“Our children no longer learn how to read the great book of nature from their own direct experience, or how to creatively interact with the planet’s seasonal changes. They rarely learn where their water comes from or where it goes. We no longer coordinate our human celebration with the great liturgy of heaven.”
Wendell Berry
As the veil thins, this may be a good time to explore herbs that can support our vision of the future and our health. Regardless of your thoughts on this time of year, it’s always great to learn about herbs that can support your health.
There are many herbs that can be associated with this unique time of year, so I thought I would share a few of my favorites this week.
You may choose to teach a mini-lesson on each of the herbs this week and next week, or you may want to focus on just one.
My first choice is Mugwort. I love this herb for all things digestive, but I also love it for enhancing dreams. Take a few doses of the tincture over a few days and your dreams will become more vivid and memorable. This herb has been burned as a wipe to keep ghosts away, but it also has many medicinal properties. Burning a sweeping bundle or Mugwort can help purify the air of bacteria and other germs and is ideal for keeping insects away during the warmer times of the year. This plant is versatile in its uses and forms. Whether it is burned, or turned into a tea, vinegar or tincture for ingestion, or an oil or ointment for external application, there are many ways to harness the power of Mugwort.
Apple is another great choice for this time of year. It is traditional to browse for apples during the holidays, and caramel apples are a delicious treat that both adults and children love. One year I made an apple pie with a caramel drizzle that was delicious. Served with a hot cup of tea or apple cider, it is a simple dessert that makes a wonderful annual tradition. From the Rose family, Apple offers us many nourishing options. Applesauce is often the first food we give a baby when he starts solids, and the first food we reach for after a bout of a ‘stomach’ virus that leaves us feeling nauseous and unsure of our ability to keep food down. Apple bark can also help suppress diarrhea. This time of year, herbalists around the world begin preparing their fire cider, using apple cider vinegar as their vinegar of choice for the base. Apple water is a traditional remedy for reducing fever, while apple juice can ease the pain of tonsillitis and sore throat while you wait for other herbs to take effect.
A third herb that often comes to mind at this time of year is garlic. Considered a means of warding off vampires and other nefarious creatures, we should not overlook Garlic’s usefulness in warding off the real villains: colds, flu and other diseases that strike us during the dark time of the year. Another fire cider ingredient, adding garlic to soups, stews and virtually any savory dish can help keep your family healthy. Fermented garlic is one of my favorite things to make and it’s super simple. The downside is that the recipe takes 3 months to complete, so the sooner you start, the better! I learned this recipe from Rosemary Gladstar and I share it in the Garlic ebook, but all you need is a bunch of peeled whole garlic cloves, a jar to put them in apple cider vinegar or a soy sauce-like sauce (coconut aminos or other aminos or tamari all work fine), and honey. Start by filling the jar with the cloves and covering with apple cider vinegar or soy sauce. Vinegar gives a sweet, tangy end result, while the soy gives off a sweet and salty flavor, so choose what your family enjoys most. Or make a jar of each to compare! Now the time begins. You need to let the garlic sit for six weeks. If you use vinegar, you don’t have to worry if your garlic turns green; that is a natural process. After 6 weeks, strain half the liquid (and save it to use as a seasoning on food) and top it up with honey. Shake well and leave for another 6 weeks. After a total of 12 weeks you will have a wonderful remedy. The garlic softens and becomes spicy or salty-sweet and can be eaten daily to jump-start the immune system.
There are many more herbs to study at this time of year, but hopefully these will give you some starting points for your family or homeschool group.
Toast to the ancestors
The ancestors have trod the paths
our feet tread now.
They have known the same thing
ecstatic joys,
cried with the same sighs.
Listen to their softly whispered words,
knowledge of the wise.
Hear it in the sighing of the trees
blows in the wind,
in the patter of falling raindrops.
Hear it calling.
To those who came before us,
and those who came before them,
We raise this cup in honor of your lives.