Take an Herbalism Walk

Artemisia, or wormwood, is a hardy perennial native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Artemisia has a long history as a medicinal herb. Though, it’s quite challenging to drink as a tea – the leaves are very bitter. The plant’s aromatic qualities make it a wonderful herb for burning as a smoke cleanse. Its silvery-blue quality is often an easy way to identify it from afar.

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Bee balm, or Monarda, is a medicinal and edible herb that’s native to North America.

It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and full sun. This plant’s electric lilac colored blossoms attract pollinators, making it a favorite in gardens. Decorative varieties can also be found in bright pink and deep red shades. Bee balm leaves and flowers can be used to make tea, which is traditionally used to address respiratory issues and digestive problems. The fresh flowering tops can be added to a respiratory steam to provide relief from stubborn coughs and persistent congestion. Its essential oil has antimicrobial properties, too.

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Despite its delicate look, california poppy is a hardy perennial that can easily hold up in the hot, dry Colorado climate.

The whole plant can be harvested fresh and preserved in alcohol as a tincture. California poppy is a gentle sedative and pain relieving herb that is safe for kids and elders alike. It can be used to relieve musculoskeletal pain, soften anxiety, and encourage restful sleep. The leaves and stems of this delicate plant are a characteristic dusky blue. The velvety, bright orange petals open in the sun and close tight after sundown.

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Catmint is an aromatic herb that’s often treasured for its sweet purple flowers and ability to repel mosquitos.

Catmint leaves can be used in teas to relieve stress and a crampy, nervous tummy. This gentle mint family herb can also be used to help encourage restful sleep. 

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Common mallow is a hardy weedy species that can be used as a medicinal food and an herbal medicine.

When brewed in hot or cold water, its leaves and roots produce mucilage, a viscous, gooey substance that is soothing to tissues of the body and thickening for foods. You can drink some common mallow tea (using leaf or root) to soothe a sore throat or an upset tummy. The leaves can also be added to soups, stews and curries to thicken them up and add some nutritional density!

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Dandelion is a well known weedy specimen.

Hardy and tenacious, it thrives in various soils and conditions. The leaves, flowers, and roots are all both edible and medicinal. Dandelion leaf is used medicinally as a diuretic and can make a nutrient dense tea. The flowers are rich in carotenoids and water soluble vitamin C. The root is replete with a prebiotic fiber called inulin, which extracts well in water. The root’s rich, bittersweet flavor makes it a perfect addition to herbal coffee blends, too.

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Juniper is an evergreen shrub or tree that produces resious cones (often called berries).

The “berries” can be brewed as a tea, or tinctured in alcohol. This plant has historically been used as a digestive aid, helping to relieve digestive woes like gas, bloating and indigestion.

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Lambsquarters are a delicious, nutritious weed.

The leaves can be harvested, washed and eaten raw in salads, or cooked in soups, stews, quiches and more. Their salty flavor and succulent texture make them a worthy wild substitute for cultivated spinach.

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Linden trees are typically planted in urban areas for their shade and ornamental qualities.

The fragrant, creamy blossoms and deep green leaves can be brewed into a calming tea that is used to relieve anxiety and soothe the nervous system. The leaves and flowers can also be tinctured in alcohol and used for the same purposes. Leaves can be harvested and used for medicine even after this tree’s flowers have faded.

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Maple is best known for providing beautiful hardwood and delicious syrup.

But the tea of maple’s leaves has also been used as an anti-inflammatory and astringent wash for cuts, scrapes, and rashes.

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Oak trees offer an abundance of useful material, food and medicine.

Their bark is extremely astringent, and can be brewed as a hot tea to be used as a topical wash for cuts, scrapes and rashes. Once cooled, the tea can also be used as a mouthwash to relieve inflammation and irritation of the gums. Oak’s acorns have been treasured as a wild food, too. Acorns can be processed to make a delicious flour for baking; the flavor is warm, nutty and caramel-like.

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Peach is often not considered a medicinal plant.

Known for its delicious, fuzzy fruits, peach trees are also used as a cooling, anti-inflammatory, nervous system soothing plant. You can make an alcohol extract of the leaves and flowers to take as a calming remedy for nervousness or situational anxiety. The leaves can also be infused into olive oil to be used topically to relieve hot, red, dry, itchy skin conditions.

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Pine trees offer an abundance of utility.

They provide timber and a delicious, sweet-smelling resin which can be burned on charcoal, or infused into olive oil for topical application. Their needles can be brewed in hot water to yield a tea rich in vitamin C. I love simply plucking a cluster of needles off a tree and chewing on the end to enjoy their resinous, lemony taste.

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Plantain is a water-loving weedy species that likes to grow in irrigated lawns, in ditches, and along waterways.

This is broadleaf plantain, though another species, narrow leaf plantain is also common in the mountain west. Plantain is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and itch-relieving. The leaves can be chewed into a gooey gob of poultice and applied topically to stings, bites and splinters to relieve itch, and reduce heat and swelling. The leaves can also be dried and infused into oil to make a bug bite salve.

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Prickly Pear is native to this land.

It prefers arid, well-drained soil and full sun, which is why you’ll often see it thriving in the southwest. This cactus is planted as a funky ornamental, and is useful for erosion control. The cactus pads (nopales) can be eaten in various culinary dishes. And the sweet fruits can be prepared and eaten raw, or made into beverages. Prickly Pear is used medicinally to address wounds, inflammation, and digestive issues. Take caution observing and harvesting this plant! The pads and fruits are covered in tiny glochids or hair-like spines that will poke you! These little spines must be carefully removed before consumption.

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Red clover is a nitrogen-fixing plant that can help improve soil health.

It’s often used as forage for livestock. But it makes fine food for humans, too! The flowers can be eaten raw in salads or tossed into soups and stews. The flowering tops and leaves can be brewed into a nutrient rich tea, too; its flavor is surprisingly rich and a little sweet.

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Rose plants are prized for their beauty and aroma, but they offer a wealth of medicinal virtue, too.

Medicinally, rose petals are used to resolve skin issues and to calm the nervous system. Rose’s astringent, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities also makes it a fabulous plant for addressing minor first aid issues like cuts and scrapes. The hips, or fruits of the rose, are rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, and can be brewed into a tart, fruity tea.

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Shepherd’s purse grows in various soils and conditions, thriving in full sun to partial shade.

It can be found in the neglected understories of city trees. Often considered a weed, it is beneficial for soil health. This plant is in the Brassicaceae plant family, making it a relative of some of our favorite cruciferous veggies like kale, collards, cabbage and broccoli. The leaves and seeds can be eaten, and it’s traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory herb.

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Siberian elm is another mucilaginous (aka: goopy and soothing) tree!

The leaves and outer bark of twigs can be harvested and brewed in water (either hot or cold) to make a deeply hydrating and satisfying drink for dry summer days. Simply let some of the leaves or bark brew in your water anywhere from 15 minutes and up to overnight. The longer you brew the bark or leaves, the goopier your drink will be! Siberian elm is considered an invasive species; these trees grow quickly and spread widely, shading other plants that might grow around them.

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Spearmint is a hardy perennial herb that can grow in full sun to partial shade.

It spreads aggressively through its rhizomes (underground stems), making it best suited for contained garden spaces or pots to prevent it from overtaking other plants. Spearmint is beloved for its aromatic, bright green leaves and refreshing minty flavor. Its leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and used fresh or dried in teas. Spearmint tea is a popular remedy for digestive woes, including indigestion, gas, and nausea.

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Tree of heaven is a super fast-growing deciduous tree.

This invasive species is often used in urban landscaping. Despite its cool, tropical look, it’s considered problematic due to its rapid spread. I always try to look out for plants in its understory that I could replant elsewhere where they’ll have more access to sunlight!

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Wild lettuce is known and loved for its sedative and pain-relieving properties.

Snap a leaf off the stem and you’ll notice a milky sap leaking from the plant. This bitter milky sap can be harvested and used as a natural remedy for insomnia, anxiety, and pain. The best way to prepare wild lettuce is as a tincture, or an alcohol extract of the herb.

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