100 Edible and Medicinal Plants of West Asheville
It's been many years, but when my office was in the Bledsoe Building I used to host plant walks in downtown West Asheville. Typically, because of the bounty to be found in the nearby gardens, alleys, and sidewalks, we would meet at my office and get only a block or two away before our time was up. At some point, I started formally cataloging all the plants we found. I recently came across this list, surprised to realize that it is over 100 plants long! Some are used in both Chinese and Western herbal medicine. For others, Chinese herbal medicine uses a related species. It is interesting to compare and contrast.
I wanted to share this list with you because I think it's important to remind ourselves that we are surrounded by food and medicine if we just take a moment and look around. Also, so many of us don't even know that the ornamental flowers we plant and the weeds that volunteer in our gardens and lawns are edible and medicinal. This list is by no means exhaustive; pick any plant below and you could write a book. I would like to close by saying thank you to the plants for their enduring generosity. We would be lost without them.
- Chinese herbal medicine (Thuja occidentalis, Oriental Arborvitae, bai zi ren): seed taken for irritability, insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, night terrors in children, constipation in the elderly, and night sweats
- pith of young shoots edible when cooked
- Chinese herbal medicine (Platycodon grandifloras, jie geng): root taken for coughing or wheezing with profuse sputum, throat pain, and loss of voice, and to expel pus from lung and throat abscesses
- edible roots
- Chinese herbal medicine (Bamboosa tuldoides): dried sap (zhu li) taken for cough with copious yellow mucus, shavings (zhu ru) taken for cough with copious sputum or sour stomach with vomiting
- young shoots eaten as a vegetable
- Western herbal medicine (Berberis vulgaris): root taken as an herbal anti-biotic for urinary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory infections
- edible berries
- Western herbal medicine (Monarda didyma): leaf taken for colic, colds, fevers, nosebleeds, insomnia, gas, and measles, induces sweating and expels worms
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Cimicfuga racemose): root taken for menopausal syndrome, PMS, colds
- Chinese herbal medicine (Cimicufuga foetida, sheng ma): root taken for early-stage measles, oral infections, and prolapse
- Western herbal medicine (Rudbeckia hirta): root taken for worms and colds, root wash used externally for sores, snakebites, and swelling, juice used topically for earaches
- Western herbal medicine (Arcticum lappa): root taken as blood purifier, root wash used externally for dandruff, burns, skin irritations, and wounds
- Chinese medicine (Arcticum lappa, niu bang zi): seed taken for sore throat, root for fevers, skin diseases, boils, and gout
- mature root eaten as carrot-like vegetable, young leaves as salad, mature leaves eaten once boiled in two changes of water
- Western herbal medicine (Ranunculus acris): leaf poultice for arthritis and nerve pain, root poultice for boils and abscesses
- Western herbal medicine (Ricinus communis): seed oil taken as a laxative and to induce labor, seed oil used externally for ringworm, itching, piles, sores, and abscesses, seed oil hot packs used externally for constipation, fibroids, menstrual cramps, and gall bladder pain
- Western herbal medicine (Nepeta cataria): flowering tops taken for bronchitis, colds, diarrhea, fevers, chicken pox, colic, headaches, irregular menses, and insomnia, leaves chewed for headaches, tea enema for dangerously high fevers
- Western herbal medicine (Prunus serotina, Black or Wild Cherry): tea or syrup of inner bark taken for fevers, colds, sore throats, bronchitis, pneumonia, and persistent cough, natural expectorant
- Chinese herbal medicine (Prunus japonica, Bush Cherry): pit taken for constipation, edema with urinary difficulty or constipation
- edible fruit
- Western herbal medicine (Stellaria media): aerial parts taken for coughs, aerial parts poultice or salve for inflammatory, itchy, or dry skin conditions
- Chinese herbal medicine (Stellaria dichotoma, yin chai hu): root taken for fever with thirst and irritability
- aerial parts are nutritious edible
- Western herbal medicine (Cichorium intybus): roasted root taken for liver inflammation and constipation, leaf poultice used topically for eye inflammation and pimples
- roasted root as coffee substitute
- leaves nutritious edible
- Chinese herbal medicine (Chrysanthemum morifolium, ju hua): flower taken for fever and headache, red, swollen, dry and/or painful eyes, and toxic sores and swellings
- edible leaves, stalks, flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Potentilla arguata and canadensis): whole plant as tea or poultice to stop bleeding and diarrhea
- Chinese herbal medicine (Potentilla chinenesis, Chinese Cinquefoil, wei ling cai): whole plant used for chronic dysentery, sores, abscesses, and bleeding hemorrhoids
- edible shoots and leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Galium aparine): aerial parts taken as blood purifier, diuretic for bladder and kidney inflammation, edema, and kidney stones
- edible stems, leaves, and seeds
- ripe seeds roasted and used as a coffee substitute
- Chinese herbal medicine (Clematis chinensis, wei ling xian): root taken for chronic pain of the lower back and legs, softens fish bones lodged in the throat, reduces accumulations of phlegm and water in the abdomen
- Western herbal medicine (Aquilegia vulgaris): root taken for diarrhea, promotes urination, small amounts of crushed seeds eaten for headaches
- edible flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Symphytum oficinalis): root salve for arthritis, burns, rashes, eczema, wounds, ulcers, bites, and skin irritations, fresh leaf poultice for bruises, fractures, and sprains, whole plant taken internally for sore throats, ulcers, and respiratory conditions
- Western herbal medicine (Cynodon dactylon): root taken as an antibiotic and diuretic for urinary infections and sore throats
- root roasted as coffee substitute
- Western herbal medicine (Taraxacum officinale): leaves taken for urinary issues and edema, root taken as blood purifier and for liver disorders, jaundice, and constipation, latex applied topically for freckles and warts
- Chinese herbal medicine (Taraxicum mongolicum): whole plant used both internally and topically for infections, especially mastitis
- leaves are nutritious edible, good for iron-deficiency anemia
- root roasted for a coffee substitute
- flowers and buds eaten in salads, pickled, cooked, fried into fritters, or made into wine
- Chinese herbal medicine (Hemerocallis fulva, bai he): root decoction used for chronic, dry coughs
- buds, flowers, young shoots, and tubers are all edible
- Western herbal medicine (Cornus florida): inner bark taken for diarrhea and malarial fevers, quinine substitute for malaria, poultice of inner bark for external ulcers and sores
- non-native Japanese kousa dogwood species has edible fruits (Cornus kousa)
- Western medicine (Echinacea purpurea and angustifolia): root taken for pathogen exposure, early colds, low WBC count, respiratory allergies, food poisoning, slow-healing wounds, infections of the skin, urinary and respiratory infections, lymphatic congestion, and swelling of the prostate, root wash for burns and herpes, juice of root used topically for acne, infections, swollen lymph glands, pain, and insect bites, root poultice used topically for bites and stings, enlarged glands, mumps, and rheumatic swellings, root decoction used as a douche for chronic yeast infections, root chewed for toothaches and bleeding gums
- edible petals
- Western herbal medicine (Sambucus nigra): inner bark taken internally as laxative, emetic, and diuretic, inner bark poultice for eczema, ulcers and skin eruptions, leaf poultice for bruises, cuts, and bleeding, berry syrup as preventive and treatment for viral infections
- edible berries, flowers made into cordials
- Western herbal medicine (Oenothera biennis): stems and leaves taken for irritated intestines, diarrhea, nervous indigestion, colic, asthma, and spasmodic coughs, oil taken for dry, itchy skin issues, poor wound healing, and hormone balance, poultice of stems and leaves to soothe skin eruptions, oil used topically for eczema, psoriasis, skin irritations, acne, dry skin, itchy skin, rosacea, and poor wound healing, mature seed oil contains 7-10% gamma-linolenic acid, a rare omega-6 fatty acid and 70% linolenic acid (omega-6): improves fat metabolism, moistens and heals skin from the inside out, enhances calcium absorption, natural blood thinner, building block of steroidal hormones, anti-inflammatory, improves function of nervous system, improves flexibility of cells walls
- edible roots, seeds, flowers, leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Baptisia leucantha): root tea as emetic and purgative, root poultice is antiinflammatory
- Western herbal medicine (Foeniculum vulgare): seeds taken for coughs, muscular cramping, intestinal gas and abdominal pain
- Chinese herbal medicine (Foeniculum vulgare, xiao hui xiang): seeds taken for lower abdominal pain, indigestion, reduced appetite, and vomiting
- Edible root, seed used as culinary spice
- western herbal medicine (Ficus carica): fruits act as stool softener for mild constipation
- edible fruits high in calcium and fiber, edible leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Conyza canadensis): whole plant taken for diarrhea, kidney stones, painful urination, and bleeding
- edible leaves
- Chinese herbal medicine (Forsythia suspensa, lian qiao): fruit taken for colds, fevers, sore throat, abscesses, and sores
- edible flowers
- Chinese herbal medicine (Rehmannia glutinosa, sheng di huang, shu di huang): fresh root taken for high fever with thirst and hemorrhage, night sweats, low-grade fever, dry mouth, and constipation, prepared root taken for pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and postpartum bleeding
- Western herbal medicine (Ginko biloba): leaf taken for poor memory, Alzheimer's, dementia
- Chinese herbal medicine (Ginkgo biloba, bai guo, bai guo he): nut taken for chronic coughs, cough with copious sputum, wheezing, urinary and vaginal infections, leaves taken for wheezing and chest pain
- edible fruit
- Western herbal medicine (Solodago): flowering tops taken for bladder and kidney ailments, fevers, diarrhea, dysentery, and snakebites, antihistamine for nasal congestion and inflammation, rhinitis, and seasonal allergies, leaf taken for menstrual regulation, root taken for kidney ailments, leaf poultice used topically for wounds, root poultice used topically for burns, lesions, rashes, wounds, snakebites
- edible flowers and leaves
- edible fruit (Physalis)
- Western herbal medicine (Glechoma hederacea): leaf taken for lung ailments, asthma, jaundice, kidney ailments, and as blood purifier, wash of leaves used externally for backaches, bruises, and hemorrhoids
- edible leaves and stems
- Western herbal medicine (Crataegus): friut taken for hypertension, angina, and arteriosclerosis
- Chinese herbal medicine (Crataegus pinnatifida, shan zha): fruit taken for indigestion, abdominal distention, abdominal pain and diarrhea, post-partum abdominal pain, hypertension, and high cholesterol
- young leaves and shoots edible
- Western herbal medicine (Tsuga canadensis): twig tips taken for kidney ailments, twig tip steams for rheumatism, colds, coughs, and to induce sweating, inner-bark tea for colds, fevers, diarrhea, coughs, scurvy (needles high in vitamin C), twig tips used externally as a wash for rheumatism and to stop bleeding, Bark poultice for bleeding wounds
- Western herbal medicine (Ilex opaca): leaf taken for measles, cold, flu, and pneumonia, leaf wash for sore eyes, sores, and itching, bark infusion as sedative, for malaria and epilepsy
- Chinese herbal medicine (Ilex pubescens, Hairy Holly, mao dong qing): root taken for chest pain, hemiplegia, sore throat, and cough, root powder applied topically to burns
- Western herbal medicine (Lonicera japonica): wash of flower tea used externally for scabies, sores, boils, scabies, rheumatism, and tumors
- Chinese herbal medicine (Lonicera japonica, jin yin hua): flower buds taken for infections, colds, heat stroke, urinary infections, bacterial dysentery, laryngitis, enteritis, flu, and fevers
- Western herbal medicine (Humulus lupulus): flower taken as sedative for insomnia, cramps, coughs, fevers, and urinary retention, flower wash used externally for boils, bruises, inflammation, and rheumatism
- Western herbal medicine (Hydrangea arborescens): root taken for kidney stones, mucosal irritation of the bladder, and bronchial infections, bark poultice for wounds, burns, sore muscles, sprains, and tumors, bark chewed for stomach problems and heart trouble
- Western herbal medicine (Impatiens capensis): stem and leaf juice used topically as an antidote for poison ivy rashes, bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, sores, sprains, warts, ringworm, and insect bites
- whole young plants edible as a vegetable
- Western herbal medicine (Eupatorium purpurteum): leaf and root taken for kidney stones, urinary incontinence, edema, gout, rheumatism, impotence, uterine prolapse, asthma, and chronic coughs
- Chinese herbal medicine (Eupatorium fortunei, Japanese Joe-Pye Weed, pei lan): aerial parts taken for heat exhaustion with nausea and internal accumulations of phlegm in the digestive tract causing lethargy, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal distention, and pain
- edible roots, leaves, stems
- Western herbal medicine (Juniperus communis): berry eaten raw or in tea for cystitis, edema, flatulence, intestinal infections, coughs, colic, stomachaches, colds, and bronchitis, berry used externally for sores, aches, rheumatism, arthritis, snakebites, and cancer
- edible berries
- Western herbal medicine (Polygonum cuspidatum): source of resveritol which helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol, and prevent blood clots
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Polygonum cuspidatum, hu zhang: whole plant taken for urinary infections with painful dribbling, intestinal parasites, damp or weepy skin, and rashes, mucilage soothes stomach and intestines
- Polygonum aviculare, Knotgrass, bian xi: herb taken for painful urinary dribbling, damp skin lesions with itching, and intestinal parasites
- Polygonum cuspidatum, Giant Knotweed, hu zhang: root taken for amenorrhea, joint pain, traumatic injury, jaundice, turbid vaginal discharge, turbid and painful urinary dribbling, cough, and constipation, fresh ground herb applied topically for burns, carbuncles, skin infections, and snakebites
- Polygonum multiflorium, Flowery Knotweed (fresh), sheng he shou wu: dried fresh root taken for constipation, carbuncles, sores, scrofula, goiter, neck lumps, and chronic malaria
- Polygonum multiflorium, Flowery Knotweed (stewed or steamed), zhi he shou wu: prepared root taken for dizziness, blurred vision, premature greying, weakness of the lower back and knees, sore extremities, nocturnal emissions, insomnia, and rashes
- shoots no more than 6-8 inches edible as vegetable
- Western herbal medicine (Pueraria lobata): root and flowers taken for alcohol withdrawal
- Chinese herbal medicine (Pueraria lobata, ge gen): root taken for colds with stiff neck and shoulders, rashes not fully expressed (like measles), excessive thirst due to acidic stomach, diabetes, alcohol withdrawal, high blood pressure, and eye swelling related to glaucoma, seeds used for dysentery and to expel drunkenness, stem poultice for sores, swellings, mastitis, stem tea gargled for sore throats
- root starch flour used as a thickener in Asian cuisine
- edible leaves, vine tips, and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Chenopodium album): leaves taken for stomach aches, leaf poultice for burns and insect bites
- edible, nutritious leaves prevent scurvy
- seeds boiled as cereal or dried and ground as flour
- Western herbal medicine (Lavendula angustifolia): essential oil topically for burns, wounds, eczema, acne, rosacea, herpes, insect bites, stretch marks, scars, infections, asthma, spasmodic coughs, influenza, bronchitis, muscle spasms, muscle and nerve pain, menstrual pain, irritability, insomnia, stress, hypertension, anxiety, depression, headaches, and migraines, flowers taken for acne, headaches, psoriasis, insomnia, stress, muscle spasms, stomach upset, and excess intestinal gas, flowers added to baths as a treatment for yeast infections
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Melissa officinalis): leaves taken for painful menstruation, intestinal gas, headaches, colds, insomnia, stress and indigestion, leaf poultice for sores, tumors, and insect bites, essential oil applied topically to herpes blisters of the mouth or genitals
- edible leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Lupinus perennis): leaves taken for nausea and internal hemorrhage
- Western herbal medicine (Salvia lyrata): leaf poultice for cancer and warts
- edible leaves, stems, flowers
- Chinese herbal medicine (Magnolia, xin yin hua, hou po): flower buds taken for nasal congestion or obstruction, sinus headaches, and diminished or absent sense of smell, bark taken for food stagnation and distention and fullness in the chest or abdomen
- edible flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Althaea officinalis): root and leaves taken to soothe irritated membranes of the lungs, urinary system, and intestinal tract, root increases flow of breast milk, treats constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, root poultice for varicose veins, ulcers, abscesses, and boils
- edible leaves and flowers, used to thicken soup bases
- Western herbal medicine (Podophyllum peltatum): root taken as a purgative, liver cleanser, and emetic, for intestinal worms, jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers, and syphilis
- edible fruits
- Chinese herbal medicine (Albizia julbrissin, he huan hua, he huan pi): bark and flowers are taken for depression and insomnia
- young leaves and flowers edible
- Western medicine (Artemesia vulgaris): leaf taken as diuretic, induces sweating, regulates menses, and promotes appetite, used to treat bronchitis, colds, colic, epilepsy, fevers, and kidney ailments
- Chinese herbal medicine (Artemesia argyi, ai ye): leaf taken for prolonged menstrual and uterine bleeding, threatened miscarriage, lower abdominal pain, and menstrual pain, leaf wash used externally for weepy, itchy rashes, dried leaves burned as moxa over acupuncture points
- edible leaves
- Chinese herbal medicine (Morus alba, sang ye, sang zhi, sang bai pi, sang shen): leaf taken for fever, headache, sore throat, dry cough, and red, sore or painful eyes, twig taken for pain with spasms, numbness/paralysis post-stroke, edema with joint pain, root bark taken for cough and wheezing, edema, hypertension, fruit taken for dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, premature greying, diabetes, constipation due to dryness
- young leaf shoots are edible as a cooked vegetable
- berries are edible raw, cooked, jellied and juiced
- Western herbal medicine (Verbascum thapsus): leaf taken as expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic for coughs, asthma, bronchitis, sore throat, respiratory congestion, and fevers, leaf boiled with honey and used as cough syrup, root taken for diarrhea with blood, leaves smoked for wet coughs, asthma, and healing lungs after quitting smoking cigarettes, flowers soaked in olive oil with garlic cloves used topically for ear infections, leaf poultice for wounds, hemorrhoids, bloodshot eyes, pain, swellings, bruises, sprains, swollen glands, abscesses, sores, arthritic joints, earaches, toothaches, and cuts
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Urtica gracilis): leaf taken for allergies, kidney and bladder infections, osteoarthritis, hemorrhaging, and as a blood purifier, high in minerals so taken internally for osteoarthritis, leaf poultice for arthritis
- young leaves edible potherb, high in iron and protein
- Western herbal medicine (Quercus): bark taken for diarrhea, dysentery, chronic mucous discharge, bleeding, anal prolapse, and hemorrhoids, bark decoction gargled for sore throat
- acorns edible if tannins are removed, pressed acorns yeild edible polyunsaturated oil
- Western herbal medicine (Origanum vulgare): leaves and essential oil taken as an anti-fungal and antibiotic
- edible leaves, used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Mahonia aqifloium): root taken to stimulate appetite and digestion, liver and gallbladder tonic, used to treat urinary tract infections, diarrhea, worms, and skin problems like psoriasis and eczema
- edible berries
- Chinese herbal medicine (Prunus persica, tao ren): seed taken for menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, flank pain, and constipation due to dryness
- Western herbal medicine (Prunus persica): leaf taken to balance blood sugar
- Edible fruit and flowers
- Chinese herbal medicine (Peonia, bai shao yao, chi shao yao): white peony root taken for blood deficiency causing menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, uterine bleeding, pale and lusterless complexion, and dull and lusterless nails, also for flank, chest or abdominal pain due to tension and colds that are unresolved despite continuous sweating, red peony root taken for abdominal and menstrual pain, and high fevers with hemorrhage, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, fixed abdominal masses, swelling and pain due to trauma
- edible flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Mentha peperita): leaf taken for colds, fevers, indigestion, gas, stomachaches, headaches, nervous tension, insomnia, stress anxiety, sore throats, coughs, sinus and respiratory infections, heartburn, nausea, and morning sickness, essential oil used topically for headaches, muscle pain, nerve pain, toothache, itching, rashes, and infections, steam inhalation of essential oil for congestions and respiratory infections
- Chinese herbal medicine (Mentha halpocalyx, bo he), whole herb taken for fever, cough, headache, red eyes, sore throat, emotional instability, gynecological issues, heat stroke, and to vent rashes
- Edible leaves, used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Diospyros virginiana): inner bark tea gargle for sore throat and thrush, inner bark taken for stomachaches, heartburn, diarrhea, dysentery, uterine and hemorrhage, bark wash for warts and cancer
- Chinese herbal medicine (Diospyros kaki, shi di): fruit calyx taken for belching and hiccough
- edible fruits, sweetest after first frost
- Western herbal medicine (Vinca): leaves taken to enhance memory, sedative and tonic qualities, treats hemorrhage, heavy menstruation, and nosebleeds, leaf mouthwash for mouth sores, ulcers, and gingivitis, externally, leaf poultice for wounds
- Chinese herbal medicine (Dianthus, qu mai): aerial parts taken for urinary dribbling with blood and amenorrhea due to blood stasis
- Edible petals
- Chinese herbal medicine (Plantago asiatica, che qian zi): seeds taken for edema, painful urinary dribbling, cough with copious yellow sputum, dry eyes with reduced visual acuity or red, painful, swollen eyes with sensitivity to light
- Western herbal medicine (Plantago major): seed husks taken for constipation, leaves taken for cough, diarrhea, dysentery, bloody urine, leaf salve or poultice for stings, burns rashes, bites, inflammatory skin disorders, sores, blisters, ulcers, and swelling
- edible seeds, very young leaves used as salad or cooked green
- Western herbal medicine (Phytolacca americana): berries taken for rheumatism, arthritis and dysentery, root poultice for rheumatism, nerve damage pain, inflamed sores, bleeding, and bruises
- Chinese herbal medicine (Phytolacca acinosa, shang lu): root taken for edema associated with constipation and urinary difficulty
- young leaves and shoots as potherb, slightly toxic so must be cooked in two or three changes of water
- Western herbal medicine (Opuntia dillenii): poultice of peeled leaves used for sores, wounds, and swelling, leaf juice applied topically to treat warts, pad gel is added to honey to treat dry coughs, leaf gel taken internally as laxative to kill and expel worms
- edible leaves and fruit
- Chinese herbal medicine (Ligustrum lucidum, nu zhen zi): fruit taken for dizziness, soreness of the lower back, premature greying of the hair, tinnitus, night sweats, and diminished visual acuity
- Western herbal medicine (Lamium purpureum): whole plant used as an astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic, styptic, purgative, and tonic, poultice of aerial parts for cuts and wounds
- edible leaves, stems, and flowers, high in iron
- Western herbal medicine (Portulaca oleracea): taken for headaches, leaf poultice for burns
- Chinese herbal medicine (Portulaca oleracea, ma chi xian), whole plant poultice used topically for pain and swelling of wasp stings and snakebites, whole plant taken for infectious diarrhea, urinary infections, carbuncles, vaginal infections
- Aerial parts are edible and very high in omega-3 fatty acids
- Western herbal medicine (Daucus carota): root tea taken to prevent and eliminate urinary stones and worms, seeds taken as morning after contraceptive
- edible root, flowers, and seeds
- Western herbal medicine (Rubus idaeus): leaf taken for diarrhea, dysentery, menstrual cramps, and to strengthen the uterus and aid in childbirth
- Chinese herbal medicine (Rubus chigii, fu pen zi): fruit taken for urinary frequency, enuresis, impotence, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, and wet dreams
- young shoots, leaves, and berries all edible fresh or cooked
- Western herbal medicine (Cercis canadensis): inner bark tea gargled for sore throats and thrush, bark taken for stomachaches, heartburn, uterine hemorrhage, diarrhea and dysentery
- Edible flowers, flower buds, and young seed pods
- Western herbal medicine (Trifolium pratense): flowers taken for irregular hormone cycles, menopausal symptoms, asthma, bronchitis, spasmodic coughs, and as a blood purifier
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Rosa rugosa): rose hips taken for vitamin C, root taken for diarrhea, dysentery, stomach pain, gonorrhea, back pain, and boils, leaf wash for sores, ulcers, and boils
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Rosa chinensis, yue ji hua: flower taken for scanty menstruation, amenorrhea, chest and abdominal pain and distention, neck swellings, and scrofula
- Rosa laevigata, jin ying zi: rose hip taken for spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, vaginal discharge, and chronic diarrhea
- Rosa rugosa, mei gui hua: flower taken for chest pain, pain and distention in the flanks and epigastrium, belching, poor appetite, irregular menstruation, PMS breast tenderness, and menstrual pain
- petals and fruit (rose hips) are edible
- Western herbal medicine (Rosmarinus officinalis): leaf taken for mental clarity, memory, sinus congestion, and exhaustion, antimicrobial
- edible flowers and leaves, leaves used as culinary spice
- Western medicine (Salvia officianalis): leaf taken for memory, palsy, liver disease, epilepsy, throat inflammation, fevers, seizures, ulcers, gout, rheumatism, inflammation, tremors, diarrhea, coughs, labor pains, and ulcers, antimicrobial
- Chinese herbal medicine (Savlia miltiorrhizae, dan shen): root taken for pain under the ribs or in the chest or abdomen, restlessness, irritability, palpitations, insomnia, and breast abscesses
- edible leaves, used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Prunella vulgaris): leaf tea as gargle for sore throats and mouth sores, leaf taken for fevers and diarrhea, leaf wash for ulcers, wounds, bruises, and sores
- Chinese herbal medicine (Prunella vulgaris, xia ku cao): flower spikes taken for red, painful swollen eyes, headache, neck nodules, swollen glands, and hypertension
- Edible leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Amelanchier canadensis): root bark taken for diarrhea and excessive menstrual bleeding, bark tea bath for children with worms
- edible berries
- Western herbal medicine (Scutellaria lateriflora): flowering tops taken as a sedative, nerve tonic, and antispasmodic for nervous conditions of all types like insomnia, anxiety, and neuralgia
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Scutellaria barbata, ban zhi lian: herb taken for furuncles, sores, abscesses, snakebite, trauma, hepatitis, edema, and ascites due to cirrhosis
- Scutellaria baicalensis, huang qin: root taken for diarrhea, dysentery, fever, irritability, thirst with inability to drink, cough, expectoration of thick yellow phlegm, hot sores and swellings, painful urinary dribbling, vomiting or coughing of blood, nosebleed, and blood in stool
- Western herbal medicine (Polygonum hydropiper): leaf taken for fevers, chills, internal bleeding, and painful or bloody urination, leaf poultice for pain and piles
- edible leaves and stems, cooking removes oxalic acid
- Western herbal medicine (Polygonatum biforum): root poultice or wash for pains, cuts, bruises, sores, and carbuncles, root taken for profuse menstruation, indigestion, constipation, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, arthritis, dry cough, dry throat, and excessive thirst
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Polygonatum odoratum, yu zhu: root taken for cough, dry throat, irritability, thirst, pain and spasm of the sinews, and dizziness
- Polygonatum sibericum, huang jing: root taken for lassitude, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry mouth, loss of sense of taste, dry stools, dry tongue, dry cough, tuberculosis, lower back pain, light-headedness, and weakness of lower extremities
- Western herbal medicine (Mentha spicata): leaves taken for colds, coughs, asthma, fever, headache, toothache, nausea, indigestion, gas, and cramps
- edible leaves, used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Veronica officinalis): root and leaf tea used as blood purifier, expectorant, and diuretic, for cough, asthma, lung diseases, gout, rheumatism, and jaundice
- young leaves and stems edible
- Western herbal medicine (Tradescantia virginiana): leaf poultice for pain and itching of insect bites and stings, root taken as laxative and for abdominal pain from overeating, root poultice for cancer
- edible leaves and petals
- Chinese herbal medicine (Allium fistulosum, cong bai): whole plant taken for very early stages of colds and to stimulate appetite
- root and leaves edible as vegetable, high in vitamins A and C as well as calcium
- Western herbal medicine (Fragraria virginiana): leaf taken as nerve tonic, for bladder and kidney ailments, jaundice, scurvy, diarrhea, stomachache, gout, sore throats, laryngitis, and coughs, berries eaten for scurvy and gout, root taken for gonorrhea, stomach and lung ailments, irregular menses, and as a diuretic, whole plant poultice or wash for abscesses, boils, burns, stings, eczema, ringworm, rheumatism, and traumatic injuries
- edible berries and leaves
- Chinese herbal medicine (Sedum sarmentosum, chui pen cao): taken for sores, abscesses, sore throat, and jaundice, fresh juice applied to bites and burns
- edible leaves
- Western herbal medicine (Liquidambar styraciflua): resin chewed as a topical treatment for sore throats, colds, diarrhea, dysentery, and ringworm, resin used topically for sores, ulcers, wounds, hemorrhoids, itching, bruises, and parasites
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Liquidambar formosana, lu lu tong: fruit taken for epigastric pain, abdominal distention, irregular or scanty menstruation, arthritis with stiffness and pain of the lower back and knees, nasal congestion, and edema with urinary difficulty
- Liquidambar orientalis, su he xiang: resin taken for epidemic toxic diseases, stifling sensations, cold, fullness, and pain in the chest and abdomen
- edible seeds and leaf buds
- Western herbal medicine
- Blessed Thistle (Ciricum benedictus): flowering plant taken for boils, indigestion, colds, gout, headaches, migraines, suppressed menses, frostbite, jaundice, and ringworm
- Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense): leaf tea taken as a tonic and diuretic and for tuberculosis, leaf wash for skin eruptions, ulcers, poison ivy
- Chinese herbal medicine (Cirsium japonicum, Japanese Thistle, da ji): herb taken for nosebleed, vomiting of blood, blood in urine or stool, and uterine bleeding
- roots and stems edible when peeled and cooked
- Western herbal medicine (Thymus vulgaris): leaf and essential oil taken for intestinal worms, gastrointestinal ailments, bronchial problems, laryngitis, and diarrhea, oil used topically for athlete's foot, lice, and scabies
- Edible leaves, used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Liriodendron tulipifera): bark taken for indigestion, dysentery, rheumatism, pinworm, and fevers, bark wash externally for fractures and wounds, boils, and snakebites, ointment of nectar used topically for burns and inflammation
- Western herbal medicine (Astragalus Propinqus): root taken to stimulate immune system, as a diuretic and heart tonic, to treat dysentery, common colds, high blood pressure, and as an immunostimulant
- Chinese herbal medicine
- Astragalus membranaceus, Milk Vetch, huang qi: root taken for postpartum weakness, severe loss of blood, poor appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, spontaneous sweating, frequent colds, shortness of breath, superficial edema with reduced urination, chronic ulcers and sores, diabetes, numbness, and paralysis
- Astragalus conplanatus, Flattened Milk Vetch, sha yuan zi: seed taken for lower back pain, tinnitus, impotence, premature ejaculation, urinary frequency or incontinence, vaginal discharge, and diminished visual acuity or blurred vision
- edible seeds and young shoots
- Western herbal medicine (Viola sororia): flowers and leaves taken as blood purifier, for lung congestion and infections, red swollen, eyes, swollen painful throat, sores, and abscesses, leaf poultice for skin irritations, small wounds, rashes, sores and abscesses
- Chinese herbal medicine (Viola yedoensis, Yedon’s violet, zi hua di ding): herb taken for red, swollen eyes, swollen, painful ears and throat, mumps, snakebite, used internally and topically for sores and abscesses
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): leaf taken for jaundice, root taken for diarrhea, leaf wash for swellings and rashes
- Western herbal medicine (Black Walnut, Juglans nigra): inner bark taken as emetic and laxative, bark chewed for toothaches, green husk taken for intestinal worms, green husk wash for ringworm and inflammation
- Chinese medicine (Jugulans regia, Walnut, he tao ren): nut taken for back pain, knee pain, urinary frequency, chronic cough, wheezing, and post-febrile constipation
- Edible nuts
- Western herbal medicine (Geranium maculatum): root is astringent and styptic for bleeding, diarrhea, dysentery, piles, and gum disease, root poultice for tumors
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Asarum canadensis): root taken for indigestion, coughs, fevers, sore throats, colds, heart conditions, nervous conditions, cramps, and gas, promotes sweating, expectorant
- Chinese herbal medicine (Asarum heterotropoides, Chinese Wild Ginger, xi xin): whole herb taken for colds, aches, pain due to cold, continuous cough with fullness in the chest, and nasal congestion
- Western herbal medicine
- Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra): berries taken to stop bedwetting, leaves smoked for asthma, leaf taken for asthma, diarrhea, and dysentery, bark taken for diarrhea, dysentery, fevers, scrofula, mouth and tongue ulcers, leukorrhea, and anal and uterine prolapse
- Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina): berries used in cough syrups, berries taken for gynecological disorders and lung ailments, berry tea gargled for sore throats, leaf taken for sore throats and tonsilitis, root bark taken for bleeding
- Chinese herbal medicine (Rhus chinensis, insect gall of Chinese sumac, wu bei zi): gall taken for chronic coughs, chronic diarrhea, dysentery, chronic blood in stool, and rectal prolapse
- flowering tops infused as lemonade-flavored tea, crushed berries used as culinary spice
- Western herbal medicine (Salix alba): inner bark taken for diarrhea, fevers, pain, arthritis, and rheumatism, bark poultice for corns, cuts, ulcers, and poison ivy, contains salicylic acid, precursor to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
- edible fruit (Rubus phoenicolasius)
- Western herbal medicine (Oxalis corniculata): fresh leaf poultice for tumors, sores and ulcers, leaves chewed for nausea, mouth sores, and sore throat, leaf taken for fevers, urinary infections and scurvy
- leaves, stems, and flowers edible raw or cooked, high in vitamin C
- Western herbal medicine (Achillea milifolium): poultice for bleeding and pain, essential oil inhaled for colds and flu virus, flowering tops taken for pain, infections, and as appetite stimulant
- edible leaves and flowers
- Western herbal medicine (Rumex crispus): root taken to promote urination and bowel movements, purifies blood, treats liver diseases and chronic skin conditions, leaf poultice for itchy skin
- young leaves and stalks are edible and high in vitamins A and C
- edible flowers (Yucca filamentosa)
A Poem to Share
I decided to formally dedicate my life to the study of herbal medicine in 2000. My first step was to sign up for a certification course through Rosemary Gladstar’s school in Vermont, Sage Mountain. Rosemary is also the founder of the New England Women’s Herbal Conference and United Plant Savers, a 379-acre botanical sanctuary in the Appalachian Mountains of Ohio focused on repopulating former coal strip mine land with native endangered medicinal plants. My plan for 2000, then, was to complete my certification, take a solo road trip to the conference, and participate in the internship program at the sanctuary. Since I was up that way anyway, during the gap between the conference and the internship, I decided to extend my travels up into the Canadian Maritimes: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
This was one of the most pivotal times in my life, realigning my inner compass to eventually guide me to where I am today. I am not one who writes many poems, but I was inspired to draft this in 2000 when I was in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia’s largest island. I have traveled back up to this area of the world again a few times in the past year or so. For me, it is a very beautiful and special place. I don’t know if you’ve ever been somewhere that has permanently changed you on a fundamental level, but I feel that I have. Since Saturday marked the Vernal Equinox and the beginning of fall, I thought I would share this poem with you.
Traveling North into the Fall
How the Acupuncture Channels Form
In human development, the acupuncture channels start forming early on, well before our cells differentiate into structures, organs, and tissues. Once the channels are mapped out, they act as the energetic blueprint upon which everything else is laid. This is why all the stuff in our bodies generally runs in the same direction - why our bones, muscle fibers, nerves, lymph, blood, and even the way we process food and water, all run head to toe.
When an egg and sperm fuse, they combine genes, forming a zygote. As a single cell, this zygote has no front, no back, no left, no right, no top, and no bottom. In this way, it lacks orientation and is completely undifferentiated. Within 24 hours the process of cell division begins. The first division results in two cells that are bound together, with the area of contact between them marking the place where the first two channels form. The Ren Mai, also known as the Sea of Yin or the Conception Channel, runs up the middle of the front and governs the formation and functioning of the reproductive organs. The Du Mai, also known as the Sea of Yang or the Governing Channel, runs up the middle of the back and develops into the spinal cord and central nervous system. Now that these two channels have formed, the zygote is oriented in space with a front, a back, a left, a right, a top, and a bottom.
Once the two cells divide into four, two more channels form. One is the Dai Mai, also known as the Belt Channel, which encircles the middle and has the special task of anchoring all the other channels in parallel alignment. The second is the Chong Mai, also known as the Sea of Blood or the Penetrating Channel, which runs up through the central core. The Sea of Blood is found deep within our bodies and develops into the blood-rich axis of organs and structures that includes the uterus, abdominal aorta, and heart. Once cell division reaches the stage where there are eight cells, all of the Eight Extraordinary Channels are formed, including the four mentioned above as well as the Yang Linking Channel (which links all the yang channels), the Yin Linking Channel (which links all the yin channels), the Yin Motility Channel, and the Yang Motility Channel, the latter two which have to do with the formation of limbs and the coordination of locomotion.
The zygote continues to divide exponentially, and after implantation, the placenta begins to form. In the next stage of development, the cells begin to differentiate into three primary layers. The ectoderm layer develops into the skin and nervous system, the endoderm layer becomes the lining of the internal organs, and the mesoderm layer forms the muscles, bones, and connective tissues. This is why for each of the five organ systems, Chinese medicine includes a pair of internal organs as well as an associated tissue and area of skin along the channel pathway. For example, the wood system includes the liver and gallbladder and the associated tissue is connective. The liver channel runs from the big toe up the inside of the leg to the ribs and the gall bladder channel runs from the temple down the side of the body to the fourth toe. Therefore, any issue with the connective tissue or any symptoms along the pathways of these channels may point to an imbalance in the liver or gallbladder.
Go with the Flow: 10 Ways to Tap into the Flow of Chi
In Chinese medicine, chi is the most fundamental force in the universe. It is the reason why everything in existence is in a constant state of flow. In nature, we can see this flow reflected in the rising and setting of the sun, in the seasonal shifts, in the ocean tides, and in the moon as it moves through its phases. In our bodies, the flow of chi is reflected in our sleep patterns, menstrual cycles, digestive processes, and larger physiological shifts like puberty, menopause, and aging. Since flow is such an inherently essential characteristic of the universe, it is important to go with it and allow things in our lives to unfold naturally in an organic way. We can intentionally tap into this flow in many ways.
1. Practice Mindfulness
2. Move On

3. Get in the Flow
4. Be Flexible
5. Forgive
6. Feel the Feelings
7. Declutter
8. Be Spontaneous
9. Get Outside
10. Follow Your Path
A Shifting Understanding of Chi
I have been trying to grasp the meaning of the concept of chi for decades. As an undergraduate student over thirty years ago, I was first introduced to the philosophical ideas of Daoism, including chi and yin and yang. In my twenties I read a bunch of books on the foundational principles of Chinese Medicine like “The Web That Has No Weaver” and “Between Heaven and Earth” (I recommend them both). I also have five years of formal schooling in the field and sixteen years in practice. My understanding of chi has certainly deepened over time, though I still find it challenging to truly comprehend. And how can I? If chi is the basic thing that everything in the universe is made of, from the densest object to the most fleeting thought, it is a very large and abstract concept indeed.
