A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing

Pink Lady’s Slipper

 The mission statement for United Plant Savers (UpS) states:

“United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come.”

Their website is full of articles, news, images, events, links, membership information, and more. Take a little time to visit the United Plant Savers and consider a membership to help support their wonderful efforts to preserve medicinal plants. 

From the United Plant Savers website:

At-Risk Medicinal Plants

• American Ginseng - Panax quinquefolius
• Black Cohosh - Actaea racemosa (Cimicifuga)
• Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis
• Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides
• Echinacea - Echinacea spp.
• Eyebright - Euphrasia spp.
• False Unicorn Root - Chamaelirium luteum
• Goldenseal - Hydrastis canadensis
• Lady’s Slipper Orchid - Cypripedium spp.
• Lomatium - Lomatium dissectum
• Osha - Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.
• Peyote - Lophophora williamsii
• Slippery Elm - Ulmus rubra
• Sundew - Drosera spp.
• Trillium, Beth Root -Trillium spp.
• True Unicorn - Aletris farinosa
• Venus’ Fly Trap - Dionaea muscipula
• Virginina Snakeroot - Aristolochia serpentaria
• Wild Yam - Dioscorea villosa, D. spp.

To-Watch List

• Arnica - Arnica spp.
• Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
• Cascara Sagrada - Frangula purshiana (Rhamnus)
• Chaparro - Casatela emoryi
• Elephant Tree - Bursera microphylla
• Gentian - Gentiana spp.
• Goldthread - Coptis spp.
• Kava Kava - Piper methysticum (Hawaii only)
• Lobelia - Lobelia spp.
• Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pendatum
• Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum
• Oregon Grape - Mahonia spp.
• Partridge Berry - Mitchella repens
• Pink Root - Spigelia marilandica
• Pipsissewa - Chimaphila umbellata
• Spikenard - Aralia racemosa, A. californica
• Stone Root - Collinsonia canadensis
• Stream Orchid - Epipactis gigantea
• Turkey Corn - Dicentra canadensis
• White Sage - Salvia apiana
• Wild Indigo - Baptisia tinctoria
• Yerba Mansa - Anemopsis californica

Organic is always the best, right? As an herbalist, I have mixed views.

First, let’s define the three different growing classifications for herbs.

Commercial: These plants are farm raised, non-organically. Typically fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides are used. Produces nice, large plants, but laden with chemicals that have been absorbed into the plant. Why would we use these medicinally? We would be taking in additional toxins into our bodies.

Organic: These plants have been cultivated by natural means on unpolluted land without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Hopefully they have not been fumigated, irradiated, or genetically altered.

Wildcrafted:These plants have been grown wild in nature without human intervention and ideally have been harvested following wildcrafting guidelines (see end of article).

Plants, just like humans, are living organisms and thus have an energetic life force. Plants living in their own environment undergo stress due to too dry or too wet conditions, competing plants, insects, etc. but these natural conditions make for a plant with more vital energy.

“Generations of herbalists have emphasized the quality of wild versus cultivated plants. This bias was not based on plant constituency, which is often higher in cultivated species, but rather on the energetics of wild plants. There is a spirit, and energy inherent in wild things, both fauna and flora, that is apparent to anybody who has visited the last remaining wilderness areas of this country. That essence is hard, if not impossible to capture.” - Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs - ed. Rosemary Gladstar

Organically cultivated medicinal herbs are pampered. They are raised under the ideal growing conditions and soils. Watered when needed, naturally fertilized, weeded and treated with organic pesticides. Healthy? Yes, but without out the stress “to be all they can be.”

However, as medicinal plants are becoming more and more popular, some wildcrafting practices are placing a great burden on the wild plant populations. Commercial over harvesting is wiping out many species of medicinal plants. It is important to follow wildcrafting guidelines and not collect threatened or endangered species. Wildcrafting is a great way of connecting with the spirit of the plants and nature before using them for your medicine making. For plants that are at-risk or on the to-watch lists, organically cultivated is the only way to go.

“But let us not make a reactionary mistake of construing wildcrafting as something negative. It is not in the least; it is an herbal art and a craft that commands respect when performed by a skilled artist and craftsman. Pursued with intelligence and understanding, wildcrafting is a process of harvest pruning, which when practiced knowledgeably never exploits or diminishes wild plant communities, but instead supports and enhances them. What is needed is not condemnation of this ancient, honorable craft, but more well-trained teachers and fervent, plant-loving students.”

The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green

So are organic or wildcrafted herbs better? I feel it depends upon the circumstances. 

Wildcrafting Guidelines

• Always gain permission from landowner.
• Positively identify the plant.
• Never collect plants that are endangered or at-risk for the area.
• Collect plant in the proper growing phase.
• Pick on a sunny day after the morning dew but before hot sun.
• Do not “ring” a tree if taking bark.
• Never collect more than 15% of the species in any given area.
• Never take more plants than you will use.
• Leave the area undisturbed, do not damage other plants or disrupt the earth.
• Always leave largest and smallest members of the community. Take only from the middle growth.
• Never collect plants located close to highways or industrial areas.
• Never collect from areas with livestock, or downstream from livestock if collecting streamside.
• Do not collect in areas of known pesticide use or possible chemical contaminants.
• Take care of your harvest immediately.

We are connected with all living beings. Adding in some spirituality during collection is a nice way of honoring the plants. Show respect and graditude to the plant for giving itself to create a healing medicine by connecting with the plant, ask permission and offer thanks.

“Ritual helps you allow yourself to function at an altered state of knowing and receptivity.”  ~James Green

Apple cider vinegar has amazing health and healing properties. The best type is organic, naturally brewed, unfiltered and unpasteurized versions of apple cider. Filtered, pasteurized vinegar does not have healing properties. The most recognized brand is Bragg’s, which is available in most health food stores. Natural apple cider vinegar should be a rich, brownish color and if held to the light you might see a tiny formation of “cobweb-like” substances, called the “mother,” which are strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.

The use of apple cider vinegar for healing is not new, in fact it was used by Hippocrates (the father of medicine) in 400 B.C. and as far back as the Egyptians in 3000 BC. It contains naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic properties which fight germs and bacteria.

Natural apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins and minerals including: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon, fluorine, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, provitamin beta-carotene, and vitamin P.

So, just what does natural apple cider vinegar do?

It assists in creating a proper functioning metabolism, aids in weight loss, boosts the immune system, reduces joint stiffness, reduces muscle pain from exercise, reduces cholesterol, regulates water within the body and reduces water retention, reduces excess sodium, reduces excess mucus, helps to regulate blood pressure, assists in blood circulation, cleanses the blood, inhibits unfriendly bacteria, increases concentration and memory, regulates body temperature, and increases vitality and energy. Natural apple cider vinegar aids the liver in detoxifying the body and helps to digest rich, fatty, greasy foods (which you shouldn’t be eating anyway!), and promotes the proper metabolizing of proteins, fats and minerals.

Add natural apple cider vinegar to your daily routine (the taste isn’t all that bad) and quickly notice all the changes in your body. It really does boost metabolism, vitality and a sense of well being within a couple of days. Being healthy on the inside shows on the outside as well.

And as an added bonus, according to Chinese medicine, “vinegar is warming, it creates a temporary warming circulation of energy (qi) in the body and removes stagnant blood. It can quickly alter emotional stagnation as well — bad moods will usually disappear a few moments after taking vinegar.” (from Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition)

Typically 2 - 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 8 oz. of water is taken 3 times per day, before meals. A little honey can be added to sweeten the taste if needed.

For more information, Patricia Bragg has written a book which has sold over 7 million copies: Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System