Last week my 14-year-old nephew Zev came to visit and help out in the gardens here at the farm.  He arrived amidst a major heat wave, but was eager to get to work soon after he settled in.  Because of the intense heat, I did not argue with him when he objected to my suggestion that he wear closed shoes and socks while preparing a new bed for planting.  He said he would be fine in his sandals.  We both learned our lesson there…

After about two hours of work in the hot sun, he had an accident involving a pitch fork and his foot.  He hobbled to the house, slightly in shock, with a wound between his big toe and second toe.  It was hardly bleeding (there is less blood circulation in the foot compared to other parts of the body) but he was in great pain, his foot was beginning to swell and he could not put weight on it.

I immediately gave him some homeopathic Arnica to help deal with the shock and pain of the injury.  Meanwhile, I cleaned  and assessed the wound.  It didn’t seem deep enough to need stitches, and I hoped we could treat it without having to go to the hospital.  We bathed the foot in a salt bath that had a strong tea of some of my favourite wound herbs added to it:  yarrow, St John’s wort, plantain and self heal.  The bath seemed to soothe the pain, and helped to pull out debris from the wound.

Self heal, Prunella vulgaris

However, by the next day, the swelling and pain continued, and we decided it would be worthwhile to get an x-ray and a medical opinion.  Off to the ER we went.  The x-rays showed no fracture, so this was good news.  The  concern however, was of infection, indicated by the swelling and redness.  The types of infections that could occur from a wound like that were worrisome.  The doctor suggested an intravenous antibiotic.  While we were hoping to avoid this (as antibiotics can interfere with immune system’s own attempts at healing, using the body’s healthy bacteria for defense), we decided that in this instance, with a potentially powerful and fast moving infection, it seemed we may be foolish not to try the antibiotics.  And so we did.

Talking to the doctor however, we realized that he was concerned that even the antibiotics might not be enough to clear the infection.  This was the scariest part for us.  Such a strong shot of antibiotics still might not work?  The reality of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was hitting home for me.   I recall a number of instances in my youth when antibiotics were given to me, and any infection I had would clear up fairly quickly.  Nowadays of course, this is no longer the case as bacteria are developing their own defenses against broad spectrum antibiotics that had once wiped them out cleanly.

I realized that it would be up to us to do whatever we could to help fight off infection.

With the help of a wonderful resource, Stephen Harrod Buhner’s “Herbal Antibiotics”, I put together a tincture formula of immune-boosting, antimicrobial herbs.

It consisted of 1 part:

Echinacea angustifolia (root and flower), Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa), Plantain (Plantago spp)

along with 1/2 part:

Oregon Grape Root (Berberis aquifolium)

I gave him a 1/2 teaspoon dose of this tincture, every 1-2 hours throughout the day.  We also bathed the foot daily in salt water with herbal tea added.  The herbal tea consisted of the same herbs I had used in the initial foot bath (yarrow, st john’s wort, plantain and self heal).

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium

I had him take a full bulb of garlic, minced, by swallowing it with water (like taking a pill) in order to really boost the immune system. I also added lots of fresh garlic to the meals I was serving him.

Bee Balm, Monarda fistulosa

And finally, we made daily poultices on the wound using fresh plantain leaf.  

This part seemed by far to be the most effective thing we did. 

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Every Tuesday, when my work day is finished, I head to our local town hall where a group of people gather to dance.  With an eclectic play list of music, we dance barefoot, free form, following our own rhythms and allowing our bodies to move however they feel.  We dance like no one is watching and it is immensely freeing.  It feels like one of the healthiest things I do for myself on a regular basis, and I’m continually grateful for the opportunity, week after week.  Recently, on one of these Tuesdays, as my body was letting itself go into movement, my mind reflected on the idea of movement and rhythm and the role it plays in our lives.  There is an ebb and flow, an inward and outward, expansive and contractive movement that creates and maintains life. Rhythm, I understood, is a basic underlying element of life.   Rhythm is life force.

We find this ebb and flow in the microcosms and macrocosms of everything we know.  From the rhythm of our breath, our heartbeat, the flapping of wings in flight, the ocean tides, the waxing and waning of the moon to the expansive wave and contracted particle formations of energy frequencies, the inward/outward flow prevails.

We see it also in the growth patterns of plants.  The contracted seed, closed to protect itself and store its nourishment eventually softens and expands, becoming a cotyledon.  As the cotyledon develops, consuming the seed’s stored nourishment, it soon gathers energy back inward, concentrating in the stem where it forms leaf axils.  Once there is enough “fuel” in the leaf axils, new leaves expand outwards from the stem.  Then the plant contracts to nourish the growth of future leaves.  As new leaves and stems keep growing, the plant prepares itself for flowering.  Eventually flower buds will emerge in tight contracted bundles.  Then later they’ll expand outward into flowers.  The pollinated flowers then eventually contract again, forming denser seeds.  These later fly off or fall off the plant in a final outward expression.  The fallen seeds remain in their contracted seed state until conditions allow expanion outwards again into new cotyledons.  

And so we see how the inward/outward rhythms guide and carry life along its course.

Our bodies and minds move through these same rhythms, along with the seasons of the earth.  Now we are in spring, and we emerge from the contracted, inward focused days of winter.  We leave our dwellings, spending more time outdoors rather than staying in, safe from the weather. 

Seedlings and leaves begin to sprout, exposing themselves to the elements and using whatever stores of energy they have to withstand the forces of nature and to grow stronger.  There is a sense of motivation here, and of expending of energy towards the goal of new life.  

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) flowers and buds. This plant gently but effectively helps to restore a run-down, over-extended system, encouraging a healthy balance between rest and work.

As our systems adjust to the various inward and outward rhythms of life, we can sometimes rely on the support of plant medicines and foods to help us find balance. 

When we remain too long in an inward, contracted state, our systems become more sluggish and we tend get a buildup of un-metabolized food and other substances in the body.  This buildup can lead to toxicity, weight gain, blood sugar imbalances, hormone imbalances and a whole host of other ailments.  You can read more ideas on this state of buildup in my former post Clearing the Pipes. 

Too much time spent in an outward, expansive state can use up our energy stores, depleting us of nutrients and leading to an overburdened nervous system, adrenal fatigue, high or low blood pressure and an eventual run-down condition.

Milky oat seeds (Avena sativa)

To nourish the inward, contracted rhythm, we could consider the use of seeds and roots–both being denser in nature, and serving the purpose of storing food for growth.  Oat seeds come to mind here.  Green (not fully developed) oat seeds, known as “milky oat seeds” act as a food for the nervous system, helping to restore the effects of over-stimulation which can come from too much exposure to the outside world and not enough “down time”.  Mature oat seeds (what we know of as oat groats or oatmeal) serve this purpose as well, when used as a daily food.  Green nettle  (Urtica dioica) seeds also fit this role, helping to nourish the kidneys and adrenal glands in cases of adrenal fatigue.  Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds help to calm spasms and cramping in the digestive tract, relaxing the gut and helping to restore the body’s proper reception of nourishment from food.  Roots can be appropriate cool weather herbs or foods that provide deep nourishment.  Burdock root (Artcium lappa), dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) and jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosis) are mineral rich herbs that serve this purpose.  In the fall, these root develop the starch, inulin–a bitter substance that when consumed, contributes to efficient and effective digestion balancing proper nutrient absorption with detoxification.

Bee Balm (Monarda spp) flowers and leaves help to warm and stimulate a sluggish body into a renewed, energized state.

Herbs that nourish the expansive rhythm are often flowers and leaves.  They can work well to quickly fight infections, reduce inflammations and stimulate various organs into proper functioning.  Some good examples of early spring herbs that fit this rhythm are nettle leaf, dandelion leaf and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).  These greens help to stimulate the liver, allowing any stored or stagnant material remaining from the slower winter months to be sloughed off and released from the system.  By doing this, they give the body more energy and motivation, and often a more positive outlook.  Ideas we may have had over the winter can now manifest into reality, as we “come out of our shells”.  I’ve written more about the qualities of dandelion leaf as an aid towards motivation and mobilization in my post Dandelion, Clarity & Direction.

The more we look into these patterns of rhythm the more we find them on every level of existence.  The wisdom found in this perception helps us gain insight into our own state of health at any given moment.   

An inspiring way to tune into this wisdom each day is by watching the plants in their continual dance as they grow through the changing rhythms of life.

Lately I’ve been finding continual inspiration in the glowing green seeds of late summer. By green seeds, I mean the seeds that are formed and developing on plants, but are not quite ripe yet. Therefore they are green instead of brown, soft and yielding instead of hard, moist instead of dry.  I like to think of green seeds as developing embryos.  They carry the sacred information that makes up the blueprint for a plant or tree of the future.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

 There is something both precious and vulnerable about them.  They are building up the materials and knowledge needed to nourish themselves. Once fully mature, they will be ready to sprout independently into a new plant, abundant with life force.

The embryo holds the core.  The young spinal cord and its fluids, as well as its nearby organs, all tender and tiny, dwell in development within. Minerals and salts, proteins and oils comprise a rich fluid that surrounds it, providing it with essential food and protection.

Plantain (Plantago major) leaf with its green seed stalk strewn along the centre

Developing seeds have the ability to nourish us deeply, on a core level, reaching the most precious and vulnerable parts of us.  They also protect us by strengthening our immune systems.  And they do this largely by feeding our nervous systems.  A strong nervous system responds to stress with quick, resourceful agility as opposed to an uneasy sense of needing to escape.  There is an underlying calmness that comes from the sense that we have everything we need to survive and thrive.  We feel safe.

In herbal medicine, some green seeds have long been known for their effects on the nervous system.  Milky (or immature) oat seeds are a classic example.  They’re often given to people recovering from a long period of stress or illness.  People who need consistent, gentle support that restores deeply and gradually.  Oat seeds carry a nutrient rich, milk-like fluid that is easily absorbed and is considered a “trophorestorative” (an agent of deep, nutritive restoration) for the nervous system.  A delightful addition to tea blends, milky oats can also be very effective when preserved fresh as a milky-textured tincture. 

Milky oat seeds (Avena sativa)

Nettle seeds are remarkable agents of the kidneys and adrenal glands.  They are useful in cases of adrenal fatigue, which results from excessive stress–a challenge familiar to many these days.  In turn, they support hormone and immune function, as well as the nervous system when used as both a food and a medicine.  I’ve seen marked improvements in the vitality of pregnant women adding small amounts (a pinch to a 1/4 teaspoon) of nettle seeds daily to their diet.  

Even for those not in need of adrenal support, nettle seeds are a nutritious “super food”.  I dry them on the stalks, and then grind them over a sieve to remove the stinging nettle hairs.  Then I store them in jars for use throughout the winter.  I like to sprinkle them onto my hot cereal, or onto soups or stews.  Some people enjoy taking a small amount on a spoon with honey.

Nettle Seeds (Urtica spp)

Lambs quarters also bulge with rich green seeds at this time of year.  This summer has been an impressive growing year for lambs quarters in our gardens.  We’ve been enjoying eating the deep green, spinach-like leaves all summer long.  The leaves and seeds are high in vitamin C, minerals and proteins.    

Lambs Quarters (Chenopodium album) seeds on the stalk.

I like to blend them into pesto, along with our garden basil.  The young seeds, with sunflower or pumpkin seeds make a pleasant (and more affordable!) replacement for pine nuts.

Plantain’s seed head somewhat resembles a spinal cord.  I like the energy I get from chewing on the seeds, fresh from the stalk. I imagine their oils and minerals feeding the fluids between my vertebrae, and flowing along the nerve channels from there.  One of my favourite teachers and authors, Matthew Wood, talks about the signature (resemblance) of a nervous system that can be seen in a plantain leaf’s vein structure.  

Plantain reduces inflammation throughout the body.  It boosts immunity and reduces allergic response.  It’s a classic support for the core organs (the ones that develop first in the embryo) such as the kidneys, lungs and bladder, clearing infections, soothing irritations and restoring tone and function.  I consider plantain to be among the safest and most reliably effective herbal medicines available.

Plantain (Plantago major) stalk & leaf

Thus here I am in early September, finding myself drawn in to view up close the green, plump little clusters on the wild leafy plants. Miraculously storing sunlight, water and gifts of the soil, each in its own tiny package, green seeds are the bearers of light and hope.  The care packages for the next leg of the journey, supporting a safe and vibrant future.  With allies like them, I move forward with confidence and joy.

 In the realm of plant medicine, we sometimes refer to the main characteristics & details of a plant as its “signature”.  This indicates a plant’s key aspects, easily detected with our senses, such as its appearance or scent.  Its signature offers us insight into the way the plant has adapted itself in order to thrive, giving us clues as to how it might benefit our health when used as food or medicine.   Dandelion, like all plants, has its own signature.  This is largely seen in its ability to cut through stuff, keeping what is necessary and clearing away what is not needed, yielding lightness, clarity and a sense of direction on many levels–physical, mental & emotional.

  We can see this signature in its leaf shape, which looks to me like an arrow, continually pointing the way along the mid-rib, part by part, from stem to tip.  The leaf shape is also referenced in one of dandelion’s common French names, “Dent de Lion” or “Lion’s Tooth” which it resembles with its sharply-toothed edges.

Like the lion’s tooth, which cuts through flesh to make it into usable sustenance for a large, active creature, dandelion helps the body to break down the foods we eat.  It helps us extract the nutrients we need while carrying out waste.  As such, it supports our energy, strength, awareness and agility as we move through our day. 

This cutting, cleaning property manifests in the body in various ways when we ingest dandelion.  The edible & medicinal leaf, root and flowers of the plant all work to this effect, supporting the body’s organs of elimination and absorption.  

We can detect this by tasting any part of the dandelion plant.  We will find a bitter flavour.  In my workshops, I often mention the benefits of the bitter flavour on the digestive system.   When our taste buds detect something bitter, they trigger our salivary glands to secrete more saliva.  This sets off a domino effect throughout our entire digestive system.  Important digestive enzymes are released and peristalsis is triggered (muscular movement through the intestines) allowing food to move through and be broken down into nutrients while carrying out unwanted waste.  

When we ingest dandelion leaf, it works on a couple of our important organs of detoxification: the kidneys and bladder.  Dandelion leaf is a classic herbal diuretic, removing waste and toxic elements through the urine.  But this cleansing action is particularly wise and directed.  Many diuretics tend to clear out important minerals (especially potassium) along with our unneeded waste.  Dandelion leaf however, is so mineral rich (particularly with potassium) that we do not lose the minerals we need.  

When we ingest the root, other organs of elimination & absorption are affected:  primarily the liver, gall bladder and colon.  Dandelion root supports the production and secretion of bile in the liver and gall bladder.  Bile is a key element in nutrient absorption, particularly of fats, which feed our brain, nerves and endocrine system.  Bile also helps to carry out waste through the colon.  

 The liver is responsible for creating and recycling many of the body’s hormones and blood cells.  Dandelion root supports these processes, helping the liver to hold onto the necessary building blocks for hormone and blood cell production, while giving it space to do its work by clearing out wastes in a timely manner.  Hormone balance means reproductive health, mental and emotional health, a balanced metabolism and strong immune response, among other things.  Blood cell production increases vitality and energy.

Dandelion root also provides a source of nourishment for our gut flora. It acts as a pre-biotic by providing inulin, a starch that feeds the healthy bacteria in our lower gut, helping the good bacteria to reproduce and thrive.  This in turn supports our nutrient absorption.  It also benefits our immune system which is aided by healthy gut bacteria to fight off pathogens and prevent illness.

Dandelion’s long taproot directs itself deeply into the earth, where it takes up the minerals needed to thrive, and brings them towards the topsoil, thus helping to feed other plants growing around it.

Dandelion flowers benefit another organ of elimination: the skin.  Infused in oil and applied topically, dandelion flowers will help to clear away rashes, boils, eczema and other itchy or inflamed skin conditions remarkably well.  Often we see skin conditions erupt when the liver is overburdened and therefore unable to clear out waste fast enough.  The body’s healthy response to this situation is to clear out those excess toxins through the skin, manifesting as rashes, boils, etc.  Taking dandelion root or leaf internally, while using the infused flower oil topically can provide a simple, elegant solution to this problem.

Dandelion flower oil also makes an excellent topical anti-inflammatory rub for sore muscles and joints.  It can help clear out wastes that are sometimes stored in joints or tight muscles, relieving pain and supporting mobility.

 In the realm of the mind and spirit, the flower essence of dandelion can be used to support clarity and direction.  Dandelion flower essence is known to clear away lingering anger and rage, both towards others and towards oneself.  It supports the clearance of emotional patterns (including addictions) that impede the process of putting plans into action and moving forward in a positive way on the path of life.  With this clearance and direction, there is the opportunity to begin and follow through with new plans, accompanied by a vibrant energy like that of a spring day!

In the early spring time, when we’re often eager for the freshly harvested food we’ve missed throughout the winter, dandelion is a big provider.  The leaves can be eaten fresh in salads or added to cooked veggie dishes for tasty bitter green nourishment.  They can be infused in apple cider vinegar to extract their minerals, and this can then be used as a salad dressing.  On a simpler note, a few fresh leaves can be picked and eaten before a meal to stimulate the bitter principle and support digestion.  They are tastiest, and also most effective before flowering.

With the upsurge into spring, the upwards arrow of the dandelion leaf promises us gentle but ever present support, nourishment, clarity and guidance.  All that’s required of us for this is to clear away excess thought and direct some attention towards it.  In this way we won’t miss out on its humble offerings and we will have the chance to harvest and use it appropriately.  With this, we will surely find an upsurge of gratitude for the many gifts of most a reliable plant that we often find growing nearby when we need it.

As spring life awakens from its winter dormancy, all the nutrients held deep in soil and perennial roots begin to rise, preparing to feed emerging buds and leaves.

Vitamins, minerals and agents of healing & defense make their way through the sap, moving up trunks, branches and stems, and we find ourselves in the optimal season for harvesting tree bark.

Bark can offer us bold healing and nourishment.  As the tree’s tough outer skin, bark provides weathered strength and stoic protection.  To survive harsh climate extremes, pests and pathogens, trees have developed sophisticated metabolites, some of which can be found in their bark, offering resilience to those who ingest them.

Also, bark carries within it the tree’s wisdom, which is rooted deep in the earth.

 Lately, I have been working with the inner bark of Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides)…

…and Apple (Malus spp.)

I will describe here the way that I’ve harvested and processed the bark of these trees, as well as some of the healing benefits these particular trees have to offer.

 In this season, many people prune trees, as we have learned that when awakening from dormancy, they are well-equipped to successfully repair and regenerate from minor damage.  Selective pruning can encourage healthy tree growth and abundant fruiting.  Pruned branches can provide an accessible source of useable bark, which doesn’t require harvesting from (or damaging) the magnificent bark of the main trunk.

I am very selective and sparing when I prune trees.  I check in with the tree through a visual survey, as well as spending some quiet meditative time with it before deciding to prune, and choosing where to do so.  Once decided, with an offering of gratitude to the tree, and wishing it well, I very carefully begin to prune.  I use clean, sharp pruning shears, and prune off suckers and low-growing branches.  Once they’re cut, I carry them back to a comfortable spot where I can sit and shave the bark off the branches.  Using a small, sharp knife, I shave off the bark in strips, letting it land in a bowl or basket.  It can then either be used fresh or dried, made into a tea or a tincture.  To dry it, I lay it on a cotton sheet or in a basket in a warm place, out of direct light until it snaps when broken.  Then I know it is dry and I can store it in a jar.

Pruned apple branches

Trembling aspen is in the poplar family.  Trees in this family have a constituent known as salicin, which is the active ingredient used in aspirin for its pain relieving, anti-inflammatory properties.  It can be used to soothe arthritic and rheumatic pain as well as muscle aches, headaches and many types of inflammation.  Its bitter flavour makes it a useful digestive tonic, helping the body to absorb nutrients and supporting gentle detoxification.  It can be used to prevent and aid bladder and/or kidney infections.  It is also a rejuvenating tonic that can be safely taken to revitalize an aging or convalescing body.

A cluster of Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

 Apple bark has pleasant cooling and astringent properties.  It can help to cleanse the blood vessels of plaque and fatty deposits, supporting healthy circulation.  It’s helpful in moving lymph fluid and reducing swollen lymph glands, and has benefits as a digestive tonic as well.  It is also a notable remedy for the relief of heartburn, or acid reflux.  By cooling the burning sensation, and toning the esophageal sphincter to prevent leakage of irritating stomach acid into the esophagus, apple bark can treat both the symptom and the cause of this condition.

The photo above shows a bowl of shaven apple bark.  On the left are the fresh cut branches before they’ve been shaved.  On the right are the white cores of the branches, post shaving.  These beautiful auburn shavings can be made into a medicinal tea, fresh or dried, by simmering about 1 teaspoon per cup of water on the stove for at least 10 minutes.  1-2 cups of the tea can be drunk daily, or as needed.  

Shaved bark of trembling aspen, drying on a sheet of cotton in a basket

Trembling aspen, and all other tree bark can be simmered in the same way.  Simmering helps to extract more of the nutrients and medicinal components bound up in the bark, compared with steeping as we do with leaf and flower teas.  The bitter flavour of poplar might make it less palatable for some, but it can be combined with tasty nutritious herbs like cinnamon, spruce, rosehips, orange peel and/or peppermint to make a delicious tea.  For optimal digestive health however, a strong bitter brew may well be your best medicine.

The tree barks I’ve mentioned here are just two, among many trees which bear various gifts throughout our landscape.  I haven’t touched on willow, alder or pine, for example…and these are just a few examples of trees that I’ll be sure to discuss in a different post.

What I most want to convey, however, is that we truly are surrounded by helpful, restorative and nutritive beings in the form of plants, fungi and trees.  In our cold climate, we can harvest medicine such as tree bark throughout the year.  (I am writing about bark now because late winter is arguably the optimal time for its harvest, but if it’s needed in December, or even July, it’s available then too).  

The more we appreciate what our trees have to offer us, in the way of healing abilities, deep, aged wisdom as well as majestic beauty, the more motivation we will have to ensure their health and safety for generations to come.

This week I lost my best friend, my companion and a very important teacher.  She came into my life 17 years ago, a tiny kitten who could snuggle into the palm of my hand.  

Black, with auburn highlights, she had faint tabby stripes in the summer sunlight that sometimes gave her an aubergine glow.  She spoke with a rich vocabulary of tones, and a deep permeating purr that sent love vibrating to the far corners of the room.  She taught me to move with grace and to strongly focus my intentions. 

Her name was Cassandra Bones, but she developed various names throughout her life.  Her dark colour inspired one of her names: New Moon.  When we moved to our farm, we named it New Moon Farm in her honour.  

Cass was by my side as I learned the craft of herbalism.  She was, it could be said, my familiar.  She had a fine ethereal perception, as I believe many cats do.  As my knowledge of herbs developed, I noticed that Cass was already quite tuned into which herbs she needed for her own health, and where to find them. 

 One of my favourite stories about her took place in the drought of August 2012.  Cass had developed a bladder infection–something to which she was prone.  Whenever this happened, I would put together a medicinal tea for her, made of any herbs growing nearby, or that I had on hand, that I knew would soothe and disinfect the bladder.  One herb I liked to use was horsetail (Equisetum arvensis)–a really effective anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and diuretic herb that tones the bladder and strengthens the kidneys.  It works just as effectively for humans as it does for cats.

Dried horsetail

This medicine is available for harvest in our area in the late spring, while the ground is still somewhat moist.  Its leaves grow upward (vertically) when it’s young, and as the season progresses, they reach outwards (diagonally and horizontally) like a fan.  As the plant ages, its silica content increases, making it too tough and abrasive to be used for medicine.  So, the rule of thumb is to harvest horsetail in spring, when the leaves are still mainly pointing upwards, not outwards.  By August, and particularly during a drought, horsetail is normally growing outwards in its lanky fan-like habit, making it long past its harvest period.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvensis) at a good stage for harvest

    On this August day, when I stepped outside, I found what looked like chewed-up grass, left by Cass on the doorstep.  She occasionally chewed and spit out grass (as most cats do, especially when feeling under the weather) so this was not unusual. However this particular grass looked a bit odd to me.  I examined it more closely, only to find that it was not grass at all, but actually horsetail!  Cass had apparently realized that horsetail was what she needed.  She had ventured out in the heat, traversing about 10 acres to the horsetail patch beside an underground spring, and bit off some horsetail to chew on!

 I didn’t know that Cass knew what horsetail was, nor where to find it, let alone that it was what she needed at that time! And she hardly ever travelled such a big distance from the house.  Aside from all this, the horsetail should have been tough and irritating in the mouth, and difficult to harvest at that time of year.  Yet she had harvested it.  I was compelled to head down to the spring and check it out myself.  There I saw with my own eyes, a glowing patch of healthy young horsetail.  It was at a perfect stage for harvest!  I guessed it must have come up late in the season for some reason, and was being kept alive by the underground spring, despite the drought.  Inspired with awe, I snipped a bit of the horsetail for harvest, giving thanks for this miraculous gift. 

Cass and her magic horsetail

I brought it back to the house and simmered  a teaspoon of chopped up horsetail for about 10 minutes in 1/3 cup of water. I then poured that brew over a blend of dandelion leaf, mallow, yarrow and corn silk (about 1 teaspoon of the whole blend), steeping that for about 15 minutes.  This created a soothing bladder antiseptic.  Once it cooled to room temperature, I gave it to Cass in a dropper (about 10 drops), and continued to give it to her 3 times per day for about a week.  Her infection cleared over the next couple days.  I dried the rest of that horsetail for future use.  I labeled it “Cass’s Magic Horsetail”–for it truly was magic, just like the cat who had found it!

Cass was not only a mysterious knower of herbs, but she was also a giver and receiver of ethereal medicine.  Some folks who have visited the Hawthorn Herbals clinic have come to know the sweet comfort of her presence.  She often knew just where to place her paw on your body so that it soothed pain or discomfort.  She would cuddle beside me and purr when I felt under the weather, staying close by until I began to feel better.  She taught me about the potency of healing touch, when given with intention.  Later in her life, I would lay my hands on her arthritic hips or her lower back, and I’d sense an easing in her discomfort as I willed her healing with my gentle touch, just as she had taught me.

 Here, at New Moon Farm we are preparing to sow the seeds of a new season, growing food and medicine to support vitality for another year.  As the plants grow, I will remember that sometimes, against all odds, the herb you need is available for you right when you need it–you just have to go and look.  I will also remember that ethereal and subtle as it seems, sometimes the best medicine comes with with a focused, loving, healing touch, delivered with presence & grace.

For these teachings, as well as all the love and magic,  I will always be grateful.  

“New Moon” the cat, at New Moon Farm