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.

Arborvitae

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

Balloon Flower

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

Bamboo

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

Barberry

Western herbal medicine (Berberis vulgaris): root taken as an herbal anti-biotic for urinary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory infections
edible berries

Bee Balm

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

Black Cohosh

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

Black-Eyed Susan

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

Burdock

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

Buttercup

Western herbal medicine (Ranunculus acris): leaf poultice for arthritis and nerve pain, root poultice for boils and abscesses

Castor Bean

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

Catnip

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

Cherry

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

Chickweed

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

Chicory

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

Chrysanthemum

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

Cinquefoil

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

Cleavers

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

Clematis

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

Columbine

Western herbal medicine (Aquilegia vulgaris): root taken for diarrhea, promotes urination, small amounts of crushed seeds eaten for headaches
edible flowers

Comfrey

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

Couchgrass

Western herbal medicine (Cynodon dactylon): root taken as an antibiotic and diuretic for urinary infections and sore throats
root roasted as coffee substitute

Dandelion

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

Cay Lily

Day Lily

Chinese herbal medicine (Hemerocallis fulva, bai he): root decoction used for chronic, dry coughs
buds, flowers, young shoots, and tubers are all edible

Dogwood

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)

Echinacea

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

Elderberry

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

Evening Primrose

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

False Indigo

Western herbal medicine (Baptisia leucantha): root tea as emetic and purgative, root poultice is antiinflammatory

Fennel

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

Fig

western herbal medicine (Ficus carica): fruits act as stool softener for mild constipation
edible fruits high in calcium and fiber, edible leaves

Fleabane

Western herbal medicine (Conyza canadensis): whole plant taken for diarrhea, kidney stones, painful urination, and bleeding
edible leaves

Forsythia

Chinese herbal medicine (Forsythia suspensa, lian qiao): fruit taken for colds, fevers, sore throat, abscesses, and sores
edible flowers

Foxglove

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

Ginkgo

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

Goldenrod

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

Ground Cherry

edible fruit (Physalis)

Ground Ivy

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

Hawthorn

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

Hemlock

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

Holly

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

Honeysuckle

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

Hops

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

Hydrangea

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

Jewelweed

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

Joe-Pye Weed

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

Juniper

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

Knotweed

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

Kudzu

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

Lamb's Quarters

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

Lavender

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

Lemon Balm

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

Lupine

Western herbal medicine (Lupinus perennis): leaves taken for nausea and internal hemorrhage

Lyre-leaved Sage

Western herbal medicine (Salvia lyrata): leaf poultice for cancer and warts
edible leaves, stems, flowers

Magnolia

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

Marshmallow

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

May Apple

Mayapple

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

Mimosa Tree

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

Mugwort

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

Mulberry

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

Mullein

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

Nettles

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

Oak

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

Oregano

Western herbal medicine (Origanum vulgare): leaves and essential oil taken as an anti-fungal and antibiotic
edible leaves, used as culinary spice

Oregon Grape Root

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

Peach

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

Peony

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

Peppermint

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

Persimmon

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

Periwinkle

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

Pink

Chinese herbal medicine (Dianthus, qu mai): aerial parts taken for urinary dribbling with blood and amenorrhea due to blood stasis
Edible petals

Plantain

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

Pokeweed

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

Prickly Pear

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

Privet

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

Purple Deadnettle

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

Purslane

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

Queen Ann's Lace

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

Raspberry

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

Red Bud

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

Red Clover

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

Rose

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

Rosemary

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

Sage

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

Self-Heal

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

Service Berry

Western herbal medicine (Amelanchier canadensis): root bark taken for diarrhea and excessive menstrual bleeding, bark tea bath for children with worms
edible berries

Skullcap

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

Smartweed

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

Solomon's Seal

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

Spearmint

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

Speedwell

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

Spiderwort

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

Spring Onion

Spring onion

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

Strawberry

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

Stonecrop

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

Sweet Gum

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

Thistle

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

Thyme

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

Tulip Poplar

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

Vetch

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

Violet

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

Virginia Creeper

Western herbal medicine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): leaf taken for jaundice, root taken for diarrhea, leaf wash for swellings and rashes

Walnut

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

Wild Geranium

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

Wild Ginger

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

Wild Sumac

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

Willow

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)

Wineberry

edible fruit (Rubus phoenicolasius)

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)

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

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

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

Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)

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

Yucca

edible flowers (Yucca filamentosa)

A Poem to Share

Go with the Flow

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

I had forgotten my mother tongue.

Words long unused now slip luxuriantly from between my lips:

mica, white birch, piping plover.

The smell of the sea, the cut of the coast,

these things have unearthed deep memories.

Cupped like smooth shells, transparent as glass,

they are nested deep within.

My walk to the end of the gypsum lane reveals Secret Beach.

A sign declares “Protected.”

This place is breathtaking, austere, sacred.

The land curves in a long, soft arm, embracing the cove –

the pines of the high cliff plunge one by one into the sea below –

sensuous, sculpted sands glitter under the caress of waves –

sparse driftwood speaks of solitary, meandering journeys.

This is the end of the land, hypnotic and vacillating,

where the elements fully express their intimacies.

The ocean breathes, pushing into the sand, then drawing it down.

Heaving, it devours the earth with each retreating swell.

I am uprooted by the unsteady spin of the world beneath,

reeling with vertigo, poised at the cusp.

I realize it is from this place that I shall return home.

I am drawn into the Ritual of Releasing.

I fill the round Blood Stone with the Old Things,

anoint it with my intentions,

and cast it into the deep, heavy water.

I know the ocean is big enough to contain all of this and more,

so much more.

My soul is bursting with the sudden new spaces

and will not be contained…

How the Acupuncture Channels Form

Extra Channles

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.

Embryonic Development

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

Whether that means something formal like developing a meditation practice or something as simple as just slowing down, being present in the moment is an excellent way to tap into the flow of chi. Mindfulness helps us become more aware of the flow in the here and now and enmeshes and anchors us in it.

2. Move On

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can’t change things. If something is very difficult, if it feels like there’s a lot of resistance, if you still feel stuck, or if you just can’t quite take it to the next level, it might be a sign to just let it be and move on. Accepting things for what they are and detaching from what isn’t working in our lives is a powerful way to get unjammed and back in the flow.

3. Get in the Flow

When we’re in the flow we are so immersed in whatever we are doing that we forget about the world around us: no thoughts, no sense of time, simply being, doing whatever it is that we are doing nothing else. One of the best ways to get in the flow is through creative, improvisational ventures like art, music, and dance. Another is cultivation exercises like tai chi, chi gong, yoga, and endurance training. When we are in the flow, we are essentially channeling the chi.

4. Be Flexible

Being too rigid can impede the flow of chi in our lives. Looking ahead and setting goals is a good exercise, but if our plans are firmly set it can prevent us from adapting when circumstances change. Being too rigid in our values can also interfere with flow. Part of life is allowing ourselves to grow as human beings according to what we have learned from our experiences. Don’t be afraid to periodically reexamine your goals and values and change them if they no longer align with where you’d like your life to go.

5. Forgive

Sometimes, we get hung up on punishing ourselves or others for past mistakes. Things like regrets and grudges keep us tied to the past, preventing us from moving on with our lives. When we understand that part of life is making mistakes, we can find the compassion to forgive ourselves and those who have wronged us, unblocking our chi and freeing it up so we can move forward.

6. Feel the Feelings

A full life comes with a range of emotions: joy, worry, grief, fear, anger. Unfortunately, in our culture, we are often taught to hold our emotions in. When we do this, they can build up inside and cause blockages in the flow of our chi. If this continues, over time emotional and physical symptoms may manifest, like depression, anxiety, pain, tension, and even imbalances in the internal organs. Allowing our emotions to flow, expressing them as they come, can help us process whatever we’re going through and move on. Though it can be hard and uncomfortable, doing so is an important part of experiencing life in an authentic way.

7. Declutter

Sometimes this means pairing down our possessions, opening pathways for the chi to flow more freely through our living spaces. This is one of the most important principles of feng shui and can help you feel calmer, sleep better, let go of the past, and improve your concentration. Sometimes decluttering can also mean letting go of unhealthy relationships. This can be very complicated and energy-intensive but can lead to great strides in the progress of our lives.

8. Be Spontaneous

Just as a vacation is more enjoyable if we leave room for spontaneous activities, so is life. Too often we fill our time with work, tasks, and other commitments, leaving no space for anything else. When we allow for spontaneity, it opens us up to whatever the universe wants to hand us at that moment. It also teaches us to read the signs, following the clues and prompts that can lead us on a new path.

9. Get Outside

Chi flows everywhere but is strongest in the wild. Getting outside into nature is an excellent way to tap into the flow. When we wander down a new path, we are literally following the flow of chi. When we swim in a river, we are literally immersing ourselves in the planet’s energy channels. Camping in the woods is another way to get in the flow, resetting our biological clock, syncing us up with the larger more universal rhythms of nature.

10. Follow Your Path

Each of us has a path in life that winds and flows, pulling us along, silently guiding us toward a goal that we cannot envision. To find your path, follow your inner voice. Do the thing you’ve always wanted to do. Explore your interests. Experiment and try new things. Travel to new lands and experience other cultures. Meet new people. Embrace change. You never know where it all may lead.

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.

Chi as Energy

When I first heard about chi, the most common explanation I was given was that it is energy. With my limited understanding, I thought this meant that chi was simply the fuel that gave us the power to do things day-to-day. Later I came to think about chi in the way that physicists think about energy. If they see everything as a different manifestation of energy, then maybe I could see everything as a different manifestation of chi. However, even though this is more expansive, physicists do not consider things like thoughts to be a type of energy.

Chi as Lifeforce

Like the Sanskrit word prana, chi is often translated as lifeforce. This force is typically thought of as what gives living beings life and vitality. While chi does do this, it does so much more. It is also the force that makes mist gather into rain clouds, a seed grow into a towering tree, and crystals form deep in the ground. It holds the moon in the Earth's orbit and makes the planets spin. It is also the force that gives us structural integrity and protects us from pathogens. However, chi has even more properties.

Chi as Connection

As the book I mentioned above explains, chi is the web that weaves everything together into the grand singularity that we call the universe. It is why nothing can be done in isolation without affecting anything else. This idea of chi as connection is seen in the channel theory of acupuncture. Just as chi flows through and links everything in existence, chi flows through us, knitting us together into a unified whole. Still, although chi is connective, that is not all it is.

Chi as Flow

The imagery of flowing water is used a lot when talking about the movement of chi. In our bodies, the first points on the acupuncture channels are called jing-wells. As the chi moves along the channels its pathway gets deeper and wider, passing through ying-spring, shu-stream, jing-river, and he-sea points. If the chi overflows in the channels like a swollen river, there is bleeding. If the chi stagnates and pools, there is pain. Outside of the human body, the pathway of chi can easily be seen in the behavior of water as it flows down to the sea and moves with the tides. Chi is also represented by the flow of time and the flow of our lives as we transition from one chapter to the next. Chi has other properties, though, including one that is especially important in healing and medicine.

Chi as Shift

There is nothing in the universe that is static, including us. Everything is shifting and changing in unison all at once, all the time. Chi is what enables this process to occur. For us, it powers all of our major physiological transformations like growth, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and aging. Since healing is a transformational process as well, it is also powered by chi. Acupuncture is one of the ways to tap into the flow of chi in the body to make the deeper, more fundamental shifts that are necessary for true healing to occur, whether physical, mental, or emotional.

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