Herbal Roots & Reflections

I’m writing this after a long walk in the snowy woods.

The sun sparkled on the snow, and the only sounds were bird song and winter leaves rustling in a gentle wind.

Occasionally, I came across animal tracks—mostly squirrel running in the snow between trees.

As for healing herbs, there weren’t many to be seen.

Here and there, the brown stems of wild dittany poked up through the snow. Dittany tastes just like oregano, and can be used just like oregano in your cooking once it sends up its new growth later in the year.

However, even during the cold of winter, there are useful wild plants that can be harvested for food and medicine.

This time of year, the two I use the most come from trees: Cedar and Pine.

These trees are both easy to see among other deciduous trees whose leaves have turned brown and mostly fallen off. The green of Cedar and Pine stands out among all the browns and grays of the rest of the woods.

Both Cedar and Pine grow commonly around here.

Cedar is one of the easiest to find and identify. All parts of the cedar tree have traditionally been used for healing, but most especially the green needles.

I use the tea as an all-around tonic, drinking just one or two cups when I’m feeling a little under the weather.

Cedar has strong properties, and is a sacred tree for Native Americans. It has traditionally been used as a tea for the respiratory system.

It shouldn’t be drunk by pregnant women or people with weak kidneys. If you do use it, drink no more than three cups of tea per week.

Pines offer their needles to make one of my favorite winter remedies. It is a Pine Oxymel which I’ve used to help reduce congestion.

“Oxymel” is a remedy made from a mixture of honey and vinegar with healing herbs. The word comes from the Greek words oxy and meli, which means “acid and honey”.

The Pine Oxymel is easy to make. Gather a generous handful of pine needles and cut into small pieces. Add 1 cup apple cider vinegar. Simmer gently. Do not let the mixture boil vigorously. Reduce liquid by half. Add 2 ½ cups honey for each cup of liquid. Take as needed a tablespoon at a time to help reduce congestion. It can also be added to water or tea to make a drink that I find tasty and healing.