Dr. Jennifer Williamson Even though this exercise in writing about medicinal plants I find near my home is 100% self-imposed, I feel like I am cheating a little with this one. My neighbor planted these flowers in our front yard so that she could harvest them for her own medicine making. I didn’t find it […]
Dr. Jennifer Williamson Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is growing all over my little mountain. When I first noticed it, I was driving down our road and saw black berries and red stems. Immediately, I thought that it was Elderberries and I just hit the motherload of places to collect them. But, upon further inspection, they are
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Wild carrot (Daucus carota) is a member of the dreaded Apiaceae family, and its closest looking relative is the deadly Poison Hemlock which killed Socrates (insert diabolical laugh here). Thankfully, there are a few different ways to distinguish between the two plants that I found at the Carrot Museum website. First,
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is in the same Genus as some other medicinal plants, but each one of them has different uses. Blue Tansy is Tanacetum annuum and is used as an essential oil for it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, calming and relaxing properties. Feverfew is Tanacetum parthenium and is most well known for
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is unfairly maligned by those who experience summertime allergies. This plant cannot possibly be the source of respiratory symptoms in those afflicted because its pollen is not distributed by wind. It is a sticky pollen that requires direct contact for transport, like that provided by bees. One of
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Burdock (Arctium lappa) is one of my favorite plants. I know I seem to say that about a lot of different plants, but that’s what happens when you discover their benefits. It’s edible, it’s medicinal, it’s gentle, and sometimes it seem like everyone could use some. Burdock is sometimes called gobo
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), the sister to Joe-Pye Weed about which I’ve written, was literally across the street and already in my file of photographed plants. I looked for it numerous times while I was writing about Joe-Pye Weed, but only found it when I finished. C’est la vie! Another interesting tidbit
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum or maculatum, sometimes listed as Eutrochium with the same species name) is yet another member of the Asteraceae family and which I mistakenly identified first as Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum). This plant is in the same genus, according to some sources, and the flowers look very similar, but
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND These pretty yellow flowers are on the plant that produces Black Mustard (Brassica nigra). The seeds, sprouts, stems and leaves are all edible. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and the sprouts are typically eaten raw on salads, both have the hot pungent flavor that you will recognize as mustard.
Dr. Jennifer Williamson, ND Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens biflora) is an invaluable plant to know if you hike or forage. Thankfully, it’s also fairly easy to identify in a sea of green foliage. If the plant is flowering, which is from early summer to fall, the flower stands out the most because it is bright orange
