Moonrise Herbs Blog — #herbalwisdomwednesday

Calendula  (Calendula officinalis) is yet another extraordinary plant ally.  Not only does it grow easily, adding wonderful bursts of color to any garden, it has shown great healing & soothing properties for various skin and tissue conditions.  Read on for more about this incredible herb! Description: Calendula officinalis is native to southern Europe but has been widely cultivated throughout the northern hemisphere as well as North Africa.  It has been used medicinally and in apothecaries for centuries, hence its Latin species name "officinalis" Calendula is a bitter, cooling herb renowned for its ability to heal the skin; this herb is...

Our #herbalwisdomwednesday has turned to #herbalwisdomthursday it seems....que sera!  This week we have some great info on local foraging from our new Moonrise goddess Alex.  She is hoping to make this a series on all the wonderful herbs and plants in the area and how to responsibly harvest them.  Enjoy! Rosemarinus officinalis (now Salvia rosmarinus) is one of the most common herbs used in landscaping and gardening here in beautiful Arcata. Native to the rocky, coastal Mediterranean, her name translates from Latin to “dew of the sea.” This very attractive evergreen shrub and leathery needle-like leaves sprout dainty clusters of...

More Nummy Nettles! It’s that perfect time of year to harvest fresh Stinging Nettle leaves if you haven’t already!  Urtica dioica (Perennial Stinging Nettle) & Urtica urens (Small Nettle) can be found in many untamed places the world over. They love nitrogen-rich, moist soil around rivers, creek-beds & formerly cultivated lands. If you are able & inclined, we highly encourage you to explore where it might be in your area and ethically harvest this incredible wild food! Being a wild food, Nettles are packed full of nutrients and trace minerals that are harder to get from farmed foods. Not only...

The Queen of the Mediterranean, Olive Trees are iconic to that region and are an important food source. We are all familiar with the benefits of eating Olive Oil, but did you know there are many benefits to be found in the Olive Leaf? Olive leaves contain high amounts of antioxidants, which bind to free radicals in the body, reducing inflammation and helping us heal and prevent numerous ailments. Olive Leaf contains one particular antioxidant in abundance: Oleuropein. Oleuropin is particularly anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-microbial. These constituents work wonderfully with our bodies, especially in regards to the Cardiac system, the...

Alcohol extracts, tinctures and glycerites are wonderful ways to take your herbs in concentrated liquid form but if those aren't to your tastes or you want to try something a little different, you may enjoy an herbal oxymel!  This combination of vinegar, honey and herbs can make a delicious addition to your herbal repertoire. This traditional recipe has been in use since at least Hippocrates time in Ancient Greece and was a staple of Renaissance pharmacopoeiae.  Aside from the inherent benefits of honey and vinegar, it was thought that the sweetness would make it easier to get people to take...