Building Relationships with Plants

Building Relationships with Plants by Christiana Magdalena Hopkinson How Herbalism Can Be Much More Than Ingesting Plants Plants, herbs, trees, shrubs, and flowers. We grow them, find them, harvest them, and can make good medicine with what they offer us. They feed...

Cacao: The Heart of the Mexica People

Cacao: The Heart of the Mexica People by Candace Quintana There’s something truly magical about cacao. Not the sugary chocolate bars we see everywhere, but the real, earthy, bitter cacao that comes straight from the heart of the land. This sacred plant has been used...

A Very Tasty New Mexican Mushroom

A Very Tasty New Mexican Mushroom by Dr. Marija Helt Gathered under pines, I like to eat white boletes. Free delicious food. Ponderosa pines, is where you’ll find these fungi. Roast for nutty taste. As September’s “Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New Mexico” class...

The Healing Power of Flowers

by Atava Garcia Swiecicki If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace. Thich Nhat HahnFalling in Love with Flower Essences Flower essences were my first love on my...

The Versatile Mulberry

From Ancient Traditions to Modern ‘Invasions’by Jennileen Joseph The mulberry plant, belonging to the genus Morus, stands as a testament to nature's adaptability and human ingenuity. This deciduous tree, with its sweet fruit, has woven itself into the fabric of...

When the Immune System Goes Rogue

When the Immune System Goes Rogue by Dr. Marija Helt Oyster Mushrooms A healthy immune system distinguishes between what’s safe and what’s potentially dangerous, protecting us from the latter. “Safe” stuff includes our own cells, tissues, and substances that the body...

Dreaming with Plants

by Atava Garcia Swiecicki Loss and grief are an inevitable part of being human, and we all will experience both in our lifetimes. Modern westernized culture doesn’t offer many tools to support us when we are facing loss, whether it by death of a loved one, a pet,...

Mushroom Hunting at the Grocery Store

Mushroom Hunting at the Grocery Store by Dr. Marija HeltButton MushroomsNot everyone’s keen on foraging for wild mushrooms. The reluctance may be due to concerns about accurate identification, a lack of time, living in an area where foraging isn’t possible, or some...

Accumulation

by Jennileen Joseph When we wash our hair, we don’t expect the shampoo to do all the work. We know the wash is one part shampoo, one part our effort. Without effort, the shampoo is just a waste, without the shampoo, our efforts are for naught. We understand that we...

Caring for Our Broken Hearts

Herbal Remedies and Practices for Heartbreak and Grief by Atava Garcia Swiecicki Loss and grief are an inevitable part of being human, and we all will experience both in our lifetimes. Modern westernized culture doesn’t offer many tools to support us when we are...
Desert Mesa Medicine

Desert Mesa Medicine

Desert Mesa Medicine by Dara Saville The desert mesa is a landscape where we are confronted with the history of the land and the culture of people; a place where we cannot hide from ourselves. The endless vistas, open expanses, and clear blue skies put everything on...
Desert Aromatics of the American Southwest

Desert Aromatics of the American Southwest

Desert Aromatics of the American Southwest by Dara Saville Aromatic plants have been an integral part of landscapes and human cultures, playing important ecological and ceremonial roles since the beginning of history and beyond. The deserts of the American Southwest...
The Teachings of Saxifrage and Orchid

The Teachings of Saxifrage and Orchid

The Teachings of Saxifrage and Orchid by Dara Saville Saxifrages and Orchids are some of the most otherworldy plants you might encounter in your herbal path. They are known primarily for their inherent beauty and not widely used in Southwestern herbal traditions....
Bioregional Herbalism

Bioregional Herbalism

The Beauty of the Bioregional Approach to Your Herbal Practice by Dara Saville There are many ways to practice herbalism including a multitude of traditions all over the world, each with their own plants that form the core of that herbal path. No matter what...
Going Deeper with Pedicularis

Going Deeper with Pedicularis

Going Deeper with Pedicularis by Dara Saville There is undoubtedly a deeply alluring quality to Pedicularis plants that has drawn the attention of many herbalists and plant lovers of all kinds. For some, it is simply recovery for overworked muscles or the relaxation...
Connecting with Our Heritage Through Herbs

Connecting with Our Heritage Through Herbs

Connecting with Our Heritage Through Herbs by Dara Saville As a young girl, I heard my great-grandmother tell stories about growing up during the early 1900s and being an adult in the depression era. One of these stories included a tale of how her mother drank...
Ecological Herbalism

Ecological Herbalism

Ecological Herbalism by Dara Saville Every herbalist has a unique approach to their practice. For me, its all about learning lessons directly from the land. Here’s one way to cultivate a deeper understanding of place and plant medicine… Ecological...
Wild-Spirited Gardening

Wild-Spirited Gardening

Wild-Spirited Gardening by Dara Saville The magic of wilderness allures herbalists everywhere. There is nothing like walking through misty woodlands on a cool spring morning with beloved plants emerging from their winter slumber or strolling through familiar desert...
Aligning with Invasive Trees as Herbal Medicine

Aligning with Invasive Trees as Herbal Medicine

Aligning with Invasive Trees as Herbal Medicine by Dara Saville Walking the urban sidewalks, riparian woodlands, and other forested areas around your home you may have noticed that the effects of globalization are not limited to fashion styles, international trade...
Going Deeper with Yerba Mansa

Going Deeper with Yerba Mansa

Going Deeper with Yerba Mansa by Dara Saville I will never forget the moment I realized that The Rio Grande Bosque and I were one in the same. Walking along on a lovely Autumn day, the scent of Yerba Mansa filled the air and the muted light brought out all the yellow...