Elderberry

Elderberry, Medicine chest tree, Tree of music

Sambucus canadensis (or S. nigra)Caprifoliacea
Found in moist soils but can tolerate dry conditions. Elder is found in shaded to semi-shaded woods in many soil types.
There is a lot of folk information about Elder. It has many magical uses and is considered a powerful and magical tree in many cultures; rituals involve offerings left to the Elder Mother, or in some cultures, the faeries. Tubular plants (hollow stems) are associated with the shamanic journey to the underworld, and also make haunting music when used to make musical pipes. It was said that it was not safe to fall asleep under an Elder tree lest you be taken prisoner into the underworld.
'The Russians believe that Elder-trees drive away evil spirits, and the Bohemians go to it with a spell to take away fever. The Sicilians think that sticks of its wood will kill serpents and drive away robbers, and the Serbs introduce a stick of Elder into their wedding ceremonies to bring good luck. In England it was thought that the Elder was never struck by lightning, and a twig of it tied into three or four knots and carried in the pocket was a charm against rheumatism. A cross made of Elder and fastened to cowhouses and stables was supposed to keep all evil from the animals.' (Greives, A Modern Herbal)
Charlemagne (800 C.E.) decreed people to plant an Elder tree on their property to be on hand in case of sickness. (Wood, The Earthwise Herbal p 456) Leaves are good for bruises, sprains, wounds, tumors, skin irritation, etc. Flowers are good for colds and flu, inflammation of upper respiratory tract, hay fever and sinusitis. Most often leaves are used externally because of their purgative nature. The flower properties change whether the flowers are fresh or dried, served hot or cold. The fresh flowers are more purgative. The dried flowers made into a hot infusion are good for colds, flu, fevers, inflammation, pneumonia, stomach, or bowels. The cold infusion is good as eyewash for sore and inflamed eyes, swollen glands, sprains, bruises, stiffness, and rheumatic pain. The bark was traditionally used in folk medicine as a strong purgative for the gall bladder, stomach, and intestines. The berries are used as a tonic to build up blood and combat anemia. They purge the bowels, promote perspiration, and remove cold, sore throat, nasal congestion, bronchial catarrh, and asthma. Elder is said to be the remedy for infants and old folks, whom the passageway to the underworld is more readily open to. The hollow stems are a signature for all tubes in the body such as the blood vessels, pores of the skin and membranes, the respiratory tract, and the kidneys. Elder removes stagnation, and decongests heat and stirs up blood in the interior, bringing it to the surface.

Bark, flowers, berries, and leaves from the Elder plant are all gathered for medicinal use. Collect flowers in the spring and dry in the shade, bark and berries when ripe in August or September.
Leaves: external emollient and vulnerary. Internally same as bark.
Flowers: diaphoretic, anti-catarrhal
Berries: Diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative
Bark: purgative, emetic, diuretic
References
Botanical.com- A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve, The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffmann, Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra, The Book of Herbal Wisdom by Matthew Wood, The Earthwise Herbal by Matthew Wood

Plantain

Plantain, Ribwort
Plantago major
Plantaginaceae

Plantian grows in yards, roadsides, disturbed areas. It is an important medicinal plant introduced from Europe. It grows best on hard, compacted ground which makes it a signature as a powerful drawing agent; its' roots have the ability to draw water and nutrients out of tough soil. It’s best to collect plantain fresh and juice the leaves for internal and external use. Pick young leaves before the plant flowers, or collect during the growing season as needed. You can also dry the leaves to use in the winter months.
Historical Notes:
Mucilage from the leaves was used in France to stiffen muslin. Sheep are fond of it. Plantain has a long history of medicinal use in many cultures.

Plantain is bitter with an earthen taste; it is cool, moistening, and astringent. Plantain acts as a gentle expectorant as well as soothing irritated mucous membranes. A specific use for this plant is an irritated, unproductive cough, that starts with a tickle like a hair in the back of the throat. It is useful in respiratory illnesses, bringing out deep phlegm. Plantain is astringent and useful in diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis. Plantain acts as a nourishing kidney diuretic. It is a powerful drawing agent for insect, snake, and spider bites; if needed harvest fresh leaves, chew, and place directly on the sting. It has the ability to draw dirt and pus out of wounds. The leaf looks like a tongue and has an affinity for the mouth. Plantain can draw infections out of gums while toning the tissues; use juice or tincture in water as a mouthwash. Plantain is an expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, nutritive, and demulcent.

References
A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve, The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffmann, The Yoga of herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, The Book of Herbal Wisdom, The Earthwise Herbal , The Book of Herbal Wisdom by Matthew Wood

Chickweed

Chickweed
Stellaria media
Caryophyllaceae



Chickweed is a cooling yin plant.

It is a common annual. The stems are weakly branched, with leaves 1-3 cm. Chickweed flowers white from early spring to fall. Chickweed grows in moist wet places in sun or shade. It is introduced from Europe. In Minnesota, Chickweed grows in shade, sun, and wet places. Chickweed seems to like to cover bare soil and acts like a protector while irritating some gardeners. I got over my frustration when I put some in my mouth; it is a refreshing snack!

Gather chickweed when it is actively growing in the spring and summer. The whole plant is used fresh. Tincture the fresh plant or use the fresh juice. It is tasty in a salad, and makes a nice tea. This herb is not as effective dried. Herbal oil can be made by incorporating macerated fresh chickweed in olive oil for a few days. This makes soothing oil for eczema and itching which is safer than cortisone cream.

Chickweed is used for many conditions. It has a range of actions that affects both sides of the spectrum. Chickweed is useful in stagnant conditions by clearing the lymphatics and balancing the waters and oils in the body. It helps the body break down fats, and also helps nourish the tissues in cases of atrophy. It would be called for in cases when the liver needs help emulsifying fats, and is sometimes thought of as a weight loss herb because of this. It is known to be the most soothing and cooling external remedy to any irritated tissue, especially eczema or other itchy rashes. Chickweed is also known to work on cases of hypothyroidism and depression, and when the endocrine system needs support, like during menopause. It is considered an alterative herb, and useful for fatty tumors. It is also a lung soother when they are dry and irritated or any other internal inflammation. In Ayurvedic medicine Chickweed is considered bitter, sweet, and cooling. It is an herb ruled by the moon and therefore cooling and soothing. It is used much like in the West as a laxative, alterative, demulcent, and vulnerary. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used as an expectorant, demulcent, emollient, antitussive, antipyretic, vulnerary, and alterative. It is used to aid expectoration of phlegm, and to cool and soothe all areas of the body.


Expected Outcomes
Chickweed will soothe and calm, cool, and comfort. It is useful for depression, and balancing the both the oils and waters in the body. It will build up those that need it, and help those that need to lose weight. It is a great alterative.

Sources
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve. Erica Fargione’s Materia Medica class, Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra, The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss. The Earthwise Herbal, by Matthew Wood.

FOR ALL

Ah to be alive
on a mid-September morn
fording a stream
barefoot, pants rolled up,
holding boots, pack on,
sunshine, ice in the shallows,
northern rockies.

Rustle and shimmer of icy creek waters
stones turn underfoot, small and hard as toes
cold nose dripping
singing inside
creek music, heart music,
smell of sun on gravel.

I pledge allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the soil
of Turtle Island,
and to the beings who thereon dwell
one ecosystem
in diversity
under the sun
With joyful interpenetration for all.

Gary Snyder

Dandelion

Dandelion
Taraxucum officinale
Compositae

Dandelion is a non-native perennial that grows in many places. Considered a troublesome weed in some areas, Dandelion grows in a rosette from a tap root. The leaves are deep green, long and narrow with coarsely toothed edges. The flower stems are hollow and hold a milky sap. The flowers are unmistakably bright yellow disks that attract honeybees in the spring. It is an important food source for bees. The Dandelion blooms in early spring, it seems to like cooler weather. The flower heads are complete as soon as they emerge from the base of the plant displaying an energetic preparedness. The Dandelion flowers are light sensitive and will open early on sunny days, and even close early if it is cloudy. If plucked, Dandelion quickly goes to seed.

Dandelion root has a bitter taste; earthen and salty. It is moist and oily. The leaf is bitter, earthen, salty, moist, and cool.


Dandelion has been used medicinally for centuries. It is a powerful diuretic with a valuable supply of potassium. This makes it safe to use for water retention issues. (Heart problems to PMS and bloating). It is used as a chologague for inflammation of the liver and gall bladder, and congestive jaundice. The bitterness helps get bile moving. Dandelion is helpful for women’s reproductive health by helping the liver break down hormones, for cases of PMS. It is also helpful for rheumatism and as an oil for massaging sore muscles, and assists in clearing the lymphatic system. It has been used traditionally as a spring tonic to clean out stagnation from a winter diet high in rich, fatty foods. Useful in stagnation, it can be called for when there is sleepiness or lethargy. One of the best indications for the use of dandelion is when the tongue has a "mapped" appearance; patches of white coating over red tongue, or when there is a yellow coating present. Dandelion is a valuable food for bees and other insects, and humans as well. It provides great nutrients Like A, C, iron, calcium and potassium.

Common Therapeutic Actions
Diuretic, alterative, laxative, bitter tonic

The flower essence of Dandelion can be used for muscle tension and for (generally) males who are hard-driving and over-striving. Dandelion can help one to listen more closely to emotional messages and bodily needs.

Collection
Collect Dandelion leaves in the Spring for the least bitter taste. Dandelion flower tops collect, dry and use quickly, as they don’t last long. Dandelion leaves grown in the shade can be used later in the summer, and the roots are collected between June and August for their bitter properties.

References
The Earthwise Herbal by Matthew Wood, The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffmann, The Yoga of herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar, The Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz,