From the Lion’s Mouth: Dancing A Weedy Revolution
by Kiva Rose Hardin http://animacenter.org
Common Name: Dandelion
Botanical Name: Taraxacum spp.
Taste: Bitter, sweet
Energetics: Cool, dry
“It gives one a sudden start in going down a barren, stony street, to see upon a narrow strip of grass, just within the iron fence, the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass, like a [...]
The beautiful blue-purple blooms of the Vinca are just starting, the Honeysuckle will soon have buds and the Elms are drooping under the weight of their fat green fruit. Spring has been coming in small ripples this year, beginning early but the full bloom taking a bit longer than usual, with some unseasonal (but very [...]
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This is an abridged version of my monograph of Oregon Grape Root from the upcoming The Medicine Woman’s Herbal. Enjoy!
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Name: Oregon Grape Root, Yerba de Sangre
Botanical Name: Mahonia spp.
Energetics: Cold, dry
Taste: bitter
Actions: bitter tonic, liver stimulant, antimicrobial
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Unlike many of the herbs I write about, this one has been well loved (if a bit misunderstood) in [...]
This month’s blogparty is all about the benefits and wonders of bitter herbs. Here’s a link list of the current submissions (I’ll add any additional submissions as they come in this evening). My own post on Bitters Differentials is below as well.
Amber’s overview of digestive health and bitter herbs
Sasha’s adventures with Vervain
Darcey Blue’s [...]
Botanical Name: Withania somnifera
Common Names: Ashwagandha, Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng
Energetics: warming
Taste: Sweet, bitter, pungent
Actions: Adaptogen, alterative, cardioprotective, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic
This post contains some of my ramblings and ponderings about this very special plant. This isn’t an all-encompassing portrait of the herb but rather notes from my own experience plus research and the wise words of [...]
Working with liver issues as often as I do, you can bet I’ve dispensed a lot of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) in my time. And for a long while, I rotated between giving a strong tincture and a strong decoction. I certainly saw results, but was always a bit frustrated by what felt like unlocked [...]
Up until this point, I’ve kept my terms of the trade series very short and to the point. I’m afraid that this post breaks that trend a bit, leaning more towards the long-winded. The thing is, bitters are some of our most effective and widely applicable medicines. They are also easy to come buy and [...]
I’ve been insanely busy the last few weeks, but today Rhiannon and I took a long walk downriver today in search of blooming Wild Roses. Although the floods smashed and buried a good number of the largest hedges I was still able to get a decent first harvest, though I’ll certainly be out looking for [...]
I’ve been running in so many directions with herbs lately that I can hardly focus long enough to write about just one, or even one group. Last night I was writing about Pulsatilla and then I took a drop of the tincture, got so warm, fuzzy and comfortable I couldn’t manage to finish my writing. [...]
These are therapeutic suggestions for conditions that can be caused by underlying constitutional imbalance, that are in turn aggravated by food allergies and deficiencies, lifestyle, environmental factors, solvent poisoning and diseases such as viral Hepatitis.
I personally feel that the overall constitution should be taken into account before treatment, which means if you are a airy, [...]
I was milling about in the heat of the day yesterday, trying to key out some wonderful smell traveling through the warm air…. strangely enough, it was emanating from this little purple and green leaved bush/vine creature whose identity I’d never been able to key out before. I looked down and the creature was bursting [...]
It is definitely Spring! The Vervain (see pic to the right), Corydalis & Mountain Candytuft are all flowering their hearts out now. The Monardas, Pennyroyal, Asters, Lupine and a host of other beauties are growing at an incredible pace. Every time I poke my head out the door there’s a new leafy face to greet.
Though [...]
I’m so in love with this plant, I’ve loved it since I was a little girl without even knowing why. Long before I understood the medicine or mythology of Elder, I just knew that I loved to be around her, I’ve even always loved the slightly rank smell of the leaves. [...]
