Jessica D. Whitley Acupuncture & TCM

12/06/2024

07/18/2024

05/05/2024

🌸 Explore the world of violets with us! This delicate flower, part of the Violaceae family, is not only a charming addition to shady areas, woods, and stream banks but also a valuable herbal remedy and tasty treat.

🌿 Violet leaves are heart-shaped, while its asymmetrical flowers range from deep purple to lilac and pink. You can enjoy violet flowers sprinkled over salads, cakes, or pasta, or use them to create syrups and cordials.

💚 Rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and mucilages, violet acts as an alterative, gently cleansing and purifying the blood over time. It's also cherished for its emollient, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and gentle laxative properties.

🍃 The soothing properties of violet make it ideal for respiratory health, especially in cases of dry cough and bronchitis. It also aids in calming inflammation in the digestive tract when consumed as a tea.

🌼 Oh, and here's a fun fact: Did you know you can use violets as a spit poultice for those pesky little scrapes and cuts you might get while outside exploring? Yup, they're like your trusty sidekick, always ready to lend a hand.

Embrace the beauty and therapeutic benefits of violet in your herbal journey!

How have you worked with violet?

🌿💜🌿

Art by: Wendy Hollender (fromForaging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi)

04/18/2024

💚🌱💚 We are entering fiddlehead season! As they emerge through the fertile, wet April soil, they grow and unfurl quickly, sometimes lasting just a few days in their furled-up stage.

Fiddleheads, often the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) are considered a spring delicacy. Some say their flavor resembles asparagus or spinach. They must be cooked in a change of water before eating to remove bitterness and minimize gastric problems.

It’s important not to pick all of the fiddleheads from one individual plant because you will prevent the plant from unfurling and therefore experiencing a happy growing season.

*Not all fiddleheads are edible. Make sure you are 100% in your ID before consuming a wild plant.

When do the fiddleheads begin to appear in your neck of the woods?