Sacred Herbs & Botanicals, LLC

10/21/2025

Persicaria longiseta, known as Oriental Lady’s Thumb, quietly weaves through damp edges, ditches, and meadows across the East Coast.

Studies have shown that this wild plant contains flavonoids and phenolic acids, natural compounds known to help protect tissues from oxidative stress and support a balanced inflammatory response. These are the same kinds of beneficial molecules found across the Persicaria family, known for their mild toning and cooling effects.

It’s also one of those overlooked wild greens that remind us of the hidden nutrition growing all around us. The young leaves are known to be edible when cooked, though like other oxalate-containing greens, they’re best enjoyed in moderation, especially if you’re prone to kidney stones.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we explore its southern cousin, Persicaria punctata, a peppery plant with a totally different energy.

10/14/2025

Japanese Knotweed – Part 2

A resilient plant often scorned as an invader, Reynoutria japonica reveals its deeper purpose through its medicinal properties. The same chemistry explored in Part 1 now takes form, supporting healthy blood flow, easing inflammation, and reaching deep into neural, vascular, and immune pathways.

Modern studies support this wisdom, demonstrating in vitro antiviral potential and anti-Borrelia effects that align with its traditional use for persistent infections and supporting circulation. Across Asia, knotweed has long been valued for clearing internal heat and restoring balance; its strength lies not in destruction, but in regeneration.

JapaneseKnotweed

10/10/2025

Episode 26 - Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is often labeled an invasive menace, but beneath that reputation lies a plant with remarkable medicinal and cultural depth.

In addition to the compounds mentioned in the video, its roots contain phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavones such as luteolin and kaempferol derivatives, phenylpropanoid and lignan compounds, coumarins, and naphthoquinones, including torachrysone, which is part of what makes this plant so chemically rich and multifaceted.

In Japan, it’s known as itadori, meaning “pain remover.” Beyond its medicinal uses, itadori has long been part of daily life, eaten as a spring vegetable, used in folk remedies, floral arrangements, and even children’s play. Its young shoots are tender and edible when harvested early, often compared to rhubarb or asparagus and used for pies, pickles, and syrups.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore how these diverse compounds actually work in the body, and why herbalists consider Japanese knotweed such a powerful ally.

09/26/2025

Episode 25—Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is notorious as the number one cause of hay fever in North America. Yet, in different folk herbal practices, the leaves harvested before flowering have been used for allergy relief, sinus support, and as a topical remedy for stings, bites, and cuts.

In this video, I explore the folk medicine side of ragweed while also highlighting the risks:

1. Sesquiterpene lactones – found in many plants in the daisy family, they can cause allergic contact dermatitis.

2. Pollen allergens (Amb a 1 proteins) - the main triggers of seasonal allergic rhinitis and hay fever.

3. Polyacetylenes and phenolics – compounds that show mild antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity in lab studies, but can also irritate in concentrated form.

4. Seeds and plant material – in large amounts may cause digestive upset in animals.

The bottom line is that ragweed is not considered acutely toxic, but it is highly allergenic. Any medicinal use requires caution, especially for sensitive people.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any plant medicinally.

09/19/2025

Episode 24: Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) isn’t just a pretty face in the meadow. Rich in sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, and saponins, it carries a bitter, cooling edge that folk healers once used for fevers, coughs, and sluggish digestion.

In European folklore, the ox-eye daisy was woven into midsummer garlands in England, Germany, and Scandinavia, where it symbolized purity, clarity, and protection, and was even scattered in rituals to clear the mind. Colonists later brought it to North America, where it naturalized so well that it’s now often seen as invasive. 🌼

Today, it thrives in disturbed soils and still feeds bees, hoverflies, and butterflies in midsummer. 🐝 A plant of resilience, clarity, and vitality.

✨ We’ll have a limited batch of ox-eye daisy tinctures available soon — stay tuned at sacredherbsandbotanicals.com.

09/19/2025

Epidode 24: Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) isn’t just a pretty face in the meadow. Rich in sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, and saponins, it carries a bitter, cooling edge that folk healers once used for fevers, coughs, and sluggish digestion.

In European folklore, the ox-eye daisy was woven into midsummer garlands in England, Germany, and Scandinavia, where it symbolized purity, clarity, and protection, and was even scattered in rituals to clear the mind. Colonists later brought it to North America, where it naturalized so well that it’s now often seen as invasive. 🌼

Today, it thrives in disturbed soils and still feeds bees, hoverflies, and butterflies in midsummer. 🐝 A plant of resilience, clarity, and vitality.

✨ We’ll have a limited batch of ox-eye daisy tinctures available soon — stay tuned at sacredherbsandbotanicals.com.

09/08/2025

Plants are more than scenery in our lives — they are the foundation of it. They breathe with us, feed us, and quietly shape the balance of the ecosystems we depend on. Many plants we walk past daily carry deep medicinal roles, once central to traditional knowledge systems that understood our survival was tied to theirs.

This talk touches on how plants fit into the web of life, not just as background, but as essential allies in our health and the planet's health. When we pause and pay attention, we see that our relationship with them is not optional; it’s the very essence of life itself.

🌿What plants show up in your daily life that you feel most connected to?🌿


#

08/19/2025

Pop Quiz: Do you know what plant this is? We can discuss in the comments.

08/11/2025

Part mystic, part medicine, mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has walked beside humans for centuries. A close cousin to wormwood, it carries trace amounts of thujone alongside camphor, cineole, and other aromatic terpenes — the chemistry behind its distinctive, dream-stirring scent.

From ancient protection charms to modern herbal teas, mugwort bridges folklore and phytochemistry. It’s been burned as incense, sipped for digestion, and kept under pillows to invite vivid dreams.

Whether you see it as a doorway to the subconscious or a humble hedgerow herb, its history and chemistry make it one of the most intriguing plants in the Artemisia family.

✨ For those reading this — limited fresh mugwort tinctures are available now and will be listed on the Sacred Herbs & Botanicals site soon.

🌿✨ What’s your mugwort story?

07/28/2025

What if I told you there’s a wild herb that clings to your clothes like it’s trying to get your attention—and maybe it is?

Cleavers, also called “stickyweed,” “bedstraw,” or “goosegrass,” is nature’s gentle lymphatic cleanser hiding in plain sight. It’s part of the Rubiaceae family, and it's indeed the same as coffee. But Cleavers trades the buzz for balance—freeing up the body's lymphatic flow, like lifting a dam so the clear waters beneath can finally run clean.

Traditionally, it’s been used for swollen lymph nodes, puffy skin, UTIs, and even dry, itchy rashes. In herbal terms, it’s a lymphatic, diuretic, alterative, and vulnerary—supporting drainage, flushing toxins, and soothing tissue.

Energetically, Cleavers is moistening and cooling, making it perfect for dry, irritated conditions. Its clinging nature mirrors the interconnectedness of the lymph system—quiet, subtle, but essential.

According to the Doctrine of Signatures, its sticky, spreading habit shows us its action: it binds, moves, and clears.

Inside, you'll find asperuloside, a compound the body converts into prostaglandins—those hormone-like messengers that support circulation, the body's natural inflammatory balance, and uterine tone.

Best used fresh, whether juiced or as a tea, as it loses potency when dried.

Folklore says people once bundled Cleavers into makeshift mattresses (hence the name “bedstraw”), and it was worn around the neck to protect against mischief and illness.

What have you used Cleavers for?

01/27/2025

🌿 In a world full of noise and uncertainty, let this be a moment to pause and reconnect with nature.

Let me introduce you to Cirsium horridulum, a spiky and resilient plant ally with incredible medicinal uses. This steadfast defender reminds us of the strength and healing found in the natural world.

This new video, pulled from the archives of an herbal virtual plant walk I had planned, explores the unique properties and benefits of this remarkable plant.

🎥 Watch here → https://youtu.be/unHhsBWisD0

Nature always has a story to tell, and this one is worth hearing. Take a moment to learn, reflect, and let Cirsium horridulum inspire you. 🌱✨

Cirsium horridulum | Sacred Herbs and BotanicalsMeet Cirsium horridulum—Purple or Yellow Thistle, also known as Bristle Thistle. 🌿 This plant doesn’t just g...