Tag: wild medicine
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Solomon’s Seal: The King of Herbs for Connective Tissue Problems
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) is a plant native to the Americas that most people just plant as an ornamental in their garden is by far one of my favorite medicinal herbs. Its unique, bone-shaped roots strengthen bones, marrow, and especially tendons. Note: I am an Herbalist, not a doctor. This post is not intended as…
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Black Cohosh does so much more than “stop hot flashes”
Black cohosh is a gorgeous perennial plant native to North America. You’ll find it under two different Botanical names, depending on the age of the text you look in: Cimicifuga racemosa and Actaea racemosa. I can’t recall which one is the older name but botanists drive me nuts when they do this… Anyway, I used…
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The ONE wild plant I can’t live without: Plantain
Any time I hear someone ask me, “What’s the one herb you would want to have with you if you were lost on a deserted island?” my answer is almost always going to be Plantain. And no, that’s not a big starchy banana. There are three varieties of plantain species you’re likely to find in…
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Foraging in Connecticut: Learn the Land Through Your Senses
Connecticut is home to a wide variety of wild edible plants and medicinal herbs year-round. In spring, look for stinging nettle, greenbriar shoots, and serviceberries. Summer brings elderflower, chanterelle mushrooms, and St. John’s Wort. Fall is ideal for rose hips, sassafras roots, and hickory nuts, while winter offers evergreen barks like wild cherry. With diverse…
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Birch vs Birch: Is there a difference among them?
You probably know by now that I love birch trees, because birch bark is a phenomenal herbal pain reliever. But what are the differences among the various varieties of birch trees? Let me tell you what I have personally experienced and you can make the final decision. The first time I ever worked with Birch…
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Witch Hazel: Connecticut’s Most Powerful Wild Medicine
Did you know Connecticut is considered the Witch Hazel capital of the world? [Source] If you’ve ever stepped onto a wooded trail here, that probably doesn’t surprise you. Witch hazel is everywhere—tucked along stream banks, lining old forest roads, even growing right off hiking paths. One of my favorite fall moments is catching that faint…
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The Ancient Plant that hoards Precious Minerals
Horsetail is one of the world’s oldest plants, dating back over 300 million years. Many people find it on their property and decide to hate it, as it’s incredibly difficult to eradicate once it has populated an area. But those “in the know” see this wild being as the precious resource it truly is. There…
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The Simple Herbal Tea That Finally Stopped My Heavy Bleeding
It sounds like an exaggeration, but I’m writing this from my desk with a profound sense of relief at the fact that one cup of red raspberry leaf infusion has managed to slow my bleeding down to a manageable level. It feels like this plant saved my life today. Warning: This post is going to…
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Wild Lettuce: How to Identify, Forage, and Work With This Powerful Plant
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. I’m an Herbalist, not a Doctor. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) quickly became one of my top favorite herbal remedies as soon as I was confident enough to recognize it and try it. Why? Because it is hands-down the strongest natural painkiller I’ve ever experienced. Traditionally speaking, this plant has…
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The Vitamin C Powerhouse Growing in the Wild: Rose Hips
You’ve heard that you need Vitamin C, so you eat oranges regularly and figure you’re doing a good deed for your body, right? Why do you even need Vitamin C? According to the pharmacy aisle at Walgreens, you NEED vitamin C to stop your cold and if you don’t take their products you’ll never get…