The immune system is very complex, yet traditional peoples have manages to develop practices which modern science now confirms as powerful interventions to improve immunity. For example, in traditional cultures around the world sweat lodges were built to engage in ritual purifications amongst both sexes. Now we know that heat shock protein is released during these saunas which stimulates innate immunity.   In modern traditional Native American cultures I've experienced a sweat with a group of men, some of which have fasted for the day. In the sweat we would speak our hearts with humility ..read more

Ligusticum porteri - Chuchupate, Oshá Other Names:  Bear Root, Colorado Cough Root, Chuchupate, Hunawpi, Nawpi, Wasike, Shush, Chuchupaste, Porter’s Lovage Origin:  Chuchupate is found primarily from the Rocky Mtns. south down into the Cordillera of Mexico. Widely used by peoples of the Southwest and Mexico with a far-reaching significance in their cosmology. The plant is greatly varied in terms of size, scent, growth characteristics, and adaptability to environment. It is not grown commercially, but is prolific in the mountains of Colorado, primarily SW Colorado. Energetics:&n ..read more

Sambucus nigra ssp. mexicana - Elderberry, Tápiro This year we made plenty of Elderberry Syrup from the bountiful late summer harvest. When I started to cube some sugar pumpkin the other night I thought about how we could fix it up for dessert. Fortunately, I remembered the Elderberry Syrup in the fridge. My daughter has been asking for toast with Elderberry jelly all week long so I thought this was sure to be a hit as well. So I combined the following in a glass baking dish and stirred it all together: 1 small Sugar Pumpkin, peeled and cubed Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil  -  about ..read more

Other Names:  Starry Solomon’s Seal, pikvassáhiich (Karuk); This plant has gone by several names: Smilacina stellata, Vagnera stellata, Asteranthemum stellatum, Convallaria stellata (indicating its association with Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) and its cardiotonic effects (although far milder)). “Smilacina” refers to it looking like Smilax, and “Maianthemum” presumably refers to a May Flower (another connection to Lily of the Valley). Origin:  Our species is native to North America. There are other related&n ..read more

Hyptis emoryi - Desert Lavender Other names:  Bee Sage, yerba del becerro, salvia reál, Viopal, Xeescl (Seri) Origin:  Native to southern California and Arizona, and south into Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.  There are at least 5 additional Hyptis spp. found in the Sierra Madre of Sonora, Mexico (most of them are used for food or medicine). Energetics:  Cool & Dry.  Pungent, Astringent, slightly Bitter.  Vital stimulant, Tonic Relaxant. Properties:  Astringent, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hemostatic, sedative, nervine, digest ..read more

Aretmisia ludoviciana - Estafiate Other names: Western Mugwort, Western Wormwood, Louisiana Sagewort, Prairie Sagewort, Mountain Sage, Simonillo, Itzauhyatl (Nahuatl) Origin: Native throughout the entire western US Energetics: Warm & Dry. Bitter, Pungent, slightly Astringent. Vital stimulant, Tonic Relaxant Properties: Digestive, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Aromatic Bitter, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Decongestant, Sedative, Nervine, Hepatic, Cholagogue, Choleretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Emmenagogue, Anodyne, Anthelmintic, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Anti-fungal, Hemo ..read more

Other names: Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Compass Barrel Cactus, Biznaga de agua, Siml (Seri), chiávul (O’Odham) Edible parts:  Fruit, seeds, flower buds, inner flesh. Season of Harvest:  Buds are harvested in the early to mid summer.  Fruits are harvested from late November to March.  Flesh is harvested at any time.  The roots are harvested once cacti have fallen after storms. Processing & Preparation: Flower Buds: The buds can be a challenge to harvest. I have used flathead screwdrivers or tongs (which I’ll have along for prickly pear harve ..read more

Which herbs are effective against Salmonella May 25, 2021   As I've discussed in a previous post on How to Use Herbal Remedies there are at least 2 basic ways we can approach working with plants as medicine. In today's post, I'm going to look at how we can get very specific with our target action... perhaps at the expense of seeing the bigger picture. Let's get into it.   In the previous post I mentioned that we can use herbal remedies by targeting a specific concern (eg. infectious organism), tissue, or condition. This approach to working with herbs largely comes as a resp ..read more

  Continually seeking balance between traditional folk methods and insights from scientific research has been my practice since starting this small herbal products company in 2005. The world seems to have changed considerably since then (as well as how I'm able to reach those seeking these herbal remedies) but the truth is that the plants continue to do what they've always done - express their Nature through adaptions to the changing world around them.   In that respect, there are two basic ways to view, and, thus, use an herbal remedy: 1) as basic constitutional support 2) targeting ..read more

Gathering Sonoran Sweetness The cherished time of year in the Sonoran desert is now upon us.  While the desert heats up to temperatures above 110 F, many run for cooler, moister climes and foreign visitors are scorched in short time.  This heat is necessary, it is a natural process inherent in our desert's ecology.  To eliminate it in some way would be to lose one of the greatest gifts this desert has to offer us.  Without the intense heat the fruit of our Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) would not mature properly.  Not many people today know the characte ..read more