indigenous influences mixed up with a bit of 19th century eclectic and physiomedical vitalism, which he tries to blend with a bit of quirky humor and discretionary irreverence so as not to appear to be too serious about life. Jim is a community herbalist in the true sense, a manic wildcrafter and medicine maker, and has been an ardent student of the most learned teachers of herbcraft: the plants themselves. Dave Meesters is the co-founder and co-director of Medicine County Herbs and the Terra Sylva School. Both projects have their home on communal land in an Appalachian cove forest in western North Carolina. Dave’s formal education in herbalism began in 2003, and since then his experience has included organizing and staffing a free clinic in New Orleans in the months after hurricane Katrina, and organizing and practicing at a free clinic in Asheville, North Carolina’s homeless day shelter. Dave has plans to be involved with another herbal free or lowcost clinic in the future, but until then he sees clients privately and provides free care to the mountain folk in his rural Appalachian neighborhood, most of whom would rather see an herbalist than a doctor. Dave sees herbalism as a way to provide a more appropriate, accessible, pleasurable, and effective form of health care than the dominant model, and as a means to bond and integrate ourselves with plants, the garden, and the wilds. His herbalism is wedded to a life-long resistance to capitalism and the forces of domination and alienation, especially domination of and alienation from Nature. His practice and his teaching reflect a deep evolving holism attained by listening to, honoring, embracing, and collaborating with the whole of Nature, and by his study of the threads connecting holistic physiology, energetics, ecology, gardening, systems theory, magic, alchemy and permaculture. Dave’s herbal practice takes place in full-time immersion in the forest of Appalachia, in the midst of which he and his partners have created human habitat in the form of small houses made from wood, earth, and straw, a large communal kitchen, expanding permaculture-inspired gardens of food & medicinal plants, and a few solar panels. Medicine County Herbs is our herbal apothecary and medicinal plant nursery. The Terra Sylva School currently hosts resident apprentices to learn the arts of herbalism while living and working on our land. Find out more at www.medicinecountyherbs.com Dr. Kenneth Proefrock graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1996. He and his family live deep in the desert of Arizona with numerous reptiles, amphibians, ducks, chickens, horses and goats. Prior to naturopathic medical school, he received degrees in Chemistry and Zoology from Northern Arizona University and worked as a Research and Development/Quality Assurance Chemist for Procter & Gamble. For the past 20 years, he has conducted a very busy Naturopathic medical practice in Surprise, Arizona. He is also sole owner and formulator for Vital Force Naturopathic Compounding, which provides consulting services and a wide 249
variety of unique and effective compounds for other Naturopathic Physicians and their patients. He speaks at conferences across the country sharing his perspective on the modern practice of Naturopathic Medicine. Kenneth is also the Vice-President for the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, the chairperson for the biochemistry portion of the Naturopathic Physician's Licensing Exam, and co-founder and current President of the Naturopathic Oncology Research Institute (NORI). In his spare time, when such a thing really exists, he can be found in the desert with his kids, honing his skills in primitive archery, gardening, home-brewing, wildcrafting, reading and writing poetry and studying obscure and old texts on spiritual matters, healing, and philosophy. For more information please see the Vital Force Naturopathic Compounding & Total Wellness Medical Center website. Dara Saville is the founder and primary instructor of Albuquerque Herbalism and the Director of The Yerba Mansa Project. The Albuquerque Herbalism program takes a bioregional approach to herbal studies and combines classroom instruction with hands-on medicine making and field experiences in wild places and cultivated gardens to connect people to plant-based healing and general well-being. As Director of the Yerba Mansa Project, she coordinates an all-volunteer endeavor to restore native plants in the Rio Grande Bosque and provide educational outreach regarding the importance of native plant communities. Dara is also a regular columnist for Plant Healer Magazine, writing on topics relating to Southwestern landscapes and their medicinal plants as well as the interconnection between people, plants, and wilderness. Dara has a Bachelor’s degree from New York University and a Master’s degree specializing in Geography of the Southwest from the University of New Mexico. She is also a graduate of Dr. Tierona Low Dog’s Foundations of Herbal Medicine Program and has apprenticed with several New Mexico herbalists. The rest of her time is dedicated to homeschooling her 2 sons, hiking the mountains and desert valleys around her home, maintaining her own wild-spirited medicinal herb garden, and being the primary healthcare provider for her family of 4. www.albuquerqueherbalism.com. Susun S. Weed has no official diplomas of any kind. She left high school behind in her junior year in order to pursue studies in mathematics and artificial intelligence at UCLA, then left college in her junior year to pursue life. Susun’s study of herbal medicine began in 1965 while living in Manhattan, pregnant with her daughter Justine. Her worldwide teaching schedule encompasses herbal medicine, ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, psychology of healing, ecoherbalism, nutrition, and women's health issues and her venues include medical schools, hospital wellness centers, breast cancer centers, midwifery schools, naturopathic colleges, and shamanic training centers, as well as many conferences. Susun’s first book, Wise Woman Herbal For The Childbearing Year was published in 1986, the first of many Ash Tree Publishing titles, followed by Healing Wise (1989), New Menopausal Years The Wise Woman Way (1992, revised 2002) and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way (1996). She also trains apprentices, oversees the work of more than 300 correspondence course students, coordinates the activities of the Wise Woman Center, and is a High Priestess of Dianic Wicca. Susun Weed is a contributor to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, peer- reviewed journals, other periodicals including SageWoman, and her quarterly column here in Plant Healer Magazine. Jereme Zimmerman is a writer and fermentation revivalist who lives in Berea, Kentucky with his wife Jenna, daughters Sadie and Maisie, and herds of wild yeast that he has corralled into various ferments. He travels nationwide to present on topics such as fermentation, natural, holistic homebrewing, modern homesteading, and sustainable living. He is an avid fermenter of pretty much everything and researches extensively into traditional fermentation practices in order to revive lost food arts and to educate people on how to preserve food using traditional, natural and healing techniques and ingredients. He is the author of Make Mead Like a Viking (which has been translated into German as Met Brauen wie ein Wikinger) and is currently at work on a book tentatively titled Before Hops Was King. His new book will be about traditional beer brewing using few-to-no hops and instead focusing primarily on herbs, spices, and other botanicals that have been used in traditional brewing for centuries. Both books are with Chelsea Green Publishing. Read more on his website: Jereme-Zimmerman.com
And special acknowledgment goes out to you, our special readers, without whom there would be no Plant Healer Magazine, and no Plant Healers to keep these vital herbal healing traditions alive.
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