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This fall pluck a good bunch of goldenrod (genus: Solidago) blooms. Put them in a quart jar. Cover the goldenrod with apple cider vinegar. Store your jar in a cool, dark place until next spring. Take a tablespoon of vinegar as needed or use it on salads- get creative. I made my first batch last fall and so far this spring it is helping my husband tremendously.

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I have recently started creating my own flower essences. As it is the end of April in New York State, I haven't gotten too many sunny days or spring flowers to experiment with yet, but as of today I have handcrafted four flower essence mother tinctures and I am very excited about them!

Why use natural flower essences? Flower essences can help with emotional disturbances and past traumas. These days, the average American, westerner, first world dweller is encouraged (by every other commercial on cable television) to use antidepressants as a "cure" for their woes. Stifling symptoms with a pill and neglecting to deal with the root causes of these emotional issues cures nothing! In addition, the pharmaceuticals being used to treat these ailments have side effects worse than the original illness.

Here is a list of the side effects caused by the average antidepressant prescribed today:

Gastrointestinal disturbances, weight gain, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, serotonin syndrome, antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, suicidal thoughts or actions.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, different antidepressants possess differing side effects. Further explanation can be found at http://www.pdrhealth.com/antidepressants/common-side-effects-of-antidepressants.

Traditionally, flower essence tinctures are made with brandy, I have decided to craft mine using apple cider vinegar. They are very simple to make! Here is how I have crafted mine.

What you need:
a warm sunny day
living water
a bowl
fresh flowers
a milliliter measuring cup
a jar or bottle (I ordered 4 ml amber bottles from amazon)
unbleached filter papers
labels
brandy or apple cider vinegar

What to do:
Pick the flower tops while open and fresh after the sun has warmed them. Place in a bowl of fresh spring water or filtered water (I use my well water which has been filtered through a reverse osmosis filtration system). Allow the flower heads to float in the water, outside in full sunshine for 3 hours. I then strain 60 ml of the flower essence water into the bottle and add 60 ml of apple cider vinegar. I label and date the jar and place it in a cool dark cupboard for future use.

These directions differ slightly from the standard ones normally used simply because I adjusted them to suit the measurements of the jar sizes I have. For more information, please consult the Bach Centre.

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea or common purslane grows alongside my vegetables in my garden every summer. For years I pulled it up, hoed it in, composted it or just threw it into the yard to be mulched by the lawn mower. What a silly young woman I was. Now I know better. 

Purslane is a powerhouse of nutrients. Fresh leaves contain more omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) than any other leafy vegetable plant. Purslane is also a rich source of vitamin C, and some B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and carotenoids, as well as dietary minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese. It is a great source of vitamin A.  Vitamin A is a known powerful natural antioxidant and is essential for vision. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

Purslane eaten raw has a delicate crunch and slight lemon flavor. It is delicious added to salads or on sandwiches. It can be used as a substitute for spinach in any dish. I blanch and freeze purslane for winter use as well as pickle it which can be eaten as a side or added to potato or pasta salads. 

Plantain

Plantain (Plantago major)

Plantain can be used internally and externally. It makes a delicious tea and used externally helps heal and soothe wounds and bug bites. It is an alterative, astringent, diuretic, and antiseptic. A tea of this delightful herb's leaves I have found to relieve my out breaks of eczema, as well.

The Dandelion!

Take your health into your own hands! While sometimes a surgical procedure is necessary, anyone can maintain their personal constitution with wild crafted plants and/or an herb garden.

The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Dandelion contains 7000 units of vitamin A per ounce! Compared to a carrot at 1250 units per ounce, the dandelion is a nutritional powerhouse. Tender, young green leaves are delicious in salads and omelettes. The root can be dried and saved for tea. Taken internally, dandelion aids in cleansing of the blood and liver and applied externally can help with skin conditions such as eczema.

Are Plants Intelligent?

I certainly think so! As well as some other fine folks who have been conducting research on plant biology.

Got weeds? Great!

 For generations we have been encouraged to kill "weeds" with herbicide and grow beautiful, grass only lawns. Why should anyone have a problem with this? Allow me to explain.

 "Weeds" are not pests, they are ancient, living organisms with hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary experience and intelligence interwoven into their DNA. They are here for the benefit of all living creatures and contain vital medicinal properties. Humans have used plant medicines since time immemorial to treat their ailments. The knowledge of the wisdom held within this plant life has been lost to the majority of humanity. While there is definitely a place for Western medicine e.g. trauma surgeries, appendicitis, etc., regular use of common plants found in your own yard can effectively treat common ailments in a holistic manner and help keep you and your family healthy.

 Please watch the following video and grow to love your "weeds".