Local Plants & Herbs for Medincal Uses

Lately, I've been intrigued by the native plants that grow around us; we don't seem to notice because we're too busy driving in our cars and walking on pavement most of the time. But since I love to hike, and have learned a bit about native plants in this region, I decided to take it to another level and I've started researching which local plants have medicinal properties and those which are edible.

To my surprise, there are many plants close by that can be used in teas, ointments and tinctures for their healing properties. Dandelion is a common weed but is also well known for its medicinal properties, e.g., anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Here are some others that I have been looking into:

Black willow - similar to aspirin
Yarrow - can be used for a wound, helps to stop bleeding
Primrose - a muscle relaxant & stress reducer
Oak - astringent and antiseptic
Sage - aids in digestion and dental health
Goldenrod - aids in kidney function (used by early Americans as "liberty tea")
Mugwort- anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties

So, just for fun, I took a stroll at a nearby hiking trail and found several items on my list. I borrowed some cuttings from various plants and brought them home. Soaked them in water and then dried them. I used the black willow for a tincture and the mugwort along with the goldenrod for tea. I have yarrow, primrose, oak and sage growing here at home, so these items will be easy enough to harvest when needed.

In fact today, I cut off a small branch from the coast live oak tree in the back yard. I'm using the leaves for a tea for some of my plants that prefer acidic soil. Simply soaking the leaves in a bucket of water right now. I cut up the bark into small pieces and made a tincture with that as well.

I'm  having a lot of fun learning about the plants in a more intimate way by identifying them in the wild and handling them once harvested.

The thing with these herbal remedies is while they can be helpful - it is important to understand their uses and NOT to overuse them. Certain herbs can build up in the body, creating toxicity, which we definitely want to avoid.

There is so much life around us and sometimes we miss it. I'm glad my life allows me to notice these things nowadays.