Where The Wild Things Grow

I have determined that farming, flower beds, and gardening are not my jelly.

Although I’m still young at this ancient art, foraging to create herbal medicinals, tinctures, teas, and nutrient-dense foods is what I’m drawn to.

I prefer the medicines and the truths that are laid in front of me in the form of herbs, or what we have been trained to know as “weeds”.

Those weeds that we yank from the soil or kill with chemicals, can feed us and heal us.

The weeds can tell us what nutrients are available in the soil and the level of soil health.

I find it unfortunate that we have been high-jacked into distrusting our medicinal origins or thinking that anything not manufactured, sterilized, or approved by a government-funded institution is inherently dangerous. I’m pretty sure humanity existed prior to their inception.

That being said, the art of foraging must be done with knowledge.

This takes an accurate learning of plant identification, considering the appropriate time of year to forage, and which parts of the plant are safe to ingest.

One of my favorite plants is chicory or Cichorium intybus.

All parts of this plant have been used around the world for thousands of years to aid in health and nutrition.

When foraging chicory, we have to consider where it is growing to reduce heavy metal, herbicide, and chemical exposures.

We can roast the roots, sauté the leaves, and use the flowers in a tea.

Research has demonstrated that it supports things like liver protection, gall bladder function, is anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial, helps with blood sugar, blood pressure, headaches, is anti-inflammatory, and more.

Its nutrient profile shows that it is baby box of beta-carotene, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin C, and folate.

If you aren’t into foraging, you can buy roasted chicory root as a coffee substitute.

Any herbs that are harvested or used should not replace medical care but should merge with and support it.

In a changing medical landscape, having sovereign and supportive solutions for our health can be paramount.

Stay Nourished

DrT✌🏻

Street RA, Sidana J, Prinsloo G. Cichorium intybus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:579319. doi: 10.1155/2013/579319. Epub 2013 Nov 26. PMID: 24379887; PMCID: PMC3860133.