Nature Wild Craft
Colleen Chafe is a Holistic Health Practitioner who is a Certified Aromatherapist, Medical Herbalist, Nutritionist, Energy Medicine Practitioner, Gluten Free Chefette, Gardener, Artist, Writer who wants to improve your health and the health of the planet!
Colleen Chafe is a Holistic Health Practitioner who is a Certified Aromatherapist, Medical Herbalist, Nutritionist, Energist, Gluten Free Chefette, Gardener, Artist, Writer, Poet, who wants to improve your health and the health of the planet!
I love the way Lilac shrubs/bushes/trees perfume the air in springtime. Come and sit in the garden and smell the fresh scent of lilacs blooming.
This Lilac is blooming now and the smell is really strong attracting humming bees and hummingbird moths.
This lilac bush blooms later and has smaller flowers, but it has a larger fragrance.
Other than purple and white solid colours I love this striped variety of Lilac like this Syringa vulgaris L.
Enjoy the fragrance while it lasts.
When growing food is an act of rebellion it is time for a revolution!
How can anyone think they can create a better design than nature?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/04/10/f-gmo-genetically-modified-foods-consumers.html
How can we let companies patent life? Genetically Modified Organisms GMOs are here in Canada and the public remains largely unaware of it.
Everyone has the right to know what is in the food they eat. Everyone has a voice and a choice and I want to know what I am eating. People shouldn’t have to go to such great lengths to discern between what is or isn’t organic natural food. Take away the patent on life and then the label debate is dead.
It is a time for a Grow Your Own Food revolution! I know some people don’t even have access to healthy organic food and that it is too expensive. I understand that not everyone has a green thumb or the resources to grow some food that is why I think community gardens are important. Community gardens on every corner should be more popular than fast food outlets.
There are rooftop gardens, Aquaponics, hydroponics, square foot gardening, container gardening and all kinds of new exciting Eco designer ideas. The world needs more permaculture, which is basically working more with nature instead of the monoculture mainstream, which works against nature and is unsustainable.
If you can’t grow your own support local farmers as much as possible.
Buy heirloom seeds and organic as much as you can.
You can’t get more fresh and local than home-grown! Even growing herbs or sprouts in a jar increases flavour and nutrition of meals.
Please sign the petition below against Monsanto the American company behind creating poisons that threaten bee populations, the banning of nature and creation of genetically modified seeds and foods.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?faqemab&pv=44
Join The Plant Revolution! Grow your own food and herbs as much as you possibly can! If you can’t try to avoid buying from the companies that use Monsanto products.
Join the March against Monsanto worldwide.
https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMonstanto?ref=ts&fref=ts
Please sign this petition no matter where you live, this is a world wide threat against humanity and nature.
There are many edible flowers that are delicious and nutritious. Flowers have flavonoids which is a powerful antioxidant group that is responsible for the colour of the plants. Antioxidants also help protect the plant against stressors and protects our cells as well when we eat them.
Violas have a mild sweet fresh flavour and flowers are always best used fresh. Put in tea or toss raw in salads and add as a garnish to brighten any dish.
Viola
Learn more about Violas or Violets here >>> http://earthelixir.ca/2012/04/19/sweet-violets/
Besides stuffing squash and zucchini flowers with soft nut cheeses use other flowers like Nasturtiums and stuff them with herbal soft nut cheeses or thick dips. Nasturtiums are also a great addition to salads and the flower buds are pickled like capers, they have a real spicy flavour.
There are also many other flowers to use as a garnish or add to a salad. Flowers are better eaten raw because they are too delicate to cook and will lose nutrition and flavour.
There are also edible herb flowers that make an attractive garnish like chive flowers which look great floated in soups or added to salads. Add Mint flowers like bee balm, peppermint, spearmint, oregano, thyme, hyssop, rosemary to drinks and salads and they also make attractive and pleasant smelling garnish. Get creative with combinations.
Pansies look like Violas but don’t have much flavour like Violas do. They do make beautiful decorations for cakes, desserts and salads though.
Carnations have a sweet clove like flavour that makes it a nice addition to chai tea or desserts.
Sunflower petals have a nutty flavour that make a nice colourful cheery addition to salads. 
Marigold/Calendula have a mild citrus fresh flavour and have brilliant orange yellow petals that remind me of saffron and are used in the same way. Use in desserts, salads, drinks and sprinkle on rice after cooking. There are so many varieties with varying flavours. I like these petite French citrus one I grow, it packs flavour taste.
Calendula
Learn more about Calendula here >>> http://earthelixir.ca/herbs/calendula/
Lavender is used a lot in dessert recipes and the flavour is still strong even after baking with it.
Learn more about Lavender here >>> http://earthelixir.ca/2012/07/12/lavender/
Dandelion flowers are best known for use in making dandelion wine. Pickle the buds like capers. Young flowers are used in salads but old ones might need to be steamed for a minute or two.
Learn more about Dandelions here >>> http://earthelixir.ca/herbs/dandelion/
Wild roses are beautiful in drinks, salads or desserts.
Learn more about roses here >>> http://earthelixir.ca/2012/06/04/roses-for-you/
Greater Celandine is a very hardy perennial that likes moist woodlands and transition areas. It is a native to subarctic Eurasia and became established throughout Eastern North America.
I grew Celandine from seed and transplanted in the garden not knowing what an aggressive invasive it was, but it is pretty and definitely shade tolerant.
I have lots of celandine medicine now after “weeding” a little. The stems ooze a yellow latex that stains. The latex is used to get rid of warts, and any skin condtions, injuries or infections. Harvest the top 50% just before or when it flowers in May or June, or use the leaves anytime. It is a potentizing herb that is best used in an herbal formulation mixed with demulcents and soothing herbs to counter any skin, mucus membrane irritations. Caution is strongly advised.
| Common Name | Celandine (Greater) herb/ flowers/ root |
| Latin Name | Chelidonium majus |
| Family | Papaveraceae (Poppy) |
| Parts Used | Perennial – herb/ flower- May- June root-fall |
| Target Organs | Digestion, liver/gallbladder, spleen, |
| Common Uses | Liver/ gallbladder: infections, gallstones, spasms, jaundice, hepatitis, Digestive conditions : IBS, constipation, digestive disturbances,Spleen conditions: dysfunction digestion
Skin/Immune: infections, skin conditions, spasms, warts, rhematic conditions, cancer (especially skin, stomach, colon, liver) Secondary use for soft tissue injuries and coughs |
| Properties | antineoplastic, anodyne, analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antihepatotoxic, hepatic, bronchodilator, stimulating cardiac, diaphoretic, hypotensive, immune stimulant, narcotic, pancreatic, sedative, spleenic, uterine stimulant, vulnerary, diuretic, antispasmodic, purgative, anti-inflammatory, depurative, appetite stimulant, laxative, cholagogue, purgative, |
| Constituents | Isoquinoline alkaloids: chelidonine, sanuinarine, berberine, allocryptopine, sparteine, stylopine, chelamine, magnoflorine, crytopine, chelerythine, protopine, coptisine; organic acids: chelidonic, malic, citric acid, flavonoids, essential oil, saponins, proteolytic acid, carotenoids, latex, |
| Cautions | Do not use in pregnancy, lactation or for infants. Fresh herb may cause irritations to mucus membranes. Large doses may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Berberine can cause depressed heart function and chronic low pressure with long term use. Dried herb has less caution, but fresh is best used in a formulation up to 25% with combined demulcents. Do not exceed 2-3 month use. |
| Dosage | Formulation Tincture: 2-4ml Dried Tea: 2 tsp 10 min |
Marshmallow root is one of my favourites during cough and cold season. It is one of the best treatments for a dry, sore, irritated throat. The root has so much mucilage it makes it demulcent which soothes, coats and moisturizes a sore throat and inflamed tissues. Teas are the best way to treat a sore throat because it creates the most contact to heal inflamed and infected tissues. I add herbal tinctures to the tea for maximum effectiveness in healing coughs and colds. Marshmallow root is good for healing any ulcers and inflammation in the respiratory and digestive tract and has some immune boosting properties to help heal infections. To treat ulcers grind up the fresh root into a gruel and eat it as food. It is good to eat with other demulcent bulk laxative foods like chia and flax seed.
| Common Name | Marsh mallow root/ leaves |
| Latin Name | Althea officinalis |
| Family | Malvaceae (Mallow Family) |
| Parts Used | Perennial- leaves picked in summer , root picked in Fall |
| Target Organs | Digestion, stomach, respiratory, kidney/ bladder |
| Common Uses | bulk laxative, inflammation, dry conditions, ulcers, colds, sore throat, dry coughs, catarrh, bronchitis, Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) |
| Properties | anti-inflammatory, stomachic, cool demulcent/ emollient, diuretic, relaxing expectorant, immune stimulant, bulk laxative |
| Constituents | Root: 35% mucilage, polysaccharides, pectin, tannins, asparagine Leaf: mucilage, trace Essential oil |
| Cautions | mild remedy |
| Dosage | Tincture: 2-4ml Tea: 2 tsp. steep 10 min |
I always use dried herbs for making herbal infused oils. Using fresh herbs may ruin the oil because of the water-soluble content, especially in demulcent herbs like plantain. Oil and water don’t mix and may result in slimy spoiled oil. Use good quality carrier oil of your choice along with good quality herbs. Many people use olive oil but I prefer peach kernel and apricot kernel oil. Make sure the oil covers all the herbs to avoid spoilage.
Fill up a mason jar 1/3- half way with dried herb and pour in the oil to cover the herbs.
Screw the lid on and place in a sunny window for about 2 weeks.
Strain the herbs out of the oil and use for skin care.
Make a salve or balm or use the oil straight for healing skin quenching action.
The common name for Calendula is marigold or more specifically pot marigold because there are so many varieties. Calendula is the Latin name. This cheery sunny annual flower is easy to grow from seed and I plant it every year, but sometimes if you are lucky they will seed themselves. Calendula is like Echinacea it clears toxic heat, inflammation while reducing infection internally and externally. It is one of the best first aid remedies for injuries and burns. Many preparations made from Calendula like swabs, compresses, gargles, creams, salves, infusions and tinctures are easy to use and very healing.
| Common Name | Calendula/ Pot Marigold petals |
| Latin Name | Calendula officinalis |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Parts Used | Annual easily grows from seeds- flower petals picked Summer/ Fall |
| Target Organs | Skin, lymphatic, cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, digestion, liver/ gallbladder |
| Common Uses | Skin: wounds, bruises, strains, infections, ulcers, skin infections, ulcers, inflammationLymphatic: ear infections, congested lymph
Digestion: indigestion, Female reproductive: balancing, pain, Immune vascular tonic Allergies, infections, detoxify, fever, skin conditions, inflammation |
| Properties | Antiallergenic, antibacterial, anti-catarrhal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic) antineoplastic, anti-protozoa, anti-rheumatic, aperient, appetite stimulant, anti-ulcerogenic, antiviral, astringent, detoxicant, decongestant, depurative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, immune stimulant, lymphatic, nervine, relaxant, tranquilizer, uterine tonic, vascular tonic, neural, peripheral vasodilator, vulnerary |
| Constituents | Essential Oil-(alcohol, terpene lactones)triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids(quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin) carotenoids( carotene, calendulin, lycopin) bitters, phytosterols, resin, mucilage, polysaccharides, trace minerals, potassium chloride, palmitic/malic/salicylic acid mucilage, |
| Cautions | Mild remedy: Avoid internal use during pregnancy it is a uterine stimulant |
| Dosage | Tincture: 2-4ml Tea: 8-14g 1-2 tsp |
Yarrow is one of Canada’s great wildflowers with a popular past, it needs to be used more often today. The Latin species name ‘millefolium,’ means thousand leaves named after the finely divided alternate feathery leaves. Thousand leaf and milfoil are also common names besides the name yarrow. Used externally the leaves are astringent which stops bleeding, reduces inflammation and speeds healing.
The Latin Genus name ‘Achillea’ is named after Achilles who healed his soldiers with yarrow during the Trojan War. Known as ‘herba militaria,’ yarrow helped treat wounds suffered in battle up to the 17th century. Yarrow was popular and was picked to aid digestion, stop fevers and to use as a nose snuff.
There is a long history of metaphysical uses. The dried stalks were popular for divination for the ancient Chinese oracle the “I Ching.” In the middle ages the common name was Devil’s Nettle because of its use for divination and spells.
Pink Yarrow in British Columbia
The colour of the flowers vary from white to pinks in the wild. Hybrids are usually bigger and are available in beautiful bright colours of gold, yellow and reds. Yarrow is easy to grow because of its wildflower nature and grows in full sun with good drainage.
Country of Origin for essential oil production: Canada and France. Canadian essential oil is diploid and the colour is deep dark blue. European triploid essential oil variety is yellow-green colour.
| Common Name | Yarrow herb aka Milfoil, Thousandleaf |
| Latin Name | Achillea millefolium |
| Family | Asteraceae (Aster family) |
| Parts Used/ Habitat Growth: | Perennial invasive wildflower grows 2-3 ft. Flowering tops picked in the summer in July |
| Target Organs | Digestion, respiratory, circulatory, female reproductive, skin, immune, cardiovascular |
| Common Uses | Immune respiratory: coughs, colds, flu, fever, catarrh, infectionsVascular conditions:HBP, (Sitz bath) veins,
Skin/muscle: wounds, bruises, sprains, strains, cuts, Digestion: spasms, ulcers, IBS, Female reproductive: balancing tonic, spasms |
| Properties | Antiallergenic, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic), antimicrobial, antispasmodic (digestive, general), antiulcerogenic, antiviral, aperient, astringent, bitter, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, haemostatic (styptic, uterine) hypoglycaemic, hypotensive, sialagogue, stomachic, styptic, stimulating emmenagogue, vasodilator (peripheral), vascular tonic, uterine tonic, vulnerary |
| Constituents | Essential Oil:.05%-.08%Ketones: thujone, camphor;
Lactones:achillin, achillicin, hydroxyachillin, millifin, millifolide, alcohols:Borneol; Sesquiterpenes: Azulene 1-51% chamazulene, dihydroazulene, sabinene caryophyllene, Oxides: 1, 8 cineole 10% Monoterpenes: pinene 16%; Other: flavonoids, tannins, bitter alkaloid minerals, trace minerals, chlorophyll, vitamin C, fatty acids, phytosterol |
| Cautions | Mild remedy:Caution due to thujone content-uterine stimulant, neurotoxin. Do not use during pregnancy, and with babies. |
| Dosage | Tincture: 1-4mlTea: 1-2 tsp. infuse 10-15 minutes
external use: infused water use as a compress, poultice or a wash for wounds |
Queens Ann’s Lace is the ancient ancestor of carrots, and where the orange varieties of carrots evolved from. When North American early settlers planted carrots and let them go wild they would revert back to their ancestor form and spread across the country.
The flowers are tiny white in lacy umbrella shapes that span 4-12cm wide and blooms from June to September. It is an erect biennial growing 40-100cm tall and has a stout tap-root.
The first year roots are cooked or eaten raw. They smell and taste like carrots, but are small and white instead of big and orange.
I am digging up some roots and putting them in oil to make wild carrot oil to nourish the skin and give some anti-aging relief! It is a powerful skin regenerator.
Young feathery leaves and flowers are edible raw or cooked. The mature seeds make an aromatic spice for tea, yogurt and fruit salad. Do not pick from young or old plants their seeds have poor flavour. One plant can produce up to 40, 000 barbed seeds. Use the seeds medicinally in a tincture and essential oil. Enjoy the humble wild carrot!
Bibliography:
Ontario Wildflowers
Linda Kershaw
Lone Pine Publishing 2002
The Energetics of Western Herbs Vol. 1&2
Peter Holmes
Snow Lotus Press 1989
Peterson Field Guides
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Steven foster and James A. Duke
Houghton Mifflin Company 2000
| Common Name | Queen Ann’s Lace aka Wild Carrot |
| Latin Name | Daucus carota |
| Family | Apiaceae(Carrot Family) |
| Parts Used | Biennial- Herb blooms in June-September. Seeds and root picked in the Fall |
| Target Organs | kidney/bladder, digestion, liver, female reproductive, stomach |
| Common Uses | Urinary:kidney bladder conditions, cystitis, UTI, kidney/bladder stones, nephritis, inflammation, gout, arthritis, tumours, oedema, skin cell regenerator,
Skin: Inflammation, improves skin, skin cell regenerator, repairs scar tissue, acne, mature skin, helps elasticity Liver detoxifier Digestion: gas, bloating, pain Reproductive: hormone balancing, cycle regulator |
| Properties | Seed: analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antilithic, antineoplastic, antispasmodic, cardiac, carminative, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, urinary relaxant, digestive
Herb:Anti-inflammatory (general, local) antilithic, antirheumatic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, vasodilator peripheral, urinary antiseptic, antimicrobial, Root: more stimulating, restoring detoxicant diuretic; |
| Constituents | Seeds: Essential Oil Yield: .2 -0.5%
Sesquiterpene alcohol:50-80%: caratol Sesquiterpenes: Monoterpenes: limonene; Other: alkaloid- daucine, carotene, asparagin, pectin, Vitamins C,B1, B2, B6, E, |
| Cautions | Mild remedy |
| Dosage | Tincture: 1-4mlTea: 1-2 tsp infuse 10-15 minutesExternal:dried root macerated in oil for skin or essential oil seed diluted in carrier oil for skin.
|
Wildflower Power Movement: Making wildflower mud seeds ‘bombs’
As a response to cities ripping out wild gardens that people have planted for growing food and a sense of community, make some wildflower mud bombs to seed cities and other areas with wild flowers and plants. Looking down on the earth from a plane in the sky, square green boxes are all the eye can sometimes see and one wonders where have all the wildflowers gone? Turf the square green turf and return the wildflowers!!! Make sure you plant native flowers for your area.
here are some other strange alternatives 
http://www.guerrillagardening.org/ggseedbombs.html
Making Wildflower Mud Seed Bombs:
Packets of wildflower seeds or any seeds you want to grow
Mud or plant soil, compost
Mix seeds in soil in 5:1:1 ratio. Wet soil and form into mud balls
Throw mud seed bombs wherever you want them grow.
Best time to mud seed bomb is right before rainy days. Even if the flowers don’t grow, birds will eat the seeds. Their food supply has dwindled due to monoculture in society and lack of wildflowers.
