Herbs, Essential Oils and Alchemy

01/06/2025

11/12/2024

10/26/2024

Look who I found in the woods!

10/25/2024

The Acorn Processing and Traditional Food Ways class is a full day nestled within Sage Country Herbs Botanical Eyes Field Apprenticeship course.

There are a couple spots left. Interview today to claim your herbal education.

Sage Country Herbs >>> https://www.sagecountryherbs.com/sales_herbal__field_apprenticeship

10/17/2024

Elder Tree

Growing more like a shrub than a tree, Elder Trees produce a multi-stemmed trunk and is usually found growing as an understory tree in mature woods.

In our southern California climate, elder flower, then berry, distinctly marks each season. By mid-spring elder flowers begin to fill the horizon like soft, fluffy clouds; while early to late summer the berries darken and droop in heavy bunches offering a delightful taste.

Elder Tree

Growing more like a shrub than a tree, Elder Trees produce a multi-stemmed trunk and is usually found growing as an understory tree in mature woods.

In our southern California climate, elder flower, then berry, distinctly marks each season. By mid-spring elder flowers begin to fill the horizon like soft, fluffy clouds; while early to late summer the berries darken and droop in heavy bunches offering a delightful taste.

🌱Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis, S. mexicana - the latter being the most prevalent in southern California and northern Baja. There are several varieties of elders that can be interchangeably used.
🌱Family: Adoxaceae
🌱Parts Used: berries, flowers
🌱Energetics: cooling, drying
🌱Plant Uses: colds and influenza, herpes, strengthen eyes, fevers, ear infections, skin health
🌱Taste:
*berries – sour
*flowers - bitter, sweet
🌱Plant Properties:
*berries - antiviral, immunomodulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory;
*flowers - antiviral, relaxing nervine, relaxing diaphoretic, diuretic, skin protectant, antioxidant
🌱Plant Preparations:
*berries - food, syrup, tincture, elixir, tea, dye, glycerite, oxymel;
*flowers - tea, infused oil, salve, cream, tincture, syrup, elixir

Elder flowers have many uses, but they particularly shine in use for fevers, to promote healthy skin, and as a relaxing diaphoretic. Elder flowers historically were often used as an external preparation as a tea wash or infused in oil for a salve. Washes are perfect for red and inflamed skin conditions, such as irritated rashes, sunburn, and rosacea. Elder flower water used to be a very common beauty regimen.

Elder flowers and berries can be made into a delicious tea or bubbly drink that has broad health benefits. The resulting brews are high in phenols and other antioxidants that can protect against excess inflammation.

Herbal Apothecary at Following Seasons Botanicals

10/12/2024

Following Seasons Botanicals at Ladies Of The Lake event, tomorrow, Saturday, October 12th.

We are located in booth 8 on the path just outside the gazebo.

A FULL booth awaits you. I'm so excited to share my latest Hydrosols, Aromatic Soap, Custom Essential Oil Blending Bar, and winter wool textiles.

Come enjoy the day. It's beautiful weather this weekend.

10/10/2024

Yes, we do have seasons! October in the high desert of California...

08/11/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dt3jmXn7Wg

*Get $50 off ANY version of Rosemary's The Science & Art of Herbalism Course*COUPON CODE: GladstarLEARN MORE & REGISTER | https://scienceandartofherbalism.co...