“ HowToGrowAndUseMedicinalHerbs”

Stephanie Syson

*FULL TRANSCRIPT*

Hosted By Marjory Wildcraft www.TheGrowNetwork.com

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“ HowToGrowAndUseMedicinalHerbs”

Stephanie Syson

Marjory: Hello,andwelcometotheHomegrownFoodsSummit.ThisisMarjoryWildcraft.ThissummitisbroughttoyoubyTheGrowNetwork.We'rethepremiercommunity,peoplegrowingourownfood,makingourownmedicine.Regularly,wegetpeoplewhogo,"Hey,Iwanttogrowmyownmedicine.Iwanttogrowmyownmedicinalherbs."Yeah.Righton,becausetheherbsthatyougrowyourselfhaveway,way,waymorepowerthantheherbsthatyoubuy.Wehaveawonderfulpresenterforyouwho'sgoingtogoovermorethanadozenherbsherethatarerealcommon,andhowshegrowsthem,andtheirproperties,andhowtousethem.

StephanieSysonhasover10yearsofexperienceintheherbalproductindustry,and13yearsasanorganicfarmer.Sheteachesgreenhousemanagement,seedsaving,herbalism,andhowtomanageapublicforestandpermaculture.Shealsoco-hoststheLivingPermacultureRadioShowonPublicRadioandregularlycollaborateswiththeColoradoExtensionServiceandtheColoradoMountainCollege.Stephanie,bytheway,alsomanagespublicfruitforestinBasalt,Colorado.I'vebeentovisithere,andit'sreally,reallyquiteamazing.

Well,hereyougo.Let'sletStephanieshowyouhowtogrow,gosh,Ithinkthere'sabout17differentherbs.

Stephanie: WelcometoGrowingandUsingMedicinalHerbs.MynameisStephanieSyson.IliveinCarbondale,Colorado,sowewillmostlybegoingovertemperateclimateherbs.

Iamamedicinalherbfarmer.I'malsoamotherofabeautifuldaughterof10yearsold.Theowner-operatorofBiodynamicBotanicals,whichistheherbfarmitself.Ipracticepermaculture,herbalism,biodynamics,seedsaving.IworkalotingreenhousesaswellashosttheLivingPermaculturepodcastonpublicradio,KDNK.YoucanalsosubscribetothatpodcastonNPRPodcasts.Ifyouare

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interestedinabunchofpermacultureandfarmingandherbalnerdism,youcanlistentousonceamonththere.

I'mgonnagetintoabout12differentmedicinalherbsthatIreallyliketogrowanduse.But,first,justbrieflyhowIarrivedatwhereIamnow,likealotofpeoplewhoworkinthenaturalhealthindustry,Icametoitbecauseofmyownhealthissues.Inmyteenageyears,IgotdiagnosedwithHashimoto'sdisease,whichisanautoimmunethyroiddisease.Myparentsdidn'tknowbetter.Ididn'tknowbetter.Wejustkindofpluggedintothetraditionalmedicalsystem,andthegoingtheoryatthattimewastheirradiationofthethyroidwasreallytheonlyoption,andsothat'swhatwewentforwardtodo.

Andyearslater,readingmyfirstnutritionbook,itwasreallyturnedouttobeoneofthegreatestgiftstomylife,becauseIwasn'tlivingalifelikethisatall.Butreadingthatbookandreadingthechapteronthyroidsandhowmanythingswecandotohelpimprovethehealthofourthyroidbeforewewouldgotothelevelofirradiatingavitalorganreally,reallyoffendedmeandupsetmeandtookmylifefromonedirectiontoanother.Soallinallitendedupbeingquitethegift.

Sotwomainprojectshereinthe[inaudible00:02:25]ValleyofColorado,BiodynamicBotanicalsisacommercialandmedicinalherbfarm.Wegrowabout30differentspeciesofmedicinalherbsforsale.Wegrowalotmorejustforjoyandfunandgettingtoknowallthosedifferentplants.Thisisthemasterplanofoursectionattheranch,whichiscalledSustainableSettingsRanch.It'salarger240acrebiodynamicranchandrawdairy.Sowehavebuiltsomeofthisinfrastructure,maybehalforso,andtherestwearestillworkingon.

OneofmyotherprojectsistheBasaltFoodPark.ThisisinBasalt,Colorado,whichisjustatownawayfromwhereIlive.It'sapublicparkthataboutfiveyearsago,thecityandmyself,decidedthatwecouldbetterutilizethespacethanbeingjustagrassparklikealotoftheotherparksthatwehave.Andwecouldturnitintoapermaculturefoodforest,ademonstrationgarden,aswellasamedicinalherbsanctuary.Sothisisjustapublicpark,openandavailabletoalllikeanyotherpublicparkexceptyoucaneatit.You

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cantakeherbshomeforyourcookingyourdinneroryourherbsforyourmedicinemakingoryoucancomepickraspberriesorapplesorplumsoranyoftheotherfruitsandvegetablesthatliveatthissite.EverythingistaggedwithLatinandcommonname.Yeah.Wereallyenjoythatproject,andIreallylikemedicinalherbsoutthereinamorepublicwaysowecantalkaboutthem,teachaboutthem,andletpeopleaccessthoseplants.

Sowhywouldyougrowherbs?Ifyouarenotalreadydrinkingthekool-aidofhowwonderfulitistogrowherbs.Thesearesomeofthetopreasons.Forhealthandself-sufficiency,soyoucangrowyourownpharmacy,youcangrowyourownvitamins,growyourownminerals.Themedicinalartsareveryunculinaryartsaswell,areverypestanddiseaseresistantforthemostpart.There'sanherbforeverykindoflocationyoumighthave.Doyouhaveaplacewithlowwaterortoomuchwater?Doyouhaveaplacethathasreallyrichsoilsordoyouhaveaplacethathasverypoorsoils,nothighinnutritionorerodedawayorvery,veryrocky?Thereisaplant,probablyanherb,thatisstrongenoughandwouldlovetoliveinthatlocation.Youjusthavetofindwhichone.

Herbsareusefulinsomanyways.Medicinalsecuritiessoit'sgreatthatwecanbuyourpeppermintteafromChina,butshouldweandwillwealwaysbeabletodoso?Probablynot,andwhynotjustgrowitoutsideofyourhouse.There'salotofculturalandhistoricalsignificance.There'sabeautifulbookbyWolfStorl,TheHistoryofHealingthatgoesoveralotofthereallybeautifullorearoundthesemedicinalherbs.They'reedible,viableformedicine,reallytasty,alotofthem.Theyprovideourvitaminsandmineralsoftheworld,sosuperhighinnutrition.Theyhelptoestablishcleansoilsandhealthysoilsalotquickerifyou'reutilizingtherightonesforsoilbuilding.Likeourplantainandmelonanddandelion.Andtheyalldrawinbeneficialinsectsandalotofourpolleneaters,they'rejustreallybeautifulflowersofdiversesizes,shapes,colors,andtheybringinawidearrayofbeneficialinsectsandpollinatorstoourgardens.

There'salsosomelargeuseandconservationissuesaroundmedicinalherbs.SolikeImentionedthatpepperminttea,you

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probablyassume,perhaps,itcomesfromsomewhereclosebybecausepeppermintgrowssowell.But,oddsare,ifyou'rebuyingfromanylargesizecompany,itdoesnot.Evenfromsomeofoursmallercompanies.Wealsowanttothinkaboutwhenwe'relookingatourmedicinesorourteas,we'rebuyingfromthegrocerorevenanyofourherbalists,aretheseherbswildcraftedandthere'ssomevaluetothat,butbewary,thewildcannotreallysupportthelevelofusageofherbsthatweareseeinganymore.Andwewantthesewildplantstothriveandbeapartofourwildecosystemssowecangoandgetseedsandpropagationmaterial,butwereallywanttobelookingtowardsgrowingasmanyoftheseherbsaswe'reusingaspossible.

So,asIsaid,justforyourgarden'shealth,evenifyou'renotusingtheseplantsforyourownhealthorforyourdeliciousadditionstoyourdinnerseverynight,the[inaudible00:07:33]habitatforallofbeneficialinsectsandallofourpollinatorsandthat'sgonnahelpourvegetablegardensthrive.Soinmedicinalherbs,whenwe'relookingforseeds,we'relookingforthosewildgenetics.Wewant,thisisapictureontherightofechinacea,wewanttomakesurethattheechinaceaseedwe'regettinghascomefromareputabledistributorthat'snotcomingfromyourregularnurseries.Mostofourmedicinalherbsarestillverywildbutsomeofthemarecommononesthathavecrossedoverintotheornamentalhorticulturefieldshavebeenbredforsometimenowforbigflowers,prettycolors,andaswe'redoingthat,we'renotnecessarilyselectingformedicinalpotency,butwereallywanttohaveourseedsaswildaspossible.Andthere'ssomereallygreatseedcompaniesoutthere.StrictlyMedicinalsoutinOregonisoneofmyalltimefavoritesthatIgotoallthetimeformymedicinalherbseedsfortheonesthatI'mnotsavingmyself.

Andjusttothinkaboutmedicinalherbsasnotasubstituteforapharmaceutical,theseplantsbelonginourlivesinmultipletimesperdayinallkindsofways,notjustwhenwe'resick,notjusttakingwillowbarkinsteadofaspirin,notjusttakingmetalinsteadofourantihistamine,that'sagreatplacetostart.Buttheseherbsreally,reallyshowtheirvaluewhentheycomeintoourlivesinamuchmoreregularway.Sowewantthemeveryday.

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Andremember,therearecommonkitchenherbs,ourthyme,oregano,rosemary,thoseareallverypowerfulherbsaswell,wejustneedtomakesurethatwe'regettingnicefresh,highqualityherbsandmaybenotthelittleshakerjarthat'sbeenontheshelfinourlocalgrocerforthelasttwoyears,whichhaslittletoofferanymorebecauseit'sbeenexposedforsolongtoairandlightandthingslikethat.Herbsaregonnahelpsupportourbodyinhealingitself,sowhilelotsofthemdohaveantibacterialqualitiesandthingslikethat,wealsoarelookingatthembecausetheyhelpfortifyandstrengthenourbody'sownimmunesystemandourbody'sownsystemsofcleansingorwhateveritiswe'relookingfor.

Sowhatmakesanherbalist?There'salotofcoursesouttherewhereyoucangetgreattrainingandknowledgeaboutbecominganherbalist,especiallyifyou'regoingtothelevelofaclinicalherbalistintryingtotreatclientsandthingslikethat.But,really,acertifiedherbalistisafairlynewtermandhumanbeingshavebeenworkingwithplantsforavery,verylongtime.Animalsworkwithplantsandhavebeenshowntousemedicinalherbs.Andtheseareallvalidandwonderfuluses.Everyonedoesn'tneedtogo,necessarily,togettrainingunlessthey'regoingtogothatfar.

Thechildreninthepicturetotheleftisagreatexample.Justtoremember,wehaveinherentknowledgeoftheseplantsinourbiochemistry,inourhistory,inourintuition,andsooneoftheseboyshadwartsonhisfingersandwefoundhimoutintheyardwithadandelion.Hehadpulleditoffandthatwhitesapfromthedandelion,hewasputtingitonhiswart.Noonehadevertoldhimtodothat,hejustdiditinstinctivelyandthelatexfromthedandelionisagreatthingtohelpeliminateandreducewartsifyou'rehavingissuesforthat,justrememberthat.Andthenalso,everybodyisdifferent.Herbsarenotaoneshotdeal.EverybodywhohasaheadachetakesFeverfewanditworksforthemuniversally.They'reveryindividualandthey'reverycomplexlikeweare,soreallyjusttryingtofigureoutwhatworksforyouandbygrowingthem,youcankindoffeelwhatyou'reattractedto.

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Soweliketotakethebigpictureoftheseplants,too,aswellasallplants.They'recollectingsunandmoonandalltheseastro-influencestakingthemupintotheirbodyandmetabolizingallofthesethingsaccordingtotheirownintelligence,andsowewanttorespecttheintelligenceandbeautyandcomplexityoftheseplants.Andthat'swhytheyworksowellandit'ssohardforbacteriasandvirusestoreallyunderstandplantsbecausethey'rebothverycomplex.Andsoasimpleantibiotic,it'srelativelyeasyforourbacteriastoevolveandunderstandachemicalantibioticandfigureouthowtoeatit.Butwithherbs,they'rejustascomplexintheirwholeformasthebacteriaitselforasourbody.Sothat'swhytheyworkinadifferentway.

Wealsowanttobelookingatthecircadianrhythm.Where'sthesunmoving?How'sthemoonmoving?Inwhatseasonarethedifferentpartsoftheplantsreallybeautifulandviable?Whendotheygerminate?Whendotheymature?Whendotheygobackintotheearthtoregenerate?

Inthinkingaboutthisseasonality,there'ssomegeneralkindofideasthatinspringwe'rereallylookingattheleavesoftheplants.Thefirstthingtocomeoutofthegroundaretheseleaves,andthosearethemostvibrantpartoftheplantaswell.Alltheenergyoftheplantisexpressingitselfatthattime,soit'soneofthebesttimetoharvestleaves.

SummerisforflowersorIreallyalsoliketolookattheinsectswhenthebeesinmygardenareparticularlyafteracertainherbflower.Iknowthatthatnectar'srunningreallystrongandallofthevibrancyandenergyofthatplantintheflower,andsothat'salsowhatIwanttoflowersowekindofhavetohavealittlenegotiationofwhogetstheflower.ButIgrowlotsofflowerssotheycanhaveotherflowerstoo.

Fallisusuallywhenourseedsarebeingproducedandwinterforrootsorvery,veryearlyspring.Sothattimewhentheplanthasgonebackintothegroundandstoreditsenergyintotheroottoover

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winter,that'swhenallofthevibrancyandenergyisintheroot,sothat'sthetimewhenwewouldliketohaveit.

IreallyliketolookattheLatinnamesofplantsforlotsofreasons.One,they'rejustveryfun,butalsotheycanhelptogiveusanideaofwheretheplantcamefrom,howtoidentifytheplant,whattheplantisfor.Thatcardiacayouseeonthisslide,theLeonuruscardiaca,whichismotherwort.Cardiacaisfortheheart.Motherwortisareallyimportantherbforourheart.AndLeonurus,lion,lionheartismotherwortknownascardiaca.Ithelpsto,notonlyphysicallysupporttheheartshealth,butemotionallygiveusthisfeelingoflionheartedness,thisstrengthofheart.

Ireallyenjoylotsofdifferentbooks.Here'safewthatIliketoreferenceifyou'reinterestedinthisideaofwhatisanativeplantversusaninvasiveplant.ThesewordsarethrownaroundquitealotandIthinkmostofthetimetheyarenotusedappropriately.SoIwillleavethattoalargerconversationatsomepoint,butIencourageyoutodoyourresearchandlookintothebenefitsandthevalueofsomeofthesesocalledinvasivesandthisideaofnative,andwhat'snativeinachangingclimatelikewehave.

Okay.NowI'mgoingtogointojustafewofmyfavoriteherbs,thegrowingandusingofforatemperateclimatelikewehavehere.

BlueVervainisoneofmyfavoriteplantsoverthelastmaybefiveyears.I'vebecomevery,veryclosetoit.Ienjoyitrightwhenitsproutsallthewaythough.It'sabeautifulperennial.Gorgeous,gorgeousflowers.We'regoingtobeusingthoseflowersandleafonthis.Thisonehastonsofoldlorearounditsceremonialuses,many,manydifferentcultures.Weusethisasunnervingsoithelpstocalmthenervoussystem.It'salsoverybittersoyou'llseeitinalotofdigestivebitterrecipesespeciallyonesmorerelatedtothecalmingofanxietyandthingslikethat.Ontheexternal,itcanbeusedasananti-inflammatory,andforsometissuerepair.Butreally,thewayIusethisthemostwouldbemorerelatedtointernalusesandforthatoverworked,overstressed,self-criticalpersonwhichwecanallhaveperiodsofthat,I'msure.

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BlueVervainisinthemintfamily.Itenjoysalittlebitofshadeifyouhaveit,butcanthriveinfullsunaswellaslongaswhileit'sstillreallyteenytinyitgetsalittlebitofprotectionbyeithersometallerplantsplantedonthesouthsideorthewindsideorsomethinglikethat.Itdoesenjoyquiteabitofmulch.HereinColoradoat6,000feet,myBlueVervainwillgrowmaybetoaboutfourorfivefeettall.Itcandosomedrought,butitisinthemintfamily,solikemostofourmints,it'sgoingtoenjoyalittlebitofwater.

Burdock:Mostofyouhaveprobablyseenthisplant.Thisisonthatinvasivelist.Youhavetobeverycarefulofwhereyouharvestthisplantfrom,justbecausealotofpeoplearesprayingitwithtoxicherbicidestotryandeliminateitfromthrivingintheirarea,whichyoucanreadthosebooksanddetermineyourownopinion.Ithinkit'sareallysupervaluablemedicinalherbfordetoxandcleansingwhichhappenstobewhatit'sdoingfortheearththatit'sgrowingonaswell,whichiswhyyou'lloftenseeitinthesedegradedordisturbedareasthatmighthavesometoxicitytothelandscape.It'sreallytheretohelpcleanthatup.Butthat'swhatitdoesinustoo,somakingsurethatyou'regrowingitonacleanplaceisimportantsoyou'remedicineisclean.Butwhilewe'reusingit,it'sgoingtobeareallygreatdigestivecleansertohelpfeedourbeneficialbacteriawiththekindofstarchesthatareinit,butthenalsotohelpbindwithheavymetalsandtoxinsinoursystemandremovethemout,soinmostdetoxformulas,yourgoingtoseeburdockroot.

Thisonepracticallygrowsitself.Ifyouwanttoharvestmuchoftheroot,though,you'regoingtoneedtoprobablyplantitinaplacethathasalittlebitofloosenedsoil,becauseitisavery,very,long,stoutroot.Buttogetitoutyouhavetobejustastoughandwillingtoputinthetimeandefforttodigthatsuckerout.Itisabiennialsoifyou'reworriedaboutitspreading,youjusthavetomakesureyouchopitdownbeforetheseedsbecomemature.

We'llseethisinlotsofpeople'sgardens.It'sreallybeautifulannualplant.You'llseeinalmosteveryskinproductthat'sherballybased,solotions,salves,thingslikethat.It'sreallygreatforwoundsordryskin.Internally,weliketouseitforthelimbaticsystem.Weliketouseit

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forsorestomachs.Sothinkingofourstomachanddigestivetractasoursecondskin,aplacewhereweinterfacewiththeworld.It'sareallyimportantherbtohelpcalmallofourskinanddigestivetract.

Thisguycanhandlesomedrought.Itcanalsohandlealittlebitofwater.It'sreallyeasygoing.Ifyou'replantingthisinagreenhousethough,justbewaretheaphidsandwhiteflies,especiallywhitefliesjustreallylikethisguy.Sotendstoattractthemifyoualreadyhavethem,butit'sawaytokindoffocusthemandyoucanmovethemoutofyourgreenhousethenifyoutakethoseplantsout.Producesregularflowers,onceitreallygetsgoingintheseason,you'llbepickingeveryday,maybeeveryotherday.Theflowersopenwiththesun,soit'susuallymid-daywhenyou'regonnawanttopickthoseguys.We'rejustpickingtheflowersonthis,although,somepeoplehaveusedtheentireplantandjuicedit,nottodrinkbuttopourovertheirskinasawoundwashortohelpwithmelanomaandotherskincancerissues.

Catnip:Thisisagreatone.I'msuremanyofyouhaveseencatsgocrazyoverthem.It'sastimulatingdrugtothem.Forus,it'squitetheopposite.It'sverycalming,nottothelevelofnecessarilyputtingyoutosleep,butjustrelaxesthenervoussystemreallygently,reallygoodforkids.Anotherplantinthemintfamily,hasaprettyagreeableflavorsoyou'llseeitinalotthesenighty-nightteasforchildrenorgrown-ups,reallygreatforthedigestivetract,sowonderfulafterdinner.Mintfamilyplant,again.Soenjoysomewater,butcanbesurprisinglydroughttolerant.Thisisamuchtallerplant,soitcangetfour,fivefeettall,becomesareallybigbush.Youcandomultiplecuttingsovertheyearsortheoneseason,multiplecuttings.It'sgreatforattractingbeesaswell.Thebeeslovetheflowersonthis.

Chamomile:You'llseethischamomileteaveryoften.Mostofthetimethey'reusingtheGerman,theannualversionofthechamomile.IreallyliketogrowtheRoman,justbecauseItendtoprefergrowingperennialsifthat'sapossibilityaswellasthescentontheRomanisjustveryattractivetome.Ireallyenjoythatone.Thisisanothernervingcalmingtothenervoussystem,helpstopromotesleep,greatforkids,alsousefulforexternalapplication.Weuseitinanti-fungal

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salvesorforitchyskin,eczema,thingslikethat.It'sgonnabealightdependentgerminator,theseedsarevery,verytiny,soyoudon'twanttoburythemverydeep,justaverythinlayeroflightsoilontop.Lovessun,cangrowinreallydryareasoncetheygetestablished.

ClarySage:ThisoneIfellinlovewithaboutthreeyearsago.Thescentonclarysageonceitgoesintoblossom.You'reeitheraloverorahater.Somepeoplethinkitsmellslikethegreatestfloral,dirtyaphrodisiacever,andthenotherfolksthinkitsmellslikecaturine.Sothatisuptoyoutodecidewhichcampyouarein.Thisisatruesage,atruesalvia.Itisabiennial,although,sometimesIcangetittocomebackintothethirdorfourthyear.We'regoingtobeusingitinternallyforhormonestabilization,likeIsaid,aphrodisiac.Itcanhelpwithsadnessanddepression.Andthenyou'llseethismostcommonlyinskinapplicationsfortheoilforyourfaceifyouhavecombinationskinthatbreaksoutquiteabitorskinthatreactsandinflamesquiteabit.You'llseethisinmany,many,high-endskinproducts.

Comfrey:Hopefullyquiteafewofyoualreadyhavethisinyourgardenifyou'vebeenwatchinganyofthepermaculturetalksovertheyearshereattheGrowNetwork,youwillhaveinevitablyheardapermaculturisttalkaboutcomfrey.It'skindoflikepermaculture'sdarlingherb.Welovethisplantbecauseit'sgreatforourgardens,sowe'regoingtobeusingittomakeallkindsofdifferentthingsjustforourgardensthemselves.Butcomfrey'sagreatrapidcellregenerator.Thisisgoingtobesomethingthathelpshealyourwounds.Theyusedtocallitknit-bone,soifyouhaveasprainorabreak,onceyourbreakhasbeensetproperlyusing,comfreyhelpsreallyspeedupthehealingofthosebonesandligamentsandthingslikethat.

Comfreygrowsallovertheplaceinallkindsofdifferentconditions.Ithasabadwrapforspreadingtooquicklyortoofarandwide.Iactuallybelieveit'sverywellbehaved.TheissuewithComfreydoesn'tspreadbyseed,theissueistherootspread.Butnotlikeamintwhereitjustspreadsitself.It'sreallyifyoudigarounditortillaroundit,everytinylittlepieceofComfreyrootwillmakeanew

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Comfreyplant.Butaslongasyou'renotdiggingaroundit,that'snotanissue.Comfreystaysinitsplaceprettywell.Hasareallydeeptaproot,youcancutthisbackwhetheryou'reharvestingforyourselforforsomeotherapplicationsthatwe'lltalkaboutlater.FourorfivecuttingsofComfreyinaseason.Eveninaseasonlikeourswhichisvery,veryshort.

Dandelion:Oneofmyfavorites.Andoneoftheonesyou'veprobablyheardalotaboutsoI'mnotgoingtostayonthistoolong.Butitiseverywhere,andeverysinglepartofitisavaluablemedicinalplant,edibleplant,aswellaspromoting...It'soneofourearliestbeefoods.Soreally,thosebeautifulyellowflowersaredoinglotsofthingsforourgardenandforthehealthoftheinsectsaroundaswellasbeingavitalandvaluableplantmedicinallyforus.

Horsetailisareallyimportantherbinthebiodynamicworld.Alsojustareallygreatherbtohavearoundifyouhaveanareainyourfarmorgardenthatcanstayrelativelymoist.Soitreally,reallydoesneedquiteabitofmoisture.Sowehaveitgrowingmostlyalongourirrigationditchallthewaythroughour240acres.Reallybeautifulplant.Superhighinsilica,sothinkbones,thinkligaments,thinkhair,anythingwherewe'reneedingtoaddsomestructuralintegrity.

HorehoundisanotherplantthatIreally,reallyenjoy.Thisisoneofthoseextra,extrahardyplants.You'llstillseethisinRicolacoughdropsandthingslikethat.Greatforcoughsandcolds.Iliketogrowthisontheperipheryofmygardenareawheremyirrigationreallydoesn'thitverywell.Soit'sonthosedryedges,anditjustlovesitoutthere.

Lemonbalm:We'rebacktothemintfamilyonthisone.Lemonbalm,highlyaromaticspreadingplant,cangrowverylargeinrichsoilswithenoughmoisture.Beautifulforcoldsandflu,forsadness,thisone'softenmixedwithSt.John'sWortforseasonaleffectivenessdisorder.Externally,we'regonnauseitoftentimesasananti-viral,sopeoplewillmakethisintoananti-virallipbalmforcankersoresandforanyoftheherpescomplexfamily,reallyvaluableinthatway.Lovessunshine,butwillalsogrowinshadierspots.And,likeIsaid,itreally

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getsverypotentinthesedryerporoussoils,butitdoesn'tgrowasbig.Ifyouhaveitinawetter,shadierplacewithrichersoils,it'sgoingtogrowvery,verybig,kindoflessconcentrated,butbigbeautifulplant.

Marshmallowisafavoriteofmine.Thisisanimportantherbforanyonewholivesinthedrypartofthecountrywherewedon'tgetasmuchprecipitation,andourbodyisverydry.It'sverymusicogenic,soit'sgoingtoneedmoisteningtoourentirebody.Thisisgreatforthosedrycoughsthatyouhaveinthewintertimesometimes.Ireallyliketousetheleavesinteaortherootsaswell.Andthendecoctthoseorcoldwillsteepthoseguys.Growsverytall,sixfeetormore.Verycloselyrelatedtohollyhock,youcanseethatinit.It'sjustnotbredforsuchbig,bigflowers.Beautifulplant,perennial,therootcomesoutveryeasily,big,big,stalkyroot.ItcanbegrownanywherefromfieldproductionlikeIdowhichisalittlemoredryorfull-onswampyareas.

ThisistheoneIspokeofwhenIwastalkingabouttheLatinnamesearlier,Leonuruscardiaca,motherwort.Sothisisforthenervoussystem,reallyjusthelpstoquietitalldownandjuststrengthenandgladdentheheart,reallypowerfulemotionally.Although,verybitter,sogreatforanyofyourpre-digestivebittersbeforeyoueatyourdinner.Motherwortisveryaggressive.Ifyouletitgotoseed,youwillcertainlygetmany,manymoremotherwortplantsthatyoucangivetoallyourfriends.

Stingingnettleisnativetoourarea.Alsooneofmyfavorites.Andthisisoneofthoseculinarycrossoverplants.Firstthingyouknow,we'reseeingitinalotmorerestaurantsandrecipes.It'sabeautifulherbtouseinplaceofspinachorsomeofyourothertendergreensindifferentrecipeslikeyourartichokespinachdiporsomethingalongthoselines.Itdoessting,soyoujusthavetobecarefulwiththatwhenyou'repicking.Butonceyoueithercookitoryoudehydrateit,themajorityofthestinggoesawaywenyoudehydrateit,allofitgoesawaywhenyoucookitsoyoudon'thavetobefearfulthatyou'regoingtostingyourmouth.

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Thisisourbigallergyplant,ourherbalantihistamine.It'svery,verypowerful.Canreallyhelpwiththoseseasonalallergiesaswellasjustprovidingthishugeamountofvitaminandmineralloadforyourbody.SoI'lldrinkthisquiteoftenwithafewotherherbsmixedininsteadofneedingtoworryabouttakingavitaminandmineralsupplement.Ijusttakealotofherbsthathavevitaminsandmineralsinthemlikestingingnettle,redclover,oats,thingslikethat.

Stingingnettle,Idogrowitintheopenfields,butIgrowitinanareathathasmorewaterfrommyirrigationaswellastryingtogiveitsomelatebasedshade.Stingingnettle,you'llfindinthewildmorenearthosewateryplacesandoftentimesintheunder,somoreshadyplaces.

Oatsareanannual.Thisisjustlikeoatmealthatyoueatforbreakfastexceptwe'repickingitatthismilkystagewhereyouseemesqueezingthatoattopthere.Wewantthatmilktocomeout.That'swhattheycall"milkyoattops".Mostofthetimeyou'llseethattincturefresh.Sometimesyou'llseetheminteas,butyoureallywantthatfreshtinctureinordertogetthishealingofthenervoussystem.It'sstillalwaysgoodforthenervoussystem,butthatmilkisthereal,realpowerinthere.Thestrawissomethingwealsouse,andthat'smoreforthevitaminandmineralcontent,sowe'regoingtobeusingthatwithournettleforourvitaminandmineraltea.

Thisisagrass.Itgrowsveryfast.Mostfarmerswillbeusingitinsomeversionoftheircroprotationastheirrotatingoutsomeoftheirfieldcrops.They'llrestthefieldwithoatsandclover.Theoatswillprovidelotsofbiomass.I'llgrowit,oftentimes,whatIdon'tharvestformyselforforsale,Ijustdropthestrawrightthereinthefieldandthathelpstoaddtotheorganicmatterandprovidein-placemulchingfortheothercropsIhavearound.

….isanativeplantwehavehereinColorado.Oftentimesyou'llseeitonslopeyhills.It'sagreatdetoxifier.We'regoingtobeusingtherootonthisoneforthemostpart.Helpstocleantheblood.Helpstoskin,soifyou'rehavingtoxicitythatseemstobepresentingitselfthroughtheskin,thisistheherbthatIthinkofforthattypeofdetoxification.

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Thiscangrowonverydryslopeyareas,although,oftentimesyou'llseeitontheslopedowntoacreek.Soitisgettingwater,butit'sjustmovingveryfast.It'sagreatbankstabilizer.Ithelpstoholdinthosesoilsonthoselargeslopes.

Plantains:Anotherweedthatyouseeoutthere.Thisonecomeveryquicklyafterwedisturbedsoils.Itreallyhelpstoheal.Theycallittheband-aidplant,whetherit'sforthelandthatit'shealingorforus.It'sreally,reallygentleandhealingtoourskin.Italsocanbedrying,soithelpstodrawoutthetoxinsfrominsectbitesorifwehaveashallowsplinter,ithelpstopullthesethingsout.Youwon'treallybeabletogrowplantainaswellthericherandricheryoursoilgets.Itdoesn'treallywanttobeinrichsoil.Itwantstobeinpoorsoil.That'swhereitdoesit'sworkandthat'swhereitcreatesthebest,strongestversionofitself.

Sage:Therearelotsofdifferentsage.Wetalkedclarysageearlier.Therearemany,manydifferentvarietiesofsage.Thisisjustourregularculinarysagethatweuseforseasoningourmeatsorwhateveritisthatwe'redoinginthekitchenthatcallsforthisherb.Butit'sabeautifulperennialpollinatorattractingplant,very,verycoldhardy,wonderfulforsorethroatsandcolds.Ithelpswithmemoryaswellasifyou'rehavinggassyindigestion.Iliketousethisifpeoplearoundmearesufferingfromstrepthroat,thiskindofcategoryofillnessasagargle.Makeareallystrongteaandthengarglewithit.

Thyme:You'refamiliarmanyofyou,I'msure.Again,forcooking.Beautifulplantthatcangrow...Iliketoplantitontheedgesofmygardenbecauseitstaysrelativelysmallsoontheedgesofmypathways.Iliketouseitexternally,alotoftimesforlungs,I'llputitinavaporrubsalvethatIwillputonmydaughter'schestatnightifsheishavingalotofmucousandinabilitytomovethatmucousout.Anothersorethroattea.Thymereallyenjoysalittlebitofadryerlandscapeonceitgetsestablished.ThisismorerelatedtoaMediterraneanherbsoitreallylikesthatdrylandatleastinmyclimate.

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Valerian:Valerianisaperfectexampleofoneoftheslidesearlierwhichnoteveryherbisforeverypersonandwereallyneedtotreatourselvessomewhatindividually.Thiswouldbethemostextremeversionofthat.SoValerian,forsomefolksisvery,verysedative.Itwillabsolutelyputyoutosleep.Well,forotherfolks,itwon'tletthemsleep.Itwillgivethemsomuchenergythattheycan'tsleep.Idon'tknowmanyplantswhoarethisextremeintheirdifferencesinpeoplebutjustagoodremindertotakealittlebitofanherbandgettoknowit,andasyougettoknowit,thenyoucanstepupandseehowthatfeelsforyou.

Wildrose:Wehavethesegrowingnativeallaroundthisarea.We'regonnabewantingtouseorIusuallyuseeithertheflowers.I'musingthatforteaorforskinaswellastherosehipsattheendoftheseason.Afteranicegoodhardfrost,I'llcollectalltheserosehips,mostlyfortheirvitaminCcontentandbemakingsyrupsandinfusedhoneysthatIwillenjoyoverthewintertokeepmyimmunesystemstrongandmyvitaminClevelshigh.Theseroseslovetogrow,again,nearwateralongourditches.OrIwillhavethemcloserintothecenterofmyfarmareawheretheirrigationisthemostplentiful.

Yarrowisourlastspecificherbthatwearegoingovertoday.Theycallthisplantnosebleedandit'skindofknowntohelpslowdownorhelptostopanosebleed.It'sarapidbloodcoagulator,helpstostaunchbleeding.TheLatinachilleamillefoliumachilleaissettocomefromthewarriorAchilles,whowasreportedtonevergointobattlewithoutyarrowforhiswarriorsbecauseit'santisepticsoithelpstofightinfections,butitalsostopsthatbloodloss,whichissoimportant.

Beyondtheexternalusesforwounds,theotherthingwewillbelookingatyarrowfor,Iliketoputitinteasforallergiesorcoldsandflueswhenthecongestionisupinthesinuscavityuphighinthehead,itreallyhelpstoreleasethatoutandhelpstoinducesweating,sothatwecanreduceourissueswithfevers,coolthebody.

SonowthatIhaveconvincedyoutoplantalltheseherbsandmany,manymore,whatareyougoingtodowiththemall?Mostofthe

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timewe'llbedryingthem.Lotsofapplicationsforfreshherbsbutoftentimeswewon'tgettothemall.Andthisisthewaytostorethemfortherestoftheyearifyoudon'tgettimetotinctureeverythingfresh.Sowe'regonnadrythemoutonthis,it'sjustalaundrydryingrackisgreatforasmallapplication.We'regoingtouseatermcalledgarble,whichreallyjustmeanscrushtheherbs,andthenwe'regoingtostorethemandbytheendofityouwilllooklikeevenmoreofacrazyjarladyorgentlemenwithallofyourjarsandjarsandjarsofherbs.Youmightneedawholenewshedjustforallyourjars.

Iusea14x40hoophouse,nowthisisjustthehoophouseonit'sown,butminenowhasa90%shadeclothoverthetop,becauseIreallydon'twantthesunonmyherbstodrythembecausethatwilldegradethemprettyquickly.Iwantitshady,butIwantitverywarm.SoI'mlookingfromanywherefrom80to105degreesandgoodairflow.SoI'llpullupthesidetothishoophousesothattheairflowcanbreezethroughanddehydratetheherbs.

There'safewotherthingswecanwiththeseherbsbesidesthehealthreasonsthatwetalkedaboutearlier.SoIliketousealotofmyherbsinthegarden.I'mgoingtogoovereachofthesereallyquickly.

Iusecomfreyasanutrientaccumulator.Itdoeshavethatreallydeeptoprootsoitcanbringoutnutrientsthatsomeotherplantscan'taccessandputitintoitsleaves,whichIcanchopmanymanytimesovertheseason.It'shighinnitrogen,silica,calcium,potassium,iron,andmagnesium.Ithelpstoactivatecompost.SooftentimesI'musingthisontransplants,becauseitencouragesrootingtosuchanextent.I'mgoingtobemakingatea,eitherafermentedteaorjustaregularteaandthenIusethatwatertowatermyseedlingswhenI'mplantingthemoutinthegardenorpottingthemup.Itjusthelpsthem,I'mgivingthemalittlevitamin,mineralkickaswellasalittlestimulatingoftheirdesiretosetroots.

Stingingnettlejustlikeformyselfinmyownbody,I'musingitasavitaminandmineralsupplement.Sothat'swhatI'mgoingtobedoing

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here.I'mgoingtobeusingitonplantsthattheyhaveenoughlight,thesoilseemsfine.Itdoesn'tseemliketheyhaveabuginfestation,butthey'rejustnotgrowing.They'rejustnotlookingvibrant.That'swhenIthinktheyprobablyaremissingsomekindofvitaminormineralandIwilluseanettleteatohelpprovidethatforthem.

Horsetailwhichwetalkedabout.We'reusingthisforthesilica.Iuseitmainlytohelpwithfungalinfections,especiallyinthegreenhouseinthewinter.Ialsousethisforplantsthat,again,theyhaveenoughlight.Idon'tseeapestproblem.Thesoilseemsfine.Butthey'rejustlikelayingover.Theydon'thaveanystructure,anystrength.SoIthinkaboutusinghorsetailfororforstructure.We'regoingtobedoingitforthesamereasoninourplants.

Youhavetobecarefulwhenyoufeedhorsetailtea,though,becauseofthatsilica,ifyoudoitinthemiddleofthedayitreallycanincreasethelightuptakecapacitysomuchthatitsunburnsourplants.Wewanttodoitintheveryearlymorningorlateroncetheheatandintensityofthedayssunhaspassed.

Chamomileteamostlyasaanti-fungalfordampeningoffdiseaseinseedlings.Justaregularoldtea,strainitout,letitcool,andI'llsprayitinaspraybottleonmylittleseedlings.

Willowandcottonwood:Willowisapotentrootstimulator.Ithasarootinghormoneinitthathelpsourplantstosetroots.MostofthetimeI'mgoingtobeusingthisoneforwhenI'mcuttingandtryingtopropagatethem.IfI'mtakingcuttingsofmybigelderberrybushinthespringbecauseIwanttomakemoreelderberryplants.AndIwantthemtorootreallywell.AndsoI'llsoakthecuttinginthewillowteaforadayortwobeforeIplantitinit'spot.Itreallyspeedsuptheabilityforthatplanttoroot.Plusithasalittlebitofanti-fungalqualitywhichisoneofthebiggestissuesinrootingcuttingsisthattheywillstartrotting.Sowewanttomakesurethatwestimulatetheroots,reducethelikelihoodofrotting.

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AcoupleotherwaysIuseherbsaregarlicandhotpeppers,andI'llusetheseasaninsectspray.Youjusthavetobecarefulbecausethisdoesaffectourbeneficialinsectsaswell.

Soweuseherbsinourbodiesinlotsofdifferentwaysexternallyandinternally.Thesearejustacoupleofthecommonwaysthatweareusingherbs,personalhealth.Whenwe'reextractingtheherbsintowater,wecalliteitheraninfusionoradecoction.Aninfusion,youcandocoldorhot.Thisisusuallyleavesandflowers,andyoucandothisveryquicklylikeachamomileteaforthreeorfourminutes.Orifyou'retryingtogetthemineralslikeoutofastingingnettle,you'dwanttoinfusethishotandthenletitsitandcoolallthewaywiththeplantmaterial.Adecoctionisusuallygoingtobeforhardermaterial,roots,barks,berries,seeds.Thisisaslowsimmerforabout20minutes.

Tincturesyoucanmakeinalcohol,applecidervinegar,andtherearegreatbooksthatgointodetailonalloftheseproceduressoI'mjustgoingtogiveyouakindofquickanddirty,hopefully,inspireyoutonotbefearful.Itreallycanbeassimpleaschopupyourherbs,pourallofthealcoholorapplecidervinegarontop,shakeitfor30days,strainit,bottleit,andlabel,label,label.Becausewealwaysforgetwhatweputinthosejars.

Fireciderisareallycommonvinegartincture.Justgreattimeofyeartotakethatinthewintertohelpimproveourimmunesystem,andwhileyoucantakeitfortreatment,it'sbeautifulasapreventative.Youcangooglefireciderandfindlotsofdifferentrecipes.ThisisoneofthewaysIliketomakeit.

Withouroils,we'regoingtobeusingafewdifferentextractionmethods,becauseit'snotgoingtobeashotasboilingwaterlikewewouldforaninfusionorsomethinglikethat.Sowecandoasunextractionorawaterbathcrockpotextraction.Andthenwecanmakeoursalvesorbalms.Essentiallythat'sjustourinfusedoilwithalittlebitofwax.

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Allright.Wellthat'sgoingtowrapitupforustoday.Ifanyonehasanyquestionsformeatanypoint,youcanemailmeatstephanie@biodynamicbotanicals.comandIhopethatyouareallinspiredtousemoreherbsinyourlife,inyourgardens,foryourbeneficials,foryourfamily'shealth,foryourgarden'shealth,andjustbecausetheyaresobeautiful.Sothanksforjoining.Ihopeyouenjoytherestofthesessionandhaveagreatday.

Marjory: Well,ifyouclickontherightthere,thatwillgetyouintouchwithStephanieSyson.Shehasbiodynamicherbsforsaleathercompany,BiodynamicBotanicals.Shealsohasotherherbalproductsandalsowouldbemorethanhappytobeavailabletoanswerquestions.Ithinkshe'sgoingtobedownthereactiveinthecommentsalso.ButstayintouchwithStephanie.Definitelysupportingourpresentersbypurchasingthingsfromthemorworkingwiththemisafantasticwaytoletthemknowhowmuchyouappreciatewhatthey'vedonehereattheHomegrownFoodSummit.

Downbelow,thereisbuttontopickupthepackageforthesummit.Youcanownthispresentation,aswellasalltheother30-somethingpresentationsthatwehave.YourpurchasegoestowardreallysupportingthisworkandhelpingtheworkofTheGrowNetworkoverall.

ThisisMarjoryWildcraft,andyouareparticipatingattheHomegrownFoodSummit.