#herbalism225,163 POSTS

I spent the evening & morning working with a couple spring herbal medicines that I wanted to share with you because they’re super beneficial to your health.

Cleavers (Galium appraise) is a gentle but darn effective little herb that’s a great spring tonic full of chlorophyll which supports the genitourinary tract & lymph system. It also calms skin rashness. A 101 on our lymphatic system, central to our health because it filters out toxins, debris and pathogenic organisms. It works in tandem with the circulatory system and contributes to the healthy flow of fluid around the body. Its role is to protect the body against outside threats (infections, bacteria, cancer cells) while keeping our fluid levels in balance. Lymphatic drainage can sometimes be slow and sluggish so Cleavers and some other herbal medicines are known to come to our rescue & help promote healthy lymph flow.

It’s growing in many of our yards throughout N. Cali. It’s fun teaching this to kids because it’ll latch on to your clothes. Bees apparently like it too because I had one trying to land on it while on my shirt. I made ice cubes of it (a succus) and threw a few of them in my smoothie this morning. Here’s to healthy flow!

Usnea is the one that looks like a birds nest. bIt’s a symbiotic life form composed of algae and a fungus. It’s a powerful antibacterial agent inhibiting gram positive bacteria (strep, staph, pneumococcus). It’s also an anti fungal agent (ringworm, athletes foot) and it also inhibits trichomonad and Candida albicans. It can be used in protocols to treat IBS, strep, bronchitis, pleurisy, hot/damp pneumonia and cystitis.*David Winston. Never pull out of a tree because it’s the tree’s medicine…Take from the ground and throw the rest back in the tree.*Karyn Sanders (or see your local herbalist ;) #herbalism #medicinesoftheearth #medicines4thepeople #springcleaning #vitality #grassrootsapothecary

Clinic dates for 2018 are here!

We will be hosting monthly sliding scale herbal clinics at @abqpeaceandjusticecenter .

Our sliding scale starts at $0, pay what you can! All proceeds go to the costs of running the clinic.
We operate on a first come, first serve basis. If our clinic is full, we will make sure you are scheduled for a future date.

We look forward to serving our Albuquerque community!

#herbalclinic #slidingscaleclinic #freeclinic #affordablehealthcare #herbalism #cottonwoodmedicine

Just a sea of #dandelion 👀
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#eatyourbackyard #foraging #wildedibles #herbalism #naturelovers #whatvegansdo #vegansofig #plantbased #plantbasedliving #plantbasedlife #natureismedicine #selfsufficient #sustainableliving #healthyfood #offgrid #sustainablefood #wearewildness #rewildyourlife #thealterlife #respectnature #gooutside #dandelions

In the blog I talk about Reishi mushrooms and their benefits. Check it out 👍

The plants speak for themselves : last week’s codistillation of violets & cleavers hydrosol. A well distilled hydrosol needs no “add ons”. Unlike the many mists out there, which combine multiple hydrosols, essential oils, sometimes flower essences , plus preservatives, Tender Flower offers pure and naked plant cellular water rendered from fresh, not dried plants. Nothing more is necessary . And because they are pure, they can be taken internally as well as applied topically. The hitch? They have a 1-2 year shelf life and must be refrigerated. Oh, and they are 1/4 the price of most mists! This spring distillation is perfect for itchy skin, inflammation & lymph health . It comes with a separate pump sprayer so you can mist the simple way. #hydrosol#hydrosols#greenbeauty#organicbeauty#organicapothecary#herbs#herbalism#plantmedicine#organichealth #plantpower#plantwater#plantcellularwater#hydrolat

last nights dinner- garlic mustard, chickweed and wild garlic flowers 🌱💚🌱💚🌱💚

If you've attended one of our Wild Edibles seminars, you have a basic knowledge of a few useful edible and medicinal plants. You enjoy a cup of white pine tea with honey from time to time. You've used a plantain spit poultice to heal a wound. And that's great! But now it's time to take it to the next level. Join us on April 29th to go in depth on how to make salves, decoctions, tinctures, and more in a fast-paced, hands-on setting. You'll spend the afternoon making your own plant-based first aid kit from powerful medicinal herbs, and get that kit and a handy guide on how to use it when you go home. This is one of the most value-packed courses we'll offer this year, and space is limited. Follow the link in our bio to register now! .
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#SARCRAFT #survival #survivor #wilderness #wildernessculture #modernoutdoors #modernoutdoorsman #bushcraft #camping #hiking #outdoors #outdoorlife #outdooreducation #optoutside #nature #woods #plants #medicine #plantmedicine #traditionalskills #herbalism #salve #education #green #familyfriendly #trees #southernsurvivalists #PREVAIL

Another use for Wooly Lambs Ears (Stachys byzantine). This is one of the woundworts, of which Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) is at the head of the clan. Yet all the woundworts are useful astringents for wound or sore throat, and generally make tasty tea. Our wooly lambs ears is no exception--mince the fresh leaves and extract with very hot water--yumm! Here's some more info on:
Wooly Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantine) (spellcheck will not allow the "a" at the end of the species name, which would be correct):
Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)

Hardy to Zone 4 to 10

Evergreen perennial with soft and downy leaves. I have noticed that plants with smooth skin (unless it be dry and leathery) are often quite frost sensitive, while wooly plants tend to be frost hardy, and this is so with wooly lamb's ears. The downy leaf also makes the plant exceptionally drought tolerant, looking heallthy and unlikely to droop even if water supplies are thin, and sun is intense. The plant has two growth phases, one in which it spreads horizontally to form a cushy mat, and the other when it sends up its stalks and flowers in handsome spikes. Mainly used as a container plant in the city, it does well in planters along the sidewalk and is easy to upkeep while providing texture and color along what might otherwise be a drab and angular walkway. Traditional usage (TWM): wounds, hemostatic. Plant prefers full sun and is not particular about soil. Sow in pots in the spring and work up seedlings to the second set of leaves before transplanting out to 1 foot spacing. The plants will soon cover the area and self-mulch.

Today is the official first day of summer in Iceland which is also a national holiday. The heat is a sizzling 10*C. #summer #iceland #icelandic #icelandicnature #reykjavik #dandelion #yellow #herbs #herbalist #herbalmedicine #herbalism #plants #plantmedicine #flowersofinstagram

Not sure but I think this may be around the time I was exposed to poison ivy - or maybe it’s just where everyone said “oh yeah be careful of poison ivy” and then I became very paranoid, which of course ended in me getting poison ivy. Be careful out there folks!

Violet Syrup Recipe: .
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Step 1: Start by being distracted. .
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Step 2: Make sure that something goes wrong so that your Violet Jelly does not set, and stays syrupy.
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Ta-da! 💁‍♀️😑😂
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#violets #violet #violetsyrup #violetjelly #beautiful #fail #colors #colorful #plants #flowers #plantmagic #homemade #diy #foraging #foraged #foragersofinstagram #hiking #cooking #kitchen #wildfood #wildfoodlove #nature #photography #herbs #herbalism #plantlove #wild #sweet #explore #explorekentucky

We just applied for grant with Public Spaces! Help us spread the word ✨ check out the link on our bio - you can like 💚& comment📝 there 🌿OUR IDEA TO IMPROVE THIS PLACE...
Is to provide our community with public workshops where citizens of all ages are encouraged to convene, meet their neighbors and learn more about the nutritional, medicinal power of plants, all while creating small, herbal gardens. Public, community space will be activated and used as a gathering place to learn from one another. The classes could be conducted by grandmothers, aunts, mothers, healers, musicians, dancers, farmers and herbalists that live in Miami. Think of a wellness space…but outdoors, utilizing natural resources and community knowledge.
Examples for workshops include:
planting an avocado tree and then using avocado pits to dye clothes
planting medicinal gardens and then having a healer teach how to make herbal infusions

SO THAT PEOPLE COULD...
Enjoy regular afternoon meetups where neighbors can engage in creating with their hands; meet people while learning about the culinary and medicinal properties from plants. Engage with neighbors and create a community of plant lovers. Reach food desserts and support POC communities in Miami by giving them a platform to teach and have free educational activities abundantly available. Forget Siri and Google: This project is about asking our neighbors questions and sharing knowledge!

This project also helps citizens re-connect with ancestral traditions. Much of the population in Miami was not born in the US, so there are many people that grew up with traditions that honor the medicinal and spiritual properties of plants. #miamifarmers #femalefarmers #herbalism #community #madeinmiami

✨I'll be doing a short FB Live with @sallymarieyoung at @besoulstudio this afternoon about my Kitchen Witch Detox workshop next Wed, April 25th, 7-9pm! Stop by with questions or to say hello!!✨ #kitchenwitch #healinghawk

What is grounding and centering? As we go through our normal day our minds are all over the place. Grounding brings out brain out of the ethereal space and brings us back to tangible thoughts. Centering gathers our focus and brings it inward for more introspection. While there are many ways to describe these two actions, they are often done together rather than as separate actions. Centering oneself can be done just through focusing on the breath. This action itself brings your focus inward on your own body. One way I like to ground is through growing roots. This can be done sitting or standing but if you are new to the practice I recommend sitting in case you lose your balance. Find a nice quiet space for your first few practices and breathe to calm yourself.

#healthyliving #wellness #herbs #healthybody #education #grounding #centering #health #healthandwellness #herbalist #botanicals #meditation #herblife #plantmedicine #meetandgreet #herbalism #herbalmedicine #herbalremedies #thedancingherbalist

The book that this quote resides immediately caught my eye while visiting Esalen a few weeks back...we have so much to learn from the #plantworld , soooo so much... 🌿🌱🌿. “In the Western tradition there is a recognized hierarchy of beings, with, of course, the human being on top – the pinnacle of evolution, the darling of creation, and the plants at the bottom. But in Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as ‘the younger brothers of creation’. We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn – we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance. Their wisdom is apparent in the way that they live. They teach us by example. They’ve been on the earth far longer than we have, and have had time to figure things out. They live both above and below ground, joining the Skyworld to the earth. Plants know how to make food and medicine from light and water, and then they give it away.” ~excerpt from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Get your cleanse on !! As we are in the spring season, which represents a time of cleansing, dont forgot to love yourself by taking care of yourselves.
#eattherainbow #eatyourveggies #springcleaning #eatforhealth #foodismedicine #foodasmedicine #healthygut #guthealth #nutritionalhealth #digestivehealth  #functionalmedicine #guthealing #detox #detoxify #plantmedicine #medicinalherbs #naturalmedicine #healingherbs #coloncleanse #tincture #herb #herbalist #herbalhealing #womenshealth #menshealth #herbalism #naturalhealing #holisticnutrition #naturalhealth #naturalwellness

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.: Larch :.
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Look at those wonderfully colored female flowers/cones!
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This tree is unique as it is one of a few trees that are deciduous conifers. The needles regrow each spring and fall off in the autumn, unlike conifers such as spruce, pine and Douglas fir that keep their needles year round.
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#herbalist #herbalism #herbalmedicine #rewild #wild #trees #victoria #squamish #westcoast

If you could step out of my kitchen onto my terrace, you'd notice how perfumed the air is right now in my garden. This magnolia in the picture is responsible for the delicious aroma. It's almost intoxicating. Mind you, this magnolia is not right outside my kitchen.

Morning harvest with this wild one 🌿✨
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What’s in my basket?
-Allium triquetrum~ wild onion blooms
-Claytonia perfoliata~ miner’s lettuce
-Tropaeolum~ nasturtium
-Fragaria californica~ wild strawberry flowers
All going in a wild salad tonight along with a few more edible flowers! So pretty