Comments posted on this blog between 10 pm pacific time Friday March 6, 2015 and 8 pm pacific time Sunday March 8th will go into a drawing for an e- copy of my contemporary romance novel TimberBeast. Published by Prairie Rose Publications/Fire Star Press. "Kelsy is an environmental spy running from her troubles. Fox is an timber faller living his dream. They meet in a forest full of danger, romance and the Timberbeast." What could possibly go wrong?
People and the Forest.
The herbal medicine in my novels helped inspire this blog.
It doesn't seem like winter but the cold/flu season is in full swing in northern California. It would be nice to have lots of snow and rain, but I’m enjoying the warm sunny days.
It doesn't seem like winter but the cold/flu season is in full swing in northern California. It would be nice to have lots of snow and rain, but I’m enjoying the warm sunny days.
When it comes to health care I walk two worlds. One modern and full of common medicines and the other tribal where many of our health needs are taken care of with the plant pharmacy growing around us.
Every plant has a use and there is always a way to misuse plants. I get asked the most about the ones that can help with colds and flu. We have several native plants that help with the symptoms. Remember to thoroughly research a plant before gathering or using it. Plants can vary from one area to another so be sure to learn before you gather.
Your local herb store is a good place to learn to identify local plants. Books with pictures are helpful. The US Forest Service botanist or local county ag departments can also assist in identification of wild plants.
Don’t gather near roadways or other areas where pesticides are sprayed. Just because it’s natural doesn't mean it’s always safe and it is possible to overdose. Much depends on your health, allergies and sensitivities. Here is a little about one plant that I always keep in stock.
Most of the medicine we use comes from the forest and we gather all throughout the year. Different plant uses have come to us through various relatives.
My mother-in-law, Betty, is of Shasta and Cahuilla Indian descent. She spent her childhood with her aunt gathering plants and learning tribal history. The stories go with the plants. She has passed down this history to me and my family.
One of her favorite herbal stories is a time when her seven children were all down with a stomach illness. She was going through bottles of medicine from the doctor to try to stop the flu symptoms but as soon as one child got better another one would relapse.
After many days of treating her very sick children, the washer was going nonstop to keep up with all the changes of pajamas and bedding.
Her mother-in-law, Mandy, a full-blood Shasta Indian had heard how sick the grandchildren were. She came to see how they were doing. She was one of those women you see in old pictures that has a permanent frown but her dark brown eyes would sparkle when she was pleased.
She immediately told Betty to ‘Go get some manzanita’.
Not sure what was expected, Betty went up on the hill behind her house and cut a huge branch.
Mandy pulled a handful of leaves from the branch and washed them then handed each child 1-2 leaves with the instructions ‘chew them and swallow the juice’.
If you have ever chewed manzanita leaves you will know that they are very bitter. The children didn't argue with Grandma Mandy and did as she instructed. By the next morning the worst symptoms had stopped and the children were feeling better and able to start eating broth.
It taste much better to make tea with the manzanita leaves. It isn’t bitter and tastes very much like the water that comes with black olives but without the salt. When having tummy troubles put 5-10 fresh or dried leaves in 2 cups of boiling hot water and let steep until the water turns from pale to medium green (5-10 minutes). It can be drank hot or cold. Remember to only try a little at first in case of allergies.
The plant season can vary significantly from place to place. Our manzanita is just starting to put on buds, and soon the air will be humming with wild and domestic honey bees coming to take the sweet nectar. Only 20 miles away the manzanita in town is in full bloom and the smell is heavenly.The berries are small, powdery and edible.
When I go outside I see our mountain full of manzanita bushes. I am thankful for the medicine the forest provides and the family knowledge that has been gathered and shared down through the generations.
It’s our tribal tradition.
Jae Hall
Find me at http://prairierosepublications.com
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/TimberBeastSaga
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/TimberBeastSaga
At twitter JaeHall @kelsyfoxx
Find my PRP Fire Star Press novels and Arcadia history books at www.amazon.com/Jae-Hall/e/B00DPOQHSW
WOW, Jae, this is so interesting! I never knew about manzanita. I wonder if it would grow in Oklahoma? Makes me want to try it! I would love to learn more about the different plants and their purposes.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Thank you Cheryl. I would check with your local plant nursery to see if any forms of manzinita can grow in Oklahoma. I would think it would. It grows on dry arid hillsides in full sunlight.
DeleteI'm a big fan of herbal medicine. I wish I knew more. Interesting and informative post. Thank you Jae, and good luck with Timberbeast!
ReplyDeleteThank you Connie. It was a pleasure to share about one of our local plants.
DeleteHaving known Jae for YEARS , I can attest to hers and Betty's fantastic knowledge about herbal medicines and plants! I love to learn when I'm with them....Jae -- you will want to talk about other plants/herbs with your future blogs. I know everyone will derive a lot from them. Thanks for sharing! And, yes, Timberbeast is a special story.....and there is more to come with the next book(s) (Y)
ReplyDeleteYes. Gail is a mentor and a dear friend. I love sharing local plant information.
DeleteBTW. Ichnish is starting to grow. I'll be going out to pick it (and I'll bring you some) and will write a blog on that plant too.
What a wonderful post, Jae! I love manzanita, even though our Colorado manzanitas are tiny compared to your huge old grandmother shrubs. We also have the low and spreading kinnikinnick, which serves many sorts of medicinal uses here, and it's also beloved by our native bees. Thanks for the stories and for sharing your knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. We also have kinnikinnick up at the 6-7000 foot elevations.
DeleteI have a friend here that shares her knowledge (when time permits) from her family. She is from one of the Northeastern tribes. I cherish our talks and wish time permitted more of them. There is so much to learn. Doris McCraw/Angela Raines
ReplyDeleteThank you Doris. Learn from your friend. Every area has plants that heal. Every time I travel I learn about a few of the local plants and their uses.
DeleteGreat information Jae! I love learning about herbal remedies. It's fascinating all we can find in plants. Best of luck with your new release.
ReplyDeleteGlad to share with you Kristen and thank you.
DeleteYou sure did start with a bang, Jae. Terrific article! I've been interested in herbal healing for a long time but don't know much about it. My oldest daughter has studied it quite a bit, but there's always more to learn. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jacquie. Yes. We all start at zero and there is always more to learn. I learn best when I need an herb to treat a certain illness. Then what I used sticks in my memory better.
DeleteIt certainly takes a good knowledge bas to know what plant helps what and where to find those plants. That was some good advice about not collecting plants along roadways. On top of toxins, it just doesn't seem like a very pleasant place to gather anything. It sounds so peaceful and spiritual to forage in the forests and meadows instead.
ReplyDeleteI like the continuity of learning first hand from an elder about nature. There is something very special and bonding about the teaching from someone you respect and love.
This was a wonderful article, Jae. I truly enjoyed reading it. I wish you the very best of everything.
Thank you Sarah. There are also restrictions. Roadways, state and federal lands prohibit gathering without special permits. An herb store is a nice place to start.They carry organic plants in bulk that are already dried and ready for use.
DeleteSuch a great article Jae. You have been given such a wonderful gift by your relatives passing down herbal remedies. We have so much to learn from the different tribes that inhabited this great land before the influx of those that came across the oceans to settle here. That and the names and traditions of different tribes. Great blog and best wishes on your first release "TimberBeast."
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara. Yes. Every tribe has their own plants and uses. Many of the settlers knew the land would take care of their needs.
DeleteWhat a great post, Jae! I have been interested in herbal medicines for a long time, but haven't pursued it as much as I would like. I see an herbalist once in a while to replenish the wonderful tea she makes for me that brings calm to my hectic world! Your story about the manzanita leaves made for great reading, so that means I also need to read "TimberBeast!"
ReplyDeleteThank you Alice. Herbalists are good to know. There is a bit of herbal medicine in TimberBeast.
DeleteVery interesting! I've used herbs quite a bit, especially when my children were still home, but I don't recall ever knowing about these properties of manzanita. Living close to the California foothills, I've seen manzanita a lot, but never knew it was a powerhouse healing plant. Best of wishes on the sale of your book.
ReplyDeleteRobyn Echols writing as Zina Abbott
Thank you Robyn. Yes. I learn about new plant uses all the time. There's a lot of medicine out there.
DeleteJae, Enjoyed your herbal medicine post very much. Being a homecare nurse for many years I've dealt with numerous people who would take herbs along with their prescribed medicine and I was always having to cross check to see if one out did the other. Being in NYS I've never run up against Manzanitas and found this post very helpful and interesting. And thank you for stressing the importance of not just picking plants randomly. Great job. Best wishes and wishing you much success with your release.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverly. Yes Great point. I forgot to say that it is really important to check with your doctor and make sure the herbs don't adversely interact with the prescriptions you take.
DeleteJae,
ReplyDeleteI've suspected my maternal grandfather was something of a self-taught "hedge witch", but I didn't realize this until many years after he'd died. While I learned a lot from him, I was too young to appreciate what he was trying to teach me, so most of his knowledge went to the grave with him. However, I still use some of his herbal remedies today. I have many books on herbalism/herbal medicine, so I credit my grandfather for instilling a deep respect of what plants have to offer. But to have your knowledge and to have it handed down (first-hand) generationally is truly a special gift.
I hope you share more of your herbal wisdom in future posts.
Thank you Kaye. We never seem to learn enough from our elders when we have them with us.
DeleteI plan on sharing more blogs about the local plants and how we use them. It's almost spring and mother in law Betty and I were out gathering some plants today.
Thank you all for your comments and support. Blogging is still a new venture for me.
ReplyDeleteFOR COPY OF TIMBERBEAST DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED.
I love taking about plants so you can still comment or contact me on FB for more information.
Hubby (the real life TimberBeast) is pulling a paper out of the hat.
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner of TimberBeast is....
BEVERLY WELLS!
Congratulations Beverly.You made a great point about making sure to tell your doctor about the herbs. Do your homework and make sure they don't adversely interact with prescriptions.
please contact me at timberbeastsaga@hotmail.com for your e-copy of TimberBeast. <3
Congratulations, Bev! You will enjoy this book!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Beverly! Doris
ReplyDelete