The leaves are thick on the moss covered path muffling my footsteps as I breathe in the moist, cool morning air…medicine itself. I’m beginning my 28th year in relationship with this land, an intimate, personal journey with the medicine of place. Nature as healer, connection, a source of wellness that connects us in reciprocity.
Late fall through early spring, the roots, rhizomes, fungi and lichens are in full bloom. They thrive in cool, moist environments, hinting at their cooling energetics. Underground the roots are gathering and concentrating their medicine, wintering, anticipating spring’s signal topside. This is the time to gather these nutrient dense roots, rhizomes and fungi for medicine making, mindful to give thanks for the lives we are taking. Ethical foraging, especially of our native plants is so important, remembering to only take from large, healthy stands and only taking what we need for our personal use. There are many at risk plants in our modern time, too many people taking too much from already over harvested areas.
In the forest I steward, a few vulnerable plants still thrive although deforestation and environmental impacts are changing the landscape. One such plant is Lobaria pulmonaria, commonly known as Lungwort Lichen. In Latin, “lobaria” translates to many lobed and “pulmonaria” means lobed lung organism. You can see this in the doctrine of signatures in the photo below indicating what this at risk plant was once used for by the indigenous peoples of this area. In my area this Lichen primarily makes its home on the Oregon Ash tree and only grows in clean forest environments. A couple years ago we learned that an invasive beetle, the Emerald Ash Borer was in our area threatening our trees. In addition to the invasive beetle, manmade damage also impacts the environment. A once beautiful old growth forest butted our land on the south, now, it’s a vineyard. A once deeply shaded area now in the open sun creates an unstable environment and death for many of the ash trees once growing there.
Another vulnerable lichen I’ve grown to love is Usnea spp. Another slow growing lichen that like Lungwort requires a clean environment to thrive. It is best to forage both these lichens after a windstorm rather than taking them from the trees. Both Lungwort and Usnea grow in the tree canopy and are natural carbon capturers influencing soil carbon. They fix carbon through decomposition, cooling the soil and are crucial for the ecosystem. Both these lichens have been used by indigenous people and herbalists to bring balance to the respiratory system. Unsea’s signature resembles the fine branching structure of the bronchioles, often used in the treatment of bronchitis, coughs and general lung infections. Usnea also has an affinity for the urinary tract, which resembles the lower respiratory system upside down. Usnea and Lungwort Lichen both have antimicrobial and immune supporting properties, although there is limited scientific study. Both lichens produce their best medicine when prepared as a double extraction.
There are many varieties of fungi used medicinally including the beautiful Triametes vesicolor or Turkey Tail sometimes referred to as a “mushroom”. It belongs to the kingdom of fungi and is recognized by its colorful fan shaped fruiting body and is prized for its medicinal uses. Rich in polysaccharides PSK and PSP, compounds that stimulate the immune cells, it gets its nutrients from decomposing wood and releases spores for reproduction. It is a polypore shelf fungi and unlike gilled mushrooms, has tiny pores on its underside, which is how we positively identify it. Turkey Tails are too tough and fibrous to eat, so are best prepared as a tea, powder or tinctured as a double extraction to get the most of its medicine.
A bit deeper under the canopy we’ll find Licorice Fern, Polypodium glycyrrhiza (pictured below) it’s medicinal rhizomes tucked securely in the moss of the soft leaf maples, although I’ve seen it growing on other hardwoods. . Its doctrine of signature is a bit less obvious than our above lichens but indigenous peoples experienced its sweet, licorice tasting rhizomes treating respiratory issues like coughs and sore throats connecting its taste to internal chest ailments. Polypodium” translates to many feet and “glycyrrhiza” translates to sweet root. Tasting bits of licorice fern when it’s in season takes me back to childhood days with my grandparents who me their love of the natural world. While it grows abundantly in my forest, I only make small batches of medicine for my personal needs. I prefer to enjoy its sheer beauty and sweet taste that bring my ancestors back for a moment. Taste will do that.
Remember too that the trees support our respiratory health. In my forest farmacy Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir are the predominant conifers. Both have an extensive history of use by indigenous people to support respiratory health and boost the immune system. They can be incorporated in steams or infused in oil for topical use. The simple act of forest bathing shifts our nervous system and breathing in the trees “out breath” provides us with phytoncides contributing to our immune health, sense of well being, balance and renewed vitality.
I have shared just a handful of respiratory plant medicine growing in my forest. Do you know the plants that grow near you? I will be offering a new Medicine of Place class this spring so if you’re interested in learning more about the medicine that grows in our area, check out our workshop page.