Botany

I am especially fond of the old time hand drawn and colored plant illustrations that were common before the age of *immediate.posting.of.photos.on.social.media*  became the norm. Don't get me wrong. I am a huge fan of photography and love sharing my own plant images on the web. But there is something very relaxed, slow and mindful about these illustrations. They remind me of the difference between fast food and slow food. From an academic - botanical view, the artists who created these prints included the specific features of each genus or species that is used to identify and categorize the plant. […] See More

The Ranunculaceae family, also known as the Buttercup family, is not as common as some other families on the Colorado Plateau but is an especially interesting family. The herbal medicine from these plants tends to be strong; either a strong taste (acrid) or a strong action so a lower dose is often called for. These are powerful medicines and important additions to our materia medica in the right situation. Use with care and do your homework. These are medicinal: Goldenseal Black Cohosh Baneberry (Actaea rubra) has similar therapeutics to Black Cohosh Pulsatilla (Anemone) Clematis These are toxic - don't use […] See More

The Rosaceae family, commonly known simply as the Rose family is one of the most important families for both the herbalist and forager to know. One of our very best nourishing heart tonics is in this family along with many edible fruits that are high in anti-oxidants. For the herbalist, plants in this family are sometimes referred to as YARFA (Yet Another Rose Family Astringent), a phrase coined by Michael Moore. He was right, these are dependably astringent and have many applications for that herbal action. This family is large and diverse enough to have sub-families. This article does not […] See More

The Ericaceae family, also known as the Heath family, has fewer plants that are in common use in herbal medicine but they are widely used and an important part of our materia medica. In general, they like acidic soil and are often some version of a shrub or tree with evergreen leaves. In addition to their therapeutic value, they often have edible berries. Blueberry - especially high in flavonoids Cranberry - very high in anti-oxidants. Making a simple relish with fresh, raw cranberries is quite healthy and a world apart, taste-wise, from the jellied fruit served at Thanksgiving. Uva Ursi […] See More

Valerian is a well known and commonly used plant in western herbalism that has been categorized as a sleep herb. Many people have used it late at night when they are tossing and turning and are disappointed when it doesn’t provide the sleep results they were hoping for. This article provides further information on this plant and some ways to combine it that may provide better results for the sleep deprived. Botany The common valerian in commerce is Valeriana officinalis. It is native to Europe and has naturalized in wetter areas of North America. It is commonly found in cultivation […] See More

The common names for the Apiaceae family are either the carrot or parsley family. The old family name was Umbelliferae; some books still show this and occasionally botanists still use this older name out of habit. This is an *extremely* important family to know. One reason is that it has abundant herbs, spices and foods. A more important reason is that two of the deadliest poisonous plants in North America are in this family. The bottom line is: do not wildcraft, handle, nibble or use any plant in this family until and unless you are absolutely sure of its identity. […] See More

Whether foraging for greens or wildcrafting herbs, knowing the few toxic plants in one's environment is essential. Poison hemlock is a potentially deadly plant that is frequently encountered in the forests and meadows of northern Arizona. This article and collection of photos is meant to help you identify this plant in your outdoor explorations and have a safe experience. Botanical Name: Conium maculatum Plant Family: Apiaceae, formerly known as Umbelliferae. Common names for this family include the Carrot or Parsley Family Common Name: Poison Hemlock, this plant has no relation to the evergreen Hemlock tree. Other names include Deadly Hemlock, […] See More

Formerly known as Asteraceae, the Compositae is one of the largest families in the world with approximately 20,000 species. Is it commonly known as either the Aster, Daisy or Sunflower family. Because of its size, there are many plants that are useful to both foragers and herbalists.  This family is large enough that one cannot generalize about the therapeutic actions of the plants; they are varied enough that they need to be learned on their own. Two therapeutic areas that are especially important are: 1. Inulin is a pre-biotic which provides food for the beneficial pro-biotics in the GI Tract. […] See More

Monograph of St. John's Wort - Hypericum perforatum Caitlin Stoner, a recent graduate of the "Foundations of Herbal Medicine" course, chose this multi-use therapeutic herb for her final research project. I am very happy to share her expertise on our school's website. Click the link below to read her work. Hypericum - St. Johns Wort                                                                                          See More