Quick Facts: Burdock
Editor’s Note: The text and still photos in this article are from Herbalism for the Zombie Apocalypse. Artium minusis, Common Burdock Artium lappa, Greater Burdock a.k.a., Hobo Buttons, Cockle Buttons, Beggar’s Buttons Burdock is one of my favorite foods. It’s a gentle cleanser that offers crisp, sweet nutrition and medicine. It preserves easily and most […]
Passionflower Energetics and Uses
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article How would you describe Passionflower? With its glorious, layered, large flowers and almost weedy, vining habit, it’s clearly an herb for those who’s energies are a little top-heavy, so to speak. Native Medicine People of the North, South, and Central American continent relied on several varieties of Passionflower for food […]
Passionflower, P. incarnata, Quick Facts
Passion Flower is the general name for a variety of Passiflora species. Passiflora incarnata is the one most often used by herbalists, although P. edulis is the one that’s most commonly known for its fruits, Passionfruit. The tops of either can be used as herbal medicine as can that of P. quadrangularis, P. foetida, P. […]
Lobelia Inflata Energetics and Use
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Modern herbalists often reach for Lobelia inflata to help reduce and control pain, particularly the kind of pain that’s torturous, as if the body is writhing or twisting with the intensity of it. One of Matthew Wood’s indicators for use of L. inflata is an unbalanced tongue pattern, such as […]
Quick Plant ID: Lobelia Inflata
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article There are many species of Lobelia, in the neighborhood of 300, to be more precise. Herbalists, however, tend to work with only two of those species; L. inflata is by far the most popular in North America and L. chinensis the most popular in Asia and among practitioners of Traditional […]
Spearmint Energetics: Cool, Gentle, Predictable Medicine
Most of us have encountered Spearmint almost daily for much of our lives…in our toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, and any number of candies and minty treats. There’s a really good reason for that; Spearmint is a solid, predictable, gentle medicine that’s been cooling and stimulating humanity for centuries.
Spearmint for Colds, Flus, and Respiratory Ills
Today, as it was used centuries ago, Spearmint is often one of the first go-to herbs Moms reach for at the first signs of a sniffle. Science tells us that Spearmint is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, so it can help us fight off cold and flu germs. Energetically, Spearmint helps to cool and open the respiratory system – so it helps release and drain the stuiffiness from our sinuses and open up our bronchial passages.
Quick Plant ID: Spearmint
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article
Too often, herbalists refer to Spearmint and her close relations as “Mint.” It’s sad, in my opinion, because the mint family is wide and varied, like the variety you get at a grand family reunion. There’s subtle differences between each of them, which gives experts a leg-up when formulating with them.
Licorice Root Properties, Energetics, and Uses
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive Article Licorice Root, the catch-all name for several of the Glycyrrhiza species, has been used by traditional healers for centuries. Traditional Chinese Herbalists, Ayurvedic practitioners, and Traditional Western Herbalists today all agree that the overall properties for this family are mildly cooling and moistening with the danger of driving the body into a too-moist state if not used appropriately.
Ancient Healer for Digestion, Auto-immune, Respiratory, and More: Licorice
Herbal Nerd Society Exclusive ArticleFor centuries, we humans have had a love-it or hate-it relationship with Licorice. Have you met anyone who doesn’t have a strong opinion on the taste of black licorice candy or, for that matter, Jaegermeister?
If you’ve sided with the supporters of this sweet, slightly spicy and oh-so distinctly flavored root, you’re not alone…
Raspberry, Blackberry: Energetics and Properties
When I was still trying to bridge the gap from she-who-reads-about-herbs to Home Herbalist years ago, I began working with leaf from the Rubus family. Most often, I used Rubus vilosus, or Blackberry, but R. idaeus canadensis, or Red Raspberry, was another of my favorites as well. Today, we find Raspberry leaf included in most […]
Raspberry Magic in the Garden and Farm: A Story of Creativity, Change, Connection
A few years ago, I met Patty. She owns a stable and riding center in Veneta, OR, but we met over 180 pounds of pears. For the first couple of years, our friendship centered on a farm trade. She grew a big garden full of beans, tomatoes, peas, squash, pears, apples, onions, and raspberries. I […]
Tea Tree Energetics and Uses
If you’ve tapped into essential oils as a healing modality or a natural beauty tool at all, you’ll notice that Tea Tree is everywhere. This potent essential oil from the Melaleuca artinafolia tree from Australia and New Zealand has become as common as lavender once was in our modern Western Herbal and Beauty world. Marketing […]