Herb of the Month...Sambucus spp... Elder!

So, for the first herb in the series I have decided to highlight Elder. Tis the season...Every year I make at least a gallon of elderberry syrup to see myself, my friends and my clients through the cold and flu season, where I feel elder can be of the most benefit. It is also the time of year that the smell of elder flower tea can be sniffed down the road...emanating from these parts! As the months carry on, with each herb, I will break them down into a modified classic "Materia Medica", that will include: Botanical Name, Family Name, Common Name, Parts Used, Physiological Actions, Specific Indications, Contraindications and Drug Interactions and Preparation and Dosage. All of the following info stems from either my experience with the plant or trusted herbalists/teachers' experience with the specific plant. And then of course I will rant a bit!! ELDER Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra, Sambucus canadensis Family Name: Caprifoliaceae Common Names: Elder, Elderberry, Black Elder, American elder, Flor Sauco Parts Used: flowers, berries (the leaves, bark, and root have a history of being used though can be toxic if not dosed properly and carry along side effects, so i will stick with what i know and use...the flowers and berries) Physiological Actions: Flower: diaphoretic (promotes perspiration), anticatarrhal (help the body remove excess mucus, either in the sinus area or other parts of the body), antispasmodic, alterative, mild nervine relaxant, diuretic, gentle stimulant. Berries: diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, antirheumatic. Specific Indications: The elder tree encompasses many uses from berry to root...it was often considered a "medicine chest of the country people". As I mentioned earlier I will focus on the flowers and berries, my familiarity. The flowers, delicate beings, are extremely useful for many things from flower water for the complexion or as tea to drive out most any fever and clear the nasal and respiratory passageways of mucus build up. (Yummy!) Starting simple... Elder flower water can be made by filling a quart mason jar (or smaller) with fresh flowers, covering with near boiling water then cool slightly. When cooled slightly, add about 1-2 oz's of clear alcohol (vodka works well). Cover with a cloth and allow to cool completely and infuse for at least 4-6 hours, then strain, pour into your bottle of choice and voila...one of nature's best complexion remedies for anything from breakouts to sunburns or simply to keep the skin healthy and glowing! Don't get caught up in the millions of products laden with crap, "natural" or not, and just make some elder flower water to splash on daily! Elder flower tea has a multitude of uses, it should essentially be a household staple for anyone interested in incorporating herbs into their life and health. Elder flowers (dried) are very useful as a decongestant, with a long history, for reducing and removing phlegm from the nasal and respiratory passages and helps promote expectoration from the respiratory tract. So... good for hay fever, sinusitis, and the "wet" cold or flu. I have found it to be very relieving for those who suffer from plugged ears/deafness from this "stuffiness". Elder flower is also ideal for the common cold and for influenza, or the flu. For colds and flu's, the hot tea of the dried flower is the preferred preparation. Elder makes an excellent remedy for these "cold/damp" climates and conditions. Best taken during the first signs of achiness, sore throat, chills and fever...elder will help shorten the duration and intensity of colds and flu's. Elder flower also has excellent diaphoretic properties. For fevers, I have not seen any herb work as well as elder will, whatever the cause of the fever. In these instances, drink a cup or two of the hot tea just before going to bed, or while in bed...and elder will stimulate the circulation and promote free perspiration while cleansing the system of infection, by eliminating heat and toxins through the pores of the skin. I often suggest folks take a shower upon waking to cleanse these toxins from the surface of their skin. Elder combined with peppermint (and yarrow flower if available) is a great tasting, relaxing tea blend for fevers and the initial stages of influenza. Elder flowers also stimulate the action of the kidneys, our body's natural filter system, and help to remove edema especially when focused in the legs and ankles. Through the action of relieving fluid retention in the body, the flowers are also useful in reducing inflammation associated with arthritis, gout and rheumatism. (Use caution in large and excessive quanities...b/c of the diuretic effect, hypokalemia may result) Cold elder flower tea is extremely useful as an eyewash to relieve inflammation and irritation associated with conjunctivitis and sore eyes. I have used the cool tea as an eyewash after long motorcycle rides when your eyes are tired, red, sore and dry. I would also imagine it to be useful for snowboarders, surfers and the like after a long day out in the elements. Berries: The berries have similar actions as the flowers , though seem to possess a stronger quality as an antiviral. They act as an excellent general antiviral, possessing the ability to enhance cytokine production (cytokines are small proteins which mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation and are produced in response to an immune stimulus...such as an invading virus). Multiple studies suggest they may inactivate flu viruses by blocking them from replicating and by strengthening cell membranes so as prevent virus penetration of the cell. Not only are they useful as a tea, a syrup or an extract for colds and flu's but I have also seen them slow down herpes cycles and flare ups and spread apart acute episodes. Also of note, the berries are rich in organic iron and make an excellent tonic (great combined with blackberries for this purpose) to build up the blood and combat anemia. I like to add it to mineral rich teas or tea blends for osteoporosis. Elder Berry Syrup...an excellent and tasty tonic for the cold and flu season or to take when you've picked up a bug that's been going around. If buying a syrup or liquid preparation, consider the sweetener used and try to avoid sugar or sorbitol sweeteners. Making your own is easy!... Contact me for my favorite recipe! Then of course their is elder berry wine, jam... Contraindications/Side Effects: No drug interactions have been noted. As mentioned above, use caution in large quantities b/c of the potential for hypokalemia (decreased potassium levels in the blood) due to the diuretic action of the plant. Use caution with children with a history of high fevers and convulsions as elder may raise the body temperature to promote perspiration. Consult your local herbalist if you are pregnant or breast feeding. And I have to say...to cover my ass... *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and therefore are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease*

Reflections

Adjusting back to life in the states, grounding myself after an incredible trip with my twin sister to italy. Humbleness, graciousness and acceptance were the inital themes at the start of the journey as I attempted to manuveur my way in a foreign land. I thoroughly enjoy being thrown back on myself only to have to muster up what strength you know you possess and what strength you don't know you possess to make your way. I rented an old vintage bike to cruise the streets with...for the first 45 min or so the pedaling was adrenaline charged as I wide eyed my way through the streets. Then the pedaling settled as I settled. I found a place to crash for the night and went on the hunt for my sister who was attending the Slow Food International Conference - Terre Madre - in Turino. I made my way through the thousands of people from all over the world, speaking so many differnet languages, all smiling and all there to spread and share their declarations of agriculture as activism. People and music from Italy, Chile, Peru, Zimbabwe, everywhere...amazing and inspiring! Throughout the trip we traveled to the north, where in a little town called Oulz I played soccer with some great Italian kids. Not one of us able to speak the others language so with each great shot or goal scored, their were exaggerated falls to the ground in a show of triumph, if you try there are plenty of ways to communicate!! South to Firenze, or Florence, quite the city! Where we did most of our "sightseeing" at night with a bottle of wine in hand as we strolled through the streets, not having to share Neptune or Pan with others. The only true daytime art seeking we did was after MY David, well I guess he's Michelangelo's. I practically fell in love with Michelangelo about 7 years ago when I began carving wood. Though I only mastered spoons and ladels, I gained an incredible appreciation for the grains in wood and working WITH them to create your vision. So as I read and learned about this master of marble, of course I was impressed! Seeing David in Firenze, up close and personal shut me up quick! Michelangelo's David is essentially the essence of man to me...!! He is not portrayed in his typical "triumphantly victorious over death" pose, but rather in a triumphantly meditative pose. His pose encompasses a man who is strong, independent and free, graceful, a man willing to stand up for his rights and his passions, revered for his integrity and his intellect and with no need to be boastful along the way....DAMN Italy really does turn all into a sensual experience!! We then spent time at a goat farmer's place in Greve In Chianti, a great man and his family, living the good life and working damn hard for it! This region also just so happened to be the home of Chianti, when in Italy... Then out to the coast... where we experienced a true coastal fishing/port town, where we were truely the only (least it felt that way) English speakers there and where we really got the feel for the way the locals live, eat and play! Then next coastal town we traveled to and the sun came out...swimming in the Mediterranean sea, yoga on the beach at dawn...AHHHH! Back in the states, inspired and ready to continue on my path...keep in touch with the blog for updates, more photos will be posted on Picasa Gallery and soon we'll begin the first herb in the herb of the month series!!

Italia!!

Buongiorno! Wow...I'm in Italy! So, I have been here for quattro going on cinque days and so many stories to tell!! Already! From learning the bus system inside and out in turino, (out of neccessaity as a solo traveler) to cruising the streets on a sweet old school bicycle. Scaling a stone monastary wall at 1 in the am and landing in their garden only to finally find the one unlocked door of where i was staying, which happened to be the arts and crafts room of the monastary, led to a night of laughter! That night an old jacket found and a piece of cardboard served as the sleeping pad while a roll of toilet paper served as a pillow!! this all after hanging out at the corner pub, dancing to italian style reggae, in a little town @ 20km from the french border in the mist of the italian/french alps!! I have so much to write about, though only 2 more minutes on this computer, so i will continue to write my thoughts and reflections on the scraps of paper i come across and share with you as i can!!

diggin' roots

so...this past week has been filled with diggin in the dirt. codonopsis, echinacea, elecampagne, marshmallow, and pleurisy roots all rich with medicine and all yielding to my supple, respectful hands. roots teach us patience, instinct, humility, strength and well, i could go on...they also teach ya how good it is to get your hands really dirty! your fingernails filled with what feels like inches of dirt, soil, sod, you name it. your digging so deep that your fingers are numb from motion, from action. the smell in the air is pungent...the codonopsis is sweetness and the pleurisy diffuse while echinacea tingles through the air. this is medicine to me. a woman by the name of Laurel Luddite, also a student of the amazing herbalist Michael Moore, wrote an essay called "This is Anarcho Herbalism". check it out! http://swsbm.com/homepage/anarcho-herbalism.html an excellent summation, written over 5 years ago, never not relevant.

let's get it started!

living roots wise is about living life passionately, consciously and with spirit and integrity. the idea stemmed from a desire to kick myself in the butt to do all of those things! i currently own and solely operate an herbal business called Roots Wise Herbals, of which i have dedicated about 10 years to. over the years the biz has taken various shapes and utilized various outlets to serve it's purpose and keep it alive. i have to say that in the last 2 years in particular, i've been in a rut with it regarding what i really want to see stem from it. Roots Wise Herbals has been an incredibly creative outlet for me over the years, keeping me busy and continuously scheming up new avenues with which to walk it down. it has been a tool that has led me to meet some incredible people and communities. it has opened me up to being more comfortable socially, spiritually and physically. and it's given me something to sink into over the years! i am a creature of thriving on keeping busy, hands always in one project or another. body and mind enthused by new challenges and new people. hence the blog...an outlet for me to share the changing shape of Roots Wise, the thoughts that go along with that metamorphosis, and for the people who have supported me and my business over the years...to keep up to date where they can continue to buy tea, extracts, oils or whatever. living roots wise, over time, will consist of a forum for info about health, nutrition, herbs and what's going on around you...how you can connect with people and events that are inspiring, passionate and digging into their roots! oh and travel! (hoping to use this forum as an outlet to have to go a travelin'). a huge kick for this blog has been all the incredible people i know doing incredible things! i hope to help spread their word and happenings and inspire people to live each day as fully as they can in that moment, by passing on what does it for me!