Comments for The Medicine Woman's Roots

Comment on A Few of my Favorite Calming & Uplifting Herbs by 7Song

7Song — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:31:05 +0000

I chilled out just reading this. Thank You Kiva Anemone Rose

Comment on The Medicine Woman: Returning to Her Roots by Steven Foster

Steven Foster — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:31:15 +0000

Kiva,
This thread is archived, but just read it tonight. I’ve observed the herb world and the world’s herbs for nearly 40 years. Like you, I am without papers. You’ve become who you are by following your passion, because you have no choice. You know what you know and don’t know what you don’t know. Simple as that. My observation is that you have an incredible depth of knowledge from living it day in and day out, because that’s who you are. You don’t have to work to attain papers. You know that you will learn something new everyday, forever. You are the village herbalist, respected for your knowledge, skills, information, depth, and on and on it goes.You are an herbalist, part of the earth, the ecosystem of history, because as there are humans, plants and earth, there have always been and there will always be herbalists. You are an herbalist in the same way that a tree grows.

Comment on Anima Herbal School by Jawaid Ahmed

Jawaid Ahmed — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:35:00 +0000

Hi,
I am a University teacher from Pakistan, have done my master degree in human physiology and now a days doing my M.Phil studies. I have selected inula crithmoides for my M.Phil research for its effect on liver. During search i have visited your site and pleased to see some people who loves nature like me.

Thanks,

Jawaid Ahmed Zai
Lecturer
University of Sindh, Jamshoro
Pakistan.

Comment on Deep As Root & Song: In Rambling Praise of Wildcrafting by Jude Millar

Jude Millar — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:41:05 +0000

I love hearing about the wonders and foibles of other wildcrafters. It is my all time “natural high”….being in the wild, singing with the plants, humming with the bees (shooing the mosquitos, running from the bears…) I wildcraft regularly in the western Catskill Mountains, where I have a few acres and a small cabin. Luckily, I also have access to hundreds of unspoiled acres of meadow and forest to roam in. I know the medicines I create from these plants are much more powerful, and like 7Sing, I relate their origins to my clients when dispensing them. A few of this this year’s mountain wonders and foibles (you decide which is which) include:
Seeing an Indigo Bunting, hearing plant songs, sunburn, finding Reishi tsugae, black fly bites, hiding from poachers (I’m no wimp, but hey, they had guns! I only had some snips and a walking stick!), and lastly, finding a lush patch of Bloodroot in full flower.
Sometimes, however, harvesting in my own town or yard is just as joyful (and as fraught with peril).
I invited Mullein to grow in my yard here in NJ because I can never find enough blossoms to keep up with the ear oil demand. This summer, a plant appeared in my veggie garden, and now stands about 10 feet tall. We meet every morning and chat while I harvest a few blossoms. He seems like an old friend now. Oh, and cats love to eat your Milky Oat tops, just as they hit that perfect stage for harvest!
Recently, a lawn service (scouge of suburbia!!) was mowing my neighbor’s lawn. A worker walked over to my yard, and asked if I’d like to have him “apply some weed killer to that patch of Burdock and Nettle.” The horrified expression on my face must have really surprised him, but he nearly fainted when I told him I also have a patch of dandelion and plantain around back.

Comment on Elderberry Elixir by Deb

Deb — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 01:14:07 +0000

I just made this with dried berries, honey and brandy. However, there is a white frothiness at the very top around the edges. Has this ever happened to you? I’ve made a cordial with vodka, sugar, and elderberries before and this didn’t happen. Could this be because of the honey?

Comment on Deep As Root & Song: In Rambling Praise of Wildcrafting by Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:45:13 +0000

Kiva, I am so happy, I just found your site and I have been having the most wonderful time reading all of your writings about your love of plants and the wonders of the healing power inside of them. I was in awe that there are others like me that are so intensely wrapped up in gathering herbs for healing. I look forward to extracting your knowledge and infusing it into my works to improve and expand my meager endeavors of the natural art of herbs and healing. I have lovingly gathered the stinging nettle, Mullein, jewelweed, yarrow and so many others so much so that my car’s trunk, back seat and front passenger seat was overflowing with the fragrant green gems. The aroma of the chickweed as I twist and crush it before infusing it is just so compelling, I can’t resist nibbling a bit before placing it in the jar. I dream of being in an area such as you describe in your posts, so beautiful and secluded with the fresh new life sprouting beneath your feet. I dream of wading through the shallows of the river and listening to the birds sweetly singing their pleasure to the world around them. I dream of someday being able to teach a young person of the knowledge I have acquired from my own explorations and research. And I dream of laying in an open field with nothing to do but drink up the pure fresh air and to smell the green, just to slip off to a restful sleep without anything to disturb me. And I dream…

Comment on Golden Flax Bread by Roberta

Roberta — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:45:17 +0000

Thanks for much for this great recipe. I am gluten sensitive and cannot tolerate many of the other gluten free flours. This flax meal recipe is easy and well tolerated. Thanks again.

Comment on Elderberry Elixir by Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:27:15 +0000

The only dangerous part of the berry is is the seeds, and even then, only when ground/chewed up very thoroughly (otherwise they simply pass through your digestive tract) and even then only in very large amounts. I’ve eaten large amounts of elderberries raw and have also consumed many quarts of elderberry elixir (and that’s just me) not to mention dispensing gallon upon gallon to clients, including many babies and small children.

Comment on Elderberry Elixir by Celeste

Celeste — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:20:39 +0000

Hi Kiva,
We just picked a bunch of wild elderberries and have been scouring the internet for what to do with them. I agree with you that cooking them seems to be counter-productive, potentially destroying much of the berries’ effectiveness. But most of the other sites I’ve found recommend cooking the berries because of toxins. What’s your take on that?

Comment on Wild Water, Food and Flowers by John Keatts

John Keatts — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:15:13 +0000

I have been doing research on wild edibles for a few years now and I always hope to learn even more then I already know when I find pages in the Book of Life such as these pages of yours.
Thank you Very Much Cheryl
At the age of 65 I realize that we can still learn as long as we hold the desire.
Again, I say thank you.

Comment on Blue Mountain Tea: A Sunny Medicine for Cloudy Days by Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:29:56 +0000

The Goldenrod is just starting to come on in my area and I am excited to start harvest so that I can utilitze it more. I love using my local herbs and always check you blog to see what other uses everything has. Thanks Kiva for all the info that you provide to help those of us still learning.

Comment on Deep As Root & Song: In Rambling Praise of Wildcrafting by Rosie Girl

Rosie Girl — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:25:35 +0000

I so loved this post. It shows the heart of your work and a love of plants that I’ve not seen often. Although I’m only vicariously living through reading your blog, I do enjoy it so much. Today I shared a link to your post with my readers. Hopefully a few people will drop by to check out all of the wonderful knowledge you share here. Peace to you!
link to my post: http://rosiegirldreams.com/6-sharing-saturday/sharing-saturday-lots-more-links/
Jeanine Ertl

Comment on Sweet Cream: The Medicine of Milky Oats by Linda

Linda — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:45:16 +0000

Oh, and one more question regarding tinctures. If I boil some water and remove it from the stove, then put the drops of tincture into the hot water and let the water cool, is it true that the alcohol will evaporate and the herbal concoction will be unharmed and still as effective?

Comment on Sweet Cream: The Medicine of Milky Oats by Linda

Linda — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:18:22 +0000

Dear Kiva–

What a wonderful article. My sister and I have decided to start in on the Milky Oat Tops tincture. We both are also drinking raw apple cider vinegar (diluted) each day. Can you tell me, are the two compatible and should there be any specific amount of time between ingesting the two different things?

Thank you.
Linda

Comment on Pine Pitch Salve by Victor

Victor — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:38:31 +0000

I just moved to Alaska and have learned that spruce pitch was used extensively in the same way you all are using it. In addition to being one of the predominant trees here, it was also one of the most important, providing medicinals, teas rich in vitamin c, straight grained woods, glue, waterproofing, and weaving material. Anyone interested in basketry should look up books or websites on the spruce basketry of the Tlingit and other peoples indigenous to this area. Great blog and commentary!