Wild Interconnection

Herbalists working from a wholly shifted perspective, from a true holistic model recognize the differences in each person’s body and lived experience. We recognize that each person comes to us with a different constitution (are they hot or cold? Damp or dry? Tense or lax?), a different history, different symptoms (even within the categorization of the same condition!), and, of course, different health goals. From this perspective we can really start to do some foundational work! We can look at this person as a whole, and find herbs that can start to shift things, to build more resilience. We can make lifestyle and nutrition recommendations to help build them up, as well.

That shift in perspective is a huge one! We are no longer looking for a named condition, and then figuring out what substance will work best to combat it – we’re looking at symptoms and the state of the body, and matching herbs and lifestyle choices to try and shift it back into a more comfortable state.

If this is something you’re interested in I’d love to chat more about it with you at my Sunday Tea & Chat events! They’re free, open to the public and super low key. Just show up with a nice cup of tea and lets discuss all things herby!

The Holistic Perspective Visit the post for more.

Carduus nutans: I’ve been quite enamored with the musk thistle lately. 💕 Such a vibrant bloom, and it’s so soft compared to the rest of the plant.

The musk thistle has similar medicinal properties to the more well known milk thistle as a liver protector/healer.

Did you know that some thistles are also edible? Musk thistle is one of them! Don't let all the spikes fool you, there is a tasty treat in the stalk once its peeled.

Dandelion flowers are one of my daughters favorites, and I get why! A field of cheery, bright yellow flowers appearing after a long, cold winter can make me almost euphoric!

Like rose, and tulsi, dandelion flowers are considered an exhilarant – an herb that uplifts the spirits when you’re feeling less than cheerful. When winter feels like its been going on forever, and you’re starting to wonder if you will ever see the spring, taking tincture of dandelion flower can keep you holding on!

If you infuse dandelion flowers in oil you can work with it as a sore muscle and joint rub, a moisturizer, or you can add some cocoa butter and beeswax, turn it into a salve, and work with it for eczema.

But there’s still more gifts that dandelion has to offer us! Did you know that every part of dandelion from flower to root is edible? From flower petal fritters, salad leaves, and roasted roots as a coffee substitute – dandelions are here offering us a true abundance of food and medicine.

Dandelion leaves are great as a salad green! They can be bitter (less earlier in the year, more later in the year) – which is an important taste many of us are missing out on! Bitter plants are often cleansing and stimulating to the liver and gallbladder, helping you clean out the stagnation from a heavy winter diet. The leaves are also a mild diuretic, but also contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals (especially potassium), to replace what you lose with the diuretic action.

Dandelion root is a special treat – it can be worked with as a sustainable coffee replacement! Roasted in the oven, and then boiled in a decoction, it tastes great on its own or with other herbs.

The root also has bitter properties and can stimulate the liver and gallbladder even more than the leaves. If made into a tincture it can be worked with as an appetite stimulant, or to stimulate the digestive juices prior to eating. This is important work! Bitters can really get things flowing, and help you to digest you food more thoroughly.

Working with plant allies that grow in your own bioregion is ecologically important – and so easy to do with abundant friends like dandelions. They are one plant that you can harvest as much as you would like every season, and never have to worry about hurting the population! Enjoy dandelion season, friends!