My Herbalism Motto

I've been training in herbalism for a while now (I'm an RN and I go by "Nurse Mary") and I really love it. I prefer to go slow and really learn all I can about a plant, and grow it if I am able, before using it in herbal formulas. A few of my favorites are the Leaf of Life, Gynura procumbens, catnip, St. John's Wort, and good old thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Sitting around with friends is a great way to come up with a motto, so here's mine, came up with it yesterday on the beach:

Nurse Mary Says:

Nature Sows the Seed

So We Can Feed

On the Weeds

We Need.

Drink Herb Tea Every Day!

Weird Wednesday: Plants Have Ears!

OK, well, not ears exactly, but it turns out they can sense and respond to both chemical signals and vibrations from munching insects and gastropods. Here's the scoop about chemical signals from National Geographic:

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/14/plants-hear-herbivores-coming-and-prepare/

Rue, MR, 2014

This process of sensing predator signals and producing special defense compounds as a response is vital to the herbalist. Most of the molecular compounds in plants that are good for human health are defense compounds. Aromatic herbs produce more of these compounds in difficult or droughty conditions, which is when they are more likely to be munched by hungry critters.  Think about the antibiotic properties of oregano and thyme, for example. When a Boswellia tree is munched or cut, the sap that covers the wound becomes our frankincense, the odor of which is anxiolytic.

3 Varieties of Frankincense, MR, 2013

Plants have a much more interesting and dramatic time out there than we know! And we owe a great deal of  our health and happiness to their ability to launch a good defense. Go, Team Plant!

Plant Walk: The Incredible World of Your Local Plants

This weekend I was very blessed to learn about (and taste) many of our native plants. Wanna eat a spiderwort bud? No problem, it's good for your stomach....

Spiderwort, MR, 2014

My Herbology teacher and a local guide led a daylong hike through our forests, and the dozen students (including me) had their minds blown by the abundance of edible and medicinal native plants, some of which grow in our own backyards. I learned a great deal about 31 native plants. All are amazing, and it would take a decade to really learn about just this group. We walk by our native plants every day and often call them weeds. Not so! If you have a chance to take herb or plant walks in your area with people who really know and care about the flora of your area, I urge you to do so. You will be humbled and amazed. And for those of you who, like me, never really liked enclosed classrooms, open spaces and wilderness are awesome places to learn new things....

Class is in session!

A few of my new favorites:

Wild Muscadine Grapes

Saw Palmetto, MR, 2014