Mugwort. Cronewort. Wise old silver sage. Known as the eldest of plants, Artemisia vulgaris (along with many other species within the Artemisia genus) is known throughout history for being a lunar plant and protector of women. She gets her name from Artemis, the Greek lunar goddess of the hunt, who is protectress of the wildlife, …
Ahhh, Lemon Balm…Just speaking the name of this plant helps my jaw and shoulders to relax. I’d definitely say it is one of my favorite herbs of all time. And apparently I’m not alone. Paracelsus, a famed Swiss philosopher, physician, and alchemist from the Renaissance era, believed it was the only herb a person ever …
Chances are you’ve heard of chamomile. You may have read about it in Peter Rabbit, when his wise mother made him some chamomile tea at the end of a long day. You may have read or heard other things about chamomile, its sweet taste, its calming energy, its ability to mellow out a cranky child …
Elder (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis, S. Cerulea) Family: Adoxacea Grandmother Elder, healing Elda Mor, powerful wise healer, magickal tree of the faeries…There is so much lore and history surrounding this sacred healing plant. Not only that, but many scientific studies on the antiviral properties of elderberry have come out as well. There are even entire …
Soft, fuzzy Verbascum spp, otherwise known as herbal toilet paper, is in the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family. All parts of the plant-the leaves, flowers, and roots are medicinal. It is such a treat to come across the gorgeous first year basal rosette with the fuzzy leaves, as in the photo above. Mullein is a biennial, which …
I just love roses! All roses, wild and cultivated (as long as they’re organically grown) are medicinal. High in vitamin C, many people harvest and use the hips (fruits) of roses in the Fall and Winter months to add to teas and syrups during Cold and Flu Season. But today, I want to talk about …
Plantago lanceolata is the botanical name for long-leaf plantain, which is what I wildcrafted on my property in Bayside that I affectionately and unofficially call Melody Farm. Many of you might be familiar with plantain as the ultimate “band-aid plant”, because it is so amazing as a topical first aid herb for cuts, scrapes, stings, …