The Wild & Weedy Apothecary

01/10/2026

Save the date for the Annual DNRC Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery Seed and Seedling sales!🌱

Seed sales begin Monday, Jan. 12 at 8 a.m. marking the first year the nursery is offering seed mixes! Three mixes are available: one designed for dry, sunny areas; another for forest meadows; and a third mix featuring our most aggressive flowering species.

Seedling sales will begin Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 8 a.m.

Nursery staff will host their annual webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m., offering updates on nursery operations and details about the upcoming sale.

➡️ For more information on the Spring sale and to register for the webinar, visit https://dnrc.mt.gov/Nursery/.

01/10/2026

It's definitely the hot cocoa time of year.
How about Cinnamon Hot Cocoa with the added tonic effect of mushrooms?

Cinnamon Hot Cocoa with Mushroom- tastes great!
That’s right, medicinal mushrooms in your hot cocoa – it’s not as weird as it sounds.
It’s good for your immune system, it’s good for your heart, and it puts you in a good mood.
And yes, Virginia, it tastes good too!
What more could you want?

Starting with LION’S MANE – Hericium erinaceus, this beautiful mushroom offers stellar immune-enhancing properties.
Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests it’s use as an overall tonic, and for healthy digestion in general and gastric ulcers in particular as an anti-inflammatory.
Sometimes used for treating the side effects from chemotherapy. Lion’s Mane has an inhibitory effect on some types of cancer cells. Stimulates neuron repair and renewal (myelination), supports cognitive function and mental alertness.

REISHI – Ganoderma lucidum, promotes health and longevity. Warming, nourishing, toning and detoxifying, TCM uses for this plant include treatment of hypertension, asthma and other bronchial ailments.
Reishi shows strong activity against chronic hepatitis and HIV. Immune-modulating, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, analgesic, adaptogenic.
Used for chronic fatigue. Reduces excessive immune response, useful for auto-immune conditions such as lupus and RA.
Reishi is believed to assist the genetic checkpoint that inspects for then acts to destroy cancer cells, and also acts to inhibit the prostate cancer signaling process and reduces UTI’s for men.
Reishi has been shown to prevent cancer metastasis.

As for TURKEY TAIL – Trametes versicolor, over 400 clinical studies in Japan alone have identified several natural anti-cancer components in this fan-shaped fungus, and its uses include adjunct therapy to stomach and colorectal cancer treatments.
TCM uses include treatment of upper respiratory infections, urinary tract inflammation and infection, and arthritis.
Turkey Tail has shown to be effective in flushing out toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides.
Stimulates immune system weakness, supports healthy liver function, and enhances joint flexibility.

CACAO is the superfood darling of people everywhere.
In the raw, unroasted “cacao” state (and even a good organic cocoa) contains flavonoids and antioxidants, both of which are heart-healthy.
These compounds can help reduce the risk of stroke, improve blood circulation and cholesterol levels, and support healthy arterial tissue; yes, you can drink your “aspirin” a day!
Cacao boosts serotonin, the brain chemical responsible for putting you in a good mood, and it also reduces the stress hormone cortisol.

Also included are the herbs SLIPPERY ELM BARK and MARSHMALLOW ROOT which add body to the blend, as well as their own mildly sweet flavors and anti-inflammatory properties, plus a healthy touch of CINNAMON as a flavor enhancer.

© Doreen Shababy

Ingredients: raw cacao, Lion’s Mane Hericium erinaceus, Reishi Ganoderma lucidum, Turkey Tail Trametes versicolor, Slippery Elm bark Ulmus spp., Marshmallow root Althea officinalis, cinnamon. All ingredients organic or wildcrafted.

To prepare: Place 1 teaspoon powdered drink mix in a mug. Heat 8 to 10 ounces any kind of milk (or even water) until hot, pour over powder, and stir. Sweeten to taste. Also great in coffee!

You can purchase Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Mix with Mushroom through our business website, www.wildnweedy.com.

https://doreenshababy.com/cinnamon-hot-cocoa-with-mushroom-tastes-great/

12/23/2025

12/23/2025

The Global Earth Repair Convergence!
May 7-11 2026 at The historic Fort Worden State Park & Conference Center Port Townsend, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula.
Registration opens soon.

A groundbreaking gathering of global change-makers dedicated to restoring ecosystems, regenerating our planet, and fostering community. Join over 500 participants in-person and thousands more online for five transformative days of learning, collaboration, and celebration.

More info: https://www.globalearthrepairconvergence.com/

Key Highlights:
60+ In-Person Speakers, Workshops & Panels

100+ On-Line Speakers, Workshops & Panels

Art, Music & Ceremony

Hands-On Activities & Demonstrations

Indigenous Leadership & Traditional Knowledge

The Global Earth Repair Convergence brings together some of the world’s most renowned experts on global repair -- by that we mean the people who understand the existing soil - plants - trees - water interactions and how this naturally existing regeneration process literally heals the planet from the climate damage that exists.

Have you seen what happens when the world experts on a topic are in a room on a panel in front of an engaged audience?

When you hear the current science, learn indigenous practices, explore what is theoretically possible and what has been tried in the past, moments of brilliance emerge from the conversations that take place. This is what the Global Earth Repair Convergence did in 2019 and 2022. This is what we intend to do again, May 7-11, 2026.

This is already a global movement with millions of people involved in efforts with their local climates. Not everything will be done in our lifetime, but the Global Earth Repair Convergence exists to advance the science, advance the sharing of best practices, and create the energy to keep spreading these practices.

Each person can be part of the solution. The science of how the earth heals itself is well-established. The healing practices are already underway. The Global Earth Repair Convergence coalesces these grassroots efforts, empowering the participants to learn more and implement solutions in their own soil, their own air, their own local plants and trees.

12/11/2025

Take a free 24-hour peek at the recipe for Frau Holda's Rosehip Shortbread on Gather Victoria Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/winter-magic-of-145160846?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

12/10/2025

One of each of these seasoning blends are now available at the CF Pantry, along with Elderberry Elixir, Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Mix with Mushroom, and assorted lip balms... and of course, my book :)

You can also contact me direct for any of these products, as well as herbal tinctures that aren't up on the website... they are still available for local sales as well as mail-order.

12/07/2025

Might not fit into a Christmas stocking, but you can try 😁

12/07/2025

12/02/2025

Bupleurum – a short essay

Bupleurum root has a long history of use in many parts of Asia, including China, where it is known as Chai-Hu; Japan (called Saiko); and Korea.
There are 74 compounds that have been isolated from Bupleurum, of which the saikosaponins show much promise as a medicinal.
This active principal offers anti-tumor and anti-proliferative properties, such as promoting the induction of apoptosis, which in cancer treatment is the elimination of cells which may potenenially contain mutations.

Bupleurum is an annual of the Parsley family and is native to eastern Asia.
It is considered to be a remedy of great importance.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is the King of the regulatory herbs; this means that it is not an everyday tonic, but used for specific conditions. Bupleurum is used to help circulate qi or vital force, clear heat from the liver, and promote yang (active, expansive, masculine principal energy).

Like many herbs in the TCM repertory, Chai-Hu is seldom used alone; it is almost always combined with other herbs, particularly Chinese or Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis).
This synergistic combination is greater than the sum of its parts and has been shown to pe*****te the liver itself more effectively with less disturbance of surrounding tissue.
This combination is taken to reduce toxic accumulation of heavy metals in the liver including vanadium, manganese, iron and arsenic, while allowing for an increase of selenium which inhibits adipocyte hypertrophy (dysfunctional adipose tissue and obesity) and abdominal fat accumulation; selenium also provides anti-oxidant activity.

In addition, the use of Bupleurum-Skullcap supports the concept of The Three Treasures, which are thus: Jing or primal life essence; Qi, the vital force activity of a human being; and Shen, mental power and spiritual awareness.

Another TCM remedy that combines Bupleurum with Panax Ginseng and Licorice root is used to enhance adrenal function.

Traditionally used for the treatment of colds, fever, digestive issues, and chronic liver disorder, Bupleurum is considered to be both anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
It has been used to treat the symptoms associated with the common cold; influenza (including influenza A [H1N1]pdm09 virus, or Swine Flu); bronchitis and pneumonia.
It inhibits gram-positive and, to a lesser but still observable degree, gram-negative bacteria. It is known to be active against the Trypanosoma brucei parasite, which causes sleeping sickness in humans, a vector-borne disease spread by the tsetse fly of sub-Saharan Africa.

As an anti-inflammatory, it is of possible benefit for allergic asthma response.
The root of Saiko can increase lymphatic activity by offering cytokine support (protein-based messenger cells), which in turn targets inflammatory conditions.
The anti-inflammatory properties of Bupleurum have been observed both in vitro and in vivo, inducing inflammatory exudation, capillary permeability, and connective tissue hyperplasia, while tempering allergic inflammation.

Bupleurum root is used to treat inflammatory conditions including chronic liver disease such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and may even improve liver pathology.
However, depending on dosage and duration, Bupleurum may also cause liver damage if it is not monitored.
There are also some specific pharmaceutical-bupleurum interactions that must be considered, therefore anyone on prescribed enzyme therapy should consult with their physician/herbalist before using bupleurum. Neither should it be used during pregnancy or nursing.

© DDoreen Shababy

https://doreenshababy.com/bupleurum-a-short-essay/