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Northeast School of Botanical Medicine

Northeast School of Botanical Medicine

Northeast School of Botanical Medicine

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A Plant and a Surprise Viral Story Do you recogniz

A Plant and a Surprise Viral Story
Do you recognize this plant? It is a good one to know, as it is Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix, Anacardiaceae), a plant that can cause a pretty nasty rash. The leaves look like other non-poisonous sumacs, but two things readily distinguish it. First, it grows in swamps and wetlands. Next, the fruits, when ripe, are white and droop in clusters, similar to its close relative, Poison ivy/oak. They are not the upright red fruits of Staghorn and other non-toxic sumacs (Rhus species).

Here is the story.

Many years ago, when I first saw this stand of Poison sumac, I wanted to know how ‘toxico’ it was, so I rubbed a little on my arm. Yes, I am that person.
I went home that night and woke up with a rash along the right side of my torso. It was quite itchy, and I wondered if my arm rubbed against my side, spreading the oil (urushiol) on my body, and causing the reaction. I tried the usual remedies, including dry clay on the rash, and using Grindelia and Yerba santa (Eriodictyon species) tincture, but nothing helped the rash.

About 2 weeks into the rash, someone suggested that perhaps it was not Poison sumac, and so I researched it and realized I had….Shingles. Yup. (I did have Chickenpox as a kid). It was not a very bad case, and it eventually cleared up.
So that is my surprise viral story for this evening. A healthy night to you all. ~7Song

The Demulcency of Pussytoes, Pearly everlasting, a

The Demulcency of Pussytoes, Pearly everlasting, and Cudweed
First, I admit to a long-time fondness for Rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea, see photo), a plant of the Rockies. Both for its name (how adorable) and its sparkly appearance. The pink parts are its involucre (heads up, botany nerds).
There are three groups of closely related (and often overlooked) Asteraceae that I think have useful medicinal value. They are the Pussytoes (genus Antennaria), Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), and Cudweeds (genus Gnaphalium).
There are many species amongst these plants, but I think most have a very mild demulcent taste, and they pretty up a tea verily. I like to harvest their inflorescences (flower tops) and put them in tea blends to give them a bit of a demulcent flavor and to add an attractive element to the tea blend.
If you would like to try this, gather the inflorescences before they fully open, as they tend to open when you dry them. And just add them to any tea blend. Their flavor is mostly bland, with a hint of mucilaginous. You can try chewing them the next time you come across a stand of them to get a sense of this flavor.
~7Song

A surprised looking Wood betony (Betonica officina

A surprised looking Wood betony (Betonica officinalis) flower.

This beautiful little spider is a Lined orbweaver

This beautiful little spider is a Lined orbweaver (Mangora gibberosa). It is quite small; you could easily fit 2 on your fingertip. See below for a close-up.
I know that not everyone enjoys spiders, but I find them beautiful and fascinating. Imagine having spinnerets that could discharge web (move beyond those Spiderman thoughts) out of your body. If you had this ability and were hiking and tired, you could make a hammock that would support you, your gear, and any 10 friends that happen along (though that wouldn’t be so conducive for napping).
I also appreciate their intricate and individual color patterns. If you look up this spider, you will see many variants with this yellow and black theme.
And their web, what a work of art and skill. Look how freakin’ concentric it is. And many spiders have to remake it every evening.
Yup, I am an enjoyer of spiders. You?

Gumweed (Grindelia species) I felt fortunate to fi

Gumweed (Grindelia species)
I felt fortunate to find a large stand of Gumweed (Grindelia subalpina, Asteraceae) while driving home from the Rainbow Gathering in Colorado. I find it helpful for two distinct health issues.
See below for a photo of the whole plant.
It is one of the few plants in tincture or liniment form that will sometimes (note the word ‘sometimes’) help with the maddening itchiness of Poison ivy or Poison oak (Toxicodendron species) dermatitis.
I realize that this post may bring on a bunch of questions about this reaction, and it may take me a while to respond. Early apologies.
The Gumweed tincture or liniment is applied topically on the rash throughout the day to reduce the itchiness. I don’t know how it works, but my guess is that the resin in the plant (the ‘gum’) adheres to the urushiol oil that produces this unpleasant reaction and perhaps nullifies it. Unfortunately, it seems the body starts to develop a tolerance, and it may only work for a few episodes of Poison ivy/oak reaction.
I tincture the inflorescences (flowerheads) and leaves at 1:3 in 95% ethanol. For the liniment, it is the same plant parts at 1:4 in 99% isopropyl alcohol. (Once again, a thank you to Bella and Danielle for helping me garble the plants).
Gumweed (which I usually call Grindelia) is also helpful as a decongestant for an extra-stuffy nasal passage. It is taken internally. I often combine it with Yerba santa (Eriodictyon species), Beggar ticks (Bidens species), and Wolfberry (Lycium species).
I have used a number of Grindelia species, and they all seem to work similarly, as long as they are very gummy (full of latex). ~7Song

I am sorry I have not written in a while (I like e

I am sorry I have not written in a while (I like engaging). I have some catching up to do, such as Rainbow Gathering first aid stories.

It is now tincture season here in Ithaca, NY. One of the few plants that has grown plentifully in my garden is Wood betony (Betonica officinalis [syn. Stachys], Lamiaceae). I tinctured 2 gallons of the slightly wilted inflorescences, leaves, and young stems at 1:5 in 75% ethanol. I also made a glycerite from the same plant parts at 1:4 in 99% vegetable glycerin. I then put the jar in a hot water bath for 1.5 hours to help bring out the aromatics and other constituents. I haven’t tasted it yet, but hopefully, it is helpful for those who don’t imbibe alcohol (tinctures).

I have written about Wood betony previously, but I commonly use it for daily anxiety and bad dreams. One of its advantages is that it is not sedative, so it can be taken throughout the day.

I also tinctured some slightly wilted Hops strobiles (Humulus lupulus, Cannabaceae) at 1:5 in 85% ethanol. In order to keep my ratio low, I tightly packed the jar with the Hops. And while it seemed I had a good harvest, almost all of it went to make approximately 3/4 gallon of tincture. I may need to grow some more Hops plants.

I hope you find this information useful,
~7Song

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