There once was a wisdom that was prevalent in our great-grandparents’ era that has all but disappeared into the mists of time – a necessary knowledge of the flora and fauna and how to use their vast resources.
My parents have shared some of the “home remedies” their mothers used when they were children, but can recall only a few. I became interested in learning more about the “old ways” when I contracted Lyme disease 24 years ago. Conventional medicine was helpful, but if my doctor had not been knowledgeable about natural and herbal additions to my treatment, I don’t believe I would be as healthy today. During my recovery, I began to collect books on herbal medicines and reached out to herbalists, slowly building my library of medicinal plants and their uses.
Recently, I attended a foraging class led by a well-respected expert. It was an eye-opener. Many plants I had overlooked were valuable as food sources. Standing in that beautiful mixed hardwood forest, I realized I had only begun to scratch the surface. I had a lot of catching up to do if I was going to match my grandmother’s abilities.
God has given us such a treasure in our natural world, if we only know how to tap into it. Genesis 1:29-30 reads “And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed and every tree … I have given every green herb for meat.” It is the way God intended, but with the advent of modern medicine and its proliferation, the old ways have faded.
Thankfully, I see a growing number of people interested in learning about this subject, through the internet, classes, books, etc. Taking a hands-on class like I did is one of the best ways to learn your local foraging laws and plant identification.
A couple of my favorite plants are the sweetgum tree and goldenrod. People usually laugh when I tell them this, because to many, these are trash trees and weeds. I used to think that too, until I learned how valuable they can be.
The sweetgum balls – annoying, prickly little rascals that can roll underfoot and create a mess in your yard – may be the answer to your winter woes. The green ones produce a substance very similar to Tamiflu (without the side effects). After they turn brown, and before they fall from the tree, you can gather them and put them in empty egg cartons until the seeds release. Those tiny seeds are helpful for digestion and have anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities.
The sap of the sweetgum tree also has cancer-fighting components. My parents said they both remember chewing the slightly hardened sap for gum as kids, since they were too poor to afford real chewing gum. It must have worked for them – Dad is 100 and Mom is 96!
Goldenrod is a super star in the medicinal plant world, but often gets unjustly blamed for seasonal allergies. Goldenrod pollen grains are actually too heavy to be transported by wind; insects do the job. Ragweed and other wind-pollinated plants are the real culprits.
Goldenrod is abundant and easy to recognize and harvest. This plant can fortify blood vessels, promote circulation, treat UTIs and much more. I drink it every day as a tea.
Foraging and learning to care for my own health and that of my family is an important skill I will keep honing. In these uncertain times, being proactive for our family’s well-being is a smart move. For us rural folks, it’s a way to reconnect with our past and the amazing wisdom of our ancestors.
I don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling Granny would be proud of my efforts.
Goldenrod Tea
Good for seasonal allergy symptoms.
Take a cluster of flowers/leaves, fresh or dried – about 1 to 2 tablespoons. And add very hot water, but not boiling. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes for fresh, 15 – 20 minutes for dried. Add raw sugar or honey to taste. You can also add this tea to your favorite regular tea at a 1:1 ratio if you don’t care for the taste. It tastes somewhat like chamomile with a little kick.
by Tamra M. Bolton
