Now that the snows have blanketed the northeastern United States, I sometimes hear in my circles a wish that certain plants had been collected during the growing season for medicine. Of course, the often-voiced solution these days is to purchase medicines from natural food stores and online shops. From within the consumer culture, this seems like a perfect remedy for an apothecary that is wanting for specific medicines. And while I would voice that supporting herbal medicine has immense advantages over supporting pharmaceutical companies, there is still a level of nature disconnection, a reliance on long-distance transport, and information that is missing when we consider the winter landscape devoid of healing teachers. All of this contributes to a willingness to allow trauma to the land (because we rely on land elsewhere for food, medicine, clothing, etc.). It isn’t until we directly interact with our local landscapes for necessary items that this society will (finally) critically examine how it uses (read: exploits) the environment.
Many of the herbaceous plants have gone dormant when the snows are deep. Annual plants are sleeping through the winter as seeds on the surface of and within the soil. Perennial plants also utilize a seed bank, but they rely too on underground storage organs, such as taproots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, and tubers. While they are often described as dying back, it would be more accurate to label these as senesced (because they still have living tissue, it is simply below the substrate). The one large group of plants that still have living tissue above ground are the woody species, including trees, shrubs, and lianas. The inner bark and the winter buds are alive (though dormant) and contain pharmacologically active chemicals that can be used to heal, strengthen, and protect the human body (and more, if you are open to it).
While a few families of woody plants retain living leaves (examples include the pine family, cypress family, yew family, certain members of the heath family) or dead but persistent leaves (called marcescent, examples include some genera in the beech family, bayberry family, and witch-hazel family), most families of woody plants are deciduous. This means they have dropped their leaves, making identification substantially more difficult. The structures and terminology that describes those structures of woody plants in the winter is sometimes very daunting to people, but it wholly approachable if you have a mentor. It opens an entire world of readily available medicine that you can harvest at any time of the year. This creates the ultimate level of independence from industrial medicine because you aren’t tied to the growing season for many kinds of medicines. A brief list of some examples follows (and these are by no means exhaustive lists for what the included plants can accomplish when used appropriately).
Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven). This tree, native to Asia, is becoming a common component of many forests in the eastern United States. The inner bark can be used to make medicine that can treat a broad array of infections, functions as an anti-inflammatory, and can be part of treatment plan against several different types of cancer.
Juglans nigra (black walnut). This well-known native tree is planted outside of its range in the north and known to many. The inner bark is a mild laxative that can assist with constipation and can treat many kinds of infections. It is especially useful for fungal infections.
Juniperus communis (common juniper). The number of ways that this native shrub can be used is staggering. It is a potent antimicrobial with action against many kinds of pathogens. As such, it can treat staph infections (including MRSA), urinary tract infections, and GI infections. It is an anti-inflammatory and can protect both the liver and the kidneys from chemical damage.
Larix laricina (eastern larch). This native tree, which is a deciduous member of the pine family, has perhaps its best use in strengthening the immune system, thereby protecting people from future infection. The inner bark can be used to assist with blood glucose levels (i.e., it is an anti-diabetic) and has important roles in colon health and treatment for certain types of cancers.
Pinus strobus (eastern white pine). This tree is a super-canopy species, meaning it can extend up above the forest canopy when it reaches full size. The inner bark has a host of uses, some of which include assisting diabetics with blood glucose levels, healing damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes, slowing cognitive decline in age, and lowering blood pressure.
Populus grandidentata (big-toothed aspen). This native tree’s bark can be used to lessen pain (i.e., it is an analgesic) and reduce inflammation. It can also be used to make irrigation for wounds due to its astringent and antiseptic properties.
Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac). This colonial shrub and its near relative Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) are two of the most important antimicrobials available to those who live within the range of these species (which combined is most of the temperate regions of the North American continent). They have use against staph infections, fungal infections, and others.
Viburnum trilobum (highbush-cranberry). The North American sister to the European Viburnum opulus (guelder-rose) is a useful ally for women who experience discomfort during menstruation. It is an antispasmodic, helping to relieve cramps (giving rise to a local name—cramp bark) and through astringent properties can reduce excessive bleeding. It has long been used by midwives to prevent miscarriage of the fetus through its ability to calm the uterus.
This is but a small sample of botanical medicines available to people who choose to learn how to connect with woody plants. I have not discussed specifics of preparation, routes of administration, and dosages intentionally—I prefer to teach these in person to have the appropriate time to detail these aspects of medicine preparation. There is a calm that comes with knowing how to treat a variety of acute and chronic ailments from the tallest of the Standing People we share the landscape with. While there was a time that what I teach was more common knowledge, we now live in an era where status is attained by having others do for you and you forget how to. Given the fragility of world markets and local economies, I do not want to be reliant on an industrial system that experiences extreme reaction to events occurring half-way around the world. I do not want to always assume that stores will be open for my convenience. And I do not want to forget how to care for my family and community. Regaining our sovereignty (which is to write, freeing ourselves from the various systems of control) requires us to understand the functions and value of those living beings we share the world with. Humans have always had to contend with illness of some kind, and the plants have been there for many millennia. We demonstrate gratitude for plants by once again returning to them for support. It is a simple way to begin reinstating ancestral relationships, something that an aspiritual culture often fails to understand the significance of.