Moonrise Herbs Blog — #herbalwisdomwednesday

Got the Humboldt hack? Nasty phlegm suck in your throat or lungs? Cough or cold symptoms? No problem! Eriodictyon californicum also known as Yerba Santa is a wonderful plant for all those upper respiratory issues we may see coming this fall and winter season. Indigenous Californians revered the plant and when the Spanish came along and saw the incredible healing capabilities named her Yerba Santa, meaning “saint herb”. You can find this perennial evergreen growing below 487ft elevation on dry rocky hillsides, chaparral slopes, forests, canyons, and riversides. As a “fire-following” species, seeds will stay dormant underground until a fire,...

As the days grow short and the crisp fall air graces our skin, we welcome Mabon, a week-long Pagan celebration of Autumn that flows from September 21st-29th. Naturally, we start so slow down and that inspires us to look back in gratitude for the abundance the summer brought into our lives. The Autumn Equinox, September 22nd, is the day of equal balance between day and night. This is a great time to take stock of every aspect in our lives and try to find a better balance within all the aspects that make us who we are. Working with this...

To celebrate our new friend Malva, we want to talk a bit about Tree Mallow (Lavatera/Malva arborea).  While many of you are familiar with the myriad benefits of its cousin Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), our volunteer plant may be a bit more mysterious. Tree Mallow is a lovely biennial, native to the Mediterranean, that grows well in climates similar to our Humboldt coast.  Like it’s other Malvaceae relatives, this plant features large, palmate leaves that are veined and grow alternately on the plant. Blossoming usually takes place in late summer and produces the beautiful pink – purple flowers typical of Malvaceae....

We hope this finds you all well & finding joy where you can!  Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has really gained momentum in the scientific and lay communities as one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs available.  It's effectiveness appears to be comparable for many users to available pharmaceuticals and has been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries (at least) as a primary reducer of inflammation. Here is a bit more info about this remarkable herb if you would like to dig a bit deeper to see if you should add it to your herbal pharmacy. Turmeric is a pungent, warming carminative which enhances digestion. Turmeric increases...

Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) is quite an extraordinary herb.  Not only is it a flavorful, spicy addition to a meal, it also contains tons of vitamins and has a myriad of medicinal uses both internally and applied externally.  Since August is the traditional time of harvest for this capital capsicum, we thought it was the perfect time to share its wonderful qualities with you! Description: Cayenne peppers (along with the related bell and jalapeño peppers) originated in Central and South America, though the name "Cayenne" comes from the capital city of Cayenne in French Guiana. It aids digestion, is anti-inflammatory, and...