I've noticed that the most powerful medicine I use tend to be those from right around me. While exotic herbs shipped from Nepal or China have their place and I'm glad they're available, it seems important for both ecological and personal reasons to have a deep connection with the plants we primarily use. I was thinking of posting of some of my favorite local herbs and thought maybe some of you folks would care to do so as well. I'll include brief descriptions of usages with mine, they are far from complete though, just providing a snapshot of the myriad uses of these common and powerful plants.

1. The Sages are perhaps my favorite and most used plants, I use local native Sages (Salvia subincisa, Salvia greggii, Salvia azurea), as well as the ones I grow in pots and my garden (Salvia apiana, Salvia officiniale, Salvia coccinea). A top rate wound and burn remedy, great for toothaches and gum disease, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant, cooling and assisting with hot flashes and hormonal imbalance, it also calms upset tummies, works on many headaches & migraines, is a gentle diaphoretic when ingested hot as well preventing sweating and loss of bodily fluids when taken cold... I could spend my whole practice studying just Sage!
I also wrote a post about the Salvias on my blog medicinewomansroots.blogspot.com/2...ml

2. The Rose is another remedy I often turn to. Great for hot, inflamed conditions, I often use rose petal vinegar for burns and sunburns and the salve or dilute tincture on wounds of all kinds. Many indigenous tribes considered the entire plant a primary wound remedy, and used the petals, hips, bark and/or root on all manner of infections, stings, bites, and other wounds and burns. Internally, it's very calming and soothing, and I consider it a specific for women who have been abused or betrayed and feel great rage, powerlessness or closed off from their own emotions. Rose is especially strengthening to the heart and pelvic area, protective while also gently stimulating the flow of both energy and blood. Great for PMS in Pitta types (actually, it's great for nearly any Pitta disorder), and for hot, congested cramps used either externally as an oil or salve or internally. It's also an effective relaxant for inflamed, overworked livers. It also provides lots of hormone building blocks, and so assists with balancing out of whack hormones.

3. Elder is perhaps the best anti-viral immune herb I've ever used. Taken in half dropperful doses every 1-2 hours at the start of symptoms, it almost always eradicates the virus before it can get started, it also works great as a preventative and general immune modulator. Studies show Elderberry to be an effective adaptogen, helping to mediate side effects from severe stress, balancing the immune system and supporting the whole body. I've used it this way for years and find it remarkably effective. Typically classified as a simple diaphoretic or as an herb to be used for cold/flu, Elder has a huge range of uses. It also works great as a blood tonic and relaxant nervine, I also employ it frequently for nausea, upset stomach and headaches, especially in children. Berry or flower or leaf makes a great liniment or salve for wounds and infections and rashes. the Flower is an amazing diaphoretic, especially in children with fevers that just won't let go, but continually spike and drop, spike and drop... herbalist Susun Weed describes it as resetting the fever mechanism, it does this so well that I also find it works well for consistently overheated menopausal women. I keep more Elderberry and flower tincture/syrup around that any other plant, with quarts and quarts of the stuff stored on my shelves. I've also seen it radically help weakened lungs, though I'm not sure of the mechanism in this case.... and i've used it with children who's immune system has been weakened by chronic bronchitis or pneumonia. Elderberry or flower vinegar is a tasty and effective way to ingest lots through food (lovely salad dressing) and for external use for sunburn, rashes, and other hot irritated skin conditions. Oh, and Elderberry is brimming with wonderfully healing bioflavanoids which help strengthen the mucus membranes, assisting in the prevention of infections (including sinus infections, yeast infections and general allergies). I always include a bit elderflower/berry in my nose sprays and eye drops and allergy formulas. Besides, the fairies love it! I also wrote a piece on Elder medicinewomansroots.blogspot.com/2...ml


Ok, there's my top three, if this thread gets going, I'll be happy to add some more plants to the list...