News — wildcrafting

The herbalists path is a continual self-immersion into the study of plants, people and planets.  This is the trifecta of Vitalist Herbalism, and the foundation of our healing journey.  Join us for learning and making workshops, plant walks and wildcrafting, formulating, sourcing and more! Our mission is to reconnect people with nature, where our true healing lies. Class offerings are posted throughout the seasons, and locations vary within Sedona.  We also offer mobile workshops hosted at your location.  Call or follow us for upcoming workshops and information. These classes are guaranteed to expand your mind and skills...herbal immersion at its...

USNEA lichen. Know it, use it. You’ll find it at higher elevations parasitically growing on evergreens. Wilderness medicine at its finest. You can save a life using it to pack an open wound. Literally disinfects, staunches bleeding and promotes healing. USNEA has been used for 1000’s of years, proven more powerful than penicillin in fighting certain bacteria strains. An excellent remedy by tincture for serious infections. This is one of nature’s natural antibiotics, an antimicrobial immune stimulant that clears staph, pneumonia, strep cellulitis, bronchitis... you get the picture! Whether it’s bacterial, viral or fungal this powerful wilderness medicine will help....

It’s MINT season! And my dear friend Jessica has started a rolling snowball of interest on the how-to’s of utilizing this aromatic herb. Mint should be growing rampantly in your garden and wild places - there are SOOO many varieties from wild species to cultivars like chocolate mint. This prolific weed is super hardy and thrives with watering. Plan to use the leaves, although I do throw some stems into my fresh infusions with wild abandon! The more you prune the plant, the more it grows! So don’t be afraid to cut it, harvesting the aerial parts for adding fresh...

I love Calendula. Maybe it’s the bright yellow/orange flower, but maybe Calendula just calls to me. When I first learned about Calendula I was taught ‘Calendula is for everything skin related’. And so I began utilizing it as a skin healer because it’s vulnerary and astringent properties do heal and soothe skin traumas. But now I know so much more about the plant. Calendula is a great herb for people whose state of mind worsens on cloudy damp days. It has an affinity for the following organ/body systems; lymphatic, immune, digestive, skin, liver/gall bladder, and female reproductive. An excellent herb...

Lemon balm is an herb that simply doesn’t get enough attention. I’m gathering leaves for next weeks visit with the kids, and plan to make smoothies for the family. This aromatic herb buffers the nervous system by its volatile oils. These oils are a mild relaxant which equally effect the mind, heart and solar plexi in a cooling, relaxing way. A great plant medicine to use for those terrible twos for both children and parents, this herb offers better mental clarity and viral protection, too.  Lemon Balm is cooling, and thus useful for dissipating heat in the body, especially in...