bringing out the best in wild herbs....

[opal]

I am getting an inkling, that perhaps the many varied ways of preparing plant medicines is not simply yet another branch of consumerism (and therefore boring)or purely for diversity of choice but a way to encourage the talents and nature of different allies??!? Possibly wild herbs different characters and tangents may be enhanced by having multiple ways to 'bring out the best' in them, just like us....simple...practical..varied techniques....now I'm keen!!![:D]

[amyd]

i agree! also the same plant, at times, seems better to me in different preparations. (does that sentence make sense at all?)[:p]
amyd

[Lavender]

Not to mention the variety of different uses from each different parts of the plant.

[Anonymous]

I agree that an individual plant can be used a myriad of dfferent ways, with different parts, preperations, and procedures.
However, while this *may* be a sign if encroaching consumerism, I think it's more a matter of the Market trying to keep up with the Masses.
Not to over-analiyse or sound too scientific (which I have a tendancy to do[8D]!), but I think that just as each person has arms,legs,and noses and eyes which are useful in specific circumstances, the Plants refuse to be catagorized into "Use this for that" frameworks.

I'm at work so do not have my references handly, but I think I recall Susun explaining a concept of working with plants for the situation of the time, and not to become too focused on book-learning. While a bath with levender might help you calm down after a stressful day, perhaps a mint tea will help me. Both of us are de-stressed at the end of our "Treatments", but used different methods to get there.

What the mass-market could potentially be doing, is take all this "assembled knowledge" and share it with the world. The practices are good, in that lavender does help [you] relax, but we may be missing the subtle reasoning of how/why it works, since you've regulated it to a purely cause-effect relationship. Lavender=relax...St Johns=happy...etc.

This is most assuredly an oversimplification of the whole issue, but may put a unuqie spin on your original question and get us all thinking (gasp![;)])

Blessings,
-Nate

[opal]

I guess thats part of the magic...that over time (+ space)what was originally 'out there' may become part of the mainstream of conciousnes...'getting the assembled knowledge out there' and into daily lifes...perhaps its an intent thing....passing on, not by...

I remember hearing a Susun Weed idea that to test health information for objectivity (if thats possible?) check for dodgey sponsorship or advertising materials connected or surrounding it...makes sense to me...yet sometimes ya gotta do it anyways...

...which in a roundabout way brings us back to the beauty and accessability of wild medicines! Their variability and multi purpose natures being a fabulous thing! Alonely or working with other ways.

As u say..different harvest times, parts and methods of preparations offering flexibility! Standard doses are derived from who's standards...really, I'm wondering...is it sensible .....literally teaching to listen with the senses......

where does tincturing end and the preparation of 'erbal wines begin.....whats food or medicine.... is it harvesting or going walking...oops raving .........opal

[LadyB]

*bump*
I'd really like to kick this one up again......valid points here.
LadyB

[jim mcdonald]

...and even the same preparation, taken differently, brings out different medicine. A hot cup of yarrow tea is predominantly diaphoretic, but let that same cup get cold and its predominantly diuretic.

[LadyB]

And then one must consider s/he who is TAKING said preparation. My favorite posts around here are the "for me it ~felt~......." ones.

And all those gorgeous stories of plants 'popping up' JUST when we need them, dancing through our dreams, letting us know if we can harvest or not. Just doesn't happen with a bottle of capsules, y'know?
LadyB

[blackopal]

Thanx Lady B!!

Feeling plants popping up is indeed a cool thing...

I had what I thought was an elderberry plant i walked past often who kept saying hello. I did some id background and discovered there are many species of Sambucus. The berries on my friend were different, but she just kept quietly saying hi there, and I'd leave the odd feather or gift to acknowledge her funkyness.
Next thing you know I'm growing an elderberry in my flat! At a time when I couldn't work in shared space gardens, for boring reasons, she reminded me of nature and her fey way.
She would flower, but then they'd drop off, so now I've transplanted her outside and she's sitting pretty next to a datura.
Elder's leaves are now dark green....
Hope she'll flower, get comfy and spread out, so I can try homemade elderberry wine for the first time! I remember stories from when I was a kid, of fairies drinking a cup o' elderberry wine.

Interesting about the yarrow...

I wonder if tinctures were partially created for space reasons?.
I'm wondering if the concentrated brews could be transported, or stored, more easily than bulk dry herb if you are a herbalist on the go with tribe, or have a more settled apothecary.

This is part of why I love allying with one main plant at a time.
Needed that reminder.....
Thanx