J.J. Pursell - The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them

THE HERBAL
APOTHECARY

100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them

JJ PURSELL

with photos by Shawn Linehan

Timber Press
Portland, Oregon

Copyright 2015 by JJ Pursell. All rights reserved.

Photo credits begin on .

The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or Timber Press. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. In particular, ingesting wild plants and fungi is inherently risky. Plants can be easily mistaken and individuals vary in their physiological reactions to plants that are touched or consumed. Please do not attempt self-treatment of a medical problem without consulting a qualified health practitioner. Mention of trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the publisher or author and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors.

The work of contributing photographers is deeply appreciated. While efforts have been made to contact copyright holders and secure permission for all materials reproduced in this work, we offer apologies for any instances in which this was not possible and for any inadvertent omissions.

Published in 2015 by Timber Press, Inc.

Timber Press

The Haseltine Building

133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450

Portland, Oregon 97204-3527

Cover design by Laken Wright

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-60469-662-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-60469-733-9 (pbk.)

A catalog record for this book is also available from the British Library.

To Cordelia, who rooted me on through the entire journey, and also to the plantsthank you for choosing me.

Contents

Preface

As a child I was always drawn to plants, leaves, flowers, and such. I used to collect acorns as prized possessions, and my imaginary friends were talking trees. Although many of us grow up and often get distracted from our true callings in life, I was fortunate to have the plants persistently remind me of the work I was meant to do. For me, herbalism is a way of life. It is walking with intention every day and giving thanks to the bounty that is all around us, sustaining us. While modern medicine has propelled us into drastic healing measures, herbs continue to create opportunities to return to a gentler approach to health and wellness.

A long time ago, I heard a story about how plants came to help people. A few years later I was walking in the woods and suddenly realized Id become quite lost. After wandering for hours, I sat down to calm myself and noticed the most beautiful grove of trees. Looking up at them, I felt the warm sun on my face and then felt what seemed like a mothers embrace. As the trees comforted me, I remembered the story and took out my notebook to write it down. This is the story I remembered.

A long, long time ago, we used to be all onethe humans, the animals, the rock people, the water, the wind, the plants, and everything else that was on the Earth. Together we formed one tribe and shared the same language. We were able to communicate and keep the balances of nature in check through a relationship of mutual respect and boundaries.

Then a man killed a bear, and everything changed drastically. This direct act of taking a life upset the balance of the world and great grief settled over the land.

The bear clan came together to discuss what needed to be done. Because such an act had never before happened, most of the bears were unsure of how to proceed. The young warrior bears wanted to take immediate action and get revenge. They wanted to use the force they had never used in battle to kill man and wipe him from existence. They thought that such swift action would result in a return of balance and harmony. The elders listened and finally agreed to let the warrior bears do as they wished.

The warrior bears set out to make a bow and arrow, just as man had done. They asked a young birch tree for an offering to make a strong and sturdy bow. And after they had stripped the bark and shaped the bow, they went looking for the right bowstring to complete it. They tried many things, all of which were not strong enough and quickly broke. They approached the elders and asked, What did man use for his bowstring? The elders gentle eyes looked upon them lovingly, for even though they agreed to let the warrior bears proceed, they knew this path was not the way to peace. Despite this, they said, The man used dead bear intestine as the string for his bow, because it is strong and filled with tension. At this, the warrior bears all looked frightened and confused about what to do next.

Then one of the eldest bears offered up his body so the warrior bears could continue on this path. It was his time, he said, to go with the setting sun. And he did. And the warrior bears gave thanks and used his intestines to make bowstrings. After all the bows were finished, the warrior bears wanted to practice using them. What happened next was more disappointment. As the bears pulled back the bowstrings, each one snapped under the sharpness of their claws.

What were they to do? One bear suggested they cut off all their claws so that they might use their bows. But at this notion, the elders asked everyone to gather together for another meeting. For this meeting, they called upon every creature of the Earththe other animals, the plant people, the water people, the creepy crawlies, the wind, grandmother moon, grandfather sky, and Mother Earth herself.

They asked for everyone to think about what was the best course of action. The warrior bears continued to argue that by eliminating man, the world would be returned to peace and balance. They asked for everyone to join them to accomplish this task. Surprisingly, everyone was in agreementeveryone, that is, but the plant people. The plants asked the wise old ginseng for his advice. The old ginseng pondered a moment and then said that he would meditate for three days in a cave in the mountains. After the three days he would know what was best for the world.

So up went the wise old ginseng to meditate in the cave in the mountains. And although this was a quiet place, each day the mosquito would buzz up to the ginseng and ask, What are you going to do? How are we going to help? What is your decision? And each day, ginseng would reply, When I am done with my meditation, I will know what is best for the world. Those mosquitos can be so annoying.

After three days, the wise old ginseng descended from the cave. Once again, everyone gathered, anxiously awaiting his thoughts. After a slow, deep breath, the old ginseng said, Although we are one with the world, we cannot be one with this decision. We the plant people must help man, for they are nave and, like children, need healing and guidance. From this day forth, plants will offer themselves to man in hopes of creating balance in their health by healing them.

FROM HERBAL TRADITIONS TO MODERN PRACTICE

An Introduction

What is it about plants that draws us in and creates a strong desire to learn their secret ways of healing? Perhaps it is a remembrance of a time long ago, when we all knew how to use them as medicine. Or it may be a desire to deepen our connection to nature and to study its healing bounty. Some of us are driven by the simple curiosity of learning an approach to medicine that differs from that of the established mainstream. However you discovered your interest in herbal medicine, you should know that herbalism and herbal medicine are time-honored traditions with a lot to offer you, your family, and your community.