Medicinal Plants at the Farm

Our farm is home to a great many one legged People (the plants and trees). The farm is home to many wild indigenous plants (and one wild indigenous person - LOL). I much prefer to harvest medicinal plants and make preparations for my needs (reaching into Mother Earth's medicine cabinet is how I think of it) than to buy mass produced, chemically saturated products.  While this is not always possible, I do it as much as I can.  I learned everything I know about medicinal plants from the amazing Patsy Clark - Chii Megwetch Patsy for all that you share and do and for the person that you are!

Heal All

This is Heal-All, (the purple one) it is related to mint.  

It can be used fresh as a poultice on wounds and abrasions, has great healing properties and has been used to stop bleeding, heal wounds and cure infection in wounds for hundreds of years.  This year I cut heal all at the height of its flower and dried it for later use in salves... we'll see how that turns out!

Mullein

This is Common Mullein. Mullein's fine, downy hairs that give the plant its features of soft, velvety texture and appearance, and help the plant retain moisture. has been used for centuries. The Greek physician, Dioscorides, mentioned the benefits of Mullein for "old coughs." Mullein contains coumarin and rotenone, a natural insecticide. Mullein tea is traditionally an effective treatment for coughs and lung disorders.   Some of my Native friends smoke mullein in a pipe to clear up respiratory infections, and swear by it!

Mullein has an interesting 2 year growth pattern, a first year plant grows close to the ground in a tight rosette.  In the second year the plant sends up a tall flowering spike.

Plantain

Externally, plantain is effective on any kind of skin disorder when the leaves are bruised and used as a poultice or simply rubbed on the skin.  Alternatively it can be made into an infused oil or ointment  and stored for later use.  Plantain can also be harvested when the plants are young and tender and used in salads!

Plantain salve is highly effective for treating all manner of wounds, burns and abrasions.

Plantain has been used for centuries, so long in fact that it is even found referenced in works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare!

Jewelweed

Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis) is related to the popular garden flower – impatiens and has been used for centuries in North America by Native Americans and Herbalists, as a natural preventative and treatment for poison ivy (also poison oak, nettles and many other plant irritants). Jewelweed grows prolifically and is quite often found alongside poison ivy and nettles (with nettles in the photo below).

Jewelweed works by counter-reacting with the chemicals in other plants that cause irritation. 

Poultices and salves from Jewelweed are a remedy for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sores, sprains, warts, and ringworm. 

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Honor all people with whom we share the Earth: the 4 leggeds, the 2 leggeds, the winged ones, the swimmers, the crawlers, the plant and rock people... everything on the Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it... and every person... a mission.